event } a dream is a wish your traitor brain makes

[seeingyou]

WHO: All passengers currently aboard!
WHAT: Shared dreams.
WHERE: All y'all's subconscious...es.
WHEN: Nov. 7-21.
WARNINGS: If things get messy/triggering/sexually explicit, PLEASE put warnings in your comment subject lines! And if you die in the dream, you just move on to the next dream, no need to report deaths.

There's no warning - when the ship passes through the nebular cloud and Navi falls asleep, passengers on board will also find themselves dozing off at various times, and whether it’s after tucking themselves in for the night or passing out in the middle of doing something, unusual dreams will follow. Much like dreams normally behave, passengers will find themselves somewhere that may or may not be familiar, doing something that may be mundane or fantastical, but whatever and wherever the setting, dreamers will more or less accept it as reality.

Sweet dreams, passengers. Enjoy getting to know each other a little better!

Comments

[betterhavemammoney]

Was this torture or a murder attempt? Mammon had been on the rack countless times: the blades aren't novel, the pain wasn't new, but the intensity is. This wasn't an exercise in punishment and prolonged agony. This wasn't an outburst of violent energy. This was pure hatred pouring out of aggressor and victor alike. When was the last time he'd been tortured like that?

At least the combat is easier to understand; demons kill or are killed. Those visions feel distant but normal, like a childhood memory resurfacing. But when was the last time he'd killed another demon?

When were they? Where were his brothers?

Why am I alone?

[albatrossomen]

Given the hatred boiling off of both? Murder attempt, definitely a murder attempt. Fortunate the angel chose to let him live through that encounter, even if he did still leave him to bleed out for a time after.

Likewise the host Mammon was riding along with felt the same about the demon fights. They weren't a focus, they weren't distressing, in fact they were boring. No matter how fierce, Murmur remained patently bored with every one of them. Barely putting in any effort to swat his adversaries away. Just enough to make his point, enough to be left alone.

Alone. We are always alone. It wasn't a contrary tone, nor depressed, merely matter of fact. As though that's not only the way it's always been but the way it must always be.

This other voice was really starting to throw him off. Who was this, and why were they suddenly hanging around? He had work to do!

[betterhavemammoney]

Mammon feels the echo of that enmity and doesn't question it. That angel has just stabbed him (them?), after all, even if he doesn't recognize him or understand why they despised each other so completely. Their conflict had brought that out, yes, but this was so personal.

When were they again?

No we're not! that other voice protests. We never were! Where are my brothers?

[albatrossomen]

It's a running theme with that angry dark angel and his red, red aura. The animosity, the violence, none of it with much rhyme nor reason. Then again, dreams didn't require reason.

Confusion at Mammon's insistence. I have no brothers.



Who are you?

Things seemed to slow, hanging like molasses. Now that the intruder was more prominent Murmur understood something was amiss here.

[betterhavemammoney]

He can accept all sorts of strangeness from a dream but he doesn't like this feeling of loneliness. This was a worse version of the worst it had ever been.

I shouldn't be alone.

Now he's even more confused. Is the dream fixing itself? Loading like the next scene in a video game?

What's going on?

[albatrossomen]

You tell me.

Yes something here was very off. This wasn't right, there had never been another voice before. There couldn't be. Everything had to be handled alone by necessity, that's how it always was and always needed to be.

The dream wasn't "fixing" anything, just fading. Breaking apart, becoming less certain.

Or rather, moving more toward waking up. At least with that, Mammon can be freed. Murmur would like to not actually have to do that sleeping thing anymore ever again.

[betterhavemammoney]

Mammon wakes up.

Despite his best efforts he can't sleep too well after that. He was used to the occasional nightmare, not being able to sleep well after dreams of violent witches or extreme humiliation in his daily life, but this is on a different level. That dream was too real and too vivid to be imagined, but it wasn't his experience.

He knows only one other being on board the ship who has anything like the experience he saw, and after a morning spent confused, sad, and sulking in his room he ventures out in search of Murmur. Or at least a shower and a snack.

The two coincide when he catches Murmur in the kitchen brewing water for tea. "HEY!" Mammon yells, bearing down on him in a somewhat intimidating manner but he's really just trying to get to the fridge. "What gives with the dream magic?"

[albatrossomen]

0/10 Would not recommend. Sleeping, and the dreams and nightmares that came along with it Murmur would happily do without for the remainder of his existence.

He looked worn, more worn than a tireless immortal had any right to be. Wading through these dreams, his own and otherwise, was strangely taxing. Sure he'd been complaining about boredom internally but this isn't at all what he wanted to liven things up. At this point the tea was less a pleasure and more an attempt at necessarily calming his own nerves.

Something that was immediately shattered by Mammon's loud voice. Murmur just stared at him flatly, unmoving, uncertain if this was an attempt at intimidation or if Mammon just had no social graces.

"It isn't me," He gestures vaguely, to indicate the entirety of the ship. "It would appear we're all afflicted." So, Navi, the psychic link they're all tied to? Likely culprit. Somehow.

[betterhavemammoney]

"Yeah? Well if it ain't you who is it, huh? Navi? Is this a Navi thing that they do?" He'd started off angrily interrogating Murmur and ended up asking a civil question. Mammon's a little embarrased by that and stands up straighter to appear more intimidating and respectable.

"So that was your dream, huh?" He frowns.

[albatrossomen]

"I doubt it is intentional, but it is likely some side-effect yes." He's going to let the abrasiveness slide. Not like Murmur hasn't dealt with more than enough abrasive in his life, though he would be quite happy if Mammon could give him at least twelve inches more space and a few decibels lower in tone.

Just. Chill, a tiny bit Mammon.

He grimaced, wrinkling his nose. "Oh. It was you." Delightful.

[betterhavemammoney]

The demon moves past Murmur with an irritated huff of breath, searching for foodstuffs as he grumbles. He's hungry, dammit. "Angels are such jerks, you know that?"

He finds a slice of bread and someone's jelly jar, immedatiately stealing both. "Yeah, it was! And what was that? I knew somethin' was wrong when no one was there for me. My brothers woulda been there! Where were your people?"

[albatrossomen]

"I am aware."

He grumbles right back, relieved now that Mammon has at least stopped doing the huffing and puffing directly at him. Just let him loom over this boiling water like a depressed vulture okay?

Oh no. Yes, of course he was going to ask questions. Sigh. "...I do not have people."

[betterhavemammoney]

"Well GOOD!" he retorts as he spreads jelly on the bread. Not exactly a healthy breakfast, but it's at least something. He glances over at Murmur sighing and watching a pot boil, and softens a bit, considering his next words.

"...hey. I'll take some tea, too?"

[albatrossomen]

Murmur's not really sure what that accomplished, other than an acknowledgement that the nightmare sucked. Which was true. Ugh, he'd really like to not fall out of time again like that thanks. He's not really one to judge on the quality of nutrition, it's not like he normally eats. Just subsists on tea.

"..." There's a moment where Murmur considers being irate, but this strikes him as Mammon's way of asking. Which, given it's unlikely he's going to be able to demand a please out of him, he'll just assume one is implied instead. "Sure. Sweetened or unsweetened, do you have a preference?" At least he went and scavenged up some real sugar on their last stop.

[betterhavemammoney]

Murmur deduced correctly: this was about the most polite Mammon was capable of being, and he brightens when the angel seems to understand. "The sweeter the better!" he grins as he bites into his breakfast.

Mammon works on the food for a few moments as he thinks things over. After a mouthful of jammy bread he ventures, "So, that angel. Who was that?"

[albatrossomen]

At least Mammon isn't being wholly unpleasant, so Murmur will tolerate it. Eventually the water finally reaches an acceptable boil and he can go to work getting a couple cups of tea steeping.

He's content not to offer more conversation than Mammon initiates right now, as it is he's seen far too much and he's really not sure what to do about that. His mind, pieces of his past, memories he thought were safe... It felt like a violation. One he wasn't entirely sure how to conceptualize.

And there they were, the questions. Again he's quiet for a few moments while he mulls over how best to answer. "Shateiel, Angel of Silence." He's not sure what role that angel might have played in Mammon's universe, if he was known at all, but in his he was Heaven's assassin. Not exactly well liked on either side of the fence.

[betterhavemammoney]

Mammon indeed saw far too much. He saw so much he can't precisely process all of it and justify it with his own perspective. He isn't like Murmur, he hated sharing the view Murmur had, but he's trying to ignore the parts he can't understand.

He could perfectly understand the hatred between the angel and them. He wasn't going to say he felt a little sorry that Murmur had to go through everything the angel dealt out, but he certainly thought it.

"Huh." It's not a name that Mammon recognizes. "Well, screw him." He'd be happy not to think about it ever again, frankly. If only it were that easy for Murmur.

[albatrossomen]

Thank goodness he wasn't asking more invasive questions, honestly. It wasn't exactly like Murmur wanted to talk about it, much less the parts where it was strongly implied he wasn't an angel during those times. He's happy to ignore them if Mammon is. That would lead to just too much invasion.

Heh, well, he got one thing right. Murmur let out an amused huff through his nose. "Screw him, indeed," He agreed. Loading Mammon's teacup with way too much sugar. He said he likes it sweet!

If only he could forget. It's just too bad Celestial brains don't work that way.

[betterhavemammoney]

Mammon isn't thinking about the implied demonhood he saw, as he's mostly proud of himself for his "excellent" detective skills. And pleased with the overly sugary tea, which he accepts eagerly.

He too would like less invasion of his dreams. So he says "Don't do it again," as if Murmur has any control over it.

[albatrossomen]

Thank goodness he's not bright enough to put the rest of it together. Murmur will let him believe he's done some excellent deduction in this case if it keeps him from asking too many questions. Yes, good, enjoy your sugar water. Murmur's just going to take his and go lean against a counter where he can try to pretend he doesn't exist for a moment.

Or stare flatly at Mammon. "Were that the choice was mine to make." He grumbled sourly. As though he enjoyed this somehow! "This dreaming thing is wholly unpleasant, do humans do it often?"

[betterhavemammoney]

He's happy: he feels smart and his hot sugar water is better than the tea he gets at home. Lucifer loves to focus on fine tea's subtle flavors and fragrances, so Mammon never gets an overload of sugar from teatime.

"Humans?" He gives Murmur a confused look. "Yeah. Every night, just like everyone else."

[albatrossomen]

Murmur prefers to enjoy the complexity of tea as well, but he's not about to refuse letting Mammon ruin it for himself. That's up to him. Honestly he did wonder after having actually put the tea in if he couldn't get away with just brewing sugar water, but he won't. That would be too rude.

"Hm," Murmur makes a face. "I think I would like to continue passing on that particular experience." Does Mammon dream? Evidently so, as he seemed confused by the question.

[betterhavemammoney]

Mammon may have the attitude of a child but he's not that much of a child. Even with his talent for missing the point he would've noticed no tea in his mug. Training wheels are one thing, but he'd notice being sat on a tricycle.

"Whaddaya mean? You don't want more nightmares?" He blinks. "What, d'you not normally have 'em?"

[albatrossomen]

Fortunately it's not an experiment Murmur's willing to try on him right now. He'd probably notice that much... after a few sips at least. Truth be told he didn't have the energy at the moment to be a troll. Maybe another time.

He rose an eyebrow. "No, I don't. In fact I don't normally dream. Nor sleep." He sipped his tea. "I can only assume this change is also due to whatever afflicts Navi and the staff." They have been quiet since this started, he should go check in. They're probably asleep too.

[betterhavemammoney]

There will be plenty of time to test Mammon's stupidity in the future. Murmur can probably figure out some amazing trolling, but for now the sugary tea has been accepted as a peace offering, even if that wasn't quite the spirt in which it was given.

"...Then what do you do all night?"