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

[etherthief]

Well THAT'S silly, but she already knew that, English is constantly using the same words for very different things, and letters can sound like just about anything - this is just business as usual. And now she's learned a new word!

Meanwhile, this kid is great, she's so into the game. Iman grins and hops down from her perch. "Never!" she says boldly. "I'll save you. Dragons don't scare me." She holds out a hand to help the girl up. "What is your name, pretty lady?"

[andhiswife]

"Greta," she says, taking the girl's hand and letting her help her up. Hastily, she amends, "Princess Greta," and adjusts her flower crown with her free hand. "Might I be so bold as to ask your name, brave sir knight?"

[etherthief]

"It's Iman," says Iman dutifully, though she's not sure what 'surnight' is, she's pretty pleased with herself for doing so well. "Nice to meet you, Princess Greta!" She gives Greta's hand a good shake, then decides well, the more knightly thing to do with be to give it a little kiss, so she does that for good measure.

"We should find a good place to hide you from the dragon!" she says, giving Greta a gentle tug to move her off toward a little alcove of rocks. "Then I can catch it by surprise." Very practical.

[andhiswife]

Greta beams when Iman kisses her hand. For someone who doesn't know what a knight is, she's good at pretending to be one! "You're very brave, Sir Iman," she says with open admiration, following her over towards the little tumble of rocks. "Oh! Before you fight the dragon, I must give you a token!" Normally a maiden would give a handkerchief or something, but Greta doesn't have one. So, after a moment's consideration, she takes off her flower crown and carefully draws out a bright purple bloom.

"For luck," she explains as she offers it to her knight.

[etherthief]

A token? What's that mean? Iman watches intently as the girl plucks a flower from her little crown and offers it. Is 'token' the kind of flower it is? She shrugs and takes it, beaming in gratitude. Doesn't matter what, it's still sweet.

"Thanks!" she says, tucking the flower behind her ear so the bloom of it sticks out from under her hijab. "Now you should hide. I'll wait for the dragon to come back!"

She clambers up onto the rocks, brandishing her stick-sword and scanning the skies diligently. She squints at some clouds, imagining them to be the shape of a great bird. Close enough. "There it is!" she declares, pointing sharply at the abstraction. "Don't be scared, Princess, I'll save you!" She leaps down from the rocks, holding her sword aloft challengingly.

[andhiswife]

"All right." Greta crouches on the leeward side of the rocks, balancing herself against a stone with one hand and replacing her crown with the other. Iman really looks the part, stick-sword held aloft and her scarf wrapped about her head like a helmet. Greta watches her with wide-eyed admiration, almost leaping to her feet in excitement when Iman spots the dragon.

No, no, she's meant to be hiding. "Be careful!" she cries, bracing both hands against the rocks and peering over them to watch the action. "It's got two--no, three heads, each meaner than the other!" Is three heads too many? Iman seems like the sort of knight who could handle it.

[etherthief]

She doesn't hide, she's the knight! She grins, swishing the stick around with casual bravado.

"Three heads, eh?" She pulls her sword back to a striking position. "I can handle that. Eight heads, that might be a problem." Is that too boastful? Whatever. She wants to show off for the princess. But not just that, this is an excellent opportunity for a lesson. Princesses shouldn't settle for towers and tokens! "See what you wanna do-" She gives a big leap, a grunt, and a show of clambering and struggling. "Is put one of the heads to work for you. Now-" She swings her stick around, stabs downward, and then makes a quick jab to the left. "You can reach the others!"

[andhiswife]

Goodness. Look at her go! Greta climbs up onto the rocks to get a better view of Iman's impressive show of dragon-tussling, throwing out a dramatic gasp when she lands a particularly artful blow. "Watch out for the fire!" she shouts before ducking to avoid the imaginary spray of flames. The dragon must be furious.

[etherthief]

"Oop!" Iman ducks as well to dodge the blast, then turns swiftly, jamming her stick forward, she imagines with a gleeful grin, right into the beast's open maw. That's how you do.

"Gotcha!" she cheers, pulling the sword back out and swinging again, taking a few extra whacks for good measure. "Your days of princess stealing are over!"

[andhiswife]

Greta hops excitedly atop the rock pile, hands clasped under her chin. "You did it!" she cheers. "You saved me!" Clambering down onto the grass, she surveys the dead dragon with an impressed - and cheerfully disgusted - expression on her face. "Goodness, look at how dead it is!" Very dead, because Iman did such a good job of killing it.

She turns to her knight, beaming. "You fought so bravely! My father, the King, will reward you handsomely."

[etherthief]

"Oh, that's okay," says Iman, beaming just as brightly. "I don't need a reward. It's all in a day's work!" She holds out a hand to the little girl - it seems the task should at least be punctuated somehow, by another shake, or another kiss on the hand perhaps.

[andhiswife]

Just because she doesn't need a reward doesn't mean she ought not to get one. She killed a dragon and rescued a princess! That's worth much more than a handshake. Besides, Greta likes this girl tremendously; she's older and mysterious but she's also been great fun. So while Greta takes the offered hand, she doesn't shake it. Instead, she uses it as leverage, rising onto her tiptoes and tugging Iman down a little so she can kiss the girl's cheek.

"There," she says, dropping back onto her heels and grinning. "That can be your reward."

[etherthief]

"Oh," blurts Iman in surprise when the princess ends up offering the kiss. She brightens back into a smile. That's cute. "I thank you very much, Princess Greta." She takes a step back and does a good bow from a waist.

"Now that you're free, do you want to go exploring?" she asks hopefully.

[andhiswife]

What a gallant knight! Iman is wonderful. Greta nods eagerly. "I've been trapped in that dragon's lair for ages. But I bet you've been all over the kingdom and know all the best places for exploring." Brightening, she adds, "We could go on your white steed!" All knights have white steeds. And what this really means is that they'll get to explore at a run, and that's fun, too.

[etherthief]

"Naturally!" agrees Iman, chuckling a little, and she takes Greta's hand and sets off at a good scamper, imitating a few horse sounds for good measure as they ride off to see what other kind of adventures await.