applesaucedream | Tender Lumplings Everywhere, Life's No Fun Without A Good Scare [Open to All]

Current Music: Evening July 27th/Morning July 28th

Tender Lumplings Everywhere, Life's No Fun Without A Good Scare [Open to All]

The woods are dark and deep, but not particularly lovely. If anything, they feel dangerous, as if something terrible might come lurching out from behind any given tree and tear into the nearest warm body. What that terrible thing might be is anyone's guess. A cat with hands? Slenderman? Stegosaurus? Actual cannibal Shia LaBeouf? All of the above in a horrible mob? It's anyone's guess. But every dreamer will be absolutely convinced that there is something unspeakable out there, and that it's after them.

The dreamers have two things on their side. The first is that there is actually nothing dangerous lurking in these woods (with the possible exception of other dreamers). The pervasive terror the dreamers are feeling is just that: a rift-given feeling, nothing more and nothing less. That snapping twig or rustle in the undergrowth is almost certainly just a squirrel or something else equally harmless.

The second is that no dreamer is alone. They all will be reunited with - or introduced to - their dæmons, a source of comfort in this dark, intimidating wilderness. However frightened the dreamers might be, at least they have someone with them who definitely doesn't want them dead.

[OOC: as ever, any and all are welcome! You don't have to be in the game to join the fun. Dreamers can remember or forget the events of the dream at the players' discretion. And the party only stops when you want it to; feel free to backtag forever.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

At first when they grow tense when they suddenly realise they've been spotted, but then there's a sudden relief and Seth realises he knows who it is even before he sees him - presumably because Sephronia can tell? He's not really clear on how much they actually share when it comes to knowledge and feelings, but they do seem to be connected.

Seth grins when he hears Daniel's voice and he comes into view. For all his worrying, they've only really seemed to bumped into people he likes so far. "I'm fine," he answers, as Sephronia excitedly greets Aliyah.

He can't stop himself from frowning a bit as he registers what sort of clothes Daniel's in, the grin fading. His first impression is definitely of the military variety, but then perhaps it's more utilitarian camping or exploring gear or something. "What're you wearing?" he can't help but ask.

It seems Aliyah's just as happy to see Seth as Daniel is. She butts her head against the other animal eagerly - he can't see what it is in the dark but it looks like some sort of spotted cat, just like her.

Upon Seth's question, a quick glance downward reaffirms it. Yep, still in the BDUs and that is probably a very strange impression he's making.

"Uh, yeah. About that." He looks back up with a sheepish grin and shrugs loosely. "I think it's the dream. My old job, exploring the universe, that was with the Air Force. Hence," he makes a small up-and-down sweeping gesture as if presenting himself to the class, "the BDUs. Typical about-to-save-the-galaxy uniform."

There's probably something to be said about a reflection of his inner self or the dream presenting Daniel how he sees himself but he doesn't want to look too deeply into that right now. He also isn't sure if that theory means it's a good or bad thing that the dream won't equip him with any weapons. From a practicality standpoint that's a tactical failing but from a moral standpoint, well he - he is not going to look into that at any great length.

Seth can't quite hide his distaste, and even Sephronia seems to get a bit more guarded at the news.

"Didn't know you were with the military," he answers, and he's not sure exactly how much is the dream's influence in putting him on edge. He can talk about saving the galaxy, but that doesn't really mesh well with Seth's experience of any part of the government that uses force.

His discomfort is probably not helped by the fact it's only been a couple nights since Seth saw Daniel kill several men right in front of him. He had dismissed it afterwards, because of the strange nature of the dream, and Seth himself having been quite different in it. For one thing, he is absolutely sure that Daniel has never been with the rebels. A lot of Daniel's behavior had been quite off in that dream, though mainly when he was masquerading.

Still, thinking back to it now, while looking at Daniel in this outfit, becomes quite uncomfortable. Especially because of how strongly it clashes with how Seth knows Daniel to be.

Daniel's visible connection with the USAF seems to have put Seth on edge, especially as evidenced by the wary expression and his soul-creature's retreat from Aliyah. Her ears flatten in discomfort and confusion.

"Air Force," he repeats, raising both hands as if in surrender. Daniel can't fully explain why that seems like a good course of action, except that maybe it'll make him seem as physically nonthreatening as possible, which is really not the easiest task when one happens to be a six foot man in military gear. Seth's discomfort means there's going to have to be some clarification. "And I wasn't so much 'with' them as I was a civilian consultant. I helped them unlock the key to interstellar travel and they let me stay on as, uh, kind of a diplomatic, negotiator ethics guy. They needed someone who felt that shooting things indiscriminately wouldn't cut it."

Maybe a more thorough explanation than necessary while simultaneously not thorough enough. How does he describe how necessary the presence of a nonmilitary personnel member was for exploration? Or how many times Daniel's insistence for a more humanitarian outlook had happened to be, miraculously, often randomly, the key to solving a potentially violent issue? Regardless, the subject clearly makes Seth uncomfortable. Yes, thank you very much Mr. Rift for making it all very obvious.

He doesn't get any closer, keeps his reasonable distance, and smiles with that faint and ever-present optimism.

"It's still me," he finishes with another little shrug, pitching the words hopefully. "Daniel. Same as always."

To be fair, 'won't shoot things indiscriminately' isn't necessarily the best reassurance. Kind of a minimum requirement, that. Still, the intense urge to explain and reassure is definitely the Daniel that Seth knows and, uh, and likes. Negotiator ethics guy does sound like him.

Seth sighs and shakes his head a bit at himself, and smiles faintly back in a way that says he might not be entirely comfortable with that, but he accepts the explanation and assurances.

He finds it very difficult to distrust Daniel, especially after what they've gone through, and Daniel's intense loyalty and friendliness. However much Seth might dislike the military and police and such things, Daniel obviously doesn't embody the things he dislikes about it, and Seth really should know that by now. There's just something about having it presented to him so visually.

"Sorry," he says, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm just not very, yanno, good with authority."

"No that's, that's fine." Noting the shift in body language, Daniel decides it's safe enough to advance. He lets his hands drop at the same time that Aliyah darts forward again. "I mean, hey - neither am I, really. No respect for the chain of command, I'm sure it drove everyone up the wall. But I think they knew they needed someone like me around. Keeping them honest."

At this point the extra reasoning feels superfluous, but Daniel doesn't like the idea of Seth being ill at ease around him. They went through that once in that prison-base dream and once was bad enough, thanks.

"Sorry about that," he adds, not fully sure what is he's apologizing but entirely certain it's warranted regardless. "I forget that's not always the best mental association. We good?"

Seth has to smile at the mental image of Daniel driving various military superiors bonkers. He'd be good in that situation though, Seth realises. His stubborn optimism and need to make sure everyone's alright, mixed with that intense humanitarianism on both a broader and a more personal level. Yeah, Seth can see it.

"Yeah, we're good," he answers with a nod, and looks down to watch Sephronia give the large cat - what is that, a snow leopard? - a friendly nudge with her nose. It makes him feel strangely happy.

"Looks like match, too," he comments. Is that weird to say? That their souls match? That feels a little bit weird.

Aliyah lets out a delighted huff and bats at the other cat with playful interest. Her enthusiasm for the friendly company seems to have thankfully overridden the pervasive wariness leaking out from every tree and foreign shadow. Daniel grins, pleased to see her more relaxed than she's ever been.

"Looks like." He folds his arms and watches with distant amusement. "That's um - she's Aliyah. Almost didn't realize how different it was having her on the outside, it just felt so, you know." Normal. Though in a way, Daniel supposes that it is normal. It's just a matter of displacement and materialization of certain parts of himself that wouldn't ordinarily be visible. Parameters set by the dream no doubt, though Daniel will be a little sad to wake up and no longer have the reassuring physicality of his soul beside him.

Seth nods a little thoughtfully. He had realised it was different - the situation still feels a little surreal to him, but even so he feels instinctively comfortable with her, and she with him. And, well, Seth is used to feeling like what's going on is surreal. It's almost normal and expected by now, if the ways it felt surreal didn't keep changing all the time.

"Um, Sephronia," he says, suddenly remembering he should maybe introduce his too, smiling and gesturing at the smaller cat that seems to be purring now, happy to have found a play mate apparently. "She's a margay. Apparently, according to her." Seth's never been to a zoo that would have something like her - interesting, really, that he's never been to a zoo but he has been on a safari. But of course they wouldn't have margays in Uganda.

"Oh, wow, look at that." Daniel drops into a crouch to study both cats, peering at the twin spotted coats. Aliyah makes a pleased rumble in her chest. "A margay, hm? Well she's really - she's gorgeous."

He stretches out a hand to hover it in front of the pair, like a gesture of greeting to a cat that would sniff his fingers.

"Are you complimenting my soul?" Seth asks jokingly, before he can stop himself. Again: weird. Just, inappropriately personal, probably.

Speaking of which, when Daniel reaches out to her, Sephronia steps up and nudges her nose against Daniel's hand, and a shiver runs down Seth's spine. Not a bad shiver. Just. Surprisingly intimate, but also pleasant, in a way that worries him a little, yet Sephronia doesn't seem at all bothered.

He grins when Sephronia rubs against his hand and responds with a tentative brush of rough fur on the top of her head, but glances up in mild alarm when he registers Seth's reaction.

"Sorry." Daniel hastily withdraws the hand and stands again, shoulders drawing themselves up to his ears. "I, I didn't realize. I guess it would be a little...weird. I mean that is, that's, she's your soul and all. Should've - sorry."

He shoves his hands into the pockets of his BDUs, ducking his head apologetically. Touching someone else's soul, even if it's an organic manifestation, feels like an obvious personal violation of some sort. He should have recognized it.

"It's alright," Sephronia says before Seth has a chance to, and he closes his mouth again with an awkward smile.

"What she said," Seth adds with a shrug. It had been kind of nice, actually, but he's not sure he feels comfortable telling Daniel that. That seems like he's admitting something he rather wouldn't.

In the interest of moving past the awkwardness and reassuring Daniel it's definitely No Big Deal, Seth changes the subject. "So, I hear you met Johnny."

"I - Johnny." He cocks his head and scratches at it, eyebrows knotting to form a hard frown. "Umm. Hang on. Let me - yeah, wait, I think we were - it was some underwater place, I was drowning and I think I, um. I think I grabbed his leg."

The memories are a bit fuzzy, but they're there. He coughs a little, embarrassed. "That was a dream, I'm pretty sure. At least I think I -"

He breaks off when Aliyah takes the opportunity to rub against Seth's leg, almost bizarrely domesticated in its motion. Yes, that definitely feels - odd, he'll agree on that one.

Seth nods a bit at the recollection of the underwater place. Johnny had said it was the previous large shared dream. He wonders if that was after Seth, well, died, or before. He knows the dream sometimes resets you or something, or maybe you're dreaming multiple things at the same time - Seth's not sure, but he knows it can be difficult to know the order of things in them. It all makes sense when you're asleep, like now, and then you wake up and suddenly it's a bit more intangible. But no, Daniel had texted him right afterwards, hadn't he?

He's so lost in his thoughts that he jumps a little at the other, larger cat suddenly rubbing against him. He's not sure how to react for a moment, but, well, she does seem... very friendly. Seth's trying not to read anything into that.

"Uhh... May I...?" he asks awkwardly, glancing up at Daniel as he kneels down a bit. He copies Daniel though, not reaching out for Aliyah, just, letting her come to him if she wants to.

"Sure," says Daniel with a distracted nod. He's not sure how he'd describe the sensation, but it's not unpleasant. Aliyah seems to understand that, letting out a low rasping purr as she rubs her head against Seth's hand. He focuses on the feeling, frowning. It's very low and tingling and visceral, a bit like how Daniel thinks Aliyah's purr would feel like if it were transposed into metaphysical sensation.

Her apparent eagerness to initiate the physical contact soon translates into the abstracted feeling running through him. Daniel shivers, feeling almost like someone just tickled his soul - whatever that means - and breathes out a faint breathless laugh.

"Yeah that's - ha, yeah. That's odd. Not...bad odd, just. I dunno." As if that helps define it any.

Seth grins at Aliyah rubbing against him, giving her a few scritches while Sephronia watches curiously. Having just felt for himself what it was like to have his.. well, soul touched in that way, and how personal it felt, he's actually quite touched that Aliyah would seek it out.

He doesn't want to overstay his welcome though, straightening up after not too long. And it just feels.. a little too intimate to keep doing.

"Yeah, it's strange," he agrees with a nod.

He kneels again once Seth backs away, this time to rub at the back of Aliyah's ears.

"Dreams aren't always nice here," he murmurs, pausing to rest his cheek on her forehead. "And this one doesn't seem to be very, er, friendly. But I guess they're not all bad, hm?" He directs the last statement partially at Aliyah, who responds by butting her head beneath his chin.

"We've met," she reminds him in a tone that straddles affection and well, obviously. "Though - not in this form, perhaps."

"I'm not sure it actually is that unfriendly," Seth answers, glancing around them. It's still creepy and unnerving, though the appearance of Daniel has distracted him for the moment from the general feeling that they're in the middle of a horror movie. "No one I've spoken to so far have actually met anything other than other regular dreamers in here. It might just be trying to freak us out."

"What, like some sort of - automated response, maybe?" He gets back to his feet with a puzzled frown. "Like the dream wants us scared?"

That certainly might explain it. Daniel's been on edge this whole time but he can't remember anything jumping out at him in particular. Though he has reached reflexively for the sidearm that isn't there a few times, and now he's wondering if he should start suppressing that instinct. It probably wouldn't go a long way in making Seth comfortable.

"Exactly," Seth says with a nod. "It wouldn't be the first time. Unfortunately I haven't met anyone with strong enough telepathic powers to confirm it. So I've just mostly been trying not to let it get to me." Daniel's presence is helping, even if his outfit isn't. But it's also kind of difficult to see him as a military man while he's snuggling a giant cat, both of them all gentle and affectionate.

"I wouldn't worry. You know if Daniel sees anything," says Aliyah matter-of-factly, piping up before Daniel can respond, "he'll probably just do something stupidly heroic to put a stop to it, like throwing himself dramatically in the way." The 'you idiot' goes unworded but is painfully implicit.

Daniel levels an expression that's meant to be a stern glare at her but in actuality ends up halfway between bafflement and guilt.

"Okay, that? Now, now that -" he begins with self-righteous indignation before abruptly deflating, "doesn't sound too far off, actually."

He's not sure what this constitutes. Is he arguing with himself in a roundabout sort of way? He's fairly sure internally debating the specifics won't do much by way of understanding why the manifestation of his soul is making loud (and uncomfortably astute) observations about his probable disaster reactions. He'll settle for trying to scowl at her with little success.

Seth tries really hard not to smirk at Aliyah's comment, he really, really tries. And fails.

Well, at least Daniel is aware of it. They thankfully haven't been in a situation in the waking world where it would be necessary, but it's enough of a pattern in the dreams.

"Well, at least that's actually dealing with a problem," Sephronia comments pointedly, nudging Seth's leg. "Instead of shutting himself in and pretending it doesn't exist."

"Oh, you too, huh?" Seth answers, clearly not amused. "Great, thanks."

It's not entirely unfair. Then again, you'd probably be unlikely to get an unfair character assessment from your own soul. Unless you're that deeply in denial, which, Seth isn't even sure that's possible.

"Guess we're two-for-two on the whole 'scary personality insight' thing," Daniel answers, vaguely amused by their respective souls' complete lack of tact but sobering a little in response to Sephronia's little comment nonetheless.

"Well yes," Aliyah says, sounding thoroughly exasperated. "When your frequent humanitarian impulses get you, us even, killed on a semi-regular basis, one tends to notice."

That's fair. In fact, Daniel won't even pretend to protest at that one. He scratches the fur on the top of her head and shoves his hands back into the relative kinesic safety of his BDU pockets.

"What've you been up to, then?" he asks in a poorly concealed attempt to shift the subject away from (a) uncomfortably accurate portraits of personal attributes and (b) the resurgence of anxiety that prickles at the nape of his neck. It feels an awful lot like something's watching him, however much Daniel tries to convince himself that it's the dream equivalent of a psychosomatic reaction.

Seth's just going to go ahead and pick Sephronia up before she can make any more comments, holding her for a second before letting her settle around his shoulders, gripping onto his jacket with her claws for balance. Considering she's a tree cat, balance and climbing is something she does rather well.

"Same old," he answers with a shrug, which causes Sephronia to bat at his nose to remind him to maybe not move his shoulders as much when she's up here.

"Um, but yeah, Johnny said you'd met in that underwater dream," he says, remembering suddenly what they were talking about before Aliyah had distracted them. "He's a friend of mine, and neighbour. I said I could invite you both over sometime, so you could meet outside of horrific nightmare settings," he continues with a small smile.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject