Event Log: April, Dream a Little Dream

[faileas]

Event Log: April, Dream a Little Dream (Of Me)

I. The Looking-Glass House These strange shared dreams are part and parcel of being Mirrorbound, nothing too unusual for those who entered this world through similar dreams and then a mirror. No doubt you've all experienced your share by now. Normally those dreams have something to say about the world, something to show Mirrorbound about their new temporary home, but this time... This time, it has something to show the Mirrorbound about each other, perhaps. The Looking-Glass House, from the outside, seems no different from how it looks in the waking world. Each cobblestone still glows as you step upon it, drawing your attention toward the entryway of the two-story cottage that sits at the edge of the Coven's courtyard. You can still wander the Coven grounds if you'd like, but nothing is different from how it will be when you wake, save the lack of bustling Witches and Monsters going about their business. Areas that are normally inaccessible are still inaccessible. Whatever secrets this dream may hold, they all lie within the hall of mirrors. Perhaps you haven't had reason to step into this building in some time, or maybe you're here often, checking for new arrivals. Maybe you only recently arrived here and the sight of these mirror-lined hallways is fresh in your mind. Something has changed, however... Many of the hundreds of mirrors on the walls remain the same: dull, dusty, undecorated, some cracked or broken. As lifeless as a mirror can get. Yours, if you seek it out, looks the same as it did to you on your arrival - the frame covered in reminders of your home, your life, the surface of it clear and shiny-new. But this time, in this dream, yours is not the only one you can see signs of life in. Other mirrors also have the clear, silvery glass within their frames that yours does, indicating a connection to someone currently in Aefenglom. Maybe you can pick out the mirrors of people you know by the few carvings in the frames you can pick out; the closer you are to someone, the more of their mirror's decoration you're able to see, though the frames of strangers' mirrors remain unadorned to your gaze. You might feel yourself compelled to lay your hand on one of these silvery-bright mirrors, and when you do, the glass ripples like movement on a still pond. Like water, it allows you entry to another time, another place, another world - or at least, the memory of such. Who knows what you'll witness there, something beautiful or something terrible, but you only have to slip back through the mirror into the Looking Glass House to end it.

Welcome to April's event log, Dream a Little Dream! This event is a little more 'make your own fun' than others (since we are not currently in a place to be able to run a plot-heavy event this month), so feel free to play with the dream mechanics generally as you will. The main things to keep in mind are: memories are from the character's point of view however you choose to interpret that; memories cannot be altered or show a character something they could not have witnessed; please be considerate when using other people's characters in a memory, and visitors cannot directly interact with people/NPCs within a memory. Interacting with creatures/environment of a memory is fine. Otherwise, have fun! As always, feel free to use this log or make your own, and direct event-related questions here.

Comments

[darkestbefore]

[ The tavern looks like any number of ones she's visited, stayed in - sometimes hidden in, in times of need. It's not so different from the ones in her lands, which is perhaps what had drawn her to that reflection in the first place. Not quite a glimpse of home but... almost.

However, she can also read the atmosphere all too well, having been the subject of similar whispers herself many a time. She remembers all too well the feeling of shrinking back into the shadows of her cloak, trying to hide her face, her hair, hoping to go unnoticed. To just be left alone.

Sometimes it worked. But she wasn't sure this was one of those times. Even though she didn't know the pair of men seated at the table - the source of the whispers - there's something in her that bristles with protective indignation all the same, stepping forward as if she could do something about it and forgetting that this was just a dream of a memory. ]

[battlebound]

[ The owner of the memory seems to arrive after her, blinking for a moment in an attempt to place this tavern among the myriad of nights spent in nearly identical locations, with nearly identical whispers from men (and some women) with greed in their eyes.

But the progression of whatever discussion the memory of himself and Red Wine are having is paid no mind as he notices a stranger, someone who feels out of place to his fuzzy recollections of this night, and steps over to her. ]

Are you alright?

[ His hand rests on her shoulder as he reaches her, wanting to draw her attention. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ It does do that, her attention quickly torn from the source of the whispers to glance up at who had approached her. Even then, it takes her a moment to connect the fact that his face is one of the same she'd just been growing defensive over and she glances back and forth between him and his memory self before offering him a sheepish, apologetic smile. ]

Ahh.... Yes. I'm fine. I', sorry, it wasn't my intent to intrude on...

[ ...whatever this strange dream was? ]

[battlebound]

[ All things considered, Steak doesn't seem too bothered by the intrusion. It's hardly a memory he really thinks of — just one among the countless times unsavoury types have propositioned himself and Red Wine and been swiftly dealt with. ]

It's the mirrors. [ He doesn't get it either, but hey. Things happen.

And speaking of things, the men whispering, scheming in front of them both, stand up and walk straight through them, approaching the table where the memories of himself and Red Wine sit, bickering over the way to the next city, and offer them a job on the way.

Just a job, right? ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona's eyes narrow all the same as she watches them approach the table, folding her arms over her chest as she assesses them, trying to figure out what it was that rubbed her the wrong way. ]

I don't think they were very good people... This is one of your memories?

[battlebound]

[ He can only nod at that judgement. ]

Bad people are often interested in uncontracted Food Souls. [ It's just the way of their world, possibly of people in general. Humans with darkness in their hearts will seek out sources of power. ] —Mm.

[ Another nod. Yes, it is. ] This happened several times while we travelled. [ Two men, usually, sliding up to them both and trying to strike up conversation, or, as these two do, offering a potential job. Just a few things to take over the border, there's Fallen Angels that way, you see. ]

[darkestbefore]

Food Souls?

[ She glances up at him inquisitively, wondering what that means.

Either way, it was clear to see that these two men had questionable intentions. She frowns fiercely at them, watching the scene play out as her fingers curl into fists at her side. ]

What did they want with you?

[battlebound]

[ Honestly, who knows, because the memory of Steak doesn't give them a moment to finish their pitch, striking the man nearest him with a punch straight into the gut. ]

Did you have to do that here, you bastard? [ Red Wine's complaining comes in step with his standing up, quickly side-stepping the other man as he attempts to launch himself into the fray. ]

Would you prefer I said yes?!
We could do this outside—

[ The rest of the bar, wisely, shrinks away from them, but the two Food Souls are careful as they pin down their would-be-employers, not moving more than a couple of steps away from their table. ]

We're beings made to serve humans.

[ Clearly not unquestioningly, though. ]

[darkestbefore]

Is it serving... or enslavement?

[ These two men didn't seem the sort that anyone in their right mind would want to 'serve'. And they didn't seem the sort who would have taken a polite 'no' as an answer, either. Her gaze is narrowed - and angry - as she gazes down at them. ]

[battlebound]

It depends on your Master Attendant. [ Frankly. In a way, it's easier if you're already summoned, already capable of living independently and saying no to bastards like these — who are now unconscious and trussed up like turkeys.

Steak was a lucky soul. His summoning was to a good man, a hard-working man who could take and dish out impolite conversation. They clashed, but always respected one another. ]

There are Food Souls who might be duped by people like this, but we don't need to accept their proposals once we're formed.

[ You get less of a choice when you're summoned, as Gingerbread's fate showed them all too well. Even a person who seems like a good man can change, it seems. ]

[darkestbefore]

Once you're formed?

[ What a strange way of phrasing. But she's relieved that in the memory, at least, this man - this Food Soul? - and his friend are safe. ]

May I ask what a Master Attendant is? [ At least he seemed to speak that title differently than he'd regarded these men. ] Is that who you agree to serve?

[battlebound]

[ Look, the whole creation and summoning of Food Souls into a physical form is something which could probably be a dissertation, and Steak is not the Soul you want that dissertation from. ]

Exactly. Only certain humans have the ability to summon us. Humans who do not often look to those of us without contracts to enlist our help.

[ Sometimes it can be for good purposes, no different to hiring a handyman or a babysitter. And on nights like this one... Well. ]

[darkestbefore]

You are... summoned into the world? [ Her eyes go a little wide at that. ] Ahh, I see now!

[ That does clear some things up about the situation a little. Although she does still look down at the bound humans with a frown. ]

So they lacked the ability to do such a thing for themselves and sought to take advantage in a different way.

[ Although then something else occurs to her and she glances around the inside of the tavern with a puzzled expression. ]

But where is your Master Attendant? Should they not have been here to watch over you?

[battlebound]

[ Exactly. Steak nods as the memory continues, the two Food Souls shifting the captured criminals out of the building with little ceremony or care, the room around them going fuzzy as the memory of Steak walks out of the space, clueless as to what could possibly be unfolding inside.

So he follows the memory, gesturing briefly at the stranger as he does. ]

He died many years before this.

[ It's matter-of-fact, an old, old sadness that Steak sees no point in beating about the bush for. His Master Attendant grew old and happy with his wife and passed on, as all humans do. However much he may miss the man, being consumed by loss doesn't bring him back. ]