lifeaftr | Exploration Event: Neverwere

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Exploration Event: Neverwere

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

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

15th (CANON SETTING) || i. I thought maybe we could SAVE ourselves.

Mount Ebott is still a rather small town, despite its infamy. A national heritage site, it's preserved to be- how it is, making things easier, in some ways. The population cannot climb around them. The reporters and the media must take their leave at sundown, back on the road to whatever hotel they're calling home for the week. And little monarchs can stop being little monarchs for a while, and just be-- children.'

Sort of. Scurrying up and down the mountainside, Chara is more interested in fulfilling their role as Seeker in a game of hide and seek than preventing any grass stains from getting on their ceremonial garb, hair slightly more ruffled than the perfectly combed lines it had been this morning. To many, perhaps the sudden appearance of the human ruler of monsters out of the nearest is-- surprising.

For others, not so much. Either way, everyone is greeted the same; smiling genuinely, Chara bows, the creases at the corner of their eyes suggesting barely repressed laughter.

"Greetings."

If you're not careful, you're going to be enlisted for a very important role in Chara's court. Assistant seeker.

16th (SOL-RAVEH SETTING) || ii. But they shot us down.

[Once the sight of a rather ferocious and terribly long battle, the castle of Sol Raveh is simply- not, anymore.

It's fairly clear that Ozuma, the local avatar for the god of light, had no idea what to do with them when the battle came to it's end. Some people left, of course, whilst others still remained, enjoying the life the castle provided that they had, perhaps, not had before.

They can't quite remember why they stayed. But stay Chara did. It hasn't been perfect.

Relearning the will to live was not perfect. Learning how to stop hiding knives beneath their pillow each night was not... perfect. Learning how to be hugged, learning what it was like to not expect, the moment someone picked them up, to meet the floor, the wall, the ceiling-- that sometimes people could pick a demon up off the ground and find a child was

Hard.

They're still learning. Chara isn't the most forward person, these days. With no battle to fight, they don't put themself in front of crowds to have their voice heard, preferring to spend most of their time in places with far more peace to them. For those looking? Their preferred space is undoubtedly the rooftop garden, and the two-story treehouse found within.

And whilst they may not smile at those who approach them, the neutral look they give is, perhaps, more honest than anything else they have ever conveyed.

That's more than good enough.]

iii. Wildcard!

Feel free to hit up either of the above or check Chara's OOC plotting comment for more hell!

[Hello, it's hell. Please pick up the phone.

Because Ren's absolutely here in this weird, empty town and there's no reason to question why because Chara's with her. That's how it's supposed to be and how it'll continue on for years and years to come. It's only when she stops to fully think about it-this weird place, the mountain, that something starts to brew in her chest.

But it's easy to ignore and so she easily sweeps it under the metaphorical rug. They've got things to do today and contemplating the world around her isn't on the list.]

Chara? Do you want to play a game?

[Hello hell my name's dad.

And obviously Ren is here because she's always here. Because that's just who they are, today; two children who monopolized an abandoned town and turned it into a beautiful garden with plenty of wonderful hiding places with a million secret caches of food and loads of knives. It's great and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.]

What do you have in mind? [Because they're game, cupcake. Totally game.]

I hid a pretty knife and you have to find it.

[It's a combination of 'I Spy' meets 'Hide and Seek' with an added cutlery twist. The fun part about growing up with knives is that they aren't terrifying weapons in this reality. Nope, they're treasures. How could they be dangerous when there's nothing to attack? It's fine. They're fun toys that make Chara happy.]

When you find it, you get a hundred points.

[Oho. Now she has their attention- especially considering that sometimes knives are not simply fun toys and the less Ren knows about the times Chara's run off intruders brazenly wielding a meat cleaver, the better. It's a miracle no one's called the cops.]

Do I get a hint, or will that cost me points?

[Boy, that's a good question. The mental back and forth she goes through, trying to decide if giving them a hint is even fair for her. They're good at this game? What the heck. It should cost them points, but you can't below 0, can you?

But she also wants them to win because it's a Good Knife. A hint helps with that. What a struggle.]

You get a 'home run' hint if you say a special word. But if it's the wrong word, I get ten points.

[THAT??? MAKES SENSE??? IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE??? yeah, it's great]

[They can practically see the gears shifting to full gear in her head, biting back a laugh and lacing their fingers behind their back, awaiting her final judgment. She doesn't leave them waiting long.]

I see. In that case... [They pretend, for a moment, that they actually have to think about it.] The word I choose is "cat".

[Did they win a new car, Ren?]

[Joke's on you, little bean. Her love for cats is pure and true across all god spawned dreams, but the special word is just that. Special. Cats are her favorite thing in the universe, there's no denying that. Special belongs to another thing though.

By the look on her face, they're wrong. Totally wrong. And if she were the type to gloat, she absolutely would be. All she does is clap her hands together and look off into ye olde abandoned town though.]

It was 'Chara' so I get ten points.

[Thankfully, she's not a sore loser and happily points to one of the cat defaced houses.]

But you still hit a home run. It's in that house.

[They're 99% sure that's cheating, but okay. With a small huff of amusement, Chara goes wandering over to the house indicated, opening the front door and looking about curiously. Assuming this is a standard house for the village, then there's the kitchen, lounge, two bedrooms and bathroom to investigate...]

I'll concede more points to ask a question- is it the only knife hidden in this house?

[HEy.

HE...y

The look on her face clearly says no, even though she doesn't answer. There are Knives. But there is only one special knife and she doesn't appreciate Chara calling her out on her cheating ways like this.

Except she should've expected it. They always know.]

You'll do a good job.

[That's not an answer???]

You'll find them before someone-[Comes back? No one returns to these homes.]-before the sun goes down.

[Hey Ren consider- games of finding shit should actually be achievable? Either way, they smirk triumphantly at the look on her face, resolving that they'll find it exactly like she says they will.

Actually-]

I'll find it an hour before the sun goes down, at least. [Chara declares, before promptly wandering off into the kitchen. The thought of finding this nondescript knife fills them with Determination.]

[Consider-No? C o n s i d e r-No.]

I'll help you.

[She says?? Like she's not the one that hid them to begin with?? It's fine it's whatever. Still, if they look, they'll find one in the kitchen, hidden under a pile of rocks in a drawer because that's how life is, but until they do-]

If we stay here until it's dark, we can look at the pretty stars and mountain through the window.

Thanks. [Stated with the dry tone of someone who is well aware who started this, Ren. Honestly- if you help, you're going to make this far too easy.] But I'll manage, I'm sure.

You realize we can see both from anywhere we wish, yes? [Said as Chara begins to dig around in the fridge, wrinkling their nose as they come across an unopened carton of milk. It's four years out of date. And rock solid.] If you wish, we can stay here tonight.

[Their logic is sound, but they're here right now, which makes this the ideal place for stargazing until they wander around the town and find another, better abandoned home.]

Do you want to stay here tonight? Which house is your favorite?

I'm not particularly partial to any of them. [And really, they aren't. One may have a more comfortable bed. Another? A pantry stocked to the ceiling with cans of food. A first-aid kit in the bathroom. A wardrobe full of clothes in relatively Ren's size- or their own. It didn't really matter which one, so long as Chara found what they needed.

They always do. Except-]

We may go wherever you wish to go... however, that house is still out of bounds, Ren.

[The one with the red cross on the door.]

[She wants to ask why because they never seem to elaborate on that. A part of her knows it's just the way things are, and she accepts it, despite the curiosity she has about the place. It doesn't seem dangerous or any different than the other homes in the area.]

When will it be 'in bounds'?

When it's ready to be.

[Not when she's ready, or when Chara's ready. When it is. When it becomes a place worth exploring, worth putting pretty knives under piles of rocks, tucked away in a kitchen drawer, worth wandering through for an entire day. A play where useful things are found.

It will never be any of those things. Chara knows that, even when they don't quite remember why. And if they don't remember? It's for a reason. They keep searching, peering under the sink.]

Am I hot, or cold?

[That makes zero sense and she ponders the meaning of that statement for a whole two seconds before-]

I have to hold your hand to know that kind of thing. You look-cold?

[It's not like she can tell from here, but it's probably cool under the cabinet, where it's shady and dark. Don't ask her things like that-she's the absolute worst. They're gonna have to find that knife through sheer willpower or by letting her help them cheat. ]

When will it be ready? Does it need help?

It's a beautiful day, the birds are singing and Lup can't seem to remember what she came up the mountain for. Like, she must have had some business here? Picking berries comes to mind and feels legit, like that's definitely something she does on the regular, so she starts doing that.

And is just about to realize she didn't even bring a fucking basket, when the appearance of Chara saves her from that jarring thought. She's happy to see them, happy to see them smiling after-- well, a bunch of stuff.

She returns the grin and the greeting with a lazy two-fingered salute. "Sup, your lil Highness?"

Their past is- harrowing, to be certain. There were very few who could claim to know their history- fewer still who had any claim to knowing it well. Lup had fallen into the latter category, somehow, almost... too easily. In a way, sometimes Chara felt like they knew her better than they did themself.

"Hunting wabbits, of course. Be vewy quiet." A joke they use only because she would realize it's actually a joke. "You haven't come across one recently, have you? My height, white fur- bleats when you startle him..?"

They're describing Asriel, obviously. And they totally expect her to leap to their assistance- she's not going to say no to the Future of Humans and Monsters, right?

And they know her well enough to know exactly the kind of dumb joke that's gonna have her in stitches, or at least snorting indelicately. That's not even fake, Lup's never been known for the most discerning comedic palate.

The description of their target has her brain farting unhelpfully for a second - she's got the feeling she's supposed to know who they're talking about, but-- Oh. Hang on. Something slots into place and she laughs.

"Not today buddy, but if I run into any prissy rabbits with antlers I'll be sure to give you a call." Maybe only kiiinda into place.

W o w. Wait until they tell Asriel he's a prissy rabbit with antlers; he'd lose his mind if he knew someone thought about him like that.

Or maybe they won't tell him, considering that description is... practically bordering upon rude, even with the affectionate tone? Asriel may be a spoiled child, but prissy-- Lup garners an odd look, though their smile is undeterred.

"Thank you for your co-operation." Then their eyes drift to that berry bush. Blackberries... "In the meantime, you should have someone test taste those for you. In case they're not ripe."

Yeah. That reason.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Exploration Event: Neverwere

Chara | Undertale | OTA

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