JAWS • DECEMBER 2025 EVENT/TDM

[uruz]

TDM & EVENT: JAWS

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Show Me Those Pretty White Jaws

The dream has been coming in waves for those new to Sleep's touch, as a shoreline that never stays still. As a sky that never remembers to include its stars. Beneath it all, there is a voice. Her voice: silk-sweet, coaxing from just beyond the approaching wave that towers like a moving mountain. She tells you to come home. She promises it won't hurt, even if she never tells you what waits beneath. You see the shape just before the dream ends: a massive black tidal wave, yawning wide and black until it looks like a pair of jaws breaking upon you. You don't have time to resist.

You and your veteran Vessels will awaken in water.

There is no surface. No bottom. No sky. No sound but your own heartbeat and the echoes of water being slashed though, dull and endless in the still, frigid dark. You are suspended, weightless— Some may have difficulty to breathe without inhaling water the first few times, while those aligned with the waves will feel it come like second nature. Once you acclimate yourself, you'll notice that around you drift glowing filaments; thin, pulsing threads that coil like jellyfish tendrils, softly luminescent. They curl and twist through the water, and when you look closer, you realize: they show you things. Memories, maybe. Dreams, maybe. Each one unique to your gaze: a hand reaching for yours in the dark, a goodbye that never finished, a face you haven't seen in years. They are what you think love looks like. What you once needed it to be. And when you touch them, they wrap around you, gently, warmly . . . Hungrily— and begin to pull you down.

To ascend into the next level, you must let go. But not everything that binds you wants to be released. The filaments drifting through the water show you what you think love looks like— what you've built it into. They are gentle at first, beautiful even, but the longer you cling, the more they pull.

There are ways to escape them: You may bind your filament with another's and together speak aloud a shared truth: what you believe love really is. If your hearts align or at the very least come to an agreement, the threads dissolve into light and lift you upward. If your beliefs clash or contradict, the threads knot tighter, and something . . . May take interest in you.

Beneath you, something moves. Huge, silent and almost regal. It glides through the deep like a phantom, almost too large to be real. You feel its presence before you see its flash of pearl white and glowing red eyes, three on each side of its face: a shark.

The shark is here to choose its next meal. It smells grief, fear and seeks out trauma most of all. It is drawn to the most unspoken parts of you, the very parts you thought were buried, roused from the tightened ropes of what you crave in your heart. And when it chooses you, it does not bite immediately. It invites, with its jaws opening like a sanctuary and slow towards you.

Inside is I, whispers Sleep. Allow Me to have you whole, and you will be at peace. Show Me love.

Fight against her, or even with your current partner about what love is, and Sleep will open her maw, spilling tendrils from her throat and begin to stalk you. Best be prepared to fight the possessed Megalodon— She will laugh, amused as you do, like a great cat playing with its food. And if you were to be caught, well. You'll wake in the dream's next level with an undeniable prey drive, whether Token or Offering.

She will do anything to keep you here.

NOTES:

• There is no surface visible at first. Light only comes from the filaments. As characters resist, act, or ascend, a faint stained-glass shimmer begins to pulse upward, hinting at the dream's next layer.
• Sound is muffled— speech emerges as bubbles, but meaning travels regardless. Words feel heavy here. Some phrases may literally change the water (turn to light, birth dream-objects, or ripple with tension). You will do better using The Murmur as a means of communication. Luckily you have your mask on!
• The Shark always circles once it senses trouble within you. Sometimes close, sometimes far, but always felt. If characters listen closely, they can hear the echo of One's voice coming from inside it: pleading with a haunted, at times screaming melody.

TOKEN EFFECTS

• The dream bends subtly around Tokens, especially at the whims of an Aquamancer. Walls of pressure open before them, and filaments shift course as if expecting them. This can make their path easier, unless they start to doubt their purpose.
• Tokens perceive emotional resonance as currents in the water such as subtle flows of energy. These can guide them (or others) toward escape paths, or signal when the shark is near.
• When a Token speaks or acts with strong intent, the dream sometimes translates it into a symbolic structure: A word might become a floating glyph. A gesture might alter the filament's shape. A moment of clarity might reveal a hidden path. Other characters can interact with these dream-objects, but they're fragile, unstable, and prone to distortion by doubt.
• The deeper Tokens go, the more they feel themselves pulling apart and begin to experience dual awareness: one part dreaming, one part watching— some may even see flashes of within the shark's belly, and One's voice much louder. The deeper they go, the more detached they become, and the more they lack the ability to act at all.

OFFERING EFFECTS

• The shark is more fascinated by Offerings. It circles them often, sensing kinship— or potential. The more monstrous the Offering, the more the shark "pauses' near them, almost curious.
• Offerings feel "the pull" more clearly, particularly Merrows and other aquatic-based Offerings—they can sense where the surface might be, and where the shark intends to strike next. They may even see pulses in the water that others miss, similar to Spider Man's "spidey senses".
• An Offering may experience rapid body changes submerged. Fins may appear, bones may shift, teeth may lengthen without warning and so on. This makes their movement easier or harder, depending on how much of themselves they're holding back or how apt their monstrous forms are at swimming.
• Some Offerings may feel drawn to the shark— not in fear, but in understanding. They may see themselves in it, and vice versa— One's song in particular is hypnotic, and for split moments you may understand his pain through his words. This might make you more prone to being consumed, though, so hopefully your partner can help you out of it—?.

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Watching Me With Eyes Of A Predator

The surface you breach is not water— it's glass.

You strike it with the force of falling sky. It fractures beneath you in a bloom of painted light. For one weightless moment, the dream hesitates, sputters. Then the world shatters, and you fall with the cascade.

Water pours through the crack in the ceiling, carrying you down in ribbons of color and a shattering splash. Stained glass shards drift like petals through the now collapsing roof, and you eventually land not in sand, but upon a cathedral floor, slick with tide. Around you, the water spreads, pooling across the stone and swallowing the walls in a rising hush as it finds escape through the doors.

The cathedral is vast, impossibly so. Its architecture towers, crooked and immaculate, built more from longing than stone. No altar awaits you. No congregation. Only the sensation of having trespassed into something meant to be private. Veteran Vessels may recognize this cathedral as St. Patrick's— before it was drenched in One's blood sacrifice.

High above and surrounding you, the stained-glass mosaics churn with captured light. f you linger beneath one of the window's rays, your appearance may begin to change under the light. You appear as someone else sees you. Be it a hero. A monster. A disappointment. A god. A weakness. A temptation. Even a burden. That version of you clings to your dream-body like a second skin; uncomfortable, intimate, and undeniable. For some, it may be beautiful. For others, unbearable.

If you and another stand beneath the same window, you may each appear as the other secretly imagines. There is no control and no negotiation. Only truth twisted through the lens of want, resentment, fear, or love. And it doesn't go away until you leave the light.

Eventually, the cathedral doors open by dream's will. Beyond them lies a cloister garden: narrow paths, pale trees, and wild flowers that bloom in stillness. At the far end, behind the overgrowth and ruined arches, you see a hollow.

It is a corridor where the dream collapses inward, twisting, warped, half-swallowed in fog and dread. Its stones pulse faintly beneath a shallow film of water. Black tendrils reach from its depths like roots, veins, twitching toward sound, warmth, and movement. You see them dragging matter into the earth, and between them lie bones, contorted and fresh, half-consumed.

And farther still, a body that still breathes. Glimpsed only briefly, A masked man's form is stretched by the hollow's gravity, arms pinned behind the veil. He does not move, or speak. Or perhaps, he cannot. The hollow does not let him go and will not, should you make your attempts. If you step foot in the hollows that have consumed him, you too will be consumed. A three eyed Tod sits at the hollow's edge, a single bushy tail splitting into three, as its body plays with illusion like smoke put to dance over fire. It says, as its head floats up and its maw splits into a grin too cheshire to ignore: Wearing shoes, yet no feet in sight. You'll hear steps pound in the death of night. What is it that you need, to cross this narrow blight?

It disappears and only leaves you the riddle to chew on.

Nothing living can cross the hollow, you'll soon find. Nothing except . . . The Nightmares.

Just outside the garden's boundary, you'll find horses built from wind and shadow, flickering at the edge of your vision. Their bodies are black— not the color, but the absence, swallowing all light. Some of their craniums cound be seen, others have a jutting horn of bone from their foreheads. Where eyes should be, there are six: three stacked on each side of the skull, glowing dimly red like distant embers beneath ice. Their manes flow like torn fabric, like drifting vapor that trails behind them like the smoke from a snuffed candle. Their maws are too damn wide to be herbivorous, yet they seem to enjoy the act of grazing. They wait, unchained and wild in a herd.

This is the only way forward. Only they can pass through the hollow untouched. But how to ride one—? You may chase them. You may plead, command, kneel. You may offer them all your need and all your love, promises that you will provide if they become your steed. But they were not made to answer it. For every Vessel, there is one single Nightmare that will choose them, and thus you will choose each other. They have their own personalities, some more aggressive or shyer than others. The harder you reach, the faster they vanish or harshed they will attack if unready. Try to mount one through force, and you'll regret ever trying. Try to bind one, and it will break you.

But if you are patient, if you figure out its nature and how to please it— your Nightmare may come closer. One may circle you. It may bow its head. Their snort is warm and real against your palm. If successful, it will lower itself to its knees. If you've got the height, they will simply wait, patiently, for you to get on their backs (Or not; there are plenty of sassy mares out there).

If you accept, you might not be taken somewhere safe, but you will be taken somewhere true, away from here. And if you force your want upon them, if you cannot let go— you will be left with something else.

In the distance, across the flooded cathedral floor, you may see One again. Flashes, glimpses. Always chasing a mare he never reaches, or the opposite— the mare chases after him.

NOTES:

• If a character successfully forms a bond with their Nightmare, it will return with them in the form of a waking world steed, officially introduced in the next event. You're free to give it the personality you wish.
• If a character attempts to force a connection with a Nightmare at any point (tries to catch, mount, command, etc.), the mare will bite or kick, which Vessels will suffer as a persistent dream-mark that will carry into the waking world.

TOKEN EFFECTS

• Light clings unnaturally to Tokens in the cathedral, especially near the stained glass. It bends around their bodies like a false halo, casting them in divine or monstrous outlines depending on who watches.
• If a Token casts or channels any magic within the cathedral or near a Nightmare, the spell does not manifest, but instead, a cold mist escapes their mouth, and the Nightmare turns to look. The dream rejects force.
• When a Nightmare looks directly at a Token, their eyes eclipse, pupils vanishing into rings of shadow. In that moment, a fragmented vision floods the Token's mind . . . not from the Nightmare, but from another character nearby. It shows the Token how that character once dreamed of them, what they feared, needed, or hoped they would become.

OFFERING EFFECTS

• The stained glass causes a subtle change in scent and physical appearance turning into a more grotesque version of this— Offerings begin to smell or look like what others most want from them.
• Offerings may always know where the Nightmares are, even when hidden. But the more they try to act on this knowledge, the harder the Nightmares are to reach.
• An Offering's body will react before they realize it, flinching from lies, bristling in moments of emotional pressure, pulling away from contact, and so on. They may startle even at gentle contact, as if something inside them is as reactive as they are.

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Where The Delicate Stops

As your Nightmare takes you through the misty hollow, you may begin to notice the empty city of Manhattan as veterans remember. There is no warning but the eerie silence that surrounds you like impossible weights. The cathedral once behind you folds inward— wrong, deep and full of pressure. It bursts through the hollow's path, through the city's street, and then— The dream ruptures.

Stone peels backward like paper. Glass liquefies mid-air. The sky above the city pulls itself inside out. Time bends sideways. And from the edges of the dream, something, someone, begins to hunt. Sleep's presence moves like the very shark she chose as a vision of her physical manifestation. She does not speak or rage. But you feel Her, rising like fever beneath the skin of Her world as the hairs at the back of your neck do. She does not want you this deep, and neither does One.

Somewhere within the collapse, you may see them— entwined, shifting, trembling. One's face is turned toward you, screaming something that doesn't reach your ears. Sleep's hands are tangled in his body. She pulls him back with a gentleness that breaks the sky, and he screams, reaching for you with his last breath before consumption. The dream convulses.

The Nightmares bolt with you still on them.

The city rises to meet you from the shadows, but it's not the city you know. Skyscrapers twist at unnatural angles. Streets flood, then dry, then flood again. Tendrils burst from subway grates and gutters, slashing upward like tongues. Streetlights spin like compass needles. Cars levitate, crash, freeze midair. You move through it all at breakneck speed, but the exit keeps shifting— a hole in the world that flickers just beyond reach where you see your body, fast asleep.

Somewhere in the chaos, a few Nightmares are caught. Sleep strikes like lightning— she coils like a viper and tightens like a vice. One touch from Her, and your Nightmare collapses mid-gallop, its body unraveling into smoke and light. No sound. No scream. Just absence. And you fall right off it like a ragdoll.

Others fall beneath impact, too— a wrong turn, a shattered wall, a burst of heat from One's grief. A broken leg. A crash. A wound too deep to ride through. If your steed is lost, you fall. And if no one reaches for you, you stay fallen. Others are near, and their Nightmares still run. All of you have a terrible dread in your bones— if you are caught or left behind, the consequences will be dire. You might not even wake up. So, call out. Cling. Climb. Share. Two Vessels on one mount. Anything to survive and flee as the dreamscape tightens its wrathful grip around you.

Sleep calls inside your spine. You can't make out what She says. One answers, the same blur of garbled words in your marrow. And then, just before the dream can take you, just before you reach an exit— you rise.

Your body lifts from the Nightmare as it paddles the air with desperation, it too rising. You're pulled upward, weightless, as if a thread inside your heart has been yanked by a furious god. You float, twist in the air. Your vision glows white.

We've got you.

And then you wake up— mid-air in the waking world.

Your body slams into your bed, floor, street, soil, wherever it was that you had slept. Reality greets you with terrible impact.

NOTES

• If a character does not find a mount in time, they may be caught in the dream collapse. They still wake— but they wake broken. These characters may wake up bruised, disoriented, or emotionally fragmented, and this can be explored in the next waking world event.

TOKEN EFFECTS

• Any Tether they feel becomes unstable—splintered. For brief moments, they feel it breaking and re-forming again and again, with slight differences each time.
• The more emotionally charged they are, the more the dream pulls toward them; tendrils snap faster, debris veers unnaturally close.
• Their body flickers with signs of their own magic—sigils, symbols, runes— burning just beneath the surface of their skin like constellations. These glow brighter as the dream collapses, as if trying to tear free.

OFFERING EFFECTS

• Where Offerings are grazed or injured, they bleed light, not red. It floats up like mist.
• They hear One's heartbeat, not theirs, and it speeds in panic. It affects their own pulse, the mare under them . . .
• The Nightmare no longer follows the Offering's will—it will respond to their fear instead.

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OOC NOTES

➤ Welcome to Somnia's third TDM, which doubles as the month's gamewide event!
➤ This TDM is considered game canon. You are free to have your character remember as many details as possible when they wake up.
➤ Only new characters are free to experiment with the Vessel options, Token or Offering to your liking; this is a dreamscape, so multiple/different situations for you to really test which option you like most is possible. Current characters must remain as their chosen Vessel type unless you requested a switch, which can be done on the Taken page.
➤ All TDMs take place within a dreamscape, meaning characters can interact with the setting without needing to apply. Come have fun with us!
➤ Veteran players, I ask to please refrain from making post-event threads for the time being! We have some important information to take into account in next month's event when characters are slated to "wake up". At the very least, please wait for the information to be offered on the next plotting post. Thank you everyone for your patience!
➤ Please comment on the TDM's INVITE TL if you are a new player interested in joining the game, but don't yet have an invite. Current players or the mod may reach out to extend an invite. Once you've got one, please don't forget to comment on the Invite page so you may properly link it in your reserve and app.
➤ Questions? Please direct them to the designated questions comment linked below!

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Comments

[roedeer]

[ it makes sense why he knows the word then, someone taught him, his hyung taught him. as soleum rolls that in his mind trying to make sense of it, he focuses on what has already been said. ]

It's only for extra caution, perhaps you should invest in a nickname. Something that you like, and can avoid saying it starting now.

[ that's carelessness to him, but those contaminated, which this person might be, will no longer be bothered by the oddities of this world. it might already be too late for him, but... soleum closes his eyes, the constant whinnying of the horses in the back is driving him nuts. nothing is making sense!!

anyway, maybe he can assist in preventing this person from making anymore mistakes with his name.

...as for what he said before. ]

Hangul.

[ he repeats slower this time. ]

It's the alphabet... just forget about it.

[ soleum crosses his arms thinking of how to approach this because his hyung is apparently...

...

it's just not right. ]

You must be close with him, that's good. Then he should have prepared you on what to do when you enter Darknesses.

[trashblaze]

[ A nickname? Well, that one's easy. He already has one that's pretty well-known in Manhattan and his own universe. ]

Hehe. People do know me as the "Galactic Baseballer."

[ This man is so nice, Caelus thinks. He's teaching him a new word and constantly offering advice on how to stay safe. However, the traibllazer believes there's more to this person than he's letting on. He has such a professional aura. He has a look in his eyes that indicates experience. It's hard for Caelus to believe there isn't more to him. ]

Ha… Han… g—ul!

[ He said it way too slowly, but at least it seems he picked it up! He smiles. How was that!? But hang on a second. This person just implied something super important. ]

What? Told me about Darknesses…?

[ This man… knows Choi? How would he know what Choi would teach or not? Why does he seem confident that being close to Choi is a good thing? Actually, this man knows Korean, too, doesn't he!? Excitedly, Caelus zooms closer to him, and then asks as he perks up— ]

Sir, do you know my hyung!? [ 🌸 ]

[roedeer]

[ what soleum knows is that the nickname is pretty long, inconvenient for quick and in a hurry name calling when it counts. he can see it: down in a dangerous ghost story swarming with dangers and traps, soleum with a phone in hand with the layout of said location, and calling out as far as galacti-- before the boy is penetrated by a wave of swords. ]

Star. Alright.

[ and soleum will take it upon himself to adjust it to the left to keep things short and sweet.

his pronunciation of the word is spoken like baby steps, soleum doesn't correct him or praise, rather he allows him to take it at his own pace. as caelus saddles up next to soleum, the employee grabs at the boy's wrist again, and this time he starts to trace lines into his palm very, very slowly.

" 별 "

what other reason does he have to come as close like this if not to learn, it seems to be right up his alley. once soleum lifts his hand, he can hear the other continue his curiosity, and for a brief moment... the man in the deer-like mask closes his eyes to think over what was previously said.

does he know his hyung? yes, he knows him too well, he's read his page a thousand times, he knows all his in-character decisions, he can point out all his faults that weren't written in text. slowly he lifts his head, leaning back some to avoid the antlers of his mask knocking into him. ]

I know what was said: "technically, it's supernatural phenomena..." A Darkness. In my line of work, there are many who are familiar with the concept.

[ as long as he leaves out seeing the face and making no moves to mention the voice, he can say that this "hyung" is a mysterious and helpful benefactor to the other. his suspicions remain only because the moment he came into this world, he was with that person and a batch of others, but... they've all been split. there could be a time-space issue at work, that's pretty common, but they've entered erased city before, why would it change?

soleum withdraws his hands from the curious raccoon's. ]

[trashblaze]

[ Sorry for this baseball-obsessed raccoon… Actually, giving Caelus a new nickname is so on-brand. While everyone knows the "Galactic Baseballer" thing, not many actually put it to practical use. They all come up with their own instead.

It seems more interesting letters are being taught to Caelus, but he's struggling to entirely pick them up. He's already struggling with English as it is, so this is just as difficult for him. But he genuinely does want to learn, so once he realizes what the man is doing, he attempts to memorize it the best he can. Impossible to remember it all in one shot, but he can note a thing or two.

Once the tracing motion is done, Caelus renews a radiant expression, indicating his gratitude. He reaches his two hands up, moving to hold onto the man's own pair for an appreciative gesture, effectively reconnecting their hands before they parted entirely. Maybe it's no wonder Caelus and Choi get along. They're both overly friendly. ]

Whether you know him or not, I hope you can go and talk to him sometime. I'm sure that he'd love that!

[ Choi must really miss home, so knowing more people from Korea might help alleviate some of those lonely feelings. ]

By the way, what should I call you?

[roedeer]

I'll have to respectfully decline.

[ as the boy's hand envelops his own, soleum can feel his heart race in a way where he feels awkward, unsure. it doesn't last long as he realizes why he's doing this, and with a shake of his head, the employee withdraws them again. instead, he lightly taps the back of caelus' hand in a "there, there" gesture. ]

I'll be returning to where I stay after all this, I highly doubt I'll be moving forward with you. What I will do is make sure you all are saved.

[ he doesn't think this person really knows choi, this must be a trick of the darkness, and if it is... it really is trying to get to him. he'll find him somehow, as soon as he wakes up from this darkness, then they'll all be back together with the initial plan. ]

I am Roe Deer. It's a pleasure to meet you, Star.

[ it's not the strongest smile, but it's one he manages to make a good impression with. there's even a nod of his head to go along with it in hopes he comes off... just a little friendly, but forgettable. he's done nothing special to be a constant in the other boy's mind, and with that, soleum is satisfied.

or should be until he can hear the sound of hooves trotting closer to the two now. during their conversation, the stallions must have been at work, because if they check then they'll see a swarm of 30 or more around them in a circle as though this was planned. they whinny, stomp their feet, and even some scratch their hooves against the ground in their directions.

soleum doesn't dare look, instead, he stares right at caelus though there are horses behind him too from this angle. ]

They're right behind me, aren't they?

[trashblaze]

Roe Deer?

[ Ah, must be an alias. Remembering what was mentioned earlier, Caelus recalls how "Roe Deer" said to avoid saying their real names in places like this. So, he nods in understanding as he maintains his bright expression. ]

Nice to meet you, too!

[ Caelus's smile does falter a little though, because "Roe Deer" declined. But his reasons are understandable, so he doesn't try to convince him to reconsider. He actually doubts anyone can stand up to Sleep right now, but it doesn't hurt to have some faith. He'll have to hope for the best that the attempt is successful. Every try is worth doing at least once. ]

Hey, can I call you Deer hyung?

[ Unfortunately for "Roe Deer," he has encountered a Nameless from the Astral Express. To these people, every encounter is special. No person will be left behind. So, despite how small the conversation may be, Caelus is already putting everything into his heart to seek understanding and connection. That's what fuels his genuine aura.

Also… the Nightmares really did multiply in a blink. Caelus has to laugh. The complete opposite of "Roe Deer's" reaction. ]

Wow! The whole family's here!

[roedeer]

[ he knew it, this wasn't good at all, he shouldn't have allowed the conversation to get as far as it did. taking a step back, soleum shakes his head, the gesture should be familiar, and his mouth parts to crush caelus' hopes and dreams.

soleum isn't going to be here to hold up to that title anyway, and because of that harsh truth, he believes caelus should forget him.

he is not someone to be wanted. ]

No.

[ and it should end there, even if the other is showing respect to him, but the connection... it doesn't suit soleum at all. he could explain it in detail until the sound of trotting comes from the side, those nightmares dashing in their direction from one set, then a second set, and at the speed that they're going it doesn't seem like they're going to stop.

this is an issue.

as they come forward, soleum takes a step towards caelus, and his hands find his arm to push him in a direction that isn't behind or forward. ]

We have to move.

[ and in the direction that soleum is encouraging is where smaller nightmares are which must be the kids hanging around near their parents. a double edged sword direction, but if these creatures are thinking of trampling them out of fun or irritation, soleum is pretty sure they wouldn't put their children in danger. ]

[trashblaze]

Deer hyung!

[ That actually wasn't a question. It's a heads-up. The nickname is born, flowing almost naturally despite being the first time being formally used. The way Caelus says it with such energy and sincerity indicates his unending determination to reach out. To him, this awkward hyung already is someone special.

There would've been more of a chance that Caelus would listen if "Roe Deer" were much older. Respecting his elders and all that. But because they appear to be close in age, he doesn't feel the need to be that stiff around him. They're already friends, even if this person doesn't want to think about it. No matter how long it may take for an acknowledgment to come, the trailblazer's determination will only blaze onward.

Or sideward, in this case. He's still emitting that friendly energy even as he's taken aside, toward the direction of the younger Nightmares. ]

Deer hyung, look! Baby shadow horses!

[ Caelus actually has a certain trait that allows him to easily communicate with non-human creatures (granted, this ability only works in dreams such as this one), but since there hasn't been a decent chance, it remains a mystery to the man… But maybe when they reach the baby Nightmares, he might finally get a better chance to reveal it. ]

[roedeer]

[ star... star doesn't listen, and it's already making soleum think how short-lived this relationship will be. don't worry, he'll make sure to forget all about "star" once he returns home, and there will be no shared sentiments or anything.

it makes him wonder if he has anything to use on caelus to mold him into someone that soleum could deal with. no matter how much his fingers twitch at the idea of checking his inventory... he decides against it. there's no need to waste effort on characters he won't be dealing with after this, and it's best for him not to get upset.

how ironic when caelus is being respectful. ]

I see.

[ and that's why as they come closer to the baby stallions, the few laying down with half their body melting into nothingness, and bone jutting out from the side as their tails flick at the idea of new friends. pulling caelus down towards the children, soleum kneels, closing his eyes as he tries to keep calm. don't look at them, don't make contact. ]

They can be your new siblings.

[ and a young nightmare stretches its snout towards caelus, sniffing at him with a curious look in their sunken eyes. reaching out, one nibbles at the boy's pants leg in interest as it's never seen something like that before. the older horses slow down, their speed turning into a light jog but not coming any closer as they spectate this. ]

[trashblaze]

Do you remember the riddle?

[ He's referring to the riddle mentioned earlier by the three-eyed creature. ]

"Wearing shoes, yet no feet in sight. You'll hear steps pound in the death of night. What is it that you need, to cross this narrow blight?"

[ Since they shortly encountered the Nightmares right after, they didn't need to think that hard. At least to Caelus, the answer clicked right away. That's why he's determined to befriend these horses as well, believing them to be key to the path forward.

Hopefully, it won't be too troublesome, considering how they don't appear to be hostile. They just seem cautious at most, at least the adults do. The younger ones are curious and cute. When some of the young ones start investigating him, Caelus allows them. He doesn't flinch, as he has extensive experience in handling non-humans. Familiar with this kind of curiosity, he holds out his hand for them to sniff as well, so they can get to know his presence. ]

Hello, everyone. What are your names? I'm apparently Star now!

[ The young horses don't respond immediately, but Caelus expected their shy reactions. So he maintains the same stance and smile, continuing to allow them to adjust to him. After about half a minute, one of the horses finally approaches him more closely than before. That's when he reaches out to gently touch the little Nightmare, massaging the areas where horses commonly groom each other, such as the neck or shoulders.

The little Nightmare melts right away, soon settling down onto Caelus's shoulder to beg for more, to which he complies as he lets out a soft laugh. It neighs to him, answering back. ]

Heeh? So, your name is Luna! It's nice to meet you.

[ Seeing that Luna has warmed up to Caelus, the rest of the young ones start surrounding him as well. They also neigh and start a conversation, finally successful. ]

Hm, hm. I see. That's interesting! [ He shifts his hands to pet each of them whenever any of them pleads for it. ] … Haha, no way!

[roedeer]

[ but this isn't a narrow blight for him.

to cross is to go further. caelus may not understand, but moving forward is not in the cards that kim soleum has dealt. all he has laid down is only a bit of advice that can help him in the future, and soleum does hope that it does. the fact he even used his name properly is a step in the right direction, but it's not a path they can share together.

how can he make caelus understand that no matter what, soleum cannot cross, even if his reminder means that these... things that he can hardly look at, are the answer to it.

he doesn't relax, his eyes fall to the ground as he listens to the other indulge in the curiosity of the children. whatever it is that he's doing, the children are slowly crawling around caelus with a chipper reaction, they're full of so much energy as they bite, lick, and even poke with a fang here and there. they don't bother soleum which is a good thing for him as it keeps his mind from going crazy, he really can't deal with the disgusting way they look less than normal. ]

Hm...

[ soleum notes the older horses that have slowed down and remain a little wary, and he pushes himself up from where he sat to bring distance between him and the children. ]

I am passing. Between us, [ he gestures to caelus. ] he's doing a better job in terms providing a connection.

[ and there's one horse that comes out from behind another as though they were merged, their size halved once they do this. it's the walk of some shame, the creature with its head angled low, disappointed in soleum's decision and caelus can note this by the sound.

you're making a mistake mistake mistake mistake mistakemistakemistake

a brow raises curiously, but he dismisses the noise for something else. when soleum tries to walk around this nightmare, the creature taps to the side to block him to show he can't go anywhere else. what a delimma. as one of the horses next to luna falls onto its side beside caelus, a head lays on his lap to prevent him from leaving. the children are aware that caelus and soleum came together, but they should stay out of arguments that doesn't have anything to do with them. from the looks of things, soleum doesn't know what's being said. ]

There's nothing I can give you.

[trashblaze]

[ Even though the children want to stay out of the so-called "adult conversation," Caelus knows he should join in. For "Roe Deer's" sake, of course. So with soft strokes on the children's long manes, the trailblazer reassures them before standing back up.

Then, he walks closer to the Nightmare that's blocking "Roe Deer," recognizing this one as the same Nightmare from earlier on. The one who led him here. ]

Oh, hello, again! That's right, you wanted to talk to Roe Deer…

[ What was said just now? Something about a mistake. ]

Hmm. Deer hyung, this one is trying to warn you. I think it's dangerous to proceed alone.

[roedeer]

[ he's going to make the children sad as he gets up and move, their bodies shifting a bit as they sneeze sadly to see caelus go. they'd get up too if not intimidated by the words coming from the one nightmare.

soleum looks to the side, his eyes never making contact with the creature. if he could ignore their crushed in head or how their eyes bulge out from one spot, then he'd hear it out, this sort of sight isn't meant for him! drugs would be better to take than to witness this, anything that could offer him a loopy sensation much like back then. if he has to keep standing here and dealing with this monstrosity he might j—

the sound of caelus' voice chirps next to him, and soleum turns his head to catch what's being said. ]

I wouldn't say I'm proceeding alone.

[ he comes across interesting characters at every step.

the answer doesn't make the nightmare happy though, it's cracked hoof hitting against the ground and almost stepping on caelus' foot. ]

[trashblaze]

[ Maybe "Roe Deer" meant something else, but considering the traiblazer is the only one with him currently, it comes across as meaning Caelus as a company. Whether or not it's a confirmation, the idea alone makes Caelus's lips turn upwards, and he's beaming a little at the man now.

The trailblazer's good mood doesn't falter, even as he reflexively dodges his feet. For now, he decides to interview "Roe Deer" to get to the bottom of this. Why is he so against befriending the Nightmares? Is there something Caelus is missing here? ]

So, what's the issue? Afraid you'll fall off or something?

[ Maybe "Roe Deer" is just afraid of riding because he hasn't done it before. Haha, it can't be that he's just afraid of their appearance, right? … Right? ]

[roedeer]

[ a question of why he's so unwilling? dangerous game, explaining his fears would tarnish the appearance he's shaped for himself, and so he sighs. ]

I've never ridden a horse before. I'm from the city.

[ which is true, he doesn't see people use horses to get around when living life in the city, has he? it's not a lie either, completely honest when the closest thing soleum has done to ride one would be in a video game. the same mechanic there probably doesn't work here, he verifies this by looking up above the nightmare to check if there's no carrot bar explaining how many speed bursts he could gain. ]

You're able to communicate with them, so you must have?

[ polite and curious. ]

[trashblaze]

No, actually. But I've ridden a large creature from my universe before.

[ It's a dinosaur-looking creature called droma. Caelus may have plenty of experience caring for all manner of creatures, but he doesn't necessarily ride them. As tempting as the idea may be. Maybe someday, he'll consider riding more than the dromas for fun. There's usually no need to do so, thanks to Space Anchors and other convenient transport systems available.

It has to be similar, at least. ]

I think I can learn it quickly… [ As a trailblazer who travels across many planets, Caelus is flexible and used to adjusting to many kinds of situations. Due to the nature of his occupation, he also acquired a good range of skills. He's a fast learner and is confident that he can do it. ] I'll teach you once I pick it up!

[ Turning around to face Luna, Caelus extends his hands to the young Nightmare, wondering if it will be willing to help him across. ]

Luna, do you want to play?

[ The shadow horse immediately perks up, running to Caelus as it starts rubbing its head against his, causing the trailblazer to break out into another energetic laugh. He strokes Luna's neck and shoulders once more, then begins to attempt climbing its back.

Remembering to keep his balance, he straightens up slowly and stays still for now to perfect the equilibrium first before anything else. ]

[roedeer]

[ a pass. he's passed the test of his concerns, eyes never meeting with the creature that stares at him intently. a test of courage or his sanity, the creature turning to its side to expose where soleum can start his ascent, but he shakes his head. ]

I'll look forward to it.

[ this is solely said out of being polite and a reason why he's denying the creature that continues to yearn for his attention. they're just so creepy he's unable to stand how their bodies shift and contort, then the way their skin breaks. to stare at their leaking inside doesn't do well for him and instead makes him feel a little sicker.

to prevent any other questions, soleum looks to the more dramatic nightmare. ]

...

[ a hand comes to his chest, there's something missing there, the outline of a friend and such dramatics this horse has put him through is only a simple reminder. he would probably be offended if soleum reused his name, and the idea of naming things to give them an attachment is already looking bad for the employee.

it started with caelus, but that was for his safety. ]

Pink...

[ deliberating this to himself, soleum snaps his fingers to get the creature's attention and at hearing a name... the clop of hooves against the ground as it prances around soleum. a little dance that might mean celebration upon the name, pink shakes its head and then trots over to luna, and bumps into the horse to show the enthusiasm it has. ]

We should survey our surroundings to make sure we don't go anywhere dangerous.

[ this is said to caelus. ]

[trashblaze]

[ Because of Pink's intense excitement from finally being acknowledged by "Roe Deer," Luna's own skyrockets, and the two Nightmares start dancing around together, even with Caelus still on its back. ]

Whoa! Luna!

[ Hold on! He hasn't learned the balance entirely yeeeet—!! And so, here we are, Caelus immediately holding onto Luna's neck with both arms as he secures himself. The Nightmares continue to hyperly prance around for a while, excitedly circling "Roe Deer."

But Caelus isn't a nervous type, so he concentrates and attempts to rebalance himself again. The added difficulty is beneficial, he thinks. It'll allow him to learn faster and ride better, especially when there's actual danger ahead. He knows better than to expect a smooth ride in Sleep's dreams.

After some time, Caelus finally picks it up. He has his back straight constantly, able to smoothly maintain his position, even if Luna jumps around. ]

… All right. I think I got it.

[ By the time "Roe Deer" suggests to survey, the Nightmares have already calmed down, and Caelus is able to direct it now. Thus, he nods. After this, Caelus can teach "Roe Deer." ]

Let's go, then.

[roedeer]

I still have my reservations.

[ he may have named pink who is so excited at the fact that soleum has finally acknowledged it, but that doesn't mean he's riding. instead, he'll walk side by side with them only because there's no need to learn how to ride yet, is there? rather than get on like caelus did, he follows right beside luna with pink behind him, and the stallion bites at the back of soleum's attire to slow him down.

an annoying horse with good intentions.

braun would be proud. ]

You said you've been in places like this before, the dream...

[ soleum lifts his gaze now to meet with caelus who is positioned on the horse like an expert, the confidence he has without a rein to hold or a saddle is by someone who is used to riding different types of creatures. it could come from how well he connects to animals, too, which soleum lacks. ]

What sort of animals did you meet there?

[ or perhaps there were characters there too. he'll never know if he doesn't ask. ]

[trashblaze]

I've been through a lot of places, even outside dreams like these.

[ Wait until Caelus talks about the intergalatic travels… He's a genuine alien, but there's no need to mention it yet. For now, he talks leisurely, following along the topics that "Roe Deer" is curious about. Luna strolls forward with a good pace now that it's calm. ]

As for animals, way too many to list! But I can mention a few. First, there are these really cute critters called chimera. They're about the size of a small dog, and they come in different colors. They have bubbly eyes, and they always look like they're blushing because of their facial features.

[ Those guys truly are adorable. Thinking about them again makes Caelus smile. ]

I've also encountered dromas. They're huge! They resemble dinosaurs, but they're not. Despite their intimidating appearance, they're domesticated and quite gentle, unless angered. People use them to help transport goods or as mounts. Oh, and they're a local specialty as well.

[roedeer]

[ oh, that's not what soleum was going for in terms of dreams like this. however, he won't stop caelus from reflecting on things outside of this phenomena, and despite the examples, soleum's unable to cross chimera off of the list of something here when in the company of shadow stallions. pink, desperate for attention, bites into soleum's jacket again and with a tug, it successfully draws him close to force collision, it's body breaking down under his weight. pink doesn't respond in pain, it welcomes soleum "relying" on it, "leaning" rather into its breast. the split of bone cracks underneath him, flesh splitting to cushion him. soleum closes his eyes and as he withholds his disgust by swallowing down the saliva lodged in his throat.

he withdraws with a single step, their attachment still visible by threads of blood connecting from his back to its body, and the strand wanes and snaps with a light tug on soleum's second to third step. in his mind, he feels like he's going crazy and disturbed by what transpired that he looks to caelus to show he isn't bothered by it.

deep inside, he really, really is. ]

I've never heard of them.

[ dromas, caelus calls them, and in return soleum commits the name to memory with a stroke of his chin. ]

Do animals of your home turn up here, or are they all... like this?

[ he raises a hand to gesture to pink, but luna is also a candidate in soleum's curiosity. his palm right side up encourages pink, their tail wagging with delight as the creature trots closer, and rests their chin right there. soleum swears he can feel something wriggling underneath the skin, but he has to hold everything in to keep himself from screaming.

... ]

[trashblaze]

No, I haven't encountered any animals from my universe in Sleep's world yet. Not even in dreams like this one.

[ Despite Caelus's demeanor, he's actually sharper than he appears. It's easy to think that he's an airheaded dumbass, but he's the complete opposite of it. Even though he's not making it obvious, he's been attentive to "Roe Deer" for a while. He hasn't stopped being concerned for the older man, ever since he retreated behind the boulder earlier. The trailblazer felt something off since then.

Caelus is only being considerate by not directly asking anything, and has chosen to accompany him silently. All while ensuring that the man remains all right. So during "Roe Deer's" interaction with Pink, Caelus observes every second keenly. The older man might have a seemingly perfect composure, but the trailblazer sees something beyond those serious eyes. A heavy discomfort that most people might easily miss.

But Caelus isn't most people. He's a trailblazer who constantly connects with people. His genuine gesture to seek understanding with "Roe Deer" allows him this chance. So he clicks his heels to make Luna pause, then he jumps off the young Nightmare. He approaches Pink next, unsure if this one will listen to him, but it's worth a shot. For "Roe Deer." ]

Hey, Pink! Are you hungry? I was about to find food for Luna… Want to come? You two can show me around.

[roedeer]

[ interesting. sometimes the setting will adjust to ensure that it's a familiar place for people to grow comfortable, and that could be the oddity in these nightmares. in his thought, soleum misses caelus' attempt at bonding with pink as he's in his own head thinking on the criteria of this strange place. pink comes around soleum, the creature tilting its head at caelus trying to find what his motive is here. food does sound tempting, and it's with a few steps towards luna's direction that the horse bites on luna's main in direction of the cathedral. isn't that the best place to obtain food, then they should go there.

luna and pink are familiar with each other, they've been in this herd for some time now so they can navigate their lives together. soleum and caelus are different, soleum remains distant and in his own thoughts as he tries to figure out what's the best way to save the people that are here.

and another thing, he'll have to fact check his phone later.

then there's caelus who is putting his best foot forward, accommodating, and he somehow gains satisfaction from that. ]

...Mn.

[ the mode of transportation had always been a train, but now it's changed to wild beasts. why is that? the creepy factor is all here, but none of this relates to where he's been before.

pink will look in direction of caelus and soleum to point their snout off to the distance of where they need to go. ]

[trashblaze]

[ Great, Pink is cooperative. That means Caelus has a chance to sway this creature to an extent. He only needs to play his cards right. ]

Ohh, Pink. You're so smart and reliable!

[ That means he's going to butter this Nightmare up to give it more confidence to lead instead of bothering "Roe Deer" constantly. He steps closer together with Luna, looking up at the tall shadow horse with large eyes, clearly admiring it. ]

I'm so lost without you. Let's go, let's go.

[ Luna seems to agree with Caelus and equally admires the older Nightmare together with its new master. Now there are two of them with those large pleading eyes. Once Pink starts moving, the two will follow closely in the direction of the cathedral. Caelus takes this chance to go between the Nightmares and "Roe Deer," acting as a barrier to allow the man to breathe.

Internally, Caelus is screaming. Not that fucking cathedral again. How many times does he have to return to that building? He has multiple bad memories of it throughout the months of his stay here. But he's not a coward, so he's not going to retreat. This is necessary, so he steels himself and looks forward without hesitation. ]

[roedeer]

...

[ his thoughts are littered with information spread out that he doesn't know where to start. if it's here, shouldn't they die up from the dream, but it's new material to find out someone is dreaming this landscape for them! he clicks his tongue as he watches caelus wedge himself between the nightmares and soleum himself. ]

This being the only building still intact is interesting.

[ soleum finally speaks to caelus again, his silence overridden by his final sweep of their surroundings.

he doesn't ask why caelus chose to do that, but soleum while he has the advantage to grimace with caelus in front of him, he does just that. the dot of crimson in his eyes looks at the back of his head, then over to the cathedral as the expression on his face softens into something unreadable, probably to keep a low profile when it comes to how he feels about this. ]

Why is that?

[ floor is yours, caelus. ]