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

[obscurus_phantasma]

She murmurs the Italian equivalent of 'dork' before straining to hear or feel if any means of transportation is going to show. That no other being is lining up to board is somewhat eerie, but only minorly so, since there are other stops.

With lips slightly parted, Mel takes to studying Damien again, a ghost of a smile just starting to form then falling back into a neutral place. "You want to take my picture?"

[abeautifulgame]

"Would you rather I didn't?" he counters, not really an answer. He figured that was a given, considering the mention of the camera and all. He also doesn't understand why this might be a hang-up. "Has anyone bothered, before?"

Maybe that's it?

[obscurus_phantasma]

She flounders to get a sentence out. "No, it's that...I..." Giving up, Melinoë swiftly strides forward and crushes herself against Damien, mindful of the pointy parts of herself, and kisses him.

Pulling away enough to catch his gaze, the Goddess nods. "Yes; let's see if the camera will capture me."

Also, she kind of, sort of just fell closer to being in love with him?

[abeautifulgame]

Damien returns the kiss. When she pulls away, he smiles -- smirks, really, and holds up his phone. "What do you think? Ridiculous selfie? Or would you rather pose for me?"

He'd be happy, either way.

[obscurus_phantasma]

"Ridiculous selfie." Obviously, especially if she doesn't show up on the camera. Then it will be that much more ridiculous and awesome and she'll want a copy somehow, please and thank you. A trip to the beach seems needed, now; Mel can grab a tablet or something.

When Damien does take the photo, Melinoë will, indeed, show up, crown and all, but not as clearly as him. It'll almost be as if a filter of sorts were placed over her and only her.

[abeautifulgame]

"Alright, c'mmere," he orders and never mind the fact that she's already practically on top of him. Still, he takes a moment to shift, himself, getting as close as space will allow, one arm looped around her waist. When he's satisfied (and he's sure she is), he holds up the camera, thumb hovering over the button.

"Say cheese."

He pulls away a little, a second after that, if only so he can check the picture. He holds it out for her inspection, once he has. "Guess you're not a vampire, after all."

[obscurus_phantasma]

"Lucky for you, I suppose, for if I had been one, I surely would have bound you to me forever." Still being near enough to do so, Melinoë slowly drags her teeth along Damien's neck for the added emphasis, a low rumble of a laugh bubbling up. She's deliberately ignoring the fact that he'll die without her, shoving that fear down, down and just enjoying the moment. She's fully powered and Damien is here now.

[abeautifulgame]

"Shame you're not, then," Damien murmurs, a shiver running through him at the brush of her teeth. What he wouldn't give to live forever. Wouldn't that be a fucking surprise for Aiden, if and when he ever returns home, and when he inevitably catches up with him, kills him? Wouldn't it be nice, to just be able to get up again and walk away?

He pushes that thought, that memory of his own looming mortality away, just as she does. He turns his head to chase and hopefully catch her lips, instead.

[obscurus_phantasma]

She meets him and keeps Damien in place by forming both hands on either side of his face, at first smiling into the affection before wrapping around him and deepening the embrace.

When a time comes to break, Melinoë's withdrawal is infinitesimal. She removes her crown as she lowly demands, "So, be mine now."

[abeautifulgame]

"Always," he promises. It's a good thing, really, that the train doesn't seem keen on appearing anytime soon, to let anyone off onto the platform with them. It might be awkward, if it did, considering what they ultimately get up to. He wasn't kidding when he side her new look wasn't a turnoff.

-= FIN =-

[obscurus_phantasma]