...BUT TOMORROW IS JUST A DREAM AWAY

[worldofcolor]

[After such a long day, everyone must sleep. Whether it is because of the trial, or...something else, everyone will eventually find themselves with an overwhelming urge - no, need to sleep. There, someone is waiting for them.

Everyone will find themselves together in a room. It's...sleep-like, of course, but something about it feels real. There are eight rolling chairs set up, and another at the front of the room. But besides that, there are two important things to take note of. The first is that, everywhere, everyone seems to be depicted in...grayscale. It's a little weird, but nothing that odd.

The second is the pictures that line the wall, black-and-white sketches of so many familiar and unfamiliar characters. An Arabian thief, a curious girl in a blue dress, a ferocious dragon. All strikingly drawn and depicted in pencil. The walls seem practically lined with them.

Something interrupts your train of thought. A smoker's cough.

Man is in the Forest.]

My goal is to get you all out of here as soon as possible.

[A fatherly voice rings out, from seemingly everywhere at once.]

I'd like to discuss options with you all.

Comments

[chainbroke]

[ She recognizes them--the people in the sketches--immediately. The detail is impressive, but she doesn't comment on it. Rather, she just takes a seat. ]

... Are you Man?

[worldofcolor]

You could call me that.

[chainbroke]

Elsa told us about you.

It's nice to meet you, finally.

[worldofcolor]

I've noticed.

You as well, Namine.

[chainbroke]

[ Ah. ]

Have you been watching us this whole time?

[kindaruledatit]

[Wendy fidgets the moment she realizes where she is, and tries to go for her axe... except it's not there anymore. Huh.

She marches over to one of the chairs and plops down in it.]

Alright. We've already tried, but go ahead.

[worldofcolor]

You've never tried without my help.

There's not a lot I can do there. Believe me, I've damn well tried, but I'll be damned if I don't give this another shot.

[kindaruledatit]

Trust me, dude. We're really open for ideas.

[They've been floundering pretty badly as it is. This last case just made it a lot worse.]

So, wait. You've tried before?

[worldofcolor]

Your current location is protected by an unusually heavy amount of dark magic. Not the sort of stuff that even folks like me can get past.

That's why I'm contacting you all in your sleep versus...well, elsewhere.

[aboyandhiscar]

[Mike leans over here]

Magic? Is there a source to it? Something we can make a dent in?

[kindaruledatit]

...Okay, that checks out. [Sure, dark magic. That's actually one of the most normal things she's heard all day.]

So, you think there's like, some way we can stop this magic? There's gotta be a way, right?

[toogoodforhim]

[Lefou takes in the portraits slowly. Even sleeping he's still Tired, and he doesn't want to be here. He doesn't trust this. He's being childish and stubborn, but his ears are still ringing with he decided to go back to you and even this dream is more mental effort than he wants to exert.]

What options? We need a solution.

Preferably one that gets my lover back. And Ford's husband, and everyone else.

[worldofcolor]

We will be getting them back.

Either we get them back or...we get stuck down in the Underworld with them. Now, personally, I'd prefer the first option.

[toogoodforhim]

Pardon me for being a little skeptical of magic, monsieur.

[worldofcolor]

Pardon granted.

[toogoodforhim]

[And snark apparently not detected.]

[sixfingeredstan]

[All he wants is to sleep. Maybe, just maybe, if he goes to bed, he'll wake up tomorrow and this will all have been a nightmare. Maybe he'll wake up and Fiddleford will be right there next to him, the familiar slow, even breathing that Ford has grown so used to by now a sign that he's still well and alive. He wants to think that, but he doesn't. Not really. So instead, he collapses into that far-too-empty bed to sleep what he hopes will be the deep, dreamless sleep of someone who's had a day of loss and grief and despair.

But he can't even have that. Instead, he finds himself in this room, surrounded by drawings that would be a lot more fascinating were he in a better state of mind. He looks around, and then up to the source of that voice.]

It's you again.

[worldofcolor]

Did you enjoy the prime rib?

[sixfingeredstan]

I've had better. I'd rather have my husband back, truth be told. Tell us our options.

[worldofcolor]

...They make the best prime rib I've ev-

[there's that cough again.]

Yes. Well. I believe that your escape has to be something that you folks have to do on your own. But, I might be able to influence things enough to...kickstart your exit.

[aboyandhiscar]

[WHAT! THE! SHIT!

Mike just. He just sits down. Sure why not, this is happening. WHY NOT THIS.]

.........Okay then, mysterious voice! Lay it on us. We're running out of options, and out of, well. Us.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Another trial, another emotionally draining day to the point where Elsa feels just totally numb. But this dream, it all feels so familiar... and when she hears that voice, which absolutely is familiar, she perks up a little.]

Man? [If anyone was unsure of who this voice was before, that sure confirms it now.] I thought you said you could only help us rescue our friends, not find a way out.

[worldofcolor]

At this point, the two need to be hand-in-hand with each other. It's been made fairly clear that I can't simply wish you all out but...perhaps I can find a way to kickstart you getting out of there.

[defyingfrigidity]

[That's... weirdly hopeful? That they can definitely rescue their friends when they escape...]

Do you have any ideas? Is there any way I can help?

[worldofcolor]

When the time comes, I need everybody to gather their strength and help.

As for ideas...