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

Comments

MY BAD

[menaretrash]

[ Ann is sad, because this is not how she anticipated things working out. A dream it may be, but how is this going to carry over into the waking world? She's got a million thoughts racing through her mind about it all -- but right now, Ren's focus seems to be on Akechi's body. She's not sure what to do about this either, but she does know that it would be wrong to just leave him. She's not about to do that, and so, she's already volunteered to help carry him around to... wherever they go. Whatever Ren needs, she'll be there, and she knows that Yoshizawa will be, too.

She's got a gentle hand on Ren's left shoulder, keeping an eye on his expression more than anything, when something catches the corner of her vision: flames. That's concerning.

Even more concerning is what happens next: Goro Akechi sits up. But it's not Akechi, is it? The voice is there, but doesn't quite match. ]

...How?

[simulatio]

[He regards the three of them with the same kind of dangerous curiosity as a wild animal trying to decide in which direction he wants to pounce first.

Eventually, his gaze settles on Yoshizawa, and his eyes glitter with the acknowledgement.]

Cinders Ella, [he purrs, rising to his feet in a supernaturally-smooth motion.] What, exactly, gave it away?

[He grins again -- sarcasm, of course -- and brings a hand up as if to push his hair away from his face. The blood from the gunshot wound recedes and vanishes, replaced by two long, curved, black-and-white horns.]

[forethinking]

(There's barely any time to think - as soon as he meets that gaze, Ren is no longer in casual clothes, the blue fire surrounding him immediately. It's not Akechi, like Violet had pointed seconds ago.

If Loki is resembling a wild animal, Joker is much like a hunter. The overwhelmingly intense and attentive gaze doesn't leave the other for a second, attempting to predict the unpredictable, even when it happens right before him as the horns sprout from the other's forehead.

It would be very nice to know what the fuck is going on every now and then, and exactly because none of them do, Joker's ready.)

[menaretrash]

[ That a Persona could have such a strong will to take over someone's body like this... is something that's more than a little unnerving. It was bad enough, seeing Akechi laid out like that, cold and still, but this? This is disturbing on a whole new level.

As Ren becomes Joker again, her hand drops from his shoulder, because like him, she's getting ready for whatever comes next. ]

That's not your body. It doesn't belong to you. [ Because it doesn't and she doesn't want Loki damaging Akechi any further, thanks. She's concerned for what will happen when they all wake up... ]

sings something about p5r spoilers

[feale]

[ It's not the first time she's seen something like this happen. Their battle against Dr. Maruki ended with something similar enough. But that's a piece of memory to which, from her understanding, only she has access. But for Loki to have fused with Akechi in this way...

There's a strange thrill of hope down her spine, an alien feeling in the middle of everything else she's experienced in this twisted hellscape. The last time this happened, Dr. Maruki was alive. Could it be that Akechi is somehow still alive, too? It's a hope that goes unvoiced, however, because... what if she's wrong? She saw that pain written all over Ren's face... she doesn't want to make it worse.

Violet shakes herself out of her thoughts, her left hand coming up to grab her mask, tearing it from her face. Ella appears in the usual wreath of blue flames, and she takes a deep breath, eyes narrowed as she looks at Loki. ]

I don't want to hurt him. [ Her voice is low, words addressed to the others, not to him. ] But he's weak against Ella. If I can take him off-balance, we can get to safety.

[simulatio]

Oh, but it does belong to me, ward of Hecate. [First Ann, then Yoshizawa receives a grin.]

So hostile.

[He licks his pointed teeth once again and takes a step forward, hands spread at his sides as he speaks with a voice like liquid gold. As he steps forward, his body singes with red flame, not unlike the blue of the Thieves changing into their outfits. Though in his case, instead of donning more clothing, it seems as though his school uniform is burning away, his skin taking on a dizzying pattern of black and white zigzags. His shoes disappear, revealing legs like a horse's, his hooves a brilliant shade of gold.]

And all of you are so adamant about working together. [His eyes fix on Ren's, long tongue tasting the air once again as he continues to close the distance between them.] Isn't my ward your teammate? Call off your dogs, Trickster. I mean you no harm.

[forethinking]

(More and more 'what the fuck's echo inside Joker's head as he watches the transformation. Unlike Sumi, he hasn't experienced the possibility - so he's confused to say the least... Not that he shows it too much.

He doesn't have time to object before the girl pulls Ella into a possible fight. Too soon, perhaps hasty when they don't yet know what's going on... And a bad idea considering it's Loki. This would barely go anywhere, and after all, to what extent hurting Loki is hurting Akechi?

Joker nods to Sumi, wordlessly asking for her to stand down for now, even if the way Loki puts it enrages him.)

Friends. (He corrects in stern scolding, and even as Loki approaches, Ren keeps the same analytical gaze upon him.)

Explain.

[simulatio]

[Loki can tell two things: one, Akechi's soul has apparently vacated his mortal body. Quite rudely, actually, considering that he didn't even have the grace to die properly and release Loki back to the sea of souls swimming through the collective unconscious. Two: his ward isn't dead.

Perhaps he'll try to find him. But oh, how long has it been since he'd been able to roam free? He keeps walking, continuing to close the distance between himself and Ren until they're toe to toe.]

Why should I? My boy listens to you on occasion, but for all the masks you hold within you, you do not control me.

[menaretrash]

....

[ This has got to be one of the weirdest fucking things Ann's ever seen. And this comes from someone who has, in fact, seen a lot of weird fucking things. Ann glances over at Violet, and then back at Joker, and then back at Loki as he approaches. ]

...I have a question.

[forethinking]

(And Ren doesn't flinch. He's right there in the same wavelength as Ann, as per usual - this definitely is the weirdest fucking thing he has seen too.

That he can't control Loki makes absolute sense, much like there's not a shadow of a possibility he could control Akechi himself. Instead, he could threaten, tell him that he should cooperate if he doesn't want to become one. He could also be honest and that's the path he chooses to go in this negotiation.)

Shouldn't you want to solve this too? You're not meant to be out.

[feale]

[ Hostile isn't the right word. Rather, she just wants to be ready. Perhaps deep down part of it is the knowledge that while Loki is weak against her attacks, she in turn is weak against his. Perhaps it's just her worry for Joker and Panther. Either way, a nod from the former has her pressing her mask back over her eyes, Ella fading out as easily as she appeared.

Like Ann, she has a question - several, perhaps - but for now she says nothing, just watching, eyes serious, as Loki approaches them. Somehow, she's not sure that he's liable to cooperate. ]

[simulatio]

[He chuckles, low and deep as he keeps his eyes on Ren's for another long moment, as if to say that no, he isn't meant to be out. But why shouldn't he be?

Loki circles around behind Ren, casually draping both arms across the boy's shoulders. He's taller than Akechi had been, hooved feet adding several inches to let him grin almost playfully over Ren's head as he looks to the other two Thieves.]

Ask your question. Perhaps, if I'm feeling gracious, I'll even answer honestly, Ann Takamaki.

[menaretrash]

[ She keeps an eye on Loki as he approaches, frowning loudly as he drapes himself across Joker's shoulders. She doesn't like that closeness, but there's nothing really... aggressive about the gesture, so she can't really say much about it. Or anything at all, really. Not yet, at least. ]

...I'm concerned for Akechi-kun's body. What are your intentions right now? You understand why I'm worried, don't you?

[forethinking]

(It's unnerving, to say the least, to have Loki be so towering. Ann is not the only one frowning, even if the mask covers his eyebrows, and instead of confused, he might just look angry.

But he agrees that the touch is not aggressive. Ren simply raises his shoulders, an unspoken order to be let go of - he doesn't understand what Loki means by it.)

I'm with Ann on this. (God of Chaos, set free in Mementos, a chaotic land by nature.

Recipe for disaster. He'll tail the other, he's decided.)

[simulatio]

[He feels Ren's shoulders lift under his arms, but he doesn't move. If anything, he reclines more casually, resting his chin atop Ren's head. What a delight, knowing that even if Akechi is currently out of his reach, he can still easily sink his claws into another with hardly any effort at all.]

Of course you are, [he purrs into Ren's ear before returning his attention to Ann once again with an amused laugh.]

I shall do whatever I wish. It would be a shame if you were to injure his body trying to stop me, now, wouldn't it?

[feale]

[ It's a strange threat, one that makes Violet's brows knit more deeply. ]

I don't think you will. [ Her voice is stronger than she expects it to be. ] If he's injured, then it makes it more difficult for you in the future, too. Isn't that right?

[ After all, Akechi is the one with whom Loki holds a contract. She has no way of knowing how easy it is to break, or if another could be forged by the Persona in the event of the detective's death, but... ]