[Closed] I'm tired of following behind...

[argone]

WHO: Kara Ellis and Various.
WHERE: Dreamscapes
WHEN: August 17th - On
WHAT: A catchall for dreamscapes
WARNINGS: Violence, language, possible nudity.





This is a closed log for Kara's dreamscapes. I will be posting prompts in the comments for people over the next few days. If you'd like to do a thread, please PM me or hit me on plurk at intercession

Comments

For Lina (Kara)

[argone]

It's getting on towards evening, about seven, when Kara pulls up into the driveway on her bike. It rumbles and clicks off, settling down into the garage, all the gears in perfect sync as always. But something feels weird, and just a little bit off. Heading into the house, she calls out to her younger sister.

"Lina? Is everything okay?"

[maidofmistakes]

"Uh... sort of! Coming."

This is followed by a crack and a small "ow" before Lina flies to the door.

"Something wrong? Nothing's wrong here. Mostly."

[argone]

"What's wrong with you?"

Kara has already headed inside at this point, the sound of crashing things definitely not good in her book. Hopefully that wasn't anything important.

And even though her sister is flying...she's going to ask, a sardonic smile on her lips.

"Did you start flying, or did you borrow my ring?"

[maidofmistakes]

"Just a little worried. Normal stuff. Nothing bad." She rubs the back of her head. "I didn't borrow your ring, I just woke up like this. Uh... How do I get down again?"

[argone]

"Oh. Oh!"

Delighted, Kara flits forward and reaches for Lina's hand, happy that her sibling has finally gotten a means to fly on her own now.

"Just think of your feet settling on the floor. It's an act of will, that's all!"

Lina (Carmelina)

[argone]

When Lina enters the dream, she'll find herself standing in the middle of Recolle, just outside the mayor's office and city hall. Everything appears as normal, mostly, except for the sky. It's a muted red, more crimson than sunset, but not quite full on red. The sounds of life, cars and people, footsteps and birdsong don't seem at all dampened, but there's nobody in sight.

Nobody except a tall man with cropped blonde hair, dressed in a toga, and walking right towards her. Adjusting a pair of spectacles with his free hand, the other holding a clipboard, his demeanor is brusque and efficient. A man with a lot to do, and a lot on his mind, if the creases around his eyes are any indication.

"Good day. Who might you be?"

[breakingvoice]

This is... interesting. New, sort of, but also familiar, and Lina for once is glad that she actually recognizes what's on the other side of things once it's fallen apart. She glances up at the man and feels... a little out of place, since she's still just some nobody and he obviously has some level of, like, authority here or something. He's definitely more important than she is, at any rate.

"Uh, Lina Geteilt? Sorry—Carmelina." It feels so strange to have to go by that, but since she's kind of getting the hang of these things, it's probably better to be as specific as possible. Maybe she should go by Carmen or something—nope. No way in hell. Which, based on the sky, is where it feels like she might be, christ.

She hopes everything is okay. Night or morning, a red sky is probably not a super great harbinger.

[argone]

"Lina."

The man replies, flipping through pages on the clipboard, a little like a bouncer checking a list. Except he finds her and nods to himself. Almost like she was expected.

The sky rumbles, dark clouds brewing in the distance.

"My name is Zor-El and it seems you've come as expected. I won't lie to you, my daughter is in a bad way, and she could use support. I assume that's why you've come, yes?"

[breakingvoice]

Of course she was expected. That only makes sense at this point—it's kind of the only thing that makes sense.

"Yeah," she says, then corrects herself. "Yes. I'm here for Kara." She doesn't know a lot about the person Kara is turning into, but... well, she kind of assumes she's about to find out. Hopefully it's good! That's what a red sky and storm clouds indicate, right? Good things? Ha. Ha ha. This'll be fine.

"What can I do to help her?"

[argone]

"Find her, of course. She's angry, and she needs someone to calm her down."

Zor-El looks up at the sky with a matter of fact, almost bored expression. He isn't exactly the most helpful man in the world, but after a moment he exhales and offers Lina a weak smile.

"It shouldn't be too difficult. Just think, where would she most likely be, and I'll take you there."

The options are basically home and the mechanic's shop....

For Jen

[argone]

When Jen steps into the dream, she'll find herself standing in the middle of an enormous, sprawling city made entirely of steel and crystal. Pylons the color of green quartz stab into the sky, topped by shining silver decks. Floating cars whiz along, and a massive red spot dominates the sky where the sun should be. The whole city is awash with the noise of life, people laughing and chatting in a singsong language unlike any Jen's ever heard.

Standing at a center of the square is a tall man with jet black hair and a strong chin. Blue eyes shine with intelligence, and the smile lines around his lips coupled with the muted grin transform him from a tall, muscular guy into a kindly figure. Not quite a father, he's too young, but rather an older guy worthy of respect. He gestures towards Jen, waving her over. If there was any doubt as to his identity, the prominent red S on his blue T-Shirt should definitely give him away.

"I've been waiting for you."

[burndownforwhat]

Jen's eyes are like saucers as she takes in the scene around her. It will take her a moment to realize that the man was, indeed, referring to her, because the detail she picked up on in the scenery was more amazing than the last. No way was this architecture possible on Earth - or even the world she, herself, relived in her memories. Not on such a scale. It's something out of a sci-fi novel and, once she's taking in the form of this guide it's clear to her that there's only one person who would be at the heart of such a scenario. Except. Where was she...?

"You're...?" She didn't want to be wrong and put her foot in her mouth. Jen's still recovering from being absolutely slackjawed over the sight of, well, everything.

[argone]

The man's expression remains gentle, though there's some amusement there too. Sticking out his hand, he inclines his head to her. Given that he's a figment of Kara's mind, he's reacting more or less how she'd think he'd greet someone.

"Kal-El. Kara's cousin. Though, she might have only called me Superman, to you. You're Jen Bowen, right?"

His grip, if she takes it, is incredibly strong, moreso than even Kara at her strongest. There's no pressure at all, like he's completely mastered his strength, but everything about Kal just has a weight to it and this is no different.

[burndownforwhat]

"That's right," she admits freely as she gives him her hand to shake. She isn't putting a lot of pressure on it, either, just because she's still kind of stunned from this all. It doesn't look or feel like any other dream she's visited to date. For once, there's no immediate danger or sense of urgency. Things are just so idyllic she almost ought to ask to be pinched but had a feeling that might do more harm than good at this point.

Jen laughs, waving aside her own shyness and embarrassment. This is no way to act.

"And of course you are. Tall, strong, unfairly handsome. Who else would you be?" It's not flirting if it's true.

[argone]

Kal smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. He's...definitely a grade A dork. Completely and totally the farmboy, and every inch of him is a nerd.

"Ah...I don't know about that. But just call me Kal?"

Letting go of the shake, he scans the city, his outfit shifting into a costume not too different from Kara's own flight suit, with a slight difference in the accenting of the crest at the center.

"You've come at a good time. I don't think I can help Kara alone. You're here to help, I assume."

For Akiren

[argone]

When Ren comes to after his fall into Kara's dreamland, the first thing he'll notice is that he's definitely not in Recolle anymore. It's a massive building that looks like a courthouse, but cast all in red shadows. High ceilings, a judge's podium, two boxed in areas, and pews for witnesses and jurors. Something hisses in one corner, a dark shadow slithering out of it and heading towards him.

"You've come...? At lassssst...tell me your name boy."

The voice, vaguely feminine, seems to come from the shadow, though it has no physical features yet. Just lumpy, misshapen darkness.

[maskreant]

Uh... How did he get here? Ren takes the time to admire the stark courthouse, finding the it oddly picturesque with its red shadows yet also unsettling. Before he starts investigating the room, he startles to an upright posture, dread creeping on him from the hissing whisper.

Slowly he turns, ready to book it or fight if he needs to and those options still remain in his mind as he parses her demand. Is this a good idea to divulge his name? No. Does he have any place to go right now? No. Might it help him figure out what's going on? Yes.

"Ren Amamiya... And you?"

Should he call her Ms. Blob?

[argone]

"Sheko."

The voice comes out of the darkness with a harsh, sharp crispness to it. Shadows begin to coalesce, a dark shape turning red as blood practically oozing from a corner. It jiggles, shakes like it's alive, and gradually forms into a humanoid creature. About seven feet tall, shrouded in black robes and covered with red lines that radiate from around her heart, Sheko has a horse-like face, though her teeth are anything but equine. Razor sharp, stained with the same crimson as the rest of her attire, and bared in what might be a smile.

Perhaps the most striking thing about her, however, is the ring. The sole source of illumination in the room, the red band appears all of a piece, and all the shadows seem centered on that. It pulses faintly, the light throbbing in time with Ren's heartbeat.

"Have you come to help the girl and atone? Or are you here to submit yourself to the mercy of the court?"

[maskreant]

Sheko looks utterly ghastly and it takes all his willpower to not take a step back. Despite that, his body remains stiff as his hair stands on end looking at her. This would be cool if he didn't feel her presence right in front of him, all too real and terrifying to admire on the side. All of that wisps away when there's a mention of a girl. Atonement... Mercy? Court.

Those words resonate with him, stirring conflicted curiosity and dread as he utters one of the words.

"Girl..." He trails off, thinking that he should at least investigate. If someone needs help, how can he turn a blind eye? "I've come to help the girl."

[argone]

The womanly...thing...adjusts her robes and nods. She doesn't gesture or move beyond that, merely stares down at Akira, eyes glowing faintly with that awful scarlet light.

"That is correct answer. But tell me, does she deserve that chance?"

Behind her, the wall slides away, revealing Kara. She's clearly unconscious and chained to a slab of granite by chains made of red energy the same shade as the ring. Occasionally she spasms, involuntary movements of muscle, veins standing out, fists clenched and knuckles white.

"It's my understanding she is a criminal."

For Lillian

[argone]

When Lillian comes to after her entrance into the dream, the first thing she'll notice is the smell of industry. Metal, stagnant water, oil, rust, the kind of odor that a garage gives off. It's quite strong, almost overwhelming. The whole area is a metal hellscape, full of twisted steel beams and torn up sheets of iron. A scrapyard, with a glowing doorway about twenty feet away, leading into a bunker.

The yard is expansive though, and several pathways branch out from around Lillian.

What do?

[aintjustaweapon]

At some point Lillian would stop feeling strange when she woke up in what was clearly a dream. Probably. Hopefully. Still, there was a few seconds of 'what the hell' as she hauled herself to her feet and turned to try and take in the metal yard and walls and...everything. Okay. Calm down. Deep breath...

Either she was in a dream or Silent Hill was a documentary...

She checked herself over, the white tanktop and blue jeans she was wearing stained from the muck on the ground but otherwise intact, no injuries, nothing hurt. So. Dream? Dream.

Hopefully it was a dream anyway.

She spotted the glowing doorway right off, but took a moment to survey the rest of the yard first, moving towards the closest pathway to peer down it, trying to hear the sounds of people or movement.

[argone]

Down that path? There's definitely noise. But it's nothing too people-y. There's a metallic clanging, like a hammer on an anvil, but that's all. It could just be a piston, or some giant mechanical thing banging away...

[aintjustaweapon]

She considered heading towards the noise, but after maybe twenty seconds just stepped back. The obvious thing was the glowing door, that was the way to try first.

So that was where she headed, pausing near the entrance and then moving to the side so she could peer in without being obviously framed in the doorway.

[argone]

It leads, predictably, into a metal corridor. Rusty, pitted and damaged by wind and scoured by dust and iron filings, it takes a turn into a hallway that's similarly weathered. There are a few doors, all shut tightly, and a T junction at one end.

The metal clanging is occurring to the right, while to the left, a purring motor sound.