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

[izanagis]

[It's jarring, in a way, how unexpected the room is. Somehow, stupidly, he expected a futon instead of a western-style bed. A desk, maybe. Something just feels...off. The feeling only lasts a moment -- Yu knows better than to go into a situation with assumptions like that. Still, somehow it feels...wrong.

He brushes the feeling aside.]

The mall, [he repeats, incredulous and maybe a little curious. Stupidly, the first thing he thinks --another assumption-- is a department store. A food court on the roof. Then, stupidly, he allows himself another small smile. Another small break in what should be a very steady wall.] Do you give every newcomer this warm a welcome?

[laserguy]

Only when I'm feeling it.

[Mostly, when Scott thinks that the newbie needs a break of fresh air. He did it for Jean and Kurt when he met them and after one trip to the mall, they were all a lot more happy. Open. It's worked that time and so he just assumes it'll work this time. If it ain't broke-- and if he gets desperate, he'll bust out the ICEE and hamburger combo. Besides, it's like his civic duty to introduce foreigners to an American mall.

Scott actually looks pretty enthused with this idea. Not like he's forcing himself at all.]

And I'm feeling it now. I'm getting tired of doing the same basic tour anyway. [It feels like he's done it a lot lately--] Ever been in a convertible before?

[izanagis]

[It's a decision point. At this crossroads, it would be best for Yu to politely decline, to give some vague reason to excuse himself, to keep his head down and wait for the winds to shift again. Because they always shift; the only thing permanent is impermanence, and he's used to it enough that he knows not to complain. You can't change the way things are.

Thank you, but I can't. Now isn't a good time.
Unfortunately--
Regrettably--
Maybe next time--

The words won't leave his mouth.

He tries.] No, [...but then, maddeningly, follows up,] I haven't. [And he could stop there, but--] Should I assume that's going to change?

[He'll regret this. Some time later, he will regret. But he'll begin to wonder if it's worth it--

no. he can't think about that right now.]

[laserguy]

[Yu's answer only gets Scott to smile more. Well, that settles it! They're going to the mall in style. He knows where the Professor keeps his keys to all of his cars, so it'll just be a quick snatch and off they go. Sure, Scott can already imagine the weeks worth of detention, but... it's fine. It's worth it. He has a feeling that new kid needs something like this.]

Uh, yeah? It wouldn't be called one otherwise. [He rolls his eyes a little-- he can't help it.] Okay, we're definitely going in one. Every teen has to ride in a convertible at some point, it's like the law.

[They're both dressed and Yu's dumped his stuff in their room, so they're ready to go. No point wasting time discussing this further, that's just totally unnecessary. He's making the decisions now. Besides, they can blast music and have the top down and it's experience.] Come on, Yu.

[He's already opening the door of their room to leave.]

[izanagis]

[He's not used to the smile of that response; usually it's a crestfallen oh or a halfhearted yeah, maybe next time. In a way, it feels...good. Nice, at the very least. Beneath his desire to keep to himself, Yu can't deny that he likes to see people happy. That it's nicer, being around people like this.

It...it's a feeling he should hold onto, probably.

For a moment, as he thinks the words, his heart aches, twisting uncomfortably and without familiarity. The feeling passes, but he pauses in the doorway.]

Scott. [This familiarity feels strange, too. As if they've known each other for ages. He rests his hand on the doorframe; the wood feels solid beneath his fingers, but also...not. For a second, his head swims with the twin urges to seek out truth and to hide from it.] This is...

[a dream. it's not real. it's something from your home; your reality,]

... What is this?

[laserguy]

[He's about halfway through the door when he hears Yu, a worried little glance shot back his way as he looks at the newcomer-- his friend. For a moment, he thinks that the other teen is having second thoughts, but that doesn't fit and as he asks 'what is this,' Scott's eyebrows knit in worry. Like, what?? Is that supposed to mean something?

They're just going to the mall, right?]

Huh? What do you mean? We're going on a trip. Because you're... here now, with me and everyone else. As things should be.

[You don't want to leave this place ever. Nothing visibly changes around them, but there's something tense in the air now, a sense of wrongness that wasn't there before. If Scott notices, he doesn't say anything, but that discomfort is growing on him even if he's trying his hardest to hide it.

They don't have to say goodbye to anyone again and that's good, right?]

[izanagis]

[We're going on a trip.

That's right. They're going to the mall. It's an ordinary thing to do. Maybe they'll meet up with the others at the food court--

...

Thou hast established a genuine bond. These genuine bonds shall be your eyes to see the truth... That's right. Yu has never been able to look away from the truth, not really. Back home, he... he and his friends... (His friends. He looks at Scott again.)

As things should be.]

Are they? [as they should be. A fine mist begins to seep into the edges of the dream itself, softening the world around them. The air feels stifling.]

This...isn't real, is it.

[The words are a question, but said with certainty. He can't do anything now but accept the truth as it is -- and help Scott accept it, too.]

[laserguy]

[Maybe it's the way Yu asked him that question. Or how the air suddenly became just a little more suffocating. But things suddenly feel tense now. Uncomfortable.

All that easy chatter, that feeling of belonging, disappears-- fades into something in the background and Scott straightens, clearly affected by the sudden change. Why does everything suddenly feel wrong now? Fake? They were just going to hang out and what's wrong with that? Things are supposed to be cool and chill now, with everyone being able to live a normal life with their friends. They've finally managed it, it's why he's here (although, suddenly, he knows that Yu isn't just a stranger to him).

Why does that suddenly feel like a faraway dream? It's not fair--]

What do you mean? [Scott's jaw tightens, like he's trying to stop himself from being upset. It's hard. It's clear that he's not accepting what's happening around them. The sounds of students outside the room can be heard, but muffled, like the dream is trying to 'correct' itself but it can't fully resume like normal.]

...Why would you say that?