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

[solitarysoul]

Uh, sure.

[He eyes the bad guys. The big guy was probably hard to do much damage to, but the fast one might be impossible to get a good shot at.]

Do you think you can get me right in front of the silver guy?

[He checks his gun and cocks it.]

[digthefuzz]

This is a bit tougher when it comes to catching someone with super-speed off-guard - but I'll try my best!

[He grins and puts a hand on Levi before trying another teleport. He teleports right into Quicksilver's path, but the white-haired boy veers into a different direction as soon as they appear.]

[solitarysoul]

[Levi fires and then adjusts his aim and fires again. Neither manage to hit the speedster. He curses under his breath.]

He's gotta tire out sometime, right?

[digthefuzz]

You'd think that! But I can't remember ever seeing him run out of ga-aaaaaugh!!

[Quicksilver zips by as Kurt talks, grabs into the tail and starts towing him along with it! Kurt's yanked through the air while Pietro continues speeding along, almost like Kurt's his kite!]

[solitarysoul]

[Oh fuck, that wasn't good! He's not sure how--wait, no, he has just the thing to help with this.

Levi concentrates and there's a small tremor as sharp, barbed roots burst out from the ground over the area. They don't grab, but there are enough of them and they're pointy enough that it should at least slow Quicksilver down and give Kurt the chance to get away.]

[digthefuzz]

[It does the trick! Kurt's able to teleport right back over by Levi.]

Whoa! Thanks for the assist, man! Talk about rooting out the enemy! [He then blinks as he looks back at the roots.] Wait, why haven't you been using that all along?

[He frowns in confusion, as if it's just occurring to him that it's odd that he's been using weapons as his powers instead.]

[solitarysoul]

[He rubs his head and grimaces.]

...I don't like using magic. A-and I kind of forgot about it.

[digthefuzz]

Magic...? [He frowns, looking more befuddled.]

Isn't that your... mutant power? That's what we're all about. That could be the... plantswer?

[solitarysoul]

[Levi blinks and cants his head slightly. Mutant powers? No, he's pretty sure its magic he learned. But that was what Kurt called his superpower, right? So it was a good bet that the other people flinging powers around were also mutants (the not terrible kind).]

...no. B-but something is off here.

[digthefuzz]

[Kurt stares for him an moment and then nods his head.]

Oh yeah. Something's definitely off here alright.

[He then grins.]

We haven't kicked enough Brotherhood butt yet!

[solitarysoul]

Uh.

[He's pretty sure that's not it, but the battle is more pressing]

Right. I'm trying to figure out the best way to get those guys.

[digthefuzz]

[Kurt can only get himself to think about the battle. Nothing else seems really pressing at the moment.]

I think those plant powers of yours are the key, man. Keep on trying to trip up Quicksilver! Or the Blob! Like, talk about da vine intervention!

[solitarysoul]

O-okay.

[He grimaces, but calls forth another vine near Quicksilver.]

[digthefuzz]

Thattaboy!

[Kurt cheers as he gets to work! It looks like Quicksilver's tripped up by that vine, so Kurt manages to teleport over and pin him down with a bear hug.]

I got him!

[solitarysoul]

[The speedster is immobilized, but it might not be for long, and he really doesn't want to use that spell again, so once Levi is close enough to safely do so and not hit Kurt he just unloads his gun into Quicksilver.

Sorry about the blood, Kurt.]

[digthefuzz]

[The blood quickly turns to confetti, but Kurt still looks distraught as Quicksilver fades away.]

H-hey! What was that? That... that's not right...!

[solitarysoul]

[The blood turning into confetti was weird but he's more confused about Kurt's reaction.]

But...that's how...didn't you want them dead?

[digthefuzz]

[Kurt is now livid.]

No, of course not! That's not our way!! We stop our enemies. We don't... take their lives!!

[solitarysoul]

[Levi is completely confused.]

But...that's what battle is, right?

[He's never been in a situation where not killing the enemy was anything other than a way to get yourself killed.]

[digthefuzz]

Not this kinda of battle! This- this isn't some fight to the finish! This is just about stopping people from doing bad things. They have to live, so they can learn! And because killing is, it's just plain wrong!

Cw: kids sent to war

[solitarysoul]

[This should be a simple concept but it's obvious Levi doesn't get it. Aside from sparring in training, he's never been in and instance where he wasn't fighting for his life.]

But I-i don't think I've done...I thought there was a war?

Cw: kids sent to war

[digthefuzz]

No, there's not! That's what we're trying to stop. It's why we're trying to be the better ones. That's the X-Men way!

[Their surroundings start to warp as he argues with him.]

[solitarysoul]

I don't--I-I don't think we fought the same thing...I'm not a...uh, x-man.

[digthefuzz]

What...?

[Kurt lowers his head, gripping his forehead as if in the throes of a migraine.]

Then why are you here? Why are we here... fighting together, as X-Men...?

[solitarysoul]

I...am not sure...where--where is this?