Sweeter than the First Time [Open to All]

[applesaucemod]

Hello, dreamers of Manhattan. The Rift knows that things have been kind of rough, lately. The last dream didn't go as well as it had hoped. Consider this an apology of sorts, and a hearkening back to the good times you've shared.

It's a grand old (and potentially familiar) cabin house that the dreamers will find themselves wandering. The furniture is plentiful and comfortable, the floors are strewn with cushions and blankets, and there are cheerful fires burning in the grates. It seems a little odd that the house still manages to be on the chilly side despite looking so warm, yet it is.

Oh, well. You'll just have to find another dreamer or two and spoon up and fall asleep like little baby cats get cozy. It shouldn't be difficult; most of the dreamers (excepting those with strong telepathic defenses or deeply ingrained cuddle-averse personalities) will find themselves feeling friendlier than usual, along with an almost overwhelming desire to snuggle up to someone. How convenient that the house seems designed for that very purpose!

And if some of the cushions are Hello Kitty themed, well, that's just coincidence.


[OOC: Standard dream party rules apply. Characters will be affected by the dream-whammy to whatever degree makes the most sense for them, and will remember or forget the events of the dream at the player's discretion. Backtag into infinity.]

Comments

[andhiswife]

"I could use help with my phone," Greta admits, obliviously, as she uncurls herself from around Iman. No more moping. But she's in no particular hurry to get up, either, so she shifts to sit more alongside Iman, leaning against her and tucking a companionable arm through hers. "Speaking of things that might as well be magic." And it's so little, and delicate; honestly, she'd be much more willing to mess around with it if it wasn't so breakable.

"What about your world?" she asks, turning to look at her. "Is it very different?" Iman seems to have adjusted well, but that could just be due to time.

[etherthief]

Iman smiles and pats her arm. "I can help with that," she says, perhaps a bit overconfidently. She is definitively not a teacher. But she's enthusiastic!

"It's pretty similar, actually," she says. "Same city, even. I actually... came through on purpose." She grins, a little embarassed. "If you can believe that."

[andhiswife]

"On purpose," Greta repeats without comprehension, as if parroting a foreign language. She ought to ask 'how,' as that's rather more relevant - can she do it again? - but what pops out is, "Why?" Why on earth would anyone voluntarily leave their world behind?

… Well, there are a few reasons she could think of, all involving an extremely unpleasant home life, and she gives her head an appalled little shake. "Sorry. It's none of my business."

[etherthief]

Iman laughs and scoots in a little closer. "It's fine," she says. "It was for an experiment. I wanted to see if I could. That's why I do everything, just about, to see if I can. Of course, the idea was to come through and then go home again. I didn't know about the rift, and that it was going to stop me." She lets out a sigh, only briefly feeling a resurgence of her frustration on this point - mostly, she's over it now, fully invested in finding a new way around it with her new colleagues, so to speak.

"Hopefully I'll figure out a new method," she says. "And if I do, I'm going to help everyone get home again."

[andhiswife]

"Oh." Well, considering what Andrew and the Balladeer used to do - travel through time and space with apparent ease - maybe it's not so surprising that someone might have the ability to travel between worlds just as easily. Or feel confident enough to try it, anyway.

It's Iman's last sentence that gets the strongest reaction. Greta turns toward her, eyes wide, and clasps the other woman's hand. "Really? You'd do that for everyone?"

[etherthief]

"You bet I would." Iman smiles at her astonishment. "I try not to do my work just for me. I want it to impact everyone. Knowing there are so many people trapped here, if I found a way out, I would never keep that to myself." She squeezes Greta's hand comfortingly. "It's going to take a while. I mean we don't even fully understand what we're up against yet. But I'm not going to give up. That is a fact and a promise."

[andhiswife]

Everyone with ROMAC whom Greta has spoken with thusfar has been very careful not to get her hopes up regarding travel back home. She was reassured that people were working on the issue, but also cautioned that it would take time - probably a lot of it. This is the first time she's spoken directly with someone trying to solve the problem, and Iman's evident determination is a great comfort.

"That would be wonderful," Greta enthuses. Obviously this calls for a hug.

[etherthief]

Iman grins and accepts the hug happily, rubbing a hand up and down Greta's back. What an absolute sweetheart. This kind of thing only sharpens her resolve.

"It would be," she agrees. "And it will be. In the meantime-" she pulls away, keeping her hands on Greta's shoulders and looking her in the eye, "-we're going to make sure you enjoy yourself, as much as you can. Can't just sit and wait and hope, that's not good for a person. I'm gonna find you when we're awake and I'm going to teach you everything I can. Okay?"

Another mission! She loves missions. She needs them.

[andhiswife]

Greta smiles, both touched and faintly bewildered by the offer (and, privately, a little doubtful about how much she can enjoy herself in Manhattan… but that's too dark a thought for such a nice place as this). "Thank you," she says, reaching up to cover Iman's hand with her own. "That's so kind!" And she has so little to offer in return, it seems. Well, baking lessons - those shall have to happen.