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

You're still wearing that?

[They'd parted ways for a while, each exploring on their own with the agreement to meet back up. Akechi's a little early as he rejoins Ren, taking in his Phantom Thief outfit and shaking his head with a quiet huff. He, on the other hand, is wearing nothing but his school uniform.

He rests a gloved hand on his hip and flicks the other as if to preemptively dismiss a stupid question.]

Why on Earth don't you change back when there isn't a threat?

(Joker wasn't expecting Akechi back to their meeting floor so soon, so having that surprise had him jumping - but just a little.

He doesn't have an answer. Maybe he is just basking in the fact that he can for now after who knows how long of feeling restricted. Maybe he just forgot. Maybe both.

At the end, giving it a rest won't hurt. Ren returns to his daily form after some very brief consideration, v-neck and jeans instead of his gentleman thief attire.)

Better?

Much.

[He tilts his head with a bit of a smirk as he glances over him once again, then nods in approval and tilts his head back the way he'd come.]

Come on, I've found the stairs to the next floor down. You're not getting too tired to press on, are you, Joker?

As if.

(They haven't been in the Void for long enough for Akechi to forget just how persistent Ren can be when it comes to things like this. Perhaps it's even more than usual.

It's with unquestionable trust that Ren starts leading the way, decisiveness marking each and every step.)

Good.

[He falls into step behind him, seemingly content to let Ren lead the way, occasionally pointing ahead the route he wants them to take.]

The enemies on this floor have been laughably weak. I can only hope there'll be a greater challenge further down.

[He reaches out, gently brushes a gloved fingertip along Ren's spine.]

Have you encountered anything interesting since we were last together?

(Ren'll take it, even if he's paying attention to the highlighted footprints on the floor, only to his eyes. It is a maze after all.)

I can't say it has been particularly challenging. (He agrees, but then again, it's mostly on the psychological that they hit, rather than the physical.

He's been ok so far, most concern is for others. What peaks his interest is the touch, though, and Ren can't but to give one back, a hand traveling to take the other's and Ren's kissing it before letting go.)

I've been gathering info. A lot of us are extremely powerful.

[Something lights up in Akechi's gaze at the kiss to his hand, a hungry, almost possessive gleam. Quick as a viper, he snatches Ren's hand in his own, pressing his thumb into the other boy's open palm and pressing a kiss to his fingertips.]

Tell me about them. Perhaps we can have a... shall we call it a friendly spar? You and I against the others.

(?

Highly unusual, to say the least. No tensing, no hesitation, just a confident sweep and a kiss... It's not that Ren doesn't like it, but when has Akechi ever been this comfortable with small affectionate gestures? Surely it's something they're working on, slowly, but they're not near the point where he'd ever imagine him to take such initiative in the first place. It's much more Akechi's style to just shove him to the nearest wall or tease Ren into action when he's decided, objective like this...

The words are less surprising, at least. What is the other but a fight lover?)

You and I against half the Void? (Could be interesting to see how they hold up against so many different powers from different realities, he would never deny that.

And finally, he addresses the concern. Perhaps the presented behavior is just... Interest, in a form Ren has yet to become familiar with.)

Are you ok?

Edited 2020-10-23 11:48 (UTC)

Do you doubt we could destroy them?

[His lips curve into a wicked smirk as he runs his tongue along the tip of Ren's finger before finally letting go and taking a step past him, expecting the other to follow.]

I've never felt more alive. [He gestures widely to the fleshy walls, snorts a laugh through his nose.] Finally we can take down whatever's ruling this place and rip this Void apart. How can I be anything but excited at the prospect?

Not at all.

(Ah, yes. This makes more sense now.

There's a shiver that follows the tongue, a certain blush to his cheeks, and definitely an intention from Ren that's stored for later, only because they're waiting on the girls to arrive. It would be very awkward to be walked on (haha), after all.

His thumb caresses the bottom lip before he retrieves the hand, following the other without a second thought.)

I am, too. We've been stagnant for too long.

Action is almost always preferable to inaction, [he agrees. He walks with an easy stride, all confidence even through the horrible, disgusting mess of not!Mementos they're making their way through.] Even the smallest acts of destruction can have great consequences in the future, like removing the keystone from an arch.

[He can't see the invisible footsteps that Ren is following, but he breaks from them, turns in a different direction.]

Shall we... kill time, before your friends arrive?

[The smirk he tosses Ren generally means one of two things: fucking or fighting. Considering their surroundings, it's likely to be the latter.]

(He was slightly distracted with his mind wandering, even through his straight face. He can't help but to nod and agree, but that's exactly when the footprints point forward and Akechi makes a turn.

He halts in a frown, but surely Akechi must know where he's going with what the words and the smirk that follows them.)

Sure. (And there's a smirk of his own, smug and imposing before an eyebrow quirk.)

What are you suggesting?

A match, of course.

[He adjusts his glove, tugs it more tightly over his palm. He's led Ren down a dead-end, around a corner so the path behind them isn't immediately visible from within.]

If you're worried about stamina, we'll undoubtedly rest when your friends arrive.

[His eyes glitter as he turns around, rests his hand on his hip again. How much fighting had Ren been doing, exactly? They've been underground for quite some time, after all. His gaze flicks over Ren's body, searching for hints of fatigue.]

Think you can keep up with me?

I'm not worried.

(If anything, it's overconfidence that marks the words. Ren's posture even straightens, his chin points up and soon, he's back in the outfit he was originally found.

There's no signs of exhaustion to be seen, even if he has been fighting for most of his time here. Who knows when he will be able to be this thrilled, this excited, this himself?)

You should be.

[He faces Ren and brings a hand up to his face, lips twisting into a warped smirk visible for just a moment before Loki's helmet obscures his face as his outfit swirls around him.]

Megidolaon.

[It's said almost calmly as Loki swirls into being behind him, glimmering a fiery deep red not unlike when Akechi had faced him in the engine room at his full strength. And, just like then, Ren can almost certainly sense the naked killing intent behind not only the word, but by launching his strongest Almighty attack immediately.

Oh, also it's much, much stronger than when Ren had faced him back then. Far beyond what Akechi's ever leveled at him in the past. Ren can hit him back, of course, but each blow seems only to render his own strength greater as he relies entirely on his most stamina-draining attack, Megidolaon, to get around Satanael's resistances.

Ren's fought beside Akechi before. There's no way Akechi has the stamina to pull off so many Almighty attacks in quick succession like that.]

Come on, Joker! [he taunts through a wild laugh.] Is this all you've got?!

Edited 2020-10-23 17:31 (UTC)

(Out of all the Personas that have become his mask, Satanael gets the favorite spot, exactly for just how powerful he is. The fight barely begins and all the auto skills are already in place and Ren smiles as soon as hears the order.

Akechi strategy is not looking too sound, when he might get exhausted too fast and too soon, but he can't help to notice the strength. Was he holding back when they had their latest rematch?

Akechi is not playing games, Joker can tell right away. There was no initial taunt, only a cold command of skill with such magnitude... Which is not what he had done a few days (?) ago, upon their rematch. Not that Ren is complaining, dodging the skill with a graceful backflip before he gets back to his feet, placing an order of his own. Riot Gun, because Maeigaon would be useless, because he's not copying the same attack, because it's either that or Colossal Damage.

Thanks, Satan.)

I'll show you what I've got.

[Akechi doesn't seem to tire. His eyes blaze with madness not unlike Call of Chaos, though he hasn't used it yet. It's hard to tell if Riot Gun even hit him at all, considering he's either dodged or withstood the attack.]

You're holding back! [he calls with another laugh and yet another Megido skill.] Is this your way of saying you want to die?

(Fine, maybe he is holding back for a second, but the fact that Riot Gun did nothing cleared that thought real quick. He takes the blow, groaning at the pain but standing his ground even through it.

Next thing, the floor beneath Akechi's feet bleed red and black, foreshadowing what's to come - the enormous Viper almost swallowing the other whole in its bite before it retreats.

Wait, did he say die?

It's probably just his battle speech quirks. This is fine so far.)

[He doesn't scream. He doesn't wail or beg. When the Viper recedes, there's only Akechi, that blood-red haze of Loki hovering behind him.]

Finally taking this seriously, Joker? Do you really think I'd want to be with a man who isn't willing to fight to the death to prove he's my better?

[No howling desperation in his voice, just sheer amusement and madness as he points, an imperious, almost princely gesture as he commands,] Loki! [and Loki pivots on his sword to unleash another Almighty.]

(How in the fuck is Akechi still standing perfectly unmoving, almost like the attacks don't make a difference and much like he's attacking a wall. Ren is starting to get enraged, letting the words and the situation get the best of him, teeth-gritting in his frustration.

If Ren kills you, you won't have a man, you rage-filled idiot.

He refuses to allow that skill reach him, another backflip before he draws his gun, hopefully faster than Akechi can react before he fires half his available bullets.)

Edited 2020-10-23 18:41 (UTC)

[Akechi dodges, too. Ren's last trailing shot manages to snag him in the arm, but it doesn't slow him down. He can be wounded, but he doesn't even seem to notice, simply laughing again as if from the sheer thrill and madness of combat.]

That's more like it!! Blow for blow, until one of us is dead!

[He doesn't bother to draw a gun: with Satanael, Ren resists gun damage. Instead, he simply gestures for another Megidolaon. And again.]

(This time, Ren holds his forearms up to help him support the damage... And he doesn't attack back. It's too shady at this point, past the line of Akechi's usual angry, homicidal fighting remarks and the fact that he really isn't bothered at all by any of the attacks he casts on the other, as it barely even hurts. Joker knows how much damage Akechi has taken, and yet, he's standing on his two feet, while Joker definitely has seen better days.

Fuck, is this another nightmare?)

What are you doing?

Isn't it obvious?

[He looks at Ren, and a laugh bubbles up from his throat, harsh and unrestrained.]

I'm finally, finally going to defeat you.

[His voice pitches up higher as he stalks forward, eyes almost glowing behind his red-tinged visor.]

Come now. You didn't honestly buy that whole "repenting criminal" act, did you? These last few months, I was just biding my time, making you trust me, until I could finally destroy you. And look at you now!!

[Another laugh.]

You can barely fight back!! Are you really the same Joker I fought before? Did I weaken you that much? Your attacks do nothing.

(Joker's eyes are as big as they could be, cold sweat running down his spine as he attempts to process what he just heard.

It's... Not true. It can't be true. It wouldn't be the first time Akechi has lied to him, but even in order to succeed in the most important mission of his life, there were holes in his story. There were slips.

Decided refusal to believe it comes quick, both from the emotional part of him that screams that there's no way the last few months have been a lie, and the logical part of his brain arguing that if he sees Shido repeatedly, this might as well just be an illusion of the Void.

Even so, this is not a fear of his. Either out of foolish faith or of a deeper connection, Ren has always been convinced that this was not even a remote possibility.)

You're not him.

(Hatred oozes from his words, the eyes behind the mask as intense as they could be as Satanael nearly triples in size behind him, intimidating and authoritarian, towering over them both and only stopping before he hits the ceiling.)

I will ask you once. Where is he?

Edited 2020-10-23 19:27 (UTC)

Joker.

[All at once, his voice takes on the smoothness of honey, even as Loki still drifts behind him. Satanael's size doesn't deter him as he steps forward with sure, confident steps. He pushes his mask up with one hand to reveal his face as he approaches, eyes never wavering from Ren's.]

So sure. So confident. So trusting. So willing to see the good in others, even if it doesn't exist.

[His eyes glimmer with a strange emotion as a smile tugs at his lips again.]

And I can assure you, it doesn't exist. Doing good is just performative for someone like me, after all. And oh, how I'll weep over your corpse when your friends find you. How much sympathy and attention they'll give me. I could do anything at all to them, and they'll chalk it up to the grief of man losing his lover.

[His clawed gauntlets clutch at his chest over his heart in fake sorrow.]

It's pathetic how easy you and your friends are to manipulate. Your feelings, your emotions. Poor little Yoshizawa-san doesn't even know the truth about me, does she? [He drops his hand.] How perfect.

And even if death isn't, shall we say, "permanent" even now... why, you'll just forgive me again, won't you?

Edited 2020-10-23 19:37 (UTC)

004 - Lucid Dreaming

akechi dies at the end (closed to ren)

all tears and spoilers from here on down

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cw character death, we in it now fam

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