applesaucedream | Encampment Under the Sea [Open to All]

photo encampmentunderthesea_zps98ceddce.jpg

Since the dreamers of Manhattan had such a lovely time at the last vaguely-nautical-themed party, the Rift has decided to step things up a notch. Tonight, the dreamers will find themselves in what appears to be a city very much like the one they inhabit in the waking world, full of towering skyscrapers, neon signs, and heavy traffic. But there is one rather crucial difference: this city is located deep underwater, and the aforementioned traffic is mostly whales and fish, with the occasional submersible thrown into the mix.

The walls and windows are heavily reinforced to withstand the pressure of the water outside, and the people who dwell in these buildings seem to be doing rather well for themselves, for the most part. Buildings are connected by enclosed walkways, so barring any horrible accidents, the dreamers should have no problem getting around without getting too wet.

Much like the city they inhabit in the waking world, some areas are more obviously affluent than others, and the dreamers are as likely to stumble upon an upscale club as an underwater pub. But while the chances of a full structural breakdown are slim, there are definitely some areas that are on the leaky side, and a general sense of claustrophobia pervades the city wherever you might find yourself.

Explore. Or, if you're feeling particularly ambitious, attempt to escape. Either way, take care - it's hard to say what might be lurking in the darkness just beyond the city lights.

[ooc: Y'all know the drill. All characters are welcome, whether they are in the game or not. Characters can remember or forget the events of the dreaming at the player's discretion. And the party never stops - backtag into infinity!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

One might almost begin to think that beans are kind, helpful people. Aglet lets himself come far enough out from behind the bottle to watch her directly rather than through the glass and the liquid inside. "I'm Aglet Bottlerack," he replies as though that's a totally normal thing to say.

He balks at the question, taking a moment to think of the most extravagant drink he can come up with. Food is less of a big deal since he came to live with Jennifer and was introduced to things like regular cups of cocoa made with real milk, but he still savors the opportunity to try something he doesn't normally get. "Eggnog?" he suggests, because that's a thing he's heard about and clearly this place has enough kinds of drinks that maybe she has that.

Iman grins indulgently at the name. Weird little guy. She does not, however, laugh at his drink suggestion. He seems extremely skittish, wouldn't want to frighten him off or insult him into hiding.

"I don't know if we have that," she says. "Here, let me make something for you and see if you like it. I've never mixed a drink this small before. It'll be a fun experiment."

With the eyedropper, she fills the thimble with portions of Kahlua, Bailey's, Amaretto, and some cream. It's about as close to eggnog as she thinks she can get. It'll be sweet and almondy and delicious. She hopes.

"Here you are, good sir," she says proudly, offering the thimble. "Try that on for size. If you'll pardon the expression."

It's enormous. Of course, Aglet's gotten used to being served from a thimble; it's much more convenient than making his own cups would have been and it's not like he has to drink it all, right? Aglet has to come all the way out into the open to take the thimble, but take it he does in both hands, letting his guard down enough to stand peering and sniffing into its creamy depths. There's something familiar about that smell, something out of the everyday that makes him feel just the tiniest bit uneasy, like there's something he should remember about it.

He doesn't remember, though, so he takes an experimental little slurp that leaves his eyes watering. "What is this?" he asks, surprised and unsure if he loves it or hates it.

"Tiny Irish Toasted Almond," she says casually, which is what she's choosing to call a Toasted Almond with Bailey's. "You like it?"

Wouldn't really go with an olive, though. Something sweet. "Here, this might a better chaser." She gives him a strawberry.

It's really hard not to just stare at him. He probably gets that a lot - he's fascinating, and she wants to know exactly how he works and more about his universe, but she's also more interested in being chill and drinking a lot. At the moment.

She makes herself a larger version of his - she's not into coffee liquer, really, but it seems sporting. "Cheers," she says, and downs a bunch.

Surprisingly, no. That's really more to do with him never leaving the apartment, though; the only people who have seen him recently are Jennifer (who's too used to him to stare) and Bee (who hasn't been by lately).

This drink is reminding him of something, and were Aglet to examine his own cloudy memories he'd likely call back the image of sitting under a table with Jennifer while drinking punch...and he'd probably refuse to drink any more, because confusing, upsetting things happened around that punch bowl. Instead he's drinking rather more than he should even if he weren't a stranger to intoxication. There's an appreciable dip in the level of liquid in the thimble already.

"I do like it," he admits. "You know, you beans have such nice things that we never get to have normally."

"Beans?" she echoes, peering at him for a long, perplexed moment, cycling through all the possible things that could mean. "Be-beings? Is that what you mean?" Holy shit that's adorable. She barely (very barely) manages not to say so.

"Well yeah, there are advantages to being bigger, I suppose," she says, reining herself in some. "But I bet you have a lot of things, or... at least experiences that I'd never get to have, normally."

Imagine how useful this would be in a laboratory context. She can't stop imagining it.

He's doing it on purpose now; there's no way he doesn't know better than to call them beans. Call it clinging to the ways of his people whilst in a foreign land.

Aglet nods enthusiastically. "No one ever even knows we're there, normally. We see all kinds of things."

Kid, she's going to get the wrong idea. He's too busy tasting his tasty drink, though, to think too hard on that one.

Iman cocks an eyebrow at him, trying to assess just how brazen he's being here. She gets the sense that he wouldn't be creepy on purpose, and soon disregards it as not what it sounded like.

"Pretty cool," she says, and pulls over a stool so she can sit opposite him, sort of. "So you came through the Rift? What do you do out there?"

"I hide," admits Aglet promptly. "I guess not as much as I used to, I live with a bean who knows about me now." A bean who he knows wants him to stop telling strangers all about her and the Quark Beast.

"Oh, well that's good," she says breezily. "Or... convenient, I bet. Must have been hell when you arrived. I'd worry about getting stepped on."

Oh. Well, he probably does worry about that. Good one, Iman.

"I mean obviously you can handle yourself," she says with an embarrassed grin.

Encampment Under the Sea [Open to All]

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