Something Psychic This Way Comes (Nightmare Catch-All)

[bravenewmods]

The people of Union have had an odd week. While it was nice to cap things off with the knowledge that Gigas is not going to try and invade them again (for now), the population has had to deal with a different sort of intruder. Namely, Abra. Abra teleporting anywhere and everywhere. Abra teleporting places to try and hide.

Absolutely terrified Abra. To say nothing of the dreams the city's Psychic-types have discussed.

And now, as a new week dawns...the nightmares spread to everyone. Without exception. Perhaps you're fortunate and things that go bump in the night don't frighten you, but sleeping brings a sense of dread, and a hazy vision of a world in ruins. Night after night after night. The first one is horrifying for shock value. The next few are horrifying because they won't stop.

How will you deal? Where will you go, in the middle of the night, if you're the sort who tries to clear their heads? Will you share what you've been experiencing or keep it to yourself?

No matter what you do, the nightmares continue. And the Abra continue to shiver.

[[ This is a catch-all post/mingle for people wanting to react to their weird nightmares! As mentioned here, they have now spread to the entire population. Players are welcome to continue making their own posts addressing the nightmares if they prefer. ]]

Comments

[empireofmymind]

[ The Pokémon Kaiser is not afraid.

Irritated, certainly; he'd had to explain away why he wanted his mother, smothering fool that she is, to rewash his bedding upon coming into his room and discovering a wild Pokémon shivering beneath his blanket. And she'd been so pleased that he'd asked her for something that she'd been humming to herself all day. She'd made foods she thought he liked. No self-respecting perfect human could stand for such cloying attention from the lesser masses. So yes, the Kaiser has every right to be irritated.

But not afraid. Never afraid.

What's there to be afraid of? Things in dreams can't touch him. A building in ruins, catching fire - these things happen every day, and he cares not a whit for the cause. A sense of being in over his head - an illusion! Nothing's coming. Nothing's amiss. And even if it were, he'd be up to the task. A sense that he isn't, that he's nothing, that there's something out there that could and would sooner crush him than look at him, that there are powers out there he cannot control, and to even touch them would be folly, a nagging sense that, every time he lays down his head to sleep, won't go away--

So the Pokémon Kaiser is not afraid. He's out here in the dead of night, heading briskly for the forest with his mask in hand, because he hopes to take advantage of being awake at an odd hour to expand his territory. He's making real progress! If the Pokémon of the forest fear him, perhaps they'll begin to follow his orders without Poké Balls. Perhaps they'll betray to him the location of the ideal perfect Pokémon. So this is all part of the plan. Nothing ever happens that isn't part of the plan.

Certainly not running blind. Certainly not being afraid. ]

[wovensecrets]

[ She certainly wasn't planning on seeing him tonight. No. She was out and about for reasons that had nothing to do with him. Or that One Abra in Particular that kept showing up wherever she went.

The city was too noisy. Everywhere was just bothersome. Images like this should have made her feel superior, not cause a nagging feeling of unease that needed to be stomped out immediately.

... But it was nighttime, it was dark and of course she still had on her dark glasses when that child practically bumped into her as she turns the corner. ]

What are you --

[actsmagnificent]

[ There are stray flower petals and a pair of crutches resting beneath the Berry tree in the Theater courtyard. Should one's eyes track up, one will discover a pair of immensely attractive, long legs. (The cast sheathing one of them does nothing to impede this impression.) Should one look up still further, one will discover the rest of Haruka Tenoh, head tilted up into the breeze as best she can, staring out into the sky with an absent yet brooding expression.

The wind is crying.

Haruka's own cheeks, mind you, are dry. But she's listening intently to something it seems that only she can hear. ]

[incousinswithyou]

Haruka.

[voice from down below. Here's Michiru, looking up at you, arms crossed. She's doesn't look exactly thrilled to be seeing you up there. Even if she was momentarily distracted by those legs.]

[wovensecrets]

[ This was not fair.

Sure, it had been clear enough during the previous week that something was wrong with a certain portion of the community, let alone certain types of Pokemon. Enough so that Arachne had banished her Gothita and some of the others to the habitat to keep them out of her hair.

But that didn't stop the abra that continued to pop in. It left when it was shouted at, but would consistently return. Clearly the solution was to bond it and banish it to the habitat was well.

Except, of course, it was still here, in this quiet Union playground at night where Arachne had gone to aggressively swing on a swing set in an effort to not think about any of these alarming, invasive dreams. Which, for all she knew, were brought on by that Abra lingering nearby. ]

I told you to go back already. [ She snaps at it on occasion, but mostly she's overly focused on her swinging. ]

[ofpromisedvictory]

This time, I don't think it's the wild Pokémon's fault.

[Your friendly neighborhood literal Sword of the figurative Savior happens by the playground on patrol, giving the Abra a half-hearted shooing motion.]

I take it you're out and about for the same reason half the city is?

[arachnocide]

[The ghosts were restless - Kurapika and Pairo couldn't sleep once the the nightmares hit them. The blondes intentions were to head off to the park, and practice his new abilities until he's too exhausted to think. The nightmares reminded him too much of why he was in Union now]

Hut! Ah!

[Chains clatter nearby - only stopping once he heard someone's voice raised in anger, slowly the chain retracts as he starts to head over to see what the source was]

[vulcanblazer]

[That was an incredibly rough dream. A ruined world, filled with fire and death, the smell of blood and brimstone on the air in Union itself. Adell found himself in the midst of all of it, himself bruised and battered, barely able to stand... facing something in the distance, some thing he couldn't see beyond a shadow. That shadow hovered toward him, then dashed, and when it enveloped him, he snapped awake, sitting upright in his bed, cold sweat beading on his brow.

He had felt a sense of unease overall the past few days... but nothing quite like that.

At the foot of his bed was Salome, his Kirlia, looking at him with widened eyes, fearful. She'd been acting strangely the past few days, and he'd been doing his best to try to keep her calm, but now... now the look in her eyes said it all:

You saw it too.

Adell nodded, but then felt an impact on him from behind. Whatever it was had glommed onto him hard, startling both him and Salome. It shivered, trembled, and it surely would've been crying if it could. ...One of the wayward Abras he'd heard were flipping out as of late. It took some time to convince the Abra to let go enough that he could talk to it... and he convinced the poor thing that he'd be safe with him. Somewhat, anyway. The Abra knew very well he wouldn't escape the dreams or the bad feelings, but hell. It was better than being alone.

Unable to sleep, Adell quickly got changed and went for a late-night walk through the streets of Union to clear his head. He was accompanied by Salome, as well as his newfound companion who chose to ride on Adell's shoulders. The Abra made it clear Adell wouldn't go anywhere without that condition being met. And then of course, his Hoothoot he had met only a couple of days earlier insisted on going too, because it was actually awake.

Of course, there were a surprising number of people outside at this hour, many of whom did not look well for the wear. Adell only stopped walking when he reached a small square... the square he'd been standing in during his dream. He even looked down the path he saw the shadow approach from... only to see nothing at all.]

...Damn. What the hell is even going on anymore?

[There was one thing he was thankful for, however. He couldn't smell blood on the air.]

[redpaladin]

[After the fiasco at the theater, Keith needed to get some fresh air. It was pretty clear he was not getting back to sleep for the night. Though Seki, his Cleffa squeaked at him in concern, he was quick to dismiss it. He's fine, he was gonna be fine he just needed to let off some steam.]

[He kind of doubted any of the places he'd trained at before were open at this hour- but maybe a park or something.]

[He's busy thinking about all this that he doesn't see Adell until he's walking right into him. He jerks back with a startled sound, sparks of flame dance around him before he quickly tries to will them away.]

S. Sorry- wasn't looking where I was going.

[redpaladin]

[What a warm welcome. He'd heard this place was nice, friendly and peaceful, but ever since coming through the gates it just ...felt off. He tried to ignore that nagging feeling with concentrating on other stuff. He and Pidge needed to find a place to stay, find a way to make some cash, so on and so forth. Refuge was ...a little more claustrophobic than he liked and he missed seeing the sky, but they were settled there at least. Now it was time to start over again.]

[Being taken in by some pokemon was not what he expected, but now they found themselves staying at a theater in the city's entertainment district. Keith really didn't care about plays or whatever, but it was something. If he could snatch a job, then he could work on paying them back.]

[He'd missed most of the network's chatter about bad dreams. Oh well, he would sure have some of his own soon.]

[It wasn't like he was a stranger to nightmares. His subconscious was fond of tormenting him for other reasons. But this? ...This he couldn't describe. He'd never had nightmares like this before. Ruined cities, which brought back memories of war, of Caldera being under siege by Gigas. Of losing people one by one until he was left alone, again. Of fighting, fighting, fighting but with no end, it drowns him, drags him under until there's nothing left.]

[He wakes screaming, at first from the remnants of the dream but then he continues, realizing he's set most of his bed ablaze in his sleep. Shit, shit, shit-!]

[He skillfully scoops up Seki and starts desperately trying to pat out the flames. Of course he gets a place to stay and sets it all on fire. Holy shit.]

[actsmagnificent]

Maaa.

[ There is a tiny blue dinosaur standing in the doorway with gigantic eyes, just staring. Whoa. That. Whoooaa.

That is....she has never seen a human do that in this fancy cave before. Is this supposed to be happening?

Things she is not doing, however: helping. ]

skjhgdfkjhg

[ramblingly]

[Pidge wasn't going to question the how or the why of this association with the theater, but a bed offered freely with the only compensation being that she pitches in with theater affairs from time to time seemed like a fair enough trade. She was tired after being chased around the city by Spearows all afternoon, and she had been sleeping like a log until her companion's screams punctuated the night.

Still half asleep, Pidge blearly shuffled over to the room next to her's in her wrinkled clothes from the day's adventures, and pushed the door open without so much as a knock in warning.]

Keith, what's going--

[She choked on her words as she saw the flames, and immediatly started looking around for....something.]

Keith, what did you do?!

[senpaidol]

[Rise doesn't have time to ponder the cliché of a fire at the theater before her Swanna is awkwardly charging through the halls ahead of her to conjure water and start fighting the fires. Rise is shortly behind.]

Hagoromo, be careful! Hey! What happened here?

[Her psychic abilities tell her for sure that everyone's gotten out of the immediate reach of the flames, so she moves onto the next thing on her sleep-deprived mind.]

[lunchleader]

[Word's spread quickly among all the theater Pokemon of this newcomer. Supposedly, one of Haruka's recruited him! Or so the story goes. But still, Right doesn't mind extra help around the theater, and he seems pretty nice from what his Pokemon say about the new guy.

However, a couple of Right's Pokemon tend to patrol at night. Noctural-types by nature or habit. And it's one of them - a cute Furret - who spots the smoke coming out of the room. She skitters to the door, chittering in alarm. OhmiGods, what's on fire??]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei's more or less just out and about, completely unable to sleep and deciding to wander by and see how Michiru was doing. Haruka would never admit something was wrong...but Michiru would at least talk to her.

Slipping in, she stops when she feels fire and panic, and immediately rushes to help, warping in Moeris. The Kingler scuttles towards the bed and the screaming boy, and then starts spraying a bubblebeam, putting out the fires with a quickness while Rei pulls out a piece of paper and smacks it against the guy's head...hitting him with an Imprison to seal up his Fire moves

She recognizes someone that doesn't know how to control their powers yet.]

Don't worry, just step back, we'll get this.

[senpaidol]

[The nightmares had started bad and gotten worse. Rise's taken to wandering around at night, preferring the (relatively) cool night air to being cooped up in the theater.]

Doesn't make any sense. We won, didn't we...?

[Her nightmares have, when they've been coherent, naturally been about war and combat. There have been so many close calls...then again, there's plenty of abstract weirdness about walls and giant birds too.]

[Right now, she's slumping over a book in a coffee shop, attempting to wind herself down.]

Well, could be worse. Could be stuck in them again.

[child_of_luv]

Can't sleep, either, huh?

[It was pretty troubling.]

Do you think this is related to Gigas? [Her comment about winning sounded a lot like she thought they were being punished for the battle by these weird dreams. She thought freeing the Gigases had been the right things to do.]

[ofpromisedvictory]

[Saber doesn't discuss her nightmares, even mumbling to herself. Indeed, she does a good job of faking not having any - it's making her anxious and snappish, but really, who can blame her for being harsher? She hates the heat of summer anyway.]

Listen here, calm down and go about your business.

[Is the sort of thing she's been saying to bystanders to the latest bit of nightmare-induced weirdness. Complain?]

[divine_braid]

Do I look like I'm not calm?

[Duo seemed almost amused by Saber's statement. Sure, he was wandering around trying to distract himself, too, but, like her, he wasn't admitting it. And seeing the part Ghost-type Enlightened out at night wasn't really all that weird anyway.]

How's you're storytelling? Improving any after the Thawing?

[greyerrant]

If I act with honor I shall know no fear. [ Growls the now-rehabilitated soldier of the STeel battalion. He probably notices the heat, in his heavy armor, but he won't admit to being affected by it. maybe he isn't, being a Calderan. ]

And yet... { He raises an empty, gauntleted hand. ]

We are all haunted now, and I do not know why. Karkasy cries out in the night... and even Vipus is upset. [ His honedge floats into view, and makes a rather bow-like gesture to Saber, a sword recognizing a sword, even if the more blunted perceptions of Loken do not. ]

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna quirks her head to one side, eyebrow raised. Da Fuk.]

Hello to you too, Saber.

[conquerorofwaves]

[private]

[Sinbad was up early, showering with the water cranked up on high heat to try to melt the tension when an Abra suddenly pops into the shower. Startled by the presence he falls backs, only saved from a possibly nasty injury by his tail providing a cushion for his fall, starting at the shivering pokemon in his tub]

Hey - what the...?

Teleport! Teleport!

What's wrong... what are you trying to get away from?

It's coming!

[With that, it teleported]

[Video, public]

[Sinbad appears, his wet hair framing his face, obviously hastily dressed]

Hey, has anyone had any luck in calming the Abras down? I tried, but it was so scared it bolted almost immediately....

[Video]

[lunchleader]

The Abras? Not really. As soon as one of us try to get close, it just runs away.

[leekspins]

[The lamp post now has a small dent in it that matches the shape of Orihime's skull. She winces as she rubs her forehead, trying to shake off the dull throb of pain. Well that's one way to wake her up, she supposes.]

[There's not really anyone she can talk to about the nightmares that have been plaguing her these past few days. She was worried some of her classmates would notice and start picking on her again, but everyone else seems just as tired and braindead as she is. Silver linings?]

[She shakes her head and then rolls her shoulders. She needs to stay awake and alert! One foot in front of the other! Left foot, right foot, left foot...]

[...and...]

[Bump. Were you just standing there minding your own business? Because now there's an Orihime with her head pressed into the middle of your back, dead asleep on her feet and using you for the world's most awkward pillow.]

[blastruler]

This isn't a rest station.

[ Don't worry, though, Orihime. Veronica was frowning before you ran into her, too. In fact, now that she's determined what ran into her, she's returning to scanning the area for any actually dangerous disturbances. ]

[and_after_thrall]

[THIS IS ALL HARRY'S FAULT.]

[Okay, no. It isn't. But it does seem strange that shortly after he started having these nightmares, Elaine started having them too. Is it some sort of disease? She's not sure. But she hasn't failed to notice that a lot of Psychic Pokemon seem twitchy and nervous, nor has she failed to miss the Abras that blink in and out of her peripheral vision.]

[The problem is, there's nothing she can do about it. She's tried sleeping with music, tried to get herself involved in lucid dreaming. Nothing works, and she's hellatired.]

[She's picked up a few books on dreams from the library, which she's reading outside on a park bench with the biggest cup of coffee she could order from the cafe. All that caffeine is really good at...making her hands shake and little else. But she's hoping that being outdoors in the warm sunshine, in public, with coffee, will keep her from dozing off while she studies.]

[She left strict instructions with her Mienfoo to slap her awake if she starts to doze off, and the Mienfoo nods gravely.]

[But when Elaine starts to slouch and her eyelids droop, Mienfoo rears back and raises its paw...and then she immediately leaps back, shaking its head. Noooooo, it can't hit her! It just can't! Meanwhile, the hot coffee in Elaine's hand threatens to tip...]

[lunchleader]

[Right's had his fair share of nightmares growing up. Most of them were just the usual kids stuff, but a few were about bigger things. But after joining the theater? His mind seems to have calmed down a bit. Even despite all the troubles that he and his group has faced, he seems to not be plagued by may nightmares.

Until that week, when images of the world of ruin begin to haunt him at night. It's too close of a reminder of what he's seen in the caves, alongside Haruka and Michiru. And it leaves him waking up with a strangled cry, drenched with sweat, bolting straight up and scattering any Pokemon that was sleeping alongside him - or even on top of him - from his bed. The noise of many Pokemon being suddenly expelled, and their grumblings afterwards, are at least as loud as his awakening cry.]