This is My Island in the Sun [Open to All]

[applesaucemod]

The Rift wouldn't say it's sorry for the fit it threw the other day, because the Rift never needs to apologize. It is (mostly) perfect, and all of its decisions are well reasoned and just. Obviously. But perhaps it has fallen into a bit of a post-tantrum sulk, because this dream is milder than one might expect. In fact, it's downright nice.

The dreamers will find themselves in an archipelago of small islands - most only a few acres in size - connected by narrow strips of sand or pebbles. The surrounding waters are calm. Little waves lap against the shorelines, and no rising tide will cut the islands off from one another. The islands themselves seem to have been lifted from every climate zone on Earth and several from beyond. Some are tropical, some colder and home to hardy conifers, some mossy and boulder-strewn, some covered in multicolored sand and odd, coral-like trees.

Most of the islands boast some kind of manmade or otherwise non-native structure, be it as small as a bench or as large as a pavilion, though there are no houses or shops to be seen. It's more like parkland, just civilized enough for a nice picnic. Some of the islands even have little grills, and a sufficiently motivated dreamer might be able to rustle up some hot dog or burger fixings if they poke around a bit.

And they'll have an extra pair of eyes to help with their searching, because their beloved dæmons have returned… again. Or perhaps they're being introduced for the first time. Regardless, it's the bi-annual dæmon dream party!

Comments

[james_t]

Kirk's smile falters a little and he pauses for thought. Carina doesn't seem as inclined to silence. "Taken?" she says, still relaxed around Kirk's shoulders. "That doesn't sound very good."

He lifts a hand to Carina, absently comforting her as he continues with her line of thought. He's still leaning forward a little, but now the posture seems more rigid than it had been before. "You mean. You mean more than the dreams. You mean taken out of where I'm supposed to be."

[etherthief]

Well, look who got all straight-faced. That's a good look for him too, Iman can't hide a little smile at it. She likes someone who can be a ridiculous otter one minute and a very serious otter the next. Never thought about it like that, but it works.

"Yeah," she says. "We all wind up in Manhattan, 2013. Earth." He looks human, speaks perfect American English, but one can't be too sure. "I came out of a universe similar but... pretty different. And people come from all over. People from the past, people from stories... and the future." She nods at him. "Something tells me that's more your end of the spectrum."

[james_t]

"2013!" Carina huffs. "You can't stay there. They haven't even made first contact." She melts down from Kirk's shoulder onto his lap and twists around once before settling down again. He sits up a little straighter. In an undertone she adds, "Would be fun to visit though, don't you think?"

"Ah-yes." He doesn't particularly like the idea of becoming trapped in the past, especially if it's alone. The idea of actually seeing the early twenty first century is exciting to him, but the last time, Spock had been along to experience it with him, and he'd had a first officer capable enough to get them home. He's not sure that he could manage it himself.

"First half of the 23rd century," He explains. "I captain a starship. The Enterprise." He can't keep a small smile from creeping onto his face at the name. "She's my ship, and she's where I belong."

[etherthief]

"Hot," she says matter-of-factly. So not only is he from a spaceship, he owns the spaceship. Or captains it. Whatever. That is neat. It is neat as hell.

"Well, hopefully you'll get to stay with her," she says, reaching out to pat his shoulder. "Watch where you steer. Maybe you can detect it before it happens. We're all trying to get out - could use some outside help, I'll bet." She smiles a little ruefully.

[james_t]

He leans back a fraction when she proclaims him (or maybe just the Enterprise?) hot. Meanwhile, Carina jumps from his lap up to hide behind his back.

"Ah-" He's not exactly sure how to respond to her, so he's very relieved when she continues with something that he knows how to react to.

"We've run into time...rifts I suppose you'd say. But nothing lately. If I remember this I'll run some scans. If there's something I can do from the other side, it's worth giving it a shot." He nods to her solidly, then pushes himself up and goes towards where he'd left his clothes. Suddenly he's feeling the desire to be just a little more covered. Exposed by his change in position, Carina stays where she is but not without fidgeting. He keeps up the conversation while he pulls his uniform back on. "Where were you, before you were pulled in?"

[etherthief]

Aw he's shy. Really shy. She barely touched him! Well, she pulls back a little, rests her head in her hand to watch him at a cocked angle. He's much more comfortable talking about the rift, which suits her needs just as well.

"A similar universe, to the rift's Manhattan, not to this one," she says with a vague gesture at the ocean. "Embarrassingly I... sort of got myself pulled in." She gives him a halfhearted grin. "Moving between universal plains was sort of a project of mine, been working on it for a long time, and as soon as I succeeded, I was stuck. Rift won't let me back out." She sighs, momentarily soured by the memory, and pushes it away. "But there's a lot of good people there, smart people, we're working on a way out."

[james_t]

"So you're a scientist." He smiles back at her though it's a little contrite. There's not much he can do to help her situation now, and he doesn't like the idea of having to help from her side of things. He can usually appreciate scientists, though, especially when they are studying things as interesting as dimensional rifts.

"He likes scientists." Carina adds, helpfully, maybe out of a need to smooth things over, but ultimately being about as awkward as Kirk had been.

For his part, Kirk doesn't acknowledge the statement with more than a nod. "Should I call you Doctor Asadi?" He's definitely not flippant with his question. If she has credentials, he'd like to acknowledge them.

He dresses, but doesn't bother with the boots. It might be more difficult to wear them on this sand anyway. As he carries them back Carina runs to meet him halfway and then stays at his feet the rest of the way.

[etherthief]

"Nah. Never got my doctorate." It's nice that he asked, though, and her smile softens. "Academia wasn't really my scene. I prefer being in the field."

She looks him over now that he's dressed and holy wow, look at that uniform. She barely suppresses a giggle. Fucking adorable.

"And should I call you Captain Kirk?" she asks.

[james_t]

"If you like. That is my title, but you're hardly part of my crew."

When he reaches her, he nods back to the rest of the island. "Care to explore while we-" When he looks down at her, he cuts himself off to examine her expression. Amusement doesn't really track with what she'd been talking about, so it must be something about him. He raises his eyebrows at her. "Something amusing, Ms. Asadi?"

[etherthief]

Too perceptive for his own good, this one. She lets a snicker escape, and Aqil cocks his head up to answer on her behalf.

"She thinks your clothes are hilarious," he deadpans.

"You're a feathery little shit," she says through increasingly poorly stifled giggles.