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songbird_slayer) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
songerein2022-09-10 12:54 pm
songbird_slayer) wrote in songerein2022-09-10 12:54 pm
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!]
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!]
no subject
His glance fell downwards at the true Goro's words. That simple, irrefutable truth was more than just some simple thorn in his side, spurring him to avert his gaze, too. He knew that when the former detective had come back into their lives that it was unlikely to be a happy ending, but... still—
"Almost as sad... as never getting to say goodbye, in the first place."
no subject
The Shadow cocked his head to the side, considering the question. And then he moved, like lightning, azure flame burning as a gauntleted fist swung towards his face, sending the defenseless Akechi staggering backward, bleeding- "Are you really this pathetic?! After everything you've been through, you're just going to give up?!" His face was twisted in a feral snarl, turning to look at Joker, now. "That's what Hereward is, you know. This sad sack of shit realized he was going to die and do you know what he felt? Relief. Freedom! Freedom from Maruki, freedom from Shido, freedom from the thought of ever having to confront the one thing that terrifies him more than anything else-"
"Stop it."
"Oh? How are you going to make me? You don't even have a Persona anymore. Do you?! You can barely manifest Hereward for more than a few seconds, let alone do anything with him, no matter how many of those little tutoring sessions you go to with Emet-Selch. And you- don't even know why. Because you won't even ask the fucking question!"
Akechi spat, staggering to his feet. "I thought we'd just established that didn't matter. My existence- whatever or whoever I am- is inherently pointless."
oof so sorry my dude, i am out of hell for a few days...... lays down tags 4u gently
Joker drew in sharp breath as Goro staggered backwards from the point-blank blow, moving instinctively in front to try and shield one from the other, flipping the dagger in his hand from a defensive stance onto its offensive point, baring teeth at the Shadow- still choosing to speak to the young man at his back, rather than the one he faced.
"It wasn't pointless!" though the message was clearly for the both of them, anyway. "You can say it as many times as you want that none of it mattered, but you and I both know that isn't true! I heard you say it. I know you wondered what might have happened had we just met sooner, so—"
The construct may have told more truths than Akechi had wanted it to, the relief that came in the death he'd suffered at the hands of himself. The revelation of the lack of a Persona— confessions kept in the dark before now, of lessons to try and alter the bitter pill of the situation the former detective had found himself in...
"I might not know what question he's talking about, or just how much of that is true, but— if there's something you need to figure out, we can do it together, while you are here! While you can ask!"
I've been there friend, no worries
"Alright. I'll bite. Why can't I use a Persona?"
"Not a clue?" He titlted his head. "That's the wrong question, Bargain-Bin. We only have until this Dreamscape collapses... so I'll ask for you." The Shadow leaned in, making no move to attack, but mere inches away from Joker's face, eyes lingering for a moment- before peering at the boy behind him. "I'd say listen to him, since he knows better than you seem to- but this? Has. To come. From you.
Who are you?"
"... I don't know."
"Look. I promised Yoshizawa I wouldn't hit you and I've only done that one time so far which I think is a very fair compromise, don't make me upset her- Who. Are. You. Shido's bastard?"
"No."
"Really. You could've fooled me. Bitter, angry, murderous... fundamentally alone. That sounds right, but you tell me. Who are you? Yaldabaoth's prized knight, his perfect little witless agent of ruin?"
"No." Akechi snarled, kept for the moment at bay by Ren's presence between them.
"Now that was the closest thing to a feeling you've shown all damn day. Should we go down the list of everyone who's ever manipulated you, played you like a damn fiddle, can we cut to the chase, or am I going to have to beat this incredibly. Simple. Lesson into you. What's left, when you take away everything forced on you, everything you were twisted into being, everything stolen by people who think that people like you are less than dirt. What name did you carry with you, even though everyone around you told you the name of a dead whore was worth less than dirt?"
"This is pointless. I know what you're getting at, and we've already established that I'm not him. He's dead. None of this matters."
"So what?" In contrast to the previous near-scream, the quiet tone from the Shadow's mouth was like a slap in the face. "So your life is meaningless. In what way is that any different from anyone else? He's dead, but you- we- remain. Doesn't that mean that we're- finally- able to make that meaning ourself? Is that who you are, a sad little footnote on Takuto Maruki's rap sheet?"
"No," came the whispered response, and the Shadow's expression softened, a gloved hand coming up to remove the twisted mask.
"No. I know you know the answer, because... I know it. But you need to accept it. You're the best of him- the brightest, all that's left... of Hinawa Akechi's son. You have a second chance, something that precious few people ever get. You have his memories, his experiences, and even if Maruki made you like this, that doesn't have to define you- any more than Shido did. You can just... move on. We can just move on. I'm not saying it won't be hard, because it will-" he glanced at Ren, smiled softly. "But what the hell has been?"