Exploration Event: Neverwere

[lifeaftr_mods]

EXPLORATION EVENT: NEVERWERE

Who: Everyone!
What: Your wildest dreams come true!
When: May 15th to May 18th
Where: Ziziphus, those still on Ensō...and Mu
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Then Know That My Life Was Just a Killer Dream
You can find most of the information you need in the OOC info post! In the meantime, feel free to use this log as a catch-all for your dream worlds, as well as detailing your efforts to free one another. Whether they're on Ziziphus or Ensō at the time of the dreams' capture, your character is free to access as many dreams as you like, as the interlocking mental landscape allows for that sort of crossing over apropos of nothing. And time, of course, is very fluid in dreams - many days, months, and years can transpire in a matter of mere minutes.

Will you fight your way free from Ziziphus's vines or Mu's thrall, or are you content to die in your sleep?

Remember to let us know if your character dies during this event!

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] May 15th: The vines make their move, ensnaring characters in ideal fantasy worlds
[ ♆ ] May 17th: The Storyteller will make contact with those they can, as well as issue information and a potential solution
[ ♆ ] May 18th: Those that have not freed themselves from the vines or from Mu will suffer a death

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

Jules Dagger Samari - Closed for a specific few

[suspecteverything]

Andaria looks like any other major metropolitan area minus the skyscrapers and the large palace compound. Well, that and the fact that most of the people walking around look nothing like humans, primarily because they aren't. The pure white eyes with red rims and fangs make it clear they aren't human. Surprisingly though, none of them seem even remotely bothered by human presence. They seem almost friendly. Rather odd given human is on their menu.

The gates and doors to the palace are open. There are guards there, but they don't appear to be expecting any kind of trouble. Why, exactly, they would be there then, who knows? But they are.

The palace is bustling with activity. Most of the royal family is about and many of the servants are as well. Jullien can be seen walking the halls. The servants he nearby all give him genuine smiles of greeting and his mother even gives him a kiss on the check as they pass by each other. If the common courtesy and even love he's receiving from everyone isn't off putting enough, the fact that many of the servants greet him with Tiziran or Prince definitely is.

Let me know if I need to change anything! :-)

[shatteredlenses]

It's Ignis' first visit to Andaria, and while learning about his friend's home fills him with excitement, he can't help but also feel oddly unsettled. At first he tried to ignore it and just focus on the guard who was sent to pick him up as he rambles about the city and the royal family, but each time his friend's name comes up, he has to bite his tongue not to correct the guard.

Dagger. The name should be Dagger. Why isn't that what the guard calls him?

It's almost a relief when Ignis recognizes his friend's footsteps coming down the hall. He smiles, bowing his head politely and somehow manages to keep his smile from faltering even as he hears the guard beside him bow and address his friend as 'Prince.'

"My apologies for the wait. It seems no matter what place one visits, accidents are still as much a delay as ever."

[suspecteverything]

Jullien's eyebrows lift in surprise. His eyes shift briefly to the guard, who gives him no indication of what "accident" Ignis is talking about, and turns back to his friend.

"Accidents? I certainly hope there wasn't any issue with your ship. The main Andarian port hasn't had any crashes in... well, ever."

There's something about that statement that sets off alarm bells. No spaceport is without accidents, even minor ones, and yet he can't honestly think of the last time there was any issue with one of the ships using the Andarion port.

[shatteredlenses]

"No, the issue wasn't with mine, fortunately. It was..." Ignis' forehead furrows then as he tries hard to remember the details of the incident. They should be there. After all, it wasn't long enough it was happening...wasn't it? "It was another craft. Not that serious either. Just enough to be an annoyance."

That has to be the answer. He'd certainly remember more details if the accident had been a serious one.

"Come now. Lets not worry about such unimportant things. I'm dying to learn more about this wonderful home of yours. Your man has been most helpful, but I'm afraid he's no where near as used to describing things for a blind man's benefit as you are."

[suspecteverything]

"Which is still not the way to start a visit. I apologize."

Jullien offers a tiny bow, not that Ignis can see it. Habit dictates that action more than anything else.

"Shall we start within the palace? I'm sure the royal art gallery would be a wonderful place for someone of your nature."

He almost manages to pull off that sentence in a completely neutral tone, but a teasing glimmer sneaks out at the end. Jullien just can't help himself.

[shatteredlenses]

Ignis waves a hand dismissively, "Not your fault and it all ended up okay in the end. Now show me this art gallery you speak so highly off. I have a feeling it will fit your nature as well. After all, anything that will let you talking as much as you wish, correct?"

But...that's not correct is it? Ignis is smiling as he speaks and his tone is amused--after all, he's teasing back--but his eyes narrow slightly as if he's trying to catch hold of something that just keeps eluding his grasp.

[suspecteverything]

Jullien simply laughs as if Ignis is 100% correct since his statement is more than obvious. Internally warning bells are going off though he just can't pinpoint why. He talks rather often. Of course he does. He's a prince after all, and princes had a right to be somewhat self obsessed. It's that thought that wipes the smile completely off his face. It was so screamingly wrong. For a while he simply stands there, trying to understand what's happening.

[shatteredlenses]

"Dagger?" Ignis stops walking the moment he hears his friend's footsteps pause. His first response, as it so often is, is concern.

"Is something wrong? You've seemed uneasy ever since I arrived."

[suspecteverything]

"Dagger?"

It's clearly a name, but why would Ignis be calling him that? It's certainly not a name a prince would ever go by.

"My name is Jullien eton Anatole."

Speaking that name gave him a seriously queasy feeling that simply wouldn't go away. It felt so wrong. Some part of him wanted to reject that name. It should be an honor to bear it, and yet... it made him feel like he was the trash of the universe instead.

"No... I..."

[shatteredlenses]

"You're Dagger."

Despite his friend's insistence otherwise, deep down there is something in Ignis that knows for certain he is right. He doesn't know how or why, but he knows he's right. Honestly, it makes his head hurt, he's so certain, and he raises a hand to rub at his forehead as if it will help relieve the pain somehow.

"I don't know why they are all calling you that. It's not your name. It's not you."

[suspecteverything]

"Dagger Ixur is just my call sign."

Wasn't it? Saying those words should sound so right, but they didn't. It sounded so much like a lie. Why would it though? Why would he ever give up the eton Anatole name?

"Isn't... it?"

[shatteredlenses]

"I've only ever known you as 'Dagger.' This prince business is...new?" Ignis sounds so confused and eventually almost snarls in frustration, "What the bloody hell is going on here? This is all too peaceful and perfect!"

Perfect if he ignores the wrong feeling. Peaceful if he forgets the confusion.

That's not going to happen.

[suspecteverything]

"I've always been a prince."

Which was completely true. He was positive of that. But...

Ignis' comment about everything being too peaceful and perfect sends shock waves through Jullien. His life has never been peaceful or perfect, and the worse part was his family. Then the last piece clicks into place.

"Jules Dagger Samari..."

It's what he had gone by ever since his dear family had disowned him. What he was experiencing now wasn't real. It was what families were supposed to be like, but his hadn't been that way. This was everything he had ever dreamed of, but it was a lie. And it hurt.

[savedbyasong]

One of the servants is coming over to him now, with food for him. He's young and what he lacks in grace he seems to make up for in pure enthusiasm so he is all smiles even as the tray wobbles slightly precariously.

"Your breakfast, Tiziran." There's a slight flicker on Shion's face as he gets his tongue around the word that should be familliar to a servant of the palace.

His smile is back in place a moment later though as he puts the tray down on the table and steps back. He hovers though, because Dagger is his favourite of all the royal family and Shion often is found lingering more than was maybe proper, in order to talk to him.

[suspecteverything]

"Thank you, Shion. It's most appreciated."

The smile lights up Jullien's entire face and makes his red eyes glow even more. He rather enjoys his meetings with this servant even though it is odd for a human to be working in the Andarian court. Not that Jullien minds.

"Would you like to sit down and join me? Eating alone is never as pleasant and eating with company."

[savedbyasong]

Shion beams at the thanks and his smile grows even more at the offer. "Thank you Tiziran." He moves to a seat and sits, this is why he lkes Dagger best.

He sits down, no one will mind. The prince was known for being kind, friendly and personable.

[suspecteverything]

"Jullien. You don't have to keep calling me tiziran."

He pops a piece of fruit in his mouth with a happy smile that reveals his fangs. Unlike some of the rest of his family, Jullien doesn't care as much about ceremony.

[savedbyasong]

"Julien." It is said with a smile, though for the brief moment there is a flicker of something, on Shion's face. Julien, not Dagger. Where had that name come from?

He recovers a moment later and concentrates. "What do you have planned today, Julien?"

[suspecteverything]

"I'm going to spend some time with my wife and children. Nykyrian and Kiara might even stop by to join us for a picnic with their little ones."

Truly Jullien is looking forward to it. With affairs of state, he doesn't often have a lot of time to spend with his twin.

[savedbyasong]

"It sounds lovely." It did, he knew that Dag... Julien enjoyed the time he got to spend with his family.

"The weather is lovely so I am sure you will have fun." He hoped it stayed so, Dagger deserved a lovely day surrounded by loved ones.

A flicker, where had that thought come from? Of course the Prince spent every day with loved ones, in his palace. Why would it be any other way?

[suspecteverything]

"I'm rather looking forward to it."

Jullien is absolutely beaming over the fact that he gets to spend some time with his family. The fact that it's a nice day out is just a bonus. Hopefully he won't have any serious interruptions, but really, why would he?

[savedbyasong]

"I'm glad." Shion smiled at him again, "Do you need anything?"

It felt weird to just be sat here, when he should be working. Though he could argue that talking to Dagger was working, he was supposed to follow the Prince's orders and he had asked him to sit here.

"I mean... I know you just wanted to talk, but I can get you some more food or tea or something..."

[suspecteverything]

"Could get me something," a voice said from the doorway. "Or I could steal some food off by brother."

Jullien glanced up to find his twin, Nykyrian, grinning at him from the doorway. Even from that distance Shion would likely be able to see the variety of scars marring the crown prince's face. When he stepped further into the room there was also a pronounced limp. Andaria was a country that had had peace for years. There was no reason for Nykyrian to bear such injuries... yet he did.

[savedbyasong]

Shion jumped to his feet as Nykyrian entered the room. He noticed and frowned, how did the prince have so many scars? What had happened? He felt like he should know. Such things would be part of history after all.

Perhaps it was because Shion had never learned history. But that wasn't right either, as it? He took a breath, focussing. "I will get you something sir, you don't have to steal Dagger's food."

[suspecteverything]

"Dagger?" Nykyrian asked.

Jules didn't say a word, but only because he was too dumbfounded to speak. That one word was like being electrocuted. Dagger. Shion had used it like a name. His name. But his name was Jullien eton Anatole.

No.

No. It wasn't.

"Jules Dagger Samari..."