bakerstreet | the return of the nightmare meme

the return of the nightmare meme

the nightmare meme

"So on his Nightmare through the evening fog
Flits the squab Fiend o'er fen, and lake, and bog;
Seeks some love-wilder'd maid with sleep oppress'd,
Alights, and grinning sits upon her breast."
- Erasmus Darwin, "Night-Mare"

Everyone has nightmares right? The dark thoughts lurking in the depths of our minds. Our fears out of our control. At least they only occur in our sleeping hours... right?

This meme is designed to wretch that comfort right out from under you.

Your character is stuck in their worst nightmare and worse yet, someone is stuck in there with them. Whether it's a familiar face, a stranger, intentional or accidental, you have to dig your way out. Good luck lost souls. And remember. The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.

Feel free to use the prompts below as a jumping point, or make up whatever you want. As a warning this meme will possibly contain TRIGGERS and MATURE CONTENT. Read ahead with caution.

Prompts:

i. the WEAVER (the nightmare)

001 - waking nightmare - wake up. Wake up. Wake. UP. The only sure guarantee out of a dream. And yet when your eyes open, the fear still surrounds you. The nightmare has its hold. You've woken up to your own nightmare. Why hasn't it gone away?

002 - stuck - Slowly, you begin to realize this is all just a dream. But you can't get out. You're stuck to the whims of your subconscious, unable to escape. Completely aware that this is just a nightmare, but unable to escape.

003 - pursuit - You're being chased, endlessly, by something, someone. Maybe it's a boogey monster, maybe it's only a metaphor. But you're out of breath and places to run.

004 - the end of your world - The apocalypse. Brought about around you. Maybe it came slowly, like a slow burning fire-- or perhaps it was a conflagration. Your entire world is falling apart around you and you can do nothing to stop it. Or perhaps even worse, you're the cause.

005 - your greatest fear - Maybe your greatest fear is something common, like spiders, or something which seems completely mundane, such as the color yellow. Whatever it is, it's surrounding you. Keeping you in it's embrace.

006 - ground hog day - It starts out harmless. One day, not unlike any other. Except, it's repeated over. And over. And over. And over. Until slowly your mind just.... slips away.

007 - i have no mouth and I must scream - slowly, against your will, you're transforming. Turning into a creature unlike yourself. Perhaps a monster, maybe a pile of goo. Whatever it is, you're helpless to stop it.

008 - free style - take these prompts and throw em' out the window. Do it however you want.

ii. the THREAD (why the other character is there)

001 - the devil on their chest. - Maybe the dreamer was someone in your way, someone who had done harm to you or someone you care about, maybe it’s just for shits and giggles. But you are the one who has stuck them in this nightmare, and you want to watch them fall victim to their own mind.

002 - mind link - for some reason you share a connection with this person. Perhaps it's just the passing of the stars, a jolt of electricity, or their mind reaching for yours. But now you’re stuck here, trying to get them out.

003 - experiment - Just a quick injection, maybe a little sting, it won't hurt. That's what the men in coats said. But look where that got you.

004 - save them - you've been tasked to save this person, no matter the cost. Maybe they're a stranger, maybe they're your closest friend, even your greatest enemy, but you have to save them.

005 - just following orders - It's a job, and you've been tasked to it. They may have some info you need. Or maybe you have to keep them in for the benefit of someone else. It doesn't matter. It's only a job. Right?

006 - we have ways of making you talk - They have something you need. And it's time you squeeze it out of them.

007 - free style - take these prompts and throw em' out the window. Do it however you want.

In order to make this meme a bit easier when it comes to tagging out we have written up a short little form. If you could fill it out and stick it in your characters opening comment, along with the usual character name and series header, it would be helpful to everyone in order to find someone appropriate to tag! Plotting is more than encouraged!

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[The boy took quite a while to reach the bottom of the tower sometimes. He wasn't sure why, exactly, but this had been one of those times, and the Archangel had simply been bored enough waiting that he'd begun to drift off.

Turns out, funny things happen when you fall asleep while impaled on a consciousness orb.

It was the usual empty sleep for a while, before it happened - something was pouring through the orbs, a deluge of frantic information. Some part of his unconscious mind recognized the feeling - Dextera had died again, really? - but he had never truly seen it like this before, images and sound and memory slamming into him like some kind of twisted...

...dream. And there they were, standing in the chamber of the Absolute God. Some errant memory, one he'd seen as many times...]

Is this what it's like for you? Every time? I hoped you'd learn by now.

[He wasn't sure whether he was speaking or thinking, in this state, but he was sure Dextera could hear him.]

[Dextera doesn't answer but there's a strain of something that feels like a thought saying yes, this is what it's like. dying sucked, especially when Nicl and Nicr were involved. it was not a pleasant way to go.

he learned a lesson not a lot of people learn more than once and he's sorry about it.

but there they were in the Absolute God's chamber. Dextera had lost track of how many times he had been in here but at least he did know what to do at this point. hopefully nothing bad would happen.

right?]

[At least it was a death that didn't leave a body. The Archangel tilts his head as he feels something like a sorrowful affirmation press down on him. It didn't seem strange, here. His eyes wander to the rifle Dextera is holding, and he crosses his arms and gives a nod.]

Go on then. Purify the Absolute God. If you can do it here... no, you must do it. It is the only way to absolve your sins, to heal the world.

[It feels a little like he's reading from a script. Is the memory interfering with his presence?]

[yeah but would you like getting eaten alive? no, probably not.

there's that affirmation again - yes, he knows it's the only thing he actually knows - and Dextera lifts the rifle and aims it at the figure before them.

click. click click click.

nothing happens. Dextera looks at the gun he had not used despite the fact that it could easily save his life in any given situation. it wasn't working.

seems the script has been derailed. what now?]

[Not working? Odd.]

Did you use them all? Or are you doubting me?

There is no other way. Fire the Angelic Rifle. For this dream to end, and you to wake...

[Something occurs to him. He holds his hand out, and sure enough, another rifle transfers in, thudding onto the floor.]

Take it. Try again. There is meaning in you using it.

[there's a bit of confusion because Dextera did not realize he was dreaming. he'd never dreamed before...

but that was not what he should be focusing on right now. Dextera puts down the first rifle (which dissolves into thin air, isn't that a bit strange?) and picks up the other one.

click click click. it's not working and there's a sudden feedback of panic. he didn't understand what was going on. what was he doing wrong?]

[It wasn't like the Archangel knew any better why it wouldn't work. He sighs, and a sense of tempered frustration pushes into Dextera's panic. But then, this was a dream, they were both here in spirit and normal rules didn't matter. Perhaps...]

Give it here.

[He steps forward, holding out his hand.]

[when did normal rules apply to anything in this world, dream or not? but either way, Dextera hands the rifle over carefully and there's a feeling of both confusion and curiosity.

the curiosity is much stronger than the confusion though. what are you going to do?]

[A good point, but there ARE some rules, like the way the Archangel's projections cannot interact with solid objects. Here, taking the rifle is no obstacle.

He hefts it up, reaching for the ammunition chamber to be sure the device is indeed loaded -

He hasn't touched the trigger, but the only warning he gets is a sudden thrum and a whine (an instant of confusion, then alarm) before the gun fires, the bullet trailing searing light through the room.]

[it didn't hurt. that's the only thought that crosses Dextera's mind before he looked down and realized that the bullet had somehow stuck him, leaving a bit of a hole in his chest.

then the real pain set in and he falls to the ground. it was like being burned by not by the fires inside the Neuro Tower and something felt like it was trying to dig its way out of him. coughing up blood, Dextera curled up on himself and clamped a hand down on the bullet wound. there was the not-so-logical thought that if it was covered that the thing inside him wouldn't be able to get out but Dextera was more focused on the pain and it was killing him...

meanwhile, there's a low rumbling noise and the chamber is shaking. seems your brilliant plan backfired, didn't it?]

No-!

[But the shaking is increasing by the second, and soon the entire room is blurring and dissolving as he watches Dextera collapse and vanish...

Had that harmed his memory, that which he'd been so carefully cultivating? Had he just destroyed so much work? Or was it just a dream after all?

The Archangel didn't get much time to think about it, because the next thing he knew he was jolting awake, gasping and staring blankly at the familiar spike jutting up from his aching chest.]

[it's seems you're not alone for once. Dextera is on the nearby platform, breathing heavy. he looks fine, if a bit confused, and is luckily enough missing that bullet wound.

however there was a dull headache he couldn't quite shake and he felt a bit weirder than usual. not to mention the fact that he normally didn't come here once he woke back up from dying. what was going on?]

[He knows Dextera is there before he looks. There's some kind of static in his own head - it reminds him of when he projects through the consciousness orbs, but he isn't doing that now.

Dextera is staring at him in confusion, and he looks back. There's a strange, dizzying moment as he gets the distinct impression that he is both looking at the boy, and looking at... himself, at the same time. What is going on?]

Why have you appeared here...?

[Dextera might hear the words echo in his mind as well as the air.]

[he can hear the Archangel speak both in his mind and out loud and the confusion only intensifies.]

I don't understand...

[those words the Archangel can probably hear as well. Dextera blinks a few times and shakes his head. why wouldn't this headache go away?]

[The voice makes him start, and he almost doesn't realize he's hearing it in his mind. His eyes widen, then narrow into a frown as he continues to stare at Dextera.

When he blinks and shakes his head, the odd double vision follows suit.]

...Something went wrong. Can you hear me?

[His own confusion is starting to drain away, but he doesn't much like the conclusions he's drawing. He remains composed, however, neatly stamping out any rising alarm or horror.]

[he blinks once when he hears the voice. shakes his head again. stares at his shoes for a minute.]

Can...where...?

[his thoughts are a bit disjointed and are rapidly going to different places with no real rhyme or reason. the inside of his head is a confusing place isn't it?

but after a minute, he stands and the thought crosses his mind that the spike look painful.]

What happened...?

[He can hardly say he's surprised by that mess of a mind... the thoughts closer to the surface sort of flit across his awareness for brief moments, but he doesn't get more than a passing glimpse.

Also yes it's painful thank you for noticing, he's only mentioned it a couple times when you were down here staring blankly at him and probably wondering what to throw into the orb instead of listening.]

The consciousness orbs... flow of information upon death... while I was asleep it must have...

[He doesn't really mean to directly reply yet. He's frantically trying to piece together an answer that he doesn't really have.

It's easier to close his eyes and just see through Dextera's, so he does. It makes his head (whose head?) throb a little less.]

[it makes both heads feel a little less painful, though the Archangel is still going to have to deal with a mind that's going in many different directions at once. they're not loud so much as just simply having one too many questions that wanted to be answered.

and to be fair, you don't make sense when you talk about it.]

The death before...?

[it may be strange that Dextera has to ask that but there's a train of thought going over his deaths and it seems he seriously has to try and remember which one is which. enjoy those details for awhile, the mute's mind is stuck on them.]

[Okay he so doesn't need this. The memories are a little too vivid and his eyes fly open again, glaring down at the boy.]

Stop, stop-

Stop-! The last one, it hardly matters which...!

[He doesn't notice that he's gripping his shoulder now, where a Death had cut him in - Dextera. Where a Death had cut Dextera in two in one of those memories.]

[the memories stop where Nicl and Nicr appear, mouth widening and they were going to swallow him in one bite and god, he did not want to die this way again--

but Dextera slaps a hand over his eyes and the memory comes to a screeching halt. that one seemed to terrify him quite a bit and it's awhile before he responds.]

...sleeping then...?

[and he sees the reaction his memories brought and his mind is blank and quiet now. no thoughts or anything.]

[Yes okay good. Great timing there, Dex, good job. The Archangel needs a minute or two to keep his composure himself, so he's glad when it takes a bit for Dextera's response to come.]

I was asleep when you died... that must have been how I was pulled into your dream. My connection to the consciousness orbs, the data being sent from your death... something happened to cause this...

[Speaking aloud helps keep his thoughts clear. He had theories, which might be audible whirring in the back of his mind, but no way to test them. He supposed he might be able to send Dextera to the Research Angels, but they would need to look at himself as well...]

[he can hear the sound and a small train of curiosity starts up again. it's kind of amazing that his deaths haven't made him completely paranoid and dropped the curiosity by now.]

Death in the dream...?

[it doesn't seem like he's following any logical pattern, but he's trying to think. however that means those random thoughts are starting up again and his mind is wandering very close to that death he experience in that dream...]

May have been a factor, yes.

[Geez why are you such a scatterbrain Dextera. The Archangel's eye twitches slightly and he winces as pain starts to creep into the edges of the memory.]

Focus, Twelve.

[he can't help it, he's curious and trying to think about his death might help. but there's that all too familiar guilt creeping up.]

Sorry.

[he tips his head to the side suddenly. should someone look at them? maybe? he wasn't sure. it'd make sense if they had answers, right? it'd be a bit better.

..there he goes again.]

[He's getting better at picking out Dextera's wayward thoughts and emotions, and he thinks he recognizes the curious concern.]

We should seek answers. Go back into the tower and find the Research Angels - escort them back here if need be.

[It's a risky thing to ask of a boy so prone to deaths, but they have little other choice.]

"If..." No, it will be necessary. They've not even had the chance to examine my current condition at all; to expect them to investigate something like this without even basic data...

[It's not a thought he intends to share, but it's loud enough in his own mind to leak through.]

the return of the nightmare meme

Pfft what are you talking about ALL of this is usual canon stuff <3

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