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

[Muffet finds herself stepping into the dream surprisingly smoothly- she'd have thought it would need more effort. It feels almost like there's a place for her here already... Under better circumstances, she'd be touched by the thought. As it is, the whole thing is just that much more worrying.]

[She's still her usual spidery self, unlike when she'd been a part of poor Ardyn's dream, but she seems to be dressed in a fashionably futuristic outfit instead of her typical frilly attire- a sleek black bodysuit with neat white gloves and boots, wraps of silky red cloth at her hips and shoulders. Surveying her surroundings, she begins to form a mental picture of the ship she's been dropped into, before pausing as she catches sight of a stunning view:]

[Outside the window, there are the stars.]

[She'd never yearned desperately for the sky the way some monsters did, wanting to improve things as much as she could for the world around her more than she wanted to see find a brand new one. Oh, there'd been idle dreams and wistful thoughts, and she'd loved the beauty of the Surface world when they came to it, but it had never been as important for her as others.]

[This, though... this is a sight to treasure, the sheer vivid beauty of space an unimaginable distance from Earth. She allows herself to stay there for one fleeting moment, committing the sight of the stars to memory, then turns briskly away to continue on down the hall.]

[She has a friend to find.]

[As she walks she finds a ship bustling with life. Humans and aliens walking around to and fro, talking, arguing, debating. Some laughing by the mess hall, others urgently discussing some statistic or piece of data. Everyone here has a job and a purpose and they all are happy to do it. No one really bats an eye at Muffet's presence- some even wave jauntily and call out greetings as she passes. As she walks towards the center of the ship

One such woman, with dark brown skin, dark brown eyes and dark brown hair steps away from the raised dais that seems to show a hologram of the galaxy and approaches, smiling broadly. She's dressed in the same dark blue shirt and cargo pants that Muffet has seen Shepard sport on Enso and holds a strange see-through rectangle in one hand.]

Muffet! Looking for the Commander, I presume?

[Muffet manages to smile back automatically, her experience in the business world allowing her to call up the polite little expression on command, even if she doesn't feel it.]

[This is going to be difficult enough as it is, better to go along with the dream until she can figure out how to pull Shepard out of it.]

Ah, yes- I don't suppose you've seen her recently?

[The woman nods, looking to her data pad and back to Muffet.]

She's making the usual rounds all over the ship. She passed by this way not too long ago. Do you need anything?

[As she speaks another crew member, a man with a fuzzy face, passes by and yells out in a teasing tone.]

Are you trying to flirt with Muffet again, Traynor?

[At that the human blushes, rolls her eyes, and shakes her head.]

Shut up! I am not! She's looking for Shepard!

[She looks back to Muffet then, a faint dusting of a blush still on her cheeks but she's back to business.]

She might be in the lab with Mordin or the main battery with Garrus. I saw them making eyes at each other earlier. I'd knock before walking in there.

[She grins a bit.]

[Muffet mentally files the names away in case they're important later, managing to mask all her unease and play along. The teasing about Shepard's love life- and this Traynor's hypothetical flirtations- she catches onto easily, at least. Human or otherwise, some things just aren't limited by species. She suspects that this Garrus is the more likely of the two options- if this is supposed to be Shepard's idea of a blissful world, it seems likeliest for her to be with someone she loves.]

[Now she just has to figure out where the main battery is on this ship. Asking would be suspicious, since this version of her that Shepard's dreamed up seems like she'd have been here long enough to know her way around, so she'll need to look for a map somewhere. Or, maybe...]

Oh dear, yes. That's a lesson one only needs to learn once for it to stick in the memory.

[She giggles delicately, looking amused and mock-shy.]

Perhaps I ought to ask you to escort me there, just to make certain I don't accidentally walk in on anything awkward- they're more likely to hear two people coming than one, after all.

[...Look, the man said that flirting's happened before. If using that interest can get this done a bit faster, then so be it.]

[Traynor's face lights up at that.]

Sure! Buddy system and all that. Besides, if we do walk in on them, we'll be sure to get some good blackmail.

[She puts a warm hand on Muffet's shoulder as she steers her towards what she'll soon find to be an elevator, still chatting about something or other.]

You know, with all the upgrades to the Normandy we've made, I'm sure eventually we'll be able to really incorporate that biotic sparring room we've been wanting! Then you and Shepard can practice, and so can everyone else. It'll have padded walls so when Shepard Charges she won't break her neck- just don't tell her that we're planning on setting that up, she'll get huffy.

[She giggles a bit as the elevator takes them down to the next floor. When the doors open she steers Muffet a bit again towards a long, metal walkway with curved metal that reaches to the ceiling around them. Her hand very gently caresses Muffet's shoulder. She seems... pretty happy to be spending this time with her.

As they step forward, the green light spins and then opens, revealing a small room with a huge bay window and a holographic orange panel. Standing before it is a tall alien with a hard grey carapace, wearing bright blue armor. His voice has a sort of growly tone to it, with different layers of tonal fluctuations. Muffet's translator pings his words, translating it so that she can understand.]

You know, Shepard, we should go to a tropical planet some time. Let the crew have a real beach day.

[Leaning on him is a familiar human to Muffet- her brown hair stops at her shoulders. She's wearing the same casual clothes that Muffet has seen her in on the island, but it seems cleaner than before. Better taken care of.]

What, and end up in another Virmire situation? Not a chance.

[Her voice sounds stern, but when she turns to look at the alien there's a fond grin on her face and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Traynor coughs and both of them start and turn to look at their fellow crew members. Shepard speaks.]

Traynor! Muffet! Do you need anything?

[Oh, dear. Now she feels like a horrible person for taking advantage of this poor girl's obvious crush. But needs must, as they say.]

[Besides, she probably isn't real. ...she hopes.]

[Muffet smiles sweetly and listens politely to Traynor's chatter as they walk, making pleasant and carefully-neutral responses at appropriate intervals to show that she's listening and make it seem like she knows what she's talking about, while being largely clueless. Though she is noting the information for later, in case it comes up.]

[...It's honestly a lot like dealing with business investors, but with more aliens. And spaceships.]

And hello to you, too.

[She greets Shepard relatively playfully, though her heart aches a bit to see her like this.]

[Not because of how happy she is here- but because of the contrast, with the woman Muffet knows on the islands, and how happy she isn't. It isn't easy to tell, unless you have such a vivid counterexample right before your eyes.]

[The mention of somewhere tropical by the person she's assuming is Garrus raises an eyebrow, in her mind- a bit of memory, just ever-so-slightly bleeding through? Or merely coincidence? Either way, she's not sure if that would make it more difficult, or less. The word "Virmire" doesn't particularly ring a bell, but that's probably not from her world.]

[No matter what this dream would have them think.]

I hate to interrupt, but I did need to discuss a few things with you, Shepard.

[She's not lying, either- she does hate to interrupt this scene, pleasant as it is.]

[But this is a talk they've got to have.]

[Garrus laughs a bit, shaking his head.]

Sorry Commander. It looks like duty calls.

[Shepard actually makes a slight pouting face as she nudges him.]

Yes yes yes, but that doesn't mean I'm letting you off easy, Garrus.

[The alien leans forward then, gently pressing his forehead to hers.]

I look forward to finding out what you have in mind for me, the hard way.

[Shepard's eyes widen for a moment, a slight blush dusting her cheeks, then she positively laughs, shoving him back a bit.]

All right, you big dork, you can try to act all suave but everyone here knows how you really are.

[Garrus laughs as well, his mouth flaps moving in time with the tonal fluctuations within it all.]

Tell that to the people of Omega. They know how cool I really am.

[Shepard opens her mouth to fire back, but right then Traynor cuts in.]

Commander. Muffet?

[Shepard looks back to the pair of them again and nods, her face changing to an attentive stare.]

Yes. Sorry. What is it that you need, Muffet?

[No one in the room makes a move to leave. This might be a little harder than you thought, Muffet.]

[Oh, dammit. Inwardly, Muffet winces, though she keeps her expression calm and professional. She'd been hoping to talk to her alone, but...]

[Maybe start small. Push her towards looking at things a little closer.]

Shepard, have you looked at this ship's records, recently?

[They have to have some kind of record-keeping here, right? She doesn't exactly know much about spaceships beyond a vague mixture of sci-fi series, polite small talk with people on the island from more technologically advanced worlds, and whatever she picked up during the brief walk over here. But you can't run even a comparatively small local business without keeping proper documentation of things, let alone anything in the middle of deep space supporting this many people.]

[Frankly, if this place doesn't have some kind of futuristic hyperadvanced paperwork, Muffet is going to call bullshit so hard the dream cracks open on the spot. It doesn't matter how much of a paradise it is, someone has to be signing off on something.]

[So let's see what happens if they try to bring up some evidence. She lets a very slight tinge of the unease she feels show in her voice, frowning slightly- not too much, she can't afford to look frantic. But enough to seem troubled, concerned.]

There seem to be some... worrying discrepancies, in the logs. Things that don't quite match up.

[Shepard's brow furrows. She crosses her arms, giving Muffet a familiar piercing look.]

What kind of discrepancies are we talking about? Financial? Energy readings?

[She looks to Garrus.]

Have you seen any irregular readings from the weapon systems?

[She then looks to Traynor.]

What about our communications? Have we been picking up any weird signals?

[Garrus and Traynor look at each other. Traynor speaks first.]

I haven't seen anything off, Commander. Just the usual spam mail and Alliance news.

[Garrus nods as well.]

Same here. No discrepancies with the weapons systems. They have been operating at optimal capacity. We haven't been able to use them in a bit, but I think that's something we're all grateful for.

[Inwardly, her mind races. What would a ship record? Provisions, crewmembers' pay, navigation-]

What is the last location this ship is listed as having docked? And- [Memory is the trick to this, a different world, a different place.] what's the last place you remember actually being?

[Are they going to match up? Under scrutiny, she suspects... perhaps not.]

Think carefully.

[Shepard looks at Muffet critically.]

The last location... it should be Earth, right? Because of the...

[She trails off, her brow wrinkled in confusion. Traynor steps forward.]

No no, Shepard, remember? We were just at the Citadel. We were enjoying a little shore leave.

[Shepard looks at her for a moment and then nods slowly.]

Right. Of course. I remember. And now we're out here running some recon.

[Garrus scoffs.]

Not like there's much to see out here, really, other than the stars.

Because of the what?

[Yeah, don't think Muffet's not catching that slip, Shepard. This dream isn't solid, not yet- there's still weak spots. She just needs to push.]

Do you remember, really? [Come on, Shepard- she knows you're more stubborn than this. Why pick now to start leaving well enough alone?]

[Shepard shifts, a rare look of nervousness flitting across her face.]

Because of the Reapers. But it's fine. We got past them. And now we're here.

[The ship's core lets out a flare of energy, casting the room in a bright blue glow for just a moment. In the split moment, both Traynor and Garrus's eyes are fixed firmly on Muffet, eyes oddly red in the glow.

When the light dissipates, they are looking back at Shepard with easy smiles. Garrus speaks first.]

We showed those Reapers what we thought of them. And now- we don't have to think about them anymore, do we?

[He wraps an arm around Shepard's shoulders and the tension that was on her face eases.]

Nothing beyond how we kicked their ass, at least.

[Traynor puts a firm hand on Muffet's shoulder.]

Muffet... are you feeling ok? Maybe you've forgotten something, hm?

Have I?

[Muffet gestures broadly with one hand, indicating the room around them, the momentary way it just changed, holding Shepard's gaze. Don't try to play this off as nothing, dream-world, she saw that. She can see this faltering.]

[She's not going to let Shepard look away from it, either.]

Or have you?

[Traynor's words provide a useful line to respond to, but she doesn't look away from Shepard. As real as she feels, this woman isn't there. She doesn't know her.]

[Under better circumstances, she'd have been happy to be introduced- but that isn't here and now.]

Do you remember when I first boarded this ship?

[Shepard doesn't shy away from Muffet's stare, not the kind of woman to back down from such a challenge.]

Muffet... I haven't forgotten anything.

[There's a slight hard edge to her words as she says it, as if she's trying to will herself to believe her own words.]

You first joined us back on Noveria. You were locked away in one of those labs, an experiment gone wrong or so they said. We got you out. And we freed the Rachni Queen. That's when I offered you a place on the Normandy and you accepted.

[The words flow easily, as if there is truth to them. But it doesn't feel right. Is that how Noveria happened? Truly?]

You... you've been on this crew since the beginning. Since before we knew how fucked over we all really were. You were...

[She shakes her head.]

We've moved past that, Muffet. At least I thought we did.

[Well, she understood... some of those words. Shepard's mind has certainly given her an interesting backstory, she has to credit her with that.]

[She seizes on that 'we', another thread to pull, another way to make the dream work harder to keep up.]

And who else was there? Do you remember what they remember?

[Moving past this is exactly what she wants to do- past this dream, past these traps. Back to the world that's waiting for them.]

Liara was there. And Garrus. You remember, right Garrus?

[Shepard turns to look at the turian standing next to her. His talons grip her shoulder reassuringly. Or perhaps in a possessive manner. She's not entirely sure, but something in her stomach drops at the feeling.]

Of course I remember. That planet was so cold. I kept asking for a sweater.

[Shepard shakes her head.]

Yes, it was cold, but you remember getting Muffet, right? Finding her?

[Garrus can't quite smile like humans do, but his mouth flaps fan out in amusement. She's learned his cues after years of knowing him, knows what his body language means like she knows how to breathe- but the "smile" doesn't reach his eyes.]

Of course I remember, Shepard. What? Do you need me to provide every last detail of that night? Come on. There's no need for that.

[He looks to Traynor and shakes his head.]

Maybe you should take Muffet to the medbay. Maybe she hit her head or something.

[Traynor nods, putting a firm hand on Muffet's elbow.]

You're probably right. Mordin and Chakwas can take a look at you and see what they can do.

[Shepard freezes.]

...Mordin? He's here?

[The confusion is evident on her face.]

[Muffet calmly but firmly crosses her arms, pulling herself out of Traynor's grip with all the self-composed, serene disdain of a society lady brushing off a pushy gentleman at a party.]

[She never takes her eyes off Shepard.]

And Mordin is...? [Someone she should know, judging by this backstory, but not someone Shepard's ever told her about.]

Can you ever recall me being injured, I wonder? I suspect you remember that I can heal myself, or others- do you remember how? [Green magic, soft light and kindness, running through her fingers and down into another, given directly or baked into food...] Do you remember the last time I did so, and why?

It wasn't a night, Garrus, it was during the day.

[She looks at him then, her eyes critical as she takes in his visage. She shrugs off his hand then and the turian gives her a a slight pout.]

Shepard... come on, don't tell me you are starting to believe her nonsense.

[Shepard's eyes narrow.]

You know me, Garrus. I always investigate anomalies.

[Shepard looks at Muffet then, giving her an appraising look.]

Mordin is a doctor. A Salarian doctor who used to be with the STG. But... you wouldn't know that, would you?

[She steps a little away from Garrus and Traynor then, closer to Muffet.]

And if I recall correctly, Mordin died back on Tuchanka. He died curing the Genophage he helped create. There's no way he could be here.

[Garrus steps closer to Shepard then, his tall stature looming over her a bit.]

But he is here, Shepard. You fixed it, Shepard. You fixed the Genophage and got Mordin out alive.

[Shepard shakes her head sadly.]

Things rarely work out so well, Garrus. You should know that.

[Traynor moves to the door then, blocking any escape.]

Muffet, really, I must ask you to leave. You're bothering Shepard. She's gone through too much to be hurt now.

On that, at least, we agree. That's rather why I'm here. [She doesn't make a move for the door- she isn't planning on going anywhere, not until they're done here.]

[She turns back to Shepard. Time for the direct approach.]

This isn't truly your ship, dearie. It's an illusion you're trapped in, something snaring you in a comforting dream of home to keep you from escaping. I'm genuinely sorry to end such a pleasant dream, and I would have liked to meet these people, but the fact remains: they aren't truly here.

And we shouldn't be, either.

[Her voice is calm, gentle- but utterly unyielding. She knows the truth and she won't be turned aside, for all that she's sorry to deliver it so harshly.]

[It feels like something snaps in Shepard's mind. The hold on her dissipates instantly leaving her a bit whip-lashed, a feeling that she hasn't had since she was back home and breaking free of Reaper control. She shudders but then squares her shoulders and turns to Muffet entirely.]

...Muffet. Thank you.

[She goes to say more but then- Garrus begins to laugh. A dark, chocolately chuckle with fluctuating vocal tones. It sounds eerie. Wrong.]

Shepard, Shepard, Shepard... you always dug too deep. It's what caused all your problems in the first place. It's what killed you, in the end.

[He steps forward, his eyes suddenly glowing red.]

And it's what will kill you and your friend now too.

[Shepard whips around to look at Traynor at the door and her eyes glow a mechanical red as well.]

Muffet. You know how to fight, right?

Any time, dearie. [The reply is as calm and polite as ever, as though she simply refilled her cup of tea instead of forcibly breaking open a beguiling dream world. But she means it- whenever she can save a friend, she will.]

[She calls a line of purple magic into her hands, coiled like a whip, and shifts to keep their illusory enemy in her sight.]

Oh, one can always do what one must. [She's not a soldier, but she's been through dangerous situations and come out the other side. By now, she's learned how to handle herself well enough.] I'll follow your lead.

[That gets a small smile out of Shepard.]

Well, I don't plan on making a habit of being locked in illusions, but I will keep that in mind.

[Her squad- no, these fakes, these enemies, walk towards her and Muffet. And as they do they mutate, the "Garrus" figure growing taller with a horrible squelching noise, his head squishing in on himself as his flesh distorts into a more pointed shape. "Traynor", for her part, has her flesh darken in a mottled blue and grey, as her eyes melt from her face, leaving streaks of a gelatin-like substance on her skin. The clothes on her body disappear and her body distorts, flattening as wires burst out of her body. The eyeballs left behind glow a bright blue mechanical light as they open their mouth in a screech that gets the hair to stand on Shepard's arms. The "Garrus" (or Marauder, as Shepard now knows) raises a gun they didn't have before as their eyes suddenly glow yellow.

The voice that comes out is not one that Muffet would know, but one that Shepard knows very well.]

You struggle against inevitability, Shepard. You can die, have died, and will die again. There is no salvation in where you go. Only annihilation.

[Shepard turns then, punching out the Husk at the door blocking their way. She punches at the door and it opens quickly, as she grabs Muffet out of the room. When she and Muffet emerge, they come upon a spaceship that is falling apart at the seams.]

[Muffet keeps up with her, not wasting any time as she follows, trusting Shepard to lead her through the unfamiliar corridors.]

[The sight of the fragmenting ship raises a proverbial eyebrow- that can't be safe- but she suspects the nature of dreams means that dying of hard vacuum is comparatively much less of a threat to them right now.]

We might not have to fight them directly, for all their threats and posturing. Elaborate as this is, it's still a dream. If you wake up, we'll both be safely out of here.

[She turns to Shepard.]

Try to think- this is your dream, it's built out of your feelings and memories. When you think of "a way out", a way back to the real world, what feels like the right place to go?

[It's a gamble, but they might be able to pull it off.]

Exploration Event: Neverwere

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CW: BODY HORROR, CHOO CHOO

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muffet is about to find out some Things about Shepard that I love

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CW: DEATH, CW: ASPHYXIATION, feel free to respond after this if you want!

"You know what? I can make it gayer."