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

[laserguy]

Kotone is here too...

[Scott trails off, but if that's the case, why does that seem incorrect? Like she can't be here and it's a feeling that pushes that grief upward, something terrible twisting in his chest, because it seems like a part of him is refusing to admit something, mind shying away. He loves her more than anything and...]

She's supposed to be here. [He says, mouth thinning, like he's trying to reassure him and everyone else around him that Kotone is living happily in this mansion along with their friends. ...Living happily. Isn't she dead?]

She is here, Levi.

[solitarysoul]

Oh, okay.

[She was living here too, seemed simple enough to him.]

So you live here but have clubs at the club building?

[That was weird too, didn't this place have more than enough room for clubs?]

[laserguy]

[Despite Levi's agreement, that sense of wrongness doesn't go away. It just keeps mounting, ever increasing, especially as his friend brings up the club building. He doesn't know of any club building, but yet, it's important too. Is that where Kotone is?

But he doesn't know where that is, except Aldrip.]

...Levi. [Scott starts, the mutant looking and sounding more uncertain by the second.] Something's wrong. I... I need to find Kotone.

[solitarysoul]

O-oh, okay.

[Did he say something wrong?]

D-do you want any help?

[laserguy]

Y-Yeah, sure. Maybe we can split up, cover more ground--

[Wait, that's dumb, right? Because Levi doesn't know the mansion at all-- that's why he was giving him a tour. He's doing a bad job of that, but his concern for Kotone is too great. He wants to find her now or else she'll disappear forever. That's what it feels like.

...But she's not here, right? She's not at the mansion, she's... at Aldrip.]

Levi-- where are we?

[He asks suddenly, the mutant looking uncertain as he looks around at the once calm and peaceful atmosphere of the building. Now, it feels wrong, like it's keeping them here instead of being home.]

[solitarysoul]

We, um...

[Uh...]

I-I'm not sure. I thought this was your place but...I-I'm not sure how I got here.

[laserguy]

I... I don't think this is home.

[And it's a realization that gets Scott's heart to sink because this entire time, the warm atmosphere with other students and teachers milling about was just fake? Some stupid illusion designed to keep them here? It'd make sense, especially if Levi doesn't even remember coming here in the first place and how every inconsistency is actually starting to make sense.

He's not back with the other mutants, he's not introducing his friends to a place where they can be happy. It's just... an illusion. A dream. And yes, he still wants to find Kotone. He wonders what sort of area she's trapped in and he has to help her.]

I think we're still in Aldrip. [...] I'm sure of it.

[solitarysoul]

[He nods slowly, trying to go over how he got here in his mind.]

Me too. Maybe this is, um...it could be glitching again?

[Or, no, that wasn't right. He thinks he might know this one but give him a bit.]

[laserguy]

Don't know, don't care. But we're breaking out.

[Something serious flashes across Scott's face, mouth thinning into a small line as he straightens his position, no longer burdened by doubt or other feelings that might make him hesitate. All of this is fake and he has no desire to be in a place that was only made to taunt him and keep him trapped. All of this feels really personal and a certain anger blossoms in his chest about being toyed with like this.

He holds no warmth for these walls around them.]

Stand behind me, Levi.

[solitarysoul]

R-right.

[The eyebeams, he remembers those. Levi moves behind Scott, carefully looking over the area. It looked like a normal building, but with how things went in Aldrip it didn't mean anything. Or...something about a dream tickles the edge of his mind but he doesn't quite grasp it.]

[laserguy]

[Once Levi moves behind him, Scott really doesn't hesitate before he nearly rips his glasses off, bright red beams expelling outward and looking far more bright and expansive compared to normal. It's like they're being influenced by his anger, emotions increasing the strength and output them as they break through the walls-- breaking through what it seems like a dream, because it doesn't collapse as it should.

The building doesn't collapse, it's like reality itself is falling apart and--

Thus, the dream ends. Maybe a little violently, but they're out at least, with both of them waking up in their own beds.]