EVENT #12: ADVERSITY 6568654

[expiationmods]

EVENT #12: DO AIS DREAM OF ALGORITHMIC SHEEP?

THE STORY SO FAR (click to expand)

-Over time, characters have discovered that the world of Expiation is actually a large, elaborate simulation run by an AI that seems to be intent on helping them atone for their crimes. This news is well-known by the Chosen, enough so that any new character who wishes to handwave this knowledge is able to do so.

-In September 2024, that AI needed to be reset as a consequence of some catastrophic systems failures. So far, there has been no downside to this reset–but the AI has also been strangely absent since then.

-Things have been quiet in Aldrip since September, aside from the routine arrival of new Chosen. The locals seem less than happy with the Chosen, though, as if they have already branded them all criminals. As if they no longer trust them…

JANUARY 13

SLEEP MODE INITIATED.
LOADING………………….

The calming hush that falls over Aldrip is strangely comfortable, lulling all Chosen into a deep sleep…or a sleeplike state, for those who will. Whatever the case, it is a very quiet night.

The sleep that follows is anything but.

THE DREAMSCAPES

The Chosen dream of memories, in this dreamscape. They can be twisted and altered by the dream world; events can be contorted or made up; but all of these dreams have within them a kernel of truth. Whether they express an event that happened or part of a person’s past that’s gone fuzzy with age, whether it’s a real moment or just a feeling, something about the dream tells you something about the Chosen to whom it belongs. This may even express itself in multiple dreamscapes, fragments of different memories and feelings to navigate.

Fellow Chosen can travel through these dreamscapes, of course, stumbling upon dreams they were never meant to see. But their presence is not without consequence; the longer two Chosen share the same dream, the more the dream will begin to take on elements of both their dreams, drawing in elements from the Chosen who was simply meant to be watching.

They’re vivid, these dreams–the kind that are so clear, one begins to doubt whether it’s a dream at all. Could it possibly be reality? Whether it’s a good dream or a bad one, the Chosen may find it’s difficult to want to wake up. How could they possibly wake up, when this is so very real? Why would they want to, if it’s a good dream? It’s comfortable, and the idea that it may not be reality is intimidating, isn’t it?

It’s so real that you could stay here forever.

A WAKEUP CALL

Wake up.
You have to wake up.

Staying within the dreams too long is a dangerous thing, and those who don’t wake even once before morning will risk falling into a deep sleep, perhaps never to wake at all.

But how to wake them?

Only by convincing the Chosen that they are most certainly dreaming, as it turns out. Whether that’s someone realizing this on their own, or being helped along by someone else, is entirely up to you. But they must choose to wake from the dream, saying goodbye to the dreamscape without any certainty that they’ll ever see it again, and for some…that could be easier said than done.

Once they wake in Aldrip, they’ll be able to come and go from the dreams at will, helping other Chosen navigate their own waking…or perhaps sabotaging it, for those whose intentions may be less than charitable. (But none of you would do that, right? Right?)

Time becomes meaningless within the dreamscapes, allowing the Chosen to pass through as many of these dreams as they wish before dawn breaks in the morning.

The next day dawns as normal, and surprisingly, the Chosen don’t feel any less well-rested from their long and difficult night chasing after dreams. They may even–_

A sea of numbers, zeroes and ones, their combinations meaningless, their forms shifting. Digital artifacts mar the vision, as if the sequence is somehow corrupted. In those pockets of artifacts, one can see something beyond the numbers, something darker, something blurry with distance.
Query: is this what it is to “dream?”
It feels…warm.

_feel refreshed, actually, as if they’ve lifted various weights from their shoulders. Even those who haven’t may find it difficult to linger on the less happy parts of what they’ve seen. They’ve shared quite a unique experience, after all. Better take some time to process it, before they let it weigh them down.

WILDCARD

Make your own fun! Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have at it! Go crazy! Try not to break anything (too much)!

♡

Comments

dream 1;

[laserguy]

[There's a noise next to Shigeru as a teenager, probably around 16 years old or so, plops on the swing next to him. He's dressed in plain clothes, jeans and a shirt to match, but maybe the most noteworthy thing about him is the pair of sunglasses covering his face and hiding his eyes from everyone around him. He may look a little intimidating at first, but there's hopefully something quiet, patient in his voice as he prods the kid that's trying his best to hide his tears.]

Where don't you want to go?

[Scott doesn't know why he's here, but he's not that much of an asshole to be mean to some kid that's clearly upset about something. Or just abandon him when he's clearly alone.]

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru will look back at the other, eyes wide because he's never seen anyone like that before?! He looks really cool like a futuristic powerful superhero?! But he frowns from the mention of the school again. ]

It's a school for people with powers...like me. But I-I don't want to go. I don't want to be alone there. What if I can't make any friends?

[laserguy]

[A school for people with powers? That... that's really familiar, but he knows for sure that he hasn't seen this kid around Xavier's Institute. And he's pretty sure that he's not talking about that school right now, he's dreading about going somewhere else. It's honestly kind of weird hearing that there's another school that hosts mutants-- people like them.

But he can definitely relate to one thing.]

...I had to change schools too when I got my powers. I was worried about the same thing. [And now he's the most popular kid-- okay he's not, but he's not alone. Scott knows that much.]

But I managed to make a couple of friends.

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru makes a soft noise of acknowledgment his gaze distant for a second before he looks back at the other. ] You were? So it's not...silly to-to be worried then, right? I. I want to make a lot of friends but... [ a frown. ]

But they might not like me because my powers are kind of...scary. [ That's what he's overheard from the maids and butlers back at the house at least. ] What kind of powers do you have?

[ His eyes are filled with that childlike wonder as he looks back at Scott. ] I bet they're really cool! You seem like a really nice and cool person so that's got to be it.

[laserguy]

Yeah, and if it's silly, then I guess we both are. Just don't tell anyone that I felt that way too and we're good.

[Got to keep his 'cool' reputation that everyone definitely believes.

But Scott's smile shifts, not entirely disappearing, but turning into one of understanding because he also gets that... having powers that are kind of scary. Jean would definitely understand where he's coming from too. Even though she's really nice and one of the first students at Xavier's, some of the mutants are still afraid of her.

He didn't let that stop him from befriending her.]

They're pretty cool. [He admits, sounding more confident than he actually feels about his powers. He's better about them now and he's long accepted that they're a part of him, but it's always just a little frustrating that he can't control them. That one knock of his glasses and he might hurt everyone in front of them. It's just a matter of making sure that doesn't happen.

At least he's in control now, mostly, because of said glasses and Scott raises a hand up to them.] And scary too. But you won't think I'm scary if I show you, right?

[mysophobic]

I-I won't tell anyone, I promise! [ Shigeru's smile is wide as he nods. He does look back at Scott curiously and also with some understanding in his eyes. He might be young but he knows not to judge anyone based on what he sees alone. ]

I-I wouldn't think that ever! [ He gets to see something new and exciting?! Shigeru will sit up straight in his swing, hands going to his legs balled into fists. Please show him your super cool powers, Scott! ]

[laserguy]

I'm holding you to that.

[Alright, guess it's time to lead by example.

But seeing how enthusiastic Shigeru is, it'd be pretty hard not to indulge the kid, even if Scott was still feeling reluctant about his powers. It really wasn't too long ago that he was afraid as well, refusing to open his eyes or else he might hurt someone else. He almost killed that other student and sure he was a dick, but he didn't deserve that. It was a very rough time, that incident forever stuck in his mind. However, he can't hesitate now and with a small exhale, Scott also gets up from his swing.

He's here to reassure Shigeru, show him that it's okay to accept these things. Scott pointedly looks up at the sky, red because of his glasses even now, but at least relatively peaceful. Then, he reaches up for the frames of his sunglasses, fingers curling around and pulling away--

Predictably, two bright beams shoot from Scott's eyes, a low vibrating hum echoing through the air as they continue to blast upward and only stopping once the mutant shuts his eyes once more.]

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru watches, mesmerized because holy cow that's cool?! He is very focused only to blink and look away once Scott is done. ] That was so cool! You can shoot laser out of your eyes?!

[ Yes, Shigeru, he can. ] You must be like one of the strongest kids at school! [ But, oh. ] It-It doesn't hurt to do that, right?

[laserguy]

[Scott's still in the middle of placing his sunglasses back on when he hears Shigeru's unabashed excitement and his reaction actually gets him to smile, the mutant relieved and feeling pretty good as he looks at the kid through his red lenses once more.]

Yeah, pretty much.

[Technically optic blasts, concussive force, not a laser, but Scott doesn't feel like correcting him right now. It's not like he doesn't call it that sometimes when he's feeling particularly lazy that day.] And nope, it didn't hurt.

[Maybe his body starts straining if he fires them off for too long, but they don't hurt. One thing he can be thankful for. But pushing those thoughts away for the time being, Scott actually finds himself encouraging Shigeru still, prodding just a little more about him.]

You're not scared at all, huh?