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

"I wouldn't say I'm from there," Daine says, managing not to wrinkle her nose distastefully. "But it's where I live now. That's where the rift drops folk." She glances down at Molly, noting her familiarity with the place. It's not so surprising, really; going by her clothes and backpack, she looks like any other kid from the city - or from that wider universe.

She starts down the corridor, slowly enough for Molly to have no trouble keeping up. It's not as if there's any hurry, anyway. "Sounds like good advice," she says approvingly. "Though it helps to be able to fight, if you have to. Or to have friends who can help you." She's benefitted from both, and while her universe is a very different place, she figures some things are true across the board. She's yet to be jumped by a mugger or anything like that, but it's comforting to know she could handle herself if she was.

"Oh", she says simply, showing her understanding and maybe some familiarity. She's not from New York, either. She's from California. But she tries not to be homesick, and besides, with this waterworld pressing in on her, it's still Brooklyn that she's thinking about rather than LA.

She has no trouble keeping up with Daine, both because Daine's being considerate like that but also because Molly's honestly not that interested in sticking around that same place anymore. There's a more resigned expression to her when the topic shifts though.

"Nobody thinks I should fight. They just want me to go to school and be normal."

Kicking her feet lightly, it's clear she's not sold on that. She's not a normal girl. And maybe she doesn't want to fight exactly, but she doesn't want to pretend, either.

Daine glances down with a sheepish sort of smile. "I've never been normal," she admits with a shrug. "I've always been able to talk to animals, and that was before I really learned how to use my magic." It hadn't been a picnic, particularly back in Snowsdale… but all things considered, she'd rather be as she is than be normal. Whatever 'normal' even means.

If she'd been normal, adjusting to life in New York would have been a lot more difficult.

"Anyway," she continues, "everyone should know how to defend themselves, at least, especially girls." If her ma had known how to fight, maybe the farm wouldn't have fallen to the bandits. It's still common in Daine's universe for folk to say that women shouldn't learn to fight, but Daine doesn't hold with that nonsense at all.

She's not sure what to say to that. It's a new idea to her, in a way; her parents had taught her that fighting was wrong, and then Matt and Mohinder mostly wanted to protect her. Molly understood that and she understood about fighting, too, but in her experience sometimes that didn't help. She couldn't fight someone like Sylar with her ability. So she wasn't sure.

And that's why she kept quiet about that, for the moment, as she was still trying to decide how she felt about it. Instead, she commented on what Daine had said earlier.

"Are you sure that it's magic? Mohinder says it's genetics."

"Definitely magic," Daine replies. She knows more than one person who insist magic is really just science, but Daine figures she knows her own magic better than anyone. Besides, with folk coming from all sorts of different universes, it just seems arrogant to presume you know how things work everywhere. "Though it's true that where I come from, folk are either born with it or they're not."

She has no idea who 'Mohinder' is, but at the moment, that doesn't seem very pressing. Instead, endeavoring to sound as non-threatening as possible, Daine asks, "Do you have some sort of magic, Molly?"

It doesn't make much of a difference to Molly whether it's magic or science in the end. It's still pretty amazing what people can do no matter where it comes from. Even if she still doesn't considers her power that spectacular.

She chews on the inside of her lip for a small moment, not quite in hesitation, but maybe consideration, before she answers. "I can find people. If I think about them, I know where they are."

Daine notes the brief hesitation, but if Molly's expecting a negative reaction, she doesn't get one. Rather, Daine raises her eyebrows, politely impressed. "That's a much more useful power than most of the ones the rift doles out," she says. And it sounds faster and more straightforward than asking the People to keep an eye out for someone. "Does it matter how far off they are?"

It's not about negative or positive - most people are quick to tell her it's a good power. She understands why, this too because people keep telling her. But she's also been told not to tell just anyone about her ability, so that's why there was hesitation there, her deciding whether to trust Daine or not.

She doesn't feel distrustful, not really. But there's a loyalty to her foster parents there. Not wanting to disappoint them in case it turns out bad.

"I don't think so", she answers, kind of like she's shrugging. "I haven't tried that far yet. I'm not supposed to tell people about it."

"Probably best," Daine acknowledges, giving the girl a sympathetic smile. Her own magic had never exactly been a torment, but there's no denying that it made her childhood difficult in many ways. And she knows from unpleasant experience just how easy it is for adults with ill intentions to manipulate children's feelings. Regardless of how common powers are in Molly's universe, it's just as well that she keep hers under wraps.

"But I'm glad you told me," she adds. "And I'll keep it secret." She's good at keeping secrets. You sort of have to be, if you want animals to give you the time of day (though mice are, admittedly, terrible gossips).

She's about to comment on the limits of her own powers, distance-wise, when they round a corner and are confronted by a door. It's a relatively nice door, all things considered - not rusted shut or anything unpleasant like that - but the only apparent means of opening it is a numbered keypad.

"Huh," Daine says, poking at a few of the buttons and getting nothing but a red blinking light in response. "Well, this is silly. Are we supposed to just guess?"

Encampment Under the Sea [Open to All]

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