applesaucedream | I'll See You in My Dreams [WIDE-OPEN PARTY THREAD]

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I'll See You in My Dreams [WIDE-OPEN PARTY THREAD]

Sometimes the rift only gives the denizens of Manhattan strange dreams. Sometimes, two people will find themselves together in the Dreaming. And other times? Other times, the Dreaming takes hold of dozens of people at once, throwing them all together into one shared mental space while they sleep.

Tonight is one of those nights -- what's more, the rift has outdone itself this time, telepathic tendrils reaching out through the rift into other universes to pull in even those who haven't been physically transported to this world...yet. You might meet a stranger from another world, or you might run into your next-door neighbor. You might notice right away that this isn't the waking world and that you are not alone, or you may drift through blissfully unaware that anything is out of the ordinary. You might not even remember this in the morning at all.

And that's probably going to be fortunate for at least a few people, because what you will notice is the overwhelming desire to get cozy with someone. It's chilly in this big house where you've found yourself, but luckily for you, there are beds, beanbags, and blankets galore, all of them just perfect for getting cuddly with your new friends. Consider yourself lucky that dream-world cameras can't upload photos to the real-world internet.

[It's a Dreaming party, and everyone is welcome! Tag a friend, tag a stranger, whatever! Everyone who's been pulled in will be feeling unusually friendly and cuddly, so get a-snuggling. Some characters (particularly those with strong telepathic defenses) may not be as strongly affected as others; the extent of the Dreaming's effect on each character is up to the mun's discretion.

Also, when we say everyone, we mean everyone. Non-members are welcome to tag into this post, so feel free to voice-test new characters here, and to invite friends who aren't in the game to come do some meeting and greeting. If you've come upon this post and aren't a member of this game, you are welcome to tag into this post.

For those who are familiar with the brbG parties, this is basically like that. Post a tag with your character's arrival and await replies. Time is bendy in here, so each character can have multiple replies/threads. Have fun!]

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Well, I'm in snow leopard shape, but normally I'm a two-legger. Daine tilts her head in a subtle request for ear scritches. What do you guard? she asks, having never heard of him.

Jack blinks. Even people who don't believe in him have at least heard of him, at least in wintery places. And she did say she was a snow leopard right now. Of course, most people don't know that certain spirits or magical beings are Guardians. "Childhood," he answers simply, his fingers finding and rubbing the spot behind one of her ears. "I'm the Guardian of Fun."

Daine presses against his hand, eyes squinched shut. She might be inclined towards surprise at the notion that things like 'childhood' and 'fun' need guarding, but her own childhood came to such a sudden and unpleasant stop that she can see how it might be so. Maybe things would have been different, if there'd been Guardians in her realm. You must stay busy, she says in a tone that's edging towards melancholy.

"Oh, you have no idea," chuckles Jack, setting his staff at his feet so he can use both hands and scratch behind both her ears at once. "I mean, I always found things to do before, but now--"

Now there's more to it than snow days and snowball fights. Those are still important, but now he knows that he's serving a larger purpose.

It's hard to be sad when you're getting scratched behind both ears. Daine lets out a pleased rumble and presses her head against his chest. You're cold, she observes, curious but not in the least bit bothered by it.

Jack chuckles as he lets his arms rest wrapped around her head, still working away at her ears and now her neck, but there's a hint of sadness to it. "That'll be the whole winter thing. You sure you haven't heard of me? Jack Frost? Jokul Frosti? Morozko? Any of this ringing a bell?"

I'm afraid I haven't, Daine admits, wrapping a paw around him. None of those names sound familiar.

"Oh." Jack is more downhearted to hear that than he really wants to admit. Even if they don't believe in him, at least people have usually heard his name. "Guess this really is a dream, then." Not that he didn't already know that -- but there's no way someone who's never even heard of him would be able to see him.

Well, yes, Daine says, pulling back so she can blink at him. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to talk to you. Do you have wildmages in your realm?

"Otherwise you wouldn't be able to see me," Jack corrects her.

He tilts his head as if taking her in for the first time. "No," he says after a moment. "Not that I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot."

Talk to you, Daine corrects right back. I can't talk to two-leggers like I can with the People, especially when I'm in a shape like I am, now.

But if he hasn't heard of wildmages, that explains his confusion. Maybe she could give him a demonstration! Considering other winter-hardy shapes she could take, Daine settles on an ermine and shifts in an eye-blink. See?

Jack opens his mouth to double-correct her -- but she interrupts him with the transformation before he can, and suddenly it's more important to be amazed and gleeful over that than it is to explain out how incredibly lonely his waking life often is. He rocks back on his heels, letting out a bark of laughter. "Oh, that is so cool! Have you always been able to do that? How'd you learn it? Can you do other animals, too?"

Not always, I only learned how a year or so back. Numair and the Badger taught me how. I can do just about any animal, excepting immortals like dragons or unicorns. Because she's flattered by his enthusiasm, and because shifting is so easy, here, she changes again, this time taking owl shape.

"Can anyone learn?" Because if so, Jack is all over this. One can never have too many powers, especially if it involves turning into animals. He reaches out to touch her feathers, having at least the good sense not to rub them in the wrong direction.

Daine shakes her head, resisting the urge to swivel it farther than she needs to just because she can. You need to have wild magic. At least, that's how I learned it. Then she remembers Gabriel's coyote shape, and perks up a little. But maybe you could here! If it's a dream, you ought to be able to do whatever you like.

It's actually kind of funny to see an owl just shake its head like that, without doing the big swivel thing. He furrows his brow at her. "How do you do it?" he asks, as if it'll be the same for him as a dream power as it is for her in real life. "Do you just imagine it?"

I have to think like the animal I want to be, Daine explains. Easier said than done, especially if you haven't spent any time visiting the minds of other creatures, like she has. Maybe if you just think really hard about the animal you'd like to be, it'd work?

Jack nods, turning his eyes upward to squint at the ceiling as he tries to decide. He's startled when he finds himself suddenly smaller. Almost before he realizes it, he's become a fox -- not the arctic fox one might expect, but a lanky red fox.

Daine flaps back a few feet, surprised that it actually worked. Taking wolf shape, she steps forward to sniff at Jack. There you are, then, she says, tail wagging.

Here I am! he agrees. Jack's tail wags, too, and he cranes up to sniff noses. Then, with a yip, he play-bows before leaping sideways.

Daine bows back, then bounds after him, snapping playfully at his tail.

Were he a real fox, this would be terror. Instead, it's joy he feels as he twists and darts nimbly underneath her, between her legs, and nips at one in passing.

Daine rears up as he passes beneath her, then gives chase. This is great fun. See why I took animal shape? she asks as she rolls onto her back and paw-boxes at him.

Yeah! He takes a bit of a tumble as he tries to turn around too quickly, but then he's back on her, play-biting at her neck and waving paws even though a hit from one of the latter knocks him over. If I could do this, I don't know if I'd ever turn back!

Daine rights herself and gives her head a little shake. It's tiring in the real world, though. Not as easy as here.

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