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

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie was just about to distract the guards in an attempt to let Sheik escape - after what he had just seen, he wasn't at all sure they wouldn't want to take his head too, just on general principle.

But then the guards stand down, and then there's a girl who apparently knows Sheik - and is being referred to as 'Your Highness'. Jamie narrows his eyes thoughtfully, looking back and forth between the two of them.

He lets the hug go on for a little while, though, before clearing his throat meaningfully.

(OOC: Hey, no worries. It's all good. :) )

[redeyes_andblue]

Sheik doesn't move, just clinging to Zelda until Jamie clears his throat - he never gets to see her like this other than in dreams, never gets to hold her like this. So it's with a little reluctance that he breaks away, with a murmured, "It's not your fault", and a nuzzle against her hair.

Beyond, the king's betrayal continues, but caught in a mist - it's a memory, long since passed but never forgotten, no longer something real and immediate before him. "I'm sorry," he says quietly to Jamie, "This was a dark day for the Sheikah. Betrayed by those we served and trusted and died for."

He smiles, but it's small and bitter. "And something I was not keen on seeing again - the Nightmare King must have chosen it for that purpose."


((OOC: Let's see if we can get one more in before LJ goes down!))

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie nods in acknowledgment, and says, "Aye. And we should probably figure out a way to wake up before he throws something else at us."

He doesn't move just yet, though, and gives Sheik a rather expectant look. He's waiting to see if Sheik is actually going to confirm his suspicions on who Zelda is - or if he's just going to sidestep the issue.

[redeyes_andblue]

Sidestepping it is - at least for now, until Sheik and Zelda can discuss what the implications of Jamie's new knowledge will bring. He isn't sure whether Jamie has made the connection, yet - the nightmare proves that he was there, when the Sheikah had been betrayed. And the betrayal he had told Jamie had taken place three hundred years before his own time.

His own time. Heh. A long time, indeed.

"There's a field," Zelda murmurs quietly, "A little distance away. It's tranquil, there - I felt like I could awaken, there."

Sheik nods, taking Zelda's hand in his unbroken one and starting along the indicated path, nodding at Jamie to follow. "Why didn't you?"

"I was waiting for you. I couldn't leave you here."

He nods, frowning faintly as he realises that the nightmarish sense of unreality was somewhat diminished around Zelda. "Jamie," he called back hesitantly, "Is it starting to feel... better? Like it's less of a nightmare?"

[bonnypiperlad]

Ah, so that's how it's going to be. Well, if Sheik's not going to broach the subject, Jamie will let it go - for the moment.

He follows them down the path, not saying much of anything. Instead, he's got a hand on his sword and is glancing around, expecting the Nightmare King to throw something else at them. But...there isn't anything. And when Sheik calls back, he realizes that it is feeling a little less like a nightmare.

"Aye. It does feel a wee bit better." That's...odd.

[redeyes_andblue]

"Perhaps it means we will awaken soon," he says quietly.

Or perhaps it's Zelda, with her vivid, prophetic, lucid dreams, remaking the world of her subconscious so that she may understand the vision she's granted.

And there's something else, too - a sense of simultaneous sleepiness and wakefulness. He doesn't question it; he merely embraces it.

The field they're walking in is misty, its edges obscured. It's easy to believe the world is simply himself, and Zelda, and Jamie.


((OOC: Want to wrap this up in a tag or two? Also, Sheik would be willing to contact Jamie the next morning and try and explain, if you're willing?))

[bonnypiperlad]

"That would be verra nice," Jamie says wistfully.

As they walk, things seem to definitely be more peaceful, and Jamie starts to relax. As he does, there's that sense that he is not quite there, almost like the dream world is dissolving around him. But rather than a sudden shattering that thrusts him into true consciousness, it is a softer, gentler awareness.

I can wake up now.

Between one step and another, Jamie simply vanishes...

And back on Stacy, his eyes pop open. He sits up, rubbing absently at his temple as he tries to make some sense out of what just happened. After a short while, though, he lies back down and drifts into a thankfully dream-free slumber.

(OOC: Works for me. :) And I am certainly willing to have Sheik contact Jamie for explanations, so um, new thread?)

[redeyes_andblue]

And over on another part of the ship, Sheik opens his eyes with a start, more reassured than he would have thought possible to see the familiar ceiling of his room.

He will have to explain to Jamie, soon - Zelda murmurs a sleepy assent, too.

But that can wait until the morning. Turning to curl up on his side, he and Zelda both drift off in to a similarly dreamless sleep.


((OOC: Up on trans_channel :) Although any threading will have to wait until tomorrow, I'm about to crash. Got less than four hours sleep last night @.@ ))