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

[windslept]

Yeah. Of course.

[Terra leaving was what had started everything. That Ven had followed after. Aqua too. So of course they weren't going to leave Terra. At least, not if they could help it. After everything they had been through. Ven has no intention of being separated from his friends. He closes one eye briefly as she ruffles his hair, a small pout at his lower lip.]

[aquawayfinder]

She shifted over closer, then pulled him over to lean against her. "There is nothing the three of us can't overcome, if we believe. In ourselves, and in each other. If we never give up on each other. And trust the connection between us."

[windslept]

Right. We got each other's backs. But if I just showed up, then this means....you've been here alone?

[He is taking time to try let this all sink in. For him to really start piecing this all together. How long had she been here before he showed up? Was there a way to figure bringing Terra with them? Or for them to get back to him together? He isn't sure, based on what she had said earlier, the hub worlds or whatever. But he is trying to follow along as best he can.]

[aquawayfinder]

She smiled softly, but shook her head. "I was not alone, Ven. I have missed you and Terra both, but there are other friends here. People I also love, people I think you will love too. I can tell you about them, if you want."

[windslept]

Sure. Tell me about 'em. I mean. I'll probably meet them while I'm here too, right? So.

[He probably should. Hear about her new friends so he will know of them when he comes across them himself? So when she mentions them he will know who she is referring to? He'd do the same in filling her in, if the roles were reversed. So he doesn't think anything of getting more information from her like this.]

[aquawayfinder]

She smiled and nodded. "Alright, let's start with Æn'ki, since that may be the most immediate. If for no other reason than he shows up without complaining more often than anyone else to morning lessons. He is a very kind soul and wonderful with animals. He is an empath who is working on his control and shielding. His wold, was being inundated with Darkness. Not just Unversed, but also Heartless and Nobodies. I would defeat one group and another would attack. Even their computer was infested. The only way to stop the Darkness from consuming his world, I had to seal it away. Æn'ki, and a few others, Rren and Khell, chose to come with me, even knowing they may never be able to come back. For Æn'ki he wanted to help others. Especially if any of his people were recompleated, he wanted to be on one of the hub worlds to help them adjust. He is soft spoken and does not like to be touched without inviting it, or without warning. But he works hard, and has offered to help us in our upcoming fight. He also, I'll admit, stopped me from trying to do something... I probably should not have done."

[windslept]

Heartless and Nobodies? Wait, what were you going to do?

[Ven does make note that the other doesn't apparently like to be touched. If and when Ven meets him. That's good to know, in not unintentionally upsetting the guy without being aware of the touching thing. Even just simply placing a hand at someone's shoulder or tapping their shoulder to get their attention or something isn't usually a thing he thinks twice about.

But he is concerned about that last that she says.]

[aquawayfinder]

"Heartless are like more evolved Unversed. There are many different kinds, and Nobodies... Nobodies range from as simple as the most basic of Unversed and so complicated that they are people in their own right. Which brings me to Xion and Roxas and Lea."

Yes, she was ignoring the question of what she had been about to do.

[windslept]

So.....Xion and Roxas and Lea? They're these...Nobodies....?

[He assumed. Based on the little vague context he has from what she just said at least. Ven does also note how she seems to be avoiding answering his question. She was the one that brought it up, whatever it was she had been about to do. But maybe she isn't ready to talk about it. Yet. So he doesn't push about it or anything.]

[aquawayfinder]

"Xion and Roxas are. Lea had been one. At that time he had gone by the name of Axel. Tall, redheaded, affinity for fire. You'll remember him once you meet him." A small smile at that. "Xion and Roxas are special sorts of Nobodies. And you might actually feel a connection between yourself and them. That is actually how I met them for the first time. I was looking for you, and found them. Roxas looks more like you than he does like Sora, though most other people don't seem to see it," she said with a grin, ruffling his hair again, before planting a kiss where her hand had been a moment ago.

[windslept]

Axel?

[So Axel became Lea? Ven thinks he has this right. It's just a bit to keep track of. But red head and fire seem easy enough to remember at least. He gives a nod there as he files that away before tilting his head at her saying Roxas looks like him, closing one eye as she ruffles his hair.]

So what, people would confuse me for this Roxas if they know him?

I love that you have an icon for that!

[aquawayfinder]

"Possibly." A deep breath. "There is a connection between his heart, your heart, and Sora's heart. You're also connected to Xion the same way, though that is a little more complicated." A warm smile. "I met them looking for you, I felt the connection to your heart in them. I may have adopted them on the spot," she admitted.

Aqua and Terra do it all the time! I had to have an icon for it!

[windslept]

Sora....ah! That boy!

[That little boy that had helped him. But he supposes. Sora isn't so little anymore. Given that was a while ago now. At least ten years. Still. Somehow it is not that surprising to hear that Aqua took them in. It's what she had done when Ven had shown up, her and Terra helping Eraqus with him especially initially while he came out of his sort of zombie like state.]

Of course you did.

Re: Aqua and Terra do it all the time! I had to have an icon for it!

[aquawayfinder]

She chuckled. "You'll love them," she assured him. "And you should see how Sora's gown up. Kairi too." Riku... was more complicated. And given if Ven winds up in Auradon he'd be speaking to Æn'ki and Rren... it was best not to mention Riku if she could avoid it.

Even more so if Khell showed up.

[windslept]

I don't know if they're here or what but. I guess we'll see. For now. I'm just glad to have found you. That's a start.

[Ven is trying his best to make sense of this. To piece things together from what she says, who everyone is. Whether they are here or not. He is trying to make mental notes and remember, keep track of it.]

[aquawayfinder]

"I am glad to have found you too, Ven," she said warmly. "And Lea is here. Xion we think is here too. I do not know about Roxas." She considered if she should mention Xehanort... "Briefly a much younger version of Xehanort was here as well, though he is gone now."

[windslept]

They're here? Wait. A....younger Xehanort?

[Ven isn't sure what to make of that idea. But at the least, she reassures him that Xehanort was gone now. That was at least a relief, that he wouldn't need to deal with the guy here. At least for now. Ven isn't sure how that would go. What he might expect. If Xehanort might recognize and remember him. What happened with him and Vanitas and all.]

[aquawayfinder]

"Much younger. So much younger in fact that he was a student of mine while he was with us."

[windslept]

He what? So he was like my age?

[Or. At least. The age they assume he is, that he appears. Ven is much older than he looks but of course he doesn't know that, doesn't remember all of that. So he just assumes Xehanort had to be younger than Aqua even. He's not sure how to picture that. With hair and all.]

[aquawayfinder]

"Somewhat younger than you," she said with a chuckle. "Though not half as adorable." She ruffled his hair again. "I really hope you're here with me when I wake up, Ven. I've missed you."

[windslept]

Adorable? Ah, Aqua...!

[Ven half pouts and half chuckles at that. As he clumsily might attempt to lightly bat her hand from his hair. Not that it ever really looks that neat and tidy even when she isn't ruffling it, or Terra for that matter. But he tries. To look at least a little presentable. For the most part.]

Not sure if there's a way I have any control on that...?

[aquawayfinder]

She pulled him into a tight hug either. "I'm not sure either. But we can hope. And trust in the connections between our hearts. In the end, we alway find each other. Aways will."

[windslept]

Aqua...! But. Right. I still have my thing you made. The Wayfinder.

[Ven doesn't push her away though. He will return the hug after a brief moment where he clicks she is hugging him again. He returns it, his arms around her waist as best he can as she pulls him to her again. Ven is at least used to her, to Terra, ruffling his hair and treating him like a little brother tagging along with them.]

[aquawayfinder]

"I'm glad you still have it, Ven. And I know I will always have you. You will always be my wonderful baby brother." She kissed his hair, not letting him free of the hug yet.

[windslept]

I'm hardly a baby anymore, Aqua.

[He wasn't even when she first met him back when Xehanort first brought him to Eraqus. To her and Terra. It isn't like Ven would deny their relationship, their dynamic is akin to what most probably figure as siblings, as Ven being the younger and Aqua and Terra the older brother and sister.]