public channel | day 67

[dontpokethat]

((OOC: Since Ginko and Tanyuu are both going to be talking in here, Ginko’s voice is indicated in green and Tanyuu’s is purple for readability.

For more details on the plot, please look at the OOC post!))

Hey, guys. Sorry to interrupt the camping trip, but we’ve got something of a problem.

You might have noticed some odd-looking flowers popping up around our campsites; those aren’t native to this world. They’re a type of mushi that have found their way here.

[And now that Ginko has a semi-captive audience--] Specifically, they’re kaoriyoroboki; these mushi blur the lines between people’s minds while they sleep, allowing them to experience and share each other’s dreams. Their presence allows people to sleep more peacefully, as well, which some of you may have noticed.

Unfortunately, long-term exposure to kaoriyoroboki while you sleep will cause the borders between your minds to blur more and more, until your identities and memories start bleeding together irreparably. Tanyuu and I are working on keeping that from happening, but the mushi purge isn’t quite ready yet.

[No one can see it, but rest assured that Tanyuu is shaking her head fondly at GInko’s rambling. Her brother...] It shouldn’t take more than a few days to gather everything we need, but in the meantime try to avoid napping too much. Symptoms usually only start appearing after a week or so, but let us know if you start to feel confused or misremember things.

Comments

[spaghettimonster]

Dangerous sleep again, huh...?

[That's been as much a repeating risk as mushi themselves. He knew it was a dangerous, addictive thing.]

Hey, what about those dreamcatchers! Would they help?

[fourthscribe]

I...am not sure, actually. I had made some of them with basic mushi wards...I can't see how hanging them up would hurt.

[Though, actually...]

Papyrus, would you mind coming to speak with myself and Ginko privately?

[spaghettimonster]

Uh... Sure! Just tell me the place, and I can meet you soon. I'll ask the Ringmaster about those later.

[She could probably throw the dreamcatchers at them, out of wherever she's taken the Carnival off to, right?]

[fourthscribe]

[Insert a quick guide to where Ginko and Tanyuu's tents are because I'm too lazy to bullshit that part, whoop whoop!]

You can come by anytime, Ginko and I will be around in case any unforseen trouble pops up. And please do--I know she's busy, but if she can spare the time to get those for us it could be useful.

==> action

[spaghettimonster]

Okay... See you then!

[Handwavium, the stuff DWRP runs on. In that spirit, it's maybe five minutes before a skeleton arrives, bounding through the bramble.]

Hello, uh, Tanyuu! I am here, and ready for that private talk, whenever.

tag order Tanyuu > Ginko > Papyrus!

[fourthscribe]

Oh! Papyrus, hello!

[She definitely wasn't expecting Papyrus to show up so quickly--but the sooner they can speak about this the better, and she sets the herbs she had been preparing aside before slithering her way over.]

I'm sorry to call you over so abruptly, but we're concerned this infestation might interact with your existing infection.

[dontpokethat]

[Ginko glances up from his own gathering with a lift of his ears before standing up and moving over to join them. He gives a small nod, but doesn't speak for the moment, waiting instead for Papyrus's reply.]

[spaghettimonster]

Ohhh. Erm.

[Papyrus' smile goes stiff as he takes in her words, and their attentive quiet. It's a little bit of a shock. He so rarely thinks about that infestation - what with his sleep habits, and the regular treatment, it hardly ever causes anything. But... they'd been clear that it would never entirely go away.]

Interact... how? I'm not contagious, am I...?

[fourthscribe]

Mmm, we're not sure of that--it's why we wanted to speak with you.

[Concern creases her brow for a moment, before it smooths away to a more professional and reassuring expression.]

It's not often that two mushi will interact with one another--usually those that have similar effects will avoid one another--but we want to be careful for both your safety and everyone else's.

[dontpokethat]

[Another small nod, but this time Ginko actually speaks up.]

Normally, your infection spreading wouldn't be an issue, but... since it resides in your dreams, and this is a mushi which connects dreams, you can see why we're concerned. We're hoping it won't be an issue, though, as long as you've been keeping it controlled.

[spaghettimonster]

Y-yes, of course I have! Papyrus is a reliable soul. I've been taking my medication on the regular! And I hardly ever nap...

[He fidgets his hands together, looking around the area to check if anyone else is listening in.]

But, I don't have any of it with me. And I will need to sleep eventually... Last time I tried not-sleeping at all, I kind of fainted.