I can feel the madness slowly creeping in...

[cityship]

It is that time again, meatship.

Once again, the King of Nightmares has deigned to spread his touch to all of your dreams.

This time, however, he has decided to give them a much more personal touch, sending his very own children to visit each and every one of you, slowly sowing the seeds of madness within all of you.

Such a kind and loving king he is, isn't he?

[ooc: Alright folks, Nightmare King is ramping things up a bit. These nightmares are a good bit more dangerous now, and he's sending in his minions to make things a little more real. The nightmares will be of a much more serious nature this time, designed to start driving the crew slowly insane. Characters are more likely to run into nightmare minions in the guise of someone or something that will tug at the edges of their sanity. Also, this time, the characters can have joint dreams, as these nightmares are of a more mystical nature this time. Once again, tagging in isn't mandatory, but if you want to, go crazy (literally)!]

[Additional Note: Any injuries won't be carrying over to real life at this point in the plot but don't worry, we'll get there eventually!]

Comments

[staturity]

Cassie had been shot. She should be dead. Fortunately for her, dreams didn't work like real life. At least, not yet. Unfortunately for her, that meant she was awake and face down in a pool of her own blood and yes, even bits of her own brain. She tried to push herself up but her arms were paralyzed. She gasped for breath but all she sucked into her lungs was blood.

Move, move, move.

One hand responded and she rolled onto her back.

Oh no, Nate. What are you doing?

[wheresmysuit.livejournal.com]

He brought both hands down onto the bloody pulp one last time. His face showing nothing but rage, pain, sadness. Standing, he kicked at the inert body ignoring the blood that dripped to the floor from his gore encrusted gauntlets.

How long had he been swinging? It felt like forever. But he didn't regret it. Ever fiber of his body ached as if he'd been working for hours on end. But Kang, even the dream Kang was dead. But what about Cassie? With a half moan, he stumbled over, dropping to his knees beside her and bowing his head, eyes closed.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry." The armor popped, overheating and shutting down before it fell away, fading into dust. "I've never been much. I'm sorry, Cassie."

[staturity]

Cassie focused on moving her lips, her tongue, anything but she couldn't, all she could manage was a sharp exhalation of air.

"What's the matter, Cassie?" There was Tony Stark standing above her with his arms folded, shaking his head. "You never used your brain before, why should you need it now?"

You're wrong.

You're wrong. You're wrong. You're wrong. I'm not dumb. I'm not-

"No-"

[wheresmysuit.livejournal.com]

When he heard her speak, his eyes snapped open and he looked down at her. Why was she still...why hadn't she woken up? Why was she still here? Reaching down, he ignored the blood that got on his hands and picked her up, holding her close and gritting his teeth.

"Get up, Cassie. It's...none of this is real. Wake up...wake up..." Would it work? They had to get out of here before the ever changing dreamscape drove them insane. They had to get out of here.

"Cassie, get up. Come on. Wake up."

[staturity]

Why was it so hard to talk?

Was this all a dream it- of course. It had to be a dream. But it felt so real.

"What would your father say now?" Stark continued.

"...Trying..." She mumbled. "Nate." But then she heard a voice that made her lose what little control she'd gained over her dream body.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Cassie."

Daddy.

[wheresmysuit.livejournal.com]

Nate didn't see anything, but she seemed to. Looking behind him, there was nothing there. His arms tightened around her as he shook his head.

"Cassie. Wake up. There's nothing there. There's nothing there, it's not real. Wake up."

He had to get them out of here. Had to get them to wake up. Had to. The world kept shifting around them, faster and faster. It was enough to drive a person insane.

[staturity]

It's just a dream. It's just a dream.

Cassie squeezed her eyes shut and repeated the mantra.

It was just a dream but Nate seemed real enough. He was even trying to wake her. It didn't make any-

An intense pain pulsed through Cassie, spreading from the wound in her head through the rest of her body. She shook in response, almost cried out, and then-

She awoke.