TDM #1

[fortiscormod]

"Well, good morning, Sleepy Head,"

The voice was sweet and pleasant on the ears. You open your eyes to find a smiling face looking down at you. A face that looks human enough. Two eyes, a nose and a mouth, all in the right places. But something feels off about it... "We've been waiting for you to wake. It's about time!" The nurse, for now that she's moved away you realise that she is indeed dressed how you would imagine a nurse would be dressed, continues to talk and fuss about the room. In doing this, she explains:

❝You've been asleep for such a long time! Several years ago there was an Event that caused many people to fall into deep, deep sleeps. Some woke within days or weeks of their fall, but there were some, like yourself, who have been asleep for so much longer. It's hard to tell just how long you have slept, and I fear the world you remember is very different now, but we are here to help you through your transition from Dream World to the Waking World.❞

The nurse leaves and you are left alone. You will find that even though you have been in a coma for years, you are as physically fit as you remember. Any injuries you believed you had are gone now, as if they were never there. At the foot of the bed are clothes and any items you own. Take them. Go. The urge will take you. Once you leave, you will find you can not enter the hospital again, nor can you quite remember how you got out in the first place. All you can remember is the strangely haunting nurse and her words...

---

Welcome to Williamsburg!

The town before you is a hodgepodge of colour and style. No two houses are exactly the same. Some made of wood, or brick or even strange metals. Some are no more than holes in the ground. But all are warm and welcoming inside and not many are inhabited. In fact you'll find that the town itself isn't that populated at all. The busiest place is Main Street. Here you will find all the shops you need. From food to beauty and fashion and furnishings for home and garden, there is a café selling the most delicious of sweets and a pub that never closes. The Main Street is the place to be, if there is something you are lacking. And it is only a hop, skip and a jump from the Hospital and around the corner from everywhere else.

● [The Nowhere Inn] is the local watering hole where you can come and share a drink with a friend. Or, if just passing through, spend the night. Here you will be greeted by Bert, the owner and bartender. A seven foot tall bear of a man with a magnificent beard and a loud, booming voice! And a desire to one day create a cocktail that will take the world by storm. It's just a shame that not all of his little experiments hit the mark... Newcomers to the town will be offered a drink on the house. Choose wisely, as some of these drinks can often come with side effects, both good and bad.
✦ Apricot Smash: A refreshing glass of fruit squash. Made from the concentrated juice of a sour and sweet type of apricot, this is a simple and thirst quenching kind of drink. If asked nicely, this can also be made into a slushie! Anyone who tries this deliciously fruity drink will find themselves enjoying a chance to dance and/or sing at any given opportunity. (Side effect: It can cause insomnia.)
✦ Lemongrass Twilight: Made from spicy and sour lemongrass syrup, this mildly alcoholic drink is served in a tall glass with round, purple coloured balls of ice. The drink is a swirling green, yellow and purple colour. Those who try this drink will find themselves feeling very mellow and warm and more inclined to feelings of affection. (Side effect: It can cause headaches.)
✦ Mint Blast: Pale blue-green with light swirls and served in a wine glass. The drink is heavy on the mint and light on the alcohol, with even a little sprig of it resting on the rim of the glass. Drinking this will leave you feeling a chilled and shivery. A nice cuddle should soothe those chills away. (Side effect: It causes sleepiness in the drinker.)
✦ Blue Smooch: This drink is a deep blue with white, creamy foam atop. The drink smells like chocolate and tastes wonderful. It leaves the drinker feeling happy and optimistic, almost childlike. (Side effect: It is rumoured to cause truthfulness in the drinker.)
✦ Burning Wine: Pale gold with yellow-orange swirls, this mulled wine is served in a clear glass mug and tastes like cinnamon and oranges, with a hint of chili. It has a nice, warming burn as it goes down. This drink will put a fire in your belly and keep you toasty and warm through the cold nights. It may also make drinkers a little more amorous than usual. (Side effect: It can sometimes cause tingling and numbness in the extremities.)
✦ Frosted Starlight: Sapphire with silver flecks and glittering sugar around the rim of the glass. This is an intoxicating alcoholic drink that is only served in the evening and at night. The drink itself smells like coconut yet there is no coconut within the drink. The taste is almost floral, with a slight hint of grape. Those who have tried this drink often find themselves with the brief ability to touch another and see their surface thoughts. (Side effect: It can cause blackouts.)

● [Sugar ‘n Spice Café] is a peculiar place. From the outside it looks like any other store front, but as you enter and the little bell tinkles, you will find the interior to be bright and open. Warm colours and bright lighting, and from somewhere soft music is always playing. A very modern sort of café selling a wide selection of handmade sweets and pastries as well as an espresso machine.
For the next month, if you come in for a hot drink you can have your choice of their specially made, homemade cheesecake free of charge. Subject to availability, of course.
✦ Roasted strawberries and cream cheesecake: Made with a chocolate biscuit base, sumptuous strawberries and homemade cream.
✦ Coconut cheesecake with lime and passionfruit sauce: This zesty citrus cheesecake has a buttery base, creamy coconut filling and fruity lime and passionfruit sauce.
✦ Triple choc upside-down cheesecake: The name may say upside-down, but this cake looks right side up to us! Juicy raspberries give it a fresh bite and for the chocoholics - oozing sauce.
✦ Gingernut cheesecake tart with sticky maple pears: A creamy cheesecake with high visual impact for that special dessert finale to your dinner party.

● For those looking to add a little something extra to their wardrobe, they'd be best heading to [Dreams Come True Boutique]. For the month of April the clothing store will be offering all new arrivals free vouchers for up to three new outfits of their choosing. Within reason, of course. But most all of the clothes here are decently priced with an odd array of fashions from the very old fashioned to near futuristic.

● [Linlae Botanical Gardens] resides not far from Main Street. Part of the gardens are covered, housed within a large green house, but most of the gardens are outside and easily accessed. There is much to see here, from the [Hedgemaze] with the secret gazebo at it's centre, [Hanging Gardens] and the weeping willows reaching into the waters of a large koi pond. If you're lucky you might see a large white carp, said to be 2,000 years old by the name of Etherus. Who knows how long he'd lived in that pond, but they say if you catch sight of him it's a sign of good luck. And if you manage to see him during a full moon, he may grant you a wish.
There are benches all over, places to sit and take in the peace. But don't expect much quiet, the twittering of birds is a near constant companion within these gardens.

● [A Home]. As you explore you will realise that you're going to need somewhere to stay the night. Of course you could always go to The Nowhere Inn and wait until morning, or you could just... open a door.
87% of the houses within the town of Williamsburg is vacant, and well maintained, for many years. These houses wait for someone to come and bring life into them. Inside your pocket you will find a key. If your key doesn't fit the lock, that house is occupied, so find another. When you finally open a door, you'll notice that the key has changed subtly. That key is now unique and can be used only for this house. It is yours.
Some houses come fully furnished, some might need some work. You might even be surprised to find that the house is one that looks vaguely familiar...

---

A Familiar View

It may have been immediate or it may take days for you to notice, but when you do...

The memories of your Dream World are coming back to you. It doesn't feel much like a dream at all. Those things that happened, those feelings you had, all seemed so real!

And then you find it.

It could be something as simple as a book, or as large as a building. You know this thing. This thing has been pulled directly from your memories, whether those memories are good or bad is entirely up to you. But there it is, as large as life, right in front of your eyes. What does this mean? Which world is real and which isn't? How did these things from that other world make it into this?
This is your chance to explore this new addition to Williamsburg. Maybe you will find the answers you seek? Or maybe you will be left with more questions. Just know that you aren't alone. It seems that almost everything in this world was pulled from another, brought here by 'others', and left here.

Maybe this new landmark, or item, leaves you with a warm feeling and questions are the last thing on your mind? Perhaps you would like to share with your friends, or even a perfect stranger, the joy that this thing brings you? Tell them your story. Share with them it's the history. Or maybe the feelings attached are feelings of anger, of horror and fear? Misery does love company, so don't go through with this trip down memory lane alone.

---

Down the Rabbit Hole

It starts with something small shifting around you. Maybe it’s a door or window, but as you walk down the street things take a turn for the bizarre. It’s far too late to escape by the time you notice the buildings themselves bleeding into the sky or folding back onto themselves.

You are stuck in The Corridor now.

And you appear to be alone. Or are you? As the buildings creak in protest you seem to hear footsteps. Is that a fellow waylaid traveler?

Before you can determine the direction of the sounds, one thing becomes clear to you: these homes and businesses, all that brick and mortar, seem to be closing in on you…

It is a gradual squeeze but you can tell that if you don’t get out of there you’ll eventually be crushed. As you explore this place where time and gravity seem to have lost all meaning and your senses may even betray you, you search for a way out or an end to this madness and that is when you finally realize that the buildings are taking shape according to your will. The more you panic, the more claustrophobic and chaotic things become. But if you remain calm and focus your attention you find you can tame the buildings back into their original shapes and places. Of course, it helps if you have a partner.

Comments

Questions

[fortiscormod]

If you have any questions regarding the event, comment here.

Aizen Sousuke l Bleach

[godzen]

The Nowhere Inn

[ Aizen greets Bert like an old friend and settles down in his usual seat. He savors the drink put before him as he scans the room. Most of these people, including Bert himself, aren’t real and he knows it. They appear insubstantial to his trained eyes. However, occasionally, someone a little more solid walks in. Aizen would know even without Bert’s overeager greeting, but the man does serve as a kind of watch dog and at this point in his genesis, Aizen is content to sit and watch whatever unfolds.

Aizen has been feeding Bert recipes for years now under the guise of drunken tips and it is always amusing to see how some of these turn out. The constitutions of otherworlders are a never-ending source of interest, as is this place itself.

Aizen swirls the liquid in his glass close to his nose to test how well it mimics the actual scent of the ingredients. It is loosely held and his entire demeanor is relaxed. He leans with one elbow on the counter. ]

What are you expecting?

[ His eyes slide to you. Aizen gave no indication that he noticed you before this, nor does he bother to clarify. He could be talking about the drink in your hands, his own, or any number of other things. ]

Down the Rabbit Hole

[ Most people would be scared at this turn of events. Aizen simply continues to stroll down the street and although the buildings are still twisting this way and that, they bend out of his way as he approaches them. Aizen’s steps are confident and sure. It’s almost as if he has a bubble around him that nothing can broach.

He looks like a really safe option right about now given these circumstances. Still, there is something slightly ominous about him. ]

[OOC: I’m open to any of the beverages. Just lmk which one you want Aizen to be drinking and/or your character to think he’s drinking! ]

The Nowhere Inn

[kingcat]

[It hadn't taken Grimmjow long to recognize Aizen's reiatsu. Almost before he was out of the hospital bed, he knew. It was why he'd taken so long to get himself dressed and out the door.

He had to make a choice. There was no mistaking that Aizen was still -- probably would always be -- stronger than him. He could run, hide, and become a red stain on a wall somewhere, or he could go to Aizen, submit to his rule once again. There was no dignity in either option, but a dead Arrancar couldn't be king of anything, so he followed Aizen's reiatsu like it was his scent.

Trudged darkly down streets, until he found himself in this weird-ass bar, approaching Aizen with a truckload of false confidence.

Right up until Aizen's gaze landed on him, and he grit his teeth as all the bravado left him.]

Nothing, Aizen-sama.

[Expect nothing. Ask for nothing. If he was really lucky, receive nothing. He doesn't kneel, but he doesn't dare to sit next to Aizen like an equal, either. His old Espada uniform is gone, replaced by the mostly black outfit he'd switched to after Aizen had been imprisoned, with white jacket and a pair of white belts.]

The Nowhere Inn

[ancientflower]

[Aerith had just approached the bar to request a drink when a voice spoke to her left. She shot a look his way, a friendly smile on her lips.]

Expecting? Am I supposed to be expecting something?

[She didn't quite know what the question meant or even whether or not she was the one it was aimed at. If it wasn't she could easily apologise and move down the bar and out of the way.]

Re: Aizen Sousuke l Bleach

[strawberryprotector]

[Ichigo might be shit at sensing reiatsu, but he has read enough and seen enough movies to know that taverns and inns are a great place to start gathering information. He stops twirling the gold key long enough to stuff it in his pocket before pushing open the door. And stopping short as he sees Aizen] Well, fuck. Is this place you’re doing? Or did I fuck up and lose the fight and die?

Sephiroth l Final Fantasy VII

[silversoldier]

"Well, good morning, Sleepy Head,"/Welcome to Williamsburg

[ Sephiroth is used to examinations like these and in his half-slumbering state he doesn’t really hear the explanation or notice anything is amiss. He merely allows his limbs to be manipulated and whatever fluids to be drawn and taken.

It’s all so routine, normal, and…

Distant.

When was the last time–

Sephiroth’s eyes snap fully open. He takes in his sterile surroundings and then gazes down the length of his body at the nurse. ]

Where am I?

[ if she’s put off by the abruptness of his question or his timing or his tone or anything else, she doesn’t show it. Instead, the woman patiently repeats what she just said. ]

Where is she?

[ When the nurse asks who they launch into a fruitless, frustrating dialogue. Sephiroth eventually pulls the IV drip from his arm against the chorus of her protests and orders her to leave. He dresses and makes his way through the hospital, searching room by room for Aerith. There is a rising and almost unavoidable feeling that he needs to get outside, that maybe she’ll be there, but he keeps his cool.

At least until he finishes with the last room he can access. Sephiroth questions several staff members but none have any answers for him and instead urge him to get back to his real life…whatever that is supposed to mean.

He eventually does, and stumbles out into the sunlight in this very different place.

Sephiroth doesn’t hesitate outside the hospital for long, but rather seeks out the most public places he can find, hoping for a glimpse of a familiar smile and radiant green eyes to match…

After some time of fruitless searching he stops in his tracks and simply waits, very still, for the next passerby to come to him. ]

Have you seen Aerith?

[ Does it make much sense? Probably not, but it’s the level of politeness Sephiroth has managed at this very time. ]


The Nowhere Inn

[ It’s later and Sephiroth is…slightly calmer. He’s found a place to sit down at the bar and is cradling a Lemongrass Twilight. His back is to the wall though and he isn’t speaking to anyone, just scanning new faces as they come in. Occasionally, he takes a sip of the drink.

That’s when you happen to lock eyes. ]

What do you want?

[ It’s said slowly, as if he’s just remembered something. And he has; it’s his manners. Those are good ones for Sephiroth. ]

[kingcat]

[Grimmjow is wandering almost aimlessly, mind pouring over the events earlier in the day, when he'd seen Aizen for the first time, and the profoundly confusing events that had followed.

He's cranky about it, as he is about most things, and if Sephiroth hadn't looked so goddamn extra, he might've just ignored him. Instead, when he's asked about Aerith, he sneers.]

What the fuck is an Air-ith?

The Nowhere Inn

[suitandshades]

You're here too, huh?

[He doesn't ask, just slides into the seat opposite Sephiroth at his table. He had a normal beer in his hand this time around, opting for something less fruity. He was just a little surprised that Sephiroth had gone for a fruity drink. It almost made him smile.]

Anyone else?

Williamsburg

[cultivatingdisaster]

[The next passer-by actually recognises the figure ahead and deliberately makes his way towards him with a friendly smile. This time Xie Lian doesn't have his hat, but he is wearing those same white cultivator robes as he always has, his hands folded into his sleeves.

Before he can open his mouth to greet Sephiroth, he's interrupted. His smile becomes a look of concern.]

Is Aerith missing? I can help you look for her.

[Though this town was relatively new to him, Xie Lian was happy to lend his time to searching for the lost Aerith.]

[pilot05]

The Nowhere Inn
To say Wufei is unsettled by the place he finds himself is putting things lightly. Still, the first rule of unfamiliar surroundings is to get your bearings, so he does exactly that. Which is part of how he wound up here, sitting at the counter and gazing down at his Lemongrass Twilight, half empty in his hand. He's clearly feeling its effects, as he lifts his glass to take another sip and doesn't level a glare on the first person his eyes land on.



Home Sweet Home [Closed to Duo]
There's just something about the place. He can't quite put his finger on it, but the building -- the home -- feels... right. Maybe he's still tipsy from the drink he'd had, but he goes up to the door and gives a firm knock. Every instinct is telling him to just walk right in, but that can't possible be right, and he's not drunk enough to just follow through on his instincts. Only enough to indulge himself a tiny bit.



A Familiar View
He's been here for a few days, walked this street a dozen times since then, but it's today that he finally sees the jade statuette in the shop window. A two-headed dragon, nestled into an old box with velvet lining to protect it. The Altron statue he'd been gifted before the war, for the express purpose of pawning it to fund his efforts.

He stops in his tracks when he sees it, with no regard to traffic on the sidewalk. As things are, people just flow around him like he's not even there, as he takes a step closer to the window, gazing at Altron. This whole place is just wrong. This shouldn't be here.

And when he gets a look at the price tag, his brow furrows. It shouldn't be that goddamn cheap, either. Almost as soon as he thinks it, he blinks and the price has increased, two additional zeroes added to the end of the number putting it in the actual ballpark it should've been. He stares for a few seconds before giving his head a hard shake. Of course it had always been that price.

Home Sweet Home

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo was just relaxing at home when someone knocked at the door. It was the first time anyone had knocked since he'd arrived a few days ago. No one had come around with a pie or hot pot for the new guy, like friendly neighbours would. No knocks for a cup of sugar or to introduce him to the HOA. Duo was beginning to think the movies and TV had been lying to him about what these little town's were like when it came to hospitality.

He rose to go and answer the door, plastered a friendly smile on his lips and when he opened the door there was a cheerful greeting right there on the tip of his tongue. That was choked off when he saw just who was standing on his doorstep.

"Wufei?!" Freaking Wufei Chang. At his door. "You're here too?"

The Nowhere Inn

[silversoldier]

Sephiroth has had several drinks now and feels considerably more calm than when he first arrived. So it is that he offers a simple, "Wufei?" upon seeing him. Sephiroth steps closer through the crowd to get a better look. He has a Blue Smooch in his hands this time, since the other drinks didn't do him well.

A Familiar View

[ancientflower]

She didn't run into him, even though he was clearly in the way, she stopped with a smile and just watched him for a handful of seconds before stepping up to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Wufei.

"What're we looking at?" Aerith asked him pleasantly with a gentle nudge of her shoulder to his to get his attention. There were so many things in the window, she had no idea just which of those things were what had attracted Wufei's attention so completely.

Reno | Final Fantasy VII Remake

[tightbod_bigrod]

He'd been asleep for a long time?

Fat fucking chance.

Reno wasn't a rocket scientist, but he did know enough about some things. One of those things was what it was like to recover from an injury. Being out for a while meant muscles getting weaker, and he noted right away that he felt fine. Not "he felt fine and toppled over as soon as he tried to stand up". He felt fine, and everything worked perfectly fine when he tried to use it.

So while she was saying whatever, he was already deciding that he hadn't been out as long as she was suggesting. But why lie?

One thing was certain: he wasn't in Neo Midgar anymore. When he got outside he was both surprised and somehow readily accepted it. It wasn't his first time, after all.

"Shit happens..." he mumbled, tapping his shoes on the ground to knock off any imaginary dirt as he settled himself. The confident-seeming idle motions gave him the moment to adjust that he needed.

First, he needed to find the other Turks. And the place to go for that would be the bar.

The Nowhere Inn

He probably shouldn't drink right now, but who can turn down a freebie? Especially from a very nice, not at all intimidating very large man?

He needed to keep his wits about him, though, so he ordered the 'mildly' alcoholic, spicy drink. A bit sour for his tastes. A bit oddly colored, too. Maybe he should've gone with the wine... If Rude showed up, he could always convince him to order the wine and then do a trade. For now, his drink was suspiciously not emptied yet, though he'd had some of it.

And he just waited to see a familiar face walk through the door.

Down the Rabbit Hole

At first he ran. As soon as the twisting corridors looked even the slightest bit familiar he knew he had to get out of there, and fast.

But no matter how fast he ran it was quickly becoming evident that he wasn't outrunning anything. He stopped to look around. He wasn't the lead strategist.

As things seemed to be closing in he covered his head and tried to think.

Not this shit again...!

Dealing with Hojo's creepy experiments and Jenova once had already been enough. He didn't need to see any of it again. He just wanted to go back to Costa del Sol on vacation. Have some authentic Shinra beer. He clenched his jaw and when he forced his eyes back open to see what he was dealing with, things had changed.

Gone were the dark corridors and weird overgrowing tendrils of the lab, and instead there was sunshine and beach.

"What kinda drugs am I on?"

The Nowhere Inn

[silversoldier]

Sephiroth caught sight of that unmistakable red hair amidst the crowd. He was cradling a new drink now, foisted upon him by the overeager bartender. It was minty and he wasn't sure he liked it but at least it was something to do with his hands and in situations like this that was always important.

"Reno. Have you seen Aerith?"

Sephiroth has no idea if Reno will remember anything about him or them, but what he does have is the ability to plow forward boldly.

Down the Rabbit Hole

[cultivatingdisaster]

Xie Lian had been caught up in the same strange, world-altering effect and had been running, much the same was as Reno had. And it was with some surprise that he saw the red-haired man ahead of him, shielding his head and looking as if he was waiting for death.

Of course Xie Lian wasn't going to let that happen. With a tap of his foot he shot forward, intent to make a grab for the man and carry him on out toward the end of the twisting tunnel. But as he approached, something changed and Xie Lian came to a stumbling stop.

The buildings that had been closing in on them had suddenly become... sun? And sand? He blinked, a hand raised to shield his eyes as he gazed up at the sky. "I'm unsure is drugs can have this kind of effect," and certainly not on himself.

Angeal Hewley | Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core

[wingsofamonster]

Orchard:
[It was almost harvest time. The dumbapples were almost ripe enough.

Angeal reached up to one of the many trees growing within the several acres of land surrounding Angeal's farm house just outside of the town. The land here was perfect. And he had been here for many years already.

For the most part he had kept to himself. Living a quiet kind of life growing his apples in contentment and selling them in town. It was an easy life. But a lonely one... Sometimes he would daydream, like he was right then as he reached up to examine one of the apples. He would imagine what it would be like to fall back into the dream of old. To see his friends. His family...]

You're a silly old man. The past can't be changed.

[He sighed to himself, huffed a low laugh and left the apples to return home...]


Williamsburg:
[It was only a few weeks later when Angeal is in town to sell some of his dumbapples to various stores that make use of them in drinks and food. He doesn't always ask questions, he's just happy that there are people who will buy the fruit he spends so much time and energy growing.

So there he is, wandering down main street after having sold his stock, but saving an apple for himself. One he took a big bite out of before stopping to peer into the window of a store settling knickknacks and antiques. Fancy little boxes, tea sets and...

And Angeal frowns.]

Impossible...

[There is no way... that couldn't be his Buster Sword, could it?]


The Nowhere Inn:
Evening, Bert.

[Angeal nods to the owner of The Nowhere Inn, a kind man, if he is built like a tank. Always smiling. Always laughing. He was a good guy and usually a good bartender. Drinks the man hadn't made himself were usually safest.

But sometimes Angeal felt adventurous.

So he smiled and ordered a drink at random and, once it was made and handed to him, he carried it to a table and sat down to relax. The pale drink had a strong mint smell and had a cooling, refreshing effect on Angeal when he took a sip. His brows rose.]

Not bad. Barely tastes like toothpaste.


Down The Rabbit Hole:
...

[This was one of the reasons Angeal stayed away from the town.

While he wasn't entirely immune living outside of Williamsburg, strange things happened less there. It was just the beasts you had to worry about...

The town had a habit of the bizarre. Today seemed to be a bizarre one.]

I need to get out of here...

[But how? Where? The ground was moving, the buildings twisting in on themselves, wrapping upwards to cover the sky and close in on him. So he started moving, hurrying forward... And then he hears footsteps ahead. He curses softly under his breath and immediately changed direction to go to where he heard the sound.]

Hello? Is anyone there? Where are you?


Wildcard:
[Have another idea? Throw me a PM or start something off and I'll follow along. Alternatively, you can contact me via: JustAnotherUsername | Theo#4816 ]

Orchard

[silversoldier]

[ There is something to be said for willpower here, not that either of them knows this. It's just that at that same exact moment, Sephiroth had been pondering his past and thinking especially of Angeal. He was in the middle of town when the very air in front of him seemed to warp and he found himself seeing some very familiar trees.

Sephiroth stepped through the portal without hesitation and it closed behind him. He found himself in a dumbapple orchard. If this was another place, Sephiroth might have believed it a cruel trick, but here he didn't know what to believe. Just that a strange sensation was welling up in him that felt a lot like hope.

His boots crunched over leaves and twigs as he reached over and pulled an apple free. Sephiroth stared at this in wonder. It was solid in his hand. He was so busy with it that he didn't realize he wasn't alone until he heard a sound behind him.

Sephiroth turned and found ]

Angeal.

[ He wasn't someone who was very obvious with his emotions. Nonetheless, that one word was packed full of everything: surprise, years' worth of regrets, and the stubborn hope to right them.

Sephiroth took a step forward, the dumbapple forgotten in his hand. He didn't know if Angeal was really there, but he hoped he was after all this time. ]

Down the Rabbit Hole

[godzen]

I'm here.

[ And so Aizen is, completely undisturbed inside the middle of his reiatsu bubble. The buildings really aren't behaving themselves today...

He doesn't move, just waits and watches. He doesn't look concerned either. ]

Aerith Gainsborough | Final Fantasy 7: Remake | OTA

[ancientflower]

Waking Up/Arrival:
"Wake up, sleepy head~"

[The voice calls to her and Aerith's eyes slowly open. Blink. Blink. And then scan around her in confusion.

Her last memories were of falling asleep within Sephiroths arms. A kiss goodnight... and a dream in which she was flying through white, fluffy clouds. It was such a peaceful dream that when she suddenly started to fall, he body jolts. And now she is wide awake.]

... Where am I?

[She had no idea she was echoing the same words as her soulmate. How could she possibly know?]

Sephiroth? Where's Sephiroth?

[Her voice has risen now, along with her body. Aerith near threw herself out of the bed, all while the nurse remained where she stood, just watching her with a smile. The only information the woman would give Aerith was to say that she had finally woken up and it was 'so nice to see you again'. Aerith just frowned. She grabbed her things and, after getting changed out of the hospital gown, she ran.

Her hair was loose, her feet bare as she burst out of the hospital doors and almost tripped down the steps. She gasped and reached out to grab something, anything, to steady herself...]


The Nowhere Inn:
Hmm... I'll take the... Apricot Smash, please.

[Aerith smiled as she leaned against the bar, arms crossed and watched the large man make her drink. It was the one that sounded the nicest. And she could slushify it, which is what she asked for a moment later when she realised.

The drink came in a tall glass with a cute bendy straw and Aerith was very pleased with that. And when she took a sip, she was even more pleased.]

This is so delicious!

[Aerith hopped up onto the barstool to her left and took another sip. Her legs were crossed... and her foot was tapping.]


Linlae Botanical Gardens:
[So far the gardens were some of the most beautiful and peaceful she had ever seen. It was so calm... Aerith could feel herself relaxing almost immediately on entering the colourful gardens.

She walked past a sign, to the left offering a Hedgemaze and to the right a Hanging Gardens. Aerith went right.

And that's where she would remain for a while. Sat on a bench under a weeping willow listening to the sound of a running water from somewhere behind her. A river? A brook? Or just a water feature? Aerith hadn't looked yet and didn't mind, it was just so lovely to listen to.]

Just a little while. My feet are sore... Then I'll get back to looking.


A Familiar View:
[Aerith had already found herself a house that, apparently, was made just for her. From the outside it had looked simple enough, but out back? The garden was large and even had a greenhouse and a shed near the back! It needed a lot of work but that was fine with her. She was eager to get to work.

But that meant going back into the centre of town and finding tools...

Only she turned down the wrong street. Nothing was familiar yet, after all.

As she turned another corner, Aerith came to a full stop. Her eyes widened, a hand rose to cover her mouth. Ahead of her, large as life, nestled at the end of the street was a church. Her church!]

How...? How is... this can't be possible...

[Aerith walked closer but hovered outside, almost afraid to enter. Afraid of what would be inside.]



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Linlae Botanical Gardens

[silversoldier]

[ Sephiroth had explored a lot of this strange town by the time it occurred to him that maybe the very first place he should have checked were the gardens. He headed there right away after this occurred to him and spent some time wandering in the hedge maze before following the other trail toward the hanging gardens.

The sound of burbling water filled his ears the closer he came to his goal and soon he saw the stream itself. Sephiroth shaded his eyes against the glare and that's when he saw her sitting there like she'd been waiting just for him.

Sephiroth smiled for the first time since arriving here, because he was convinced that's what had happened, and broke into a jog. He didn't use any of his abilities but nor could he continue to simply walk, not at this point in his life. ]

There you are.

[ This was said after he'd picked his fiancee up, after he had her in his arms and was holding her tight. ]

Xie Lian ✿ Heaven Official's Blessing ✿ OTA

[cultivatingdisaster]

Welcome to Williamsburg:
Xie Lian had seen many a village, town and city in his time. But the city that sprawled before him was unlike any he had ever seen before. Buildings and houses the likes of which he had never seen before, though there were also some that he was familiar with, both from his own home and the world of Nippon.

At least, that was what his memories told him.

The nurse had explained that those were just dreams. That he had been sleeping and 'trapped' in those worlds, now he was awake and he could get back to living his real life.

But if that was a dream... why did he still have his cursed shackles? Did he get those here? Why couldn't he remember his life in this world? Xie Lian had so many questions and very little in the way of answers.

He walked down the streets, making his way closer to the centre of the city and dressed in his usual white robes. His long, dark hair hung down his back and atop his head was his favourite straw hat. A simple taoist minding his own business.


Sugar ‘n Spice Café:
Due to his cultivation path, Xie Lian avoided the bar. But the cafe was just the place for him.

He entered and found a place to sit. A corner booth where he could see the entirety of the café. It was a lovely place with a warm atmosphere, the décor was homely, there were hanging plants and pictures all on the walls. The seating was comfortable and intimate. The music softly filling the room was of a kind Xie Lian had never heard before, but found it soothing.

As he sat, a sweet older lady brought him a mug of hot chocolate and a place with a slice of strawberries and cream cheesecake. It all looked very decadent to Xie Lian and he almost asked her to take it back, but was informed it was on the house. His smile was soft and grateful.

"This is home, hm?" He spoke to himself, small fork in hand to take off a little of the cheesecake to taste. It was just as decadent tasting as it looked. Darn near sinful. "... This can't be good for me."


Linlae Botanical Gardens:
He was sat by the side of the lake, his hat resting on the grass at his side, legs crossed and his hands settled in his lap. Xie Lian was meditating. Or trying to.

There was a particularly mischievous carp within the lake that had taken to splashing him.

SPLASH

Xie Lian's eyes opened and he looked down to find his knee wet and the lake in front of him rippling as a dark form hurried to swim away.

"Master Koi, please find something else to cure your boredom." And someone else to cure it with.


Down The Rabbit Hole:
He stood where he was, when the world around him began to invert. Xie Lian remained right where he was, a sea of calm as chaos reigned around him. His head tipped, looking up as a house rose above his head and only then did he take a step to the side, dodging a falling roof tile.

Behind him he heard running feet.

"Just what is going on here?" He asked, voice raised enough to be heard by the one approaching. "Can you see a way out?"



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Linlae Botanical Gardens

[godzen]

[ Aizen saw the whole thing. ]

I think it likes you.

[ He had been walking down the path and now joined him by the water. He appeared to be wearing a black outfit but perceptive individuals would recognize him as being sealed from head to toe. In truth, only his left eye, mouth, and ankles could be said to be free of them and that was because of Shunsui unlocking those particular ones. Despite all of the seals he didn't seem diminished in the least so who knew how monstrous he really was? ]

Rude - Final Fantasy VII

[suitandshades]

The Nowhere Inn:
The wine came in a mug and tasted like nothing he had ever experienced before.

Rude sipped at it again, feeling it burn on the way down like a nicely aged whiskey. But the Burning Wine wasn't nearly as alcoholic as some of the other drinks he'd been recommended. Rude had picked this one for it's novelty, and the fact that the evening had gotten cooler and a nice, warm drink made sense right about now.

"It's not bad." It was growing on him with every sip. It warmed him right down to his toes.


Sugar ‘n Spice Café:
Rude would have walked right passed the cafe if it hadn't been for someone leaving just as he was approaching. The enticing smell of baked goods had him pausing mid-stride. There was a moments hesitation before he was stepping through the door.

Above him a bell tinkled...

Five minutes later he was sat at a table looking down at a mug of coffee and a slice of Triple choc upside-down cheesecake. It was a lot of chocolate. "Maybe too much chocolate..." He muttered under his breath, but there was a small smile upon his lips as he picked up his fork to take his first taste.


A Home:
So far Rude had tried three houses and been unlucky to find his key didn't fit any of them. It was frustrating but there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it but keep on trying.

So he did. He wandered down another street, keeping his eyes on the houses to the left and right of him, until he paused.

"That one..." It reminded him... of home. Of the kinds of houses around the Shinra building. The thought almost made him smile, considering that those memories were supposedly dreams. Rude moved toward it, climbed the two steps up to the door... and was pleased to find the key actually fit. "Perfect."

Down The Rabbit Hole:
"The hells going on?" Rude was running, dodging left and right as debris fell around him. A chunk of building came crashing down and he dived, rolling forward and coming up in a crouch.

He wasn't a happy camper.

Rude had just been on his way home when the world had gone to shit. There was no warning, nothing he could think of that triggered the event, and no telling how to stop it or how to remove himself from immediate danger other than to run and hope to find an exit before he was crushed to death.


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The Nowhere Inn

[tightbod_bigrod]

Rude might've been wondering why there was a half full Lemongrass Twilight drink sitting on the counter next to him. And the answer was: Reno had gone to the bathroom. Leave it to Rude to have perfect timing.

He didn't notice any extra feelings of affection because, honestly, that was kind of his default setting for Rude as it was. But that didn't make him any less of an asshole.

The footsteps were probably familiar enough even before Reno spoke up smoothly, almost purring, "Hey, partner."

Much as Reno had convinced himself the others had to be here for the sake of his own sanity, it was good to have it confirmed. He leaned over Rude's shoulder from behind, practically melting against part of his back. And, he saw the wine in his hand. Looked like his devious scheme could still go off without a hitch.

"I see you got the wine. What say you let me have a sip o' yours and I'll let you have a sip of mine?"

Of course, considering how well they knew each other, Rude would probably be fully aware that the reason Reno's drink wasn't empty was because he hadn't cared for it that much.

Duo Maxwell | Gundam Wing | OTA

[maxwellsdaemon]

Welcome to Williamsburg:
Duo's memories were fuzzy... He'd woken up in that strange hospital with that strange nurse and had booked it right the hell out of there, with his ass hanging out and his stuff under his arm. He'd been out on the street when he'd realised he was actually in a hospital gown.

But now he was dressed in his usual black with his favourite leather jacket, just wandering around in confusion.

"Where the hell is this place?" Because he'd never heard of it before nor had he seen anything remotely like it in his life. The buildings were weird. Some looked normal enough, but then he'd walked past something like looked like it was straight out of feudal japan and he'd had to stop and stare before carrying on.

"Crazier and crazier. Now where's the first bus outta Dodge?" There had to be a bus or train somewhere, right?


The Nowhere Inn:
If questions needed answering, Duo needed people. And so he'd found where the people were. At least some.

He sat at the bar with a drink in hand and a grin plastered on his face.

"So c'mon, man. What's the deal with this place?" Duo had purchased a drink with the promise of more to get on the good side of the bartender, a man called Bert he'd learned, who also owned the place. He hoped to get some information. All he got was a laugh and a shrug.

"Whatcha mean, kid? Somethin wrong wit the place?" Bert's gruff voice might have sounded dangerous, but there was a twinkle in those baby blues that was anything but.

"I mean... Did you end up asleep?" That's what he'd been told, talking to other people, since he'd run away from the nurse. That people had mysteriously fallen asleep and been taken to the hospital. Some had woken after a few days, others had been there for years. It was never the same way twice. But no one knew why they had fallen asleep in the first place.

Bert shrugged again, only this time he leaned against the bar. "Not me. But a few did. Most're still up there on that hill. Craziest thing. People just fell over in the street. Not dead, just asleep." The big man shook his head slowly, eyes far away remembering a day that was stranger than any that had come after.

"Huh," Duo didn't know how to take it. People just falling asleep for no reason didn't make a lick of sense. But what really didn't make sense were the memories had had. Some fuzzy, but the ones he had felt so real that to be told they were just dreams left him feeling unsettled. "Wonder why I don't remember this place then?"

"Who knows, kid? Maybe it did somethin to your brain?" There was some sympathy to Bert's voice, but before he could say more, he was called away to another customer.

"... Something wrong with my brain, huh? Could be right." Duo stared down at his Lemongrass Twilight, rocking the glass to make the purple ice balls clink. He was going to have to ask around some more. But later. He wanted to drink.


Linlae Botanical Gardens:
It had just been curiosity. Honestly it was! Duo had never seen a Hedgemaze before, but he'd read about them. There was some rule or something about always keeping to the right side? That way you'd never get lost?

Well.

He was lost.

And apparently you couldn't climb these hedges. He fell down each time he tried.

"This stopped being funny a half hour ago!" He kicked at a bush in frustration and began to consider just where he would put a generous amount of C4 to get the maximum amount of damage. Before he might have said the centre, but he'd need to find the damn thing first!


A Familiar View:
It was little over a week after he'd woken up when he found the first mind fuck.

Duo had been exploring Wiliamsburg a little every day, working his way further out. Now he was near the edges of the town and he'd found several things. From a ruins to an orchard. But then he saw something in the distance that gave him pause. He frowned. Then made his way closer.

It looked like another ruin. A worn down building that had definitely seen better days. It was made of wood and brick with a small wooden fence surrounding it. And it looked so damn familiar that Duo didn't immediately recognise what he was looking. Because it was an impossible object. It was something that shouldn't have been there. Had no right to be there.

It wasn't until he was stood outside of the gate and looking up at the stained glass window above the church door that he realised what it was he was looking at... and Duo immediately sank to his knees...


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Orihime Inoue | Bleach | OTA

[heartofhope]

Welcome to Williamsburg:
[Holding a bag of her precious items to her chest, Orihime took to the streets in the hopes of finding something familiar to her. So far she hadn't seen a thing.

It was all so confusing. Everything was confusing. She'd asked the nurse to repeat herself three times and it had been explained that she could seek a specialist who could help her to assimilate and come to terms with the fact that her memories... were a lie. But how could they be a lie? How could everything she had lived through, how could all of her friends be a lie? How could Ichigo, Tatsuki, Chad... how could they all be lies? Figments of her imagination?]

Just a dream... No, no I don't believe it.

[It just didn't feel right. But if it wasn't right then how could she explain the town she was in? Orihime hugged her things closer, fear causing her to shiver.]

I want to go home...


Sugar ‘n Spice Café:
[Orihime had not one, but two slices of cheese cake in front of her! he coconut cheesecake and the triple chocolate one. Both had looked delicious. She even had a hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream and sprinkles. She was in absolute heaven and, for a short while at least, was able to forget to be scared.

How could a place with such delicious food be a scary place?]

Mmmm thish is shoo gooo!

[Talking with her mouth full was rude, of course. But since she was sat alone it was okay! She wasn't bothering anyone, she hoped.]


Dreams Come True Boutiques:
Ohh this dress is so pretty! Surely it can't really be free?

[She called to the store clerk just to be sure, and yes, since she was 'new' she was allowed to pick three dresses completely free of charge to help get her settled. It was such a sweet thing to do that Orihime couldn't stop the wide smile from pulling at her lips. The dress was lifted and pressed up against her body as she stepped to the left and the right, making the skirt swish.

It was perfect.]

Now I just need two more, in that case!


Down The Rabbit Hole:
[Orihime thought she was seeing things at first. A window shifting just a little as she walked passed on her way home. But when it happened again, and again, she couldn't brush it off as a trick of her imagination.

Within minutes of realising what was actually going on, she realised that it was too late. She was already in danger.

She stopped, staring up in terror as the buildings at either side of her rose higher and twisted to cover her. She was surrounded on all sides. And then the walls started to close in. Orihime realised that she was going to be crushed. But her legs just wouldn't move but her knees shook. When she opened her mouth to shout, no sound came out.

Was this how she would die?


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Down the Rabbit Hole

[godzen]

[ The walls do come perilously close to the girl, but today is not her fated day, for someone unexpected is here to save her.

Aizen was suddenly just behind the girl. The sheer weight of his will or perhaps his reiatsu made a dome around them both which nothing could enter. He did not direct any of this toward her, but rather used it to shield them both. ]

A girl like you should smile more often.

[ With that reminder of one of their past conversations, Aizen dispensed with any of this dream nonsense that was being fed to all those brought here. And perhaps because of this, the buildings around them drew back and began to take something of their normal shapes.

A warm smile graced his features and while it could be and usually was a lie, he was genuinely happy to see her. Her abilities made her a dangerous person and there were so very few of those left to him now. ]

[strawberryprotector]

Boutique:
[With only the clothes on his back to wear, Ichigo goes to the boutique. He knows vaguely what he wants, and the wide and wild variety blows his mind. So he picks up two different shirts, a pair of skinny jeans, some traditional work pants, and even a nice looking kimono.]

A home:
[There's a small traditional looking house on a large plot. It looks perfect, he can have a vegetable garden and try to create something instead of just being a tool of destruction. The key turns in the lock, then changes in his hand.] Huh. That's new. Guess I live here now?

Boutique

[kingcat]

Somewhere in the back of the store, there is a low growl as Grimmjow yanks open a door and steps out in a positively surreal outfit. Straight-fit jeans, a belt with a heavy, ornate buckle, a black tee with a faded-looking strawberry printed on the front. The back can't be seen because he paired it with a black leather jacket with a snakeskin pattern and some big combat boots.

He stomps over to the closest mirror and glares at himself in the mirror, turns and does it again, huffs.

And then he catches sight of red hair, and his eyes narrow. "KUROSAKI!" It's nearly a roar, and startles the poor workers in the store as he storms over to Ichigo. By some small miracle, even though Pantera is held by his belt, it stays in the sheath. For now.