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

Morgana McCawber | Fan-Designed DT17 | OTA

[lovebites_sodoi]

After the entire incident with Nodoff, the dream demon, Morgana knew way more about dreams than she liked. That’s why she wasn’t terribly surprised by her surroundings or where she was – everything about this was familiar territory. Unfortunately, she suspected the way out this time around wouldn’t be so easy. If this was Nodoff’s trickery, the door out would be harder to find, and she couldn’t entirely depend on her favorite masked hero to save her. For now, she’d have to unwillingly go down memory lane and try to find her own way out.

The first location looks like a haunted house - the kind you’d see in lame old black and white films, or a cheap theme park’s attempt to be scary. It’s got all the stereotypes down – windows that are either broken or with the shutters on a tilt, glaring gargoyles sitting atop the roof, a chilly wind that pushes the creaky door open, and so on and so forth. But to Morgana, this is the home where she grew up. Judging from her annoyed expression, it’s also the last place she wants to be, as she does her best not to look at it.

The second location is much more modern - city streets at night. Tall buildings that reach for the sky with only a few lit windows, bustling cars that zoom past narrow streets, and perhaps a few police sirens off in the distance. This is Saint Canard, home of heroes and villains alike, and Morgana’s current hunting ground for her crime spree. This might be easier to work with, she’s possibly musing to herself, as it’s this spot that makes her more relaxed.

But it’s the third location where she wants to stay, even if the weather changes and the ground becomes unstable. She’d rather be nowhere else than on a concert stage, the spotlights beaming right on center stage, electric instruments plugged in and ready to play, and curtains parted for the star of the show. If you find her there, you’re going to have an extremely difficult time getting her away.

But no matter where she’s found, she has an itch to play the guitar slung over her back. It’d really help ease her worries… but unfortunately, the worries will only continue to grow. Her wrists and ankles are chained up, like one would see on a dangerous criminal… which she technically is. No matter how hard she tugs, she can’t free herself, and it seems like her magic is being stifled. After several long moments of desperate tugging and pulling, she lets out a huff, finally speaking out loud.

“Cute. Very cute.” She mutters, though she supposes when it comes to torture from a demon, this is safer than what she expected. “The sooner Eek, Squeak and Archie can wake me up, the better… this is getting old really fast.” Well, she couldn’t expect anything to change just by standing still, so it was time to walk.

If there was any positive aspects about this entire scenario, she thought, maybe it’d inspire her to write a new song.

A Haunted House

[under_the_raptors_wings]

It didn't take Æn'kae long to realize wherever this place was, it seemed to be pulling images from his memories rather than the actual places, or more importantly, actual animals. Which meant he could explore without worrying about them getting themselves hurt. And as he explored, the landscape continued to shift, probably pieces from strangers that he didn't run into.

The young vulcanoid was relatively tall, with scarring covering much of his body and unkempt curly hair on the top of his head, the sides shaved down. He wore an armor-like uniform all silver and black with a reptilian bird of prey on the a harness over his chest. In a way that went beyond the physical it had a feeling of menace, his own feelings on the thing imparted to it. In contrast, draped over his shoulders was a sleeveless overrobe with a flowing embroidery pattern and this seemed to almost push back the sense from the uniform. He seemed to more closely align with the latter clothing item. There wasn't much menacing in how he carried himself.

He did not have the context to know that the haunted house was a creepy stereotype. Though it certainly seemed dilapidated. He raised an eyebrow at the setting and then he spotted the being there. Was this her memory? Likely. Between that and the chains he was concerned. He rushed forward, really hoping the ground wouldn't change mid-step and cause him to fall. ... ... again.

"Umm. Jolan'tru?" He hesitated after the greeting. What could he do? Offer to help? He was just as trapped as she was in this place. But. He wasn't chained up, and maybe that he could help. "Would uh... I can see if I can get those off if you'd like." She didn't know him, she had no reason to trust him, but it didn't hurt to offer.

[lovebites_sodoi]

Considering even most of the monsters in Morgana's world resembled birds, dogs, pigs, or some other kind of animal, this guy's appearance was unusual even for her standards. So his entire look got a once-over look, but that's all. At his offer, Morgana casually offered her hands up, eyebrow raised - she doubted this stranger could do much of anything, but it was worth a shot.

"Be my guest," She replied with a cool and calm demeanor - trying to pretend she wasn't the least bit bothered by anything going on. "But I wouldn't recommend getting any closer to that house... unless it's our only way out of this. And even then I'd rather be stuck here than stuck there." She couldn't help but let a few drops of bitterness pass in her voice - even if it would do nothing but make the other party curious.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae approached, the look over not concerning him at all. If he weren't so used to so many different beings he might have done a double take at her appearance as well! He chewed his lip as he looked over the chains. Starting by checking for any kind of weakness to the structure of them. He only really saw the option of pushing one either direction at the weld joint and hoping that vulcanoid strength would be enough. "Well, I uh, I'm not sure I can do anything, but I'm willing to try bending a link."

He glanced back over his shoulder at the very questionable looking structure. "I will take your word on that, the ground here changes enough already. I uh... I wouldn't want to add something that looks that unstable to it." He noted, but brushed over the bitterness. If she wanted to share, she would. It was not in Rihan nature to pry.

[lovebites_sodoi]

The description made her laugh - a witchy kind of cackle that she couldn't help. "Oh, you don't know the half of it. It's an unstable place that houses unstable people." Here she wanted to leave it be, but the dramatic theater kid in her just couldn't let it go.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae arched an eyebrow upwards, amusement crossing her face. "Noted. I uh, don't think you'll have to head that direction anyway. I've found that just walking alters the landscape pretty drastically." As demonstrated by his being here. Of course, on the same vein, it was possible the interior of the place she wanted to avoid might materialize around her, but he didn't want to bring that up and possibly cause it to happen.

He focused back on the chain and gave one attempt to get it to budge, he probably could have tried harder, but he didn't exactly want to slip and hurt her. And then he released them and took a step back. "Maybe the chains will fade when you walk as well?" Worth a shot as he didn't see that he'd have luck even with more effort.

Aaand introductions. Things kept coming up where he forgot that when meeting people. "I uh, I'm Æn'kae, by the way."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Walking alters the nature of the landscape, hm? That did sound like the very nature of dreams - especially if the one in charge was dangerous. She had no proof Nodoff had a hand in this, but then, she had no proof he didn't either. Playing it safe was so boring.

She gave a few tugs on the chains... no dice. She clicked her tongue to her cheek in disappointment - but she wasn't going to blame him. He may not have been wearing chains, but he was as much a prisoner as she was in this place. "Then we might as well get walking. Change rarely happens when you stay still."

Play it cool. Play it calm. Everything was fine.

"Morgana. Morgana McCawber." She introduced herself as she began to walk, expecting him to follow. "I'd ask you what was going on, but judging by that look on your face, you're just as lost as I am in every definition of the word. I don't suppose you've seen a speckle-faced, maniacal imp floating around, have you?"

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae arched an eyebrow upwards, falling in step and folding his hands behind his back. "No. I can't say I have." A pause. "I also can't say I know what an 'imp' is, but I haven't seen anyone floating at all, so uh." He shrugged. "I suspect whatever this is, it's most likely caused by something magic related gone amiss here than whoever that is though."

[lovebites_sodoi]

"Amiss 'here'?" Morgana took note of that notation. "So you suspect the place is the problem, and not someone behind the scenes?" Ugh, that could be annoying. You couldn't beat up a place into submission. Maybe if her had her tome with her... but "ifs" weren't going to solve things either.

As predicted, the ground was changing underneath their very foot - soft grass turned into creaky wooden floors just like the house they left behind. Morgana was doing all in her power to ignore it, keeping her head level and not even bothering to look down.

Re: Morgana McCawber | Fan-Designed DT17 | OTA

[mal_contented]

It was on the stage where Mal would be found. The girl looked odd, more than just the lack of fur or feathers. Because she didn't match herself. It was as though she was split down the middle by a rather jagged line.

On one side she was in a long black and purple dress with lace and ruffles and small inset gem stones. That side of her wore her crown, though the blue stone at its center was missing, an empty half void in its place. But every gem, very bit of crown, the two gold rings she wore on that hand glowed faintly. Light. Her hair was long and lose, straight, pale purple with subtle strands of pink.

The other side of her wore a black leather jacket patched with material that looked like purple scales and decorated with green paint and dark green spikes like thorns that ran from her dark purple fingerless gloves to the collar of the coat. Her hair was dark purple and wound into tight curls. On this side she was in dark purple leather pants patched in black and green. So tight it looked hard to move in, zippers edging each patch. She had on a boot that looked like it had been jet black until it fell in a puddle of purple and green paint. Small chains went from the eyelets of the boot on one side to the top. On this side she seemed almost to... absorb light. And at her chest there was an... emptiness.

It shouldn't have worked, one foot in a high heel, one in a flat boot. One side weighed down with lace and frills, the other in leather - top and bottom - so tightly fitted she shouldn’t be able move at all. And then there were her nails on the dark side. Sharp. Long. More claws than nails.

She saw the chained woman on the stage with the guitar. Her first thought was villain. Her second was to think of Fenton. It was her third voice she vocalized. "You able to play that thing like that?" she asked, finding and nabbing a microphone.

[lovebites_sodoi]

Well well well - now there was a fashion statement! She wasn't sure what the statement was saying, but Morgana respected anything that defied the norm. Maybe she could recreate something similar for her next big gig... song ideas were already flowing through her mind...


Ah, but no. Not the time! She shook her head, trying to concentrate.

"Believe me, if I could, I'd be jamming out right now. I can't stand silence." She held up her wrists showcasing that no matter how hard she tugged, those chains weren't coming off. "I can still carry a tune, but without my strings, it's nowhere near as strong."

[mal_contented]

"I can play. Or... I can help relieve you of that jewelry?" she offered. The eye on her dark side glittered, that side of her mouth twisted up in amusement, as her other side's expression winced. The dark side's brow lifted. "Wouldn't be the first time I swiped someone's bracelets while they were watching. Might be the first time I get permission in advance, though."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Oh, she liked this kid already. She flashed a grin, which showed that pretty much all of her teeth were fangs.

(Why does a beak have teeth? Because cartoon.)

"Be my guest." She replied, offering her wrists forward. "Give me my freedom, and I'll grant your a wish of an epic jam session together."

[mal_contented]

"Ugh. I've had enough of wish magic for the year," she said, suddenly on her other side, cuffs dangling from a single finger before she tucked them into a pocket. "But I'll take you up on the rock, if you can back it up that is."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Morgana was briefly startled - the magic in her own world wasn't nearly as quick! - but instantly got over it once she knew she was free. She yanked the guitar from her back - giving it a few dramatic twirls at first - before nesting it properly in her arms.

She then began to rapidly strum strings, electricity pouring in and out of her, her eyes alight with passion. She ripped through the cords for a solid ten seconds before sighing deeply, as all was right with her once more.

"Oooh, baby, I missed you." She purred, before focusing her attention back on her heroine. "Looks like I owe you one. I don't know where we are, what's going on, or who you are - but none of that can get in the way of my need to rock. You ready to roll?"

[mal_contented]

"Think you can keep up with me?" she asked, the dark side of her face gaining a smirk. She grabbed a mic off a mic stand, that one eye flashing.

[lovebites_sodoi]

"I do so love a challenge... let's make this a duet to die for!"

Perhaps in response to their mutual magic, perhaps because it was just a dream, or perhaps it was even the power of music itself - but the spotlights suddenly lit on the two, and there was the excited roar of an unseen audience.

Re: Morgana McCawber | Fan-Designed DT17 | OTA

[gregorydeegan]

Darkwing might not be there, but another superhero arrived. Of course, this one was more or less human. and flying.

he dropped onto the stage as a fringed jacket appeared over his spandex looking suit. he brushed some red hair out of his eyes and grinned. That grin looked innocent, but his brother would know to prepare for a headache. And maybe a face palm.

But this was someone who didn't yet know his tells. didn't know to consider herself warned.

"I never understood why metal was called hard-wear till now," he said, inclining his head to indicate the chains. "But i can guess what you play from them. Heavy metal?" Another grin. "You are welcome to laugh if I am quacking you up." and then he pulled a guitar from its resting place across his back... It hadn't been there a moment ago. "You're not the only one with an axe to grind. Wanna make like thick jelly and jam?"

[lovebites_sodoi]

... Oof. That was painful. Was this part of her prison sentence?

"Well, at least I can confirm I'm actually in a nightmare now." Time to bring on the snark with no end in sight.

"I don't play second fiddle to anybody. Unless your way of sharing the stage helps sets me free, this is a one-woman show."

[gregorydeegan]

"Don't you know we do better when we band together?" he asked with a grin. "Besides, you look like you already hit rock bottom. Unleash your alto ego to see how low we can go, or else you might fall flat on your face while I chain these puns."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Sheesh, was this a new form of police interrogation? She would surrender if he stopped with those dreadful puns!

"So far the only power I believe you have is an unstoppable mouth. If you want me to agree to anything, prove it by setting me free. Otherwise, this conversation is deader than disco."

[gregorydeegan]

He laughed, floating up a bit, then flipping to hover upside down. "Being the stupidest Deegan doesn't mean I'm actually stupid. Not knowing who put those on you, not exactly foolish enough to undo them. I can heal you if they hurt you though, so you know I'm not a total heel. Sorry if you think that's ducking the issue, but it's all I got to offer."

[lovebites_sodoi]

At least the number of puns per sentence was decreasing. Still, she couldn't really fault him for not trusting her right away - most sane people would take one look at her and correctly deduce she was villain material.

But if he wasn't going to help her, then he was not much good for anything else, far as she was concerned.

"The only thing hurt so far is my pride. If you're not going to free me, I don't suppose you can actually answer some questions about what's going on here?"

[gregorydeegan]

"I'd be lion if I claimed to understand everything." Pride, lions, get it? "But I can give you the mane concepts if you want."

[lovebites_sodoi]

He was definitely reaching now. So the only way she'd get any valuable information was by dealing with all these awful jokes? Please, just lock her up and throw away the key...

"Something is better than nothing. What can you tell me - that doesn't make me want to groan?"