Dreamwalking [open to multiple]

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Topher is dreamwalking. It's a trick he picked up when he came through the rift in San Francisco, and he's gotten quite good at it since then. He's not quite able to pick a specific dreamer's mind yet, but he's learnt how to visit only those who've been significantly affected by the rift, either by coming through it, or being changed by it.

He jumps from one mind to another, looking for rifties he hasn't met, at least not in dreams. These days he barely sleeps at all without jumping from mind to mind, perhaps because he's lonely. Christmas hadn't exactly helped.

Some people will barely notice he's there, but there are those who do, who recognise him as an outside element rather than a figment of their own mind. Having a certain amount of control over his avatar while in dreams, he chooses to appear as a hooded ranger, straight out of a fantasy novel. Mostly because he thinks it looks badass, and stops him from being recognised easily.

[OOC: Anyone feel free to make a thread with their character asleep and dreaming, and suddenly having Topher appear in their head. Whether they'll be lucid or not, or what they're dreaming about, is up to you.]

Comments

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If Topher had been prepared for that, he could've easily avoided being changed, but he was being on-guard for other sort of shenanigans, not setting changes.

Topher's not amused. Not that he's that embarrassed about being suddenly undressed (he is rather proud of his physique), but speedos? Really? No thank you. Honestly.

Topher sarcastically snaps his fingers (if such a thing can be done) and changes back to what he was wearing a moment ago, and resists any other sort of changes Gabriel might impose on him. He's not particularly affected by his surroundings, so he could easily surf in what he's wearing now if it came to that. Not that he's going to.

"More the web kind," he answers. Even though he lived in Los Angeles for like half his life.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel sighs and snaps his fingers again. This time, they're in a colorful bowling alley. Lanes stretch out in front of them, groups of people playing on a few. Behind them is a bar, and to their left a small arcade filled with old upright games and pinball machines. Gabriel is sporting an old-fashioned bowling shirt, complete with 'Gabriel' stitched into the top left. Consider it his unique way of introducing himself.

He doesn't seem to have been very phased by Topher's unamused reaction. He props himself against a bar stool and sets aside his glass on the counter behind him. The busty brunette bartender takes it away and gives him a White Russian in return.

"Better?"

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"It'll do," Topher concedes. It's definitely preferable. He's still a little put off by being in the mind of someone who knows what they're doing, though. Don't think he'll be letting his guard down.

"I've got one of those in my office," he comments, pointing at a pinball machine. It seemed far too empty without some kind of games there. It's not quite as shiny an office as his old one, but it'll do.

[has_a_horn]

"And where's that, hm?" It'd be nice to know who he's dealing with here. He's not scared, but that doesn't mean he's not interested in somebody that can invade his shut-eye.

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"Romac headquarters," he answers. That's not really something he hides, and they give him plenty protection if someone decides to come visit him. He's fairly high ranking, too, though he tries not to brag about that. Not because he doesn't like to brag, but he tries not to reveal his hand regarding how much power he has.

[has_a_horn]

"Really. I was under the impression that Romac was the big bad around here." To be fair, the person that gave him that impression was Bruce Banner and Banner doesn't have the best history with large organizations, so he's keeping an open mind here.

"And who would I ask for if I were to visit you at the esteemed Romac headquarters?"

Ugh, so slow. I give you full permission to come kick me on AIM sometimes

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"Topher Brink," he answers, giving a little salute. He figures Gabriel will find out soon enough, so. "And they're the big, but not so bad. Not perfect, I grant you, but things are easier to change from the inside." And he does do his best to try and maintain the balance in the city, for the safety of everyone involved.

no prob, man :)

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He raises both eyebrows, his entire face an expression of incredulity. "Yeah, because I've never heard that one before." Let's just say he doesn't have the greatest faith in people who think what they're doing it all for the greater good. He's not been immune to that one himself in the past, so trust him here, he knows how tempting that idea can be. "Jumping into people's heads part of the agenda, or is this just for kicks?"

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Well, neither does Topher, really, but he was recruited, and he's valuable enough that they would chase after him if he left. So he tries to make the best of it. Is that so wrong?

"Neither," Topher answers, leaning back in his seat. "I'm not working, I'm looking for someone. Happened to stumble into your mind. I did say sorry."

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"Way to make a guy feel special." Gabriel smiles and settles into his bar stool. On the lanes, someone bowls a strike and there's a moment of excited clapping from the rest of the group. "This person you're looking for, what makes 'em important?"

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"If it helps, you're the first one to immediately call me out on it," Topher answers. There were others who cottoned on eventually, of course. "And they're not particularly important, they're just a friend." Honestly more of an acquaintance, but they've disappeared and he's looking into it.

[has_a_horn]

He takes a sip of his drink and swivels around so that he can watch the lanes. "Like I said, the middle ages are bit played out. Even if I hadn't noticed you, the outfit would have been a dead give away." He says noticed, but really he'd just known the minute Topher had shown up. You don't get to be an archangel without a little bit of control in that vein.

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"Most people don't question it. But then, most people aren't particularly bright," Topher answers. Is that a compliment? It's debatable. Topher's been hopping from mind to mind for months, not many realise he's an intruder. Not that it's unheard of, especially if he sticks around long enough.

[has_a_horn]

Well, he's taking it as a compliment, that much is sure. "You're human," Yup, he can tell. "...so when did the whole dream walking thing happen? You just pass out one night and slip into somebody else's brain?"

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Topher raises his eyebrows and smiles. Gabriel can tell Topher's human, but NOT how he got his powers?

"You can't guess?" he asks, suddenly amused. Clearly he must be new, if he's not familiar with what the rift does to people.

[has_a_horn]

Well, he's familiar with the rift taking away abilities. He would have much rather had a few extra tricks up his sleeve after tumbling through that portal, but nooo.

"Gamma radiation? Ancient incantation? Got bitten by a radioactive hipster?" He raises his eyebrows at him in return. Yeah, he's new. Get over it.

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Topher gives a smirk at the thought of a radioactive hipster, but shakes his head. "It's the rift," he supplies, though he'll let Gabriel draw his own conclusions before he fills in more details. He doesn't like oversharing his information.

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"Didn't give me any superpowers." He thinks over that for a moment. What is the rift then? An equalizer? He's certainly not human, so it didn't work that great if that was the goal. He shrugs, takes a sip of his drink. "I had plenty to start with, though". He's not going to mention that he's lost a few skills. Like the 'get the hell out of New York' skill. He was kind of counting on that one. But, whatever. He shrugs. "Must work differently for gods." Yeah, god. You heard right.

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Yeah, uh-huh. You're not the first 'god' to wander in here, Gabriel. Impressive, sure, but not unheard of. It's valuable information though.

"Oh, it sort of does whatever it feels like. Perhaps it took something away?" he guesses. He finds it's really rare that anyone goes through unchanged, though it can happen that exactly what's been changed isn't evident till later.

[has_a_horn]

"Nope." It took a few things, but lets not go there. Gabriel isn't about to appear any weaker that he has to appear here. "I have got a brand new tether the length of Manhattan. You or Romac have anything to do with that?" Because as nice as New York is, he doesn't really like being trapped.

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"Oh, it's a collaborative effort. Me personally? No. The rift itself, Romac, certain other groups... It's difficult to leave this city once you've become involved. Stuck here myself," he answers. Not that he's always been, or that he necessarily always will. He came through in San Francisco, after all, and was later delegated here.

[has_a_horn]

"Certain other groups? That'd be the rebels?" Yeah, Gabriel isn't bad at gathering info, despite being the new guy on the block. "Is there anyone who's not stuck here waiting for the powers that be to take their collective thumbs out of their asses?"

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"Not to my knowledge," Topher answers with a shrug. "If there's anyone not stuck, they've probably already left. There's been a few foolish attempts to go back through it. Six of them, that I know of. Two of them we never saw again - to be fair, they might've made it. One came back dead, burnt to a crisp. Two suffered rather gruesome mutations. I saw the pictures, it wasn't pretty. And one of them was killed by his equipment exploding before he could actually try to go anywhere. Not to mention that if you anger the rift, it has a tendency to send something deadly at you, so the cautious approach tends to be best." Yeah, he's rambling a little.

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Gabriel turns his best incredulous 'you must be talking bullshit' face on Topher. "Don't anger the rift? That better be a metaphor. Because...seriously? I've been through rifts. I've shifted through all sorts of dimensional gateways. Portals. You name it, buddy, I've been through it easy as pie. None of them have ever taken personal offence."

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"Weeeeell, no, I mean, we haven't been able to prove sentience," he answers fairly. "Though it is rather erratic, and sometimes... vindictive, almost. Though you can call it cosmic karma, or irony, or something. There's just enough that it doesn't seem like coincidence. But it works as a metaphor too. It can lash out if you disturb it, so it's best to be careful."