beautifulmemer

..::|| Thunderstorm ||::..

Finley doesn't mind the rain, and making trips out in it doesn't really bother him. He's certainly not a stranger to it. There's lots of rain back in Wales, too. The wind blusters, but he does his best to stand strong against it on his way. The thunder is what prompts him to seek shelter, though. But he's only a few blocks from his destination. Maybe he can make it? He starts to run through the rain.

(A) Maybe he sees you on the way, stuck in the rain, too. He's not much for letting people be stuck by themselves, so he'll rush over to you and offer his umbrella.

"Hey, are you okay? It's pretty wet out here. Shouldn't you be inside?"

Finley, you're one to talk.

(B) Or as he goes through the doors to the market, his speed causes him to slip in the entry way, falling completely face first. Ow...

This is fine, he'll sit up first and assess his aches and pains. Really, this is fine. ...Except the latest lightning strike causes the power to go out.

He lets out a long sigh. This is great... At least he got in so he wouldn't get hurt. Well, except for bumping his elbow pretty hard on the floor.

"What do I do? I can't shop in the dark." Or, he could, but who knows what else he'd bump into or the wrong product he might pick up? "...What if the food spoils before the power comes back on? I was going to cook for mam tonight..."

He's still sulking in the doorway, sitting on the floor, as he laments this a bit. He'll be fine, he just has to whine first.

..::|| Moon Bunny Market ||::..

Today, Finley is running one of the stalls. And he's pretty excited about it. He's all smiles. And he even wants to make sure you get your stamp, so he'll be waving and shouting to as many of the passerby as he can.

"Come get your stamp! If you collect them all, you'll win a tasty prise! Our stamp will help contribute to your success! I want to see you all be winners, so please come over here!"

Okay, maybe he's not supposed to cheer you on. But he really does want to see you succeed. And if he can help you do that, well, he's more than happy to. You might even be able to get the other stalls locations out of him.

..::|| Fury Peak ||::..

It's hot. And Dreamer Guardian very much wishes it weren't. The silent prayers for rain to hit this area go unanswered. It's not like it doesn't make sense, but why does it have to make sense in the Dream Sphere of all places? And this smog is just awful. Even as a Sentry, this is just... difficult. He's doing his best to make do, but honestly, he's worried one wrong step might mean the end for him. So he's a little shaky as he pushes on.

Except that something hard hits him, and he lets out a yell as he struggles to keep his balance. Looking down, he's pretty sure he can see the edge of a cliff through the smog.

"Wh...whew, that was close..." He blinks with wide eyes, but his survival victory doesn't get to be celebrated long at all. He barely manages to dodge a punch from the offending Torment, and he stumbles back, away from the cliff. He's got to get some distance between himself and that ledge. The next hit could be too dangerous. He takes a few swings with his staff at the Torment, trying to get it back from him, except more start to appear.

"This is... unfortunate..." He says with a frown. There's more than he really wants to take on, despite being experienced. But he has to do his best. He didn't do those years of training to be a whining coward, did he? That's right. He can still do this.

He raises his staff and a small ring of crystals form around it before he swings, sending the shards flying at the Torments to try and strike them down. A few fall, but more get up. And... Well, help would be nice. But he'll do his best to hold his own. He's got a job to do, after all.

Golden Week

...mostly sucks when you aren't very sociable, frankly, but Kozakura knows that she shouldn't limit herself to being a total shut-in the whole time. Humans are a social primate, and she doesn't want to be a failed example of the species homo sapiens, so out into the world of her fellows she goes.

Thing is she's not even really much of a shopper, she's well-funded and doesn't need deals and just orders most of her necessities shipped to her front door, so the tiny creature is trying to balance surviving the mass of bodies while burying herself in her phone, poking around social media desperately - while trying not to seem desperate - to see if any of her fellow adult Dreamers, or any mundane Dreamer Union employees or associates, are available to duck into an eating establishment of the kind that serves alcohol.

...hopefully not getting bumped into either. She's made of twigs.

Thunder Struck

She was GOING to stream tonight, at least a little. When she can't slow her brain down enough to sleep or speed it up enough to work, streaming is the best answer to idly pass the time.

But there's no power and she forgot to charge her phone like some kind of moron.

So, in the front door of one of the larger homes in Yumemigaoka, overgrown from just being too big for a single occupant, in the dark and rain lit only by the flashes of lightning, stands a small and very pale girl staring out at the street, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that you've just seen a ghost if you're actually out walking in this weather.

Fury Peak

Well, Dreamer Mind isn't actually ascending Fury Peak at the moment, because it's effing stupid to go into that mess alone and she's not just being a wimp like usual. She swears.

"You need some support? Right?" She gestures with her oversized (normal sized, but oversized in her hands) rod at anyone who DOES look like they might be foolish enough to go it alone. "Seriously, you need someone to keep you from getting squashed and incinerated out there."

Small, grumpy, and, yes, a bit of a coward - but she's been at this for years now and she's good at keeping people in one piece.

❀ Moon Bunny Market

[Being a long time staple of Moon Bunny Market, it was no surprise that Camellia, the resident kissaten-slash-flower shop, was taking part in the stamp rally-- though considering it didn't have the same sort of appeal as, say, the trendier cafes or the cute stationary store, it wasn't a stop that was immediately on people's lists. Still, they had a stall regardless, with cute little pots with easy to care for plants, along with some surprisingly strong coffee on tap for anyone who wanders over to ask.

At the moment, it's being manned by a dark-haired teenage boy (who was probably thirteen at best), whose attention seems more on what looks like his study materials than actually promoting the stamps or anything being sold at the booth. It takes him a moment to acknowledge anyone approaching the table, but once he does, he snaps up, hastily setting down his pen.]

Oh, were you looking for something...?

❀ Thunderstorm

[Amane's not usually in this side of Yumemigaoka these days (not since he's transferred from Fujiwara Junior High to Promised Morning, at least), but a doctor's appointment had him in this side of Kihada for the afternoon, and it seemed like a good idea at the time to browse one of the local bookstores. After all, there was a new astronomy book out that he had been meaning to pick up, and the stores over in Akabeni didn't seem to have it yet...

Maybe he should have anticipated this turn of events given the dark clouds and weather from the past week or so, but the heavy sheets of rain still came as a surprise as he was gearing up to leave with his purchase. He had brought an umbrella, but sheer amount pouring down (along with his very water-unfriendly bag and books nestled into it) made leaving a rather poor decision. Still, he waits near the doorway, along with a number of other similarly stranded customers, in the vain hopes the storm would pass quickly. Maybe he should text his brother to let him know he might be getting home later than expected...

But before he can finish up his text, a loud BANG resounds outside the store, startling him enough to both drop his phone and instinctively clutch onto the arm of whomever nearby. It takes him a second to get his bearings (and to catch his breath-- his poor heart really didn't need this), but once he realizes what he'd just done, he quickly lets go, hands still trembling slightly from the shock.]

Sorry, sorry, I just-- I, uh--

[Shoot. How was he going to explain this to someone without looking like a total kid?]

✿ Slumbering City

[The dreariness in the Dream Sphere is an improved change from the blustery storms back in Yumemigaoka, but it's still not really pleasant to hang around in with nothing to do. If you're hanging around the usual Dream Union hub in Slumbering City, you might feel a sudden tug upon you arm or sleeve, pulling incessantly until they manage to get your attention.]

Hey, heeeeeeeeey.

[Maybe you might recognize the moon-eyed young Dreamer pulling upon you-- or maybe you've never seen this kid before in your life. Either way, once he's gotten your attention, Dreamer Hanako is going to give his best cheerful smile, totally unconcerned whether or not he might be pestering you at this exact moment.]

I'm bored. You wanna go do something fun?

✿ Reverie Necropolis

[You may be be patrolling the winding, icy halls of the dreary Necropolis labyrinth, the unsettling vibes coming in hard. There's always a chance of something trailing and following after you on normal days, but today the eerie sensation seems to be particularly persistent, especially after a certain bend in the path. Is it a strong Torment? Another Nightmare on the verge of manifesting? The answer soon lets itself be known as a face suddenly appears to be looming above you, expression set in a gleeful, mischievous grin.]

BOO.

[HANAKO?? Maybe DON'T try to spook people in the area of the Dream Sphere that thrives on fear and anxiety?????]

✿ Wildcard

[hmu if you have any other prompts/ideas! Amane's AU toplevel is here, but tl;dr he's a shy nerd in the Waking World who becomes more of an outgoing pest in the Dream Sphere, and he very much keeps a sharp divide between his mahou and civilian lives!! Also feel free to poke me @

Urameshi if you want to plan anything out!]

1. so we get lost in the in-between [moon bunny market]

[It was politely suggested to Connor that instead of sulking about being transferred to Yumemigaoka, he should go out and explore the city. Specifically, someone handed him the booklet for the Moon Bunny Market's stamp rally and voluntold him to go participate for PR reasons. People are apparently starting to worry about the fact that he hasn't posted on social media in almost two weeks.

So Connor goes to the market, armed with a map he can barely read because he never bothered to learn kanji, and starts collecting stamps. He takes selfies with every new stamp and you can barely even tell he's hating every minute of this in them.

Approching the next booth, Connor says in halting Japanese:]

I'm... looking... stamp?

[He gestures to the stamp booklet to hopefully make his point clear.]

2. if you never get around to doing some remarkable thing [reverie necropolis]

[Of course Connor has been assigned to this hunt. His powers are about light and darkness, about the ways in which darkness can soothe you and light can burn. It's reflected in the way he always appears in the Dream Sphere: swathed in almost blindingly white fabric with strangely dark accents. His nails painted black. Black combat boots.

He was fashioned into a sentry to fill a niche on his previous team, but it's clear from the way he behaves that it doesn't come naturally to him. His abilities aren't made for defense, really. They're support skills that are being used defensively.]

I could really use some help here!

[He's so stressed that he fully said that in English.]

3. no one deserves to be forgotten [wildcard]

[Connor's AU planning can be found here. Feel free to hit me up with anything related to stuff there unrelated to the two prompts here! You can also catch me at flyingthesky if you want to plot more concretely! ♥]

-A- Social Media

[ Posted on a particularly rainy day, on the social network du jour. Her personal account is also her streamer account, because what's SEO. ]

Reimu here! Obviously, because I can't go anywhere else without getting drenched. This weather is the worst. That's why I was thinking, what if I did a super marathon stream over the weekend? 48 hours, no breaks. Maybe even longer if I get enough donations! I'm young, so I wouldn't die, probably. Yup, definitely happening. Tune in Friday evening for the Hakurei Shrine's longest, craziest stream ever!　♡

[ She's going to die. ]

-B- Yumemigaoka

[ Packed streets, full of out-of-school teenagers. For fans of Bianco, a popular and trendy local bakery that always runs out of the best stuff before noon even on normal days, this is the highest difficulty level possible. And yet, with these Golden Week deals, Reimu's gonna get there before the last Strawberry Montblanc is sold, even if it means she has to kill someone. ]

Get... out of my way...! Strawberry... montblanc...!

[ Reimu elbows her way through the impenetrable crowd, racing desperately against the clock. She could use a friend to help part the sea. Or, a rival sweets-lover willing to fight dirty to beat her to the counter. In the Golden Week morning Bianco race, you fight with everything you've got, or you go home hungry. ]

-C- Fury Peak

[ The thick smoke hanging in the area makes this actually quite a bad matchup for Dreamer Fantasy. Her main strong point as a Dreamer is flight, and in this atmosphere, if she goes up too high, she loses both visiblity and the ability to breathe without coughing up a lung. She chose to patrol here because... okay, she didn't have an actual reason, she picked it at random and assumed it would work out somehow.

Still, flight is a decent power at ground level, just for the added mobility. As the Torments try to surround her, Reimu dances through the air, narrowly evading swiped blades and weaving between belched fireballs with a look of quiet focus on her face. When she's fighting, sometimes her mind goes blank, and everything other than the shape of the incoming attacks fades, leaving just the dance of evasion and counterattack.

She brings down her gohei on the last Torment's head, shattering it like glass. Of course, there's more to come, but that's one wave down. ]

Sheesh, there's no end to these things. I feel like I'm a maid cleaning up after a family that won't stop making more messes. Why couldn't they have at least swarmed somewhere with nicer scenery?

[OOC: After I FIRST apped Marisa, I decided that I wasn't actually happy with her AU. SO I'm trying again. This Marisa is a few years younger and less experienced, and is obviously friends with Reimu (above).]

-1: Thunderstorm-

[It is BUCKETING down outside. It's raining hard enough that you might not notice walking right into the river because the amount of water around you wouldn't go up by much. Fortunately, Marisa isn't out in there. She's at some kind of cafe after school, watching it and drinking tea.

Well...a health drink that says "Green Tea Flavored!" on the can, at least. It counts, in her book.

Thunder rumbles across the sky.]

Tea tastes better when you're watching rain. I don't know why, but it just does.

[She said, to no one in particular.

Again, I must stress: Not tea. Tea inspired drink with unreasonable amounts of vitamins and nutrients and probably caffeine.]

-2: Reverie Necropolis-

[Dreamer Spark stands at the edge of the battlefield facing off against the proto-nightmare with perfect confidence in her eyes, doing her level best to ignore the rancid vibes around her as she holds her hands together around a little orb of light that was slowly growing in size and brightness. She looks like a witch, complete with a black pointy hat and everything, but her stance is more like a Dragon Ball Z character. You can imagine her shouting "Kaaaaaa meeeeeee haaaaa...."]

I can take it! Just hold it still for a few seconds!

Edited 2023-05-15 03:00 (UTC)

♦ Yumemigaoka

[1] It's Golden Week

Even Jackie needed to leave the Dream Sphere on occasion to take care of their mortal body, tethered to the waking world as it was. Usually that was simple enough, simply waking up long enough to eat and drink, minor maintenance things like that. These days they spent more time in the waking world when they happened to come back to it, tentatively enjoying the novelty, as strange as it was.

It was less enjoyable when they felt forced into it. They had put off the chore of grocery shopping a little too long, they'd found, and if they wanted to get anything to eat they needed to go out for it.

So they were a little bit disgruntled, a feeling which mostly gave way to feeling perplexed as they found Akabeni's streets unusually crowded -- at least more crowded than they were used to up until now, as crowded as Koubai often seemed to be. It didn't take much asking for them to find out about Golden Week, and at least that meant getting food might be cheaper.

It also seemed to mean lines at a lot of cafes and restaurants. They needed to eat before worrying about shopping, though, so they found a place where the wait didn't seem terribly long and settled in. Fellow Dreamers might recognize them already -- though possibly not, with their dressed-down clothes and hair not all hidden by their hat -- but either way, despite the occasional yawn, they were waiting their turn under the awning with a faint grin that might read as friendly and approachable.

And with a particular gust of wind, and that particular scent that threatened more rain in the air, Jackie shivered a bit, wrapping their arms around themself to rub the goosebumps down, still grinning -- if anything, grinning wider. "I guess it's just as cold outside as inside," they observed to no one in particular.

[2] Moon Bunny Market

After lunch, Jackie was a little more cheered up, being out there! Doing so mundane a chore as grocery shopping still felt strange, but really, the more they thought about it, there was nothing wrong with that. They were responsible for picking up all the food and things they would need for a while, but that also meant they got to choose whatever they wanted! And even with the crowds, which were a little grating, and the weather, which didn't really bother them, it was a good time to be out shopping like this.

They'd never heard of anything like a stamp rally before! That was exciting, and the promise of a tasty treat at the end of it all made them more inclined to be competitive. A little challenge like that could be fun!

So even when stalls didn't seem to have anything they needed to pick up, Jackie stopped at each one:

"Pardon me," in Japanese, and then switching to English, since they knew a lot of people spoke at least a bit of that and it was worth a shot, "are you someone I'm supposed to speak to for stamps?" And in case they didn't understand that, they held up their little booklet helpfully.

On occasion, when they saw someone else walking around the market with their own stamp book, their grin widened and they gave a wave, and if that caught the person's attention they raised their own: "I'll trade you!" If either of them had gotten a stamp from a booth the other hadn't found yet, that would be worth it, wouldn't it?

♦ The Dream Sphere

[3] Fury Peak

While their time spent in the waking world had been fun, Dreamer Mantle was happy to step back into the Dream Sphere, like a second skin without which they had been a bit uncertain and raw. The weather was no nicer in the Slumbering City, there was one place they knew would at least be warm -- even if the landscape was treacherous and the Torments more dangerous than perhaps any other location.

Still, they had been right in thinking they could escape that constant chill at Fury Peak! There were no warm rains, either, though in this case they would have been welcome to wash away the thick smog. They had been considering going up the volcano, but with the seismic dangers and visibility even lower than usual, that was not a good idea. At least not alone.

Even at the base there were more than a few Torments, though, and they seemed more agitated than usual, which was saying a lot for this particular place! They seemed to be coming in clumps, too -- clumps of glass and rock -- not alone or even in pairs, and Mantle tried to keep back and pick them off from a distance. They giggled as the cards the threw managed to slice into some of the more crumbly rock, making a couple of the Torments ooze magma.

Their grin, by that point, was almost alone in their face, if it could even be called that anymore. If not for their smile and eyes, they would be invisible. Well, no, not quite true. Their visibility in the smog was low, and even the Torments didn't seem to be able to track them perfectly, but it'd be more difficult to spot them if the oranges and yellows and blues of their costume weren't quite so... well, those colors. Sharp teeth and blue eyes, a billowing cape and gloves and boots and a jester-like hood floating around an invisible form.

"They're even less friendly today," Mantle remarked as they noticed someone approaching. "At least, friendly with us~"

[4] Reverie Necropolis

If Fury Peak had been a break from the cold winds and rains of the storm, the only up-side to the Reverie Necropolis was that it wasn't raining. Dreamer Mantle regretted entering the labyrinth almost the moment they had done so; the wind tunnel it made almost hid the sounds of whispers and scratches, but almost did not keep their invisible skin from crawling.

They were used to Nightmares, but that didn't mean they were inured to them. Being at home with something did not, they knew too well, imply that home was good.

But they couldn't go back the way they'd come now; the path had already changed behind them, and the creeping feeling brought on by those sounds was too much to tell if they also felt like they were being stalked by any Torments. They didn't bother putting a hand on one wall; it didn't even occur to them, too used to dream logic that would make that useless at best.

But they did smile, wide but thinner than usual, wry, when they turned a corner and came face to face (at least metaphorically speaking) with another Dreamer. A jaded Cheshire Cat. "The storm is stirring things up more than usual, I think," they greeted.

Edited 2023-05-16 04:39 (UTC)

Moon Bunny Market

With so many people out and about, Miruca really had no interest in doing something as foolish as going out into public. It'd be so loud and bothersome, and there would be so many PEOPLE. It was the need for food that drove her out of her little hermit hole. Sadly, she had not yet mastered the art of living entirely off of grumpiness.

It wasn't until she was already at the Moon Market that she realized she'd barely brought any money with her. With a scowl she turned to walk away empty-handed but, as luck should have it, it seemed there was a chance to win 'tasty prizes'. That sounded close enough to food to keep from leaving. Unfortunately it would require her to partake in what she was worst at: talking to people.

If you are collecting stamps, then you might just be the lucky one she chooses to address. She does her best to keep impatience out of her voice and not be rude for no reason, but there isn't any friendly warmth in her voice either.

"Those stamps...will you tell me where you got them? I really don't want to wander around all day."

The Worst Maid

It is most assuredly a thing that she did not advertise to her fellow students at Promised Morning, but what time Miruca doesn't spend on academic pursuits or fighting in the Dream Sphere is almost always spent working. Golden Week had provided her with an opportunity to do a little more then normal, so she'd gladly accepted extra shifts.

Her current job is one that she seems remarkably unsuited to, being a 'maid' at local maid cafe "Loyal Angels". She looked cute enough in the outfit, but her first day on the job had nearly been a disaster, as she effectively had refused to play the role and act servile.

But by some miracle her customers had enjoyed the 'bossy maid' and now she had become a minor celebrity among them. Rather then losing her job, she was instead encouraged by management to keep going just as she was, as long as she wasn't flat out rude and insulting to people.

That is why, should you happen to visit there during Golden Week, you'd be greeted by a small, blonde maid with a dour look on her face.

"Pick whichever seat you like. And try not to make a mess."

Clearly this 'maid' is not too fond of cleaning!

Fury Peak

Of course more time on her hands meant more time in the Dream Sphere as well. It was already easier to find time for it the way it was, but with the rarity of an entire free week's worth of time, she'd been spending a great deal of time doing work for the Dreamer's Union.

Her 'work' would be visible from a distance for anyone in the Fury's Peak area. There seemed to be quite a lightshow going on through the smoke and heat as she dealt with a small group of Torments.

Coming closer would reveal someone dressed in a way that made it seem as if they didn't seem to understand the concept of 'magical girl'. Rather then all frills and bright colors, she was dressed nearly entirely in black, wearing a bodysuit decorated with glowing lines running from her neck all the day down her side, branching out to go down the length of her arms and legs. The lightshow had come from what appears to be a trio of floating silver orbs firing blasts of energy from them, and as the last of the current group of Torments shatters to pieces, the orbs fly back at the girl, attaching to a gauntlet on her left hand.

"Nuisances. Why won't they stop coming already? I can't keep this up forever."

It is as her frustration gave birth to more of them right on the spot, as she'd barely got the words out of her mouth before, not too far from her, yet more of them emerge from the volcanic smoke near her. A loud sigh escapes the girl. She doesn't seems scared so much as she just seems annoyed. Surely she would appreciate some help tending to this little problem!

Massive Thunderstorm
When the power went out it meant there was nothing to do. That was boring. Terribly boring. Terminally boring. There are few more dangerous things than a bored Sachiko Ishikawa. She'd been in her room, flopped out on her bed on her stomach and sighing into her pillow with her legs up and slowly kicking. Numerous ideas of what she could do, most of them involving messing around on her phone, ran through her head, but none of them held her interest for more than a moment. She was, as usual, full of energy and being stuck inside was oppressive.

The longer she lay inactive the more frustrated she got, kicking her feet against the bed and tossing her head from side to side, only to glower and send a cross look towards the window as lightning flashed and a few moments later thunder rumbled.

"Stupid lightning! If it wasn't for you I'd-- oh. Lightning. Ohhh, lightning!"

What had started as a bitter retort finished with a sudden perk and eyes sparkling in the darkly lit room. One of those things more dangerous than a bored Sachiko was an excited Sachiko.

After ten minutes or so of rustling around she was at the door, throwing on her shoes and a light jacket ill suited for the weather, gripping a small handled case with one hand with a plastic bag wrapped around her wrist with further supplies.

"I'm going out, Mom!" She called, giving exactly no time for her surprised parents to respond, the door shutting hard behind her as she ran out into the weather. She looked like she might have been going to a theme park, a wide grin showing on her face, charging forward through the heavy rain heedless of quickly becoming soaked to the bone, laughing joyfully. With the storm there were fewer cars on the road and she had no compunctions about crossing the street wherever she liked, her soaked twintails whipping about behind her as she ran.

Before long she was at her destination, her laughing subsided while that bright smile remained solidly on her face. She walked into one of the taller buildings, not noticing at all that she was dripping water all over the lobby. Using her phone as a light she made her way to the stairwell and eagerly jogged up it, going floor after floor despite the burning in her legs and lungs, not willing to slow down.

Soon she reached her destination: the roof, where a large, tall lightning rod stood. With glee she set down the case and bag, opened the former up and pulled out the drone it contained and quickly tied the long spool of kite string to it. So close to her goal now, it was time for what had to be the most dangerous and stupidest part of her plan, unraveling the kite string and running right up to the lightning rod in the middle of a thunderstorm and tying the opposite end to the lightning rod.

"Lightning! What's cooler than lightning?! This is going to be AWESOME!"

Fury Peak
As a Novice, Dreamer Zeal had originally set out with a small group of others, but had gotten separated from them after encountering several particularly annoying Torments. Having jumped in the way of a charging attack aimed at another Dreamer who hadn't noticed in time, she'd pulled her crystalline shields up in front of herself and taken the blow full on!

That it sent her tumbling down the side of the volcano bouncing and rolling didn't seem to bother her overly much, at least not after those first couple of particularly nasty bounces. She even laughed as she kept rolling, managing to reach out and catch hold of an outcropping of rocks to slow herself enough to get her feet under her, digging her feet in and slowing herself to a stop.

The Torment had followed after her, taking several parting shots for its trouble by the other's up above, enough to make it a fairly even match for the newbie Zeal. Sometime later she'd managed to persevere, firing laser blasts from the tip of her shields while blocking and dodging it's blows as best she could, getting roughed up but seemingly not more than she could handle.

She was on the edge of victory, the Torment struggling and half-broken, waiting only for the final blow, but for the moment it didn't come. "Come on, beastie, show me what you've got!" Zeal called, taunting it with a grin, holding one of her shields out in front of her and meeting the attack that she'd provoked.

"Hehehe! Hahahahaha! It's going to take more than that to break my shields!" she cheers, meeting the Torrent's repeated attacks with her own active defenses. She doesn't seem as interested in winning as she does testing her own endurance!

Thunderstorm: Meat World Edition

Alter, currently stuck in ye ol' St*rb*cks due to the massive storm, had a tablet out on the table. Stylus in one hand and a matcha latte in another, she had been slowly picking away at her drafts. A perfectly reasonable way to pass the time until the rain let up, or so she thought.

At least that's what she thought until a bolt of lightning struck too close to home, knocking out the electricity in the immediate area, unfortunately including her device which she had plugged in to charge.

One second she had been drawing, and the next a blank screen reflecting her jaw which was currently somewhere on the floor. When she finally gets her wits back together long enough to get a word out...

"MERDE" The guttural scream came from somewhere deep within that not even Alter knew she had.

Still Thunderstorm: Dream Sphere Edition

And here she thought things would be better on the other side. They were not. The rain was not as heavy, but there were no comfortable cafes to take cover in so she had no choice but to take the rain to the face.

Which wouldn't necessarily be a problem, except Alter here is a Striker. A Striker who is trying to form a fireball in her hand which keeps getting snuffed out by the wind and rain.

"Our God is a cruel God who takes pleasure in bringing me pain. This is the only explanation." She mutters under her breath, doing whatever the opposite of a prayer is as she drips grumpily stomping ahead like a wet cat.

i. Thunderstorm.

[Even with Golden Week and seven days of paid vacation, there's still so much to do - and that Mr. Tonan will definitely have his head if it's not done. As the rain pours outside and Gogol runs for safety, shielding his paperwork, imagining the beachside vacation his boss would surely be on whilst he's scrambling for shelter.]

Oh crumbs!

[The wind sends part of his stack of paper whooshing just out of the door of the convenience store as he ducks through its doors for safety. He darts his head between the currently precarious wad of paperwork in his hands and the sheets drifting out the door.]

What do do...? [He suddenly turns to whoever's nearby, locking eye contact.] You there! Lend a hand?

ii. reverie necropolis

[This is perhaps no place for a novice Dreamer. But here Dreamer Dove stands with the wind flapping his cloak in all directions, head tilted back laughing as the nightmare begins to manifest.]

Now then -

[He pulls a cane out of seemingly nowhere, tapping it on the ground and turning to face his fellow Dreamer on the scene.]

It's time for a quiz! Aaaand the first question iiiis-

[He winks.]

Eh ~ why don't you guess?

1. Golden Week

Let's just get to the point: the best part of Golden Week for Larry is the jazz shows.

But that doesn't mean that he isn't going to go out and enjoy the weather and the vibe of the festivities. Nothing better to fade into the crowd and people-watch than a week where almost everyone has off.

So you will find him:

A. Living his best life at a jazz show, flitting between pop-up shows here and there like he has some kind of strategic plan...but the truth is that it's all unscripted. He's a man on a mission and that mission is to take in as much music as he can, regardless of venue size, before needing a rest.

B. Taking said rest, typically at a light eats place like a cafe, especially if it has outdoor seating. While most people are with friends and/or with their noses in their phones, Larry is sitting by himself, casually watching people go by. You might even make eye contact.

C. If you are the kind of person to be a window shopper from the street, Larry will stop to ~~nosily~~ curiously investigate to see what caught your attention. "What's got your eye?" he asks, if it's not particularly obvious, in English.

2. Reverie Necropolis

The catacombs are not a welcoming place. It's a swirling mass of all sorts of anxiety dreams, the perfect breeding ground for Nightmares.

You might already be on-edge due to the oppressive air here. Or, you might be full of piss and vinegar, ready to kick some Nightmare ass. Either way, on your way to kick that Nightmare ass, you run across a Dreamer that is probably just as upsetting as the rest of this place.

Dreamer Sudo is, in the simplest terms, weird. Very little of their actual skin is visible -- just the lower half of their face and a bare window on their flat chest -- and the rest of their body is covered in a white that shimmers in oil-slick rainbow, ribbed in a way that makes it feel like the sinew of their flesh is exposed. The upper half of their head is covered in a smooth, bulbous headdress that slicks all the way to the back of their head, where it starts to transition into yet another ribbed shape that runs down their back quickly turns into an exaggerated series of vertebrae that acts as a free-moving tail. It ends with a shape that looks like a cross between a coccyx and a scorpion tail.

In essence, not exactly what you think help would come from, as you trudge forward towards the more obvious threat.

"Careful," they call out in a calm, androgynous voice. "You will need this."

That spine-tail separates from their back and curls above Sudo, hovering threateningly towards you. You can either,

A. Assume Sudo is an aggressor and avoid the oncoming attack,

B. Accept the help. You will find that, despite its appearances, when the scorpion-tail touches your forehead, it's such a feather-light touch that it mostly tickles or tingles more than anything else. It's the following sensation that is far more powerful: a powerful and warm wave that surges through your brain and then through your body, ending at your fingertips and toes. It's like instant caffeine -- you feel the connection between your brain and muscles so much more acutely, and a resistance to the unwelcoming air of the Necropolis.

Congratulations, your attack and defense has been greatly buffed.

Dreamer Sudo gives you a Mona Lisa smile. "There. You are ready now."

i. reverie necropolis

[It happens sometimes - a strange Dreamer appears, bundled up in a hooded cloak of thick forest green cloth. They never allow anyone too close, but they beckon, and they flee, and they lead you right into the heart of the storm. He won't force anyone to come with him, of course. He just knows that something's going to happen, and that he can't do much about it. Dreamer Omen moves unerringly through the dark, creepy landscape, as though he knows exactly where he is going.

But as you both arrive on the scene, entering one of many caverns, the Nightmare is already forming. Bruno is not even surprised; he never really gets there before the bad things happen. He gave up on doing that a long time ago.

He had hoped to maybe get a few more Dreamers here first. He doesn't like being in fights himself, he never did. He's no good at them anyway. But there's only one other person here, and that is a whole Nightmare - he can't leave! That'd be awful!

The silent cloaked figure lifts both his hands, and a massive sandstorm erupts out of the earth to swirl around the Nightmare. Somehow, it doesn't seem to touch the other Dreamer or even obscure their vision...but it seems like you'll probably have to make the first actual attack.]

ii. thunderstorm

[Hopefully most of you found safe shelter from the thunderstorm! But at least one person really hasn't.

Bruno - a small, skinny figure in an oversized hoodie, hood drawn up to try and shield himself from the dripping water - is huddled beneath the awning of a storefront. Japan is much colder than Colombia even at the best of times; now, he's wet and shivering. But the place he's found is some kind of fancy frou-frou boutique, and he doesn't even want to see what happens if he goes in there as he is now: carrying most of his belonging in a large ratty backpack, and with the pockets and hood of his hoodie full of...well, actual rats. It's his own fault for having gone so close to the big fancy Dreamer academy they've got here anyway. He was just kinda curious, you know?

When someone else approaches, he hurriedly backs away from the shop door, trying to squeeze himself into what neutral-but-still-covered space there is.]

Uh - sorry, sorry! I'm just, uh, window shopping, heh.

[He offers a grin. There is no way he could afford anything on display in the window and we all kinda know it.]

iii. moon bunny market

[The Moon Bunny Market is fantastic! Lots of interesting stalls, lots of people giving out free samples of various things, and the crowds are thick enough that no one is really paying a ton of attention to anybody in particular.

Bruno is trying to get up the nerve to go participate in this contest. One one hand: free stuff! Maybe! Maybe free stuff, but you don't turn down even a chance at it! On the other...well, he's just a little nervous about having to talk to that many people in order to figure out what's going on. He's still learning the language, after all, and he understands more than he can really speak well himself.

So for now, he's sitting on one of the open greens, playing with...rats. They're just a trio of rats hanging out with him, apparently doing little tricks like rolling over and begging on their hind legs as he quietly coaches them with little bits of food. He's well away from the walkway! So, you know! Please don't worry about the rats!]

[ Thunderstorm ]

You'd think someone would have the good sense to get to shelter when skies suddenly started gathering. But there was a sale on CD's that a certain white-haired young woman just had to be there for...and the result?

They'd been caught in the rain.

So now, one can find a five foot nothing eighteen year old belting her way across the city, soaked to the brim, and carrying a shopping bag that, at this point? Is honestly just as drenched. Good thing those CD's are in cases, huh?

In any case, she's swearing up a storm as she runs, but we're not gonna spell that out for the sake of the children at home.

Healer (Finley Baines) | Santa (Silyeong) | Dreamer Guardian

Kozakura | Otherside Picnic

no subject

connor murphy | dear evan hansen

Reimu Hakurei | Touhou Project | Dreamer Fantasy

Marisa Kirisame | Touhou Project | Dreamer Spark

Jackle ♣ NiGHTS into dreams... ♠ Jackie Sforza ♥ Dreamer Mantle