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

[starlightcalliope]

Calliope listens keenly, nodding along and clasping her claws in front of her robe. She appreciates how straightforward and well laid out the rules of this game are, and there's even a little narrative to it - one is either just judge of the guilty, or cunning savior of the innocent. It is perhaps a bit grim, but then, losing always is. Pieces are slaughtered left and right in chess, especially when one's bloody immature opponent eats them afterwards. She can but hope this stranger and his marvelous beast are less sore losers.

She considers the rules for a moment, raising her left hand to her mouth and thoughtfully tapping a claw against a canine tooth, too absorbed in the game to realize she's producing a soft clicking sound. "What about place names?" she asks, needing the rules to allow for no confusion. "And is it limited to only one language? I suppose it must be, to one which both players speak equally fluently."

[antitimelord]

"That's right, just one language," he confirms. He notes the studious tapping; she seems quite dedicated. "And no proper place names. It would be too easy, here. The rift steals people from all over," he throws out. See what she makes of that. She's obviously displaced from somewhere, with those claws. "I am Zagreus, and this," he tangles a hand in the chimaera's mane, "Is Alecto. She doesn't exist in the waking world. Do you know you're dreaming? I suppose a chimaera should be a dead giveaway, if the beach isn't," he comments idly, watching for a reaction. He doubts the name will mean anything to her, unless she's kept very specific company in the waking world. That's just as well, she probably doesn't know anything useful anyway. He's a little surprised she wasn't more hesitant to approach the frightful thing, she'd seemed more startled by his greeting than anything, but maybe big multiheaded beasts are a dime a dozen where she's from.

[starlightcalliope]

The ban on place names is quite reasonable considering the circumstances, as he rightly points out, and she nods in agreement. But his introduction is quite embarrassing for her; what a rude oversight on her part! "Pardon me," she hurries to say, "I can get a wee bit carried away when it comes to games. And a few other things, to tell you the truth, heh." She gently lifts a fold of her hood to reveal her snake watchfully flicking his tongue, bright green eyes staring at Zagreus. "This is Ophion, and I'm called Callie. It's lovely to meet you both!"

Neither the chimaera's species nor name are familiar to her, so perhaps she isn't a denizen after all, though that makes her no less obviously mythical. Much like her companion, actually. "You know, I fancied I might have known you from somewhere, but your name doesn't ring a bell at all." Oh well, perhaps it'll come to her later. She shrugs and picks up a long bit of driftwood of her own. "It is indeed a rather smashing dream bubble, especially being reunited with our animal chums. Shall we begin?"

[antitimelord]

Ah, so there is a little animal with her, and she's met it before. True to his expectations, she doesn't recognise his name, but the rest gives him pause. He certainly hasn't met her that he knows of, though she is somewhat disguised. There had been an incarnation of the Doctor with his face around for a time, as is generally the case, but not in awhile. "Charmed, I'm sure. You might have seen a version of me," which is sort of true, "That happens, on occasion. But I think I'd remember, if we'd met." He sounds more sure than he is. Dreams are funny, and his memory has its gaps. "Do you want to guess, or play a word?" She seems more confident with regards to the game than she does overall. He gives her the choice because it will be interesting to see what she chooses.

[starlightcalliope]

A version of him? Now that sounds familiar, the wording of it, but then it is a concept deeply entrenched in the construction of Paradox Space. And his choice is irresistibly quick to distract her. "I think I'd prefer to start off guessing, if it's all the same to you!" she replies brightly and without hesitation. What better way to learn more about her opponent than to take a stab at the realms from which he takes his words? It will be her turn to pose a challenge to him soon enough, anyhow.

[antitimelord]

It is indeed all the same to him. "Alright," Zagreus says agreeably, and sets to thinking of a good word. It's hard to choose, when you don't have any underlying history of needling your opponent and don't know anything about them. Ought he to choose a long word, or short? One would appear unkind but be a blessing in disguise; a short word might look like she's caught a break but just lessens the chance that she'll guess correct letters. He looks to the chimaera for inspiration, but it remains as unhelpfully unreal as ever, and he clicks his tongue to himself, tapping his chin in thought, before hurrying to draw his lines and gallows. "Guess away."

_ _ _ _ _ _

[starlightcalliope]

While her opponent deliberates on his first and only move in this match, Calliope takes the chance to glance up at him askance, trying to catch a better view of his features and remember where she might have seen a version of him before. Oddly enough, she gets the feeling it had been in the TARDIS, though that makes little sense. She would remember any visitors, since they are a fairly rare occurrence, and he surely wasn't at the party either. But it's no use, she doesn't dare look up properly and she has to duck her head when he suddenly sets about marking out his word. Oh well, more important things to do!

"'U', if 'U' please," she chirps immediately. Ophion only huffs judgmentally at her word play. Who would have thought snakes could be such grouches.

[antitimelord]

An interesting choice. But not a good one. Nice play on words, though. Shows she's got the right cap on. "No 'U,'" he says with faux apology, and draws a head on the condemned figure, scratching the letter down nearby. "But it's early yet."

[starlightcalliope]

What a disappointing start to the game and she can't help a bit of a huff, not unlike her snake's. But she also instinctively recognizes the phony graciousness in his words, so common to all the games she's ever played, and she's quick to reassure him just as sweetly, "And I'm not one to be daunted by an unfavorable first move." And not one to rush into things, so this time she takes a moment to properly consider which letters are most likely to appear. Surely being a seasoned wordsmith doesn't count as an unfair advantage. "'E'!"

[antitimelord]

That's much more reasonable and by the book, perhaps disappointingly so; her first guess had character going for it if not correctness. He scratches in the correct if boring letter, whistling a scrap of a tune that isn't a clue in any way except to him, just a little fanfare.

_ _ _ _ _ E

"Good. Nothing daunting about Hangman, once you learn the ropes." He grins, likewise undaunted.

[starlightcalliope]

By and large he'll find her to be quite cautious, at least when it comes to playing a game she's never tried before. In due time she will make more daring moves, but she needs to test the waters first.

"Hmm-hmm," she agrees thoughtfully, satisfied to have guessed correctly but realizing that there's an awful lot of words ending on E, and she has already forfeited one of her guesses. "So what brings you to this beautiful bit of dream bubble dishing out games to strangers?" she asks to cover up how undecided she is about what is essentially still a stab in the dark, only to add "And 'N', please," a moment later.

[antitimelord]

"No 'N' either, I'm afraid," he says, and adds a torso to his stick-victim. "The Rift brings me here, as it does." He shrugs, not entirely comfortably. "The game just seemed like the thing to do at the time. Not many dreams really lend themselves to it. And I find it..." Soothing? "Energising. Unfortunately, Alecto is a terrible sport about games or riddles of any kind. Thinks it unbefitting of a chimaera. I think she should lighten up."

[starlightcalliope]

Calliope frowns at her second wrong guess in disappointment and a tad of uneasiness. So far this game seems to have got a lot more to do with luck than with strategy, and luck has never been terribly reliable. His feelings on games though she finds quite relatable, and his adorable bit of banter with his monster actually makes her giggle.

"A mystical beast disinclined to riddles? Preposterous!" she chuckles and then adds a good-natured "No offense!" over to said beast. Even if the game may not be going as well as it could be, the interesting and entertaining company alone is worth the try. Clicking her teeth in consideration, she looks back down at the scribbles and asks, "Might there be an 'R'?"