Event Log: Dreamwalker the Second

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the Dreamwalker part 2 event
Where: In your dreams
When: October 14th-20th (the second log will go up on Oct 23rd, please keep the two weeks of the event separate!)
Warnings: All different kinds of dreams falling under the umbrella of Delight, Rage, Sorrow, and Hope.

This time, the weird stuff doesn't happen when you're awake- as a matter of fact, your waking hours are the normal ones. That's because you're forced to sleep by some unknown entity, getting more and more exhausted by the moment as night falls. Better make sure you're always around a soft pillow.

Once asleep, it doesn't get any less weird- your dreams will be influenced by one of the four gods that make up the first week. Something to make you smile, something to make you angry- or something that reminds you of your deepest regret or most vulnerable hope, they're all things that you're dreaming about now for some reason, no matter how hard you may try to pull away from them.

To make matters more complicated, there are others intruding on your dreams who definitely don't belong there, and while they may seem like manifestations at first, it becomes clear that these others are actually the consciousness of other members of Hadriel, getting some top quality exposure to your angriest, happiest, most sorrowful moments. Hope it doesn't get awkward when you see them tomorrow...

► This log covers October 14th-20th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you die in dreams you don't die in real life, but if you somehow die in real life anyway, please let us know here.

Comments

Washington | OTA

[hardwearing]

HOPE

This doesn't seem like a hopeful dream, at first.

Wash is in the middle of a fight with someone a head taller than him, a bear of a man in white armor wielding a very strange weapon, a combination grenade launcher and blade. He's larger and stronger and better armed but at least Wash is faster, managing to dodge what would be brutal hits if they landed. And as the fight goes on, some do land. Some send Wash flying, others to his knees, but he keeps getting back up. It seems like he should really run away but he staggers back to his feet again and again, and calls out to the larger figure.

"Maine! I know you're in there, come on! Help me!"

As if summoned by Wash's call, a small figure appears between the two soldiers. It appears to be a man made of flame but savvy visitors will be able to tell that it's a hologram. Its voice is smooth and cold.

"Agent Maine is no longer with us, Agent Washington. We are The Meta. It would be best if you stopped fighting. You will not win."

Whispers echo in the air -- a multitude of voices speaking indistinctly. Wash squares his shoulders and lifts his fists again.

"I'm not giving up on him."

Maine was his best friend, the only one who didn't join in the teasing, the taunts. The one who would train with him and ruffle his hair teasingly and let him crash when he was having nightmares. The one who always, always had his back. Wash hadn't had his. He'd known something was wrong with his friend after implantation. The headaches, the mood swings, the way Maine would shut him out sometimes, or worse, ignore his presence entirely. But for Maine to just be gone... no.

There's still something he can do.

Wash launches himself forwards, aiming to grab the other soldier's helmet. He doesn't get to make contact -- The Meta drops the brute shot and grabs Wash by the throat, holding him at arms reach. Lifting him up off the ground one-handed, like he was just a doll. Wash chokes and curses, grabbing at his arm, but the grip only gets tighter.

"I'm sorry, Agent Washington. This could have been avoided."



(( OOC: your character can either help Wash fight or stay back and watch the dream to completion! ))

Hope

[toiletseat_girl]

[the other guy's in armor, so kicking him in the balls is out. so she tries jumping on the other guy's back, clinging like a monkey with one hand and her legs and trying to wrest his helmet off with the other hand so she can break his nose, make him lose concentration, anything she can do to help

there's got to be something she can do, right?]

[hardwearing]

[ Well. The Meta does seem to pause, its head tilting curiously as he considers the creature on its back. It doesn't seem to think she's a threat, just casually reaches up to grab her and throw her away. If she's got a good grip on his helmet, though, her efforts might do some good.....

Meanwhile Wash is just dangling in The Meta's grip, kicking out at it to try and keep it from hurting George. ]

[toiletseat_girl]

[George is tougher than she looks. for one thing, she's got the helmet. for another thing, she's already back on her feet after landing hard on her side. knocked the wind out of her for a moment, but being dead has to be good for something. and that something is taking a lot of punishment before staying down.

in fact, she's running back to The Meta, determined to at the very least, break his fucking nose]

[hardwearing]

[ The head under the helmet is close-shaven and tattooed, Maine's features strong. Even if right now they're twisted into a scowl, because The Meta is pissed about having its helmet torn off. It lets out a snarl, and the flame-wreathed figure draws close to George, keeping pace with her. ]

You are not involved in this. I advise you take leave.

[ Wash, for what it's worth, holds up a hand to keep George back as he struggles for enough air to say, ]

Fuck. You.

[ And a blue light starts to emanate from his armor. ]

[toiletseat_girl]

[what's up with the looks of this guy? George doesn't know, and George doesn't care. it's hurting her casual acquaintance and she doesn't like it when that happens, so she replies to it with]

Fuck off, asshole!

[she's being held back by Wash. she's going with it because this is his dream, so he knows what he's doing, right?

and speaking of knowing what he's doing, what's with the blue light?]

[hardwearing]

[ The light flares, flashes, and then the figure wreathed in flame is gone from the scene. The whispers stop. Everything is still and quiet and the white-armored soldier drops Wash, staggering back before falling to the ground. Wash rushes to his side and pulls off the other man's helmet, revealing a strong-featured man with a shaved head and tattoos on his skull, heavy scarring on his throat. ]

Maine? Maine!

[toiletseat_girl]

[George's eyes fix on Wash and the white-armored man holding him by the neck. she's just about to charge back in to try to help him when he's dropped, the other man falling to the ground. George watches Wash rush over to him, pulling off his helmet. that Wash knows this man is obvious by how he's reacting, so she summons her courage, goes to their side, and asks]

Does he need CPR or--or anything else? I know first aid, I could try to help?

[hardwearing]

He's breathing.

[ As for first aid... he runs his bioscan and finds that the body under him is malnourished and injured, yes, but not to the point they need to tear him out of his armor just yet. Wash is more concerned with him regaining consciousness, with who it is in there when he wakes up. If there'll be anyone at all.

Slowly, Maine's eyes open. And then... recognition lights them, and he reaches up and clasps a hand around Wash's arm, letting out a low growl. The most sound he can make with the damage to his vocal chords. But Wash seems to know what he's saying. ]

...I missed you, too, buddy.

[requiemshark]

Oh, this is good.

Ephemera stands to the side, watching Washington struggle. Watches his legs kick as he's lifted, a bug stuck on a pin.

Hah.

And he claps. Slowly.

[hardwearing]

Wash doesn't notice Sharkface or the clapping, not right away. His entire focus is on The Meta, on getting enough air and blocking out the whispering filling his head, so familiar and so sinister.

"Fuck. You." he manages to get out as he struggles, and a blue light emanates from his armor as he activates his EMP. It flares, flashes, and then the figure wreathed in flame is gone from the scene. The whispers stop. Everything is still and quiet and the white-armored soldier drops Wash, staggering back before falling to the ground. Wash rushes to his side and pulls off the other man's helmet, revealing a strong-featured man with a shaved head and tattoos on his skull, heavy scarring on his throat. "Maine? Maine!"

It's a long, tense moment before the soldier opens his eyes, but he does. And then, slowly... recognition. Agent Maine reaches up, grips Wash's arm. Makes a sound something between a growl and a grunt, the most he can do with his ruined vocal chords. But Wash seems to understand him.

"...I missed you, too, buddy." Then Wash lifts his head, looking around, and. Oh. Sharkface? Slowly, he gets to his feet and steps over Maine, blocking Sharkface from his friend. "Don't hurt him."

[requiemshark]

There's a flash of light, an EMP detonation. And then the fight changes. Becomes something entirely different.

Ephemera moves forward, eyes narrowed. Washington kneels over the soldier, speaking urgently, and then--

Then he stands over the man like he's ready to fight to the death, and Ephemera hates that he understands. That he'd do the same for someone he loved.

He bares his teeth, and then, deliberately, holsters his pistol.

"Why not, Freelancer? Why not?"

The answer matters almost too much.

[hardwearing]

Wash doesn't have a good answer. Maine slaughtered the Insurrectionists, and now it would be pretty easy for Sharkface to take him out. He'd rally, Wash knows, because it's Maine, but he'd probably lose and Wash can't let that happen. Not after just getting him back.

It doesn't quite fit to call Maine his family, but that's the language that he knows Sharkface will relate to. So he goes for it, takes the risk he'll be called out and stands protectively over Maine in case this doesn't work.

"Because he's my family. You have to go through me."

[requiemshark]

Ephemera twitches, hands flexing. Ready for a fight. Ready to shoot down whatever excuse Washington offers up. And--

You have to go through me.

He wavers. Looks at the man on the ground, at the way Washington stands above him. Unwilling to leave him for a better, more tactical position.

Family.

Slowly, Ephemera removes his helmet. Glares straight at Washington's visor. His voice is hard.

"You get this one. Even though you took my family from me. Help him."

[hardwearing]

Wash holds his position a moment longer, studies Sharkface's expression when he removes his helmet.

He means it.

"Thank you." It comes out a little grudgingly, but it's genuine.

He glances back at Maine, scans him quickly. He's malnourished and wounded, and unconscious now. And there's no one else around.

"...I can't carry him alone."

[requiemshark]

Oh, for fuck's sake--

Ephemera grits his teeth and slams his helmet back on. No part of him wants to be here. But he gave his word and Washington helped him, once. On the beach.

Fine. They're doing this. He goes over and does not shoot either Freelancer in the fucking skull. Even though he really, really wants to.

"Not a fucking word," he snaps, pointing at Washington in warning.

[hardwearing]

Not a fucking word. Right.

Wash doesn't say anything, doesn't even nod, as Sharkface takes up position by Maine's legs. He just shifts to his friend's head, leans down and slides his arms under Maine's shoulders, gets a good grip on him.

There's a base on either side of them -- one red, one blue. Wash tilts his head towards the blue one, so they can start moving. Maine is heavy and his armor is even heavier, but together they carry him without much trouble. Get him inside and into the quarters where they can put him down somewhere soft.

[evocation]

[It all happens too fast for Kyna to do anything, and then the guy's got Wash by the throat, and Kyna is two seconds away from throwing her most powerful spell at him, but she manages to check herself. Wash didn't want him to die, and she has no idea what's going on here, so she does something really, really stupid. She gets in the thick of it, hands crackling with electricity, and makes a grab for the other man's arm. Time to see how conductive these fancy suits are.]

Hey, asshole!

[And then she shocks him. It's surprisingly controlled, though—not enough to kill him, and the electricity doesn't touch Wash at all.]

[hardwearing]

[ The armor's not super conductive, but it's not meant to stand up against direct electrical attacks, either. Anything strong enough to actually damage the suit's operations would probably kill him but her jolt is enough that The Meta goes stiff and still, and Wash can kick off the giant man's chest to free himself.

He lands on his back and is up in an instant, rushing back towards them. ]

Kyna, get away!

[ A blue light begins to emanate from Wash's armor as he readies his EMP. This had better work. It has to work. He grabs for The Meta's helmet again and detonates it straight into his head. It flares, flashes, and then the figure wreathed in flame is gone from the scene. The whispers stop. Everything is still and quiet as the white-armored figure falls to the ground. Wash drops to his side and pulls off his helmet, revealing a strong-featured man with a shaved head and tattoos on his skull, heavy scarring on his throat. ]

Maine..?

[evocation]

[Kyna doesn't know what the hell Wash is planning, but she knows enough to take his word and scramble out of the way. She flinches at the flash of the EMP, and then rushes over, hesitating a few steps away.]

Is he...?

[Still alive?]

[hardwearing]

He's alive, it was just an EMP. I killed that thing in his head.

[ The question is if there was anyone else in there besides Sigma. If Maine was still somewhere deep inside, fighting.

It's a long, tense moment before the soldier opens his eyes, but he does. And then, slowly... recognition. Agent Maine reaches up, grips Wash's arm. Makes a sound something between a growl and a grunt, the most he can do with his ruined vocal chords. But Wash seems to understand him.

Kyna can hear the relief in Wash's voice. She can't see it but she'll know he's smiling under his helmet. ]

I missed you, too, buddy.

[evocation]

[Oh. Kyna finally closes that last bit of distance to kneel down next to Wash, trying to study his expression instinctively. The helmet is a frustrating wall to that, of course.]

Is he okay? Are you okay?

[And what the hell was that thing?]

[hardwearing]

[ Wash runs his bioscanner, quickly, and nods. Maine's malnourished, kinda beat up, but fine. He's just fine. ]

We're okay.

[ She can't help Wash get him up, being so tiny and unarmored, but this spot is as good as any, really. Wash settles down beside Maine, pulling off his own helmet. It's over. They're okay. He's got his friend back. He pulls out a canteen and opens it for Maine, cradles the other soldier's head so he doesn't have to sit up. ]

Don't suppose you've got a power bar on you?

[evocation]

[Kyna smiles, shaking her head.]

Uh, no. Don't you have a cooler in that suit of yours?

[And then, a bit more seriously:]

Who is he?

[hardwearing]

Do I look like a refrigerator?

[ He's still smiling, though, as he tips the bottle for Maine. ]

He's one of my old squad. His name's Maine.

[ The soldier on the ground pushes the bottle away and sits up, then, turning his head to look at Kyna. He growls something, and Wash actually laughs. ]

No.