⇨ OPEN MORPHEUS MINGLE

[npcarnival]

Who: Anyone who wants to talk to Morpheus.
When: Any time during the Realm of Dreams.
Where: The Realm of Dreams™
What: Talking to the god of the Realm.
Warnings: Weird dream shit.



It’s not hard to find Morpheus, not if you’re really looking for them. The dream realm can be difficult to navigate. If you wander without purpose there will be no end to the strange sights and sounds you encounter. However, if your intent is clear it won’t be long before you find the thing you seek, or before it finds you.

Morpheus is no stranger than any of the other creatures that wanders this realm, but still their appearance arrests your attention. Their form is ethereal, somehow difficult to comprehend. They seem ephemeral and substantial all at once. Beams of color and strange array images pour from their head, obscuring their face. There are creatures, both real and imagined. People and objects come quickly to life as they move and just as swiftly fade away again.

• They don’t say anything at first if you find them, only turning to regard you calmly. They watch and they listen, but they aren’t one for idle conversation. If anything is to be said, it is clear the words must first come from you.
• Negativity is the bane of Morpheus’ existence. The nightmares that sometimes form here are made purely of destruction and malice. They are the antithesis of Morpheus’ purpose. They are not creatures Morpheus tolerates idly. If you find yourself in danger it is not unlikely that the Realm's guardian will appear. Of course nothing is guaranteed.
• Please don’t harm the phantasms. These simple creations, the products of dreamers, are the composition of Morpheus’ entire existence. Each unique and therefore special to the guardian in it’s own way. They may may seem a patient creature, but interfere too much with the phantasms or their dreamers and you’ll likely see Morpheus before long.

Comments

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Though Zecora found the Lord of Dreams plainly weird and strange, that affected neither her curiosity nor her courtesy as the zebra approached. She dipped a bow in equine fashion, lifting a hoof and lowering her head, as a proper greeting.

"Great Morpheus, your humble guest
Has in turn a humble request.
What price would you charge me
For the answer to questions three?"

[npcarnival]

Their gaze falls to the zebra as she approaches. They don't smile as she bows, or even move as she speaks, but they are paying attention. It's only after her question that they move again, raising a hand, a silent request for pause as they consider their own words carefully. It's still another moment before they respond.

"Questions you can ask for free, but answers I cannot guarantee."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"A most fair asking price
I'll take you up in a trice."

Zecora can respect a pause for a moment to think -- it must be difficult for a being like Morpheus to be focused and coherent, compared to the average zebra.

"Then quickly shall I ask
So in your knowledge I may bask.
Lord Morpheus, as far as your reach might go:
What, if anything, should I know?"

Her question was deliberately open-ended and broad. Anything she could ask would be less informative, and less useful, than what Morpheus might think she needed to know. And if he had no answer, that in itself was an answer to many things.

[npcarnival]

They nod in understanding, the colors that pour into the air curling away from them like a wave from the movement. There were many things they could say about their realm, but at the same time very little here ever stayed the same. There were regular dreams, recurring dreams, and yet still there was always something new. There were no rules, only action and consequence.

It takes Morpheus longer than they'd like to separate what the zebra could know from what she should.

"...Your expectations will rarely be met."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

That was a perfectly suitable answer. It was obvious and completely uninformative on the surface, but it said a great deal about Morpheus himself. Zecora had learned quite a bit from it, and so she bowed her gratitude.

"My second question, as you'll see
Is about one pony.
Luna, Princess of the Night
Guards our dreams from terror and fright.
Have you heard of her, or better yet
Have the two of you ever met?"

[npcarnival]

This time there's hardly any hesitation as Morpheus responds.

"The dreamer's knowledge is mine." In their mind this is answer enough. If those from Zecora's world dreamed in a different realm they would never be able to learn what they knew. Without their presence they could not learn of other dream guardians. "I have never met another who guards dreams as I do."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

That was what she expected, and also told her a great deal. Zecora would be the last one to ever say she'd learned little from these answers.

"My third question is open and free.
What, if anything, would you like to tell me?"

She'd asked two questions for her own purposes, so it seemed only fair to let Morpheus have a chance to talk to her about anything he might want. And his choice, or lack of choice? Informative. Always informative.

[npcarnival]

Another confusing question. Like implied there was a desire, and yet Morpheus could not think of anything that they desired to share with this newcomer. They were sure the zebra had heard about their realm already from their comrades. Even if she hadn't, she had easily found them here, surely she was capable of navigating, among many other things, on her own. So what was it that Morpheus wanted her to know?

"...Be careful."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

She had kind of been hoping for some cool eldritch story of lost dreams and horrors, possibly suitable for a long-running comic series later compiled into graphic novels and starring not only Morpheus but his siblings as well.

But that answer was perfectly satisfying. Zecora bowed low to him in gratitude. "Thank you for taking the time
To answer this zebra's curious rhyme."

[coinsforlockerrooms]

Yukine took every precaution to go through the dream world. She began her journey only after she had been well-rested back at the carnival and after having taken up potions to augment her awareness and lucidity. After an application of many charms she knew back home to keep her mind clear, she also came with company with those that would seek Morpheus.

It prepared her little to the dreamland she encountered, especially to the being in front of him. In Yukine's heart, there is fear and loneliness; but also awe, and a desire to explore. All of these feelings manifest as she approaches.

She bows deeply, "Morpheus-sama." She speaks to him, as she then rises, "you have seen the dreams of many peoples from many worlds, even those that have begun their journeys. I want to know, from what you've seen of those that have wandered out and returned home...

"What should I expect for the year ahead of me?"

[npcarnival]

The question is confusing for more than one reason. The girl's logic is hard to follow. Although Morpheus did meet many dreamers, and seen many dreams, they did not know where they might be on their own journeys. They certainly had no idea what this young girl might experience.

"...I do not know."