pokebox | locked to @cantillations

Yep. Got no idea how that happened, but someone's playin' me for a fool and I ain't about to let 'em get away with it.

[He lifts his shoulders a bit in a shrug, however.]

But it looks like we've got bigger things to deal with right now.

Indeed. Anything else will have to wait, it seems.

[ It doesn't take long to reach the center of the Golden Hour; the Clockie Statue stands tall and proud as usual. Up the stairs, overlooking the statue, is an odd sight.

Robin can see... herself. An obviously conjured memory of herself, most likely crafted by the Dreamscape itself. She's with her brother, the Dreammaster, and Welt. It's a familiar scene; one that replays the events that brought her here. The images fade with little fanfare. ]

That's...also not something that usually happens here. This may be more complicated than anticipated.

[Boothill takes a moment to stare up at the Clockie statue with an eyebrow raised before catching up to Robin. Except there's a second Robin, and another Halovian, and another unfamiliar man. Events play out before them and Boothill's left more confused than he started.]

Did that [handwave at where the memories were] actually happen or is this place makin' things up?

Unfortunately, it recorded events correctly.

[ She briefly wonders if there are other memories the Dreamscape can record and display to them. In some cases, that might actually be helpful, should it project her brother's or the Dreammaster's thoughts or goals, but there's no way to guarantee that.

She turns to him, her features calm but obviously troubled. ]

As I'm sure you're aware, Mr. Boothill, the Family extolls the virtue of the Harmony. But, very recently, myself and the Nameless have come to uncover that certain members of the Family have...strayed from that Path. My brother is a part of that. I don't know the details or the reasons for it, but I think it may be why the Dreamscape is unstable.

[Something about that doesn't sit right with him. Why would her brother keep her in the dark? No, maybe that's not the right question to ask. Maybe the question needs to be "so what are they doing right now?" After all, he doubts her brother is sitting idly by while the Dreamscape changes and morphs around them.]

Might explain a few things, yeah. But you can ask your brother yourself once we find him.

[Will they find him? Who knows, but sitting idly by isn't Boothill's course of action either. So maybe they can track this guy down and get some answers... or maybe the search will lead them to a way to stop this.]

I ain't the best at offerin' words of comfort durin' tryin' times like these. But I'm gonna do what I can to help fix this. You've got my word.

[It's not like he can turn a blind eye to such a thing now that he's seen it, after all.]

Thank you, Mr. Boothill. I know you have your own troubles to take care of, so I don't take that lightly.

[ Not that they have much choice but to cooperate, anyway. They may be strangers, but he seems upstanding enough. Even if it's to further their own individual goals, maybe he's right. Maybe they both can do something to fix this, or at least escape from this strange cage. ]

I can't explain it, but this Dreamscape doesn't seem like the same one most guests enter. It's almost like it's a copy. With all the memoria converging, I wonder if there's a way to brute force our way through... like a portal...

[ She trails off, humming thoughtfully. ] I... may have an idea. But it's a bit risky.

[Boothill nods at that, but his grin fades as she continues and he thinks back to that strange area he entered in. The only portal led him here, though, so it's probably not that. Maybe there's one somewhere around here...?

Her final statement gets that grin to reappear, though.]

I ain't gonna say no to a little risk. What do ya have in mind, Miss Robin?

[ If they were under any other circumstances, Robin might've been concerned at seeing him grin like that. But given everything, she's grateful for his support. Hopefully she won't lead them astray. ]

When I first came back to Penacony, I experienced an... encounter with a Memetic Entity. At first, it was assumed that it was the culprit for numerous spiritual deaths, and I thought I was a goner. But it actually sent me to a different Dreamscape, away from the sweet dream crafted by the Family. Kind of like a mode of transportation, frightening as its appearance may be.

[ She releases a soft sigh, attempting to calm her nerves. ] I... wonder if it might be able to help us, if we find it.

Interestin'... So we just gotta track this thing down and see if it's able to help, huh? I think we can handle that.

[And if it turns hostile, well, that's what his bullets are for.]

You said you saw it once before, yeah? Where'd you find it? Or where did it find you?

For someone who's not used to the Dreamscape, you're taking all of this incredibly well, Mr. Boothill. But I suppose that's part of why you're a Galaxy Ranger.

[ It's impressive how he's just so calm and taking this all in stride. It makes it easier for her to settle her nerves as well. ]

Mm... at the time, I was looking into some matters at the Dewlight Pavillion. It's where the Family Heads all come together for important meetings. It appeared out of thin air, and the next thing I knew, I woke up in the deeper layer of the dream.

[He's a simple man who saves getting worked up for battles. Mostly.]

Yeah? That a good place to start lookin', or do ya think it's moved on somewhere else?

It's impossible to know for sure without checking. It comes and goes as needed.

[ And beckoned by Gallagher. But as she pulls out her phone, she already sees she has no signal - no message would be able to reach him. ]

Given how unstable everything is, it might be more willing to show itself if we poke around.

[Boothill glances over her shoulder at her phone, and catches sight of the lack of signal. Hmm, that isn't a good sign. Looks like they really are on their own. Not that it'll be a problem for him; he's confident in his combat capabilities, after all.]

Now that's an idea I can get behind. Let's get pokin'!

[He says it with a cocky grin, but gestures for Robin to lead the way, since she can lead them better than he can.]

Don't worry, I'll watch your back. Just in case we run into trouble.

[How likely that is... well, he has no idea. But if this isn't the usual Dreamscape, then maybe anything can happen, and Boothill is never one to turn down a fight.]

[ She... can't say for sure either, but if the Dreamscape continues to shift and mirror memories and past events, it wouldn't be out of the question for other memetic entities to make themselves known. Ones less benevolent than Dormancy, perhaps.

But his enthusiasm brings a soft smile to her face, and she begins the trek to their destination. Might as well make conversation on the way. ]

I suppose I'm lucky I fell right in your path, then. I'm afraid I can't offer much myself in the way of combat, but should you start to feel any side-effects of the memoria here... I should be able to help.

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