Encampment Under the Sea [Open to All]

[applesaucemod]

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!]

Comments

[eliotwaugh]

Well this is a damn sight nicer than the last dream, and Eliot is making the most of it. There's dancing, there's good food, and this time he's wearing something that doesn't need to be taken out back and burned shot. And oh look, a bar!

Eliot saunters up and sits on a stool, taking in the sight of all the glorious fancy bottles. "So!" he says brightly, catching the bartender's attention, "What's good around here?"

[etherthief]

"Hey there, good lookin," she replies, looking him up and down, ooh he is nice, she wouldn't mind taking him out back, definitely not to be shot. "Whatever you like. I been makin some fierce cocktails. This is brandy and orange juice and ginger syrup and a 1924 Merlot I found hidden under the counter. I call it Fuck-You Sangria. It's like a bomb went off under your sternum. You want some?" She's already drunk about a third of the pitcher she made.

[eliotwaugh]

This is probably the most blatantly anyone's checked him out in a while, let alone any lady. Eliot smirks. What a good bartender.

"Well that sounds fucking delighful," he replies, though he does wonder how drunk he can get in one of these dreams. No time like the present to find out! "Lay it on me."

[etherthief]

Iman smiles a pleased little smile and pours him a generous helping. She slides it over and plunks a chunk of lime in it for good measure. "I'm gonna level with you," she says, leaning across the counter as though about to impart a clandestine secret. "I am not the bartender."

She waggles her eyebrows and takes a good long sip. Fuck that is good shit. It's the ginger that makes it. She was pretty heavy on the ginger. Spicy ass sangria.

"I just sorta woke up here," she says. "Kinda funny, huh? But the people seem pleased." She watches appraisingly as he tries her concoction. "So, you got a name? Mine's Iman."

[eliotwaugh]

Eliot raises his eyebrows at the admission, but takes an appraising sip regardless. Ooh, that's got a nice kick to it. Hurts so good.

He's a little preoccupied exploring all the drink's flavors, and it takes him a moment to register that she's probably a Riftie who doesn't know about the dream weirdness yet.

"Oh," he says, not unkindly, "you must be new. The name's Eliot, and this is this...Dreaming, thing, you came through the Rift, didn't you? I guess it tends to toss people into a collective unconscious grab bag once in a while. This one seems nice enough, since there's liquor and pleasant conversation." He stretches an arm across the bar and offers his hand for a handshake, still sipping at the marvelous sangria. "Excellent drink, by the way."

[etherthief]

"Oh," she says. Then again, slower. "Oh."

A dream? That... sort of makes sense. Except not really at all. But she supposes it accounts for why she has no idea how she got here. And this kinda shit sounds like something her subconscious would say to her. And this fine piece of ass is the kind of thing she would probably concoct for herself. She takes his hand and gives it a brief, firm shake. Weird how real he feels. And how real this alcohol tastes. And how real her drunkenness seems. Hmm.

"Thank you," she says about the drink, sort of distracted. She takes a thoughtful sip, then looks back up at him and replaces her smile, sinking her chin down into her palm, elbow resting on the bar. "So if this is a dream," she says gamely, "does that mean we can make out?"

[eliotwaugh]

Eliot is prepared to give her a minute to process this, since it's a bizarre infodump to lay on somebody, so he sips calmly at the drink and waits.

...until Iman tosses that question at him, and it takes all the fortitude he can muster not to do a ridiculous spit-take and shatter his carefully cultivated aura of cool. The drink burns even more as he coughs, and he wipes his eyes, trying to get his voice back.

"Well," Eliot begins, laughing a little, "It may be a dream but it's not your dream, it's...everyone's dream. I'm a real person in the conscious world, just like you. And uh, just like out there I'm...pretty much only into dudes." He gives her a 'no offense' smile, because she is totally adorable.

[etherthief]

"Ooooh." Welp, so much for that. Iman sighs heavily and drops her chin into her hands. "Well. It's a shame. I'm a pretty good kisser."

Meanwhile. "Everyone's dream, huh? That's a trip." She frowns thoughtfully, leaning back to consider him, and it, and everything. "So is this like a Rift thing? Rifty hangout? How long have you been in these parts?"

[eliotwaugh]

Eliot has to think about that for a minute. "Ugh, like a month or something? Jeez that seems like forever but most of it was just so boring, believe me." It is a long story filled with sighs, and he goes to town on his pseudo-sangria to forget about it.

"So yeah," he continues, "I guess it's like a weird cerebral hangout type thing, but it's different every time I guess? I like this dream, it's good good liquor and good company." Eliot grins and clinks Iman's glass. "How long has it been for you?"

[etherthief]

"That," says Iman, raising her glass distractedly in response to the clink, "is super fucking fascinating. Damn." She takes a big drink before actually realizing he asked her something. "Whoa, sorry. I kinda got lost thinking about it. Scientist." She grins, then hesitates, confronting the question itself. "Uhhh... what fucking day is it, even? I got here like... two, three days ago? Sorta new at everything." Definitely not boring though. Maybe she shouldn't mention that she had a drink with Satan.