dreamcrystals | Paging Mr. Warder

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Paging Mr. Warder

Sender: Anonymous
To: Everyone
Subject: Looking for someone I met while dreamwalking.

((OOC NOTE: This post is backdated to the morning after Vigil's prison dream.))

To the chief warder of Barclay Prison in last night's dreams,

I don't know what your profession in real life was before arriving in this world, but let me make it clear that I bear no ill will towards you or the position you held in that dream. In fact, I honestly believe you are the most considerate and understanding person I've ever spoken to. I wouldn't have expected any sympathy at all in that situation, let alone anyone willing to listen to my side of the story. Thank you.

Unfortunately, if I remember correctly I may have brought up some information about myself that I would rather not have the public knowing about. I don't believe I managed to get your name, so I'm writing this letter in hopes of contacting you. I'd like to discuss things with you in private at the earliest convenience.

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[Oh, guess this is addressed to him... he certainly doesn't know of any other chief warder of Barclay, not in this world at least. He carefully reads the message in its entirety before finally responding, his writing neat and precise.]

I have no intention of spreading everything I learned from the dream to the people at large here. Those were private conversations we had and it was most likely my fault that you were pulled into my nightmare without warning. I should be apologizing to you for that.

[...He might tell some brief things to Lord van Zieks, but... if he wants him to keep some things private, he'll at least honor that request.]

I'd be willing to discuss further in private, however. And my name is Daley Vigil.

[ Thank God Mr. Vigil awnsered promptly. Who knows what sort of questions others might have...

The response is also in private, under a name that should be familiar enough to Vigil. ]

I can hardly fault you for an accident, Mr. Vigil. You were dreaming, and I didn't realize I was in your dream until the last moment. We shouldn't need to worry about those circumstances.

Would you rather continue over the journals or should we meet somewhere in person?

[Ah yes, the name is certainly familiar to him, although he did have a hunch that it was Luca asking for him. Of all the people that he met in his dream, only two of them were unfamiliar faces and the other guy tried to choke him, so.]

If you're quite certain. I'm only glad you didn't suffer any lasting trauma from our encounter.

It's entirely up to you, Mr. Balsa. Of course, if you wish to remain entirely private, it might be best to speak in person instead of relying on these journals to keep everything a secret.

Fair point. How about we meet in front of the Hatmaker's Shop and go from there?

[ He visits the Hatmaker enough to know where that place is. Though he vaguely remembers a recent disturbance in the area... That's been taken care of, right? ]

[Part of him is completely drained from the dream and he knows that he probably looks awful, but Vigil isn't going to go back on his word here. He'll just be extra cautious to make sure that he doesn't accidentally choke someone...]

Yes, I believe I can meet you there today if you'd like. Unless there's a proper time that you wish to meet.

Today is fine. Come at your earliest convenience.

[ True to his word, Luca will be found waiting outside the Hatmaker's shop with the journal in his hand. He does seem... Slightly nervous... But is otherwise patient enough. Every so often he'll thumb through his journal to check on the notice he wrote, seeing if there's something he missed or a new comment... ]

[Vigil figures that there's little that be can done about his exhausted appearance, other than putting on his normal suit and trying to look at least slightly put together. He's dressed nicely as usual, but none of that hides the exhaustion that's clearly seen in both his eyes and the bags underneath them.]

Hello... are you Luca Balsa?

[Some familiarity crosses his eyes, remembering the young man from that one incident with the machine. And despite the eyepatch covering his eye, he certainly looks better now compared to the dream.]

Oh, this isn't the first time we've met in person... I suppose I never did catch your name back then.

Hm? [ He looks up to see... Yes, that sure is the man from the dream. He smiles knowing his wild shot in the dark didn't get the attention of the wrong person. ]

I am. And you must be Mr. Vigil?

[ Ah, but this isn't the first time they've actually met? Luca tries to think, but... ] I'm sorry, I don't remember the last time we've met. Do you mind explaining...?

[Belief is to be rewarded... at least, that's what Vigil likes to think. At any rate, he nods slightly at the question, his demeanor unassuming yet patient. It's truly any miracle that he ever ended up as chief warder of Barclay.]

Back during December, around Christmas, you were fixing that machine. I wholly didn't understand the mechanics of it, but you knew exactly what to do. It was quite impressive.

[He doesn't wish to point out that Luca looked very different in the dream. None of that is really his fault, plus during that time, Vigil had even forgotten a couple of close acquaintances.]

During my dream, however, I had a hard time recognizing anyone. Nearly everyone was a stranger.

Ah, yes, that present wrapping machine that was going haywire... Thank you very much. Always nice to put my skills with machinery to good use.

[ To be fair, Luca didn't realize others had entered the dream as well. How could he notice when he was confined to a lonely cell? ]

Right... I believe you seemed to be having a few headaches yourself while you were speaking to me. If you were, I do understand how that feels.

Edited 2022-03-08 04:50 (UTC)

[He raises a hand to his head, his posture just diminishing further, but he nods anyway in response. He feels like he's been getting them more lately, or at least, a crushing feeling in his chest when he thinks about how long it's been since he's been at home.

Talking like this helps slightly, but it never fully disappears.]

I have frequent headaches. Some to do with my memory loss. [Sometimes it gets really bad when he tries to think about certain things for far too long.]

...Is that something you struggle with? I recall you mentioning it in the dream.

[ It's a nasty subject, but Luca's good eye brightens a bit at the question. ]

Yes! Constantly, all the time! [ Finally, someone who can relate to him. ] Long term and short term- I have trouble recalling details at times. Gets in the way of work and such. It's a blessing that these... Hold on. [ He attempts to pat himself down before managing to summon his journal for a second ]. It's a blessing that I have access to this journal...

. . . Ah. Right.

[ His face falls as he remembered why he wanted to speak in private. The smile returns as he sheepishly tucks his journal away, but there's a sheepish look to it now. ]

I mentioned... A lot of things I don't usually like to discuss. Everything I've told you in that dream was true to my understanding, up to nearly being executed. I don't know how, but someone managed to spare me from the noose at the last moment. Not that life in prison is any better, not after my whole life was ruined... Did I mention that this isn't the first time I've found myself in another world entirely?

[He's never quite met someone that seems so excited to talk about their memory problems. Vigil never thought about relating to others with it, but... guess it's true in some way. He's not sure if he can find much comfort talking to Luca about his own memory problems, but it shouldn't hurt, right? Maybe it would even be beneficial.

His eyes close briefly as he raises a hand to his chest, before reopening them.]

I believe that your memory problems are far stronger than my own... but it's good to keep a journal like that. [He gives a tired smile.] There's a specific gap in my own memories relating to something in Barclay, but...

[Vigil trails off slightly, before refocusing his attention on him.]

What other world have you been to? [This seems like a far more pleasant topic for him and Vigil doesn't mind going to that.]

[ The memory problems are not what he was excited about. In fact, they're pretty awful to deal with! But it's the fact he has someone who can relate to that... ]

Ah. Right. [ He would have asked about those specific memories if the subject hadn't changed. ]

The Realm of Stories. It's sort of like a melting pot of fictional works... He pauses, trying to recall more details about the place... I believe our souls had to be merged with the essence of a fictional character... Somehow. I'd have to find the journal I had kept while I was there for the details... But I do remember we were there to combat that Story Eater through the restoration of classic tales.

[Despite being in a dream world now, it's still rather fantastical to hear about a world that's centered around fictional stories. Even with all the weirdness with dream energy, Vigil can confidently say that he's still himself... and not bound to any character from a book. It sounds rather frightening, honestly.]

I remember hearing about the Story Eater and how its presence is now in this world. It must be worrying to have such a creature be a continuous threat and now in another place.

[Vigil shakes his head lightly.]

I'm only used to dealing with criminals... and all of them were shackled.

[ Luca had the opposite notion at first. At least a world of fairy tales operated on some scientific logic. In fact, if it wasn't for his experience in that world, it would have taken Luca much longer to get used to this one! ]

Indeed. I don't remember who said it first, but we think dreamotion might be essential to dealing with him here. It's only a matter of mastering it. Until then...

[ And he trails off. Luca's train of thought derails once again at the mention of shackled criminals... His hand instinctively rubs at his neck, but thankfully he doesn't have to wear that heavy shackle anymore. ]

... Anyhow. I saw my arrival into that world as a way to leave my ruined reputation behind and start over. To ensure my success... I decided to keep mum about my past. I've only spoken of it to at least... Two? Two or three people I trusted the most? But I haven't seen them in a while.

[ He pauses. ] The blindfolded man with the owl was a bit different, but he hasn't been around either. Must have woken up at some point...

... No matter. My point is, I would prefer if you don't tell anyone what I told you in that dream. Please.

[The combination of Luca mentioning dreamotion and seeing him rub his neck causes Vigil to visibly flinch, suddenly remembering how he nearly choked someone in his dream with his ability. It was fully unintended, but it doesn't erase the fact that it happened because of him.

It's a sharp reminder that he should probably practice, to get it under control.]

I don't see the need for me to tell others about it.

[Especially if it was truly an accident. If Luca was more dangerous like that man with the mechanical arms, he would be more wary, but... he feels okay letting this be private.]

I promise that I won't tell anyone. [.....] Not intentionally, at the very least.

Congratulations! Now that you've gotten everyone's attention and burning curiosity, you've won the fantastic prize of telling us the no-doubt riveting tale of whatever it is that all of this is in reference to. 'Inquiring minds' and whatnot.

I'd rather not give too many details, but it involves a dream about being sentenced to death.

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Paging Mr. Warder

Sender: Daley Vigil; private

Sender: Luca Balsa; private

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Guess we're moving to action.

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sender: wei wuxian

sender: anonymous