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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Merlin just shrugs at that.

"Oh, I have a few other ideas I want to try."

Eventually. When he gets tired of playing with this one. Which may be a while. Which, speaking of...

"Though while I can't speak for anyone else, I don't really see any reason to leave just yet, anyway."

Dreams are kind of his thing, after all, and he's been cut off for months. So what if most of it is a nightmare? Nightmares are typical for incubi anyway, Merlin's just an outlier on that point, so it doesn't really bother him all that much.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, this is great. But you're still building this on top of, let me repeat, a disgusting vile flesh tunnel, so it kind of detracts from the general ambiance here."

The stem of the flower blossoms a few more tendrils that curl over and begin to massage Viridi's temples.

"Well, you do you. I'm busting out of here A.S.A.P."

"Well, it's not my dream, after all."

There's only so much he can do! Especially when it's a weird... collective slash concept thing. If there's no singular dreamer's mind for him to act upon, well, that makes it just a bit difficult to make any permanent or widespread changes.

"Oh? Good luck, then."

He's still pretty content to hang out here for... a while. Who knows. It's been months since he had access to dreams, so it might take some time for him to get tired of it.

"After..."

She continues, snapping her fingers as a red glass of something or other appears in her hands.

"I get some R&R."

She reclines in her flower.

"So what are you, some kind of minor deity of the land? Definitely feeling some vibes I don't recognize."

Merlin gives a laugh at that.

"Not really, though I am half incubus."

Which is... still technically a spirit born of the planet, in his world at least, but not necessarily any special nature connections. Merlin just has a particular affinity for flowers and such, perhaps as a quirk of being a halfbreed.

"What about you?"

Viridi spits out the first sip of her nectar.

"H-Half wha -- " Then lowers her voice to a hiss. "Don't just drop that word so casually! You're supposed to say 'demon' and then you know, waggle your eyebrows suggestively or something! There are kids here."

Viridi comes from a family friendly franchise.

"OK, anyway, gross, I take back my compliments. Why is a demon making flower fields?"

Okay, now that's funny, and Merlin can't help but laugh even more at that reaction.

"Kids such as yourself?"

At least, she looks like a kid. Merlin doubts she is, though, but he can still poke a little fun at that point.

"Why not? Maybe I just enjoy the chance to admire beautiful things."

Like flowers. Or women.

"I am obviously not a child."

She doesn't even deign to continue on that thread of conversation.

"And your mythology is a little outside my wheelhouse, but aren't you supposed to live in the Underworld and you know, torture human souls? Pitchforks and sulfur and burning hellfire?"

My, she really is an amusing one, isn't she?

"I can't speak for others, but wouldn't it rather defeat an incubus's purpose to not work with living humans?" You know, to do... incubus activities with! A disembodied soul wouldn't be the same at all.

"Though, you're right that an ordinary incubus wouldn't care much about aesthetics, but as I said, I'm only half."

She makes another noise of discontent.

"Eugh. Fine, I asked for it.

"Look, don't get me wrong! I'm the Goddess of Nature; the circle of life is so my thing. I teach sex ed! I picket for sanitary products to be covered by insurance! I'll even keep track of your cycles for you if you ask - menstrual or estrous.

"Just not... with underworld creatures. It's such a taboo."

Viridi furiously resumes slurping her nectar as if to down the bad taste in her mouth.

"So what's the other half? Dryad?"

A nature goddess, hm? Well, that certainly explains a few things. Not that it would stop Merlin from calling her a 'kid' again if he thinks he can get away with it, of course.

He does raise an eyebrow at that question, though. He thought it was pretty obvious, after all, given just what beings like incubi prey on.

"Human."

"Worse than an incubus!"

It had been pretty clear, but. Hope springs eternal in the goddess's chest.

"What -- I don't see where this whole flower aesthetic comes in. Half of you is an enemy to all natural things and the other half of you is demon. Don't tell me you're just some hippie with free will who likes gardening, because I refuse to examine my preexisting biases."

Alright, now Merlin just has to laugh at that.

"Maybe I just enjoy looking at beautiful things?"

That's probably not all there is to it. Maybe.

"Well, I am right here."

...
...
...

"It's because I'm Nature and nature is beautiful. Do you see this radiant skin?"

...

"Hmm, but you do look a little young for me..."

He's really only saying that to rile her, now. If she's going to make such a stink over him even mentioning the term 'incubus', he won't hesitate to remind her exactly what she's speaking to.

"That's not what I meant!"

She absolutely keeps walking into these.

"Just compliment me on my divine beauty, you weird pervert! Why don't I ever meet anyone normal in this place?"

There's a common factor here in the people she meets and it's her.

She totally keeps walking into it. Merlin is enjoying it.

"I can't speak for anyone else, but are you quite certain you want the sort of compliment you might receive from the likes of me?"

Yep, he's milking this for all it's worth.

She looks almost defeated.

"Look, just say that I'm the greatest goddess you've ever met and we'll leave it at that.

"Can't believe I complimented your flowers. What was I thinking?"

"Hmm, well, I've only just met you, and I do already know another goddess or two, so I'm not sure yet if I can say..."

Don't be fooled, that wouldn't stop him from saying whatever he wanted anyway, whether truth or blatant lie. He's just going for the option most likely to continue to get a rise out of her.

"Now, now, a flower is still beautiful no matter whose garden it's in."

That wasn't meant as a double entendre, either. Probably.

"Yeah, laugh it up, pal. We're starting off on an uneven footing here, so just take your win gracefully."

G rated, R rated, and never the twain shall meet.

"What other goddesses have you met who would rival this package, huh?" ... "Not that way."

She's learning! Merlin still laughs, though.

"Oh, Ereshkigal was pretty cute. Especially with how she'd always go all dere whenever Fujimaru was around..."

"I said greatest goddess, not 'goddess you most want to meet in a sketchy dive bar after two drinks'! Yeesh. Objectively speaking, we can take on many forms, regardless, so the appearance hardly matters."

Which begs the question of why she has this form, but Viridi isn't sharing.

"Besides, if you like flowers so much, you should really be prostrating yourself before me or something. I made them, you know?"

"Ah, but doesn't how a goddess chooses to present herself reflect upon her nature?"

Much like how he himself chooses such a youthful appearance, rather than the wizened old man many legends depict.

"Don't read too much into it, buddy. I am adorable. That's all you need to know."

Viridi loudly slurps down the last of her nectar before making the glass disappear.

"Anyway, Casanova, you shouldn't judge women based on how they look. I'd wipe the floor with your Ereshwhatever."

"My, now that would be a sight to see..."

Nevermind that the goddess of Kur would probably beat Merlin to a pulp if she knew he was talking about her this way. Granted, the same is probably true of any of the goddesses he interacted with, but still!

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