004 - Lucid Dreaming

[tabularasa_mods]

Lucid Dreaming Event Info Pt.1 ▲ Event Info Pt.2 ▼ Comments Please see the two info posts linked above for details on the nature of the event, the nightmares within, and the setting it takes place in. You may ask any unanswered questions in either post. If your character dies at any point during the dream event, please leave a comment in the death report thread to notify the mods.

As a final reminder, all characters will fall asleep for the full duration of this event whether you decide to take part or not. You may continue tagging threads that take place before the event, but everyone will fall asleep simultaneously.

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Falling Asleep, Waking Up
The shift happens without warning, much like the first time people appeared in the world. Perhaps you remember what you were doing in the last moments before a strange feeling of exhaustion overwhelmed you - or perhaps you remember nothing at all. Whatever it may be, you've appeared somewhere new. A seemingly ordinary train station, if not for the bizarre walls of flesh blocking the only exits. The only path forward is down into the pulsating depths, a humid breeze pushing at your back.

There may be others here with you, or you may be alone. Could there be more people trapped in this strange place? You won't find them just by standing around.

Nightmares
The screeching of a distant train will echo through the tunnels on occasion, shadows flicking through the translucent flesh of the walls. Sometimes, however, instead of fading away the noise will only grow louder, closer, until it sounds like the train should be upon you. It never appears, but something else always will.

The train is a siren call for nightmares, and you're unfortunate enough to be their victim. The shadows turn alive, twisting and growing as they rise up from the ground and begin to transform. What form they take varies, but the shadows of the mind know the true fears of those who walk among them. Are you prepared to face the darkness?

Volcanic Panic

The shadows congeal at the edges of the floor, and soon after a hot orange glow begins to fill the room - molten lava is pooling in from the other end of the tunnel. It rolls slowly forward, devouring everything it touches with an unquenchable searing hunger, leaving behind only the charred bones of its victims... although, strangely, the tunnels themselves appear to be completely unharmed.

Outrunning the flow of lava shouldn't be a problem, but there seems to be no end to it. How long can you run from something that never stops? Or worse, what happens if you find yourself surrounded? You'll need to find a way to higher ground before that happens.

A Radiant Plague

The shadows rise up into familiar shapes, and at first glance it'd be easy to mistake them for people. They may even share the faces and voices of people you know, stumbling towards you with wide, open arms... and empty, glowing eyes filled with an orange light. Something smells sickly sweet, and it's only once they're close enough to grab you that they begin to attack.

These are not your friends, and they'll do whatever it takes to make you one of them instead. Unfortunately, it's not an experience you'll be able to survive. Your only hope is to fight back before the plague can take hold, lest you become another mindless husk that knows only to further spread the infection.

Trust No One, Not Even Yourself

The shadows stretch and fill the air, choking everything in a thick blanket of darkness... before dispersing just as quickly as they'd appeared. A few moments pass and nothing else seems to be happening. You must've gotten lucky this time!

... Or did you?

Surely it can't be that simple. Nothing else here has been, so something must have happened just now. It's only you and the person you're currently traveling with... but are you sure that's really them right now? How do you know they haven't been possessed by another nightmare, waiting until you let your guard down to stab you in the back? Should you interrogate them to be sure, or start with restraining them and ask questions later? Wouldn't it be better to just kill them before things get out of hand? The sooner you strike, the safer you'll be when their true form emerges.

Yes, that must be the real explanation. It has to be them that's been possessed by a nightmare. What else could it be?

Joker’s Wild

There’s no limit to what form the shadows can take. The world may have its own perception of fear, but your nightmares are something only you could understand. What darkness lurks in the depths of your heart?

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code bases by tricklet

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Melinoë 👻 Greek Mythology 👻

[obscurus_phantasma]

[ DON'T PUT DIRT ON MY GRAVE JUST YET ]
At various intervals of time, one may come across Melinoë in her true form, as the Goddess has shed herself of the mortal body of Dulcinea. In her wake follows a procession of ethereal beings, ghosts and ghouls and spirits and wraiths; take care, not every follower is of the friendly sort, though most would be content holding a conversation.

It somehow feels as though the siren song of the train is Charon calling, and the Goddess finds comfort in that. Whenever she hears this sound, lips twitch upwards into a small smile. Melinoë is in her utmost element in this dreamscape, having her divine powers at her beck and call. There doesn’t seem to be a moment wherein Mel’s eyes are without a mischievous glint, where lips aren’t transformed into unfiltered bliss. If not having a discussion or dancing with ghosts, she's exploring, or causing whatever monsters thrown their way to see nightmares of their own.

[ IF HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, THEN WE'RE ALL JUST FUCKED ]
She’s found a chamber and transformed it into an outdoor theatre, the atmosphere creepy, the sounds of her cello playing hauntingly melodic. The other instruments involved are simply audibly heard, not visibly seen, though hovering in one’s peripheral, they may catch a glimpse of a spectre giving life to the appropriate musical tool. Some of the seats are occupied by spirit spectators, their clothing from a plethora of time periods.

Despite the creaking trees, the moon that could have come straight out of a Hallowe’en film, the chill and the fog, Melinoë seems quite at home, nothing but contentment and jubilation radiating off the pale woman in waves. She adores her ghosts the most, loves the cello second best.

((Player’s choice if she looks like PB or Goddess form.))

[ THE DEVIL IN I ]
Capable of night terrors so severe that they’ve caused one’s mind to shatter like bones, to have the person dissolve into insanity, if someone would like Melinoë to heighten their current nightmares or provide any, period, please do let me know.
PM or Discord { A Broken Zebra#053

CLOSED to Damien

[obscurus_phantasma]

Since their dream exchange, Melinoë has been attached to Damien far more frequently than before, figuratively and literally proving it wasn’t just a pity fuck, thank you, kindly. When she’s not assisting Aerith, or Professor Sam, or with Merlin, the Goddess is either at the shrine or with Damien. She’s found a routine, of sorts, and hates this place just a little less.

Having been with the hacker before the Sleep, she naturally awakens at his side (clothed, at least), and blinks somewhat owlishly whilst adjusting to these foreginish surroundings. Her first concern is Damien, and Mel moves to her knees to tenderly rest hands atop his form, murmuring his name to bring him back.

[abeautifulgame]

He appreciates not being a pity fuck.

What he doesn't appreciate is -- well, there's a list, and it only grows as he comes back to what he assumes is consciousness. He doesn't appreciate the fact that he doesn't remember falling asleep, or the fact that the ground is slick-cool under his fingers, like outdoor tile on humid summer day, or the fact that he's on the ground period. (He's never going to be able to get up.) The one saving grace here, is that he comes awake to her, her touch gentle, so he doesn't startle as much as he might otherwise. He does, however, frown up at her, once his eyes are open, confused.

" ... what?" What is this? Where are they?

[obscurus_phantasma]

Aubergine eyes lift to drink in their surroundings once more. "Really wish they'd get a handle on introducing norms back into our lives," she bitterly retorts, not removing her hands from him.

Mel looks at Damien again, sigh short but soft. "We're at the train station. I think."

There's something in the air that just feels off. And while they can't rule out sleepwalking or mysterious transportation (how they hell did everyone arrive, after all?), it's unnerving. All of it. The not remembering, the new location. And all of the red.

[abeautifulgame]

"Guess that means it finally figured out sleep," he mutters by way of agreement, reaching up to rub at his eyes. A breath out follows, and he turns his head, taking a moment to take in their surroundings, himself, and then, "Though, I don't remember being on the L, when I fell asleep."

Nor is the L station that's made its way to the Void -- or any of the L's or the Void's stops, as far as he's aware of them. It all seems vaguely familiar somehow, but not like that. He can't put his finger on how, exactly, though.

cw: scary ass ghost image

[obscurus_phantasma]

"We also weren't having sex on the L," she manages to tease, tossing him a wink and a smirk.

Shifting into a crouch, Melinoë runs her eyes over him, though it's to do with - "Wish I had ghostly assistance to help get you up, but I'll manage."

And it's as the Goddess is finding her footing that said request is filled. A black figure fades into view at Damien's feet, and because Mel is leaning in such a fashion that ebony locks block her view, she doesn't see the ghost at first.

[abeautifulgame]

"There is that," he agrees, flashing her a smirk. A pause follows, as she pulls herself into that not-quite-stand, and he follows suit, sitting up. It's going to take some effort, some energy, to get standing again himself, and he's --

-- well, he's not looking forward to it, but it's then that he notices the ghost. He does have enough energy to skitter backwards, albeit awkwardly, metal of the brace dragging on the floor like nails on a chalkboard.

"What the fuck?"

theatre

[forceofnature]

"Not bad."

Melinoe has found an audience in the form of a young girl sitting cross-legged upon some the leaves of some sort of enormous vine.

"10/10 for atmosphere. I can tell divine power when I see it, and you are the closest thing I've seen so far. What are you supposed to be, goddess of the haunt?"

See, it's funny because there's a goddess of the hun -- never mind.

[obscurus_phantasma]

The talons are not a hinderance to her playing, and at song's end when the fellow Goddess's voice drifts over to her, Mel does not stand, does not take a bow. She simply cants her head to the right, observing Viridi with a curiosity that contains a hint of reverence beneath the surface. She can smell the divinity coming off her, causing Melinoë to question what, exactly, has kept her from seeking these fellow Godly ones out.

"Close; Goddess of ghosts, nightmares, and insanity, daughter of Persephone and Hades, and as such, an Underworld queen." There is no boast to the latter, it's stated factually. She sets cello and bow aside, remains sitting. "I'm Melinoë. And you?"

[forceofnature]

Viridi chokes despite herself.

"Hades?! Hades has a kid?!" The vine extends out rapidly until Viridi is only about ten feet from the stage staring at Melinoë in shock. "Someone wanted a kid with Hades?!" This is the most unlikely thing she's heard so far in this topsy-turvy dimension.

"OK, OK, I know you mean a different world's manifestation of the God of the Underworld, but eesh. Tell me your dad isn't harvesting human souls for his underworld army, at least."

The vine retracts so she's not up in her face.

"My name is Viridi. I'm the Goddess of Nature, Ruler of the Earth and All Life. ...I guess you take them once I'm done with them."

[obscurus_phantasma]

At the approaching vine, she draws herself up, tensing in the event it's an attack that follows, but it seems to have been driven out incredulousness and shock. If anything, that causes a small blanket of pride to spread within Melinoë.

"Aren't the Gods almost always bickering with one or another?" she teases, setting the cello aside to shift upright at last. She comes to the edge of the stage, the long train of flowers and fabric fluidly following, and with hands clasped before her, Mel inquires, "I am unfamiliar with a Viridi, though my world has a Rhea and a Gaia. May I ask who your divine parents are?"

How very curious this alteration is, though Mel is excited by it, and hopeful a kinship might be possible.

[forceofnature]

"I mean, there's bickering, and then there's, again, harvesting masses of human souls for your underworld army." Viridi responds with some disdain. "It's really not done."

She sniffs, as if she hadn't set off the equivalent of an atom bomb and nuked a small country.

"I don't claim any parentage - I govern all life, so I came into being to seed the Earth out of the void of Chaos. 'Gaia's' probably your closest bet. I read Metamorphoses. Tell me more about your mom, though. I seriously need to hear more about this gal."

[obscurus_phantasma]

In turn, Mel merely lifts one shoulder, neither confirming nor denying the business of Hades. He hadn't been at the academy, and as such, she hadn't been in contact with him since this most recent reincarnation. It'd been on her list, only something or someone deemed it more fitting to kidnap deposit the Goddess here instead.

"There isn't a Persephone where you're from?" A beat, wherein lips purse thoughtfully. Seems safe to conclude that she herself is also nonexistent, which is slightly unnerving. "Well, Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. She is the Goddess of vegetation, grains, and the like, and she's allowed to leave the Underworld during the Spring, but must return in Winter. It's for her that I've started helping Aerith and Merlin with the flowers."

Home is Where the Heart is (True Form/Parsee Powers Active)

[bridge_princess]

At the edges of the chamber was a spirit that did not belong. She was not one of the shades or ghosts that followed in Melinoe's ethereal and otherwordly train. Green eyes glared with distant displeasure, observing the proceedings as they glowed.

She had the decency not to say anything while the cello played. But those green eyes stared with fel intensity towards Melinoe, piercing in the way that they seemed to observe. She wasn't quite close enough to really 'feel' the woman's jealousy just yet, but something about this scene... when the music paused, she grunted.

"Someone's compensating for something." Or seeking attention, but wow she must have an easy time getting attention. Striking being that she is.

o7

[obscurus_phantasma]

---

Melinoë's eyes reopened and shifted over towards the source of sound, wherein those depthless voids quietly took stock of the woman who didn't quite smell divine, but certainly wasn't human. At the sight of Parsee's clothing, the Goddess wondered if the being might be the one Merlin mentioned, but she won't assume, given the fact that Damien had passed along; there was more than one person from Japan stuck with them.

Instead, she purred, "Hello, pretty one. You're not one of mine." Lips morphed into a smile of intrigue, not taking the bait. Yet.

[bridge_princess]

For all that she pretended at her former humanity, it was gone long ago. She envied the living for their ability to still live out their mortal existences so much. She was, right then, a seething and roiling spirit of emotion barely contained within the skin that displayed her form.

As she stepped forward, maybe it was the fact that they were in the dream... maybe it was the influence of being surrounded by the dead, but her form seemed to shift somewhat. A kimono of white flowed around her, complete with a funeral veil. Garbed in the color of the dead, she wore an iron crown and held two iron candle-holders in her teeth, their lights flickering. Red face paint decorated her face, smeared by tears and she looked somehow... damp.

"Pretty. No need to patronize me. Even if you see beauty in the eclectic there's nothing beautiful in what I am, unlike you." One eyebrow climbed, glittering green.

[obscurus_phantasma]

Melinoë herself stands and comes to the edge of the stage with the train of her gown shifting into place, the fragrance of flowers floating over the women, the theatre, and revealing them to be real instead of false fabric imitations. She bristles somewhat at the response, and steadfastly replies, "On the contrary, I find the crown and flames to be ethereally elegant. May I ask the purpose behind the candles held between your teeth?"

[bridge_princess]

"Ceremonial. The whole arrangement is a ceremonial one, something taught to me in becoming what I am." She folded her arms, staring at the strange creature then at the dead around her. Hmmm. "Ah. You hold sway over spirits."

It almost sounded like something of a revelatory thing. Part of her could understand how someone fascinated by death and the dead might find a vengeful spirit lingering behind beautiful in its own way. It was a foreign concept to her, but she did 'get it.'

"Quite the little court you have going here, full of pretty little things. Why?"

[obscurus_phantasma]

A curt nod precedes, "I am the Goddess Melinoë, daughter of Hades and Persephone. Only, since our...arrival, I haven't been able to perform my duties. Or play. But then we're brought here," and arms of black and white lift to regard the theatre she's created, "where upon I find my abilities fully restored." Both hands and eyes close in pleasure, her smile nothing short of vainglorious.

As limbs lower, Mel regards Parsee once more. How the white of her gown makes the greens in her eyes so very vibrant. Nothing like the ink pools that are her own. "I've felt lost without my ghosts, listless without my nightmares."

the theater, and pb form!

[anciently]

Wow...

[ Somehow, in all of her travels through these awful tunnels, she's come across... Well, something actually beautiful. Maybe still not safe, but also not filled with lava, either.

Aerith enters the chamber with expression of awe, glancing around for the source of the music. Her eyes soon fall on a woman she's seen before around the void, though not one she's spoken with, and she offers a little wave. ]

Hey... [ Hopefully, the paranoia won't settle on either of them the way it'd affected Aerith and some others previously. ] You're really good at that, you know?

<3

[obscurus_phantasma]

[The dark-haired woman looks over to the only other living thing present (a very stunning thing, at that) and gives a modest smile at the compliment. Hugging the instrument against herself, Melinoë voices her gratitude. ]

Gratzi, bellissima. Years ago, my parents provided me with a private tutor. I haven't played in almost a year, but I still find enjoyment in performing.

[ A beat, then (sans title, for now) - ] My name is Melinoë. May I have the pleasure of your name?

[anciently]

[ Oh! Now this is a very fancy woman.

Aerith offers a little curtsy before springing back into place. ]

I'm Aerith. You have a really beautiful name! [ Nothing like she's ever heard before. ] Did you have that instrument when you arrived, or did you find it here?

[obscurus_phantasma]

Aerith, [ she repeats, holding the name on her tongue as the smile sweetens. ] Hm. No, I've created it, just as I've given life to this theatre, to those ghosts.

[ Mel uses the bow to point at the spirits sprinkled throughout the seating. ]

I am a Goddess, the Goddess of nightmares, of ghosts, and when we woke up in this place, I found that my abilities had been restored, in full.

[anciently]

Oh. [ Wow. There sure are a lot of gods in this place, huh? ] That's amazing. I'm glad you use your powers to make beautiful music, and not anything scary, or something!

[ Particularly since she's the Goddess of nightmares and ghosts... Hmm. Maybe Aerith's already making too many assumptions. ]

I wonder what it is about these tunnels that helped people to get their powers back? It's all so strange, really...

[obscurus_phantasma]

[ Mel can't help but chortle lowly at the innocent, albeit false, remark, and she politely corrects the other woman. ]

I wouldn't quite write that off just yet. The cello playing, that's a habit I like to indulge in from time to time, but it's the mortal's hobby. My nightmares cause insanity when I push them thusly, and I can summon ghosts to fight alongside me.

However, I also summon them for others; lost loved ones for a goodbye or a visit. Perhaps I'm more, hm, sixty-forty, the former being the scary bits.

[ Her smile is nonjudgmental, though. ]