Once upon a dream... (4th Wall Event/TDM Combo platter)

[missrecalled_mods]

[((OOC note: This fourth wall is open to any character who would be game legal. If a character who posted here reserves or apps in September, these threads can be considered game canon as long as all involved agree. If a character doesn't app, for those in game already... wow that was a weird dream. Wait, what did you dream about again?))]


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For Jordan, still comatose after the magical mishap that had resulted in the first Misrecalled being summoned, it began with a dream. A dream so strong, that it had her stirring fitfully even in her current state; and eventually caused her to release an uncontrolled burst of magic.

For everyone else, unaware of what was coming, it began with falling asleep. Whether or not someone was tired before hand, whether they even could sleep, they simply fell asleep - or a reasonable facsimile - wherever they happened to be. Maybe they remembered falling asleep, maybe they didn't. But either way they suddenly found themselves in... a very strange place.

First all there was that they could see was a vast featureless plain in shining gold and silken draperies. But that was only a glimpse, for just by existing in this space, each dreamer warps it. Changes it. Not all at once, but bits, constantly changing between them and whomever they encounter. Each person brings with them bits of three places... where they had been last, a familiar place from memory, and whatever place they call home. But this is constantly changing and shifting, more so the more dreamers are present in any space. Before long, Bits of different landscapes, different environments, even different weather conditions will cover the landscape like some crazy patchwork quilt. Here a bit of a sunny, idyllic garden, there a section of shadowy, graffiti covered slum. To one side, a chunk of charming cobblestone streets under sunset tinged skies, to the other, a forest of towering trees, some of which seem to be moving. And glimpsed through the gaps between some of the odd terrain sections, some remainder of the poorly defined golden space, hung with colorful draperies could still be seen.

And the ground itself was not immune to the changes. While the ground on which they stood might seem stable enough, if someone walked more than a few paces in any direction, that could change. Solid ground could become shifting sand. Or water. Or a wall might suddenly appear to block their path. Doors might lead to places they definitely shouldn't or open to the edge of a sheer cliff. And if the complete lack of logic to the landscape wasn't enough of an indication that this was some sort of dream, then the unreadable signs would clinch it. Because any signs - or indeed, anything with writing on it that they didn't have on their person when they arrived - was covered with nothing but unreadable gibberish.

And it got even more surreal when a dreamer spotted anyone else in the dreamspace, or even looked at their own reflection - for each person appears in the dream in whatever way they see themselves. So someone with low self confidence might be short, someone with a huge ego might tower. If someone sees themselves as a horrible criminal who needs to repent, they might be in prison togs. If the change is dramatic enough people who know each other well might still fail to recognize each other within the dreaming.

Now normally such a bizarre dream might have been put down to stress, a meal that disagreed with them, or maybe indulging in some sort of illicit substance, but this clearly was no ordinary dream, if for no other reason than that in this dream, they weren't alone. The other people they encounter are not just figments of their imagination, and they too change the shared dream space.

Those already either on the Isle or in the kingdom of Auradon proper would find themselves all thrown together in the bizarre dreamworld. And that would have been strange enough. But more than the current populations of Auradon and the Isle could be found in this place. Maybe the faces where familiar. Maybe they weren't. But they definitely hadn't turned up in the physical world that was home to Ben and Mal. Yet anyway.

Given the extremely variable geography, exploring the area might be dangerous. At least as dangerous as anything in a dream could be. But investigating might help them find a way back to the physical world faster, for those who realize they are dreaming. Or they could just stand around and talk or complain about the latest bit of magical weirdness to happen to them and hope they woke up soon. Or they could go with it and enjoy the weird. It was their dream, after all. They could pretty much do what they liked. Or at least try to. Either way, they seemed stuck there for the present, for better or worse.

Comments

Birb! :D

[not_42]

Meteon might not be able to immediately recognize Hermes in his current state, but she might recognize the feeling of warmth and recognition as he looks up from the pool at her greeting. And she would definitely recognize the familiar voice when he spoke, however long it had been since she'd last heard it. "Your presence is rarely alarming, Meteon," Hermes said. "Even in dreams. Though this is a most unusual one, despite the familiar surroundings."

Birb! :3

[hermesbird]

She does indeed feel his warmth and compassion ghzg she remembered that he always has as if it was yesterday. Meteion is created to feel emotions including his.

"H-Hermes...!" Suddenly she was overwhelmed with a thousand years' worth of guilt. Sapphire blue eyes watered and unable to contain herself, she rushed toward to him, small arms open wide for a hug as she sobs and sniffles on his black robe.

She misses him terribly. It's hard to describe this feeling. She was used to the cold, vast emptiness of space, it's stars and the dynamis of despair. Was it joy?

Once she is able to relax and calm down after a few moments, not letting go of him. "Your presence is a joy." She said. She could help him later figuring out dreamscape.

[not_42]

He was surprised and a bit confused at her reaction, but gently returned the hug after a moment. His people didn't tend towards public displays of affection like this, but Meteion always had been less inhibited in that regard. And if the tears concerned him a bit, it didn't lessen the warmth or affection in the hug. "As is yours, Meteion," he assured her. And it was true; it nearly always was. But something was a bit off. "Yet you were crying; is something wrong?"

[hermesbird]

What was off is the span of time that happened between them. Long, long, long ago, when she and her sisters returned with the report, she ran and flee from the horrific visions of the Final Days on those stars. She was afraid of telling him the truth of what her sisters have found and discovered on those stars under his scrutiny and the despair of violence, destruction, and ultimately a cry for death of all life on those stars will bring Hermes further to the same darkness.

With his words, she finds that assuring. If only she can overcome her fear of bringing him the truth.

"My sisters returned." Or rather most of them were vanquished by the Warrior of Light so that only she remained. "We...I have much to tell you with our report. It's a long tale to tell so only if you have time."

[not_42]

He had thought that he would be more excited to hear those words. And perhaps, in reality, he yet would be. But then this was no ordinary dream either, of that much he was certain. Somewhere between the realms of dreams and reality perhaps? But how close to one or the other, he had no way of telling at present.

And even had this been reality, her tone and the fact that she'd approached him as she had would have likely given him pause. Still, he saw no reason to refuse her; this was what she'd been made for after all. "I suspect that in this place we effectively have all the time in the world," he said. "So please, go ahead with your report, and I will listen to it all."

[hermesbird]

She felt the weight of her burden lighten somewhat. That he's more than willing to hear her. Time is all she needed and she is glad this dreamscape granted it. Thousands of years ago, she feared sharing the knowledge with him, knowing what knowledge she shares will be seen as a danger to everyone, and that she will be terminated by the council and in their judgement, seen as a failure of a familiar without a spare thought or a fair trial of her thoughts and feelings.

The council is not here. So, it should be safe. "My sisters and I searched far and wide across the universe to find your answer." Keeping her voice steady.

"What we found as a collective. There were very little signs of life, and most stars have no lifeforms at all. There were traces of homes long abandoned but no residents could be found. Some stars have hostile environment unsuitable for life. And then there are some stars where the inhabitants choose the path of war, death, and destruction upon themselves thus ending their own civilization."

[not_42]

Hermes had feared it too, which was part of why he'd never formally submitted her design for consideration. Whether or not she was successful in her mission, she was far more likely to be seen as a selfish indulgence of his own curiosity and deemed to have no place on the star. And perhaps they would have even been correct in their assessment of his reasoning. But a creation should not bear the punishment for the recklessness or flawed reasoning of their creator; this he firmly believed. Yet it was a belief shared by no one else, and should his 'pet project' have come fully to light, it would be innocent Meteion held to account for his failings. And this, he could not allow.

But here, amid this dream of Elpis and other, stranger places, they need not fear such censure. Here it was only the two of them. And he would hear the report he'd so long awaited.

Even if that report brought grim tidings. Tidings that pained him to hear. That not all stars would harbor life or even be able to had been something he'd expected. Not all could be as hospitable as Etheirys, and not even all areas of Etheirys were equally so. Yet to hear that this was more the norm than the exception, and that those stars that did harbor life had destroyed themselves... No, no, she'd said it was a long tale. There had to be more. More than the darkness she now described.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, though if he were being honest it was more for Meteion's sake than his own. Though he couldn't entirely keep the bleakness out of his voice as he replied simply, "Go on."

[hermesbird]

As his beloved creation even if it's a selfish indulgence, Meteion would have continued to carry out her mission for his sake unconditionally if only to find and seek the answer to his endless curiosity and research. Dynamis as an element is still unknown territory as opposed to aether and he made her with the exact energy, which is why it was kept a secret away from the council.

Out of compassion, she was spared from the punishment of being destroyed and this was a debt Meteion wishes to repay him selfsame a thousand-fold.

"It was a long report. I'm sure you may appreciate it if I write it down for you to read. There are so many stars and many civilizations that it will take you many days and nights to study." She said. She is hoping to spend as much time with him as possible to keep him company.

Learning much from the warrior of light, with a beat, she has hope. "But none of them can compare to our beautiful home of Etheirys. Our home, our star seems to be one of a few that carries and nurture life especially your favorite, the flowers and the animals you created."

Such a bleakness and despair she was familiar with, and she felt his emotions. Perhaps to ease his loneliness, she reached out to gently hold his hand.

"We can discuss over tea if you like?" Technically she doesn't need to consume food, but she can feel the desire for drink and food to appear for normalcy.

[not_42]

He smiled slightly as she took his hand, though it didn't show on his current features. And even if it had, would not have quite reached his eyes. Meteion had always attempted to comfort him, even when his own emotions pained her so. It was unfair of him to seek such comfort when he knew she must be hurting herself, and even more so when he was the one responsible for that hurt, but he had ever been too weak to refuse it when offered, and now was no exception.

"Perhaps... we can discuss it over tea, yes," he said after a moment. "Though I fear that is somewhat unfair to you, unless the dream state has given you the ability to consume food and drink." An ability he had not given her. It hadn't been necessary for her mission, but even though she was able to draw sustenance from dynamis itself, he couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty at depriving her of the opportunity to experience such simple pleasures.