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]

[ the horses before them finally make it to the entrance of the cathedral, their hooves knocking against the tile floor. it creates noise for where caelus leaves off, the silence between the two humans is nothing to the sneezes and neighing of the creatures that speak in whispers. ]

...I'm not familiar with the information.

[ he doesn't know if that's healthy information to know which will ingrain itself in his head and force him to want that. from the sound of it, it might be a contamination effect, dangerous and something he shouldn't have been doing. that's why he craves more, the more he does it, the more his body requests a stronger... connection?

this is crazy. ]

Do you believe they are tethered, then?

[ he tilts his head towards the two horses that walk together. from the back, they're oaky to look at as none of their creepier parts are visible to make him sick. they do get along, but he doesn't know if that "tether" works on animals, or just the humans, but soleum will probably find out later in time. ]

If you make new tethers, maybe it could help your position.

[ he's suggesting the horse, really. ]

[trashblaze]

[ A small smile. ]

I'm not surprised. No one was. At best, we encountered similarities to some things we already knew, but there are still many mysteries we've yet to solve. Most likely, other things we haven't yet encountered.

The batch that came earlier than me, they had to go through everything in the darkness for so long. I mentioned that the sun didn't rise at all until two months ago, when it finally did. They didn't even have access to running water.

Two months ago, shortly after my arrival, we made a collective effort to restore the water supply. However, we still lack power sources, including electricity.

[ Bottom line: it fucking sucks in Sleep's world!!! Caelus misses his smartphone and so many other things. When asked about tethers regarding animals, he shakes his head. ]

I don't know if animals are tethered to each other, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had their own. But it's inadvisable to tether with them ourselves. Someone did that with a plant, and he experienced complications as a result. Eventually, one of his tethers had to save him.

[roedeer]

[ is that the case? soleum grows quiet now at the explanation, and thinks that maybe they weren't compatible. the thing about tethers is that both people must agree? it sounds sketchy, as far as soleum is concerned, but he won't make a comment about that as it's not his place. ]

For your problem, I'd suggest using something that can consent and share feelings back.

[ perhaps in the scope of things they can create creatures with feelings that act the role of a human, that's no different from what some people would do to survive. ]

Since you've been here long enough, I'm inclined to accept that you know how this works.

[ soleum stops once they pass one of the windows of the cathedral, he looks within expecting nothing to change. every time he's come here, something about him has changed, but he knows to stay in the darkness to prevent any unsightly figures to rear their head. ]

Let's stay in the shadows.

[ the horses do seem unaffected by the gimmick, but maybe because they are already monsters, and soleum sees them as nothing else but. ]

[trashblaze]

Hmm, as much as I'm willing to test tethering with Luna… I'd better not.

[ Because Caelus has given his friends enough grief the past two months. He's been acting recklessly often (nothing unusual, he's always like that), so he's been scolded often. But after getting injured now, he's trying to calm down just a little, at least until he's recovered. ]

I'm injured in the waking world, as I said. And… I promised my friends not to act stupidly for a while.

[ If the plants are a bad idea, who's to really say the animals won't be either? ]

I'm not tethered with you, so if I test it out now, you won't be able to save me if something goes wrong.

[ Moving on… Since "Roe Deer" is avoiding the light, Caelus follows the direction and does so, too. Meanwhile, the two Nightmares continue to lead onward. ]

[roedeer]

No, I didn't mean with Luna. I meant with... a different lifeform. However, maybe that's not something that can be done here.

[ a homunculus, mostly is what he meant. he raises a hand, waving off the conversation especially if it's not something he's interested in. really, it's just a suggestion because he doesn't know what this darkness is capable of.

caelus only knows so much, and because his knowledge is limited, he finds that he can focus on something else. ]

I'm surprised you have faith in me, has something happened to you here?

[ before when they were out there, caelus seemed perfectly capable, and now he's talking about soleum saving him now? he can't help but wonder if he experienced a situation within the cathedral that concerns him. he recalls what caelus told him about it, how it's forced in their faces to stand as faith to sleep among other things.

... there is also that interesting gimmick. ]

Aside from what you told me of this place already.

[trashblaze]

Ah, do you mean with different species? If that's the case, then it works. I've been tethering with humans all this time, and it's been working for me.

[ There's a nonhuman right beside you, "Roe Deer." And it's not just the horses. Though with the second question raised, Caelus falls silent for several seconds. ]

Remember when I said people were lured here and negative effects occurred? Many of my friends were deeply affected at the time. One of them particularly got hit so hard that he started hallucinating. He mistook me for someone else and attacked me here.

[ Which is actually how Caelus received his current injuries. ]

[roedeer]

...That must have hurt.

[ an observation, but not from the fact he's in pain apparently, but mentally that must have been taxing from the sort of person caelus is. he's someone who is very in tune with his feelings, someone who wants to help and support, an individual who keeps people's best interests in mind even though he can probably feel the gap between him and soleum. it can't be helped, the contamination has set in, and it's not something he wants to contract. even now, caelus sounds sensitive to what have happened to him and his friend, and all soleum can do is say the obvious.

the fact that this connection through tethers cause so much pain, it's obviously because of how contaminated they are. it's a little frightening how much these tethers have control over people like that. ]

If you want, you can stay here. I'll take them further in to find what they want.

[ ...

but, i'm a coward! i don't want to be around these weird horses!! ughhh!!!

soleum has no choice though, he can assist where applicable. even if the horses stress him out, he has to keep himself relaxed and composed. he has to move forward because he's seen worse, there's no need to stop now. ]

[trashblaze]

No, I'm all right.

[ After the initial silence, Caelus's genuine smile returns. Soft, warm, determined. Sure, it might've physically hurt, but that's nothing to a trailblazer who has experienced much more difficult trials. He was already prepared for that kind of danger and other unpredictable situations. ]

I was more worried for my friend, who likely still blames himself for it. But I don't believe he should be. After all, it was beyond his control. It's not as if he wanted to act that way.

[ It's similar to catching a fever… Sometimes, that kind of thing is unavoidable, no matter how good someone is at taking care of themselves. Sleep's influence is powerful, and they can barely stand against it as they are currently. Maybe someday, they'll have a stronger chance at resisting her, but that requires time. Time to investigate the world, time to understand the situation better, and uncover more that they currently don't know. ]

Let's go.

[ Though, Caelus does appreciate "Roe Deer's" consideration for him, so he reaches over to take both of the older man's hands, and gives them an appreciative squeeze before letting go and walking further into the cathedral. ]

[roedeer]

[ that sounds about right for how he pegged caelus, and it's with a shake of his head that soleum understands fully what he's dealing with. even he won't blame someone for their actions, he'll forgive them, and individuals like that are terrifying themselves.

terrifyingly desired, there was a time soleum desired that sort of comfort. ]

No, it's not like he did.

[ soleum doesn't know the truth though, whatever warrants them to be that way because of the tether... it's contamination at the end of the day. it'll eat away at them, it'll grow stronger, and it's nothing they can help.

he'll refer to getting them help, he has to. soleum can't help but feel bad, pity these sort of words because... what can they do aside from just accept it? even this person who acts so brave, doesn't it get hard having to accept it and move forward?

upon physical contact, his thoughts are interrupted as soleum finds his eyes fluttering down to the gesture. his hands tucked away in caelus', they're warm now from the gesture, and the man lifts his gaze to try and read what expression is on his face. ]

Star.

[ not to scold. ]

Do you want to take more back for their group?

[ his hands drop back down to his side once released, his footsteps audible as he follows behind him. ]

[trashblaze]

[ Friendship isn't contamination, sir… One day, Caelus will prove himself to "Roe Deer" and genuinely earn his trust… This is part of his mission as a trailblazer, being able to properly connect with others and reach understanding. If "Roe Deer" is taken by Sleep into her world too, then that will allow Caelus the opportunity. He'll take his time, already very experienced in handling all kinds of people. He knows how to handle the most difficult types with patience.

When addressed, Caelus stops walking and looks back, the same smile as ever. ]

Hmm? Do you mean for the rest of their herd? Sure, I'm sure they'll appreciate that!

[ As if to confirm, Luna starts excitedly jumping where it stands. Then, it neighs to catch the attention of the two. They've arrived where they need to be. ]

[roedeer]

Yes. That sounds like a fair trade if we're taking them with us.

[ pass the windows, the mirrors, in all sorts of reflections, the cathedral flickers to life— light floods inside, it leans against pillars casting shadows, and brings life to the dead and decay around them.

when soleum glances to a window, he can see caelus reflected in it, his appearance is normal for the moment until... things begin to warp and change. caelus can feel the heat of the light on his skin, an itch in his hair, and for some reason his eyes are burning. turning his head forward, soleum can see from his position that caelus' hair has turned brown from the color it was not too long ago.

rather than the clothes he had before, he now wears a black shirt and jeans which looks... pretty normal, generic.

of course soleum would think like this, he doesn't think what he's interacting with in terms of people are real. ]

...

[ it's when caelus tries to speak, there's something wrong as he's unable to make any sound. silent. he'll even find that his eyes have changed color... brown. ]

[trashblaze]

[ When the cathedral suddenly floods itself in light, Caelus does his best to evade it to the end. But it's futile when its range is everywhere, being caught in it shortly despite his efforts. He's tense as the light touches him, untrusting of anything in this space that he has bad memories of, even more because they're in Sleep's dream still.

At first, nothing seems to happen, but when the burn arrives, Caelus's tension rises. His smile is entirely gone at this point, feeling the heat across his skin and hair. His eyes… He immediately covers them with his palms, his knees falling to the floor as it begins to burn. What the hell is going on this time? Maybe he should've rejected the idea of coming here after all.

Caelus is unable to move for now, but he's not complaining. Despite what he's experiencing, his posture is straight even as he falls. His strength continues to be unwavering despite the supernatural events unfolding, a determined bite of his lips as he curses Sleep in his mind. But eventually, he decides to talk to her, even if she may not respond to him now. ]

Heeh. So you're still not satisfied after what you did to us last time. Of course not, or we wouldn't be here, huh? But I'm not going to give up, no matter what you do to me.

[roedeer]

[ when caelus falls to his knees, soleum does what any person would do, quickly rush over to check the damages. his hands come down onto the boy's shoulder, crimson eyes noticing the change in color with his hair, and he shakes him slightly to see if he's still lucid.

even if not fully lucid, give soleum some idea that he's fine. ]

Star?

[ the stallions turn, they quickly trot back over to check on what happened. caelus was just fine moments ago, but as they look him up and down... they feel as though something has changed. even pink leans forward, nipping at the man's hair gently to question why the change in color.

luckily the creature didn't try and bite it off. ]

...Hold onto me, I'll help you up.

[ this doesn't look good. ]

[trashblaze]

[ The ongoing burn doesn't allow Caelus to open his eyes, so he keeps them closed as he slowly removes his palms from his face. He tries to determine where he hears and feels "Roe Deer" standing, "looking" at him, and shows him an open hand. ]

No, you should go ahead… I'll take care of myself.

[ They came this far, then someone might as well keep going to retrieve what they came for. Caelus doesn't want this to become a wasted trip. So, he slowly stands up alone to help convince "Roe Deer" that he can help himself. ]

Luna, can you come over here? Just let Pink and Roe Deer handle it.

[ When called over, Luna comes closer to allow Caelus to feel its head. Patting and stroking the Nightmare soothingly, the trailblazer blindly traces the shape of its face with his fingers until he settles them on an appropriate location. He gives everyone here a small smile for reassurance afterward. He'll have to let Luna be his eyes until whatever this is wears off. ]

I'll wait closer to the entrance.

[roedeer]

Excuse me.

[ soleum urges for pink's attention, the creature looking at him with a look that suggests certain requests will be ignored. as much as he doesn't want to look at pink, this is a matter he's not allowed to allow happen with him here. ]

You can find me easily, can't you?

[ it may not be a tether, but how do these horses choose who they want if not for something. actually, it would have been best not to ask that question, he doesn't want to know, but pink doesn't agree or disagree... it only stares at him waiting for what he may be getting ready to ask. ]

You're the oldest, it would be best if you stayed with them both.

[ the horse sneezes, a tap of the front hooves, and soleum lifts a hand that's telling the horse not to act out. ]

I'm familiar enough with this place. I will return.

[ pink looks over to caelus and luna before turning it's attention back to soleum whose heart is close to bursting if he has to continue engaging in this conversation.

his voice lower to the horse. ]

The light isn't good for him. Keep him in the shadows that both you and Luna can make and take him outside.

[ with a nod, soleum begins to walk past his horse who watches him depart, and pink trots over to luna and caelus— the creatures settles on the side of caelus where it's empty, sandwiching him.

come along, come along. ]

[trashblaze]

[ "The light isn't good for him." Those words make Caelus look away, feeling a throb in his chest. Is Sleep trying to force him into the darkness, her domain, like this? Caelus has always been fond of the sun. He himself is akin to a sun, as many people describe him. It's so ironic and rather hurtful to hear that he might be closer to the darkness now, at least while whatever is going on is, in effect. He hopes he can shake this off immediately.

This isn't the real him. This is a dream… He repeats this in his head to encourage himself. Once the two Nightmares begin to accompany him away, he partially "looks" in the direction he hears "Roe Deer's" footsteps are fading away. Caelus wishes him well, hoping Sleep won't try anything on the man while he's all alone like that. All the trailblazer can do now is to keep praying and waiting. ]

Thank you, Luna, Pink.

[ He says as they continue walking altogether. Eventually, they stop near the entrance, waiting for "Roe Deer's" return while Caelus takes the chance to rest. The range of the light is still impossible to evade, so his eyes continue burning. But eventually, he feels it lessen, akin to the sun setting. Enough to be able to reopen his eyes, the fire within them reflected against the glass windows all around the forgotten cathedral.

Then, it dims. Caelus sees his transformed figure in the reflection. Just as the light of the fire fades away, he feels… as if he's looking at a dimmed version of himself, too. He wonders what this means. Is this the image Sleep has for him? Soaked in darker colors.

A few more seconds pass, then the brightness of his true colors eventually begins to reemerge. The shine of his hair, the light of his golden irises. Relief washes over him as he leans against his true self, against this glass. ]

[roedeer]

[ he saw something he wasn't meant to see.

soleum closes his eyes, the energy in the surrounding area has dulled a little more despite the light that creeps in. they targeted one, yet they leave the other alone to stand in the darkness. it's not a bad place, remaining in a place where he doesn't want to be noticed, out of sight and out of mind. the darkness is much better than the light, and somehow, caelus' reaction seems sullen, dampened.

shaking his head, soleum stands in place as he waits for the sound of hooves and footsteps start to make distance, and soleum moves forward. one step after the other, his appearance in the glass remains the same, and the sun never reaches out to touch him.

and further, and further he goes.

...

pink remains with caelus and luna, the stallion tilting its head at watching caelus in this state. even they are confused at the sight of him, the way the boy leans against the glass as his colors return to him. the stallion tilts its head to the other side just as curious as to why that could happen. did he lose his energy, his power, who he was all because of the light?

a creature made of the darkness could never be part of the the light, they live within the darkness where they thrive happily.

coming closer, pink bites on caelus' hair..... grazing in affection to try and cheer him up. ]

[trashblaze]

[ Meanwhile, being a young Nightmare, Luna is only full of confusion. Maybe Caelus is hungry? But since Luna has no food, it only neighs to speak to him directly. "The grass outside is tasty! Try it!" The questions between the two cause Caelus's more genuine smile to return shortly.

Geez, what's he doing, even ending up worrying these two? This is no good. He needs to get his groove back.

Thus, Caelus pushes himself off the wall and takes hold of both horses, smoothing his palms gently on their necks to give them comforting massages. To help relieve them. ]

Hmm, I don't know either, Pink. But since this is a dream, it's possible that the light here works differently. Also, I'm okay now, Luna. I don't feel hungry at all.

[ They continue to have small talk as they wait more. If "Roe Deer" takes too long, Caelus will eventually follow him in. ]

[roedeer]

[ don't worry, kim soleum will reappear fifteen minutes or so, and in his arms are a few goblets held tightly to his chest. he doesn't take too many, but he believes he's brought enough that will feed the two horses with them, and then a few more out there. ]

I hope I didn't keep any of you.

[ he kneels down to bring two over to the horses with them, and the other ones that he has are set to the side. pink stains at the white of his suit, but rather than fuss about it, he brings a hand to his tie to fix it properly. ]

I tried to find something for you too.

[ looking caelus both up and down, the effects of the cathedral seem to have worn off. the sort of power this place holds by being able to shift a person's whole identity just like that, that sort of power should be restricted to those who can use it properly. ]

Water, anything edible that you could have. I wasn't sure of the risks, so I thought against it.

[ it seems soleum had also the same thoughts as the horse. ]

[trashblaze]

[ Fifteen minutes is becoming a bit too long… Caelus was going to wait five more minutes before he would follow "Roe Deer" in. Thankfully, the man returns in time and appears unharmed. Relief comes to Caelus, who greets him with a returning smile. The trailblazer appears back to normal, with his aura much better compared to before. ]

Thank you, Deer hyung. I'm sorry if I worried you, too.

[ Wanting to reassure "Roe Deer," Caelus lifts his hands to press to his own cheeks, smiling vibrantly towards him. Compared to the unsettling light of the cathedral, this cheery expression from him is much easier to look at. His energy is warm and true. ]

And it's all right, I'm not hungry. I can wait to eat until I actually wake up.

[ Lowering his hands from his face, Caelus runs to "Roe Deer's" side to take hold of his hands once more. He smiles one more time, then moves to take some of the burden away from the man, carrying half of the goblets to assist. ]

While Luna and Pink have their meal, let's feed the rest of their family.

[roedeer]

[ caelus didn't worry him, or maybe he did, it's not like soleum has ever seen anyone react that way in the light. he's been underneath it many times, his appearance influenced by those that he knows, but a reaction like that is new to him. there could be more to the light of the cathedral, because even when they go outside, nothing like that happens.

contamination weaves deeply inside those that aren't prepared, he knows he shouldn't have let him enter. there are places individuals can't go back to, or their body and mind will be manipulated by the setting that it'll cause harm. it's no different from how soleum's unable to go back to the late-night studio, even in his heart he knows that the moment he returns his body will move to a beat much like before. smile at the audience, snap his fingers, the passion and love for the show pulling itself b—

he keeps himself from shuddering. ]

Roe Deer is fine. [ no need to call him hyung, he hasn't done anothing to be worthy of it. ] But... let's avoid that next time.

[ as caelus' comes into contact with him, kim soleum doesn't move his hands away, instead he stands there allowing him to do so. he feels warm just like before, and soleum grabs his hands back to make sure he isn't shivering to check that his nerves are okay. ]

...Yeah, alright.

[ to help the horses, soleum walks over to them and grabs at the goblets to pour their food on the ground. it should be easier for their snouts now, no need to bump the top of their noses against the rim. ]

Do you think it'll be enough?

[trashblaze]

[ A small tilt of Caelus's head. It's hard to gauge "Roe Deer," but he can tell the man has deep thoughts underneath. Of what, though? Worry from the incident just now? Overwhelm by this entire situation? Thinking about unfinished business at home? Perhaps something more that the trailblazer won't be able to pinpoint…

Whatever it is, Caelus won't ask, not unless the circumstances really call for it. Because it's not right to pry… However, he does wish "Roe Deer" would speak to him about it. He truly wants to ease his heart.

A small worried expression momentarily crosses Caelus, but he maintains his good smile. It's something to comfort the two of them, after all. When touched, Caelus's pulse is normal. His breathing is stable. Before "Roe Deer" walks off, the trailblazer takes advantage of the moment to appreciate the feel of this person. The man's own pulse, an indicator that he's alive. With him here. ]

You didn't have to stay with me like this, but here you are. … So, thank you.

[ He doesn't know why he felt the need to say that. But his gut is telling him it's the right thing to do. Perhaps it's the secretly lonely light within "Roe Deer's" quiet eyes that convinced him to say it. Once their hands part, he follows the older one's steps.

When their food is set down, the two Nightmares don't hesitate to start eating. ]

It should be. They still have other food they can eat around here, so it'll be okay.

[roedeer]

[ kim soleum knows he didn't have to stay here with him, but he's not a cruel god, he's human... a human who wants to leave. to do that, he has to navigate this darkness properly all the way to the end. it's not anything he remembers on the wikipedia page, this part anyway, but if he's able to resolve the issue then that works for everyone in the end.

he doesn't know what caelus sees when he looks at him. ]

...Yeah.

[ caelus trying to understand him, thank him, really, soleum doesn't see the purpose of it. besides, he's said it from the start, if he's able to get out then he'll send for someone to evacuate them. by that time, he shouldn't be a constant in caelus' mind. he won't have to remember his pulse, or what feelings dwells in soleum's eyes. he shouldn't linger on it, just like soleum shouldn't try to linger on the more sensitive parts of life here. they have to keep moving, play to the requirements of what's asked of them, and see if it's the right choice.

it'd be better that way considering where soleum is headed. ]

It doesn't seem they have much. [ pink bites at the back of soleum's suit so that he's unable to leave, forcing him to stay in place as it helps luna finish up what flowers they have left. ]

But, their diets could consist of things we don't understand.

[trashblaze]

[ It'll make more sense when someone gets to know Caelus more over time. Not that it's difficult to do, considering how open he is— he doesn't hide who he is and what his motivations are. He talks about himself when it seems appropriate to, and is happy to tell when someone is curious. He's not a complicated person in any way. You get what you see.

In fact, the people that Caelus encounters are far more complicated. But he's used to that. He navigates through each unique individual patiently, adjusting to their temperaments and needs. That's the way to be able to understand someone, after all— to walk alongside them and match their pace. He's doing the same to "Roe Deer" now.

But he isn't afraid to push if the situation calls for it. Some people need stubbornness to be won over. ]

Luna said they like the grass and suggested that I try it earlier.

[ He laughs… Of course, he doesn't do it. He's a bit crazy, but even he wouldn't eat some damn grass, especially one in Sleep's dreams. Anyway, once the two Nightmares finish their flowery meals, they head back out to the gardens where the rest of the herd is. The other mares surround the two once more, curious about the scent coming from the goblets. ]

Okay, everyone. Just line up nicely. You'll all get some, so don't worry.

[roedeer]

[ kim soleum follows, he never stays so far away from caelus as he carries the goblets in hand. the two horses behind follow too, they're excited to see if they'll be fed more, or if they're actually feeding the herd. there's no need to think otherwise as they manage to meet with the other horses, and pink eyes them before accepting their actions.

the herd does need to eat.

luna is more connected to her favorite than pink is to theirs. the distance between both soleum and them is still noticeable, but he doesn't seem to usher it away anymore like he did before. instead, he's watching caelus tend to the other hungry stallions that walk closer, even with their children. ]

Star.

[ soleum calls out. there's a small pause as he fixes at the wrist of his suit, pulling at it so that it appears presentable. ]

Are you able to keep secrets?

[ sounds like a lot coming from a man who doesn't give too much about himself or what he's doing. a man who keeps a steady distance, but still goes out of his way to help those that need it... maybe, maybe it's not strange for him to do this. to soleum, this sounds almost like a lot, especially how he stares at the other for an honest answer. ]