tabularasa_rp | 004 - Lucid Dreaming

004 - Lucid Dreaming

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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(OOC: Yep, pretty glowing eyes because all those orange glowy. Confusing!)

So you're one of the new ones. Do I even want to know what a shadow is? Where are we anyway?

[She was looking her over quietly, green eyes a feral glow, though for the moment she seemed to just be some sort of odd cosmetic thing. She tapped her lips and shrugged.]

I've got claws, but depending on what they are, it's not always good to be that close.

[ Violet nods in reply to the woman. Compared to some of the others here, she would definitely be considered new. And yet, ironically, this place is one that she knows better than many of the most seasoned veterans of the Void. ]

A Shadow is the part of ourselves that we can't face. If we try to repress it for too long, it becomes a monster within the Metaverse, where we are now. This place... This is Mementos. It's probably easiest to explain it as the Collective Unconscious in physical form.

[ And right there: probably the most words Violet has managed since her arrival without her usual, embarrassed stutter. Despite the strangeness of their situation, it's easy for her to be confident. Ella is no longer just a whisper in her soul; Violet can feel her full power. ]

Claws should be okay. Maybe you should find something ranged too, though...

[ She glances at her hand, covered as it is in the bright red of her gloves, and then looks back up at the woman with a nod, a determined smile behind her mask. ]

We should stick together until then. I'm fully equipped for taking Shadows down!

Oh... God, you deal with that sort of crap regularly? Your inner darkness tuns into monsters and you have to ... wow, gotta say that is a really really direct way of addressing your inner demons.

[She laughed and shook her head. Yeah, she definitely envied that. It was a much simpler way of dealing with these problems, wasn't it? But not something she could eve take back. She'd faced her inner demons a long time ago, se supposed.

And then she became hers.]

Ngh. well don't worry about my demons showing up too much. That's old news. Still, I've got claws, you've got whatever. We should be ok hopefully.

[ Violet's smile curves a little more broadly, and she nods again. It's definitely not something that everyone would be used to, but for her, it's part of normal. Fighting Shadows, learning to tame her own...

Oh! If she's going to be fighting side by side with the blonde woman, though... Violet turns fully to her, bowing by way of a proper greeting. ]

I'm so sorry. I completely forgot to introduce myself. My name is— [ well, her codename is ] —Violet. It's nice to meet you!

Don't worry about it. I'm really used to that. Parsee Mizhuashi. But, if you know a guy named Ren... [Look, the getup. Not judging. Violet wore it well after all, better than she could. But it was distinctive.] He might have mentioned me.

Ok, why don't you lead the way?

[ Her eyes brighten a touch behind her mask at the mention of Ren, but she shakes her head. ]

I'm terribly sorry, but Senpai didn't mention you. But also... I haven't been here for very long yet, certainly much less time than he and the other senpais have been.

But it's nice to meet you, Parsee-san!

[ She offers another brief bow before she straightens up, the friendliness falling off her face, replaced immediately with a serious expression as she scans the tunnels ahead of them. ]

Right.

Hah. yeah, I'm not really the most pleasant person to mention anyway. Truuuust me. I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to leave me out of his stories.

[She snickered darkly while she returned the bow and catching the difference in her tone. Hmmm. Yeah, they probably should focus on that first, more than anything.]

Lead the way. I'll be right with you, claws out. Just in case.

[ There's a surprised shake of her head in response to that one. Ren's not really the type to avoid talking about people, when he does have something to say. It's more likely just a matter of the fact that she really hasn't been here for long; a lot of their time together has been spent introducing her to the Void and to the various people they've come across in their explorations.

Despite those thoughts, though, Violet's not about to go blindly guessing at his motivations, and so instead she just nods, moving forward with her rapier tight in her hand. ]

What makes you say that you're not a pleasant person to mention?

[ As if to answer her own question, a prime opportunity for jealousy immediately presents itself: she spies a Shadow in the darkness ahead, and her left hand comes to her face, pulling off her mask; in the same instant, there's a swirl of blue fire around her, a white-garbed woman appearing from the flames. ]

Ella!

[ As she shouts her Persona's name, white beams of light stretch and spike into the creature, obliterating it in a moment. With a victorious smile, Violet replaces her mask on her face, glancing back at Parsee with a nod. ]

[What wasn't quite so apparent at first glance was that his reason for not sharing about his friends was that Parsee... well, she'd explain it herself.]

I'm a spirit of jealousy and vengeance. I'm behaving myself these days but let's be real. If I'm that jealous all the time, most people.... eh?

[She watched the girl releasing her powers, her eyes glittering and glowing fiercely as she bit her lip. Fuck, she had power. Pretty power. Powerful power. Of course she did. Ren probably did too... all of them did. Why di... calm down, calm down.

Thankfully that faint green glow didn't reach the point that she noticed it, nor did it extend out close enough to reach her companion for now. She breathed slowly, grinding her teeth.]

Impressive trick. Wish I had one like it.

[ Only once her mask is back on, the Shadow vanquished and dissolving into nothing, does Violet register what Parsee said. Jealousy and vengeance... whoops. For a moment, the girl forgets to be Violet, and is just Yoshizawa again, embarrassed and awkward as she offers the spirit a rueful smile. ]

U-Um! I-It's true that it's useful, but... Remember what I said about Shadows? It's a power that comes from mine, s-so!

[ How does she explain the effort and trouble that it took for her to be able to work effectively alongside Ella? That her experiences shaped her into who she is now, but that she wouldn't wish them on anyone? That so much of her own Shadow comes from her insecurities and jealousies... ]

It was... rather a long journey to reach this point.

[ It feels like a lame offer, but the rest of it is something she has no idea how to put into words. She offers Parsee a small smile, something kind and understanding, but tinged with that same awkwardness. ]

Which means you had to make peace with, or tame that darker side of yourself. Reach some sort of personal epiphany through horrible trials to unlock a power deep within yourself?

[Sorry about that, Violet. She'd been doing this shit to Ren for a while. there were just some tropes of ancient fables and heroes that were so timeless that she'd just flat out call them in public. She winked back at her.]

Kind of jealous of you, getting to master part of yourself through a personal journey, if that's what went down. But, I guess I sort of mastered my darkness. I became it, after all.

And I more or less stayed 'me' so it wasn't like some mindless zombie or monster, so it's not all bad. Just not as good as what you can do. But we don't have to compare. I just... do it naturally. That's all.

[ For a moment, she's not sure to think about what the other woman said. Did she offend her somehow with her statement? Say something that's somehow improper? She's left floundering, an almost-panicked expression on her features as she tries to figure out how to make it right again.

The wink, however, makes it clear that Parsee is teasing, and Violet breathes a sigh of... maybe not relief, but something similar. Based on what the other said, her being jealous isn't something of which Violet should be surprised, but her heart still goes out to the other, a sympathy she can't help but feel. ]

It sounds to me like you mastered yours too. Just in a different way. And... honestly, it's...

[ How is she meant to put this? Jealousy is something that's plagued Violet her entire life... ]

...Mastering jealousy is something amazing, I think.

Oh, I didn't master it at all. I figured out how to weaponize it, yeah, but I didn't master anything. Don't let power fool you. I embraced and 'became' it, not mastered it. There's a difference. I suppose maybe it's a little impressive in a way. Not like you but something.

But... [She sighed.] Mastery means that I have control over it, and I don't. I'm always going to be a bitter, envious creature even on my good days. But I am what I am. Being at peace with that can be ... helpful in a way.

It's not all bad, I assure you. [She snorted a little.] I have appearances to keep up after all. Looking like the small fish is all part of the powers.

[ Violet can't help but shake her head in response to that one. ] I think I have to disagree with you, Parsee-san. Feelings are something we can't always control, no matter how hard we try. But you understand yours, and like you said, you can weaponize them too... but...

[ Her head tilts, a thoughtful expression on her face. How is she meant to explain it...? ]

Persona users... our power comes from rebellion. Ella is the symbol of my rebellion against my old self, my cowardice.

[ As a Shadow forms not too far away from them, Violet takes her mask off, and her Persona swirls back into view, wreathed in blue. The girl's red eyes flick over to Parsee, and she offers her a small smile. ]

Sometimes I'm still scared. But I've learned how to use it. Just like you.

There's... a definite similarity. Don't get me wrong. Now that I understand 'how' you lot have your powers, there's a similarity. But not quite the same.

I guess, though, over time I figured out how to control the power that became me better. I can certainly manipulate people's envy very easily, when the power's working right. Which... is honestly something I'm trying not to even think about right now. It rarely ends well.

[Because, unlike Violet, who turned her cowardice around through rebellion to be bravery? Parsee turned her jealousy into a full blown weapon. So, it tended to cause a lot of problems when she turned it on full tilt.]

I don't think we've got much to be scared of in this place, though. It hasn't exactly figured out what death is yet. Still having trouble with injuries, honestly.

[ Hasn't figured out death... that's certainly a good thing, although she can't help but think that if the Void has brought Mementos, death certainly can't be too far behind it. After all, Mementos is the collective unconscious of the people—

—plus, there's that eerie heartbeat, something that would be out of place even at home.

She doesn't want to cause worry though, and so she just nods, that smile still on her lips. ]

If Shadows are the worst it's got, then we've got this, don't we!

[ She springs forward, defeating the Shadow with a few sharp, decisive strikes of her rapier, before she rejoins Parsee, the mask settled once more on her face. ]

Still, it's best if we stick together. Senpai said that hunger came back very suddenly.

[ The rest of it remains unsaid, but her meaning is clear: death could do the same. ]

[It was fine. Parsee was plenty worried for the both of them as is. She was just a lot more grumbly about the process of being that way than she was fretty. She listened and nodded. From the description, Shadows were within her abilities and clearly Violet's.

The comment about hunger made her grunt.]

Yeah, it did, which means a lot can happen without much warning. This might be its way of introducing us to the concept.

...So no stupid chances.

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004 - Lucid Dreaming

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