applesaucedream | A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Current Music: April 3, 2013

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A Day Late and a Dollar Short

As far as dreams go, this seems surprisingly...normal. True, the dreamers of Manhattan and beyond will find themselves stranded in the middle of the ocean on a fairly deserted rocky island, but it's nothing so unusual as the labyrinth from last time, and no one appears to have become an animal or reverted to an insane past (or future) version of themself. Besides, well, rocks and grass, there's nothing here but an abandoned lighthouse, the doors and windows broken, and the spare furniture worn by the weather. You can go up the spiral staircase to look at the view, but there's nothing to see but the endless ocean. One might almost think tonight was a night for simple socializing via the telepathic current.

As if anything to do with the rift is ever that simple, you silly bumpkin. How quickly each person realizes what is unusual about tonight's dream will depend in large part on their personality. Some might go the entire night without noticing (except from the distress of others, naturally), but some will find out the instant they open their mouths to converse with another dreamer. You see, each and every dreamer will be completely unable to tell a lie for as long as the dream lasts. The truth might be evaded by omission, but any attempt to say that which is untrue will result in the corresponding truth emerging instead.

Good thing it's just a dream and everyone's going to forget in the morning, right? Right??

[Mod note: As usual, players can choose to have their characters remember or forget anything that happens in the Dreaming. As per usual party rules, both members and non-members are welcome to play any character in this post, regardless of whether that character is currently in the game. Unlike usual, tonight's theme is not optional; all characters will be subject to the enforced truth-telling. Have fun!]

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"Who were you expecting, the jolly green giant?" See, Peter, this is why he doesn't tell people the truth. It makes them act like they're not sure whether to kneel or flee. He's suddenly something Other, rather than just another (albeit super-powered) guy.

He debates with himself for a moment before deciding not to tell Peter that he's actually much, much larger when he's not in a human vessel. probably best to avoid the whole vessel thing entirely. "I chose to look like this, thanks." Technically true. He's glad that one worked.

"Why?" Okay, probably not the most tactful response. Seriously though, Gabriel, why would you choose to be so titchy? He adds, gesturing over Gabriel's shoulder, "And I expected wings. There's always stuff about wings."

Gabriel levels him with a glare. The story of his vessel is warm and touching, okay, and Peter doesn't deserve to hear it right now. "Just because you forced me into telling you something doesn't mean you get the whole story, you asshole."

The mention of wings has Gabriel stiffening his shoulders, which probably comes off as him straightening his posture. He's uncomfortable with the situation, and he's half afraid that if he tries to lie about his wings, the dream will make them appear to prove him wrong.

Peter had kind of forgotten that this wasn't voluntary story time, what with how Gabriel answered the last question or two without smiting him. He holds his hands up, backing off both metaphorically and (at least for a few inches) physically. "Easy! What, like you haven't seen stuff about me."

Meaning Peter's childhood bedroom, because apparently that's as big of a deal.

Peter, that is not as big of a deal. "So, in your mind, me seeing your kiddy sheets is just as bad as you finding out about the fundamental structure of my being. Yeah, I'm calling bullshit, Peter."

Who said that wasn't the fundamental structure of Peter's being? Sort of? And Peter would be even more indignant if he remembered when he showed up to one of these dreams as a teenager and let slip something about the foster agency. "Hey, I didn't invite you in there," he replies defensively, skirting the question.

"Sorry, just what are you arguing here? Even if I did show up uninvited, that doesn't give you the right to go for a round of twenty questions with my past. Stow the Bible trivia. You can ask later." He probably won't answer to any sort of satisfaction, but he can ask.

He walks a few feet to the side in order to sit on a low wall. When he looks back at Peter again, it's with an eyebrow raised in challenge. This dream does provide some opportunities, now that they know the ground rules. "So, d'you think I could ever get in with you an' Lucy?" He smirks. "Do you even know the truth on that one?"

"You won't answer later." If it's not the truth, it's at least what Peter believes to be true. He's aware that he's already pushed his luck too far, though...and there's still at least a little bit of reverence creeping in at the edges when he looks at Gabe and tries to imagine wings.

His eyes widen. No, Peter does not know the answer to that, and he doesn't want to open his mouth and find out. Unable to let a 'don't ask me that' suffice, though, he huffs, "I'm not looking for any dick in my life but mine."

Oh, oh good. Halfway through he wasn't sure it would come out right.

He chuckles. "Let me know when you find it." Okay, but immature jokes aside, that wasn't really a no, was it? If Peter is as devoted to Lucy as he seems to be, he wouldn't be out looking for anyone of either sex. That doesn't mean he's been ruled out of a future bedroom invitation.

He doesn't bother replying to Peter's accusation. It's probably accurate. But then again, it depends on the question being asked.

When did Peter become devoted, anyway? He lifts a middle finger, less enthusiastic about this conversation now that the tables have turned. "Aren't you supposed to be holy?" he asks irritably. "What would all those little grannies in church think?"

No, really, he's curious. Not about the grannies, but about Gabriel being so...Gabriel.

"Depends on the granny. I'm sure some of them would be delighted." Really, Peter should know better than to give him an out like that, but he'll cut him a little bit of a break here.

"Holy doesn't mean what you think it means. Buy a dictionary. Innocence doesn't get a mention." He was created and dedicated by God to divine purposes. That's what made him holy. If he still is, he can't say. Is he still holy if his actions aren't dictated by God?

"Are you saying body shots do?" Srsly, Gabe, even if one ignores the question of whether it's okay for an angel to act like that, there's still the question of why he isn't too busy doing, well...angel stuff.

He really wishes that Peter would stop fishing around this topic and get to his point. This isn't exactly a comfortable or easy subject for Gabriel, but there's no way that Peter would know that based on the expression he's showing. There's more than one way to lie.

"Okay, what do you think I should be doing?"

"Helping people." That's a bit simple, and Peter looks sort of embarrassed by it. "Or, fuck, fighting the forces of evil, us puny mortals could kind of use some of that."

"The forces of evil. Uh huh." Gabriel plants his hands down on the wall and tilts his head up at Peter. "Just which forces of evil were you thinking of? And what's the punishment? At what point does someone deserve to die?" Welcome to Gabriel's constant internal monologue, Peter. It's gotten a little worse since his last fight with the TARDIS. The worse thought is...in this new universe, does he have the right to be a moral arbiter? And do people he kills have a chance to redeem their souls?

Peter scowls. An answer immediately springs to mind -- it hadn't even occurred to him that Gabriel might think they're talking about punishing human evil -- but he's absolutely not going to bring up the topic of vampires when he's stuck telling the truth. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"Only if you want me to make your judgments for you. You're human. Ding, ding, ding, you get the free will bonus prize." He raises an eyebrow at Peter. "I think you can figure out for yourself what you shouldn't be doing."

He smirks, "But if you ever have a moral dilemma," you're welcome to not call me. "you're welcome to pray to me for guidance." Gabriel groans at the change. "Oh, come on."

...That's really kind of amazing, that Gabriel said he's sure Peter can figure it out. At least, it's amazing that he said that now, when it's required to be true.

What Gabriel says next, however, makes Peter forget all about that little word of encouragement. He stares, then lets out a laugh. "Pray. To you. And what, will you hear that and send me a little heavenly care package?"

Shit, shit, shit, shit. The last thing he needs is Peter invading his brain all the time with nonsense. "There will be no heavenly care package." Okay, that much got out without alteration. Next, he tries for I don't do delivery orders via prayer, but it comes out as "I brought the TARDIS candy when she prayed for it." He sighs and tries to think of what he could say to qualify that statement. He can't really deny that prayer is a thing.

You don't get the same benefits. "You don't get the same benefits." Oh good. At least something came out like he wanted it to.

"So you only do earthly care packages." Sorry, Peter is finding this hilarious. On the bright side, Gabriel might have finally broken through the barrier in Peter's mind that wouldn't let him accept that the Gabriel he knows and the Gabriel he knows of are one and the same. Praying to Gabriel seems silly, and that it apparently works suddenly makes the whole issue feel more approachable.

Chuckling, he asks, "Benefits as in 'friends with'? Yeah, wasn't asking for that. Thanks, though."

"Not exactly," Gabriel answers. Sure, there's that element, but sex had little to do with why he'd brought her candy.

He rolls his eyes at Peter. "Not everyone who prays gets an answer. I don't have to do anything." So there.

Sorry, sorry. "I'm not sorry. So what, it's a voice in your ear, or what? Should I try it out now?"

Or later. Or when Gabe is least expecting it.

Gabriel sighs in a way that it rapidly taking on the air of the long-suffering. "You're standing right in front of me. You don't need to."

"I think you'll find I'm asleep in my bed across town." This conversation is awesome again.

"In this dream you're standing right in front of me, you nit." It may be awesome on Peter's side, but the other side of the conversation isn't as cheery.

He pauses for a moment, wondering if Peter will give up before he's satisfied. Deciding, minus a threat, the answer is probably no, he waves him on. "Go on then, try it. Pray away."

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