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

[emotionalbeast]

[Just as Dazai, Akutagawa doesn’t question the strength Odasaku possesses. The man was good at predicting the other’s move flawlessly. Thus, while he believes his aim is true, he as well believes that man will not falter easily. It still surprises the young detective how Odasaku avoids his attack easily. As the man now charges to him, the young detective takes a step back, trying to conjure a move, but the man was swift with a counter.

Akutagawa chokes from his own pain as he feels his legs giving out by Odasaku’s blow, falling back, his tailbone hitting the ground first with a thud. He refuses to let this pain escape his lips by clenching his jaws tight. Now, dark eyes searched for his sensei. This is a dream after all right? Then why does it hurt this much? Akutagawa was like an angry pup ready to bite despite the odds.]

[humandispel]

[Perhaps it’s because of Akutagawa’s actions, or perhaps it’s because of Dazai’s truest wishes, but Odasaku doesn’t run away this time. Instead, he points the blade towards Akutagawa, a threat that lies at its edge.]

Then why do you keep following me?

[He asks, still unperturbed from the hurt that lies at Akutagawa’s feet. He doesn’t have the time for this, but perhaps something keeps him back. Perhaps it’s the knowledge that Akutagawa, too, is an orphan that he could have saved.

(But it was not him that saved Akutagawa, not in this world. It was Dazai, as twisted as it may have been.)]

[emotionalbeast]

[Akutagawa doesn’t move when the blade is pressed close to him. Eyes widen, with a mix of confusion and anger. The blade though, is what drew his attention first, fixated and confused. The onyx eyes looked up to the man, the man he still respects as this man boomed a question.

Something dawned in him as his eyes fell down, back on the blade. What came next was something not even Odasaku could imagine.

A low chuckle erupted from Akutagawa. Whether he finally lost it or found something more interesting, it was hard to tell. The vulgar chuckle grew louder as it continued.]

…haa. So that’s it.

[humandispel]

[You're right. Odasaku did not predict this. It's possible that not even Dazai predicted this. And as the vessel of this bewilderment, the Odasaku in front of Akutagawa narrows his eyes.

What did you realize, black dog?]