songerein | 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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He reached for the item that appeared. A crystal? It did have a warm feeling to it and he had to wonder why it was here or how it showed up. Well, considering how dreamotion was important here, it wouldn't be a surprise if it was formed from Madhuri's emotions. Showing her the crystal in questioning...]

Does this mean anything to you? I wonder if it has something to do with merging together once more.

[She looked long and hard at the fragment, fighting to recall anything that could help. All she knew was that she felt... drawn to it. Her hand even twitched to touch it, but she withdrew in time.]

I feel... a comfort from it. A song, too. That song that started all of this.

[She furrowed a brow. Nothing seemed to be playing at the moment, but she still bobbed her head a little.]

But I imagine it's like home again, and nobody can hear this one but me. Perhaps the other me can hear it, too.

It's been so long that I forgot how lonely it was, this Echo...

[The song that started all of this... That definitely sounded important. Her Echo was certainly special. He, unfortunately, could not understand what it was like to be able to hear a song so vividly as she could. All he could do for her now was to ensure that she'd never have to feel lonely ever again. Her gave her hand a gentle squeeze before pressing a kiss to her forehead.]

Come.

[There were a number of things that he could say, but he was certain that she already knew how he felt. So instead, he began to lead her back to her other self.]

[She squeezed back. Her gaze was briefly distant, lost in momentary sorrow over old memories. She hated the silence she could hear now, knowing it was all in her head again. It hadn't helped that all aromas of cooking had stopped as well, the illusion properly stopped.

But the violet in her eyes clarified with the touch to her forehead. One word, and she nodded and joined him on their short journey.

Even now, that other half of her stood in the halls where she had been waiting, leaning against a wall with arms folded. A quick glance was all that she offered before she quietly scoffed.]

...Of fucking course you look like a barmaid.

It kept us safe, you know. Being called a 'savage' for so long forces your hand to look and act less like one. Unlike you.

[The khatun laughed, gleeful yet sharp.]

We're a savage no matter how many pretty dresses we wear! If you'd stop denying me, you understand how to wear such a title with pride.

...You scare people.

Let them fear me. I only act against the deserving. Besides... I don't scare him.

[The khatun smirked and gestured to the miqo'te.]

Did Curious Gorge teach you nothing? I'm part of you no matter what, so you need to put on your big girl panties and let people fear you, maybe even hate you for being yourself. Because, hey, FUCK THEM. The people that matter will be by our side. ...And maybe you'll throw wide the gates and test sweet Raha's fortitude, too. We've been so gentle so far...

AHEM. Hey, let's... let's tug the reins on that for a second. There's something we need to do, preferably without sending the man running and screaming.

[The khatun rolled her eyes but pushed away from the wall, rubbing her hands together as she offered no response. The other, however, took up the crystal and looked it over.]

...Right. So... the crystal. We know crystals. Home's full of them. What should we do with it to... condense... smush... stitch...? Souls together...?

[G'raha was going to let them hash things out, but he was ready to intervene if need be. The mention of gates definitely caught him off guard, though it shouldn't have. He let out an awkward cough, covering his mouth with his hand. He wasn't about to go running off, but there was a time and place for that and this was not it. Instead, he considered possible ways to use the crystal.]

Perhaps it requires the both of you to interact with it?

"Interact"?

Aye. Focus and maybe... both hold it or something. Here.

Alright.

[Crystals! They know crystals. The two grasped each end of the crystal and, for a moment, were perplexed. When nothing seemed to happen, it was a matter of acting as everyone did back home: Channel aether into it. The crystal grew hot and burst into dust, coalescing into a thread that connected their hands in a golden chain.

The khatun grasped the chain, rolled her eyes, and gave it a firm yank. The other stumbled into her, where there was a brief burst of energy and a shift. Madhuri- whole once more- sank to her knees, face clammy.]

Urgh... mm, Twelve's power, not one of my finest ideas...

[He immediately reacted to check to see if she was okay. Helping her up, he didn't let go of her just in case she needed the support yet.]

Well, consider it a lesson learned. Are you okay?

[She definitely needed the steadying; upon rising to her feet she felt something akin to lead, her head mildly swimming. The world around them briefly wavered in kind. Then again, she was the host of this particular dreamscape...]

I suppose I am, once I finish... mixing back together. Was- was this what it was like when you...?

[She wouldn't wish this on anyone else. G'raha seemed alright, so perhaps this will pass. But...]

[Helping her to a place to sit, he took it slow. When he came to after his own experience, it was a little bit of a doozy, but couldn't have been worse than her situation. Not when she was the cause of this dreamscape.]

Something like this, yes. My symptoms were not as severe.

[Maybe the strain he'd put his body through throughout time already had helped him adapt faster?]

When you're feeling better, we should get you out of here. You need to rest.

[This felt dreadful. But she acquiesced, held steady.]

Perhaps when I wake, this dreamscape will follow. At least, I can only hope so. I can still feel so many others in here. I...

[She brought a hand to her head.]

...Owe so many apology pies...

[A sigh.]

I can't let this place stay any longer, even if I feel unwell. I'm going to wake myself. Are you ready?

It's time to wake up. I'll be right next to you when you do.

[Hopefully the others would be fine.]

[She nodded, sought solace in that fact. As she shut her eyes and reached out in her mind for that 'line' that would pull her up from that sea of dreamwalking sleep, it would be akin to being drawn up and out of warm and gentle waters.

Would other dreamers feel refreshed that they have learned more of themselves... or unnerved that strangers and friends alike had seen a side of them they wished never to see the light of day? That remained to be seen.]

Player Event: "Imbalance" [OPEN]

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