They seem to at least mean well.
What's their name?

"Wait, could you clarify that last statement? Is not being awake really weird here? ... Wait, am I still not 'awake?' I already tested for if I was dreaming, but maybe I wasn't as thorough as I thought..."

I noticed there is a notebook paper covering that plaque next to this room. I assume this wasn't always a guest bedroom?

>>972837
We could be in a coma or something.

1/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/07/23(Thu)04:30 No. 973013 ID: e51896
File 159550385955.png - (1.08MB , 1280x720 , EC00036.png )

>>972756
>If you were rescued from the sea does this mean we are on a boat? Or did we land in a port somewhere? Also get his name and what he meant by other universe. I mean he’s clearly not human so that would explain a lot about the other universe part, but what would need to know is how we actually go here.

>>972779
>You ending up in this world is an earthshattering realization, this is something caught you off guard because you didn't know about the existence of this world. But the person with the blue hat acts like this is just another Tuesday for him, it feels like he is going there the motion like been here done this many times before. So simply ask him if you were the first human who visited this world, or are there more people who also ended up here? The way how calm he acts is a bit of a worrying notion for me to think about.

>>972813
>They seem to at least mean well.
What's their name?

>>972837
>"Wait, could you clarify that last statement? Is not being awake really weird here? ... Wait, am I still not 'awake?' I already tested for if I was dreaming, but maybe I wasn't as thorough as I thought..."

"So... who are you exactly, and where am I? You said something about me being rescued from the sea, so am I on a boat, or did we land on a port? And am I the first human who entered this world? the way you sound so calm implies that I'm not the first outsider who entered this world... but then you also said something about me not being awake is really weird... does that mean I'm still sleeping? I tried lucid dreaming earlier to see if I was dreaming but it didn't work... granted, I really suck at lucid dreaming... but still, maybe I wasn't as thorough as I thought?"

"ummmm... wow, one question at a time please, heh heh. I'm kidding, I understand that you are nervous and want answers quickly. So Here, let me give you my business card. I think it will answer a lot of those questions you just asked me all at once."

Whoops, I can get ahead of myself and ask a lot of questions a bit too quickly whenever I'm nervous like I am now, but at least this guy is patient enough with me. He hands me his business card.

the card has the same symbol that is on his ridiculously large hat, and which was also on the nightcap I was wearing. Apparently, it seems to be a logo for their business called "Midnight Captors". on further inspection, I learn that this fellow's name is "Arthurius Radiant" with his profession being a "Nightmare Bounty Hunter (Leader)". It also lists his company's phone number, what looks to be their universe's website I think, and even his email address.

"As you can see, my name is Arthurius Radiant, and you are on the ship of the 'Midnight Captors'. I am part of a species known as 'Dreamenciers'. Us Dreamciers, with the blood of our god Morpheus in our veins, have the ability to create dream worlds, dream objects, and even artificial dream lifeforms in this universe."

"A Dreamcier's sole purpose in life which was commanded to us by our god, Morpheus, is to make sure that any dreamers of all different species and universes that visit any of our dream worlds have the most pleasant dream we can give them during their stay as they sleep until they awaken back into their stressful realities. And I'm sure from that, you can gather that you are indeed in a dream."

I knew it! Despite not being a good lucid dreamer, and this dream being very vivid, I knew I was dreaming with how weird everything is. If I'm dreaming, that means that I am safe and any danger that comes my way and will only result in me waking up back in my warm bed. With that knowledge, I give a huge sigh of relief.

"I am the leader of 'Midnight Captors', a team of nightmare bounty hunters that captures criminal 'Nightmareciers' that crosses the border from the demon Phobetor's side of the universe to Morpheus' side of the universe with their purpose to invade the dream worlds us Dreamciers created for dreamers like you, and attempt to corrupt them with their own nightmarish creations without permission from the Dreamciers who created the invaded dream world.
“It is our job to prevent these Nightmareciers who invade our dream worlds from giving dreamers a frightening nightmare. Sometimes it isn’t just limited to Nightmareciers we hunt. Sometimes another Dreamcier could invade another Dreamcier’s dream and try to change it to their vision without the creator’s permission”

"So then why is it so weird that I am not awake?"

"Well, while you are indeed asleep, dreaming, and in the dream universe, you're technically not in a dream yet. You are actually in the realm between the dream worlds, and reality. To simplify it, you are in the outer space of our dream universe, and you're not supposed to be dreaming until after you enter a dream world."

"Outer space? but then why are we out in sea? Outer space is supposed to be a big dark empty void with planets shaped like giant orbs, and a bunch of stars, not an ocean with flowers sprouting"

"Our outer space is different. Our universe is an ocean that is endless, and bottomless, with a sky with no limit. Our planets are not shaped like orbs, but are actually giant flowers that act as portals which transport you to a dream world. And in the middle of our universe is a large crossable border which is between the god Morpheus' side of the universe full of dreams, and Phobetor's side of the universe full of nightmares."

"Anyway, what makes it weird that you are not awake from your sleep is that normally when a dreamer is asleep, their consciousness is borrowed by a sandman or sandwoman from the dreamer's reality and taken to the outer space of the dreaming universe until after a Sandman or Sandwoman transports you to the dream you were supposed to be taken to. If you start dreaming in the outer space of the dream universe before you enter the dream, you are immediately awakened back into reality."

"Why?"

"I think it is for your safety and the safety of the sandmen and women that tries to transports you smoothly to your dream, and to not ruin the experience of the dream you were about to enter, and to keep our outer space a secret from the dreamers I guess... But then again, this is my first time ever seeing or hearing about someone prematurely dreaming, so maybe you are just very tired and in a very deep sleep to start dreaming early when you did."

>>972936
>We could be in a coma or something.

"Wait a minute... what if it is because I'm... IN A COMA!?! AHHHHHHHH!"

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa, no need to jump to conclusions. Like I said, this is the first time I've heard of a dreamer prematurely dreaming before entering a dream world, so it may have happened before to a dreamer and I've never heard about it. Plus, the Sandmen and Sandwomen finished transporting other dreamers to their assigned dreams a few hours ago through their Sand-Eye Airlines. This was a little after Magnolia found you, so it is safe to assume you just fell asleep very recently. It is too early to conclude you are in a coma."

He's right. It is too early to start panicking. But that possibility is still making me nervous. I hope I'm not in a coma.

"What is weirder is that I've also never seen or heard of a sandman or sandwoman dropping a dreamer into the ocean, let alone a dreamer just drifting in the ocean. If a sandman or sandwoman had dropped a dreamer, they would have immediately picked them back up if the dreamer didn't awaken. Mags and I are going to have to go to Sand-Eye Airlines and speak with the owners regarding this incident after we finish our job"

"So... ummm... if I'm dreaming, then that means you guys didn't have to switch clothing as I wouldn't die of hypothermia or any sickness."

"Well, let me put it this way, it was a precaution for just in case you weren't a dreamer for some reason. That, and well... ummm... *ahem* lets just say that water, and feeling wet in dreams do not mix well for someone who is sleeping in reality, if you know what I mean, so it was important for you to be as dry as possible before you started dreaming in the dream world"

Oh... OH! EWWWW!!! ok point taken! I am changing the subject quickly!

2/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/07/23(Thu)04:32 No. 973014 ID: e51896
File 159550394065.png - (455.52KB , 1280x720 , EC00037.png )

>>972898
>I noticed there is a notebook paper covering that plaque next to this room. I assume this wasn't always a guest bedroom?

"I noticed there is a notebook paper covering that plaque next to this room. I assume this wasn't always a guest bedroom?"

Arthurius looks down at his feet.

"...yeah. It used to belong to my best friend Walter. We were buddies back when we were training to be nightmare bounty hunters and both had a dream to become legendary by becoming S ranked bounty hunters. However, we haven't really been doing too well as we haven't really been able to improve our rank and been having trouble keeping up with our quotas for our budget. A lot of arguments broke out as a result and after a particularly bad mission we failed in, and one final argument, he got fed up, tore up the picture you probably saw in the room and just quit the team. I am hoping he will return which is why I haven't changed the name plaque yet and just used notebook paper, and still kept what is left of the picture... but seeing as Mags already finished repainting the room from blue to grey, and seeing you use the guest room, I should probably just him go and learn to move on. Sniffles misses him too. Walter was always one of Sniffle's favorite people and still tends to enter his room for his scent or to try to find him."

I think I brought up a touchy subject. I decide to change the subject again.

3/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/07/23(Thu)04:33 No. 973015 ID: e51896
File 159550400226.png - (756.89KB , 1280x720 , EC00038.png )

>>972765

>Point out the lip movement thing. Does he notice the same phenomenon when you talk?

"So, ummm... what is with your lip movements while you speak. It doesn't look like what your are saying matches with what your lips or saying"?

"OH! that is because of my antennas."

He grabs one of his antennas which I thought was one of his ears as he explains.

"These are used to translate and broadcast what I am saying to a language any dreamer from any species can understand as well as helps me understand what you are saying! We even write in a special illusionary language that is multilingual and universal to all dreamers so while it may look like it is written in your language, to another person in another universe, it would be written in their language"

"I thought those were ears"

"only the top set are antennas, used to help me understand what dreamers are saying so that we can better help give a dreamer the best experience we can give them. The bottom set are my ears."

Well, he certainly is an interesting species.

"Well, I think it is very close to my meeting, I really should wake Sniffles up and get ready... hmmm... hey, if you want, do you want to come upstairs with me? I can give you a tour of the ship while you can ask me more questions as we walk upstairs, and you can even meet Magnolia, who is the woman who saved you. That is, if you want. Otherwise, you can just wait here until we drop you off at a dream world."

Should I take him up on that offer?

Sure, lets go up and meet the person who rescued us.
As for a question, what do those nightmareciers he mentioned look like? (I bet it is those bug things we saw in the commercial)

Also, what is Rekindling Day?
They seem to be making a big deal about it on the news.

Alright, my concerns about other people being here are satisfied. From the look of things, we are just a visitor to this world, but it still feels a little bit concerned about our arrival because it doesn't seem like a natural process like for the rest of the visitors to this world. I think that our main consumption should be to find out why were we in the water in the firsts place. Secondly nightmare bounty hunters? What?! From our world, nightmares are just the byproduct of our thoughts in our sub-conscience while we sleep, they are created from fear that we have, concerns that we didn't resolve, or any other factors. But in this world nightmares are more of an invading force that they have bounty hunters to combat them. So does that mean that you are not allowed to be sad or scared here, is that how the nightmare invade this world and is that why this whole wold functions like a giant carnival? Why speculate when we can simply ask, what is allowed to do here and what is against the law of this land? And most importantly if we die here do we die in real life?

Huh. Their antennas are like the ultimate babelfish. Neat!

Yeah let’s go meet the guy who saved us.

"So, what's the purpose of making various sentient beings throughout the universe have... good dreams? What is Morpheus' exact definition of a good dream? Are there laws against influencing people through their dreams, even if it's meant for a constructive purpose? What's the difficulty level for the dreams of the mentally-ill? Do you record all our data? Is 'Morpheus' the multiverse-approximate pronunciation or did that just come from my head? Has anyone tried to analyze your god or his motives? Is your sister single-"

>>973197

Is your sister single ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
You sly dog I see what you did there. It appears that some people intend to make this a wet dream, but you are aiming really low my friend. Why stop at one, let's keep going further until we place Lilly in the middle of a fluffy sandwich!

"Ah, sorry for bringing up bad memories, though you didn't have to spill your whole life-story if you didn't want to; I'd have understood if you said you weren't comfortable talking about it."

Okay, I'm going to assume that Walter ripping himself out of a photo and leaving the rest behind is some symbolic gesture that makes more sense in this dreamland.

Let's take the tour.

>>973197
Ooh, these are good - maybe also throw in: "Is it known why the Nightmareciers are invading? Has a Nightmarecier ever accidentally given a masochist or someone from a universe with wholly different definitions of 'nightmare' a good dream?"

1/4 (animated) Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/07/30(Thu)04:52 No. 973514 ID: e51896
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>>973016
>Sure, lets go up and meet the person who rescued us.

>>973121
>Yeah let’s go meet the guy who saved us.

>>973209
>"Ah, sorry for bringing up bad memories, though you didn't have to spill your whole life-story if you didn't want to; I'd have understood if you said you weren't comfortable talking about it."

>Okay, I'm going to assume that Walter ripping himself out of a photo and leaving the rest behind is some symbolic gesture that makes more sense in this dreamland.

>Let's take the tour.


“Well…. Sure, why not? I’ll take you up on that tour and meet my rescuer to pass the time… and uhh… sorry to bring up bad memories about your friend, though you didn't have to spill your whole life-story if you didn't want to; I'd have understood if you said you weren't comfortable talking about it.”
“No, no. Don’t go worrying about apologizing about that. It’s more my fault since I was just venting. But really, a leader like me shouldn’t be doing that. Anyway, I’ll head inside and get Sniffles. Go ahead and wait for me out in the halls.”

I go out into the hallway while Arthurius goes inside the room I was in. I take a look around my surroundings

I can see two sets of doors on the right wall labeled “Henry” and “Guest”. There is a large desert cactus next to Henry’s room… Maybe it is the late Chuck the Cactus’ mother. I’m not sure how to explain to her that her only son just got unceremoniously ate by a strange annoying tapir and how I played a small part in unintentionally getting it eaten, so I’ll just stay silent about it.
The left wall has two more doors, one labeled “Magnolia” and one labeled “Guest”. Magnolia’s door is still open, despite Arthurius hypocritically mentioning about how she forgets to close doors earlier… oh look! A framed picture of Sniffles is also next to Magnolia’s door!
At the end of the hall, there is another door with a plaque I can’t really read from this far away, and there seems to be another hall leading left and right from that door. There is also a manhole in front of the door.

In front of me is Arthurius’ room.

To my right is a staircase, and what looks to be a circuit breaker box.

“Wakey, wakey, Sniffles. Mags is looking for you!”
“Squeeeeek!”
“Hey now, it’s not my fault you ruined your appetite by eating something you shouldn’t have. Don’t make me carr-OW! Okay, I guess you still have an appetite. Bad tapir! Don’t be biting my hand. Let’s go, there are plenty of things you can eat when we start our mission.”

Arthurius is a pretty nice guy, but he tends to ramble a bit too much and talks to himself at times...

I start thinking about questions I should ask him.

>>973018
> what is Rekindling Day? They seem to be making a big deal about it on the news.

Hmm… should I ask about Rekindling Day? I feel like the answer I get from Arthurius will most likely be most of the same information I got from the news. I’ll probably save that question and ask for more details later when I have more time.

>>973019
> I think that our main consumption should be to find out why were we in the water in the first place.
Figuring out how I ended up in the ocean seems like a decent enough goal to pursue, though I do not think asking Arthurius for further details as to how I ended up there won’t give more answers, he seems just as confused as I am.

My thought process is interrupted by Arthurius coming out of the door with little Sniffles. Sniffles is already running up the stairs upon exiting.

“Ready?”
“Lead the way!”
“Can’t, Sniffles is already in front of us.”
“Oh, shut it with the dad jokes, dude.”
“I wasn’t joking?”
“Um… never mind, sorry. Let me ask some questions before we head up”
“Ok.”

2/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/07/30(Thu)04:53 No. 973515 ID: e51896
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>>973016
>>973019
>>973197
>>973209

“So, what's the purpose of making various sentient beings throughout the universe have... good dreams?”
“Morpheus is an empathetic god who understands from firsthand experience the stress people face in the waking world. He wishes to give dreamers sweet dreams to give them a break, and help them recharge to face another day.”
“What is Morpheus' exact definition of a good dream?”
: “In short, it’s one where someone feels euphoric or peaceful during sleep, or gain inspiration when they awaken. As long as it doesn’t leave someone stressed or frightened.”
“Are there laws against influencing people through their dreams, even if it's meant for a constructive purpose?”
“The dreams we create we try to keep open-ended. It’s up to the dreamer to determine how a dream will influence them and what they’ll learn from it.”

We proceed to head up the stairs.

“However, it’s the sandman species job to read a dreamer and determine from their experience which dream or nightmare world they’ll take them into to help tell dreamers something about themselves. I guess that’s as close as influencing people dreams can get.”

We stop again after climbing the first set of stairs.

“What's the difficulty level for the dreams of the mentally-ill?”
“I am not sure I understand what you mean by difficulty level. Sorry. But yeah, mentally ill people do have dreams and nightmares just the same.”
“Do you record all our data?”
“I can’t think why we would do that. I don’t think there is anything to gain or any purpose as to why we would record a dreamer’s data, especially since there are too many dreamers that come here to keep track of. At most we study how our dreams effect a dreamer to help make our worlds more pleasant for them but that’s it.”
“Is 'Morpheus' the multiverse-approximate pronunciation or did that just come from my head?”
“It came from your head. Other dreamers from other universes has their own pronunciation of the name of our god of dreams based off of mythologies they may have learned”
“Has anyone tried to analyze your god or his motives?
“I can recommend you some books on that, though I do not think you’ll be able to finish reading them before you wake up.”

We continue towards the second flight of stairs.

“what is allowed to do here and what is against the law of this land?”
“I’d say pretty much just follow the laws you had in your own world and you’ll be fine if you’re worried about laws.”
”if we die here do we die in real life?”
”I don’t think so. You just wake up if you die in a dream, unless you have a nightmare so scary it gives you a heart attack or something, but I’ve never heard of that happening.”
“Is your sister single?”
”Yes… wait, what?!?”
We stop in the middle of the flight of stairs after Arthurius heard my question.
“Hee hee hee, got you during the lightning round of questioning!”
I mainly asked that question to see his reaction. He did not disappoint. We continue up the stairs.
“Honestly, I’ve never seen Magnolia attracted to anyone… then again, I don’t think I would know for sure if she was attracted to someone or not in the first place. It is pretty difficult to get a read on her and figure out her emotions.

3/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/07/30(Thu)04:56 No. 973517 ID: e51896
File 159611018727.png - (0.95MB , 1280x720 , ec_00041.png )

We’ve reached the top of the stairs and stop at a new hallway. To my left are two doors labeled “bathroom” and “Lab”. To my right are two doors labeled “Utility” and “Infirmary”. Past those doors is a hallway leading left and right, and past that hallways leads to a door at the end along with what looks like two rooms. Sniffles is over there looking towards the room on the right.
“Is it known why the Nightmareciers are invading?”
“We’re not entirely sure, but one theory is that ever since Dreamciers and Nightmareciers signed a peace treaty ages ago to end a war for territory, peace allowed both species to create tons of dreamworlds and nightmareworlds on our respective territories to the point where the it became overrun with unoriginal worlds, overcrowding the territory with flowers. Creating new original worlds without unintentionally copying another word got too difficult thus giving both species no place to create new worlds. Finding a position to help create things for another dreamworld or nightmareworld’s creator got to be pretty difficult too as there were too many applicants. Because of this, some rogue Nightmarciers had decided to invade our dream worlds and try to add their own unauthorized nightmare creations to show dreamers."
"That, and there are just some Nightmareciers that see themselves as vigilante heroes that want to rule over a dreamworld and turn it into a nightmareworld."
“Has a Nightmarecier ever accidentally given a masochist or someone from a universe with wholly different definitions of 'nightmare' a good dream?"
“Yes. Like I said, dreams and nightmares are subjective, so someone’s nightmare can be someone else’s sweet dream. No one is perfect at creating a dream or nightmare to work as intended for everyone. We can only try our best to make sure our dreams are good for as many dreamers as possible.”

We start moving forwards

“What do those Nightmareciers you mentioned look like?”
“They look like us Dreamcians, except with hollow eyes with floating pupils inside, they’re darker in color, and instead of their antennae and ears being pointed and thick, they’re thin and have a rounded end at the tip
Ah, just like that Bigtopolis commercial I saw
I’ve been to that dreamworld before during one of my vacations. Some of the nightmareciers were even hired to create the roller coasters there for that dream.
Nighmareciers can work in a dream world?
Yep, as long as the dream still stays relatively good for our dreamers”

4/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/07/30(Thu)05:03 No. 973521 ID: e51896
File 159611060133.png - (1.16MB , 1280x720 , ec_00042.png )

After we reach the end, we take a right into what looks to be a kitchen and dining room. On the dining room table sits a very relaxed looking dreamcier resting her head and arms on the table. She is wearing a green coat with the team logo on the back and wearing blue gloves which kind of looks like something scientists would wear.
Hi Mags, I found Sniffles, so we can begin the meeting soon
“…Okay… Welcome back, Sniffles.”
”Squeak squeak!”
“Did Henry come back from his secret mission yet?”
“…Nuh-uh…”
“Shoot. Well, I guess that means we’ll have to choose an easier mission when we look at the list of bounties then. The money he gets from his mission better be worth it.”
“…Mmm-hmm…”

Magnolia seems to be a woman with a few words, but looks and sounds very relaxed too.

Oh, I should introduce you to the person we rescued!
“...hmm, you’re awake… Uhh... My naaaaaame is Magnolia, but my friends call me Mags...”
Hi Mags. My name is Lilly, but my friends call me Lil’. Thanks for saving me.
“...Hi Lilly…Umm… I’m glad that you’rrrrrrre still asleep so you can experience a dream after all...”
”Me too!”
”…”
”…”
”…”
”…”
”…”

I can see what Arthurius meant when he said she is a hard person to read. She seems to be an opposite of Arthurius. While he talks a lot, she seems to talk very little, and draws out some of her words like as if she is trying to think about what to say next as she draws out a word.

What should I say to her?

Hmm, a nightmare that can give you a heart attack, that can probably happen. But what certainly happens in our world is people dying in their sleep, what happens to the person who experiences that, where do they go do they stay here or what. This is just my stupid observation noting important to ask. As for Mags, she seems tired even if her job involves working with dreams, that is strange. Ask about her vibe.

"So... Will I just be dropped off at whatever dream you guys take a job at, or...?"

Meanwhile: "By the way, Arthurius, why you did technically answer my question about the Nightmareciers, I guess my real question was; 'why nightmares?'"

Well you could always start with the basics first, "Hi, my name is Lilly."

Try talking to her about something she might be interested in. Arthurius said she would be worried about Sniffles if it wasnt in their meeting, so talk to Magnolia about Sniffles.

>>973535
Oh you already said hello. Ask her what she does for the crew.

What does Mags exactly mean by 'experiencing a dream?'

1/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/08/16(Sun)15:14 No. 974573 ID: e51896
File 159761605225.png - (0.96MB , 1280x720 , ec_00043.png )

>>973525
>As for Mags, she seems tired even if her job involves working with dreams, that is strange. Ask about her vibe.

: “So… How’s your vibe?”

Magnolia quietly gives me a thumbs up.

: “Oh, ok… I only asked because you look kind of tired.”

: “Nuh-uh… don’t worry. If I was tired, I would be laaaaaaaying on the comfy couch.”

She points at the couch in the room behind me across from the dining room kitchen. It seems to be a living room with things you would expect a living room would contain such as a couple of couches, tables, a laptop, a television, some pictures and a poster on the wall, and a window presenting a reminder of the weird situation and place I am in.

Arthurius is in the living room staring at the illuminous glow of the television. Through the window of the television screen presents the glow of what appears to be a paused old video game with outdated pixelated graphics… or maybe a new indie game masterpiece of some sort.

>>973525
>what certainly happens in our world is people dying in their sleep, what happens to the person who experiences that, where do they go do they stay here or what.

I decide to get Arthurius’ attention away from the television.

: “Hey Arthurius, if someone were to die in their sleep then, will that mean they’d stay in this dream world, or…”

Arthurius turns his attention away from the television a little after I stop talking.

: “Wha? Oh sorry, I wasn’t listening, something about dying in your sleep means you being stuck here, you said? Well, people who die may have one final dying dream to help their brain sort things out and come to terms over what happened to make sense of things or give them a fitting closure to their life before finally passing and fading away.”

He turns off the game console and television as he said “passing and fading away”.

>>973534
>By the way, Arthurius, while you did technically answer my question about the Nightmareciers, I guess my real question was; 'why nightmares?'"

I decide to ask more about Nightmarecier to turn my attention away from existential dread.

: “So… why are Nightmareciers creating nightmares in the first place? I know Dreamciers are trying to give dreamers an escape from the stresses of reality, but why nightmares?”

:”I’m not exactly sure. I think I heard once that they want to help people through their realities with the nightmares they want to show dreamers, but… I don’t know about that, after some time working as a nightmare bounty hunter, some of their nightmare creations I witness them create can seem a bit too traumatizing to make me think otherwise…”

2/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/08/16(Sun)15:16 No. 974575 ID: e51896
File 159761621944.png - (1.24MB , 1280x720 , ec_00044.png )

: “Squeeeeeeak.”

Our conversation ended by my attention being turned over to the cry of Sniffles squealing. Sniffles has its front legs on the chair Magnolia is sitting in, and in response, Magnolia picks Sniffles up and embraces it tightly in her arms.

>>973594
>Ask her what she does for the crew.

:Hey Magnolia?

She silently turns her head towards me.

: “What is your position as a member of the Midnight Captors.”

: “I hunt dream invaders… aaaaannnnd… I create stuff… dream stuff.”

: “Dream stuff?”

: “Yeah, dream maaaaaaaaterials, living creatures, and uhhhh… yeah. I Invent things to help the team.”

>>973591
>Try talking to her about something she might be interested in. Arthurius said she would be worried about Sniffles if it wasnt in their meeting, so talk to Magnolia about Sniffles.
: “Can you tell me a bit about Sniffles? You seem to like that Tapir a lot.”

:Yeah! Sniffles! Sniffles is my reeeeccccccccent creation and my masterpiece, created with my blood aaaaaaannnnnd…………

…

: “…Sweat and tears?”

She shakes her head in disagreement

: “Just my blood injected into an illusionary seeeeeeeed and molded into Sniffles as it grew.

: “Squeak.”

: Illusionary seed?

: “Yeah. Seeds that are haaaaaaaarvested from King Laurent’s kingdom.”

“Speaking of which, Mags, when are you drawing your blood again to prepare invent more things to help us?”

: “Dunno… maybe a weeeeeeeeek after Henry returns…

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind so I know when you’ll be taking a break from hunting.”

: “Mmm-hmm…”

3/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/08/16(Sun)15:18 No. 974576 ID: e51896
File 159761631476.png - (1.04MB , 1280x720 , ec_00045.png )

“Anyway, I think that is enough questioning, I finished last minute cleaning our living room, so now it is time for our daily meeting, Mags.”

Magnolia nods her head and heads towards the door labeled “Pilot Room” with Arthurius. Though I still have some lingering concerns.

>>973658
What does Mags exactly mean by 'experiencing a dream?'

I stop them in their tracks with my question.

: Wait Magnolia, what did you mean by ‘experiencing a dream’?

: “well, you’re asleep, right? So yoooouuu’re going to be dreaming in a dream world later. [color]

>>973534
>"So... Will I just be dropped off at whatever dream you guys take a job at, or...?"

:[color=#908f13] "So... I take it I will I just be dropped off at whatever dream you guys take a job at then, or...?"

“That was the plan, yeah. Granted, it most likely won’t be a dreamworld a sandman intended you to visit, but it is a dream nonetheless.”

: "Oh…"

I look down at my feet lost in thought. Well, I guess that is that then? I mean, am relieved that I am actually asleep and will be dreaming soon… but… I can’t help be feel a sense of… disappointment, or a feeling like things haven’t been cleared up for me, like there’s lots of things missing. I keep thinking of some unanswered mysteries such as how did I end up in the ocean in the middle of this universe’s outer space? And how is my consciousness in the dream universe awaken in this universe’s outer space instead of one of the dream worlds when that isn’t supposed to happen? And there are many things about how their universe and their world works that I still intrigued about…
but it seems like It isn’t going to matter if I am just going to be dreaming like normal until I wake up again back in reality, probably forgetting this whole experience like it didn’t matter, right?

I look back up at Magnolia and Arthurius and notice that Magnolia was still staring at me, but as soon as our eyes met, Magnolia looks over at Arthurius.

: Arth?

: Hm? What is it, Mags?

: ummmm… What if Lilly joined us as a temmmmmmmporary member of Midnight Captors?

: Huh? What are you talking about, Mags?

: Well… Since Henry iiiiiiiiisn’t here, I figured Lilly can briefly join us until she awakens…

: Hmm… I don’t know… I mean, while having a dreamer as a nightmare bounty hunter has happened before and normal even if it’s a rare sight, and while there isn’t anything in the laws or the rules that forbids dreamers to help as a member of a team of bounty hunters… it is still our responsibility to make sure dreamers have the most pleasant experience during their visit in the dream worlds. Having Lilly hunt down a nightmare with us might risk causing her to awaken from experiencing a terrifying nightmare

: hmmm… yeah. But if we catch the nightmare, woooooooouldn’t it be a rewarding pleasant experience of a dream about conquering over a nightmarecier and their creations.

: I suppose…

: Plus, we were planning on doooooooooing an easy mission anyway today, yeah?

: True…

: Lilly doesn’t have to physically be there if you’re too concerned, she could use my dream invention, a tiny remote controooooooolled robot to guide us if she wants.

: hmmm… we don’t use that thing often… but she still needs to be a certain distance to still be wirelessly connected to it, right?

: Yeah, but the distance shoooooooould be relatively far enough to keep her at a safe enough distance.

: I see…

: And we can even let her deciiiiiiiiiiide which dream to visit and what nightmarecier she wants to hunt.

: Well… I suppose at the end of the day, it is Lilly’s decision of what she wants to do, right?

He looks over at me.

: So, what is it do you want to do, Lilly? Do you want your dream to be about hunting a nightmarcier that invaded a dream? Or would you prefer it if we just dropped you off at a dream world we choose?

Well, this was unexpected. Me being a member of a group of bounty hunters as a dream. Is that what I want to do?
While I may look cute, I’m certainly not defenseless. I’ve actually took some self-defense classes that my father had me attend, so from training I know some moves to defend myself. Plus, Magnolia said she would let me control a small robot of some sort to keep me safe from nightmares if I wanted to use one. This could also be a good opportunity to return the favor to them for saving me from the ocean, and maybe even learn some things about this universe better and perhaps solve some mysteries as to my strange arrival here if I’m lucky. And the worst that can happen to me is just only waking up from my dream if things get dire, right?

Though I also have to consider that I may experiencing a nightmare could be very scary, enough to have me wake up even if I am safe from getting hurt or death. And there are still some risks even if Magnolia and Arthurius is trained bounty hunters and can protect me from such things if I can’t.

They are waiting patiently by the door for my decision, though I don’t want to keep them waiting much longer. It all depends on what I want to dream about…

Do I want to dream about being a bounty hunter with Arthurius and Magnolia,
or should I let Arthurius and Magnolia drop me off at whatever dream world they will choose to be hunting in?

Well to answer this question you have to ask yourself first this thing. How do you feel about these two people? If they look like competent people that know what they are doing, by all means, join them in this easy mansion. But I am getting a strange feeling from Arthurius that he is indifferent to our existence, always needing to be solvers else and doing other minor things while we are talking to him. I think that he would rather not deal with us and see us as more as a burden. As for Magnolia, she seems like a person who is physically here but her thoughts are far away in the cosmos, from here I am getting a sense of a free spirit to a detrimental level. Honestly, all of this is just speculations and I am not sure how they work on tier job, maybe I am wrong about everything. But this is what I am getting from a short observation of tier interactions.

>>974596
*their interactions.

“I mean, whatever world you drop me in is gonna have a nightmare running around in it either way, at least to start with, and you actually admitted that you don’t have the best track record earlier. I kinda get the feeling that my dream will actually go smoother if I actively help you. I gotta warn you, though, I’m pretty bad at lucid dreaming; I’ll let you decide if that means I should stick to the drone.”

HUNT!

This seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity, best not to pass it up.

1/5 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/09/03(Thu)21:55 No. 975606 ID: e51896
File 159919531088.png - (1.24MB , 1280x720 , ec_00046.png )

>>974596

Hmmm... me working as a temporary bounty hunter with Arthurius and Magnolia. My initial thoughts on these two is that they do seem to have their flaws. I wouldn't view them as professionals, probably the average types at most based off of their behaviors... but I can't just judge a book by how they act, I have yet to see how they perform when on duty.

>>974659
>>974614

But in the end, I figured that since this is an opportunity that doesn't happen often, and considering that this is a dream where I'll just wake up from if anything bad does happen, I might as well make the most of this dream and go on their little adventure. After all, they took the time to fish me out of the ocean, so it seems fair to return the favor.


>>974606

: “I mean, whatever world you drop me in is gonna have a nightmare running around in it either way, at least to start with, and you actually admitted that you don’t have the best track record earlier. I kinda get the feeling that my dream will actually go smoother if I actively help you. I gotta warn you, though, I’m pretty bad at lucid dreaming; I’ll let you decide if that means I should stick to the drone.”


Arthurius smiles and opens the door.


: “Fine by me. Let’s all go into the pilot's room then and get the meeting started then.”

: “I think You mean "The Bridge"?”

: “Is that's what it is called? huh... well shoot, I guess we gotta change the plaque next to the door to read "Bridge" then, Magnolia.”

: “Nuh-uh.”

: “Fine, I'll just cover it with notebook paper to make it say "The Bridge" later then.”

: “I'm stiiiiiiill gonna call it the "Pilot's Room" regardless.”

: “Me too.”

: “......... Never mind. Lets just enter the bri- the "Pilot's Room".”


Arthurius leads Magnolia, Sniffles, and me into “The Bridge” “The Pilot's Room". Not long am I greeted by an audience of empty swivel chairs, two rows of three, bolted into the hard floor, as if they were plants growing out of the ground. Each one is inviting me to sit on them and relax my legs from walking and climbing those stairs earlier. Every chair is also accompanied by a computer on a control panel, each serving as a gear to help make the entire ship function in some way, yet seems complicated to someone with an average intelligence like me to understand. The view of the ocean outside the window is quite nice too.

Magnolia, still embracing Sniffles within the safety of her arms, makes her way towards the chair near the corner of the room and sets Sniffles on the floor, and proceeds to stand there and stare at Arthurius in expectation. Arthurius follows suit by making his way towards the middle chair in front of the window.

After a quick cough to clear his throat, Arthurius proceeds to lead us in stretching exercises to get our muscles loosen for our adventure, and then proceeds with the meeting.


: "First off, I'd like to welcome our newest member who will be joining us on our hunt temporarily today."

: "Hee hee, thanks, even though we already introduced each other."

: "Indeed, but now the introduction is official. Mags, Sniffles, please treat Lilly well during this mission. We’ll need to do our part to teach Lilly everything we know about bounty hunting.”
“Anyway, So I've been calculating our upcoming quota for this week and the budget we have to cover for this month's bill, and unfortunately, we are running a little behind from last week's earnings. I am mostly banking on Henry's secret mission to help us reach our quota especially since he has been gone on that mission for a few days, but it is best to not take chances and work extra hard to succeed in our missions this week. Otherwise, we will just have to work during our days off"

: *whispers* “Hear that Sniffles? do your beeeeeeest, and we can go play at your favorite park on our day off!”

: "Squeak."

:"With that in mind, I'm not worried because we have Lilly who will be replacing Henry for today. But since she is new, we will still have to do an easier less dangerous mission than what we usually do. After I select missions that look like we can handle easily, we'll let Lilly decide which mission she is most comfortable in participating in as Magnolia suggested. That is all from me. Magnolia, do you have anything to add?"

: "No new inventions today. I'm stiiiiiiiiill working on the grappling guns..."

: "I see. How is that going?"

: "I neeeeeeeeed to draw some more blood"

: "Can't you just buy some?"

: "Expensive...”


It is still weird to me how Dreamciers uses their blood to create dreams and objects, and even living things like Sniffles.


: “Alrighty, if there is no other questions, we can proceed to select our mission for today.”


Magnolia takes a seat on her chair with Sniffles jumping on her lap again. Arthurius goes over to the middle chair next to Magnolia and beckons me to sit over to the other free seat that is next to him and directs my attention to the computer in front of me.

2/5 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/09/03(Thu)21:55 No. 975607 ID: e51896
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The computer in front of me seems to be a radar system of some kind for a brief moment, but then it switches into a desktop you would see on any ordinary computer. Suddenly I see the mouse cursor on the screen move on its own and I realize that Arthurius has it on a screenshare as he is operating on the computer next to me. He opens up a browser and we enter a website called “Bounty Corral”. Arthurius navigates to a page which has a list of bounties near the area we are located at.

After a tiny bit of scrolling down the list, we immediately stop on the first person on our list. Pictured is a nightmarecier woman dressed in a purple trench coat and… a fedora? I begin to realize that Dreamciers in this dream universe like Arthurius and the woman pictured might have weird tastes in fashion.


: “Hmmm… Mitzy “The Nightmare Architect”… Her crime seems to be only vandalism and making unauthorized sand sculptures. This might mean that she won’t have any nightmare creatures or nightmare weapons to try to scare you awake, Lilly, so you might not need to use the robot. The dream she is causing trouble in looks to be the Golden Suncup Plant, which is mainly a desert known for its ancient temples, and more recently, the giant sand sculptures along the road. The reward money looks like a pretty good deal at 5,000 considering the job.”

: “Kyle Daum iiiiiiiiiis the client?”


Magnolia spins her seat over to look at us.


: “Looks like it. You know him?”

: “He’s one of my biggest inspirations and heroes… a massssssssssssterful dream architect.”

: “Well, seems like the client is a celebrity. I’m surprised no other bounty hunters took on his request yet…”

: “imagine that… Kyle Daum… as ooooooooooooour client… hey… Let’s do this mission Arth.”

: “Now hold on Mags, weren’t you the one who suggested that Lilly would be the one to choose the mission we would be going on?”

: “…
…
Mmhmm.”


Magnolia spins her chair back to face towards the computer screen.


: “Sorry Mags. Tell you what, Let’s go get some frozen treats tonight after the mission to make it up to you, ok? I’ll pay.”

: “Yum.”

3/5 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/09/03(Thu)21:57 No. 975609 ID: e51896
File 159919544371.png - (486.08KB , 1280x720 , ec_00048.png )

We scroll down the list and come to a stop on another nightmarecier. Wow, this guy looks a bit weird and scary with his large sharp teeth… it would really suck if he’d accidentally bit his tongue. With his leather jacket, he kind of looks like the ol’ bully or tough guy stereotype I would see in old cartoons and tv shows. What are they called? Greasers? No, his hair would be greased up if he was. I wonder if he listens to rockabilly… Wait, is that a bird in his hair?

: “Jawshua “Land Shark”… odd name. The reward money looks nice at 7,500. It looks like he is responsible for letting some of his nightmare animals into Tweet Tweet Forest Preserve. Since he has nightmare creatures, you’ll have to be careful with this mission. I might need to suggest using the robot for this one depending on the creatures he has made…”
“Wait, I actually know that place! Plant Daffodil, a dream known for its forests and beautiful environments. that is where Damian, one of my classmates back in college lives at too! Oh man, I have fond memories visiting his place during the summer vacations and just going camping at the Tweet Tweet Forest Preserve with him and some other buds in college. I wonder if he still lives there.”

: “…Ummmmmm… Lilly is chooooooooosing.”

: “…Right-o. But Ugh, it is so heartbreaking to know that some criminal is messing with the natural habitat of the forest preserve I’ve been to by letting his own creatures invade the place to run amok in...

4/5 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/09/03(Thu)21:57 No. 975610 ID: e51896
File 159919547945.png - (454.13KB , 1280x720 , ec_00049.png )

We once again dive deeper downward into the abyss of the list of wanted criminals and stop at a picture of an overly dressed person. Most of this person’s entire skin is just covered with a coat, scarf, sunglasses, knit hat… I can’t even see this person’s face. The only part of him that is revealed is the antennae and ears… Hey wait!


: “Arthurius, this guy’s ears does not look the same as the other two nightmareciers we’ve seen. In fact, they look like Mags and your ears”

: “Good catch, Lilly. Not all of our targets are nightmareciers. Sometimes a dreamcier can cause trouble for other dreamciers. In this criminal’s case, Bon Mot Cotton looks like they’re a drug dealer… this person has probably been selling drugs to other dreamciers.

:Drugs? That doesn’t sound very pleasant for a Dreamcier to be doing.

:Not all pleasant good dreams are considered morally right. There are some dreamers out there that have an addiction to drugs and enjoy taking them to the point where they even have sweet dreams about them, so they are not considered nightmares. Thankfully those dream drugs don’t directly affect dreamers in real life since it is a dream, but if other Dreamciers or nightmareciers were to take them, they would suffer side effects, so it is our job to make sure no drug dealings are taking place and ruining the lives of other dreamciers

:huh… considering the reward money for capturing a vandalizer was 5,000, Bon Mot Cotton’s reward money is much lower at 2,500

: “Hmmm… I see. Doing this mission might require Mags, Henry, and I to work during our day off to reach our quota. Anyway, the reward money could possibly be low because Bon Mot isn’t as much of a threat, or because the client, Herman Ordway, may have miscalculated how much catching a drug dealer is supposed to cost. But in that case, we have the option to haggle a price through negotiation and see if we can get the reward money higher. We’ll have to be careful if we do that though as Herman could fire us off the mission, or make the reward money go even lower.”
“In any case, since Bon Mot Cotton cannot create nightmares as a dreamcier, they shouldn’t be able to wake you up easily, Lilly, so if you’re looking for the safest option without having to use a robot, we can do this mission despite the low reward money. It looks like he is in Plant Coneflower, last seen in the Mt. Snhome Cabin. Coneflower is known for its snowy landscapes and perfect for skiing, snowboarding, and other fun snow activities.”

5/5 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/09/03(Thu)21:58 No. 975611 ID: e51896
File 159919550063.png - (481.18KB , 1280x720 , ec_00050.png )

We’re near the bottom of the list now, and stop at another nightmarecier. Instead of this criminal’s picture being a photo, this one looks like an artist’s rendition of the criminal. He has a scar right on his snout, and is wearing what looks to be a green raincoat.


: “Well then, this criminal is somewhat of a mystery… no known name, and only an artist rendition is available. We might need to gather more information on this guy around the area first before we can catch him properly.”
“He was seen in Plant Cattail at Mellow Drift Lake, which according to my phone, is this large popular fishing lake near an old small town. It looks like out of the four criminals we’ve been looking at, this guy might be the most dangerous since he can summon something as complicated as nightmarish rainwater to contaminate the lake and even put his own unauthorized nightmare aquatic creatures in the lake. If he can do those, who knows what else he has up his sleeve. It might be safer to use the robot if you choose this mission, Lilly.”

:”SQUEAK! SQUEEEEEEEEEEL!”


The noise makes me instinctively turn my chair towards Magnolia and Sniffles to discover Sniffles is moving anxiously on Magnolia’s lap and pawing at her computer screen.


:”Shhhhh. shhhhh…… settle…”

: ”Whoa! What has gotten into Sniffles?”

: “I thiiiiiiiink Sniffles wants to go to Plant Cattail’s Mellow Drift Lake”

: “Hmm… Why’s that? “
: “Tapirs love swimming… And Sniffles loves eaaaaaaaaating nightmares. The perfect combination for Sniffles.”

: “Going there might be perfect for Sniffles, but don’t forget, this is ultimately Lilly’s choice.”


Arthurius scrolls the screen back up away from the mission to stop Sniffles from pawing at the computer screen then turns his chair towards me.


: So, those four I believe might be the best choices for a new bounty hunter helping Mags and I. Out of these recommendations, which one of these dreams do you want to visit and go hunting in, Lilly?


Whelp, looks like it is time to choose. Wow those were some unique looking criminals, and interesting locations. But now I’ve got to decide which of the four I want to visit and go hunting in. There are many things to consider such as the reward money, the types of criminals we will be dealing with, perceived difficulty, the location, and which place Arthurius, Magnolia, and Sniffles would want to visit.

Who should we arrest?


A. Mitzy “The Nightmare Architect” (reward: 5,000, desert, vandalizer, Magnolia’s recommendation)

B. Jawshua “Land Shark” (reward: 7,500, forest preserve, responsible for invasive species entering forest, Arthurius’ recommendation)

C. “Bon Mot Cotton” (reward: 2,500, snowy mountain, drug dealer,)

D. Rain coated nightmarecier (reward: 10,000, fishing town & lake, contamination of lake and responsible for invasive species entering lake, Sniffles’ recommendation)

>>975611
Let's go for option A. It's a high reward for the difficulty, so it makes sense in general, and the client is famous so we might get some good publicity.

Personaly I would go for the option C. it is sad that even this fantastic world has the same problem with drug, I don't understand the disproportionate amount for the reward but that probably has to do with the person who is offering the reward in the first place. On the lighter note what was the most dangerous bounty that you went on and did you ever kill anybody, if you did how and why?

A sounds like an interesting place and the client may end up good to know. Go with it.

Go with A.
Your super new to this and you might become more of a liability if the bounty is dangerous.

"So, a frustrated artist whose sculptures were presumably underwhelming back home, a breeder that's too enamored with his own creations to stay focused on doing his job, a drug dealer, and... Mr. Mystery. Hmm, what does 'nightmarish rainwater' even mean?"

If they ask you about the not-entirely-unflattering way that you described them: "What? I mean, the Nightmareciers have their own dream-realm on the flipside of here, right? If someone 'needs to' experience a nightmare, they'd get taken there, right? So, that means the Nightmareciers who end up here are the 'problem' cases who couldn't hack it over there. No wonder you couldn't understand their goals if those are all you see of them."

As for our choice:
"... Depends on what sorts of costumes you have that fit me. (Or a quote-unquote 'magic dressing room' you can point me to that can help my imagination along.)"

We'll want a snooty arteest outfit if we head after the architect; really crank up the pretentious ham when presenting "our" "statements on the human condition."
If we go after the bird tamer, we'll do it as a heavy-metal rocker warrior looking for a "wicked awesome" steed to ride. (This is banking on our assumption that the tamer isn't the most elegant of nightmare-crafters (focusing more on metal-as-f*ck beasts than genuinely creepy abominations).)
We'd go to the lake as a Captain Ahab-type fisherperson and posit a challenge that will both ward off the faint of heart and prepare the rest for a challenge to be overcome (perhaps with buried treasure).

"I may not be able to violate reality in a lucid dream, but I can certainly take the piss out of a nightmare's narrative."

My personal vote is for A (a nice balance of risk and reward). Still, we'll do it in person no matter which option we choose - the idea of completely hijacking a nightmare's narrative away from its owner is so tantalizing.

1/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/09/23(Wed)08:20 No. 977016 ID: e51896
File 160087440794.png - (476.42KB , 1280x720 , ec_00051.png )

>>975619
>On the lighter note what was the most dangerous bounty that you went on and did you ever kill anybody, if you did how and why?


: “Seeing the wanted status of “alive” on these criminals gives me reason to believe that there are also criminals out there that are wanted “dead”...”
:”Well, It all depends on the level of mayhem the criminal’s crime is causing. Y’know, such as mass murders of other civilian dreamciers or nightmareciers, or deadly gangsters or cults trying to perform a massive takeover of a dreamworld, stuff like that for example. Criminal nighmareciers and dreamciers with their powers to create dreams and nightmares to their advantage can get so overwhelming that it gets to a point where sometimes death has to be the only option to stop them unfortunately…”
: “I see… well, what was the most dangerous bounty that you went on?”
: “Because of our rank, I tend to lean towards missions where criminals are wanted alive, so a lot of missions I go on isn’t super dangerous. Though there was one mission which required me to stop a nightmarecier who hijacked a train full of dreamers. He wanted to steer the train into a crash to scare them all awake. Said something about wanting to test and see if any of those dreamers were brave enough to stop him or strong willed enough to endure the fear.”
: “…whoa…”
: “Yeah. Thank Morpheus there were no other dreamciers or nightmareciers on the train to potentially get killed. With only dreamers on that train If the train had crashed, only the dreamers on the train would have just woken up abruptly in horror. To be honest, I was not proud of that mission, I wasn’t in a good mindset and at a low point in my career when I took that treacherous mission. But hey, I pulled through.”
: “…Barely…”

Arthurius just shrugs at Magnolias comment.

: “So I take it you haven’t had to kill anyone then because you’ve been mainly taking the “wanted alive” missions then.”
: “For the most part, yeah. I haven’t killed any criminals yet in my career, but I did have to terminate some of their nightmare organisms that they created.”
“Mags on the other hand has never killed anything before… well, unless you count the kills that her pet tapir Sniffles has achieved. I tell you, when it comes to nightmares, that tapir can eat.”

I am reminded of Chuck the cactus’ slobbery demise under the teeth of Sniffles. R.I.P my dear friend.

: “As for our third member Henry, he has claimed to have killed plenty of criminals in his missions under his previous team of bounty hunters before he joined the Midnight Captors. He has quite a bunch of stories to tell of his exploits.”

We turn our attention back to our respective computer screen. I suppose it is time to make my decision.

>>975729
>Go with A.
>Your super new to this and you might become more of a liability if the bounty is dangerous.
>>975616
>Let's go for option A. It's a high reward for the difficulty, so it makes sense in general, and the client is famous so we might get some good publicity.
>>975690
>A sounds like an interesting place and the client may end up good to know. Go with it.
>>975737
>My personal vote is for A (a nice balance of risk and reward).
>Costumes

: "So, a frustrated artist whose sculptures were presumably underwhelming back home, a breeder that's too enamored with his own creations to stay focused on doing his job, a drug dealer, and... Mr. Mystery.”
: “Those seem like the most likely reason, yes. But working as a bounty hunter, I’ll say that I have also seen all sorts of crazy unpredictable reasons as to why these criminals do the things they do.”
I look over at the unknown criminal on the screen
: “Hmm, what does 'nightmarish rainwater' even mean?"
Arthurius just shrugs again
: “Beats me, it seems pretty vague to me too. That might be something to ask the client for more details. It could be just a violent thunderstorm, could be acid rain that could melt or dissolve all sorts of materials and hurt living things, or perhaps a certain kind of rainwater that nightmare organisms could thrive on, especially if it is contaminating the lake.”
: "Well, as far as what mission I want, I guess my choice depends on what sorts of costumes you have that fit me. (Or a quote-unquote 'magic dressing room' you can point me to that can help my imagination along.)"
: “The dresssssssssssser back in the room you were sleeping in has all sorts of outfits…”
: "Really? Great! In that case, I think I want to try to capture Mitzy the Nightmare Architect. The price is good, and the client is a well-known dream creator, so Midnight Captors could get some recognition.”
: “yes!”
: “And as far as costumes go, I want a snooty arteest outfit; really crank up the pretentious ham when presenting "our" "statements on the human condition."”
: “umm… okay. That can be arranged. But why?”
: “I may not be able to violate reality in a lucid dream, but I can certainly take the piss out of a nightmare's narrative.”
:Makes perfect seeeeeense to me.
: “Alright then. Let me just accept and confirm the mission we are going on…”

Arthurius scrolls back up to Mitzy, checks the box, and accepts the mission…

2/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/09/23(Wed)08:20 No. 977017 ID: e51896
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…and a new page pops up congratulating us on accepting the mission. We are given further information telling us that the client may contact us with further information on the mission along with what I think is the client’s phone number and email address, or at least this universe’s equivalent to phone numbers and email addresses.

3/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/09/23(Wed)08:20 No. 977018 ID: e51896
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: “Great, now that we have chosen our mission, I will go ahead and set the auto-pilot’s course to the Golden Suncup plant and wait here for Mr. Daum’s response so we can discuss the mission. Magnolia, can you go and get our supplies, gear, and Lilly’s costume for the mission?”
: “Ummmm… Can I talk tooooooooooo Kyle Daum instead?
: “I can’t allow that. I know you’re going to start fangirling over him, and then faint from nervousness. I want this to be a professional conversation”
: “Mmmm….. guilty. though I still really waaaaaaaaaaant to meet him…”
: “Tell you what, I’ll see if we can arrange a dinner meeting with him in celebration after the mission is over.”
: “Thank you.
: “As for Lilly… hmmm… what do you want to do until we get there? You could stay here and watch how the conversation with my client will go, or maybe you could go with Mags and Sniffles and help her pick up supplies and choose your costume, or perhaps if you want you could wait the living room, we have plenty of entertainment to pass the time. “
“Oh, and it might be best to ask now, do you want to use the robot to spectate and help guide Mags and I at a distance, or do you want to be part of action?”

There will be some time before the mission begins, so I’ll have some time to kill, it is just a matter of how I should spend my time on this ship. And as far as the robot goes, I’m leaning towards just do it in person considering it is just stopping an vandalistic artist… >>975737 and the idea of completely hijacking a nightmare's narrative away from its owner is just so… tantalizing. I’m going to think about it a bit more.

How should I spend my time?
A.Stay in the pilot room with Arthurius and have an interview with Kyle Daum, learn more of our mission and client
B. Go with Magnolia to get the supplies and my costume, try to get to know Magnolia and Sniffles more
C. Wait in the living room, maybe watch tv or something
D. Other

And should I use the drone to guide the Midnight Captors, or not and join in on the action in person?
A. Use the robot
B. Don’t use the robot

> How to spend time.
"Um... How will Kyle react to seeing me, do you think? Should he know about my situation?"
Regardless of what Art says, choose B: Help coordinate your costume and get to know the other two.

Oh man, I can see that costume already; black beret, black and white-striped mime-wannabe shirt (with sleeves ripped and tied to be short-sleeved, of course), cargo suspender overalls with lots of pockets for sculpting tools - hell, a shoulder-strapped set of bongos would be icing on the cake; nothing says "comedic punctuation" like a well-timed paddling of a bongo-set after a pausing beat. One of those long cigarette holders or a glass of wine would take the cake, but both would be a bit excessive - we only have two hands, after all. (Sorry if I'm jumping the gun there.)

> Drone fun?
Meanwhile, B: Don't use the robot.

Oh great have you ever had a bounty hunting mission where the term of "further information" drastically changed the structure of the mission. Like one person was wanted alive and then after "further information" it was asked from you to torture the target or other shit like that? As for Henry, he is the one that concerns me the most. Ask our two kidnapers how they feel about sleeping near a person who murdered so many living creaturs? Does it concern them that he might snap one day and go on a mass murder spree? Taking somebody's life has a huge burden to bear, it concerns me that they talk co casually about that person who's profession demands execution day in and day out. We know so many real-life stories of soldiers who return home from a battlefield and not all of those stories have a happy ending. If it is possible I would advise keeping your distance away from Henry, for all we know he is just a walking time bomb.

How should I spend my time?

A.Stay in the pilot room with Arthurius and have an interview with Kyle Daum, learn more about our mission and client.

I am more interested in the person who is giving us this mission rather than the person which we are hunting.

And should I use the drone to guide the Midnight Captors, or not and join in on the action in person?

My lifestyle does not believe in robots so no.

D) Record yourself for posterity.
While testing their mics.
Loudly.

D. Keeping a record of what's happening might be useful later on, see if you can find a voice recorder or maybe even a dream journal. Though, I'd stay off of the P.A system since Arthurius is going to be talking with the client.

As for whether or not to use the robot, I'd say that we default off of Arthurius's and Magnolia's opinions. If it is going to be a dangerous mission, use the robot, if it's going to be low-risk, come in person.

A & B. Getting to know how their procedure and equipment works is best - probably too early to make use of the 'bot though.

Another question is whether there's any half-breeds between Dreamcier and Nightmarecier couples. Is that even a thing in their society? And how much animosity exists between the two species, given their inherent differences in powers? Though, I guess it isn't too bad if they ride rollercoasters with each other.

1/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/10/17(Sat)08:31 No. 978744 ID: e51896
File 160294870478.png - (909.78KB , 1280x720 , ec_00054.png )

>>977100
>Getting to know how their procedure and equipment works is best
>>977025
>Stay in the pilot room with Arthurius and have an interview with Kyle Daum, learn more about our mission and client.

After mulling it over a little bit, I’ve decided that I want to stay with Arthurius and listen in on the interview with our client to learn the standard protocol of how these missions begin.
I’ve considered going with Magnolia, but she seems like the quiet reserved type, being more of the listener rather than a speaker based off of her being mostly silent for the time we were in this room. I think most of our conversations would just be one sided with me doing most of the talking if I went with her.

:”I think I want to stay and get to know our client more and get a better understanding of what this mission is all about… um… How will Kyle react to seeing me? Should he know about my situation?”
: “He’ll be just as confused as I was most likely, but will ultimately probably shrug it off. But if he has any problems, I’ll explain the situation to him for you.”
: “As for the robot, I think I will be fine without one.”
: “Done deal. Just be careful, alright?”
: “Okay… I ammmmmmmmmm gonna get the stuff now.”

Magnolia picks herself up off the seat she was spinning in, but stumbles as she heads towards the door. She catches and supports herself by leaning her arm against the control panel and she proceeds towards the exit. Sniffles follows her close behind.

>>977020

Wait! The costume! I nearly forgot! As Magnolia opens the door, I call out to her.

:Hey, Magnolia?

She stops and turns her head slightly towards my direction, patiently awaiting me to continue as she stares with those static eyes.

: For the costume, can we make it a black beret, black and white-striped mime-wannabe shirt (with sleeves ripped and tied to be short-sleeved, of course), and cargo suspender overalls with lots of pockets for sculpting tools? and hell, maybe even a shoulder-strapped set of bongos would be icing on the cake; nothing says "comedic punctuation" like a well-timed paddling of a bongo-set after a pausing beat after all. And One of those long cigarette holders or a glass of wine would take the cake, but both would be a bit excessive - I only have two hands, after all.
:………………………………………………………………………..
: Sorry if I'm jumping the gun there.
:……………………………………………………………………….. consiiiiiiiiiiiiiiider it done.

She makes her way out the door with Sniffles, forgetting to close it.

2/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/10/17(Sat)08:32 No. 978745 ID: e51896
File 160294874504.png - (1.12MB , 1280x720 , ec_00055.png )

>>977078
>Record yourself for posterity.
>While testing their mics.
>Loudly.
>>977092
>Keeping a record of what's happening might be useful later on, see if you can find a voice recorder or maybe even a dream journal.

The idea to record myself loudly sounds like a hilarious idea, just imagine what Arthurius would think, having my voice hidden somewhere deep within the dark corners of his computer files. I could even set it up to be his computer startup sound. However, the only problems is that there is only one mic in the room and it is near the computer Arthurius is sitting in front of. And even if I had a mic, the computer screen I am in front of is currently in screen share mode with Arthurius in full control of the screen from his computer. It is still a fun prank to imagine though.

Though, it would be a good idea to have some kind of voice recorder to keep as a dream journal to record what is happening later on. I heard somewhere that it is easier to train your brain to lucid dream if you were to record your dreams.

: “Hey Arthurius, you think I can get some kind of voice recorder to record my dreams, like a dream journal?”
: “I could do that but… I don’t see how that would benefit you since you cannot bring what you recorded back to your own waking universe, and we might not see each other again in your next dream, right?”
: “Oh… right… well, can I still use one for this dream anyway?”
: “umm… ok. I’ll get you one after the interview.”

I try to think of more questions to pass the time as we wait for the client to call us.

>>977025
: “So, have you ever had a bounty hunting mission where the term of "further information" drastically changed the structure of the mission. Like one person was wanted alive and then after "further information" it was asked from you to torture the target or other shit like that?”
: “Nothing that extreme like torture, but there have been some moments where we get clickbaited into accepting a mission, but further information from our client revealed a catch we didn’t agree with. Whenever that happens, we have a right to just simply not accept or abort the mission”
: “As for Henry, you’ve said he’s killed plenty of his targets during his career… has those moments left any mental scars on him? I mean, killing a living person could be a large burden for someone to bear and could at some points lead them snap.”
: “I haven’t seen anything that would imply him having psychological problems. He is a pretty strong-willed and friendly person who I see as my mentor. While I said that he has killed plenty of criminals, it is still very rare whenever there is a mission that requires us to kill our target and is usually reserved for criminals that are extremely dangerous. I only said he has killed plenty of times because he has been a bounty hunter for so long, like around twenty-five years I believe he told me.”
:Wow, that is long.
: “I’d say one in every hundred missions he had a mission that asked him to kill. I didn’t mean to imply he took missions which required him to kill all the time. I think if such missions cause somebody mental distraught, they usually would quit being a bounty hunter before continuing to mentally hurt themselves further or simply not accept those kinds of missions. It is not like we’re compulsorily drafted in a war where we are forced to terminate our enemies.”
: “How much animosity exists between Dreamciers and Nightmareciers given their inherent differences in powers? I assume it isn't too bad if they ride rollercoasters with each other.”
:”Relationships between Dreamciers and Nightmareciers are a whole lot better than how it used to be according to history. There used to be wars fought for control over territory in our universe held every century eons ago before a peace treaty was signed to ensure that dreamciers control the west side of the universe while nightmareciers control the east. Rekindling day was also born from that treaty. Since then, we’ve been more open and accepting to Nightmareciers, even having Nightmareciers hired to add their own contribution to our dream worlds as long as they don’t deeply terrify a dreamer awake such as making thrilling yet fun roller coasters for example. Though while friendships between Dreamciers and Nightmareciers are now common, there are still some animosity between us two species such as our disagreements on why nightmareciers give people nightmares in the first place, and their disagreements on why we Dreamciers give people dreams.”
: “Hmm… are there any half-breeds between Dreamcier and Nightmarecier couples? Is that even a thing in your society?
:”That is a mystery.”
:”What do you mean?”
:”See, while loving couples between Dreamciers and Nightmareciers exist, the two species can’t seem to reproduce with each other.”
:”That is understandable, but what is mysterious about that?”
:”Well, when biologist scientists studied the two species reproduction system in comparison, they found that the two species seemed to have all the functions necessary that would make them compatible to reproduce with each other. And yet throughout known history whenever our two species attempted reproduction, there has been no documented cases which reported any kind of offspring being born between the two species.”
:”hmm… Maybe they’re doing it wrong? Well, in any case, it does sound mysterious.”
:”That isn’t even the most mysterious part. There used to be a team of scientists who would dedicate their lives into a research called “The Crossover Project” to investigate into why us two species can’t reproduce with each other even though studies showed that our bodies should be absolutely possible to do so. And about twenty years ago, The Crossover Project team announced that they made a massive breakthrough in their research, and then… nothing.”
:”Nothing?”
:”Yeah. Nothing more was ever announced on the research since then for days, then weeks, then months, then years. Whenever somebody asked about The Crossover Project, they were just given a “No Comment” as a reply from the researchers. Eventually, The Crossover Project research just faded from everyone’s memory”
:”Any speculations as to why they’ve gone silent after announcing a breakthrough?”
:”Some believe our king Laurent put a stop to the research, others believe that it was a massive failure that they don’t want to admit to, or that there may have been inhumane research taking place. There were some Dreamciers who claimed to had infiltrated the research facility for information at one point to leak out what was happening to the public, and they revealed that all of their centuries of research are just deleted and missing, though there has been no evidence of those infiltrators ever going in the research facility in the first place. Whatever the case, it is kind of eerie that they just went silent after proudly announcing that they had a breakthrough in their research.”
:”Maybe they just said that for attention?”
:”Don’t know…
say, it is certainly taking our client a while to call us. Perhaps I should call him instead.”

3/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/10/17(Sat)08:36 No. 978747 ID: e51896
File 160294898806.png - (789.22KB , 1280x720 , ec_00056.png )

Arthurius turns on the television above our heads bringing up a phone menu. He then dials up the number given to us on the website and sends out the call. After listening to the call being sent out for a few seconds, a voice of a woman responds.

: “Hello, and thank you for reaching the office of Kyle Daum. We’re sorry but Mr. Daum is currently busy with highly important errands and won’t be available to answer in the unforeseeable future, but if you leave me a message, I can forward it on over to him… provided that what you have to say to him is important enough for his time.”


Her voice sounds monotone and bored, like she is reading from a script that she is routinely reading to callers.


:”Yes, we recently accepted a bounty hunting mission Kyle sent out at the Bounty Corral website, and would like to discuss the mission with him further.”
: “… I see... Mr. Daum has been expecting you. I will transfer you to him right away. One moment please.”

After almost a minute, the screen on the television suddenly changes from a black screen to a large snouted Dreamcier sitting behind a desk with a whole lot of paperwork in front of him. The Dreamcier looks very tired with his eyes bloodshot, and with bags under them like he hasn’t had sleep for some time. He gives us a slight glare as he begins to speak.

:”Well, it’s about time you called. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to call me?”
:”Oh, sorry. I was actually waiting for you to call”
:”Hmph. Bold of you to think us clients have the free time to even pick up the phone. I’m drowning in legal paperwork that I have been spending a long time on without sleep to read & sign regarding the dreamers that woke up from those terrifying sand statues that criminal Mitzy littered the roads with as you can see.”

He speaks very sternly as He waves his legal papers to catch and direct our attention to the work that he has
: “*Sighs* honestly, why did it take this long for ANY bounty hunter to take my request anyway? don’t they know who I even am? Kyle Daum! Dream architect extraordinaire!”
:”I never heard of him…”
:”Hm, what was that?”
:”Uh. I was just saying one of my teammates is a big fan of yours, she felt honored to get the chance be working for you as a client.”
:Ah, a person who knows what good art is. Well, anyway, spit it out, who might you be?
:”I am Arthurius Radiant, leader of the Midnight Captors”
:You seem young… in your early twenties perhaps, yeah?
:”um, yeah, why?”
:*groans* out of all the bounty hunters I could of gotten, I had to get a team of rookies…
:”Hey, I can assure you that I’ve had training in one of the best bounty hunting colleges out there, I can assure you I know what I am doing.”
:*sighs* “Whatever, I’ll just take anyone at this point. Now let’s not waste any more time and get down to business. There is not much to say that isn’t already on the job description I posted on the Bounty Corral website: A horrible woman named Mitzy is destroying my sand sculptors in the desert, and has been replacing them with nightmarish statues that is causing my dreamers to wake up in fear. I need you to get her out of here so that she can stop waking my visiting dreamers and stop giving me more legal paperwork to explain what happened to prove their rude awakening wasn’t my fault. She typically hangs out at the Temple of Basklia
:”I see. Anything you can tell us about her such as why she is doing this, or what kind of person she is?”
: “…Really? That wasn’t enough for you? You need more hand-holding? Fine! According to people in the area, this woman came to my dream world claiming that she wanted to do research on the ancient sculptors and temples so she can get some inspiration for creating her own nightmare back at home.”
:”ancient you said?”
: “Yeah. I did not create the majority of those statues or temples, they were made by our ancestors from a long time ago. In fact, I had this dream world inherited down to me from a previous generation and I have been making improvements to it since.”
:”I see.”
: “To get back on topic, Mitzy was reportedly seen studying and writing down information on the statues and temples and eventually went into the Temple of Basklia. She seemed to take a liking to the place as she would soon go in the temple for more and more hours until she would spend an entire day in it, and then soon start sleeping in there during the night. Eventually, she just didn’t come out for an entire week until she suddenly came back out and then proceeded to destroy my beautiful statues”
:”Hmmm… maybe something in that temple influenced her?”
: “I don’t know, and I don’t care. All I know is that I want her out of my dream world as soon as possible.”
:”Understood.”

4/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/10/17(Sat)08:37 No. 978748 ID: e51896
File 160294906966.png - (777.06KB , 1280x720 , ec_00057.png )

Kyle’s attention is soon drawn towards me and proceeds to speak as his left eyebrow raises.
:“By the way… you’ve been awfully quiet. who, or what are you supposed to be anyway?”
:”Her name is Li-” :“*AHEM* EXCUSE me, Arthurius, but was I talking to you? No, I wasn’t. Let this person speak for themself and don’t interrupt.”

:”Y…yes, of course.”

This Daum person is something else. I really don’t see how Magnolia can see this guy as an inspiration to her considering how rude he’s been. I can respect Arthurius, though. He has certainly seemed very patient despite Kyle’s rudeness. But right now, it looks like he is demanding an answer from me and I can’t rely on Arthurius to talk for me. What should I tell him to introduce myself? And what sort of questions should I ask him regarding the mission?

>>978745
>crossbreeding breakthrough, then silence
I'm guessing the resulting child was something... powerful. Too powerful. State Secrets level powerful. That was 20 years ago, so, whoever it is, they're an adult now.

>>978748
Introduce yourself and say that you'll do your best to help. If you wind up waking up from getting scared it's fine, so you won't get in the way or anything.

Hmmm... Lilly is 19, that is close or aound 20 years. Maybe there is a connection between Lilly and the experiment? Might just be a coincidence...

Introduce yourself briefly. Be polite.

Introduce yourself as Arthurius's girlfriend

Something tells me this jerk didn't make his fortune with architecture alone.

Ask about target's preferred skills and methods; how does she usually destroy the sculptors? Are there any nightmare tools left behind to reverse-engineer study? Does she cut and run when she's caught or does she overpower security>

Introduce yourself politely, explain that you're a dreamer, that your sandman up and disappeared in transit, and you're accompanying these guys on a job. You look forward to both admiring these sculptures you heard of and doing our best to make sure no-one can take Mitsi's "contributions" seriously; us lucids have an easier time controlling reality when we already control the narrative, after all. His fan is working on our outfit as we speak.

Introduce yourself and inform him that the Midnight Captors are the best (and only) bounty hunters you've ever met.

1/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/03(Tue)21:57 No. 980342 ID: e51896
File 160446946301.gif - (174.63KB , 1280x720 , ec_00058.gif )

Arthurius hands the mic over to me, putting me on the spot to ponder what I am going to say to our client.

Bearing in mind the fact that this client is apparently well known(?) and famous(????) in their reality, Magnolia is a huge fan of his, he is offering us a good decent amount a money, and that this person is very rude and demanding, very careful considerations will need to be taken with what I will need to say to him lest I let The Midnight Captors down and lose this very important client... no pressure or anything though, right?

Well, this is it… I can’t leave this guy hanging. All eyes are on me now. it is time that I leave the greatest first impression to the best of my abilities and in a professional manner as a representative of the Midnight Captors to our very important client.

Here it goes…

2/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/03(Tue)21:57 No. 980343 ID: e51896
File 160446947671.gif - (342.58KB , 1280x720 , ec_00059.gif )

>>978760
>Introduce yourself as Arthurius's girlfriend

: “Hey, Nice to meetcha! I am Arthurius’ sexy and beautiful girlfriend!”
: “Wait, wh… WHAT!? I… I’m not… uh…”

As Arthurius stumbles over his own words, he looks over at me with worry in his eyes as he fishes for an explanation for why I said that. As a response, I just give him the ol’ eyebrow wiggle which causes him to pull his hat down over his eyes trying to make himself invisible.

I know it was unprofessional of me, but I just couldn’t resist. It was worth it to see Arthurius’ reaction. No regrets.

3/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/03(Tue)21:58 No. 980344 ID: e51896
File 160446949658.png - (771.16KB , 1280x720 , ec_00060.png )

However, Kyle does not seem at all amused. All he did was simply roll his eyes over my teasing.

: “Thank you for declaring your love for your partner. Now… I’m going to repeat my question, and this time, I want you to listen. Who… or what… are you supposed to be?”

He spoke more sternly, enunciating his words this time. Well, playtime is over, I better stop fooling around and give him a more proper answer this time.

4/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/03(Tue)21:58 No. 980345 ID: e51896
File 160446951501.png - (787.18KB , 1280x720 , ec_00061.png )

>>978757
>Introduce yourself and say that you'll do your best to help. If you wind up waking up from getting scared it's fine, so you won't get in the way or anything.

>>978985
>Introduce yourself and inform him that the Midnight Captors are the best (and only) bounty hunters you've ever met.

>>978758
>Introduce yourself briefly. Be polite.

>>978868
>Introduce yourself politely, explain that you're a dreamer, that your sandman up and disappeared in transit, and you're accompanying these guys on a job. You look forward to both admiring these sculptures you heard of and doing our best to make sure no-one can take Mitsi's "contributions" seriously; us lucids have an easier time controlling reality when we already control the narrative, after all. His fan is working on our outfit as we speak.

: “You can call me Lilly Teagardin, Temporary member of the Midnight Captors, the best (and only) bounty hunters you've ever met. As for me, I am a dreamer and my sandm-“ : “Hold it right there!”

His interruption caught me by off guard. His eyelids are widened by something I said.
:Um… yeah?
: “You said you’re a dreamer?”
:Yes sir, my sandman up and disappeared in transit, and I’m accompanying the team on the job.

5/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/03(Tue)21:58 No. 980346 ID: e51896
File 160446953136.png - (842.85KB , 1280x720 , ec_00062.png )

Before I can continue, Kyle grabs the antennas on his head tightly, and begins yelling at us. I can’t understand what he is saying as he doesn’t seem to be speaking my language anymore. I thought that him holding his antennas like that was just a silly over the top reaction until suddenly, Arthurius does the exact same thing. He too grabbed his own antennas and starts talking in that same language I don’t understand. I quickly remember that Arthurius had told me that those antennas are what helps me understand their language, and helps them understand mine. It seems this guy does not want me to hear what he is saying.

Kyle started out with yelling at Arthurius, all while Arthurius is repeating a certain phrase. Arthurius’ repeating of what he is saying must have gotten Kyle more upset because soon after, Kyle is yelling even louder.

Arthurius patiently lets Kyle finish yelling until he begins talking again, slightly louder to start, then bringing his volume down to normal. Whatever Arthurius told him must have calmed Kyle down a little because now he is speaking in a normal volume, and yet, he sounds like he is pretty stern.

Even though they had a heated loud argument just then, I must admit that their native language sounded very soothing.

Arthurius finishes up by explaining one other thing which leads to Kyle still sternly talking to him, and ending with him bringing his volume slightly louder and then he finally let’s go of his antennas.

6/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/03(Tue)21:59 No. 980347 ID: e51896
File 160446954994.png - (771.46KB , 1280x720 , ec_00063.png )

: “Look, dreamer, for what it is worth, I apologize for my attitude thus far, but I’ll only say this once: I have NOT been able to get ANY sleep throughout most of the week as I have been pulling all-nighters trying to fill out all these paperwork. You have no idea how many dreamers who awoke abruptly in my dream in fear that I have to report about to state that it was not my fault and instead the fault of an outside force in order to avoid any penalty fees. And on top of that, this is keeping me from working on my masterpiece dream art that I have been preparing for the once in a lifetime event Rekindling Day, so you have to understand that I am completely stressed out about everything right now, got it?
: “Understood.”
: “Good! Continue where you left off, dreamer.”
: “Thank you sir. I look forward to both admiring these sculptures I heard of and doing our best to make sure no-one can take Mitzy's "contributions" seriously; us lucids have an easier time controlling reality when we already control the narrative, after all. One of your fans is working on our outfit as we speak.”
: “Well, I’m glad you and one of the fans in your group are interested in my work, but just remember you are coming here as a bounty hunter to hunt, not be a tourist to sightsee. I need that criminal out as soon as possible.”
“Oh, and while we dreamciers have no laws against dreamers figuring out how to become lucid and change our dreams around since it is our job to make sure you dreamers’ visits are a pleasant as possible, there are some of us prefer that you didn’t. We work so hard on making these dreams and I’d rather not fix them if a lucid dreamer screws things around.”
: “I’ll keep that in mind.”

No promises.

: “I'll do my best to help. I was going to say ‘If I wind up waking up from getting scared it's fine, so I won't get in the way or anything.’ But I don’t want to cause you more paperwork after what you said”
: “Don’t worry about me. I’ve already cleared things up about that with Arthurius. But for his sake, you should probably still try not to get scared awake, got it?”
: “Um… okay. I guess I should ask about Mitzy now.”
: “Go ahead.”

>>978764
>Ask about target's preferred skills and methods; how does she usually destroy the sculptors? Are there any nightmare tools left behind to reverse-engineer study? Does she cut and run when she's caught or does she overpower security.

: “How does Mitzy usually destroy the sculptures?”
: “She usually strikes at night when most are asleep, so we haven’t been able to get a clear view as to how she does it so secretly and so quickly. Since these are sand sculptors, they are relatively easy to knock out, but with some of the sculptures being ginormous, there are some confusion as to how she doesn’t get buried alive after knocking them down. We are assuming she is knocking them down from a distance somehow, though it can’t be bombs since there have been no reporting of explosions, or blast marks. One thing to add, most of the sculptors she targets are the newer ones that are made such as mine. She seems to be leaving most of the older ones alone.”
: I see.
: “Since you will be capturing her during the day, it will be best to let you know that during daylight, she normally has been seen hanging out in the temple of Basklia. Just don’t get lost in there.”
: Are there any nightmare tools left behind to study?
: “We haven’t gotten our hands on anything Mitzy had dropped, Even so, most nightmare tools created by a nightmarecier are created with a nightmarecier’s blood, and an Illusionary seed from their kingdom”
: “Does she cut and run when she's caught or does she overpower security?”
: “We believe she is the cut and run type. Nobody has seen her with any powerful weapons and she is normally out of sight as soon as somebody spots her creating one of those sculptures. Still, be careful, she could have something up her sleeve.”
“Well, is there any other question? I really need to get back to my work, and I can’t waste much more time on this call!”

I try to think, is there any other things I should ask, or am I done? I should try to keep whatever questions I have left brief with this guy.
Oh, and I nearly forgot, Magnolia requested that she really wanted to meet with Kyle. I should think about whether or not I should ask Kyle if they could schedule a meeting after we capture Mitzy.

Flash him Ask him for his phone number and recommend he take shore leave before his motor mouth spills out into the ears of his boss.

>>980357
Let's not tell him how to do his own job, thanks.

"... I have a theory, but I need your input; was this dream always in uncontested Dreamancier territory? The way Mitzy only started this after studying the inner temple and left the older statues untouched... maybe she thinks she's restoring and preserving the dream as it originally was?"

His angered response seems a bit excessive, I feel like they are not telling you something about your current condition. Simply ask him what he was saying then he was yelling. Also, ask why didn't he want you to understand what he was saying at that point?

That was a reaction.

Try and press Arthurius for details, it might be important. Then rejoin Mags.

I would advise he get another pot of coffee ready if he’s this stressed out. But then again, caffeine probably isn’t conducive to good dreams and sleep. Just wish him well and bid adieu. We’ve got a perp to catch!

1/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/15(Sun)15:25 No. 981069 ID: e51896
File 160548270788.png - (768.58KB , 1280x720 , ec_00064.png )

>>980357
Flash him
??? I just had a strange urge to do something very demeaning, but I can't quite make out what it was...


>>980357
>Ask him for his phone number

I was going to ask for his phone number, but I just remembered that we already do have his phone number, or at least his office phone number. It is how we were able to reach him after all. Still, maybe I should ask for his personal phone number like a cell phone just in case he can't be reached in his office?

:"Hey, what is your cell phone or home phone number just in case you are not in your office?"
:"None of your business! I very rarely leave my office, so my work phone number is all you need."

>>980358

I suddenly realized something...

: "... Hey, I have a theory, but I need your input; was this dream always in uncontested Dreamancier territory? The way Mitzy only started this after studying the inner temple and left the older statues untouched... maybe she thinks she's restoring and preserving the dream as it originally was?"
:"hmmm... interesting theory. You're correct, this dream, and a lot of others weren't always Dreamcier territory. Before Rekindling Day was a thing, we Dreamciers and Nighmarciers would every century fight wars for territory when our universe's four structures start losing power, waiting for either species to reactivate them to gain control over the territory each structure powered. So when our territory on our side of the universe was for a time controlled by nightmareciers, it also meant that this dream that resides in that territory also used to be claimed as theirs as well a very long time ago."

Looks like my theory is holding water.

:"But whether or not she is restoring old statues back to its former frightening glory, this is still a dream as part of dreamcier territory, not a nightmare. Restoring those statues will be detrimental for the dreamers visiting this dream"

Suddenly, Authorius grabs the mic from my hand.

:"That actually gives me a great idea. Kyle, how many statues had Mitzy destroyed last night? Do you know if any of your destroyed sculptures used to replace any old sculptures?"
:"Hmm... from what I was told, she destroyed three of our sculptures last night, but I am unsure which of our destroyed statues had replaced the old nightmare sculptures"
:"Can you find out?"
:"Why? Can't you see I'm already busy enough as it is?"
:"Well, if Mitzy is replacing your statues with restorations of old statues that used to stand there, perhaps we could use that knowledge to ambush her? I was thinking we can wait in hiding near one of the remains of the destroyed sculptures for Mitzy to arrive to make her restorations, and then catch her by surprise that way."
:"hmmm... You know what? Yeah, I can see merit in squeezing in time to research that. I will give you a call back sometime after our meeting is over for more details, so make absolutely sure you pick up the phone ASAP, got it?"
:"Yes sir. Oh, and one more thing, one of the members of my team, Magnolia, really wanted to meet you as she is a big fan of yours... I was wondering... um... After our mission is completed, can we all meet you face to face?"

Oh crude, I forgot about deciding whether to ask that question for Magnolia or not. She is definitely the kind of person that doesn't stand out too well to remember.

Kyle just gives a very long sigh while putting his fingers over his eyes and forehead before responding.

:"Okay, look... I am a very, VERY busy man with very little time to waste these days, so obviously, I don't have the time to meet with anyone... However, as luck may have it, I do have a short lunch break in about nine hours and I am planning on eating at one of my favorite fast food restaurants as Morpheus knows I deserve a treat. That said, If you can manage to subdue Mitzy before my lunch break starts, we can then meet up for lunch and I can meet your colleague... I'll even give you your payment right there and then so you don't have to wait for it to be delivered to you. How is that for incentive?"
:She would like that very much, thank you, sir.
:Whatever...

Kyle then takes one of the paperwork and focuses his attention on writing into that.

:We done here?

>>980359
>His angered response seems a bit excessive, I feel like they are not telling you something about your current condition. Simply ask him what he was saying then he was yelling. Also, ask why didn't he want you to understand what he was saying at that point?

Before the call ends, I stand up from my chair with the intention of getting my itch of curiosity scratched.

:"Wait, what were you and Arthurius yelling about earlier? Why didn't you want me to understand what you were saying?"

Kyle doesn't look up from his paperwork as he seems more interested in working on that than talking to us. Nonetheless, he still answers my question.

:"If you are really curious, ask Arthurius. All I will say that whatever happens to you while visiting my dream will be his responsibility, not mine, I only didn't let you hear what I am saying as to not stress you out since as a Dreamcier, it is our duty to make sure dreamers' experience are as pleasant as possible. So the only advice I will say as I told you before: for Arthurius' sake try not to wake up in fright while you are bounty hunting, okay?

>>980357
>>980636
I would advise he get another pot of coffee ready if he’s this stressed out. But then again, caffeine probably isn’t conducive to good dreams and sleep. Just wish him well and bid adieu. We’ve got a perp to catch!
>recommend he take shore leave before his motor mouth spills out into the ears of his boss.
>>980358
>Let's not tell him how to do his own job, thanks.


I want to tell him to take a vacation out of concern over his health, but not in a way to make me sound like I'm ordering him around... I'll try to tell him in a polite way

:Well, I know you are very busy for your boss, but I hope you find and take the time to take a vacation when everything is done. In any case, I bid adieu. We’ve got a perp to catch!
:"...appreciated. And I am my own boss, this paperwork is just for legal officials at Laurent's kingdom. In any case, When can I expect you all to arrive?"
:"According to our navigation system, it says the estimated time is an hour."
:"Good. I'll get you the information within the hour then. Now if you excuse me..."

He hung up.

2/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/15(Sun)15:25 No. 981070 ID: e51896
File 160548272186.png - (1.11MB , 1280x720 , ec_00065.png )

>>980398
>Try and press Arthurius for details, it might be important.

I am still unsatisfied with the information I got out of Kyle regarding Arthurius' and Kyle's argument. I decide to press Arthurius for more information.

:Sooooo... about that argument... What was that about? What were you two saying when you were yelling? And why didn't you both wanted you to understand what was being said at that point? Does it have anything to do with my condition over how I ended up here?

Arthurius shakes his head in disagreement.

:"No, nothing like that. What happened was that he got really angry at me because he thought I was bringing a dreamer from one dream to his which was infested with nightmares to have you help capture Mitzy."
:"Huh? But I thought you said dreamers can be bounty hunters if they wanted to."
:"True, but usually it is okay if the dreamer is already taken into the nightmare infested dream by the sandmen. What was going on was that Kyle had issues with me bringing you into his place because it would mean that he is knowingly allowing you into his dream infested with nightmares, and was almost going to fire us from the mission to prevent us from entering.
:But, isn't he getting dreamers delivered to him by the sandmen anyway?
:The difference is that Dreamciers cannot control where the sandmen takes the dreamers, so he is getting dreamers to his nightmare infested dream whether he wants it or not. Because of that, when he is filling out his paperwork, he is able to explain how the nightmares waking up the dreamers weren't his fault. You on the other hand, well, after you told him you were a dreamer, it would mean that he would knowingly be allowing you to enter his dream infested with nightmares and put you at risk, thus making it his responsibility if a nightmare woke you, causing him to pay a hefty penalty fee.
:Whoa... How did you convince him to let us stay for the mission?
:Well... okay, don't feel guilty over this, Lilly, but I decided to tell him that if you woke up in fear during the mission, I would have to be the one to pay for Kyle's penalty fee for risking you get scared awake by nightmares.
:Yikes...
:Yeah, Kyle may be rude, but as a dreamcier, he didn't want you to feel worry with pressure or guilt over joining in to help us capture Mitzy, that was why he didn't want you to hear us. But let me just say that this isn't something you should worry about. It is my choice to continue letting you join the Midnight Captors instead of dropping you off in a different dream, therefore it will be my responsibility, not yours.
:Oh...
:But I believe in you, Lilly. Like I said, we were going for one of the easier missions, I believe you are strong enough to handle it. You seem to have a strong focus in our dream universe after all.

hm, so that is why Kyle said I should try not to wake up for Arthurius' sake. But as Arthurius said, he is alright with taking responsibility if a nightmare does wake me. Still, I should try my best to stay asleep for this mission to not let the Midnight Captors down.

>>980398
>rejoin Mags.
:Well, now that the call is done, should we go find ma-

suddenly, we hear the door close behind us, and a squeal.

3/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/15(Sun)15:25 No. 981071 ID: e51896
File 160548273368.png - (843.55KB , 1280x720 , ec_00066.png )

Magnolia and Sniffles stands in front of the door facing us. In Magnolia's hand is what looks to be a large backpack.

:Oh! Welcome back Mags, looks like you got the supplies!

Magnolia nods

:"Thanks Mags! and guess what? we even managed to schedule a meeting with Kyle for you. Though the only condition is that we just need to finish the mission before his lunch break starts in 9 hours, he isn't free any other time."

I can't really tell, but I think I saw the sides of Magnolia's mouth went upwards just a really tiny bit after she heard that... though I'm not exactly sure...

:ttttthhhhhhhanks, Arth...

I look over at the large backpack of supplies that Magnolia is holding.

What did she bring? I hope it’s some other supplies we’ll need for the mission. I would get acquainted with the gear needed for this fast, especially if we’ve only got one hour.

I find it funny how your employer emphasis the notion that your current residence in this world to be a pleasant experience while at the same time being the most unpleasant person that you had to deal with. After we finish this job his name is going on the list. I have an interesting question, was there ever a wanted poster for one of the people who visit this world just like you currently are? Is there a reason why the residence of this would have a reason to fear somebody like a visitor?

>>981086
What? I'd say he's the most unpleasant by technicality alone. Arthurius's explanation of why the understandably stressed man was concerned seemed perfectly reasonable.

"But man, I didn't think that Criminal Psych class I'm taking would pay off so soon, or in this way... Oh, is my costume in there?"

1/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:37 No. 982126 ID: e51896
File 160636547077.png - (640.80KB , 1280x720 , ec_00067.png )

>>981086

:"I have an interesting question, was there ever a wanted poster for one of the people who visit this world just like you currently are? Is there a reason why the residence of this would have a reason to fear somebody like a visitor?"
:"No, we've never had reasons to capture or post wanted posters for people who dream and visit our world, and even if we did, we can't really capture any dreamers because they can just wake up to escape capture and end up free again in their next dream. The most anyone can do is just wake up the dreamer if they cause too much trouble, that is it... (preferably in a non-terrifying way of course)"

I wonder if that is why it is so hard to lucid dream.

>>981084
>What did she bring? I hope it’s some other supplies we’ll need for the mission. I would get acquainted with the gear needed for this fast, especially if we’ve only got one hour

>>981091

:"But man, I didn't think that Criminal Psych class I'm taking would pay off so soon, or in this way... Oh, is my costume in there?"

Magnolia just nods

I'm actually not taking any criminal psych classes in the waking world, I am still searching for a college that would even accept me. I just said that to mess with these bounty hunters a little bit, tee hee...

:"Wanna seeeeeeeeeee what we are bringing?"
:"Sounds like a plan."
:"Good idea, considering it will take an hour until we get to our destination, we might as well go through our supplies so we can do other things until the mission starts."

The first thing Magnolia pulls out is... butterfly nets?

:"Wait, are we capturing bugs on this mission or something? I'm confused..."
:"Nope, these are our dream catcher nets. What we try to do is tire out our target during our mission, and once they are weak enough, we use these nets to capture our target and complete the mission!"

now that I took another look at the nets, the netting does seem to be arranged to look like the dreamcatchers that I've seen back at my own world. But I can't imagine how these dreamcatchers affixed to butterfly net poles are going to capture our target. I guess I'll have to wait and find out.

2/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:38 No. 982127 ID: e51896
File 160636548905.png - (338.19KB , 1280x720 , ec_00068.png )

The next item Magnolia pulls out is... hands of a clock? no wait, they're swords... I think?

:"Oh! my swords, minute and hour! Thanks! Magnolia made these for me, Lilly. These are really good at parrying enemies until they tire out, and attacking to subdue the enemy if I absolutely need to."
:"So, they're basically just fancy looking swords then."
:"Heh, Not only do they work as swords, but they can even connect to each other at the hilt, and the hour hand spins like a propeller to deflect projectiles, or cut things like a chainsaw!"
: "Thats... pretty dangerous. Just don't stand anywhere near me when you start spinning that thing!"
:"Shall I demonstrate how it works?"
: "NOOOOO!"

3/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:38 No. 982128 ID: e51896
File 160636549911.png - (212.96KB , 1280x720 , ec_00069.png )

Magnolia pulls out something large... a hammer? It has gears at both ends of the head of the hammer.

:"My hammear!"

A hammear? Can't she think of a better name than that?

:"It smashes objeeeeeeeeects, and the gears spin to grind the rubble... and bonk bad guys"

Wow, another weapon that spins. I hope I don't get nauseous looking at these when they start spinning. Oh wait, I'm dreaming, I don't think I can get sick from a dream.

4/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:38 No. 982129 ID: e51896
File 160636551556.png - (389.22KB , 1280x720 , ec_00070.png )

three guns are pulled out next, along with two small boxes marked "bullets" and "tranquilizers". They have a switch that can go from stun to kill, and a scope at the top.

:Better bring these just in case our target has something that can shoot projectiles. It is best not to use a melee weapon during a gun fight after all. These are locked to stun our target, so don't worry about switching it to kill by accident. If need be, we can unlock it with a key, but we shouldn't really need to switch it unless it is a really bad situation.
:Nothing about them spins, do they? No spinning scopes?
:Huh? what? No they don't.
:"Good."

5/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:38 No. 982130 ID: e51896
File 160636553157.png - (425.05KB , 1280x720 , ec_00071.png )

Two paper bags are carefully pulled out next, one marked "Arthurius", and one marked "Magnolia & Sniffles".

:"Luuuuuuuunch."
:"We'll be out there for hours, so packing sustenance is a must... We should probably save some room for our dinner meal with our client later though."
:What kind of food did you pack?

They explain to me what their lunch is, and it is basically food I have never seen, or heard of. I guess they don't eat the same food I do back in the waking world.

6/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:39 No. 982131 ID: e51896
File 160636554633.png - (298.79KB , 1280x720 , ec_00072.png )

Magnolia grabs... A dark green bowtie...

:"Um... let me guess, you wear it, and then it spins really fast to keep you cool?"
:"No."
: "Oh. It wouldn't happen to be my costume then, is it? It isn't exactly what I requested, but I can wear it regardless."
:"No."
:"Mags, why the bowtie?"

7/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:39 No. 982132 ID: e51896
File 160636556183.png - (551.13KB , 1280x720 , ec_00073.png )

Magnolia walks over to Sniffles, and dresses the struggling Tapir in it.

:"My masterpiece, Sniffles, has to lllllllllllook presentable for Mr. Daum... He'll be so impressed."

I don't have the heart to tell her he most likely won't.

8/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:39 No. 982133 ID: e51896
File 160636557110.png - (300.22KB , 1280x720 , ec_00074.png )

The next item that is retrieved from the bag is a couple of syringes connected to some kind of machine, and a few small round objects with some small thin hairlike things coming out of them... kind of like eyelashes.

: "You sure you want to bring that, Mags? Think it might be best to save your blood for your bigger projects?"
:"You'll neeeeeeever know if this might be needed... I'll only draw small dosages"
:"What is that?"
: "This is a machine Magnolia uses to create dream objects. One syringe draws blood, while the machine sucks the blood and delivers it to the other syringe to inject into the Illusionary seed. As the blood is drawn, Magnolia will need to focus mentally in her mind on building what she wants to make inside and out, and then the seed can grow into the object she is imagining. The more complicated the invention, the more blood, time, and focus it takes, which is why I suggest we only create something very simple if we need to use it so Magnolia doesn't have to draw so much blood."
:"Yuck, I can't stand needles."
:"Dooooooon't worry, dreamers' blood doesn't work on illusionary seeds... dreamers can't even draw their blood."

9/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:39 No. 982134 ID: e51896
File 160636558547.png - (357.15KB , 1280x720 , ec_00075.png )

We pull out A metal container with a heart on it next.

:"If Magnolia or I get injured during the mission, we have everything we need to heal ourselves up with this first-aid kit. You shouldn't have to worry though, Lilly, if you get hurt, you'll just wake back up, so this first-aid kit doesn't really apply to you."
:"How can I not be worried if any injuries that wake me up in the mission will cost you a penalty fee?"
:"Oh, right. Well, don't get hurt then."
:[color=#908f13]"...Thanks..."
:I'm kidding, just getting back at you on that whole claiming you're my girlfriend thing. But like I said, letting you continue to join this mission was my decision. I can handle the consequences, so don't worry. Plus, I have a feeling you have a strong will, considering you were drifting in the ocean." [/color]

10/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:40 No. 982135 ID: e51896
File 160636560882.png - (417.91KB , 1280x720 , ec_00076.png )

As the next item is pulled out, my eyes widen as I see the striped fabric reveals itself, and I inch closer to Magnolia as the tan suspender overalls get pulled out. Could this be, my costume?

:I hope this is what you were expeeeeeeeeecting

It is everything that I imagined, a striped black and white shirt, a beret, cargo suspender overalls with plenty of bockets, even the bongos... The cigarette holder, and wine glass is missing though.

:There was a wiiiiiine glass, but it broke in the bag... sorry.
:"Oh shit! There isn't a huge mess in there, is there Mags?."
:"No, It broke in large chunks... Also, no cigarette holder because I hate smelling smoke."
:"Understandable."

11/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:40 No. 982136 ID: e51896
File 160636562056.png - (0.98MB , 1280x720 , EC00077.png )

:"Aaaaaaaaaallllllll done..."
:"Yes, I think these will suffice for the mission. If it isn't, we can always find a shop at our destination later."
:"Sweet, so... now what?"
:Hmmm... well, it is going to take a little less than an hour until the mission starts, giving us plenty of time, so... do you wanna play video games until then, Lilly?
:Well, I am interested in seeing what kinds of videogames your species has in this world... but first, can I get dressed in my outfit?
:I suppose so, We'll wait over at the couch for you.
:Great!

12/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:40 No. 982137 ID: e51896
File 160636563552.png - (268.06KB , 1280x720 , EC00078.png )

Once those cats give me my privacy, I dress up in my outfit.
Hah, this costume looks a lot better than I thought it would. I really dig it, daddy-o. This is the most appropriate costume to make the scene in.

Okay, I'm not going to continue using beatnik slang. But still, I'm lookin' pretty good, perfect enough to critique a square artist's sculptures.

The bongos might be a bit much though, But I'm not sure. I'll have to think more about keeping it with my attire or not.

13/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:40 No. 982138 ID: e51896
File 160636564699.png - (1.03MB , 1280x720 , EC00079.png )

I catch up with Magnolia and Arthurius at the living room. Arthurius is patting the empty space of the couch between them, inviting me to the couch. I take my seat.
:"So, what are we playing?"
:I want to show you this cool RPG called 'Tower Boundries'. I'm not going to say much, but the most I'll say is that it is a game in which you play as a group of seven friends who live in a ginormous tower the size of a country that reaches the limitless skies, and they have to investigate a mysterious conspiracy that could change the lives of the citizens who live in that tower."

He hands me the controller

:"huh. wouldn't you want to play a multiplayer game?"

I point to the white controller sitting on the table.

:"I'm actually more interested in seeing your reactions to the plottwists in this game.

Arthurius' smile is really beaming as he said that. I can't say no to that face.

: "Alright, but you raised my expectations pretty high, so it better not disappoint, bud."
:"I'll tell ya, when you start playing, you're going to hit the snooze alarm on your alarm clock multiple times just to stay asleep to continue playing this game"

Arthurius turns the game on, and we sit in silence as I begin playing, and let my mind wander as I relax myself. I do not think I'll focus too much on the game or its story despite its promising plottwists. Instead, I think I'll spend the time to think about everything that has happened so far, and what is going to happen in the upcoming mission while I relax and play with this game. One thing for sure though, while these bounty hunters are quite the weird pair, and while there are many things I don't understand about them and their culture, I think I can feel comfortable enough with calling them my friends.

After the title screen loads, I press start on the controller and start the adventure.

14/14 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/25(Wed)20:41 No. 982139 ID: e51896
File 160636566437.gif - (1.88MB , 1280x720 , EC00080.gif )

"Hi."

>>982133
>dreamers can't even draw their blood
Is there any way to safely attempt that to confirm you're dreaming?

>>982139
Uh what?

Lilly is looking.... Groovy


Oh hi intro man!

((Secretly wonders if the bongos have crime-fighting capabilities...))

Hello, are you here to bring us back to the waking world?

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Who's your daddy and what does he do?

>>982137
They are entirely necessary; they're perfect for comedic punctuation (especially with well-spaced pauses), and dreams are weird enough that this one excessive prop won't raise any questions.

>>982138
If there's time afterward, put that recorder to good use. Record the details of your own circumstances and the details of this architect case on separate tapes if possible.

Also, maybe start thinking of lucid dreaming strategies. If we plan on arresting the narrative, maybe do a "feel, not think" approach to having reality warp to revolve around your character's "scene." I heard that memetic triggers are good for going into a lucid state, and while I know we're already lucid, it could help put us into a better mindset for it.

Specifically, I'm thinking... How about a mindset where the special effects have been added in already, the cameras are rolling, the characters have their lines, and you are both the lead actress and director for this "scene." The trigger to start this would be "Action," and the off-switches would be "Cut" and/or "That's a Wrap."

>>982139
We meet again for the first time. What is it?

1/4 (animated) Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/28(Sat)20:58 No. 982372 ID: e51896
File 160662590920.gif - (400.65KB , 1280x720 , EC00081.gif )

>>982142
>Uh what?

"I said 'Hi.'"

>>982144
>Lilly is looking.... Groovy

"I will take your word on it."

> Oh hi intro man!

"It actually wouldn't make sense if I was the intro man if I am in kind of an outro. I am actually the 'MC'."

>>982177
>Roses are red
>Violets are blue
>Who's your daddy
>and what does he do?

"It looks like you are already in the artistic spirit sprouting your poetry. It is especially fitting considering Lilly's costume and the artist or art critic direction you're all going for her."

>>982242
>>982137
>They are entirely necessary; they're perfect for comedic punctuation (especially with well-spaced pauses), and dreams are weird enough that this one excessive prop won't raise any questions.
>>982138
>If there's time afterward, put that recorder to good use. Record the details of your own circumstances and the details of this architect case on separate tapes if possible.
>Also, maybe start thinking of lucid dreaming strategies. If we plan on arresting the narrative, maybe do a "feel, not think" approach to having reality warp to revolve around your character's "scene." I heard that memetic triggers are good for going into a lucid state, and while I know we're already lucid, it could help put us into a better mindset for it.
>Specifically, I'm thinking... How about a mindset where the special effects have been added in already, the cameras are rolling, the characters have their lines, and you are both the lead actress and director for this "scene." The trigger to start this would be "Action," and the off-switches would be "Cut" and/or "That's a Wrap."

>>982142
>>982133
>dreamers can't even draw their blood
>Is there any way to safely attempt that to confirm you're dreaming?

"Oh, sorry about that, you're not connected with Lilly as her subconscious at the moment, so you can't influence her right now. But don't worry, as soon as you reconnect, those will be among the first things she will react appropriately to. For now, I ask for your patience until then."

>>982242
>We meet again for the first time. What is it?
>>982174
>Hello, are you here to bring us back to the waking world?

"The reason for my interruption is I figured that since it will take a long hour for Lilly to reach her destination, and since Lilly might have a lot of thoughts on her mind to unpack, it seemed only fair to let Lilly take the time to collect her thoughts for a while without any influences. And I think you could take the break to reflect as well, and get yourself mentally prepared for what is up ahead... otherwise, you'd probably be sitting there on that couch with Lilly for a good while with nothing going on and no progress being made, y'know? I hope you don't mind."

2/4 (Animated) Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/28(Sat)20:59 No. 982373 ID: e51896
File 160662595274.gif - (2.44MB , 1280x720 , EC00082.gif )

"And since we're taking a break, why don't we take the time to reflect on the things you and Lilly has accomplished so far, alright?"

"Lilly awoke in an unfamiliar room that wasn't her bedroom, and had no recollection of how she got there."

"Lilly decided to investigate the room for clues and her investigation had brought her to the conclusion that she was not kidnapped, but was instead rescued and fished out of the ocean. She also discovered that wherever she is, she is not on her planet and that the inhabitants of this world is preparing for a special holiday. (Well done guiding Lilly on her investigation and successfully coming to the correct conclusions, by the way)."

"A Tapir named Sniffles was the first occupant that Lilly had come across. And while the creature had annoyed her initially, she managed to bond with it a little bit by feeding it a cactus instead of attempting to force it off of her clothing when she needed them... However, the cactus' life had to be sacrificed to win a little trust from Sniffles. Its memories will live on in Lilly's heart."

"Arthurius was the second person Lilly met. A rookie leader of a group of bounty hunters. He had confirmed Lilly's suspicions of being rescued, revealed that Lilly is dreaming, and that her drifting in the ocean when they found her was unnatural. Lilly also got to learn about his species called 'dreamciers' and how they create and make dreams function for the dreamers, and how it is his job as a bounty hunter to capture those who ruin those dreams or torment dreamers and other Dreamciers. She also learned about Nightmareciers who in contrast create nightmares. Lilly got to learn a little bit about Arthurius' past as well and how he used to have another member on the team until he left them."

"Lilly next met a quiet weird mysterious girl with a speech impediment named 'Magnolia'. She is the inventor of the group who makes gadgets using her dreamcier blood, and the creator of Sniffles the Tapir. She came up with the idea to give Lilly the choice to join them as a temporary member of their bounty hunting crew, and Lilly accepted the invitation."

"Lilly chose to hunt down 'Mitzy the Nightmare Architect' out of a group of four criminals on the list of bounty hunters. Mitzy has been guilty of building unauthorized statues in a dream hosted by 'Kyle Daum'. It was Magnolia’s suggestion as it is managed by her hero. She seemed happy by your choice… at least, I think she is happy by your choice."

"Lilly chose to meet with Kyle Daum to learn more about the mission instead of following Magnolia to help choose what supplies to pick up and learn more about who Magnolia is. (While you didn't take the chance to get to know Magnolia more, there might be some opportunities to talk to her during the mission.)"

"The meeting with Kyle Daum wasn't 100% smooth as he appeared to be sleep deprived and grumpy, but you did inspire Arthurius to come up with an idea of ambushing Mitzy at one of the destroyed statues she is most likely to build off of."

"You revealed to Kyle Daum that you are a dreamer, and as a result, Arthurius will have to pay a penalty fee if Lilly gets startled awake. While that may sound bad, maybe it could have been worse if you kept that a secret, and perhaps being honest may have at least shown Kyle that Lilly is an honest person. Who can say?"

"You went through all the gadgets and supplies that Magnolia brought back, and even got a costume that you requested her to bring"

Overall, I'd say that you show promise of being a pretty good subconscious guide for Lilly, but we will really see how you will do when Lilly actually arrives at the dream she is going into. I wish you the best of luck."

3/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/28(Sat)20:59 No. 982374 ID: e51896
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“Well then, I hope you enjoy this break. Maybe until it is time to reconnect with Lilly, you can find some other people who need your help. I'm sure there are other adventurers out there who need more help than Lilly does at the moment.

Until then, good night, and sleep tight!”

4/4 (Animated Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2020/11/28(Sat)21:02 No. 982377 ID: e51896
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Enclosed Curtains - Prologue: Woke Up On the Wrong Side - END

Please wait for an upcoming announcement in the discussion thread: https://questden.org/kusaba/questdis/res/133347.html