songerein | Player Event: "Imbalance" [OPEN]

Entry tags:

Player Event: "Imbalance" [OPEN]

Who: Everyone! Even the newcomers! What a time to jump in, huh?
Which: OPEN Dreamscape
What: On the night of the 10th a strange dreamscape appears, dividing some dreamers into two, each bearing just half of themselves... how will they pull themselves together?
Warnings: Probably a lot. I trust you fine people to please mark your content appropriately should your threads make mention of anything triggering. I'm watching you.

Quiet nights never seem to stay quiet. It began with the slightest flicker within the crystal lanterns, a ripple, perhaps the sound of coins clinking together.

Then, with a distant scream, there was a torrent of blue and orange flame. It's hot but it doesn't burn, swirling and dancing with the frenzy of a desperate dancer. It blinds to familiar surroundings, twin colors that seemingly never end...

Until one's feet touches sand-dusted stone and marble. The air is hot and arid, ripe with burning kindling in myriad torches that line walkways. The flames rhythmically sway, catching the glimmer of golden archways and decor that embed the city... palace...? That lay before you.

Something is wrong. Really wrong. Something in you feels... different. Blank. But before you can comprehend it much further, something is running down the pathway in the distance to enter the palace like the devil was on its heels. That something looks just like you...

You pursue this weird other you... or, you don't. Perhaps you were drawn to the palace's splendor and decided to explore, maybe find some sweet treasure while you're here. Whatever the case, nothing about this place smells dusty or aged. It feels brand new... lined with statues and tapestries of what appeared to be great warriors, all humanoid and bearing twisted horns atop their heads and long, craggy tails covered in scales. But some of them have been altered in some way... some are missing their heads, and one or two "lucky" ones have simply had large claw marks ripped across their face. What would put claw marks in stone was anyone's guess.

Those who tire of the architecture may find some doors are unlocked. Yes, such a lavish place seems all too eager to lay itself bare for you, perhaps bearing a sparkly trinket or two to your liking. (Note: Unfortunately, any treasures obtained in the palace will only come back with you in the form of candies shaped as said jewels, crowns made of shortbread, tapestries spun from candy floss, etc. It's all food. Enjoy!)

Deeper and deeper you delve, either arms full of treasure or having bumped into friends who don't exactly act like your friends normally would, you find more motifs of the warriors, more intact the further you head through this weird city-palace. Near the center are statues depicting two... figures... each holding a pair of scales.

Yet no matter how much you wait and watch them, the scales continue to sway from one side to the other. There's nothing on their respective plates, however... what could be throwing them off?

If you place anything on the plates and mend the swaying scales, you are given a single shard of a strange crystal rife with dreamotion energy with a sense of wholeness and connection. It shifts colors as you turn it this way and that in your hand. Maybe that'll help put some of these people back together if fighting or talking to them won't do it...

[ooc: Information and Plotting post is here for easy review. The shards are meant to simplify putting people back together if needed, but are the only thing that can be taken into the semi-waking world as a pretty bauble. Also, a reminder that this is optional. Enjoy!]

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[ A Dragon in the Palace ]

[ Yuma finds himself in the dreamscape once again. He's still getting used to his new life in this strange new world he's found himself in, but this aspect of it is still something that throws him off. Maybe this time he'll get lucky and he won't be a dra-

He looks down. Claws, scales... Yep, he's taken the form of the Shining Dragon again. Sigh. Luckily he's a bit smaller than normal - roughly the size of a horse, rather than how big the shining dragon normally is - but he still stands out a bit regardless.

He's unsure of the specifics of how the dreamscape works, so there's no telling how dangerous he is in this form. At the very least, he's learned that just remaining in the form doesn't cause him to lose control, so there's no harm in simply being here. He'll just have to be careful. On top of all of that, some part of him felt...empty. Missing. But what? By now he knew the Dragon's voice had gone silent, but now something else was gone. It was making him worry...

Before long, Yuma finds himself drawn by the palace nearby, and can't help but feel an urge to explore it. There's not really anything else nearby, so he might as well take a look. He might not be alone here, either; so he might as well try and see if there's anyone who might need help. If not that, then maybe he'd find some answers to what was happening to him.

He wanders around the palace, investigating the damage caused to the statues. The missing heads, the unmistakeable gashes... There's also the fact that the statues themselves seem to depict an interesting race of people. Who are they? They're not humans, they're not elves. He wanders close to one of the statues, peering closely at the claw marks. ]

"What happened here...?"

[ So, uh. If you happen to be wandering around the palace, don't mind the dragon peering at the local decor. He's friendly, honest. Though if he notices you, he might turn to stare warily. You do come in peace, right? ]

[ The Scales ]

[ It was hard to resist picking up anything, but so far Yuma has managed...until he saw the scales. There was nothing on them, and yet...something about them seemed wrong. What was happening here?

An idea strikes him, and he leaves, quickly returning with a small goblet he found in one of the many piles of treasure. It's not even the fanciest goblet among them, yet he carefully caries it in his mouth and gently places it on the scales regardless.

Moments later he finds himself staring at the shard of crystal at his feet. He tilts his head, lowering it down to investigate it. What is this? Is he supposed to put it on the scales, as well? Or was it a reward? And something about it felt...different. ]

"What's this crystal for...?"

[ Wildcard ]

[ \o/ ]

Edited 2022-09-13 20:23 (UTC)

(The crystal contains an internal shimmer, black and white blended together in harmony. Though dim in light, it's visible enough for any to see, especially the dragon.

The colors within the crystal shift, increasingly overtaken by white as the presence of another can be detected. The man tries to not make much noise, but a dragon's keen senses likely detected him before long. By the time Dante walks into the room, he immediately takes a step backward, visibly taken aback.)

Whoa. Dragon...

(Glancing to and fro, he rubs the back of his head with a sheepish expression.)

Uhh...I'm guessing this castle's yours?

[ Oh. Uh. There's a person here.

Yuma stares hesitantly, blinking. He's...not sure where this guy got the idea, but he's not gonna think about that too hard for now. ]

"Um... N-No, it's not mine."

[ You'd think a dragon would have a more imposing voice. But no, it's just a timid young man instead. He means no harm; honest. ]

(He expected a more booming, powerful voice to match the dragon. Not sure what that's about, but a dragon's a dragon.)

Oh. Then I guess that's still a mystery.

(He shrugs, quickly glancing around the room.)

I thought I'd check this place out when it appeared, but it's been freaking me out since I stepped into it. If anything's waiting for the right time to pounce and rip my throat out, they'll have plenty of opportunities now.

[ Oohhh boy, Dante, if only you knew...

Yuma lifts his head and looks around. ]

"I was pretty surprised when I saw it, too. Something about this place really doesn't feel right... I really hope there's nothing dangerous hiding in here."

[ Not that Yuma can't take care of himself, but, well...he'd rather not pick a fight if he can avoid it, honestly. ]

If there is, chances are they're after me in particular. Been that way for as long as I can remember.

(Dante shakes his head in resignation.)

They're not gonna bother a dragon they have nothing against when they can chase me around this castle. You'll be fine.

[ Yuma tilts his head. That's a strange thing to say... ]

"After you? Why? Are they mad at you or something?"

[ Not that they've even confirmed anything dangerous here yet, but...this guy seems pretty sure that he's the one with the target on his back. He must be used to this sort of thing, but why? ]

Yeah. It's...a long story, but my father was considered the biggest traitor among demons. By freeing their human slaves and sending the demons back to Hell, he made a lot of enemies. And his enemies aren't beyond attacking his family. It makes it difficult to live anything resembling a normal life, so I...don't.

(The man smiles, weakly.)

But hey, it's not so bad of a problem if they only focus on me. They can't hurt my friends if I don't let myself have any friends. I bet you'd be a great one to have, though.

"A traitor among...demons?"

[ Well, like any normal person, Yuma is a bit alarmed by the mention of demons, but hey, this particular instance of a demon doesn't sound too bad if he's freeing people. But hearing that his enemies would go after his family as well...

Yuma can certainly relate to not being able to live a normal life quite so readily, but the next thing the man says gets his attention. ]

"Wait, 'let yourself' have friends? So you've always been all alone?"

[ Oh no. You've got him concerned. Good luck getting out of this one, buddy. ]

Edited 2022-09-26 06:47 (UTC)

(Anxiously, Dante rubs the back of his head once again.)

Not...always. I was lucky enough to meet people who knew of the risks and stuck around anyway. Gosh, they mean the world to me...but it's also because of me that they have to do so much fighting in the first place. Or more than they already do. Besides them, it's...dangerous for me to get close to someone.

(He shakes his head, looking around the room as nervousness is starting to make him a little thirsty.)

Sorry; I've been talking about me this whole time. You got your own reasons for being here, right? Pretty sure I did, too, but since half of me went his own way, I've lost track. It's got my brain all imbalanced.

[ Oh... This hits a little close to home for Yuma. He's either surrounded by danger himself or he is the danger, and he can't help but worry for the other Dragoneers whenever he has to transform. He eventually came to accept that they were there to support him even through that danger, even if it was less for personal reasons and more for duty for some of them, but he still couldn't help but feel guilty. Especially considering what happened just before he came here.

He's about to comment on it when Dante changes the subject. Yuma shakes his head, straightening up a little to look around. ]

"No, no, it's fine. I'm...not really sure why I ended up here, either. I guess I'm just trying to figure out what's happening in this place. A lot of people I've met in here were acting really weird, too."

Maybe they were also separated from their other halves. Mine decided he didn't want to be around me and went off to go have some fun somewhere. You must be lucky, if you're not affected by it.

(Dante tugs on the collar of his shirt a little.)

Especially if there really aren't any threats in this palace. I can't risk that chance, so maybe I should go before I get you hurt...

[Kaiba heard the creatures approach before he saw it. If that unnerved him, he didn't show it as he sat upon his makeshift throne adorned in all his finery. Oh, just let someone try to take all of this from him. In this delusional state of his, he was sure that this temple was one of the many properties he held the deeds for. I mean- who else could afford it? Kaiba was the most powerful businessman in Domino.. no, strike that! in all the world! He was above the law and this intruder would be dealt with in such a manner that he would never darken these hallways again.

As an added bonus, Kaiba would delight in the fool's anguished cries before everything was brought to a final conclusion. In all his arrogance, he thought himself to be completely invincible.

Just about the time the creature would happen upon this part of the temple, Kaiba at least gave the courtesy of standing to greet his guest.]

Haven't you kept me waiting long enough? Show yourself, if you dare.

[When he first set eyes on the being before him, his expression softened before transitioning to awe. This sort of creature was unmistakable. The elegant shape of his snout, the powerful talons, the scales that seemed to shimmer with their own internal radiance... hey- whether he was a colossal jackass or not, the one thing that was present in all forms of Kaiba was his love for dragons.]

Just look at you. Such a magnificent beast.

[It might not be his Blue-Eyes, but he'd take it. The sudden appearance of it must be a sign.]

... A little on the small scale, but I can work with that.

[ Yuma blinks, glancing up from the statue he was investigating when he hears a...uh, compliment? Yuma's had all sorts of reactions to being the Shining Dragon's vessel before, from being called "Your Radiance" to all sorts of undeserved compliments. But "magnificent beast" was a new one. ]

"Um... W-Who're you?"

[ Is this person friendly? He hopes this person is friendly. He's not entirely sure how to feel about this, if he's being honest, but if nothing else he's good at rolling with it. ]

[Perhaps Kaiba should have been more concerned that the creature could turn on him at anytime but he really wasn't. He wore his arrogance like impenetrable armor. Besides, he'd always felt such a strong connection to dragons, that surely.. they were no threat to him.

~~Slifer doesn't count~~.

Also, this dragon.... talks?]

I'm...... honored, to be in your presence. [Drawing his cape back, he even gave Yuma a respectful bow] .. but more specifically I'm Seto Kaiba. [He was friendly, sure- but in a way that likely felt creepy just from the reverence in his voice alone] What is it that I should call you?

[ This guy is definitely giving Yuma some...odd vibes. He'd noticed some other people here acting strangely as well. Was it just a dreamscape thing? He's glad that the only part of him that changed was his outward appearance...

The show of respect is not new to him. Honestly Yuma would tell him not to bother, but he's so used to people back home doing it regardless that he's long since lost the will to argue back. It's better than what he put up with at Gaelritz, at any rate. ]

Uh... My name is Yuma Ilvern, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you, as well?

[ He's a little uncertain. Not only because he's not used to having to introduce himself quite so much - he's a bit of an unwilling celebrity back home - but also because something about this guy seems...very off. He hopes this guy doesn't have any experiments in mind for him. ]

[Even if Yuma had requested doing away with all the respectful pleasantries, it wasn't likely to have had any effect.]

Yuma Ilvern? Odd name for a dragon.

[He wasn't used to such creatures having proper names in such a format.]

Not that I'm complaining. [It just wasn't the phenomenal, striking, awe-inspiring moniker he'd anticipated.] There's no title to go with it? How many lands have you crushed under your talons?

[... Kaiba was certainly weird, and a little to interested in destructive strength. The plans he had in mind likely wouldn't be in keeping with Yuma's]

Er... Well, some people keep calling me "Shining Dragon"...

[ ...Yeah, he's not sure how else to respond to that. That's just his name, he can't really change it. And no matter how many times people call him "Shining Dragon", that's not his name, either.

Seto's next question catches him off guard. Whether he knows it or not, he's just hit on a sore spot for Yuma. A very sore spot. ]

Well, there was... A forest near my village that I destroyed on accident when I was younger. [ He glances away. Sorry, Kaiba; this particular dragon is a bit of a pacifist compared to what you're probably expecting. ] I.. I'd rather not destroy any lands if I can help it.

Shining Dragon?

[For the briefest moment indecision flashed over his features. Those few words triggered a memory he was having trouble merging with the present. The silvery dragon in his mind was quite different from the beast before him in this version of reality. Managing to get himself under control, he dropped the hand that had been cupping his forehead, which he didn't remember having raised in the first place.]

Yes, I can see why they would call you that.

[Little did he realize this was probably the one dragon in all the universe that didn't feel boastful of their destructive conquests.]

... And? [A forest wasn't all that impressive to the teenage prodigy. Wood being flammable, would be easy mode for a dragon to set ablaze] ...................................................... [It was his turn to stare incredulously at the hulking creature. It was as if he couldn't equate the two things together in his mind. A dragon that wanted to avoid.. destruction? What is this.. Luster dragon?] Seems like... a waste.

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Player Event: "Imbalance" [OPEN]

Yuma Ilvern | Shining Resonance Refrain | OTA

The Scales

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A dragon in the palace! - You've been gifted with negative Kaiba

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