Dreamwalking [open to multiple]

[brink]

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

[fucking_ebay]

"I need a drink," says Peter flatly, turning and stalking away to the bar. It's fully stocked, everything where it should be, but Peter takes no comfort in that. He pauses with a bottle in hand, remembering that it's only a dream and he can't actually drink the pain away. Probably. Best try anyway.

He leans against the bar and stares at Ginger, who looks around a moment as if trying to figure out what he's looking at, then casually flips him off. "Yes," says Peter at last, quietly.

[brink]

Well, it being in his mind and everything, it's not unlikely it will have a placebo effect, given this entire place is basically placebo.

The fact Peter doesn't bother to lie this time, even in person, convinces Topher this is a conversation he'd rather have in person. His disguise fades away, and is replaced by how Topher would look on a regular day in meatspace, looking sympathetic and vaguely sad.

"I'm sorry," he offers.

[fucking_ebay]

Peter downs his first placebo without much enthusiasm, and pours a second. He arches an eyebrow at Topher -- another time, he might have laughed at the man's dweeby appearance. He lets out a mirthless chuckle instead.

"Why should you care?" he asks bitterly.

Ginger rolls her eyes and speaks to Topher. "Don't even bother; I'm pretty sure it's his time of the month again already."

[brink]

"You're not the only one with someone to miss," Topher answers, ignoring Ginger for right now. He's not about to go into details exactly, but he'll share hints.

It occurs to him, however, that talking to Ginger might be a good way to talk directly to Peter's subconscious, albeit seen through a filter. "Why vampires?" he asks, just as much to Ginger as to Peter.

[fucking_ebay]

Of course -- Topher has the ability to remain vague and keep his secrets, while Peter's going to end up baring all if Topher keeps pressing. He frowns, but doesn't offer his sympathy -- none of this was ever the dreamwalker's business.

"Don't," he says sharply to Ginger, seeing her open her mouth to reply. She pouts, pointedly turning her attention away from him. "Why do you think?" she asks, flicking her hair away from her face. Peter's stomach lurches as her appearance shifts, blood dribbling down her nightshirt from the jagged, raw hole in her throat.

[brink]

While it's Peter's role in the city that's more important to Topher, he's curious and interfering enough to press.

It's not a pleasant surprise when the woman changes appearance. The meaning is obvious. So Peter was already missing her before he came her, it's not just that he can't go back to his home universe. Topher can empathise quite easily with that.

Topher doesn't imagine either of them really wants to see her like that, so Topher wills her away completely. Even the puddle of blood at her feet disappears.

[fucking_ebay]

What, did Topher think they were metaphorical vampires? No such luck. Peter's a bit more literal than that.

It hurts to see Ginger go again -- though it's also a relief, a fact that also hurts. "Fucking cow," he mutters to himself under his breath to make himself feel better. Of course she'd show that to this stranger. Out loud, he says, "Happy now? Saw what you came to see?"

[brink]

Topher doesn't answer for a moment, considering how to proceed. It was always so much easier to get information out of people when you could just scan their brain. Didn't provide you with such up-close gruesome sights, either. Topher himself has very distinct memories of various people getting cut up in front of him. He realises he himself is sending off a very troubled and angsty vibe, and blocks it off immediately.

"No," he answers finally. "It's more important to me what you're doing in the city, not before you got here. Whose shelter have you sought?"

[fucking_ebay]

They can just feed right into each other now, huh? Sorry, Topher, probe too deep into someone's brain and you're likely to see something you would rather not have seen.

Peter watches the other man from where he still stands at the bar, pouring himself another placebo. He wants to feel vindictive when he realizes that some of the pain in the air isn't his, but mostly he just feels bitter and empty.

At the question, he sets his jaw and glares at Topher. "Get. Out."

[brink]

Topher considers pressing the matter, but decides not to. Probably won't be fruitful. Better to come back to Peter later, if he really needs to know, sometime when he's more open and not so spooked and angry.

"As you wish," he answers, and without another word he fades away, leaving Peter's mind completely.

[fucking_ebay]

Dreams thoroughly disrupted, Peter sits a while in the empty apartment, unable to change it to anything different. Eventually he'll either wake up or drift into a new dream.