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

[albatrossomen]

It isn't often he actually looks as tired as he is. The nice thing about wearing a body that wasn't yours, greater control over how it expressed itself. Not today though, not today.

He did offer her a tired, sad smile as she moved to sit nearby, his eyes turning back to the great window looking out among the stars.

"In a way I miss them," He confesses quietly. "I'd grown accustomed. These hands are lacking, no claws to speak of. Teeth abnormally dull. There is value in being underestimated, and yet... one cannot deny the lure of that power fear grants." The respect. He certainly would have been less tolerant of Mammon's shit were he still a demon. He does huff a laugh late, upon realizing her joke. Yes, his goth phase.

[sisterswitch]

"Fear is extremely powerful," she says, with a nod of understanding. "People like me, there's a part of us we call our Horror, and it literally feeds on fear." Some Begotten are said to become addicted to fear, and the power generated by it; they're cautionary tales, advocating for balance and moderation, because monsters who draw too much attention in the human world attract Heroes, and that type of situation tends to end in blood.

"We could always get you a set of acrylics," she adds, aiming to inject a little levity into the conversation. "Talon nails, they're called. I'm sure one of these planets has a nail salon."

[albatrossomen]

"It will likely come as no surprise to you that demons are similar, capable of feeding on fear. The missing Word and yearning for home turned inward into an empty, endless hunger." They held no qualms in regards to addiction, no cautionary tales of moderation. It wasn't in their nature. After all, mortal heroes could banish them, but it was uncommon one could learn to destroy them. Especially not one as old as Murmur.

He did huff a laugh at her suggestion, seeming to seriously consider it. "You know, perhaps that will help with the adjustment." He teased back, though he didn't sound like he was entirely kidding. If she took him to get fake nails he certainly wouldn't argue with her. "I am certain you understand what that memory implied." Which was something of an opening for her to ask, should she be curious.

[sisterswitch]

Jack makes a mental note to look into the nail salon situation wherever the ship lands next. Murmur hasn't really let on that he's experienced any trouble adjusting to his current life before now, and she recognizes the fact that he has with her is a sign of trust in her and their friendship. The least she can do is try to help ease her friend's distress.

"Ah, yeah," she says, with a sharp nod. She may not be a biblical scholar or even a believer, but she's seen enough late-'90s end-of-millennium horror films to recognize what she saw in the dream. "I was wondering, is 'demon' considered derogatory? Is 'fallen angel' more accurate, or preferred? I want to get the terminology right."

[albatrossomen]

It most certainly is a sign of trust. Murmur has had a very, very long time to practice his poker face and his game is on point. Any sign of weakness or trouble is certainly a sign that the problems run far deeper than he's willing to let on. He has never been one to complain about his lot in life, only to shoulder his burdens and keep on.

After all, there was no one else to do it.

"Hmm, an interesting question. Truth be told both could be derogatory, dependent upon who and how the words are spoken, but I cannot say either are inherently so. They are also true, depending," And here is where Murmur starts to blather about hierarchy nonsense feel free to tune out if you're bored, Jack.

"There is an interesting point to be made here, however. Not all demons are Fallen, nor do all Fallen become demons. There is a place in between, stuck on the mortal world where some Fallen dwell, forever severed from their link to Heaven but not quite so far gone as to sink to the full depths of Hell. Fallen can, and often do, become demons, but there are also plenty of demons that were never angels to begin with. Usually lesser, younger demons, yet there are still some powerful manifestations of pure malice that can claim the title all the same. Then there are Devils, which have never been angel nor human, but are typically more powerful than your mid to low-rank demons. Of course, in order to be classified as a devil an entity must possess some strong degree of sentience, such is not wholly necessary for the delegation of demon."

Your Celestial Scholar is on duty, evidently. Glad for the distraction, in truth.

"Either way, the word itself is unimportant."

[sisterswitch]

"Wow ... I had no idea there was so much distinction in the celestial community," she comments, softly, after he's done explaining. "Though listening to me saying that, just now, it sounds a little racist. Sorry - I didn't want to be accidentally insulting and then I ended up doing it anyway."

Everyone makes mistakes. At least Jack is trying to learn so she doesn't continue to make them. She goes on with her own explanation:

"I know some folks in the monster communities don't like being called that, because they see it as perjorative, or even a slur, in some cases. But I think it's good to reclaim words like that have been used to hurt people who are different - monster, queer, bitch. There's a kind of power in that."

But Murmur's right - the word isn't important right now, because it no longer applies to him. And that is a curious thing indeed.

"We have lots of stories about angels becoming demons or Fallen, but I don't think I've ever heard of it going the other way around. Does that happen often?"

[albatrossomen]

He lets out an amused huff at that. "One could hardly hold you to account for information that has been quite intentionally kept from you. Besides, would that even count? We do not have race, we are not even people. Though I suppose Devils do become quite testy when they are mistaken for demons." As for the rest, well... words weren't important. Call them whatever, it's the intent and meaning that matters not so much the word itself. Language is more fluid to them.

"Yes, I think I can see how that would be the case. Though I must admit I still find the idea somewhat perplexing, as for us language is a fluid thing. It is intent by which we speak, rather than the word itself. So when our names change, Celestial, Angel, Deva, Spirit, it matters not for we still recognize the intent rather than the definition." Much like with spellwork, at the root it was the intent that mattered. Being beings of essentially magic it probably made sense they weren't particularly static.

Again a light laugh and he shakes his head. "No, not at all. I cannot say I've heard of such a thing at all. I admit I cannot fathom that I am somehow worthy and yet here we find ourselves. My will has never been of particular import in the matter, however." Such was the cost of being a creation.

[sisterswitch]

"So you're even more of a special snowflake, huh?" she says, calling back to their first meeting in Dualis, with a hint of a wry smile. She can't deny she's intensely curious about the circumstances of this special arrangement, but something else Murmur says makes her drop the levity from her tone.

"You absolutely are people," she says, firmly. "You're sentient, you have free will, right? People doesn't mean exclusively human - I'm people." She shrugs lightly. "And I don't know everything that happened, but I'm sure you are worthy. That's how these things go, right? You're chosen because you're worthy, because someone believes in you and believes you're strong enough to handle whatever challenge you're supposed to face."

She has a feeling Murmur isn't talking about his worthiness or lack thereof out of a sense of humility.

"You don't have to tell me about what happened, but if you want to talk about it ... maybe with a cup of tea? I'm here."

[albatrossomen]

A huffed laugh. "Quite," He is definitely the most special of snowflakes she doesn't even know the half of it! Although, come to think of it, she could. He hasn't really spoken with anyone because at the time all was far too tenuous for him to risk it, now that the events have passed he doesn't have to keep his secrets anymore.

Although her shift seems to perplex him, and he just looks genuinely confused at her insistence that he's people. Not insulted, not even ashamed, just genuinely confused. The concept was wholly alien to him. "The free-will point is contentious," Were he commanded, he would not be able to disobey. "We are also created, not born." Thus, not people. At least as far as he defined it. Her next point earned something of a rueful huff. "Or, more likely, I am simply still useful and have work to do." Which is a less pleasant way of putting it.

She is right, though, it's not really humility. He is fairly humble, particularly compared to his brethren, but he's also ridiculously calculated. It was simply a logical conclusion to make.

He considers for a few moments then decides. "I think I would like tea." Which is also to imply he'd like to talk.