i can tell what you've been thinking/staring at the stars on your ceiling

[originallutece]

WHO: Rosalind Lutece and any number of characters, MAYBE EVEN YOU
WHERE: IN HER MIND, YO, and also the foggy streets of Recolle
WHEN: 10/1 - 10/13
WHAT: Dreams and nightmares and fog monsters!
WARNINGS: Will be posted on on individual starters!

Comments

Nightmare 1; Unde Vigores

[originallutece]

[There's two vials on the table, one green and the other red.

There ought to be other details about your environment, but that's the first and most important thing. There's a two vials on the table, and despite the fact they look innocuous (if not a little lewd), you feel a sickening dread as you stare down at them. There's something awful about them, you know, though right this second you can't actually recall what they do.

But you have to choose one. It's not a matter of ignoring them; you're compelled to pick. Rosalind sits across from you, her gaze sharp, but she won't offer you any answers.]

[BUT I SURE WILL. CW: the red vial has the potential for body horror; the green vial has the potential for mind control.]

horrified troy baker screams in the distance

[complementing]

[At first, she's fighting against the compulsion and the intensity of Rosalind's stare, jaw clenching with the effort. But she's a player in this nightmare, not the master of it. All too soon, her trembling hand reaches out and closes around the neck of the succubus on the red bottle.]

Professor...

JUST DRINK RANDOM BOTTLES YOU FIND IN THE STREETS IT'S FINE

[originallutece]

Nothing will happen until you drink it.

[Rosalind's voice is even, her gaze level. There's no need to persuade the girl to drink the bottle, not at all.]

[okitactless]

[will this be when Rosalind finally learns the extent of a sword spirit's (current) healing capabilities?? yams you could've just called.

But no, here they are--wherever "here" is. Yasusada's not sure he cares, honestly--not when he wants so badly to get away. He doesn't want to make this choice, and there's clear hesitation in the lines of his body, even as his hands twitch with the urge to grab a bottle.]

Does it have to be this...?

[originallutece]

Yes.

[It's an instant answer. Rosalind leans back, staring coolly over the table at him.]

Left or right: choose.

[roseblooms]

[He is, maybe, one of the only people in this city who will come across both of these bottles and know exactly what both of them do.

It's strange, really, how the environment seems to narrow down all of his attention to these vials on the table, how even though consciously he knows that there should be more to the world than this, he can't seem to focus on anything except the choice being presented in front of him.

He knows that when it comes to these vials, the only correct choice is "neither", but it's not going to let him do that, is it?

(He doesn't even know what "it" is, but he's sure it's not going to let him.)

And Rosalind — yes, Rosalind is there. Rosalind is looking at him, with an expression on her face that chills him. And he knows that talking will be useless, somehow; at least, it will be until he chooses.

Red, or green?]

Rosalind.

[But the deciding factor, in the end, is this: he doesn't know who it is he's picking for. Red, or green — who's going to drink the one he chooses, in the end?

That's why. Maybe that's why.]

You already know what both of them do.

[And so does he. That's why he reaches for the green.]

[originallutece]

[They've done this before, haven't they?

For the first time, Rosalind's expression falters. They've done this before, but this isn't how it went. Neither of them had known what those vials had done, and Kit was so worried about her own safety he'd demanded he be the one to drink it instead.

This isn't right. But Rosalind doesn't stop things, not yet.]

This isn't an experiment to see what they do, Kit.

[reticence]

[A muscle in Faolan's jaw tightens. He can feel it. The compulsion working on him, driving him to choose between the two vials. He resists it, but the feeling wells up inside of him and fights back, like a bubble in his chest that pills it tighter with each passing moment he pushes it back.

He feels like he might throw up if he holds himself back for too much longer but he needs to speak up and ask. He needs to know.]

Rosalind... What is this? Why are you doing this?

[originallutece]

Does it matter?

[She looks bored, really. Interested, but in a remote way.]

Pick one.

[erythristic]

What will happen if I take them both?

[innocently asked, but the look in Grell's eyes says she's not kidding. she wants to push for danger, wants to see reactions as much as Rosalind does, and why not go for the grandest one first?]

[originallutece]

[Well, well. Here's something different, and for a moment a little smile flickers over her face.]

Try it and see.

[chessking]

[ lelouch being lelouch, with his blatant disregard of authority and recklessness, coupled with his decidedly flashy ways of showing it, reaches over to pluck up the green vial, running his fingers over the thin glass tube, even as he lounges back in the chair, a stark contrast to how straight rosalind is seated in her own chair.

there's a tenseness in his features despite the casual, almost lazy smile that he throws towards rosalind, several furtive glances towards the vial in his hand.

but lelouch flicks the cap off the vial, watches the liquid inside it slosh around its container, and downs the entire bottle in one go. ]

[originallutece]

[She watches him with the same blank expression, but there's something a little more fearful in her eyes than there was before. The liquid slips down his throat, cool and minty-sweet, and then--

There's an odd whispering, faint but impossible to ignore, as the world fades into darkness and only Rosalind is lit up. There's an eerie greenness about her, something almost supernatural, but the effects hardly last. Soon enough everything's returned to normal, except--

Ah. Her eyes are green now. Emerald, really, the color shining far too brightly to be anything natural. She leans forward, her eyes wide, suddenly looking for all the world as though she's hanging on to his every word.

With Possession, any stallion can be tamed! The words ring out cheerfully, and it might take him a moment to realize that's Rosalind's voice proclaiming it, though her lips haven't moved.]

[parodeity]

[ there's absolutely no choice. it's dave strider: without even having to think about it for a few seconds, his hand immediately reaches for the red vial. when it comes to a choice between colors, red is always going to win out. ]

So do these both kill me in new and excitin' ways? I have been getting bored of the old ways.

[mercurio]

Do I really have to?

[like most nightmares, this one starts suddenly and the details seem unimportant as prompto approaches the table. he sees rosalind, but she doesn't look like the rosalind he knows. it's something... about her expression]

It feels like something bad will happen.

[adoringpast]

[ he didn't want this at all, not from ros of all people. he's trying to fight the urge to choose, no matter how little it is, but he manages to ask, keeping his voice as steady as he can: ]

Will either of this kill me, professor?

Dream 1; I couldn't pick a beach boys song so just imagine them all

[originallutece]

[You're in a city called Columbia, and you know without knowing that you're at home.

It's a lovely little city-- a little heavy on the religious metaphors, maybe, but the streets are clean and the sun is shining and everything is just lovely. You stand on the boardwalk of a beach, ignoring all the laughter and chatter of those around you, shifting your weight. You're holding a pendant, and you're waiting for someone to approach, but for the moment, at least you're not alone.

Rosalind is there with you. And it's odd, really, because whatever you may normally feel for her, right now what you feel is something overwhelming. It's affection and love and obsession; it's an urgency to be at her side no matter whatever else may happen. She must not leave your sight, not for a moment-- and it seems she feels the same, for she steps in a little closer, frowning at the few inches of space between you.]

We're going to die of old age before they come along.

bring us the girl and wipe away the debt ig

[sotenbori]

[ majima is both surprised and not surprised when rosalind steps closer to him. surprised, on some level, because, no he can't feel this way towards her, this is wrong, this doesn't make sense -- and unsurprised because, of course, they'd be together no matter what, they've never been apart since the day they met. ]

Nah, they're comin'. Jus' be patient.

[ honestly, he can't remember who "they" are or why they're waiting for them. but the words come out of his mouth all the same. ]

i'm sorry for him

[insantafe]

As long as it's with you, I don't mind waiting.

[ what the

Professor Lutece??

Jack's thoughts are in chaos, confused that Rosalind would look at him that way, that she would come so close to him like this. Hadn't she always shut him down? Any time he'd dared to joke around like that, Ros has always made sure he knew his place, and honestly? While she isn't unattractive by any means, he'd never been serious about it, anyway. And then there's the other Lutece...

But she doesn't matter here, does she? The only thing that does is that Rosalind's here, she's close, and they're going to stay that way, no matter what. Except - she could be closer, he thinks, ignoring the voice in the back of his head telling him something isn't right, and he leans a little closer. ]

We can probably find something to fill the time, don't you think?

Fog 1; Never back-talk, never lie, or he'll drop you from the sky!

[originallutece]

[Recolle's a pretty easy city to navigate, but nonetheless, you find yourself lost tonight. Perhaps you turned down the wrong street. Perhaps the fog has turned you around. Regardless: soon you'll realize the pavement beneath your feet has changed, going from smooth tar and asphalt to cobblestones, large and notiable. The buildings look a little more antiquated, but before you have time to focus on that, a cheery little tune catches your attention. Repeating twice, it fades as quickly as it had come.

For a long few moments, that seems to be it. But there's a tension in the air now, as thick and pervading as the fog. Rosalind shivers to feel it, glancing around the street. But there's nothing there, nothing at all-- save perhaps you, and hopefully you'll come join her, because there goes that song, ringing out again.]

[geckoman]

[Damn that's a creepy tune. Iwai chews on the stick of his lollipop as he looks around to try to figure out where it's coming from but in this fog... Yeah he can figure out where to move but not where the thing is.

Seeing the woman, he approaches her.]

Hey. You heard that?

[He really doesn't think they should stay out here if she did.]

[lostapprentice]

[The hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stand on end as soon as he notices the surroundings have changed, but then that song echoes through the streets and Ren is consciously on edge. He can... sense(?) something, but he doesn't know what it is, where it is, or how dangerous it might be.]

I've got a bad feeling about this.

[He's tense, clenching his jaw and looking around anxiously for the source of the song even after it goes silent. He spots Rosalind quickly enough, however, and since she's the only one around, he moves towards her with a sense of urgency. He doesn't bother with greetings or pleasantries; whatever this is isn't going to be pleasant and there's no time to waste if they're going to get out of it.]

Is that song familiar to you?

[The surroundings don't seem to match up with the general look of his own memories—and since she's the only other person around he can spot, perhaps she knows something. At least this time, the person whose fog he's trapped in is someone he sort of recognizes from some of his work.]

Fog 2; A merger of machine and man that is somehow the lesser, yet the greater, of both parties

[originallutece]

[It's not as if she wants to keep heading out into the fog, but Rosalind oftentimes finds she has no choice. Inevitably, something comes up that can't wait til morning: she forgot her laptop in her car; she needs food for the little goblin, who hasn't eaten all day; she hears a scream from outside and thinks she recognizes the voice. She has a fair few dark thoughts on that front; it seems awfully convenient that she just so happens to have to go out time and again. She's never normally so forgetful, and she makes a note to look into whether or not Retrospec is tampering with their short-term memory.

In any case. Whenever you run into her, Rosalind is tense, glancing around sharply. It isn't paranoia if there really are creatures out to get you. And indeed, not too long after you run into her, you hear a horrid, pained shout from somewhere in the murky mists above:

I'll do to you what they did to me!!]

[daemonized]

[He really should stop wandering out in the fog like this.

But seeing Rosalind at a distance affords some sense of relief, and Ardyn rushes towards her, all for the sake of staying together in the midst of this blasted fog. He opens his mouth to call out her name when he's interrupted by a terrible, almost painful-sounding shout.]

What-

[He's leery of what the fog might provide them with. What manner of creature or illusion they may have to face now. Ardyn isn't sure he wants to stick around to see it.]

Rosalind! What is that?

[But more importantly... let's not stay here, shall we?]

[crudest]

[Baren was on his way to the Inkwell. The reasoning is simple: he might not have to work, but Chuuya does, and like hell does he plan on letting Chuuya walk by himself if he can help it.

Those plans are now put on hold.

The shout manages to get him to curse out loud and he brings his fingers up to his lips - a single piercing whistle because of course now is when Tanuki's wandered off somewhere - but then he rushes to Rosalind's side immediately.]

Pick a direction and run.

[He'll cover her as best as he can..]