OPEN ✫ Dreams and Everything After

[mychosenpath]

Who: Ryunosuke and OPEN
Which: Open Log
Where: Dream/Various
What: January Catch-All
Warnings: Spoilers for the second case of the first game in the first set of prompts.



I. Of Time Spent Aboard the S.S. Burya open, interactive dream
(Contains SPOILERS for The Great Ace Attorney, Case Two)

( option 1 )
[You wake from a heavy sleep with a dull, throbbing headache to the sight of a moderately furnished room aboard a ship. It's not the rocking of waves that wakes you, nor the pounding of your head-- though the latter does not seem willing to relent any; leaving your head feeling sluggish and heavy. But just outside your door you can hear a commotion taking place. Russian voices exchange words with one another in heavily-accented English. And while you cannot hear the precise words, there is a sense of panic and urgency among them.

Further investigation of your room yields the sight of a heavy wooden wardrobe, a small round dining table, a sturdy writing desk, a book case laden into the wall and a pull cord above your bed that is attached to a bell. There are also several bags, most certainly for storing luggage. It isn't modern by any means, but it is modestly well put together for the time and the quality of the furnishings are quite good.

Should you care to read them, there are also a list of rules and regulations posted on the wall near the book case. Something about not keeping weapons or other dangerous objects. Pets are also strictly forbidden.

That said, it sounds as though the majority of the noise outside is coming from across the hall, should you wish to investigate.]

( option 2 )
[Everything is pitch black. No amount of blinking will help your eyes adjust to this darkness.

But somehow, even though you cannot see them, you know there is someone else here in this space with you. They, however, do not seem to be able to sense you. All your other senses are that much sharper without your eyes to guide you. You can hear the way they anxiously wring their hands together and fidget anxiously. Their breathing is unsteady-- rushed, even. You can feel their sorrow, their anguish, their fear, their uncertainty. And a crushing loneliness, filled with regret.

While there's no signs of where the empty space ends, there's this unshakable feeling that it's closing in around you.

They're not your feelings though. They're his.]

II. Out of Icelation

[Though he wasn't entirely convinced that the town plaza was the best location for this, he knew he couldn't very well focus on practicing what he wanted in his home without creating a whole mess of the place. Or-- more of a mess than he already does. At least out here, there's more than enough open space-- and much lower chances that he might break or destroy something. Not... zero percent chance or anything but. Closer to it, surely. Unfortunately there's also snow. A good deal of it, too.

Nonetheless, he hasn't come empty-handed. He has with him a notebook filled with ideas and observations on dreamotion energy and the more ~mystical~ magical properties of it. It's positively littered with colored tabs at the top, marking different pages. While he's no Susato, he would definitely say he's watched and learned from the best. They focus on the more practical uses for it, but there are mentions of

In this case though, it seems he may be overthinking things more than a little bit. He seems... nervous.

That energy has actually caused the snow around him to nearly stop-- though it's not exactly still either. It seems to be vibrating in place. But his head is in his books at thoughts so much that he hasn't noticed it.]

...compared to law, this should be nothing. [...he sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose.] Maybe not everyone is cut out for this kind of thing.

III. Wildcard

(For anything that doesn't fit into the above prompts. This can be a place for quests or other event-related prompts! You're welcome to bring your own on plot with me at cloudatlas if you want ideas or a custom made starter!)

Comments

I-2, w o w i see you chose violence today???

[judicialassistant]

[ In her sleep, her dream lantern begins to glow, and in the next moment, she doesn't know where she is. She is vaguely aware, perhaps, that she has been pulled into someone's dreamscape, but no matter how she blinks, all she can see is the dark. She breathes, and the stale air is almost too much for her -- the loneliness, the uncertainty. Is she going to die in here...?

It feels familiar somehow, but she can't concentrate long enough to place it. When was the last time she felt like this...? ]

Hello...? Is someone there? I can hear you.

[ She reaches in whatever direction she can think of with her hands--at first, gentle, but then she is clamoring and more desperate. She's trying to open the wardrobe--but what is in the way? ...And what is this sense of deja vu? ]

new year, new violence!

[mychosenpath]

[The space is no different than she remembered it, though it may feel entirely different while navigating it in the dark. The bed, the table-- even the pull cord... they're all there. If she uses them to guide her, she should have no problem reaching the wardrobe.

But the ship is wont to sway from time to time. The waves seem more turbulent now then they were back then. She'll have to be careful not to let herself be thrown off balance in the dark.

The boards of the wardrobe creak-- but there is no answer. And she'll find that if she does reach it, there is more than a slip of paper holding it shut here. It's no normal lock-- but a set of heavy chains across the front, keeping the door from budging more than the slightest bit.]

1/2

[judicialassistant]

[ She can feel the ship sway, and suddenly her understanding of everything changes as she is jostled to the side. She's not inside the wardrobe. The thick air, the way the walls closed in on her... how difficult it was to breathe. She may not be inside the wardrobe, but someone is. ]

Mr Naruhodo...?

[ Then it clicks, as soon as the name is whispered. The last time she felt like this was on the S.S. Burya, and just after Kazuma died.

But her brother isn't dead. Her brother is here, in Reverein, and she clings to that and the deeper bond this place gave them as she slowly made her way to the wardrobe. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ After everything they went through, perhaps "Mr Naruhodo" did feel a tad too formal. She can just barely see the massive chain on the door, but can certainly feel how heavy and thick it is in her hand. Immediately she knows something isn't right. She starts pounding on the wardrobe. ]

Ryunosuke, you have to wake up now. You don't belong in there.

[ It's right around then, as her pounding slows over the next few seconds, that she remembers: she has fire powers. ]

[mychosenpath]

[It's hard to say whether it was her voice that reached him-- or the sound of her fists pounding on the wardrobe but almost immediately afterwards, there are sounds of movement from inside, shuffling around. He sounds dazed and confused, but it's hard to say whether that's because he hasn't figured out what's going on yet or simply because he wasn't expecting her.

Nonetheless, he answers shortly after. His voice is slightly muffled by the wardrobe, but it sounds like he's close to the doors.]

--Susato-san? But why...?

[judicialassistant]

[ Of course it's him, it has to be. Whatever attempt she had made at summoning her inner fire is interrupted, and her fingertips feel icy instead from the cold sea air. That was... bad. Her emotions were making this hard. ]

Why...? Because...

[ Because he didn't kill Kazuma that day. Because of any number of reasons, not all of which she can think of right now, but that doesn't matter. This is a dream. This is his dream. ]

B, Because we still have a legal system to change, back home in Japan, and you can't very well do it from in there. Now hold still. I have to get you out.

1-1

[discourtesies]

[Well, it's not van Zieks's first trip abroad, but it is certainly the most unpleasant one so far. The headache is aggravating enough alone, and the noise from outside is simply making it worse. Rather than paying much attention to the surroundings other than a cursory glance to make sure nothing is amiss in the immediate vicinity, he turns his attention to the door and beyond. He can't deny his curiosity regarding the apparent disturbance, even without the annoyance...

The rule regarding no weapons is, of course, ignored. Perhaps he has no spiritual or familial connection with his sword, but he has no plans to ever leave himself without a blade.

As soon as he gets within a reasonable range of being heard by any of the owners of these voices:]

What is this commotion?

[mychosenpath]

[It would appear that one of the doors at the end of the hallway are the source of all the excitement. Several sailors are posted nearby, but those in the hallway have more room to talk than the ones inside which appear to be investigating a crime of some sort.

From his accent, the crew here seems to be Russian. But for all the mess inside, they seem pretty calm about the situation...]

Sorry-- crime scene is off limits. Fear not, criminal has already been captured. Captain will ensure the safety of all other passengers.

[discourtesies]

[Like van Zieks knows the meaning of off-limits. But he'll address that in just a moment; for now, the constant furrow in his brow deepens as he folds his arms. The occasional throb of his temples is not helping his mood, and thus his tone comes out somewhat short:]

And what crime, exactly, has been committed?

[mychosenpath]

[The crewman's eyes go shifty, like he's making sure his superiors aren't watching him. But then, in a hushed voice--]

Don't go spreading this around-- I'm only gonna tell you because you're already here. [Even softer:] Was a murder. Stowaway boy went and killed the guy who was staying in that room over there.

[discourtesies]

[Van Zieks at least has the sense to restrain himself rather than make any outbursts, as alarming as the claim is. Hmph... of course even in an attempt to find a temporary reprieve from the crime of London, violence would follow.]

... Reprehensible.

[But he doesn't dwell. There is a problem to be solved.]

Where is the suspect? [His voice is commanding, though he doesn't raise his voice. He won't take no for an answer.] As a British Crown prosecutor... I am more equipped to question such a criminal than any sailor on this ship.

[because ace attorney lawyers are also detectives i guess.]

ii

[oathkeeper]

[The chill in the air is a little annoying to Sora. Being born on an island he's much more acclimated to warmer and tropical types of weather. But he's gotten used to more snowy and chilly weather with time and has been forced into a few select worlds and dreams where snow is just something he has to deal with. But he still shivers and pulls his scarf close to his nose as he exhales softly.

When a snowflake hits him square in the nose he stops and looks up. Seeing the shimmering snow stuck in place is a little concerning but he has to wonder if this is someone's dreaming power doing it.]

Whoa, talk about being frozen in place.

[He snickers and smiles at his own joke before noticing the other sitting nearby.]

Hey! Did you notice you're making the snow hover?

[mychosenpath]

[Blinking Ryunosuke looks up, hearing another voice. It's pretty clear that only then does he really notice what he's done.]

I-I wasn't trying to... [Right, rule number one should probably be don't panic when faced with-- well, whatever this is.] It really is just sort of hanging there.

[Truthfully there's something quite beautiful about it. If he wasn't so worried about what he was doing he could probably appreciate it even more.]

...but I don't know how I did this. [...] Or how to fix it.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora lets out a puff of laughter at the other's reaction. Reaches up to touch a finger to a floating snowflake only for it to melt on the tip of his skin.]

It's probably got something to do with how you're feeling. It's pretty cool how you did it, though.

[Sora smiles.]

[mychosenpath]

...how I'm feeling?

[Ryunosuke had been so absorbed in what he was thinking about that he didn't even stop to think about what affect his feelings would have at all.

...what was he feeling...? Pressure? Probably. Uncertainty? Most definitely.]

...uhhhh... I don't know if I can stop that. [...wait? Cool? He stops thinking so hard and looks, and... huh. Maybe it is kinda cool.] ...now that you mention it... I guess it is a little neat.

I-2

[chippedsoul]

[This feeling of emptiness, uncertainty and anger...all things he has experienced himself at one point or another. But these feelings aren't his, there's fear, despair and regret mixed in as well. He could see no one and nothing, not even himself, just darkness all around him. Someone is there though, in that darkness. His could feel his own arms rising, reaching in front of him, trying to grab hold of whomever is hiding in this darkness.

Even as these feelings weigh heavily on him, a warm aura emanates from him, almost like a shield of sorts, trying to cut through these feelings and the darkness.]

[mychosenpath]

[It's all so vague and yet agonizingly familiar. It certainly doesn't feel like a dream.

As he reaches out, Kazuma will feel solid wood. He may even sense the familiar rocking of a ship out at sea. The latter may help him realize what the large wooden object before him is.

But different from any memory, this one is not kept shut by a flimsy paper sign-- rather, there are heavy metal chains encircling it; keeping it firmly shut... and the person inside, locked within.]

[chippedsoul]

[It's subtle, but he could sense the swaying movement. His hand casually press against the wooden wall-like object before him, all around him? It felt like--he was back in that wooden coffer, waking without nothing but the clothes on him. Pressing against the wood does not cause it to budge, but he could hear something metal, chains? Tch.

He bangs at the wood.] Someone out there? [. . .] Or in here?

[He still doesn't think this is his doing, but he definitely feels this uneasiness of being trapped inside a coffer out at sea.]

[mychosenpath]

[It's most certainly a tight fit, one that requires strategic positioning. Even for one person, this would most likely be an uncomfortable space to inhabit for a long period of time.

But there isn't just one person in here. Less than a few inches between them, there's another person who seems to be dead asleep, lying against the other side of the wooden structure. When Kazuma speaks, the steady breathing stutters for a moment... but then resumes after a few seconds.

At the very least it seems to be too large for a coffer-- unless it were made intentionally for more than one person.]

I-II

[buriedvigil]

[Vigil isn't entirely unfamiliar with fear, although it's usually accompanied by an all consuming despair that sometimes latches onto his person. But despite the familiarity, he's conscious enough to realize that these feelings in particular aren't emitting from him for once. There's a sense of loneliness that he's unable to fully relate to.

Still, he feels uncomfortable, one of his arms reaching up to grip his other arm. It's nice to know that well, all of him is here as he tries to navigate this darkness.]

...Hello?

[He can hear someone else breathing and Vigil just hopes that he's not going to face something too terrible here. Although, as he feel things close around him, he might even prefer some terrible monster over this void.]

[mychosenpath]

[As he begins to move and feel his way around, he may begin to realize that he's in a room of some sort. Bed, wardrobe, desk-- standard items one might expect in a bedroom.

Unfortunately, there's no answer to his call. Although... there are these small noises coming from the direction of the wardrobe. Little things like the ruffling of clothing, or the sound of a shoe shifting against the wood. And breathing. Shaky, but steady, like that of someone who's lost in sleep.

At least it doesn't seem dangerous in any obvious way.]

[buriedvigil]

[It's certainly a room he's unfamiliar with, but as he traverses the area, he can feel items commonly associated with a bedroom-- a wardrobe, a desk, a bed itself. He's... not sure if that's a comforting thought, however.

Should he... prepare himself in some manner? He's never quite mastered that dreamotion energy to really fight back, but something tells him that such actions are unnecessary right now anyway. The air is still oppressing here, but it's that sorrow rather than anything aggressive.

But at last, he reaches the wardrobe, the only place in this eerily silent room that has any sort of noise emitting from it. Maybe he's getting himself into something terrible, but with a small inhale, Vigil opens the wardrobe.]

[mychosenpath]

[The doors begin to open a crack-- before they're met with the cold, hard resistance of chains wrapped around the entirety of the piece of furniture. Even more odd, however, is the fact that even if you bothered to run your hands along the entire length of the chain, you wouldn't find a lock or clasp of any kind.

Yet the sound and movement seems to be enough to cause the person inside of the wardrobe to stir. There's a moment of silence before a tentative voice calls out.]

...who's there...?

II. Out of Icelation

[rpgminded]

[Kasuga is definitely not an expert when it comes to using his 'powers', but his own imagination is a big factor in helping him learn things on the fly - well that and his go-at-it attitude. He is a little confused at first when the snow stops as he walks by. It's only when the guy speaks up that he realizes that it wasn't him causing it.]

What do you mean, compared to law?

[mychosenpath]

[That gets Ryunosuke's head out of his book. He hadn't noticed anyone else was out here. But that's probably a good sign he should get his head out his studies for a bit. He could definitely use a break.]

Ah-- well, back home it... wasn't all that long ago that for certain reasons I took a crash course on law. I'm still pretty new, but I'm actually a defense lawyer.