(open) rough seas will be calm

[scythegun]

WHO: Jaeger (eventually) and you!
WHERE: Dreamscapes.
WHEN: 8/25.
WHAT: Dreamdives!
WARNINGS: Suicidal implications, threads are warned accordingly.

[You find yourself on a grassy plain. It's nighttime, and while this whole thing is probably incredibly surreal, the scenery is at least peaceful. You can see a dark building ahead of you.

If you look behind you, you'll notice that there's a large, thick forest. Listening for a moment will tell you that there's plenty of wildlife there, and it doesn't sound happy to see you. It's probably not a good idea to head that direction. But hey, if you really want to, there's nothing stopping you.

If you choose to approach the building, you'll hear the distant sound of waves crashing, but otherwise all is silent. It would almost be serene, if not for the ominous look of the building. It appears to be a very large manor. There are plenty of lights on inside despite the late hour, which gives you a little more light to see the building itself. For some reason there are massive chains decorating the left side of the building that don't actually seem to be there for any specific purpose, and above that are flags for... some reason. The whole thing is kind of an experience, and the gloomy atmosphere and isolated nature of the house probably aren't doing much to make you feel at ease.

Since the manor is most likely where you're headed, you might want to get a bit closer to the front door to check it out. Be careful, though - you won't be able to get too close without two guards spotting you. They're dressed in yellow uniforms complete with masks that hide the upper halves of their faces. They don't exactly look friendly; one of them has a crossbow in hand and the other has some kind of large daggers that look like they're attached to the back of his hands.

You'll find that there's a solid wall around the perimeter of the manor; you can hide here for a moment if you'd like. Climbing over the wall seems to be out of the question given the height of it and the spikes on top.

How do you want to proceed?]

Comments

[thesettingsun]

[That manor is an Aesthetic even without the 'Manor of the Wicked' subtitle.

First question: does Shuji have his satchel with his book-scythe in it? (Jaeger of all people should understand keeping his stupid scythe on him.) If the answer is yes, he's going to approach the front door, hands in the air to show he's not holding a weapon.]

Excuse me, sirs? [The Pogglemon villain team-looking guards.] Do you know where I could stay the night?

[scythegun]

[i couldn't make this shit up if i tried.

Anyway, yes, you have your book-scythe and your satchel! Everything you had on you is here with you.

The two guards tense immediately; the one with the knives takes a few steps forward while the other readies his crossbow. They don't relax any even once they see you're unarmed.]

Dahngrest is back that way.

[Knife-guy points in the direction of the forest.]

You must've gotten really turned around if you're just looking for a place to stay.

[thesettingsun]

It's easy to get lost in the forest...

[This is true of all dangerous animal-infested forests.]

I was hoping I wouldn't have to go back in there until the morning, at least.

[scythegun]

We aren't in the practice of letting random people stay the night. This is Leviathan's Claw's headquarters, not an inn.

[thesettingsun]

That's where I ended up?

[Shuji assumes he should know what Leviathan's Claw is in this setting, and he widens his eyes appropriately.]

Oh, I completely understand! In that case, if you could just bring out a pillow and maybe a blanket, I can sleep outside...

[scythegun]

You've gotta be kidding. Do we look like a charity?

[thesettingsun]

I'll give them back in the morning? Please, please don't make me go back into the forest tonight...

[Shuji rarely abuses this skill, but it's worth it right now: he thinks about that one song that always makes him tear up, and sure enough he's tearing up on demand.]

Please...? I won't bother you at all, I just - I just...

[scythegun]

Oh come on...

[The poor guy looks visibly uncomfortable though, and he glances back at his partner who just kind of lifts his shoulders in a shrug helplessly.]

The girls didn't even get teary-eyed at us...

[The guy groans and then waves a hand at his partner.]

Go see if we've got an extra blanket and pillow somewhere. And you, [he returns his attention to Shuji] don't get any funny ideas! You're not getting in, but I guess you can stay within the walls as long as you don't cause trouble.

[thesettingsun]

Thank you! [Shuji smiles, still teary-eyed. The song is just so sad...] Thank you so much! You're so kind, I promise I won't be a bother!

[...he may end up being a bother, but if this is part of Jaeger's heart then everything done to wake Jaeger up is technically helping?]

[scythegun]

[Guard #2 heads inside then, and Guard #1 just sort of... stands there. He's keeping a close eye on Shuji and he won't like any sudden movements, but he's not really making any conversation either.

Sorry this is so awkward?? Oh my god.]

[thesettingsun]

[It's pretty awkward, which is why Shuji has to make small talk or he might have to move suddenly just to do something. Small talk seems like the better choice.]

Do you like your job?

[scythegun]

[Small talk seems perfectly fine! He'll answer readily enough.]

Yeah. The boss is pretty good to us, and it's steady work. Usually guard duty's pretty boring, but tonight's been busy.

[thesettingsun]

Yikes. I'm sorry I got lost on the worst day...

[A lot of people have been in this dream already?]

Well, really I'm sorry I got lost at all.

[scythegun]

Most people don't make it out this far. Either the monsters get 'em, or they realize they've missed Dahngrest and turn around.

[He shrugs, like this is Totally Fine.]

[thesettingsun]

I was probably too busy running from the monsters to realize I missed Dahngrest.

[That seems like a sensible thing to do with regards to monsters.]

How long have you been working here?

[scythegun]

A while now.

[...That seems to be all he has to say on the subject, apparently.]

[thesettingsun]

[Huh. Rather than let things fade into awkward silence:]

What's your name? I'm Shuji. [One name because we're in the fantasy land of one name only.] Thank you again for letting me stay here, I really appreciate it.

[scythegun]

[Before the guard can respond, his partner comes out with a folded up blanket and a pillow. They actually look surprisingly comfy?? He hands them off to the first guard, who takes them over to you. The other guard's still got his crossbow at the ready in case there's any foul play, of course.]

Here. And uh, don't mention it.

[thesettingsun]

[They do look surprisingly comfy! Shuji accepts them with another 'thanks', then goes to set up his pillow and blanket a little further away. Still directly in front of the door so they can see there's no funny business.]

Goodnight!

[And he's climbing into 'bed'... on the bare ground... well, it's not like he was going to actually fall asleep anyway. He has enough trouble with that in an actual bed.]

[scythegun]

[They'll leave you alone and go back to... just sort of standing there, honestly. They're not outright ignoring you, but they're not paying super close attention to you anymore either.

So now what?]

[thesettingsun]

[Well obviously he can't mess with these guards? They got him a blanket and a pillow and let him stay, these guards are good.

But logically, they should have to trade shifts at some point with some other guards who probably look exactly the same. He can mess with those guards.

[scythegun]

[That's very true! You'll have to wait for a few minutes, but thankfully it won't be too long before a pair of identical guards show up. They talk for a moment in hushed tones, and the new guards look over in your direction before staring back at the other two like "dude, really" but eventually they'll trade places. The two guards you confronted head back inside the manor and you're left with two new guys.]

[thesettingsun]

[Excellent. Shuji waits a few minutes more so it isn't so obvious he was waiting for the new guards, then tosses and turns a bit before sitting up.]

I guess I can't really sleep like that... And the guards were so nice to me too.

[He looks over at the identical guards. Reactions to him being awake?]

[scythegun]

[The new guards watch him warily, but don't speak up. Like the previous two, one of them has knives and the other has a crossbow. They aren't trying to pick a fight or anything, but it's obvious they're more jumpy than the previous two.]

[thesettingsun]

[That's fair. Shuji will approach them slowly, hands in the air again to show that nope, still got no weapons.]

Sorry, I guess you're stuck with me until the morning? I hate to be a bother...

[How close can he get before one of them shanks him.]