Here You Are, Stick Figure and a Busted Grin [Open to All]

[applesaucemod]

The first thing that the dreamers of Manhattan might notice is that the ground is a good deal closer than it normally is. The second thing they might notice is that their surroundings are larger than they might expect. The playground looks almost daunting. Of course, there are other ways for the dreamers to occupy themselves on this hot summer day: a charming fountain bubbles away a little distance from the playground. There's an ice cream stand with treats free for the taking. Beyond the paved area is a meadow, covered in wildflowers and dominated by a huge, sprawling tree, perfect for climbing.

It's all prime entertainment for children. So really, it's just as well that 'children' is what the dreamers will find themselves to be - once more, for those who had childhoods, or for the first time, for those who didn't.

Perhaps you'll remember everything: the Rift, Manhattan, the friends (and enemies) you've made since your arrival. Or perhaps you'll only remember who you were when you were young, and find this an opportunity to forge new friendships - or new (and probably pettier) animosities. Run around, get dirty, have a good time. It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

[ooc: usual dream party rules apply. All are welcome, whether they've been apped to the game or not. Characters will remember or forget the events of the dream at the players' discretion. Mental and emotional regression is optional, but physical regression is mandatory: your character is in the body of a little kid - human, or human-ish - regardless of who or what they are in the waking world.]

Comments

[bibliophale]

WHAT is THIS.

Aziraphale looks down at himself with immense displeasure. He's in a similar body to the one he's been wearing in Manhattan, but it's so low to the ground. And his hands are small and pudgy, his belly is even rounder than usual, and he feels all - soft and tiny. Cherublike, one might say.

This is the body of a CHILD.

Okay this is just a bridge too far. Of all the indignities the Rift has put him through this has to be the worst.

He stalks through the meadow looking like a little ball of fluffed up cat, so annoyed he nearly trips over a pale little girl.

"Oh-" he blurts, and then he takes another look at her, agog. There's no mistaking her, even as different as she is, a person is always the same throughout life to the eyes of an angel.

"Sunshine!" he says, immediately plopping down next to you. "Are you all right? You look terrible!"

Well, that could have come out better.

[rae_of_sun]

Oh, no. Someone else is here. Rae opens her eyes to peer mistrustfully at the boy sitting beside her, and scoots a few inches away from him. She doesn't recognize him from her class, so who is he? Why is he bugging her? Why is he calling her 'sunshine'?

Him telling her she looks terrible hurts, and she screws up her face into a furious pout, hoping that will hide how close to tears she is. "It's Rae, and I'm fine." She wants to ask why he won't just leave her alone, but she'll start crying if she does, and then she'll really be an easy target. So she attacks, instead. "Who are you?"

[bibliophale]

"It - it's me, Aziraphale!" he says in dismay. "I can't change my body back to normal but it looks like it's affecting everyone. Are... are you sure you're all right?" He reaches out gingerly with a concerned frown.

[rae_of_sun]

She twitches back when he reaches for her. He doesn't look mean, just worried, but that's no comfort. Why is some strange kid she's never met before worrying about her? She must look really bad if total strangers are looking at her like he is, and that just makes her feel even worse.

"What kind of dumb kali name is that?" she snaps. Mom would be mad if she heard her using words like 'kali,' but Mom's not here.

[bibliophale]

"I..." He blinks at her, his eyes widening behind comically huge glasses, his hand drawing back. "You don't remember me." She doesn't remember anything. She really is a child right now.

"I'm sorry!" he says quickly, changing tacks. "I... I..." Should he try to explain? Should he lie? Neither option is his forte. He frowns very seriously, unaware how goofy and adorable it looks on his small face. "I'm an angel," he says finally. "It's an angel's name."

[rae_of_sun]

Rae sniffs once, suspicious and derisive and not at all because she came close to crying. Fallen angels are sheer, which makes it all the weirder that this kid's claiming to be one. He doesn't look like an angel, he looks like a nerd.

"No, you're not," she accuses, pulling herself up into a proper sit. "Angels don't look like kids."

[bibliophale]

"Well not usually," he concedes. At least he's got her attention now, that's something. "But I, um... I'm stuck looking like this right now."

There. Not a lie, but not going so far as to try and explain 'Rift' and 'dream' to a little girl. She's not like Melanie, she's, well. An ordinary little girl.

"Usually I'm very tall," he assures her.

[rae_of_sun]

Is he making fun of her? "I'm not stupid," she warns him, in case he is. She hasn't heard as many stories about Others as she'd like, having been deemed 'too young' for many of them, which is also stupid. But she'd like to think she'd know a fallen angel when she saw one.

"If you're really an angel, prove it," she says.

[bibliophale]

"I..." Good grief, why does this have to be so difficult? He resists the great urge to make some arch statement about how he shouldn't have to prove himself, but she's only a little child currently and little children tend to be completely unreasonable. He's been spoiled by Melanie.

"Fine," he sighs, and focuses very hard on manifesting his wings. He'll look incredibly odd like this, he things, his great wings on this little body, but-

-but of course they're proportional.

This is frightfully embarrassing. He feels his face heating up.

"Oh dear," he say sheepishly. "They usually look more impressive than this."

[rae_of_sun]

Rae maintains a dubious scowl until the wings appear, and then - she can't help it - she giggles, more because he's so embarrassed than because the wings themselves are funny. She shouldn't laugh at just the wings, even if they are small and dumb-looking. Being a partblood's no joke.

But hey, he's the one who showed her his little stubby baby wings. It's not like it's a secret. "What kind of demon has wings like that?" she asks, more curious than mocking.

[bibliophale]

Well, it's only fair that they make her laugh, they are ridiculous. And at least she's not scowling anymore! He puts them away quickly, but then looks up, aghast, at her question.

"Demon?" he sputters. She's just a child, he reminds himself, doesn't know him or what she's saying, and demons do seem to be a commonality in her world. Still, it's hard not to get ruffled. "I'm not a demon," he says, more calmly, only a little scolding. "I told you. I'm an angel."