[IC] Lost in Dreams (Chandra)

[ericthered]

"Visualization? now you have me trying to think of a truly unique world. Do you know any foreign languages? No? hmmm. there's serpent, which is very low tech but I bet you could visualize easily ... And we want you to be able to get along there, so Zedviric won't work... can I use landmarks? what about a mount Rushmore with Benjamin Franklin in Roosevelt's place?"

[Rocket Man]

Originally Posted by ericthered

"Visualization? now you have me trying to think of a truly unique world. Do you know any foreign languages? No? hmmm. there's serpent, which is very low tech but I bet you could visualize easily ... And we want you to be able to get along there, so Zedviric won't work... can I use landmarks? what about a mount Rushmore with Benjamin Franklin in Roosevelt's place?"

Chandra nods. "That should do. Are there any precautions you would like me to take before departure, to protect you?"

[ericthered]

"I can't think of any. Just don't get caught."

[Rocket Man]

"As long as we both keep an eye on Gopal, that shouldn't be a worry," Chandra says with a thin smile. "Good luck for graduation."

She spends the remainder of her time living a "typical day" for Gopal, aside from avoiding So's class to prevent any awkwardness. She uses her study time reviewing a handful of alternate worlds, including Johnson's Rome, just in case. After all, it would make sense for Gopal to be over-prepared for Spring Break.

When it's bedtime, she changes and waits for Tereza. If she fails to show, Chandra lies back in bed and meditates on that strange Rushmore, trying to relax herself enough to recapture the moment Tereza interrupted.

[ericthered]

Chandra manages some pretty lucid dreaming that night. She gets a picture of Mount Rushmore in her head. She changes one of the heads to be Benjamin Franklin. Her idea of Franklin is really two dimensional (she is British after all), but she works on it, trying different angles and so on. Not much happens.

[Rocket Man]

When it's clear that she's not going anywhere, Chandra forces herself to relax -- a curious task inside a dream. She sits on the grass cross-legged and begins to use the breathing techniques taught in the meditation seminar.

I've no right to expect to get this the first time, she reflects. But I did think it would be at least a little easier after tagging along with Tereza and that Arab. Or does that count? We didn't actually finish the journey...

That reminds her. Tereza seems to be more experienced in this world-walking business. Would saying or thinking of her help in guiding her to the dream? Feeling more than foolish, Chandra begins assembling a mental image of the visiting Czech in her mind.

"Tereza ... Tereza?" she whispers.

If I start to chant 'Mork calling Orson,' I'll know I've lost it, she grumbles to herself. That Yank classmate, and her ridiculous obsession with old reruns ...

Well, if nothing else, this ought to help me 'let go,' she tells herself. Maybe if I don't try so hard ...

[ericthered]

She calms herself, and builds the image of Tereza. Her mind fuzzes up again, and she finds herself drifting away into sleep within her dream...

She woke up naked and outdoors. The birds were singing and the sun was up. She was in a fairly pleasant, fairly temperate woodland. It was chilly, but not winter. Not that cold compared to a Canadian winter during the ice age. A few of the survival tips quickly sprang to her mind.

Something caught her eye. Something odd about one of the nearby trees -- was that an infinity drop point marker?

[Rocket Man]

Chandra feels a flush of victory. I did it! I actually bloody did it! Then the flush changes to a more visible sort when she realizes how she's dressed -- or rather, how she isn't. Her hands quickly fly to cover her chest and her groin in what Ian Fleming called "the two classic gestures," while her eyes scan for anyone watching.

"Tereza might have warned me ..." she mutters. But wait, she had said something about arriving naked, hadn't she? Apparently, this was a more universal experience than she had counted on.

For a moment, her thoughts go to means of acquiring food, shelter and clothing ... and then she sees the mark. Quickly, she conceals herself behind a tree and waits for a few minutes. If no one approaches the drop site, she'll move there herself to see if any food and useful equipment have been left there for new arrivals. But however tempting the trove, it will do her no good if she's caught like this.

(OOC: Does Chandra get any points from the previous Earth to spend?)

[ericthered]

No one approaches the drop site, and Chandra sits in the cold, waiting for someone to show up. No one does. After a few minutes, she looks at the drop site for usable gear.

She finds a roll of old-fashioned developed film, a small sample jar with a swab in it, and a slip of paper: 'Yishim. 482 Denton'

There is nothing else in the cache.

OCC: take 7. Four of them must go towards things learned at the academy formally. No points towards dreaming -- yet. If you want to earmark one for that, go ahead. You don't have to spend them all right now.

[Rocket Man]

Originally Posted by ericthered

OCC: take 7. Four of them must go towards things learned at the academy formally. No points towards dreaming -- yet. If you want to earmark one for that, go ahead. You don't have to spend them all right now.

OOC: The first spending, then, will be:

1 pt to Meditation
1 pt to Cultural Familiarity: Homeline
1 pt to Mimicry (She effectively studied it for several hours a day)
1 pt to Stealth

I'll decide on the other three later.