applesaucemod: (Krissy 4)
The Big Applesauce Moderators ([personal profile] applesaucemod) wrote in [community profile] applesaucedream2013-08-03 04:09 am

Let's Do the Time Warp (Again)

It's that time again, but time seems to be a bit muddled. As usual, people from all over the multiverse are being drawn into the Dreaming by the rift. This time, in addition to (or sometimes instead of) picking up the residents of Manhattan, they take them from their home universe but from a different point in time. You may find yourself suddenly encountering a future version of yourself, or perhaps you bump into a friend taken from long before you met them.

Tonight's setting is also time-twisted. You're still in Manhattan, but it seems to be closer to the 1930s. Specifically, you're in an old hotel. There's the dimly lit lobby, with chairs and tables for relaxed mingling. The bar, where tables are front of a stage, on which a band is playing various hits of the 30s. There's also an outdoor area if you need fresh air. Or you could explore the hotel, but it's mostly corridors, unless you stumble upon an unlocked room.



[Mod note: Usual dream-party rules apply. Both members and non-members are welcome to use any character, be they already in the game or no.

For game-specific characters, you can choose whether or not they will remember their time in Manhattan if they're taken from the future. You can take your character from multiple different points in time, if you want.]
brink: (Upset | Serious | Did I think of that?)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-03 03:12 am (UTC)(link)


A version of Topher quite starkly different than the one working at ROMAC is roaming the corridors. He shies away from large groups of people, so you won't find him hanging around the bar. He's skittish, tense, fiddly, and avoids eye contact. He may also be difficult to get through to, but strangely enough, he might also be more lucid in a dream state.

Apart from the behavioral differences, he's quite a few years older, and almost frail looking, skinny and unkempt, unshaven and with much shorter hair. Time has not been kind, and he looks worn down.

And this version of Topher does not have any control over the dreaming - at most, perhaps he'll make some phantoms appear by accident.
Edited 2013-08-03 03:31 (UTC)
has_a_horn: (long ago stare)

[personal profile] has_a_horn 2013-08-03 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
This mind is...convoluted. Gabriel wanders closer to the man, hoping not to frighten him, and dips into his mind for more information. Very convoluted, indeed.

This Gabriel shouldn't be familiar to Topher unless he can sense his Grace. His entire bearing is different, his body different, his face lacking it's usual smirk.

"Hello, Topher. You needn't be afraid of me."
brink: (Blank | Upset | Bloody)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 02:34 am (UTC)(link)


Topher doesn't recognise Gabriel. Whether it's because he can't remember his time with Romac or because he's not able to sense his Grace is uncertain, because Topher doesn't remember a lot of things. His mind doesn't work in the way it used to.

And being told not to be afraid of someone isn't actually that helpful. He's heard that before. And given this someone knows his name makes him even more wary. He assumes now it's someone he knows in a different body - which is true enough, really.

"No thanks," he answers, which makes sense in his own head.
has_a_horn: (long ago stare)

[personal profile] has_a_horn 2013-08-04 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Topher, would you like me to help you?" It might be interesting, to go in and unravel some of the knots there. There's always the possibility that they'd tangle again later, but he might learn more in the interim. "I can help you."
brink: (Annoyed | Frown | Betrayed)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
"...What kind of help?" he asks warily. His instinct is telling him not to accept candy from strangers. At the same time, he doesn't feel that much like a stranger, though Topher can't say why. Just a hunch. But any offer of help is worrying when it's not from someone he properly knows. People might think they help him, but really they're just helping themselves.
has_a_horn: (long ago smile)

[personal profile] has_a_horn 2013-08-04 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
"I can untangle your mind, while we are both still in the dreaming." Gabriel doesn't get any closer to Topher, but he does lift up a hand in offering and smiles in an effort to be comforting.
brink: (Blank | Thinking | Observing)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
Dreaming? Oh. Of course. That makes sense. He seems distracted by his surroundings for a moment. A shadow flutters past him, seems to distort him for a second, before he focuses back on Gabriel.

"Who are you?" he asks, because that's something he'll want to know before accepting any kind of help. And any kind of direct fiddling with his mind is.. well. Not something he is particularly comfortable with, even though it's different in here.
has_a_horn: (long ago stare)

[personal profile] has_a_horn 2013-08-04 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
When Topher doesn't accept his offer right away, Gabriel drops his hand and, less quickly, his smile. "My name is Gabriel. I'm an angel of the Lord."
brink: (Amused | Snark | Watching)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
Topher gives an incredulous laugh at that. "Okay," he answers. Great. Angels. So this guy is either deranged (in which case Topher doubts he could do any harm), lying (in which case he could do a LOT of harm), or... Well. He's dreaming. Who knows, really?

"I don't like people playing with my mind," he informs Gabriel, twitching a little. He's still debating it.
has_a_horn: (long ago interest)

[personal profile] has_a_horn 2013-08-04 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
"I wouldn't call it playing," Gabriel drawls out, confident and a tad pompous. "Are you interested or not?"
brink: (Blank | Uncertain | Look over shoulder)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"Alright," he answers suddenly. He wouldn't have if he were awake, but it finally started to sink in that this is in fact not real. And perhaps some unconscious familiarity with Gabriel is making him feel more trusting.
has_a_horn: (long ago stare)

[personal profile] has_a_horn 2013-08-05 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
"It won't take very long." Gabriel takes a step forward and rests the index and middle finger of his right hand against Topher's forehead. There is quite a lot here to untangle, but in the dreaming, such things are much easier to manage.

When he pulls his hand away, he tips his head to the side, considering his work. "How do you feel?"
brink: (Annoyed | Frown | Scrunchy face)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-05 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Topher flinches just for a moment as Gabriel reaches out for him.

It's not particularly pleasant. Having your mind messed with is jarring, and there's a good reason his brain has become this tangled to begin with. A flood of painful memories he'd repressed rush at him, but then the dust starts to settle.

Once Gabe is done, Topher reaches up to rub his forehead. "Like you put my head through a blender," he answers, but he feels... clearer. Like putting him through the blender cleared out the nasty chunks and left him smoother. Though the metaphor might need work.

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bluesuit_handy: (.blank | leaning)

[personal profile] bluesuit_handy 2013-08-03 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
Andrew is unaware that he's triple-dipped into this dream from three points in his timeline. What he does know is that something feels off here, a niggling at the back of his mind like he's not where he should be, or like he's late for an appointment (not that he's ever been on time for one of those). He pads up a hallway, hands in pockets, and tries to figure out what he's looking for.
brink: (Worried | Sneaky | I am ninja)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
Topher's immidiate reaction when spotting the man is to dodge behind a corner, somewhat obviously. Grace and stealth were never his strong suit, even in his glory days.
bluesuit_handy: (.surprised | mild surprise)

[personal profile] bluesuit_handy 2013-08-04 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
Like many animals, Andrew's natural inclination when he sees someone running is to run after them and eat them ask them many questions. Hurrying toward where he saw the stranger 'disappear,' he calls out, "Hey!"
brink: (Scared | Upset | What is she?)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
Unfortunately for Topher, he dodged into a blind corridor. So really all he can do is wait until Andrew rounds the corner, where he will find Topher with his arms up around his head, as if protecting himself from an attack. When Andrew catches up, though, Topher drops his arms and just says, "No."
bluesuit_handy: (.surprised | look!)

[personal profile] bluesuit_handy 2013-08-04 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Fortunately, Handrew isn't actually inclined to tackle Topher or tear his throat out or anything. He slows when he rounds the corner and sees that the mystery man doesn't have anywhere to run to -- and that he's looking sort of spooked.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he says in what he thinks is a reassuring tone. "I'm Andrew. Do you know where the ice machine is?"
brink: (Upset | Surprised | Shoulder look)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
"No," Topher answers, though it's dubious whether it's an actual answer or just a repetition. Now he's looking over Andrew more closely, there's a spark of recognition though. Something from very long ago, but it has him relaxing a little. "1930s - they don't have ice machines," he points out. Being crazy hasn't made him less clever.
bluesuit_handy: (.smile | farewell)

[personal profile] bluesuit_handy 2013-08-04 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah, of course not." Andrew gives him a little smile, glad they can at least pretend to have a normal conversation instead of this man just fleeing from him and doing that thing with his arms like he's trying to protect his face. "What's your name?"
brink: (Upset | Lonely | Drinking)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
"...Topher," he answers after several seconds of silent staring, fiddling with his sleeves. Then, very quickly, he adds, "Doctor Christopher Brink, PhD, neurologist. Primarily." He's not exactly sure why he shares this when the first answer would've been enough, and is as much as the other man has offered.
bluesuit_handy: (.misc | innocent)

[personal profile] bluesuit_handy 2013-08-04 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Andrew Noble, space and time traveler," replies Andrew helpfully. Tit for tat, after all. "You alright, Doctor Brink?"
brink: (Blank | Thinking | Talking to himself)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-04 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm great," he lies unconvincingly, though with the flash of a smile, barely there before it's gone again. Time traveler, that's where. "I know you," he says, pointing a finger at Andrew.
bluesuit_handy: (.snark | but why?)

[personal profile] bluesuit_handy 2013-08-04 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
Always fine, meet great. Andrew blinks -- he doesn't know Topher, he's sure of that. Mostly sure, anyway. "Have we met?" he asks, befuddled.
brink: (Snark | Annoyed | Soupçon)

[personal profile] brink 2013-08-05 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Mmmmnoooyyyyeemaybe," Topher answers slowly, face scrunched up as he tries to think. "The Doctor," he adds, by way of explanation. Hopefully that'll cover the important stuff, cause Topher can't seem to pull up more.

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