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 )

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There are some things that can't be fixed. Not even in perfect dream worlds.

[Ignis curls his fingers around the arm of the chair he's sitting in. He may sound and look calm to Prompto, but inside hearing how upset the blonde is about all this is tearing him apart. This isn't the first time he's had to play the bad guy to make sure things were done and people were kept safe, but this is easily the hardest.]

And there are some things that don't need to be fixed.

[That's why, isn't it? Why he's shown up blind in each dream he's fallen into? This is part of him. Perfect world or not, this is how he sees himself and there is nothing that he believes needs to be changed.]

I gave my vision to protect Noct. A small sacrifice in the greater scheme of things. There is no need to fix what was given willingly. Were you in my place, would you not have done the same? Giving your vision or even your life to protect our king?

Of course I would, but protect him from what? He doesn't need protection.

[This was getting frustrating. He grabbed Ignis' arm and pulled at him a bit more forcefully, not wanting to sit here and talk when clearly they needed to be getting something done for him.]

Come on, Iggy. Stop it. You're gonna scare the kids if they see you like this. Gladio was already freaking out earlier.

[It was starting to feel like he was going to have to drag Ignis to a hospital. How he could just sit there with his eyes all busted up, Prompto didn't know. He didn't want to push or pull on him, but it was looking like he might not have a choice.]

The kids?

[His voice shakes as he's hit by another wave of guilt. Of course there would be kids in this perfect world. Adopted or blood born, with no war to distract them, there would be no reason to keep them from building the families they all wanted. So much happiness. New lives. New loves...

Ignis swallows hard, desperate to pull his mind away from that train of thought because all it will do is cause him more pain. Fortunately, the mention of Gladio is just the thing to do it. If he was 'freaking' out in Prompto's words, there is a good chance it was the real Gladio having passed through the dream at some point. He can work with this.]

Prompto, you trust both Gladio and I, don't you? Doesn't it seem strange that both of us have issues with this place? One or the other would not be as noteworthy, but both?

Yeah, it was my turn to watch them but I forgot. Gladio was getting mad at me for that when he just... started freaking about daemons.

[He furrowed his brows.]

He's resting at the hospital now, and the kids are with Cindy, so it should be all right once he feels better...

[Of course, Gladio had woken up, but he couldn't disappear for Prompto's dream. He had to be taken care of.]

I don't get why you would have issues with... 'this place'? This is home. What's wrong with it? Where else would you want to be?

The hospital? What happened?

[Ignis suddenly seems alarmed, almost pulling himself up to his feet before reminding himself that this world is only a dream one. He'll wait to hear Prompto's explanation before he worries too much. Perhaps, something happened when Gladio woke up?]

I would wish to be nowhere else if this was real, Prompto. You know that. But this is not really Insomnia. You stood with Noct, Gladio, and me after the Fall and you saw what Niflheim did. Insomnia doesn't look like this anymore. Who knows if it ever will again.

He sort of fainted. I think he'll be okay! He wasn't hurt. He probably just needs sleep.

[He didn't want to scare Ignis too much, even though it had been a freaky event.

He grimaced, taking a step back. He knew what the Fall meant, but he didn't quite know why he knew. Niflheim was sadly overly familiar. He was a little breathless when he replied.]

...I don't know what you're talking about. E-Everything is here. It's fine.

[Fainted. Needed sleep. But no, that's not right, is it? Ignis' thoughts whirl in his head, pieces sliding together rapidly. No, it's not that Gladio needed sleep. It's that he had woke up from being asleep, just as he had suspected. Of course, Gladio couldn't just disappear when he woke up. The Shield would certainly always be a part of Prompto's perfect world, so something had to cover the change between Gladio really being there and there just being a ghost that Prompto's mind created.]

Is Gladio fine, Prompto?

[Ignis hates pushing like this, but the blonde seems to be cracking just a little. Considering how long they have already been talking and the fact he's been under long enough to have met with Gladio before, how much longer will it take for the gunner's body to succumb in the real world?]

When he wakes up and you ask him what caused him to freak out and he has no idea what you are talking about, will that really be fine?

D-Dude, you're acting weird. Knock it off. He's probably exhausted, that's all.

[He started packing up his stuff, uncomfortable, letting his gun disappear and getting his camera.]

I'm going to...

[He was going to get the kids, but they shouldn't see Iggy like this. He sighed, pleading softly.]

Come on, won't you just come with me to the hospital? At least do it for the kids?

Going to the hospital isn't going to change anything.

[Yet, despite his words, Ignis does rise from the chair he's been sitting in and begins walking slowly at Prompto's side. He doesn't speak until right before they make their way into the more public areas of the Citadel.]

Did you ever find out what your barcode means, Prompto?

[Ignis hates to bring up the topic, but he can't help but wonder how the blonde's fantasy world has accounted for this particular piece of his past.

If it has at all.]

[He immediately raised his wrist to check it, but there was nothing there to see. Why did he bother? He could kind of remember something that he'd rather forget, and it made him uncomfortable.]

...What do you mean?

[At least Ignis was going with him now. That made him feel better.]

Do you want me to help you? [Ignis was, after all, apparently visually impaired now.]

Edited 2018-05-30 03:39 (UTC)

You just checked, didn't you?

[Ignis ignores Prompto's offer of help. Instead, he continues on as if the offer wasn't made at all.]

Was there anything there or did this place see fit to erase a key part of what made you who you are today without even asking your permission?

I don't have any barcodes. Can we talk about something else?

[He was slightly exasperated but he didn't want to be mad at Iggy. He didn't know what was up with today. It would just be nice when it was over and things could go back to normal tomorrow.

Even if Iggy was hurt. He was among family and friends, they could figure it out. They wouldn't let anything bad happen to him.]

No, I'm afraid we can't. Running away from things that make you uncomfortable isn't going to make them go away.

[Ignis stops walking, turning to face Prompto as he does.]

If you have no barcode, then why did you look? It appears your unconscious knows something your conscious doesn't want to acknowledge.

I... I figured you had to mean that you saw something on me... Iggy, come on. I don't want to talk about this. We had a big trip planned, we've at least gotta figure out what we're going to do about that now.

[He didn't run, but he did plead. He didn't like this. Concentrating on their planned vacation sounded better. Anything but what Ignis was talking about.]

Prompto, I'm blind. I've been so for over nine months now. How could I see something on you?

[The excuse the blonde gives is flimsy at best. Ignis can only hope that's a good sign.]

And just where would this trip be to? Altissia? You know, that's where I lost my vision.

No!

[He said it more forcefully than he meant to.]

The wedding was in Altissia... And the trip is to Cape Caem. So the kids could see it. Ignis, stop.

I can't!

[Ignis hisses, voice tight to control the shaking he knows will be in it otherwise.]

Do you think I like doing this to you? Making you this upset? Forcing you to think on such hurtful things? Of course not, but if I have to choose between upsetting you and letting you die in the real world because of a foolish fantasy, I know exactly which thing I am going to do!

[He trusted Iggy. He trusted Iggy, but he hated this. He didn't want to face the harsh realities that their world would bring. He wanted to run and hide and have everything be okay.]

What are you talking about? This is real.

[He grabbed Ignis' hand.]

See? You can touch and smell and taste and everything. This isn't a dream.

No, perhaps it's not. It's more dangerous than any mere dream could ever be.

[He tightens his hold on Prompto's hand, pulling it forward so it rests over his heart. When he speaks again, his voice is soft and imploring.]

Please, Prompto. Don't turn me into your murderer. I will not be able to live with myself if you die here.

[His breath was quivering. For a while it seemed almost like he might just bolt. His fingers curled against Iggy's chest, hand trembling. He was upset. Angry and sad, hot tears forming in the corner of his eyes, sniffling.

But he trusted Iggy. He trusted Ignis with his life. He couldn't do something to hurt Ignis. Thus, with a loud snuffle, he asked weakly.]

What do you want me to do?

Edited 2018-06-05 01:36 (UTC)

I need you to wake up.

[It's simple really.]

Think about the real world. I know it's not as good as this one, Prompto, but we're all there waiting for you. Think of Noct and his scruffy beard. Think of Gladio herding dung bugs so he can make clay. Think of Coco and Rory and all our friends on the island. We still have work to do there. So much work.

[And hopefully, with all those truths stuck in his mind, this fantasy will just drop away.]

[Still trembling, Prompto held back his tears as best he could but soon enough he leaned in towards Ignis, pressing his forehead against his chest and burying his head.]

What about the kids?

[Ignis doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around the distraught blonde.]

Keep memory of them in your heart so that one day you can see them in the real world.

[Prompto pressed against him, eyes squeezed shut. It was hard. All he could think was about all the people he'd be leaving behind. People he should be protecting. As seconds went by he clung to Ignis tighter, swallowing his sobs to the extent that it almost sounded like he had the hiccups.

Moments later his body completely collapsed in Ignis' arms.]

[Perhaps it speaks to the magical nature of these dreams that the world doesn't collapse around Ignis the moment Prompto leaves it. Instead, he has time to lower them both to the ground--the unconscious blonde held tightly against him--and bury his head in his friend's hair.]

I'm sorry, Prompto. I'm so sorry...

[The tears are just breaking free of Ignis' eyes when the world finally shatters to pieces around him...]

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Exploration Event: Neverwere

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