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

[luneminary]

[Worry grows on Ryoji’s features — from his point of view, it’s like Scott’s chest is hurting. Maybe he has trouble breathing? He doesn’t sound like it though. Either way, it’s clear that there’s something wrong, and Ryoji’s not the kind of person to ignore something like that.]

Are you sure?

[He even tries to look closer at Scott’s chest for emphasis. And also in case there’s something weirdly external going on there.]

Do you think talking about it would help?

[laserguy]

No, not really.

[Comes the defensive response, but it quickly starts fading as he keeps his hand pressed against his chest. It hasn't gotten any better and keeping it in hasn't worked so far. Maybe he should talk about it? Ryoji is the new kid though... isn't it kind of lame for him to dump his worries and feelings on him? Probably. So, just be quiet, Summers.

...

His fingers curl harder against his shirt and it's becoming increasingly harder to not say anything. Scott bites his lip, his face contorting into something pained.]

I just. Keep thinking how none of this will last. Stupid, right?

[luneminary]

[His eyebrows scrunch in obvious doubt. Yeah, Ryoji wouldn't have let you leave it at that, Scott. People don't get chest pains over nothing! Thankfully he doesn't need to prod any further.]

I don't think it's stupid. It's something that most people would worry about after all!

[He fiddles with his own scarf, electing to stare at the sky rather than Scott itself. Maybe what he has in mind would hurt him, but it's a truth that they both have to accept.]

In a way, you're right. Nothing lasts forever.

[laserguy]

[Is it strange that Ryoji's answer doesn't surprise him? With how friendly and silly he's been, this sort of serious response should be shocking. Upsetting. There's some of that, yes, but Scott just lets himself stare at his friend for a few seconds before turning his head away.

'Nothing lasts forever.' Not this peace, not his relationship with Kotone, his friendships... and it all hurts. And it's not because they will all grow old and pass away at some point, but because of something else. Something more violent will separate them.

Why does that feel inevitable?]

No, but what's wrong with wanting something like this to last as long as possible? [He sounds hurt, almost bitter. The pleasant air from before is just a little more stiff now.]

[luneminary]

[He accepts it, the ire and the bitterness. Who would want to tell you that the peaceful happy times you have wouldn’t last? And yet, he feels like that Scott must accept this truth. That he needs to know that what they have around them wouldn’t stay, because…

Because what? Ryoji doesn’t know. All he could do is to follow his own instincts.]

There’s nothing wrong with it. [He responds, voice quieter than it was before.] But no matter how much we wish for it, it will not happen.

[It’s not like Ryoji doesn’t want this peace to last, either. This place is great! He wishes he could stay in here forever! But just like that he knows this is all but fleeting, like sand pouring inbetween his fingers.]

[laserguy]

[His jaw tightens hearing Ryoji's response and suddenly, the laughter of children around them mutes, just leaving them as the only audible voices. More than that, it's like everything has slowed to a stop, maybe making it clear that this moment isn't entirely real either. At least, it doesn't exist in reality, just a cumulation of Scott's wants and hopes until it was poked apart.]

So, what, we're supposed to just accept that we're going to be sad and lose everyone we love? In just a few years?

[...] We're supposed to fight as hard as we can for them. N-no matter what.

[His breath hitches at the end, the mutant doing his best not to crumble in front of him. Even now, that feels embarrassing.]

[luneminary]

[He can’t pretend that there isn’t anything off with this place anymore. Not when everything has begun to crumble around them, not when Scott is slowly realizing what this peace truly is: a mere fantasy.

Oh, he wants to comfort him. He draws the other young man into an embrace, because it’s the only way he knows how.]

And you can. Even if it only delays the inevitable by a bit — it’s still all worth it.

[That’s how the others did it. That’s how they can manage to fight against him and The Fall. And humanity will always prevail, again and again, deep into the future.]

Don’t think too hard of the future, Scott. Even if a flower wilts, it must bloom first. You must focus on that — on the reality of the present.

[laserguy]

[There's a tenseness in Scott that persists for a couple more seconds, like he's trying so hard not to fold in himself, before it all collapses as he melts in the embrace with a small noise. Not quite a cry, but he holds Ryoji back, arms wrapped tight even as he listens to words that are both supporting and difficult to hear.

Delay the inevitable, huh? Can't they just keep doing that??

At least Ryoji says it's worth it. He doesn't know why, but somehow, it seems really significant coming from the other teen. The reasoning feels right within his grasp, but Scott can't discern it, so he simply lets it go for now. It's not like there's stuff for him to take in right now.]

W-what's that supposed to mean? Like make sure things are good right now?

[luneminary]

[And there returns Ryoji's paradoxical youth, the deer in the headlights look that belies all of his prior advice and wisdom.]

Yeah, you could say that!

[Cough, cough. Right. he's supposed to be comforting Scott here.]

It means that you're supposed to enjoy the moment. Cherish everything that you have, and just live in the present with that in mind.

[laserguy]

[Scott doesn't really understand how Ryoji can jump from being so serious to having the dopiest smile in the universe. Not that he can see it very well in this position, but he can imagine it after hearing that cheerful encouragement. He's seen it enough by now.]

I do. [His voice is still quiet, but not as pained. Maybe this is a better talking point, somehow.] I mean, like I definitely don't take for granted the people I have now. My friends, Kotone, and everyone else. I made a promise to Kotone to live each day to the fullest.

[Especially with her.]