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

[powerdealer]

Seth tries to focus properly on Daniel's words. No, no, he can't take back that power, Daniel needs it. He's got a hole in his stomach, for God's sake!

Slowly, very slowly, dots start to connect in Seth's mind. If Daniel's making him take back the power, then things must be bad for Seth. And... And if he can't move his legs... He's pretty sure his healing power can't fix that. It can't repair something that wouldn't fix on its own, it just speeds up the process. Something that won't fix on its own...

It won't be okay, he realises suddenly, and his throat closes up for a moment, and he has to swallow hard.

What good is a healing power for him now? What good is a phasing power, for that matter? But if Daniel can get out, he could use the power. He needs all the help he can get, really. Better than it dies with Seth.

He takes a shuddering breath and...

This time it's full-blown agonising torture that rips through him. His power dealing mostly tends to just amplify what he's already feeling, and what he's feeling right now is bad, but he's blinded by the light and he can feel the power leaving him, stabbing needles in his hand, so it's working. His entire body - or at least what he can still move of it - is all tensed up, his neck arching back as he grits his teeth.

And then it's over and he slumps, numb and exhausted.

[peacefulexplorer]

Daniel breathes a little in relief when Seth's hand begins to glow in his, but the sensation isn't the same as before, it's not like the pulling at all, it's like something is pouring in instead, it's -

"Seth, what are you -" is all he gets out before the brightness dims and Seth falls back, and Daniel can only stare at his hands as they flicker, barely, into something intangible and not-there and halfway visible and it's like he's Ascended all over again, and it hits him that Seth didn't take back his healing power at all.

"You bastard," he swears desperately, reaching out with a hand that passes right through his friend; he has to focus before he can touch solid flesh and blood again. "Why'd you - just -"

He grasps Seth's hand again, uselessly, willing him to take it back and move and breathe and do something but he isn't moving, he's just lying there, and he probably just used the last of his strength to give Daniel a power that won't do either of them any good.

"Oh god, Seth, I'm sorry." He holds onto the hand, only distantly aware of how much everything hurts, physically and otherwise. The place is still shaking, but it might be a matter of skewed perspective because Daniel is shaking, and Seth is eerily still.

tw: death

[powerdealer]

Seth is only distantly aware of anything at this point. He thinks it must've worked though. That's good. Now he's got the best possible chance of making it out of here.

When Daniel apologises, Seth opens his eyes again, just a fraction, just enough to see him.

"'s okay," he answers, barely a whisper. Then he smiles reassuringly at Daniel, and gives his hand a squeeze, as firm as he can manage, which isn't much. "Ev'rything's... 'onna be okay..."

And then.. slowly...

Everything fades away...

...

And back in Hell's Kitchen, in his own bed, Seth wakes up with a start.

[peacefulexplorer]

Oh god. Oh god, no. Daniel can only lean over him, searching him for any sign of life, and then Seth's eyes open infinitesimally and he whispers something Daniel can't hear over the crumbling, disintegrating structure and the roar of adrenaline in his blood. Seth's hand tenses, once, an almost imperceptible pressure around his hand with a feeble, flickering pulse before he whispers, again, and Daniel can't hear it and it must be important -

And then Seth is still.

Everything smears into transparent silence, Daniel can't breathe, and Seth does not move.

Daniel can't breathe.

And Seth won't move.

He kneels there, frozen and stricken, and -

"Seth?" he whispers.

There is no answer.

--

Daniel surges awake in Lucy's apartment, trembling, dragging in breath after shuddering breath, with an awful clenching dread solidifying in his chest, and it takes a minute to blink away the stinging in his eyes.