humiliatious | Cursed Night Market

Entry tags:

event,
night market

Cursed Night Market

Welcome

You’re not sure how you got here, but you don’t seem to mind. You feel a pervasive sense of calm with regard to your environment. You have entered what appears to be a night market. Perhaps the concept is familiar to you, or perhaps it isn’t. Colorful stalls, glowing with lantern light, line the path before you. You know what you need to do to return to where you came from. Investigate the various stalls - buy and sell what you have, until you’re able to purchase a path back. The merchants will take any currency that you have on hand. If you don’t have any, you will find some coins of an ambiguous nature in your pocket.

Rare Items

The first stall that you encounter boasts that you can buy and sell rare items. After trading a coin, the merchant hands you something - insists you take it. You don’t recognize the item, but the person behind you does. It is something extremely dear to them. If they check their person, they will find the item missing. If you attempt to return the item to them, you will find that you are unable to. Helpfully, the merchant offers that the person the item belongs to must tell the buyer a story about the item before it can be returned.

Fortunes

The second stall you encounter claims to buy and sell fortunes. Trading a coin, the merchant will relay to you a fortune, but, as you listen, you realize that it isn’t your fortune at all. With a cackle, the merchant explains that you must deliver the fortune with the person behind you. Neither of you can leave the booth until you have revealed to them their future.

Memories

The third stall you encounter claims to buy and sell memories. You can choose to sell the merchant a memory you would like to forget, or you can ask to buy someone else’s memory. Selling your memory will transfer it to the person behind you. In return, you will gain one of their memories. Buying a random memory will instead cause you to forget one of the people most important to you. In some instances, you might feel a great urgency to find someone, although you don't know who it is.

Dreams

The fourth stall you encounter claims to buy and sell dreams. Trading a coin at this stall will cause you and the person behind you to be transported into a shared dream. The dream may be about the highest point in your life or the lowest. It may also be about a close friend, there or gone. It may reveal your greatest desire or your greatest insecurity. Or any number of other things!

OOC notes

Suggestions on prompts: if you’re going to write one where someone will be seeing/receiving something from your character, it’s helpful to describe it in detail in the brackets in your TL. I know some of these prompts are probably a little confusing, but, I mean…it’s roleplay. Just fuck around. No one’s gonna police how you do things here.

Please feel free to top-level, tag in, and share this meme wherever you’d like - it is open to anyone. The four stalls mentioned are prompt suggestions, but you can go crazy and have any stall do basically anything you want. Please see/use subject line CWs. This musebox doesn’t have a dedicated rule list because it’s just for my personal shit, but please be kind, follow standard RP rules - just be nice! Do the right thing! If you have any questions, hit me up here.

code by Flyleaf ❖ inspired by event code by 10billionghosts ❖ background via unsplash

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, sorry, I can go...

[ Except–

It's been so long since he last dreamed, and he was never able to get himself out of them before. It took someone else waking him, or else he'd see it through to its natural end. He tries pinching his arm, sleeves rolled up to his elbows; no luck. Tries looking around for anywhere he could go to leave this guy alone; there's only water, and his feet feel leaden in the sand.

Maruki's mouth twists into an apologetic grimace. ]

It appears that's a lie. I can't. But I can keep to myself, if you don't want the company.

[Armin watches this man - polite, apologetic - pinch himself and turn in every direction, searching for a way to limit inconvenience. He feels fondness, grief. Human beings are, sometimes, such funny, awkward, fumbling things. There is kindness. There is, as ever, kindness...]

If you're pinching yourself, then...this is only a dream?

[It makes more sense that way. What he really saw was...

[Blood. It's up to their knees now. The stench of it is inescapable and everywhere. Flowing water becomes viscous, red rot.

[Armin watches the horizon, but there's nothing else.

[The world He wanted to see...]

Sorry...[Idle, distant. He sounds sorry, but...there's no horror. Shouldn't there be horror?]

I really was expecting to be alone.

[ Ah. There it is.

The blood startles him; of course it does. He staggers a couple steps back, arms drawing up protectively in front of him, but there's no threat to defend against. Just blood.

He's never been good with seeing so much of it, and this is more than ever before. His stomach turns. He wants Azathoth.

And the other dreamer–

Doesn't seem bothered at all. ]

Well, I wouldn't want you to be alone in the middle of this mess, so maybe it's glad that I came. But yes, it's a dream...

[ It's his lot in life to always have such an ironclad awareness of his own consciousness. It's exhausting.

He tries to offer a smile, nervous, fleeting. ]

My name is Dr. Maruki. Maybe I can try to help you get out of this...?

[It's only a dream, right? You don't have to hide in your own dream, right?

[Armin says:] No...

I created this. [He told Eren...that this is what he wanted, too.

[Belatedly, some social instinct seems to kick in. He's said too much - he knows that. It isn't a lie - that's new. He doesn't really want to lie anymore. It's only a dream, but...

[He puts on a more human smile.]

I apologize. I'm not making any sense, I know. You're a doctor?

[ Ah, he recognizes that well enough. Patients who feel they reveal too much, too quickly. It doesn't happen often, which makes it all the more notable when it does. ]

Please don't apologize. You would be surprised the things that I've been told... and the things that I've seen in dreams.

[ Ribcage prison... ]

I'm a counselor. Sort of like a therapist, if your reality had something similar.

[The concept isn't entirely unfamiliar; not common on Paradis, but Armin's aware of those terms being thrown around on Marley - a "doctor" that cares for the insane, usually ravaged by war. Armin's not sure that there's really anything to be done about people like that, and perhaps he'd know better than anyone. He won't say so. His expression remains amicable and easy (nothing out of place normally, though replacing that distance a moment ago, it feels strange...).]

My [Internal pause only.] reality [Put a pin in that.] does, yes, though I can't say I'm terribly familiar with the concept.

It sounds like a challenging profession. I know that much.

It isn't without its challenges, but it's also incredibly rewarding. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[ Entirely true! For now.

Maruki is... not pleased with the blood, still, but trying to ignore it. He leans down to roll his pantlegs up higher, knobby knees sticking out – at least he has the advantage of height working for him. He tries to speak casually as he does. ]

If you can believe it, this actually isn't the first time I've shared a dream with someone that I don't know. Or the fifth, or the tenth... It happened quite often in the reality that I'm currently in. Would you rather be here in this ocean of blood, or in my counseling office?

[ A cheery joke! ]

[A "joke".

[Armin gets it. This isn't a pleasant place, and it shouldn't be anyone else's Hell or Heaven than his own, and one other person's. He inclines his head.]

If that's you offering to spirit us away, then sure. It would be nice to get cleaned up.

[Let's see if he can deliver.]

I– what?

[ Fucking what? ]

Oh, I didn't mean...

[ It was a joke... ]

... Well, but then again–

[ ????????????????????????? ]

I suppose it couldn't hurt to... try?

[ This guy sold his dream, not Maruki. It isn't a matter of shifting into a different subconscious dreamtime reality, or anything of the sort – it can't be, by design.

No, it's something Maruki has much more experience with.

All he has to do to change where they are is change their perception of it.

Even if the power is currently barred to him in reality (as far as he knows! :)) there's no reason why it shouldn't work in dreams. They are, after all, Azathoth's territory first and foremost. All of reality, but a dream that the blind idiot god has as it sleeps.

So– ]

[ Azathoth doesn't appear – can't, in dreams, that would be too contradictory – but it doesn't need to, to be able to change a cognition. It's something Maruki hasn't witnessed in a long while: The way a glow floods into reality, a blue cast over both of them and everything around them as if they were bathed in the light of a television at night. A moment of stillness as everything wavers just slightly off center, as if two layers of reality have separated by inches to show everything in brief double vision–

And then a shock of light so multicolored it can only coalesce into blinding, brilliant white. Reality, shattering from the center outward to reveal– ]

Oh.

[ –not Shujin. Not the temporary office he dreamed of, night after night, again and again.

No, it's his very own. Smaller, more warmly lit. Scrubbed wooden beams on the ceiling, a stone floor covered in mismatched rugs. Comfortable, squashy furniture. Plants everywhere.

A thin layer of that viscous, bloody ocean along the floor. ]

Well, it wasn't perfect, but... Welcome to my office, I suppose.

[ What the hell. ]

[It's certainly a display. Armin can't help but feel alarmed, as much a dream as this may be, though it wouldn't be the first time he saw reality get folded in half, either. He adjusts quickly, and then, they're...in an office. It looks like an office, with only some things unfamiliar, really. Armin takes it in - notes, immediately, the blood still flooding the floor an inch think.

[The blood follows him. That's no surprise.]

You seem to have some experience with that. [More odd the longer he thinks about it. Maybe it isn't only a dream. Remember when he put a pin in that word "reality"?

[If he's blunt enough, maybe he'll shock Maruki into a truth. He's only seen something like this once before, after all. It's all he knows. An easily made mistake. "It's possible in my world, too," is all the explanation it would take.

[So, there's a beat, and then:]

Do you manipulate reality? Outside of dreams, I mean. [Target acquired.]

Hm–?

[ Do you manipulate reality?

Not only a forward question, but one that uses the right terminology.

Almost. ]

No, I don't.

[ It's only a dream. Maruki doesn't know this person. It likely has no bearing on life back in Somnius, much less Tokyo. If it does– well, the walls are already closing in on him anyway. Maybe he's getting a little too reckless. ]

Technically speaking, I'm able to manipulate the perception of reality. You sound... familiar with the concept?

[The perception of reality. Is that all it is...? It sounds like they may be getting lost in semantics, but sure, he'll listen.]

Most of the people where I'm from are familiar with that concept by now. There was quite an event.

That being said - and to that end - I'm interested what you mean by "perception".

[He glances at one of the chairs.] May I sit?

Ah– yes, by all means! Please, make yourself comfortable. I'm sorry, I'm usually a better host than this.

[ Then again, there usually isn't BLOOD ON THE FLOOR!!!

Maruki spends a moment longer taking stock of the dreamtime office – everything else seems close enough to pass as reality, which is honestly more unnerving than if the room were filled with a shifting mass of tentacles. It also inspires in him the same exhaustion that dreaming of Shujin did. To spend all day at a place and then dream of it too–

Well, at least this guy doesn't seem to need counseling. He just wants to talk about perception. Maruki won't pass up the opportunity to discuss his special interest, especially not in a dream with someone who can't run out and tell the populace how suspicious he is.

He steps gingerly through the shallow blood to seat himself in his usual armchair, hands folding comfortably in his lap. His pantlegs are still rolled up; he looks pretty stupid, but just in case this place floods, he's not about to undo them. ]

I'll answer any questions you have about perception if you tell me about that event of yours.

[That makes two nerds, sitting in armchairs with their pant legs rolled up. Armin's not even wearing shoes.

[Armin mirrors Maruki, hands folded similarly in his lap. His posture is upright but easy. He considers crossing one leg over the other, then remembers the blood - keeps his feet on the ground.

[Answers are often given for answers. There's no use in hiding anything that's common knowledge. If there is a use in hiding it, Armin's too tired to figure it out. Can't he at least rest when he's sleeping?]

Someone who sought to destroy the world, I'm afraid. [Cleave.] They [Protect him.] had a reality-manipulating ability; although, I'm not sure exactly how perception plays into things.

To be clear, the conflict has ended. There's nothing more to do, and that [Threat-- No.] person no longer exists [Intestines slither like nooses, knotting around stomach and other guts-- breathe.], the ability gone with them.

All that is to say, I really am only curious.

[ Someone who sought to destroy the world, with a reality-manipulating ability.

The smile that flits across Maruki's features is subdued, a little saddened. ]

I hear stories like that all the time in this room. History does seem to repeat, even between different realities...

[ A pause, a thoughtful rub to the stubble on his chin, more overworked than usual. ]

Did that ocean of blood have anything to do with it?

[ Sometimes imagery in dreams is nothing more than a subconscious sorting through days, weeks of nonsense. Mental junk, emotional refuse.

More often than not, though, it's real. ]

[Common knowledge...

[Although:] I did answer your question. Will this one lead to my answer? Of course, I don't mean to be rude, but I did ask first. [He smiles. Only fair, right?

[Then, something clicks, quick.]

Assuming that was your train of thought, perhaps it would help to tell you that what we saw was certainly influenced by my own perception. There isn't any doubt in my mind about that at all.

Then again, I'm sure that's true with most dreams. When it comes to realities, I'm only a passenger.

[ Oh, it's not rude at all. It's an incredibly intelligent move. One that Maruki recognizes and appreciates.

And he does meld the two topics together seamlessly, so all credit to him.

And, perhaps most importantly– ]

Only a passenger, huh? I guess that's true of all of us, but I've never heard somebody phrase it quite like that before.

[ n o t e d ]

Ah, but to answer your question about perception... I study a field that focuses on how we perceive the world around us, and how our perceptions influence reality. Everyone's view of the world is unique to them, right? In that way, everyone has their own "version" of reality, so to speak. [ Air quote and everything! He's enjoying himself. ] It's true on just about every level, from the micro to the macro. How can we ever pin down objective definitions of truth and lies, or good and evil, when we all see things through our own lenses?

[ A beat, and then he shrugs affably and laughs at himself. ]

I'm not sure if I answered your question or just rambled on!

[Armin doesn't need much to find an answer, and he's good at picking one out of the weeds, too.]

Then, you manipulate people's own perceptions of the objective reality around them. Is that right?

It's not true of all of us, if so. [He allows some self-aware knowing to seep into his smile.] The people whose perceptions you influence would be the passengers, in this case.

I'd say we're talking more the macro than the micro, too, right? It might be easy enough to change someone's mind about something they see - even I can do that [Like he's not a gold medalist.] - but it's another thing to take them to another environment entirely.

[It's just a dream, but Maruki only ever denied terminology.]

That's right.

[ You brilliantly astute stranger. ]

Although, I will correct you on two things.

[ You little shit. ]

One: Under normal circumstances, I can't take anyone to another environment. This appears to be relegated to shared dreams. If you and I were standing in an ocean of blood in reality, I would have no power to take us anywhere else.

[ Maruki couldn't even necessarily make him think that he wasn't in said ocean of blood. Actualization doesn't quite work like that. ]

Two...

[ He leans forward then, elbows propped up on his knees and hands clasped in front of him to rest beneath his chin as he surveys the boy. ]

I'm a passenger as much as anyone else. I have no ability to influence my own perception of reality. I'm beholden to the "true reality," whatever that might be, even if no one else is. Funny loophole, huh?

Edited (woRDS) 2024-08-09 08:29 (UTC)

["I'm a passenger as much as anyone else."

[Funny loophole, yeah.

[The grief is too great and too new. Armin's smile fades, although it isn't the right time.

[Countless lifetimes; no escape. Some clawed hand, unseen, rips its way through Armin's shoulder blades and wrenches out his heart-- Ah, but, only a dream within a dream. He's still seated on the armchair, alive and well and truly dead. His posture is just fine, too.]

It makes sense.

["Armin. It's just as you said.

["I'm a slave to freedom."]

It makes perfect sense, actually. Our perception being all that we have is, by its nature, something that must be changed externally...

[They could have done more. They should have. Sooner. Better. Something...

[Armin looks up quite abruptly; hadn't noticed his head had dropped until it lifts again.]

I feel terrible for people like you. [Honest.] It must be some unique Hell, being unable to change your own reality, while bearing the weight of so many others'. [Too honest.] I'm sure it's lonely. [Stop talking.] I'm sure you wouldn't be telling me any of this if you didn't think I'd forget it the second you let me go--

[Enough.

[Too great. Too new. Enough. Quiet down. Enough.]

I'm sorry. [Smile.] I got ahead of myself.

[Adapt. Invent.

[He lowers his head again, massaging at his temples with one hand as he shakes his head - a lie.] Everything I've told you...it's still fresh in my mind. [Half a lie.] I'm only trying to understand. [Honest. Honest.]

[ It must be some unique Hell,

This place...is just Hell.

being unable to change your own reality, while bearing the weight of so many others'.

It rots you. I know. I know.

I'm sure it's lonely.

I know loneliness. We eat here because there's food to go around.

Maruki is quiet for a long moment, allowing for the gravity of this stranger's words to settle over them both.

Then, very quietly: ]

Did you know him? The person who had a similar ability, in your reality.

[ He's very aware that Armin said they, not he. ]

[They're talking about meeeee :3]

[Armin is very aware of that too.

[He lifts his head.]

I never said they were a "he". [But this man has made some connection.] Why do you ask?

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cw: LOTS OF BLOOD

YAY FINALLY I GET MY OWN BLOOD OCEAN

YAHOO and it wasn't even from Eren

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cw: ableism

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1/3 lmflkdsj god dammit armin

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cw: grief, death, gore, body horror - I'm having a good time over here idk

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gag I'm keeping it here forever

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