Player Event: "Imbalance" [OPEN]

[songbird_slayer]

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!]

Comments

[luciing]

[ His helm tilts forward as if peering at her more closely or, perhaps more likely, attempting to piece what little context she's given to her current state. Nothing is chasing her, but if she remains alive, another will perish.

However, this is a dream. ]

Is there no other way to save her?

[feale]

[ She shakes her head. ]

No. There's not. She—

[ And here, the tears start to slip down her cheeks, the tremble in her voice passing throughout the entirety of her body as her hands clench into fists. ]

She's dead because of me. So... so I became her. But it was taken away from me, and...

[ Sumire takes a deep breath, closing her eyes, trying to get some semblance of control over herself so that she can explain as well as she can to the armored stranger. After all, maybe he can help. ]

There's another me in this place. She's happy, confident... She's like my sister. I don't think she remembers the horrible thing I did. So if I die... maybe she never has to remember, and she can be Kasumi for real.

[ It doesn't matter right now that she promised no one would ever take reality away from her again. She doesn't know what she was thinking when she said it. Being Sumire is not what she wants...! ]

[luciing]

[ For what it's worth, it seems this giant, living statue is listening to her, the weight of her words heavier than his own armor. ]

Follow me.

[ "So if I die... "

What suffering, this, and all from someone so young.

He cannot help her in the way that she needs. But, perhaps, he can assist in finding a way out of this dream for her sake. ]

[feale]

[ It's probably not much of a surprise that Sumire is confused. She has no idea at all who—or what—the large armored stranger is, and yet he seems to be listening... and then, offering a response of some kind.

Is he actually going to help her?

Somewhere, in the deep recesses of her mind, there's a vague surprise. Knowing as she does what Ren and Akechi and the others went through to cast Kasumi away the first time, she expected people to try and talk her out of it, to convince her that this way is better somehow. But he offers her none of that, and she feels herself relax just a little.

Another deep breath to steady herself, and she nods. ]

Um. Okay.

[luciing]

[ And so they turn down the hallway, her following behind him-- and they head in the opposite direction from where she had been running. If they happen to encounter her "sister" this way, or if she catches up with them, so be it. ]

Tell me, youth. [ When they cross another intersection of the hallway, he makes a mark upon the wall with one of his iron-covered hands. ]

Do you yet live?

[ She mentioned her sister dying, but her line about "becoming her" is curious. ]

[feale]

[ She's not exactly sure she likes the fact that they seem to be heading back in the direction from which she came. The other her is bound to be following, after all, the one she's sure believes herself to be Kasumi— Kasumi, who is all things good compared to her, Kasumi who would no doubt try to convince her to live, to promise they'll find some way to fix things even though the only alternative is her death.

But at least for now, she has convinced herself that the statue man is going to help her, and his steps in this direction are confident enough that she finds herself following nonetheless.

His question, though, takes her by surprise. Her cheeks burn red, and even as she trails behind him, her gaze drops to the floor, shame written over her features. ]

Y-Yes. I should have died, though. The only reason the truck didn't hit me is because Kasumi pushed me out of the way.

[ She shakes her head, eyes welling with fresh tears, her feet stalling to a stop as the thoughts overwhelm her once more. ]

It's because of me that she died...

[luciing]

[ Should have died, she says, when her sister saved her.

Somnus remains silence for a few meters more down the hall, stopping when they come to a crossroads. ]

Do you resent your sister’s choice?

[ —Not an accusation, but spoken thoughtfully. He leads them leftward. ]

[feale]

[ She knows it's not an accusation, and yet she reacts defensively nonetheless— largely because she needs people to know that she would never blame Kasumi for anything, much less something that was her own fault. She shakes her head, and the dullness of her voice seems to take on some life for a moment, something strident and insistent: ]

No, never! She did... she did something kind and thoughtful, like she always did. I— I resent myself. It's my fault we were both in that position anyway!

[ It's a little hard to see through the tears, but she stumbles on again after him. ]

[luciing]

[ As she stumbles, his strides slow, for her sake. Metal sheets smoothly upon metal as his joints lock into place when he turns his helm to look at her. No expression betrays behind the metal visor, and while his voice is made hollow by the effect of his armor, it is weighted. ]

Child…. you yet live.

[ —As if that furthers his point. A pity to see someone believe their death would be righteous. Death will not alleviate her guilt, and it will not bring relief. Such things stay with the damned, and he would know. ]

[feale]

[ His words do nothing but make her frown, an annoyed expression taking place of the miserable one for a moment. And perhaps that's a good thing, because it keeps her from crying still more, helps her to stabilize herself for a moment or two. ]

I know. That's why I have to die. The other me, the one that's here... I think she believes herself to be Kasumi. So if I can die, then she doesn't have to live with that pain...

[ She looks up at him, and there's a strange determination on her features. ]

This is what's best for her. And for me.

[luciing]

[ He appears to watch her expression for a few beats more. Minutes ago, she appeared to be running away. Now, determination flares in her eyes. This is her choice, then. ]

Then let us find her, and face her. You may tell her this, yourself.

[ He shifts his stance, pivoting slightly to peer down another corridor, and gestures for her to lead this time.

...To this day, Somnus waits for an end. The greatest honor one can give to the deceased is to let them pass. Even within dreams, so many still cling to specters. Perhaps this one will be like the rest. ]

[feale]

[ Surprise takes her expression for a moment before she settles back into the sad, determined face she was making before.

Perhaps the statuesque man is right, and running away isn't the choice she should be making. After all, what chance does she have to convince the other part of herself to stay like this if all she does is run? The best chance is for them to come face to face, for the other Sumire to understand that she should stay as Kasumi...

She nods, and leads him down the hallways, trying to follow the path from which she came. ]

I'm not sure if she'll listen. But I think you're right... it's worth a try. Thank you.

[luciing]

[ His helm dips a fraction, then lifts-- a nod, perhaps one of approval. It is indeed worth something. ]

I shall remain at your side.

[ So he pledges, but this is the most he can offer. In the end, he is but a guest in her dream, and this is a personal matter. Whether or not she overcomes its trials depends on herself, and he can do naught but support as a witness. Nothing more, nothing less. ]