idream_ofmemes | TDM #1 - What Dreams May Come

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TDM #1 - What Dreams May Come

What Dreams May Come

Dream On

Welcome to the Dreamscape. A beautiful, endless dream where you and a bunch of other unique and interesting minds from across the multiverse have been gathered to connect, commiserate, and make the impossible... possible! There are many fantastical realms to explore and even more to come, and you are given your very own Nimbus Cloud to serve as your home. This puffy pink cloud will host a pocket dimension just for you where the only limit to what you can create is your own imagination. Missing personal items or locations from the waking world? No problem--- the only thing you have to do in order to earn feathers, the local currency, is make meaningful connections with others. In fact, making these meaningful connections seems to be the only task assigned to you by your mysterious host, the Outsider.

The only catch? You can't wake up until the Outsider wakes you. And it's not clear when that will be--- if ever.

Make your way in this ever-changing dream realm, find friends and allies to earn Feathers, and navigate strange and fantastical Dreamscape-wide events as you and your new neighbors try to unravel the mystery of what exactly the Outsider wants, and what it will take to escape the never-ending dream. The Outsider isn't just an NPC, either--- they're joining you on your adventures!

WHAT

The grand opening of Perchance to Dream!

WHEN

9/13/2022

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Locations

Feather Info

The Outsider

I'm Only Sleeping

♫♪♩♬

When you go to sleep that night, it is like any other night. After a long day of living your life in the waking world, you dress down for the night, lie your weary head down, close your eyes, and begin to drift off, as you normally do. However, just as you are about to fall asleep, there is a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach that something has changed.

But you drift off nonetheless.

When you rise, you find yourself still in the same bed you went to sleep in, but that bed has been… transported, somehow, to a broad and otherwise empty room. Your feet hit the black marble floor, but even if they are bare, they don’t feel cold. Around you are tall arches, beyond which is a rich, pink, sunset sky, and fluffy clouds drifting lazily by, sometimes close enough that parts of them intrude on the room.

On one side of the room, there is a door. Tall and austere, it looms overhead, bearing a carving of a strange blue eye. You feel awake, yet you know you are dreaming. Never in your life have you had a dream like this, so breathtakingly lucid. You feel foreign here, but welcome, like a guest. It’s an odd feeling, but perhaps it is familiar.

At the foot of your bed, there is a note on a small black slip of paper, written in lavender ink. It’s addressed to you by name.

“If you want answers, come find me at the Torn Oak. Otherwise, make yourself at home. Welcome to the Dreamscape.

-The Outsider”

The only way out is through the door. When you exit it, it slams behind you, and is gone if you turn around. You begin to get the sense that you’re going to be here for a while.

The Dreaming Tree

♫♪♩♬

The first area that you come into contact with is a sprawling field of stark white vegetation under a deep purple sky. At the base of the hill upon which you stand, you can see a tree that is particularly large, that seems to be standing perfectly upright despite being torn completely in half just above the stump. A blue wooden door with a silver handle stands in the gap between the body of the three and the stump below. It seems this place has an interesting penchant for disembodied doors. Still, this is probably the “Torn Oak” referenced in the note from the room before.

Should you go in, you’ll find before you a fantastical structure that looks almost like a shrine--- four shimmering crystal pillars, a glass chandelier, and a pedestal with a glowing sphere swirling with light. And beside that, there stands a strange figure. A person with periwinkle skin and a long, slender body, draped in a cloak with golden eyes that moved and blinked. On their head, a pair of horns and a golden halo, and a pointed tail flicked around their ankles. They had three eyes, one seated up on their brow, all of which were that strange, eerie blue that the one carved into that large black door had been.

“Hello there!” They greet you cheerfully. “I’ve been expecting you. I’m sure you have questions!”

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) 

♫♪♩♬

The Outsider, your host, is more than happy to explain the purpose of this place. You are in the Dreamscape, a special pocket of the collective unconscious of the entire omniverse, and they’ve plucked the dreaming minds of a hand-picked selection of people out of their own dreams, to be here in this mystical place. They cannot tell you why, exactly, but they want you to make meaningful emotional, mental, and physical connections with other dreamers, particularly those who you do not know, and they’re willing to reward you for doing so.

Perhaps you want to get started on collecting right away. The Outsider has kindly informed you that the best way to do this is to go and make some new friends. The likelihood that you’ll find another dreamer or two walking around the grassy knoll outside the Torn Oak or heading up or down the colossal escalator leading up into the sky itself is pretty high. Perhaps you’ll even find someone who wants to walk with you over to the Glass Lake, where the water’s surface can be walked on to get a better view of the Rainbow Koi. For some reason, no matter how many people go there or how inviting it seems, no one else besides you and the person or people you went with ever seems to be anywhere around, making it surprisingly private.

Sleepwalking

♫♪♩♬

If the immediate area doesn’t strike your fancy and you’re looking for some other options, you might consider heading to the Barren Freeway. The long stretch of paved road is oppressively isolating and terribly eerie, but it can lead to so many other places, be they strange, temporary locations from the corners of your mind that disappear when you leave, or the Twisted City itself.

Bustling and full of life, there is always something to do or see in the Twisted City. Restaurants, shops, night life, libraries, parks--- and it almost looks like a normal town, if you can ignore the bubbles in the sky, uncanny structures in the street, and the fact that nothing ever seems to stay in the same spot. Though if you get lost and need to get back to the Freeway, the Submarineway has a stop right by there. Maybe in the process of finding your way, you can find a friend.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm Only Sleeping
cw: murder related to a Coup D'etat, character death, self-doubt

When the prince lost consciousness it was against his wishes, sheer exhaustion the cause. There was so much riding on his actions that he often felt as if he was completely alone even though he still had his friends to rely on for support but his family, mentor, and advisors were all gone. Dead presumably, and he hadn't been able to do anything to prevent it. The treachery of Heishin was enacted without warning, his strength immeasurable bolstered by the power of the sacred items. If there was ever a time to push one's self to the limit, to forgo rest it was now. And yet... sleep he did.

When he regained consciousness the strange sights that met his eyes were startling, it was such a sharp contrast to the dueling grounds where he had been that he almost expected to see Fizdis standing in the doorway, there to wake him to start the day. That was a ludicrous thought, ever since he returned to find the palace in ruins he had no way of knowing what had become of the loyal servant. The thought pained him, as he remembered the last time he'd seen her as she tried to warn him to flee.

Would he always be consumed by guilt for leaving them all behind?

Scrubbing a hand along his face, he forced those thoughts to the back of his mind as he'd had to do several times now to keep going. As long as his people were in danger, he needed to remain strong. After taking a steadying breath, he stepped onto the marble floor with his sandaled feet and headed out that door. The strange eyeball didn't escape his notice, but was it any more ominous than the eye in the center of his millennium puzzle?

As the door slammed shut behind him, he didn't even flinch. "I will find this Outsider, and determine just what he has to do with all this..."

The Glass Lake

On the way to the torn Oak, Atem travelled to the forest and found himself having to stop and stare in awe.

"This is... Incredible!"

There was nothing like this in Egypt, not even near the oases or the bountiful life-giving Nile. He wondered briefly what gave the fauna it's luminescent quality- was this the work of a powerful sorcerer? Was there any connection to this "Outsider" and the Mages guarding the locations of the Millennium Items? It didn't seem likely, but who else would want to hinder his progress?

Coming to the lake, he puzzled over it, before kneeling down to examine it more closely. The colorful fish darted all around in such hues that were usually reserved for paintings. He reached out to dip his fingers into the water only to discover that the surface was solid.

"By the Gods..."

Righting himself, he looked skeptically downward, totally wanting to attempt crossing the lake.

".. There certainly are some mysterious forces at work here."

Twisted City

Unsure how long he would have to remain here, Atem soon found his way to the Twisted City. This arrangement of it wasn't entirely dissimilar to what he was used to but the architecture and construction of said structures was. In some ways it reminded him more of what could be found in Yugi's time, but that place felt ages away. What differed from both Egypt and Domino City was the constant flux of where things were located. It was more like the dark labyrinthian reaches of his mind.

That seemed to further confirm the stories about this all being a dream- or a collective dream. Not entirely ready to immerse himself in the environment, he kept trying to ask if anyone here had seen his friends in hopes that any of them had made this journey with him. Maybe he shouldn't hope for that- but being here was surely safer than being left to that rogue High Priest's whims.

"Excuse me," He reached out to touch someone's arm to get their attention. "I.. don't suppose you've met anyone names Teana or Jono, have you? They'd both be dressed.. well.. more like me." Directing his free hand over his egyptian attire which seemed to be in short supply here.

How dare the Outsider ask Seto Kaiba to do such a ridiculous thing as make friends. It was an indignity, an outrage...but it'd been a while, and that white-hot flame had mostly given way to sulking at this point. He drifted through the annoyingly colorful landscapes with a fixed frown, giving people a wide berth as a rule. Until a familiar spark of memory appeared in the corner of his eye.

He was fully awake in this dream for the first time, staring at the familiar profile of someone he'd convinced himself he'd never see again. Could this be the Outsider summoning a familiar mirage to trick him into dropping his guard? Possibly. But he still felt the need to investigate.

Kaiba crouched at the lakeside, reaching out to...tap it. Huh.

"It's a glass sheet. Not that impressive if you've ever been to an aquarium," was what he chose as a hello. Sorry, Atem.

Due to the transient nature of the environment, the youthful prince didn't perceive the presence of another until the other man was right there giving his unsolicited opinion on the landscape. Seeing that face gave Atem a start that made him grateful that the lake had a transparent covering as he ended up retreating onto it to place some distance between himself and a potential opponent.

"Set.... No. It's Kaiba isn't it?"

The hazards of knowing two people that were named Seto and looked nearly identical save for their attire, certain mannerisms, and belief systems.

".. but what are you doing here?" Upon further inspection he noted a few more differences. "Did you tire of the purple ensemble?" In the meantime, internally he contemplated just what an "aquarium" was supposed to be. Maybe he'd give Kaiba the satisfaction of filling him in on that later.

Atem seemed to be unusually wary of him. That was odd. And what was this about purple? He hadn't worn that in ages. He stood up and folded his arms, trying to mask his confusion behind indifference...but he could never truly be indifferent, not when it came to Atem. Or who he hoped was Atem.

"That's me. Didn't the Outsider give you his ridiculous pitch? Throw a bunch of sleeping people into a blender, watch us forge bonds and play nice?" The general disdain for this concept seeped through every word. But one thing still bothered him:

"If anyone knew how the living and the dead could share a dreamscape, I thought it'd be you," he finally admitted.

The longer he looked at Kaiba the more questions arose. Was it his imagination or was his modern day rival more... physically fit? It wasn't that the brunette had ever been out of shape but Atem certainly didn't remember him being quite so toned. At least it was preferable to run into the card-obsessed ceo then Heishin's lackey, so he could ease up a little.

"Not yet, I was just looking for the Outsider when I found this place instead." The description however made a frown crease his lips. "I really don't have the time to play his games." If there was one thing the pair could agree on currently, it was this.

"Dead..? You think I'm dead?" I mean, technically by Kaiba's time he would be deceased but the prince didn't think of himself that way. No, he was still very much alive. "My spirit might have spent some time in your era, but after Yugi collected the Millennium Items I was able to return home." It was his turn to find something nagging him. "... but you literally should know about this, to some degree... you were the one in possession of the Millennium Rod.. did you forget the entire tournament?".

Edited 2022-09-20 23:18 (UTC)

Kaiba was getting a headache already. Was there a disconnect in what they knew?

"I thought you'd sacrificed yourself to seal Zorc back then. But if it's just a manner of semantics, and you're back to a life of your own, well. Good for you." So...Atem was fine, wherever he was. That was relieving, if still inconvenient for Kaiba's plans to reclaim his title. But he might get a chance to deal with that soon if he played his cards right.

There was one more thing that troubled him, though. "But I never wielded the Rod. The priest you claim was my past self did back then, but not me. Malik Ishtar had it, and he handed it straight to you two after the mess he made of the tournament was resolved."

"None of this is making any sense." Atem lamented to himself but quite audibly for all to hear. "I don't know anyone named Zorc." The glass lake was temporarily forgotten, as he gazed questioningly up at the other. Was Kaiba inadvertently telling him his future? Or.. a possible future? "It's Heishin that I'm trying to take down." This at least, Kaiba wouldn't have known since it wasn't as if everything had been divulged. Cards, for once, were the furthest thing from his mind even though they would play a pivotal role in defeating the aforementioned priest. There was something more valuable than a title at state.

"You didn't... use it for anything that I was aware of but it certainly was in your possession." Just what was all this? Was Kaiba trying to shift the blame away from himself? ".. If you're trying to deceive me, I will find out. Perhaps engaging in deception is not something exclusive to Priest Seto." He spoke before he thought, throwing out an accusation he shouldn't have. There was a little detail in Kaiba's favor however. "You keep mentioning these names... I don't know. The only Ishtar in the tournament was Isis!" With a huff, he tried to quell his nerves from all the conflicting information. His voice had elevated and he shouldn't have let it.

Kaiba reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Now he was the suspicious one? Well. He supposed his past history of thieving and attempted murder wasn't exactly working in his favor here, but he drew a deep breath to force himself to remain calm. They could untangle this mess.

"Right, Isis is his older sister. She entered the tournament to try to save him, because his darker half was seeking revenge on you for the sins of the father, or...something like that. I was too angry about losing to you again to pay much attention. But I swear I never touched those items, I don't need magic on my side. Win or lose, it's by my power alone."

Wait, why would he admit...? Ugh. Atem always had a way of pushing his buttons. He looked away briefly before making eye contact again, trying to quell his frustration. "I wonder if our host meddled with our memories. It'd be a 'fun' twist to his twisted experiment, I suppose...but creating conflict is the opposite of what he wants. Unless he lied about his motive?"

Ugh. He was definitely getting a headache now. He crouched by the lake once more, pressing a single hand on the glass.

Edited 2022-09-21 00:03 (UTC)

There wasn't anything in Kaiba's gestures to indicate that he was being disingenuous but it was still a lot to process, and even though Atem didn't like to admit it the brunette wasn't the only one who could have a quick temper. Speaking of that temper, it wasn't being exhibited now. That in itself was peculiar.

"... I don't remember any of this." He could still remember Isis's sharp features and her determination but... not this supposed brother, like.. at all. She hadn't struck him as some benevolent protector. At least this time he just grew quiet, looking to the fish swimming just below. Wouldn't he have remembered a revenge plot against himself specifically? It was probably best not to mention that Kaiba losing was the same in either tournament.

He finally looked up again in time to meet Kaiba's gaze. "It's possible.. I'm not altogether sure whether to trust the Outsider or not. I just don't see the purpose in dragging us all here." If one of them had their memories altered- he'd be willing to bet that it was Kaiba.

A silent few moments crept in between the conversation as both were likely debating how to proceed. The prince didn't like the idea of having to rely on Kaiba for anything- not after that stunt he pulled with Yugi's grandpa, but he knew that there was some affection under the surface for Mokuba. Or... did he know that? "You ... still have a brother named Mokuba, right? You didn't switch him out for a dog or a cat...?" The delivery was a bit too haughty, but he wasn't even sure what kind of person this Kaiba was.

"... I'm sorry. I shouldn't be on the offensive when we're both trying to figure out what's going on." There. He admitted it. Don't make him do it again.

Kaiba quieted some as he watched the small fish. He'd be able to see the bigger koi if he just stepped out onto the glass, but he wasn't in the mood to trust such strangeness right then. He sat on the grass near Atem instead, mulling over this bizarre situation: they recognized each other, yet so few of their memories aligned? Why?

He met Atem's gaze once more, pulled by the mention of that familiar name. Kaiba reached for the locket he still wore, gently clasping a hand over it.

"I do. He's everything to me. And it's. Fine. We don't fully know each other, given the discrepancies in our memories. I wouldn't trust me either, not until we get this figured out."

But to figure it out they needed to cooperate, right? He hated the idea of it, but. There was the slightest glimmer of honest feeling he could draw on.

"I do like you on the offensive...but I prefer it when we're dueling."

An awkward attempt at a joke, paired with the slightest of smirks.

It was evident that a chord had been struck with the mention of Kaiba's younger brother, but it triggered a reaction that the prince needed to see. If there was someone his rival still cared about and wanted to protect then his soul wasn't tarnished enough to prevent cooperation being feasible.

"... but given that logic, you'd have just as much reason not to trust me." And yet, the uneasiness seemed to be one-sided. What a bizarre but remarkable exchange this was turning into.

Somehow the word "like" from Kaiba in association in any capacity with himself, made him speechless, amused, and somewhat uneasy. "You... like the challenge, anyway." It was his turn to break eye contact... just look at all those odd trees, simply fascinating.

Then something else finally dawned on him that should have nearly at the beginning of the whole conversation. Eyes widening in surprise, he gaped down at the resting form on the grass. "You're aware that Yugi and myself are different people?!" All the various threads were starting to weave themselves together. The admission that magic existed, the fact that Kaiba hadn't balked at the mention of Yugi or questioned the Egyptian attire... it's because he didn't see any of these things as being out of place.

Edited 2022-09-21 01:18 (UTC)

"Your name...you're Pharaoh Atem, right?"

Is he? Would he have received a different name with all that alternate history? He looked up at his rival with a calm expression, still puzzling all this out.

"I was dragged along for the ride when Yugi and friends brought you to recover your name and your memories. We landed in an illusion of your land as it was back then. Seeing the two of you together, even my skepticism has its limits."

He considered Atem's wariness, the almost accusatory statements, and the picture as aw whole, and added: "Look, the enemy here is the Outsider and this illusion messing with our heads. I'm not going to waste my energy fighting you too. Is that acceptable?"

Hearing his name coupled with "Pharaoh" sent a veritable lightning bolt of unaddressed anguish throughout his system. Clenching a fist to his chest, his shoulders slumped forward allowing his bangs to cover his features as much as they were able. Trembling slightly, he wet his lips with his tongue before trying to form a cohesive thought.

"I...... guess... that would be accurate now, wouldn't it?" His voice sounded frail and foreign even to himself. So he closed his eyes and thought of all the faces of those who were depending on him, and everyone that had helped him get this far.

Then with more conviction he added. "I will be pharaoh." Just as soon as the traitors were driven out of Egypt. The loss was still so fresh on his mind, since he'd really never gotten a chance just to really stop and examine all that transpired.

He wouldn't look at Kaiba again, not until he'd fully composed himself but he listened attentively to all that was said. "... The only explanation I can come up with is... perhaps when I went back to my time, it altered your present. Maybe... none of you can remember the events I described because they were all erased." Then apparently, a new threat emerged and he still ended up getting locked in a puzzle and meeting everyone? That seemed awfully coincidental. Also, it made his struggle almost seem meaningless. Was there no positive outcome where he could just rule as he was always meant to in his father's stead?

Drawing himself to a more respectful stance he gave Kaiba a nod. "Yes. That is acceptable." ~~So let it be written, so let it be done~~.

Edited 2022-09-21 02:00 (UTC)

Atem | Yugioh FM | OTA

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Twisted City

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