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

[tinytantrum]

"Museum a' Natural History," confirms Jed, worry creeping in at the edges of his pride.

"It's daylight here," Clementine points out, nudging him with her nose. "Can't be real."

Jed nods, reassured but not reassured. He doesn't usually sleep and that means he doesn't usually dream, but at least it's possible. "So how come you're talking to me and tellin' me it's a dream if it's a dream? Seems to me most people in dreams don't know it."

[singthesong]

The Balladeer exchanges a glance with Beth. "...yeah. I've been there."

They're gonna have to talk this out later, but it'd be rude to speculate on the tiny cowboy's story right in front of him. Ruder still to listen in and confirm. So alright, he'll just explain what he does know. "These kind, the shared ones, they happen pretty often around here. Once you've been in a few you start to recognize them."

For example, talking animals following everyone around aren't usually a sign of the real world.

[tinytantrum]

"Where is here?" asks Jed. "Other'n an ocean, I can see that. You made it sound like you were in New York, too." Is it just because he doesn't sleep much that he doesn't know about this shared dream stuff? Sleeping when he's able to be awake just always seemed like a waste of time to him, he can sleep when he's inanimate.

"You been in many?" asks Clementine.

[singthesong]

"I am in New York. This is just - " He sits back on his heels, looks around, and shrugs. " - a dream about islands, apparently. Never seen 'em before." Most of these dreams don't seem to draw from anyone's experience in particular. As far as he knows, at least; if they are, god help the slapstick comedy person.

Beth tilts her head. "Four or five. Most of them have been nice! There was one with a lot of treehouses, I liked that best."

[tinytantrum]

"Huh." Jed considers this, hands on his hips as he looks past the Balladeer and gazes off down the beach. "Islands, huh? Can't say I ever been on an island before."

"Manhattan's an island," mutters Clementine and Jed flaps a hand at her as he makes a shushing noise.

"Don't get all technical. Can't say I ever been on a real island," he reiterates. "So what I'm thinking is we quit this jabberjawing and we get exploring, whaddya say? I might even forget that you tried to sit on me if you play your cards right."