01<@Ardweden> [Day: Saturday, August 28. Time: Early Morning.] 01<@Ardweden> [You're standing in front of Asghate Public Library, which looks totally normal and would almost seem normal if you all weren't weird dream creatures. You'd just spent a good amount of time wandering through a parallel Ashgate to your own - exactly identical if it weren't for the fact that all lights were off and all animals, insects, and people apparently nonexistent.] 01<@Ardweden> [Ahead of you is an open doorway (which Hien opened in exactly the wrong way), and the door itself is in her clawed hand. On the other side is a gray mist, pretty much exactly like when you open the door from Haven.] 01<@Ardweden> [Session Start.] 06* Hien carefully sets the door down next to the entrance. 06* Susano-o peers into the mist, already pretty sure there's nothing to see, but it's still worth trying. 06* Kali nods, trying not to comment on the door removal and steps next to Susano-o to look in the mist. 06* @Imp peers in from the side of Susano-o. "So who is brave?" 01<@Ardweden> [Joan raises her hand in a short wave and moves forward, walking right into the mist. She disappears on the other side.] That answers that question. 06* Hien heads in next, since someone else has already gone in! 06* Susano-o watches for a couple of beats to see if there's any effect of that. 01<@Ardweden> [Hien walks in! She does not bounce off!] 06* @Imp follows! 06* Kali gestures with her sword to Susano-o. "After you." 06* Susano-o nods, then, and follows along warily. 06* Kali follows behind him! 01<@Ardweden> [On the other side is a library, and unlike the one in Ashgate, this one is truly massive... and old. There are books from floor to ceiling, great pillars, wooden ladders, and beautiful stained glass windows which Joan seems to be appreciating right now. Flickering lamps dot the area, giving enough light to read by.] 06* Susano-o looks around, eyes wide. "If this is Nate's dream, I have to say, it's one that would suit him." <@Imp> This... this is even lamer than in Real Life. Is that possible? When you're the one referring to it, always. It's really pretty, though! 01<@Ardweden> [You also hear human voices now: laughter, talking, sobs, and screams. They echo nicely off the walls; this place has great acoustics. Despite the differences, there are hallways roughly where you remember them - assuming you ever go to the library at all.] 06* @Imp shudders. "Screams? God what nerd dreams... don't answer what I was about to ask." 06* Kali frowns. "That's bad. It's going to make it harder to determine where it's coming from." 06* Susano-o takes a moment to size this up, feeling uneasy. "Perhaps, but if the place has the same layout, I should be able to find the right room. We've spent enough time there together." 06* Kali turns her head towards Susano-o, uncertain. "Your lead then." 06* Hien swivels her head from side to side, trying to figure out what is up with all the voices. Her tail twitches slightly. 01<@Ardweden> [Hien gets the annoying feeling that she should recognize a few of the voices, for some reason, can't put her finger on whose they are.] 06* Susano-o looks around, getting his bearings, and then chooses a path. 06* Kali makes her way close behind Susano-o. He knows his friend best. We hope. 06* Susano-o picks a big path between the shelves, and checks to see if any of the titles look familiar or anything. 06* Hien follows them, keeping her wings tightly folded and her tail curled up so she doesn't knock anything off the shelves. 06* @Imp will follow the people that look like they know what is up. Though he's listening to the voices. 06* Susano-o tries to tune out the voices, since that'll probably make it harder to work out where to go. 01<@Ardweden> [Susano-O makes his way through the library, the rest of you presumably following. As you do, some of the voices get louder and others softer. He leads you up stairs, down others, and into a series of narrow passages crammed with books, almost maze-like in the amount of room you have to maneuver and the number of choices you have to make as far as where to go.] 06* Hien follows. This is *not* a place in which to get lost. 06* Susano-o looks a bit confused. "This is far more complicated than anything in the library in the real town. By far." He starts down one corridor, pauses, and then turns back and takes a different fork. 01<@Ardweden> [Hien's hunched over, that's for sure!] 06* @Imp isn't hunched and has plenty of room! 06* Hien scoots to let Susano-o pass. Or tries to. It's a bit awkward and crowded, most likely. 06* Kali looks around, slightly hunched herself. "Well that's not all that surprising, is it?" 06* Susano-o tries to press past her. "No. Just to look at it, it's different. But it feels the same, somehow, too." How do you know where you're supposed to be going? <@Imp> To the nerd cave. 06* Susano-o makes his way down the new corridor, moving a bit more slowly than before. "I know the layout, even if it is different. Very different. But also..." He pauses, and then says, "I can tell if I'm going wrong." You *have* to teach me that. 06* Kali shakes her head, looking from side to side more often, frowning. "We have to keep moving at the very least." No. I mean, I would. But. Yes, let's keep moving. 06* Susano-o walks faster. "I think it's because it's Nate. I can tell when I'm going wrong." 06* @Imp shrugs and follows more 06* Kali covers her chest again with her two free arms, looking worried off to the side. 06* Hien stops for a second to consider this, then realizes stopping is bad and hurries after them. 06* Susano-o slows at an intersection, checks back and forth, steps down one way... and then shakes his head, and takes the other one again. 01<@Ardweden> [After some time with the moving - time is so hard to determine here - you get out of the maze and to a long staircase, art ranging from medieval to modern hanging on both sides of it. Climbing to the top opens up to a long hallway, with more art lining one side and doors lining the other.] <@Imp> ooookay 06* Kali breathes out a bit after reaching the top of the staircase and looks at the door. 06* Susano-o peers at the doors. "He's definitely in one of these rooms." But you can't sense which one? 06* Susano-o starts walking down the hallway carefully, and then stops by the fourth door. "No. I can. It's here." 01<@Ardweden> [It's a door! Made of solid wood, with a brass handle. Above is a triangular stained glass window.] Do we even want to know what's behind the other doors? 06* Susano-o looks in through the window. "I think we're best off sticking with the one we know." I agree! 06* Joan is here! Really! 01 [Susano-O sees... stained glass. Yeah, it's hard to see through that window. He does barely manage to make out what's probably people on the other side. Maybe? It's hard to tell.] 06* Susano-o sighs, and grasps the handle. "All I see is that there are people in there. But I can tell he's inside. I feel it. Are you ready?" Per'aps we should knock first? 06* Susano-o nods. Politeness! He knocks. Do screams really warrent politeness? 01 [No response!] <@Imp> Look he's probably being tortured and killed. Now open the door and save your friend you obviously care so much about 06* Susano-o glares back at him, and then nods. Clearly, it's going to come to that, anyway. He tries the handle! 06* Kali rolls her eyes. "Way to lighten the mood." 01 [Susano-O tries the handle! It moves. Presumably he opens the door...] 06* Susano-o does open the door! 01 [And the scenery changes. Suddenly, instead of an empty library, it's filled with people. Most of them around your age, some older, who move about, talking to each other and looking at the art behind you. A few of them have books in their arms.] 01 [The screaming and upset noises, by the way, stop.] 06* @Imp jumps looking about confused. 06* Joan looks around. "Ah.... Zis iz not what I ekspected." Wha? 06* Kali steps beyond the boundary of the door, looking about for Nate. 06* Susano-o steps in, as well, trying to spot Nate, too. He feels rather out of place. 01 [Ahead is another large room, also a dedicated art gallery. The pieces here, at a glance, look like a range of work inspired by classical art through more modern, superhero/manga sorts of style. Again, people are looking at it and talking amongst themselves.] 01 [Nobody seems to have noticed the lot of you... yet.] 06* @Imp stares at the artwork trying to figure it out. 06* Kali looks for a podium or a stage or some such thing. Is there one or is it just full of art? 06* Susano-o looks over the art, and then around the room. "He has to be here somewhere. This is like a gallery of what Nate would draw." Zat makes sense. Per'aps we can find 'im surrounded by ze press or fans or somezing? 06* Susano-o nods. "If it's his dream, that should work." 01 [Imp and Susano-O notice that as lovely as the art is, it always seems to be missing... something. A line not connected here, a blotch of paint not filled in there. Like the artist nearly but didn't quite finish every one of his works.] 06* @Imp frowns. "I wouldn't hang this in a public bathroom." 01 [Joan and Kali see the barest shadow of a raven ghosting across the floor. But that's all it is, and then it's gone.] 06* Joan says, matter'o'factly, "Zere ees zee Raven." 06* Susano-o glances over at Imp. "They're good. They're just not done. They're all not done. I wonder if it's on purpose." 06* @Imp glances over at Susano-o. "Means the artist is lazy. The starkness of it being unfinished isn't on purpose. It's being shown unfinished with the artist hoping and praying no one would notice. It's junk." 06* Hien looks around at everything. "Wait, what?" 06* Susano-o looks surprised at that statement. "It's not junk." And then he sounds more thoughtful. "But maybe he didn't finish because he couldn't. He doesn't have problems finishing for real." 06* Kali frowns and replies softly to Joan, looking slightly up. "Yeah. I saw it too..." Zen we must be in zee right place. 06* Hien narrows her eyes and stairs at the paintings. "How are you seeing these things?" It's just practice, Hien. 06* @Imp points. "See the red isn't the right color there and the lines aren't solid and defined. It's like the artist got lazy and give up 5 minutes from completion." But if the Raven's here, why hasn't it gone horrible yet? 06* Hien looks up from her attemtps at art appreciation. "Wait, the raven's here?" 06* Susano-o looks away at Hien's line to Kali. "Maybe he didn't have a choice," he says to the Imp, and then says, "Where did you see it?" 06* Kali frowns slightly. "Barely here." 06* Joan looks around for Nate. "Maybe zere ees still time." Shadow. 06* @Imp sighs. "Do you see him anywhere? He's probably too embarrased to show his face." You probably scared him away with your stink. 06* Susano-o keeps his face impassive at that, and takes more of a look around. Or for unusual clumps of people. 01 [There are quite a few people; they still haven't noticed you. One, an Asian girl, even walks right by you, barely missing Hien by inches as she heads for the door.] 01 [Imp, Susano-O, Hien, and Joan all catch sight of a faint raven's shadow, as it circles around the five of you before flying farther down the hall.] 06* Hien blinks and steps back as the girl narrowly misses her. 06* Joan heads thataway! "Zis way, I zink." Okay. I saw the raven this time. 01 [The girl doesn't look in Hien's direction or even blink at the near miss. She pushes open the door and heads out.] 06* @Imp sighs and hes the way Joan did. Also, why can no one else see us? 06* Susano-o follows along, as well. "We're not really part of the dream, maybe?" Zey likely are not real zemselves. 06* Kali looks at Joan for a second and nods. "We're in a dream, remember?" 06* Kali heads zataway. Nate's dream, most likely. Zat's my theory. 06* Hien attempts to look thoughtful and follows the others. 06* Susano-o keeps an eye out for Nate as he makes his way through the crowd. Or the Raven. Or both. 01 [You all head down the hall, to the back! As you approach, you can see Nate there, at an easel. With him is someone else. It looks like... Javy? Yes, that's definitely Javy. They're talking while Nate paints. Neither of them notice as you approach.] 06* Kali nods slightly and looks aside, spare hand brushing her hair as she moves. "Well...that was our *intent* at least." 'Ey Javy, you're 'ere. If it's his dream, then you being in it makes sense, then! 06* @Imp frowns watching. 06* Kali frowns a little and slows while watching. 06* Susano-o looks at himself, dumbstruck. 03* Lex is now known as May 01 ["But, um, I don't get it," Javy's telling Nate. "Why don't you actually finish anything? Most people haven't noticed yet, but won't that get you in trouble?"] 06* Susano-o feels really, really weird, and steps a bit closer. He thinks his voice sounds weird, too, but he doesn't want to ask about that. 01 [They look like Javy and Nate, all right! Nate shrugs. "Lots of artists have quirks, right? I can get away with it. Besides... the payoff is *totally* worth it." At Javy's skeptical look, Nate grins. "Check this out."] 06* Susano-o can't help but look, too. 01 [And Nate connects the last line to his little painting, and a large, iridescent dragonfly flies up from the canvas. Javy stares, gaping, as it flies around the room. Nate just grins like a madman.] 06* Susano-o stares at it as well, mirroring... well, himself. 06* @Imp stares at it very unsure of what's going on. 06* Hien whispers. "Pretty! How'd he do that?" 06* Kali stares at the dragonfly and narrows her eyes, noting it carefully for any odd movements. 01 ["How did..." Javy begins, finding his voice and then losing it again, and Nate shrugs again, still grinning. "I dunno, man. All of a sudden, when I started finishing whatever it was I was doing, it became real. Not really alive, though." He reaches over and smears one of the lines, getting paint on his thumb, and the dragonfly pops out of existence. "That'd be... that'd be too creepy."] Hm. 06* Susano-o watches, his expression cooling. "That's what he'd want most. To be able to really create." 06* Kali frowns. "So far he seems just like the others. I don't think he can hear us. Or see us." 01 [Nate turns to Javy again, talking excitedly, "I haven't told *anyone* else yet. You're my best friend, so I know you'll keep it secret... we could figure out the limitations of what I could do, and then, who knows, maybe we can use it to solve all sorts of problems." Pause as Javy doesn't say anything yet, and Nate continues with, "You, uh, are okay with it, right? It's cool, isn't it?"] 06* @Imp is just staring. "So he won't come out of this without you wrecking his shit." 06* Kali stares coldly at 'Javy'. "That's not him though." 06* Susano-o nods, and says with quiet urgency, "It's going to go bad. And you're right. It's going to be me. I mean. That me. We have to step in." 01 [Javy blinks, apparently snapping out of it, "No, it's really neat." He smiles encouragingly. "Really. I'm just... shocked. I mean, suddenly we're in one of our comics. I'm wondering if I can create buildings all of a sudden to go with what you make." And Nate laughs.] <@Imp> So, thoughts, on what to do here? 06* Kali looks at Susano-O. "*Can* we step in though? They can't even see us." She frowns. "Unless..." Did we touch anyone before? Or did they just avoid us? I think they just missed us. Barely, but they didn't run into us. The Raven didn't touch anyone. What if it's like the Haven? I mean if touching someone works, then it works but... 06* @Imp shrugs and starts hopping over towards Javy. 01 [Imp hops up to Javy!] 01 [Not to be confused with Susano-O.] 06* Susano-o watches, and then says, "We have to try." He follows the Imp, but goes towards Nate. Touching his own dream self would be too weird. 01 [Now Susano-O nears Nate.] 06* Joan stands at the ready, juuuust in case. 06* Kali frowns and readies her swords. Things going bad don't just have to center on Nate and Javy. 06* @Imp touches Javy! 06* Susano-o nods to the Imp to try first! Probably it's safer. 06* Hien gets ready with the others, because things are likely about to happen! 01 [Javy jumps at Imp's touch and looks down at him. "Holy-" And Nate looks over and stares. Javy turns to Nate. "Did you make that?" "If I did, it wouldn'tve shown up over there!" Nate says.] <@Imp> Hi! My friends and I want to talk to you. 01 [And then Javy has the sense to back away from Imp. "Your friends?" Nate asks, and then he actually looks up and around. His eyes widen as he takes in all of the others, and then he yelps as he reaches Susano-O standing RIGHT THERE.] 06* Susano-o raises his hands. "Don't worry. We're here to protect you." 06* Kali looks Nate and Javy over and lowers her swords for a moment, though she doesn't put them away yet. It hasn't gone horribly *yet*. And since she didn't say that allowed, doesn't count, nyahaha. 01 ["Protect me? From what?" Nate also edges away from Susano-O, grabbing his paints as he does so.] These dreams. Nate, I had dreams like this, too. Everything is going right, right? 06* @Imp frowns waiting to hear this speech. 01 ["How do you know my name?" Nate asks, still backing away.] 06* Susano-o starts to say, "Because..." and bites the rest of it off. "This is your opening, right? Everyone knows who you are. All of us." 01 ["Sure, but you..." Nate looks at the others. "No offense, but some of you aren't exactly human. And most of us don't glow. Did you develop powers or something, too? Because while fantastic, this has definitely not been a dream."] 06* Kali quirks her head to the side and looks at Nate. "Not been a dream?" <@Imp> Maiden kidnapping dragon, angry multiarmed swordwoman, french stab- machine, glowy freak, and little demon. I'd say we just like to stand out. But zis ees a dream. 06* Susano-o gives him a serious look. "It is, Nate. I know it's great, but it is a dream." I haven't kidnapped anyone. I asked for permission first! Hien. It's best not to encourage him. 01 [Nate hesitates for a moment, and then Javy steps forward. "They're talking about kidnapping you. They must've heard all about what you can do." And Nate stares at Javy for a brief second before Javy yells, "Run!"] 06* Kali stares at Javy. "Oh you little..." Javy, tell yourself we're on your side. That wasn't what we meant at all! 01 [And then Nate's off, running! And Javy turns back to you. "I know I'm on Nate's side."] 01 ["You should leave him alone. He's happy. Really happy."] 06* Susano-o looks at himself, confused, and says, "But you're not. I'm on his side. I'm his best friend. And he can't be happy just in here." 06* @Imp breaks up laughing. 06* Kali wraps her arms around herself looking at Javy. "No one wants to stay stuck in a dream world. No matter how pleasant it might seem..." 01 ["No, *I'm* clearly his best friend. You just want things the way you think they should be." And then Javy turns his attention to a ghost of a raven, shadowing its way across the floor, and light shines across it forcing it to disappear.] <@Imp> Javy, punch yourself. Hard. 01 [Javy rolls his eyes. "That'd be stupid. Anyway, you don't belong here. Go away."] But you don't act anyzing like our Javy. 06* Kali rolls her eyes too and glares at Javy. "And you do?" She looks at Susano-O. "Nate's getting away...if we lose him..." 06* @Imp nods and teleports past Javy to chase Nate! 01 ["Only because what you see Javy as isn't what Nate knows him as. And now I *really* know you don't belong here." At Imp's teleport, Javy yells, "NO!" and a wall appears in front of Imp, blocking him off. "I won't let you hurt him!"] 06* Susano-o shakes his head. "He was talking to me. Not you. I'm the real Javy. I know what's better for him. And we're not going anywhere." He steps closer to himself, drawing his sword from the scabbard. 06* @Imp rams right in the wall wincing. 06* Joan puts her hand on her sword. 06* Kali raises her swords again and points it at Javy, walking slowly towards him. "And how do you define hurting him? You're lying to him." 01 [Javy steps back. "Oh geez, seriously?" He looks at the others readying their swords. "So much for diplomacy." And the doors behind you slam shut. Wait, doors? Javy frowns, and water begins to trickle into the room, sliding up through the cracks in the floor. "Guess we'll do this the hard way."] 01 [Session End.]