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

Ian Wright | Quantum Leap | OTA | CW: Spoilers, angst

[ubuntu_programmer]

Not that long ago, how Ian saw themself and how Ian looked to others would have differed wildly. But more recently, stability with friends and feeling very needed at work helped stabilize them in their own skin some.

So Ian largely looked like Ian. Not exactly like, a bit more androgynous and there was a bit of an.... almost a glow around their head. Look, they had quite the ego about their intelligence. Earned, but still...

As for where they were... an odd mix of the Auradon Prep library and a bank of computers - that they would quickly blank the screens of as soon as anyone approached. And... people. Not moving or talking, not even really there. But... people. A small group of holograms.

Each of the people looked like they were paused in the middle of something, but that something changed when someone looked away from them then back again.

[mist_the_point]

The man who wandered into the area likely looked just as out of place in front of a collection of computers as Ian would have in an enchanted forest. Not just because he was dressed in rough, undyed clothing that had obviously seen much better days, but because he was very obviously not human. Which didn't mean a great deal at the moment, but might, should they ever meet outside the dreamworld.

The gray skinned man seemed far less interested in computers than he did in the still holograms of the people present though. "What is this?", he said, examining one of them. "Some manner of shade? Or simply another of this place's tricks?" He reached out, attempting to touch the unmoving man before him to see if he would prove solid or not. He hadn't yet noticed that he wasn't alone in this new area.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Holograms," Ian said. "This is clearly some sort of dream or bad trip or something, because you look like something right out of one of my games. I wanted to get my friends into my gam, but not like this." The subconscious could be so weird...

[mist_the_point]

"Yes, this place does enjoy its dreams and visions it would seem," he said, turning to face the one who'd spoken. He was clearly annoyed, but with the situation, not with Ian. Meanwhile the word 'hologram' meant nothing to him, but he opted not to reveal his ignorance on that front. "I'm not the sort to play games, however, nor be party to the games of those who enjoy manipulating people as well as game pieces if I can avoid it."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Yeaaaaah, unless you're an NPC, not that kind of game. We only get to manipulate our own characters. Right now, how ever, I'd like to manipulate myself back home."

[mist_the_point]

Foulques frowned a bit in confusion. "As I'm unfamiliar with the term 'N-P-C', it seems likely that we're speaking of very different sorts of games," he said. "What you're speaking of sounds more like a play, though you don't strike me as the sort who'd be part of a troupe of mummers." He didn't comment on the notion of going home just then; that wasn't an option for him in any case.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I had a brief musical theater period. Ended after I pointed out that the director's choice of which musical we should perform was... less than ideal. But no, I mean computer games. NPCs are non-player-characters. The prescripted or AI characters run by the computer to help, hinder, inform, or just add flavor."

[mist_the_point]

For better or worse, the confused frown only deepened. "I'm... afraid I understood very little of that, other than the part about the theater," he said. "Though that is not as surprising as it might have once been. This seems to be a place where many different worlds meet, and I doubt any in mine would have knowledge of the sort of technology you describe." A slight pause, as he reconsiders a moment. "Well, perhaps the Garleans. Though they would be far more likely to employ it in war machina to grind the rest of the world beneath their heel than for playing games."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Yeaaaah... we have that problem back home too. Personally I prefer all weapons I interact with to be strictly of the game variety." Sorry, Jenn. "I'd offer to explain, but I'm honestly not sure where to even start. Too far back and I seem like I am talking down to you, not far enough and the answers won't actually help anything."

[mist_the_point]

He waved off the notion of an explanation. "There's no need to make the attempt," he said. "It would likely be naught but an exercise in frustration for us both, and anything I did grasp would likely be of as little use to me as would knowledge of the Twleveswood to you. Interesting, perhaps, but irrelevant."

Instead, he changed the subject. "What was it that you found objectionable about the director's choice of production?", he asked. While he was hardly someone who frequented plays and similar productions. it was at least a subject that he would likely understand.

[ubuntu_programmer]

If games were going to be frustrating, this... would not be less so.

"It was far too tame. Given the cast we had, Rent was clearly the superior choice. We had someone perfect for Maureen. And Mimi. I wanted to be either Joanne or Mark, frankly. But no, apparently we were going to do Romeo And Juliet. As if it wasn't the most over played, excuse the word choice there...." They shook their head. "Look. If we were going Shakespeare, why not Midsummer? Or Tempest? But we had a group with perfect pitch and strong voices. Rent would have been perfect. I mean, I get the school was never going to green light Rocky Horror or Something Rotten, which is a shame. But Rent... We should have done Rent."

[mist_the_point]

Unsurprisingly, he'd never heard of any of those plays. But the sentiment Ian expressed he very much understood, and nodded. "In my experience, an overabundance of caution rarely profits anyone," he said. "And I expect that that's as true on the stage as it is on the battlefield. Fortune tends to favor the bold; you were right to object."

"Though one wonders how you you would find the latest production I've heard tell of, Zodiac Brave Story. I've not seen it myself, but from what I've heard both the story and those performing it are quite good. It tells the story of the mythical kingdom of Ivalice, and the rise of its king, Delita, to the throne."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I haven't heard of it, but I'd give it a chance. I know it is a bit of a stereotype, being a theater geek, but there we are."

[motherofresistance]

The woman who wandered into the space would undoubtedly be familiar to Ian, as might her outfit. She didn't seem fazed by the odd combination of locations, and seemed more interested in the holograms. They were a bit more solid-looking than those she was used to, and she wanted to see if she could find a projector, or if they were simply there due to dream-logic. She was aware of their presence of course, but didn't know if they were aware of hers and didn't want to bother them if they'd rather be left alone.

[ubuntu_programmer]

They were almost instantly aware of her. They stumbled back a step, yes staring a bit. "Okay... I know this place is beyond weird... so I have to ask, just to tell myself that I am actually finally losing my mind. Your name....?"

[motherofresistance]

Leia looked up as she was addressed, turning to face them with a bit of an amused smile. "Well, I can't vouch for your mental state at the moment," she said, "but my name is Leia Organa. And yours?"

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Okay... I need to sit down now, if you don't mind..." they said, sliding down a wall to sit on the floor, staring up at her. Their eyes never left her. "Leia. You're actually Leia. Princess Leia. General Leia. That Leia?"

[motherofresistance]

She walked over and crouched down in front of them so that they wouldn't be staring up at her, despite that being a relatively rare occurrence for her. "Yes, that Leia," she said. "Last Princess of Alderaan, former Senator for both the Empire and the New Republic, former Commander in the Rebel Alliance, Huttslayer, General, and I'm probably forgetting a few titles somewhere. I take it you've heard of me."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Oh yes... I may have written an essay about you in high school that..." a wince, "I am now cringing over. Can we forget I said that?"

[motherofresistance]

"Whatever you wrote about me, I assure you that I've heard and read far worse," she said. The entire debacle of her biological father's identity becoming public knowledge came to mind. "But if it bothers you that much, consider it forgotten."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Thank you..." They stumbled verbally. "Ah... what title do you want me to use? General? Princess? Or...?"

[motherofresistance]

"General, if you feel a title is needed," she said. "If not, just Leia is fine too. I've never been one to needlessly stand on ceremony. And on the subject of names, what should I call you?"

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Ah... I'm Ian. Doctor Ian Wright... Sorry... Thank you, General."

[motherofresistance]

"Good to meet you then, Ian," she said. "Or would you rather I address you as Doctor Wright?" She got back to her feet and offered them a hand up. "Either way, I can't imagine the floor is terribly comfortable."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Ah.. Ian would be fine. Thank you..." they accepted the help, pushing off the ground. "Wait till I tell Ben about this. He's going to lose it in all the best ways. Oh! If it is okay, do you think you could settle a bet? there is something we've been arguing about for years."