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]

[He doesn't question Zekarion's conviction, mostly because he really wants to believe that he'll help him. Even if he doesn't fully feel the same way, he's still willing to help out because he doesn't think Scott has a stupid or unrealistic dream. It's nice. It feels like a lot of times people keep on telling him that things will only get worse. Or won't last forever--]

...I've been here for almost two years, Altius. [He sniffs, voice watery, like he's still trying to stop himself from outright crying against him. Scott has some reservations about that, trying to be strong in some way, although he keeps himself close to the older man, his face still firmly buried against him.]

I've made so many friends here, despite everything. I-I don't know where I'd be without them, without everyone...

[Probably still that angry teen that called himself a freak on day one. He basically announced that to everyone.]

[chimericalclaw]

[Things will only get worse, and they won't last forever; these things are simply truths that can't be escaped, but they can be delayed. If only he could reach into these other worlds and make it so no one else ever has to have that awful realization...

No, Scott doesn't deserve to suffer that knowledge. So Altius will protect him from that, if he can, while he can. What he says to that end is:]

I'm sure they feel the same about you. And I know they'd want to help as well.

[laserguy]

[Altius isn't wrong about that, he's sure that his friends would want to help him, but also they have a tendency to sacrifice their own happiness for others. So many of them are like that, willing to say it's okay if they're hurt as long as others are happy. He wants to put a stop to that too. Why can't he just make everyone happy?? No sacrifices, just. Everyone is okay.

That's probably why his dream ended up like this.]

They're too helpful sometimes. [Scott mumbles quietly, breath exhaling warmly against Altius. It's just so hard thinking about this and honestly it's rare for him to even talk about it.] A lot of them are completely okay with just sacrificing themselves.

[It's taken a long time to get Kotone to realize that and Scott's still not sure if she fully understands. She'll always be the first person to jump in front of others and let herself die, not knowing how much it hurts him. Or her friends. His breath hitches in his chest at the thought of his girlfriend, voice getting quieter.] ...Don't they know I care about all of them?

[chimericalclaw]

[Altius hums his understanding, sweeping his thumb where it rests against Scott's shoulder as gentle reassurance. He takes in a deep breath as he considers his answer, then:]

There are some people whose experiences have taught them... what they can do is worth more than who they are. And some of them believe that strongly enough that they consider others to be mistaken.

[How ironic that he of all people would be explaining this.]

Try to be patient with them, but keep reminding them that you do care. That you value the time you have with them. It's a bit like leading a horse to water... the rest is up to them.

[You can't fix them all by yourself, Scott. Try not to beat yourself up over it.]

[laserguy]

[That's so messed up, right? That his friends only think that they're worth being around if they sacrifice themselves or do a bunch of things. Scott never considered himself flowing with confidence, but he never thought of himself like that before either. He just never fit in with others until he attended Xavier's Institute and somehow managed to find other teens that were even more socially isolated than him.

Someone had to step up, get them out of a stuffy classroom, and have fun. Help them feel normal just for a little bit and it worked, really well, but this is something entirely different. It's harder in a lot of ways.]

...I-I want them to really understand.

[Scott's voice is still quiet, almost hurt, as he keeps close to Altius. It helps that he really seems to understand where he's coming from, offering his own words and advice that he can't help but take to heart. He really has to keep trying, huh? Someone has to... someone that won't give up on them.

With a shaky breath, the mutant starts pulling away from him, but only just enough so that he can look at him with bright blue eyes that are filled with unshed tears. He doesn't have control of his powers, but he's willed them to be gone for the time being. Just for this moment.] I-I'll keep trying for them.

[chimericalclaw]

[There's a part of him that almost bristles at Scott opening his eyes, but the immediate lack of consequences and the sight of the blue that's been hiding under the shades makes that feeling nearly disappear.

After a dream of almost nothing but red, it feels significant.

Altius smiles at him, one hand moving to brush Scott's hair back into its usual place.]

Good. That's the best thing you can do for them.

[He lets a moment pass, for the encouragement to sink in, then lets out a breath as his brow knits together. He keeps his hands on the mutant's shoulders, but the way his own hair moves into his peripheral vision keeps him from forgetting the truth of the situation. Their minds have somehow been brought together, and no matter what form that takes, it's a danger he doesn't want to deal with for longer than necessary.]

I think we should try to wake up, Scott.

[laserguy]

[Scott's grateful for those few precious seconds of silence, even though he's letting Altius see just how vulnerable he is. The teen is even more expressive now with his blue eyes fully uncovered, but the mutant really isn't thinking about that, his trust in the older man solidified despite everything. This is a strange sort of dream, yes, but he doesn't doubt that Altius was the one that said all those things.

Scott didn't make that up. That was all him.

He never imagined that he'd get close to Altius like this, but it's nice, trusting an adult in this manner. It feels like it's been a while since he opened up like this to one and it's already left a rather big impact on Scott.]

Y-Yeah, we shouldn't stay in here longer than we should. [Bad things may possibly happen. Maybe their bodies are getting drained in the 'real world' and he's not going to be responsible for that. He will make sure Altius makes it out okay. So with a small breath, Scott closes his eyes and places his glasses back on, squaring himself up to get them out of this dream.

Somehow, that doesn't feel too hard. It's like the key to waking up is right in front of him and he mentally wraps a hand around it.]

...I'll see you later old man.