A Dreamer's Knight

Chapter 5 - The Elsewhere

We come at last to the Elsewhere. I must admit that I've been looking forward to this. In my role as Chronicler of the Elsewhere Incorporate, I've spoken about the Dreamers time and time again, yet never about our dear home tucked away between the Mainstream and the Realm. It is a sanctuary for us beyond the limitations of conventional time and space, and while I cannot speak for the other Dreamers, the Elsewhere is the only place in the breadth of existence that I truly feel at home.

Put in as basic a form as I can possibly put to paper, the Elsewhere Mansion is situated on a floating island covered in a forest. The mansion itself is difficult to describe in any sense, but its outer appearance changes depending on the expectation of the viewer. Some see a stately manor, others see a foreboding estate. Sometimes, however, if a being stares at the mansion long enough, they might catch a glimpse of its true form, a mishmash of hundreds of styles crammed together in a structure that is constantly shifting and reforming. It's all just a shell, of course, as the inside of the Elsewhere Mansion is so much more than any of that.

The Elsewhere Mansion is divided into floors, each belonging to a particular Dreamer. While I could begin with any floor, it would be a disservice to start with any floor other than The Lobby. A wide open room filled with couches, coffee tables, and a very well stocked selection of coffee machines, the Lobby looks like just that: a massive lobby centered around a central desk. It is here that the Dreamer who lives in the Lobby can be found, a kindly woman known to the Dreamers simply but affectionately as 'Mom'. While I would not deign to guess at her native appearance, Mom typically appears as a somewhat short and curvy human woman with a mass of curly red hair, plenty of freckles, and a pair of stylish glasses that magnify her hazel eyes. She is quick to smile and always glad to give a hug and an encouraging word, though not above scolding us when necessary.

Most people, Dreamer or otherwise, end up in the Lobby at some point, and One was no exception. He stepped from the CPD onto the soft carpet of the Lobby, humming under his breath as he strode forth purposefully toward Mom's desk. She glanced up, straightening her glasses as he approached the Scoreboard.

Doing good is its own reward ... at least, I'm sure most Dreamers believe that on some level. Despite this, there are always those who feel it necessary to measure their accomplishments against others. That is how the Scoreboard came to be. A massive corkboard hung on the back wall of the Lobby, the Scoreboard bears the names and symbols (for those who have them) of every Dreamer, beneath which are pinned a number of photographs bearing small titles such as "The Problem at Paena" and "The Novalis Nightmare". 

One walked right up to the Scoreboard and fished a whole handful of photos from his pocket. "Done," he said, slapping the first to the board. "Done, done, done, very done, and donesinski. That's two Cupid's Arrows, three Smash the Bigbys, one Chosen One and a Nightmare job, all done!"

"Wow," said Mom, straightening her glasses. "You've been busy. I thought you were just going to pick up something from Bridges."

"Yeah, well, you know how it is. You stop in the mainstream to pick up something, next thing you know every norm and nixil with a problem's nipping at your heels." One plopped down on one of the stools surrounding Mom's desk. "What I want to know is how they keep finding me. I try to stay under the Veil, you know; appear in an isolated place, don't make a show of myself ... don't go looking for trouble, you know?"

Mom looked thoughtful for a few moments before saying, "Jay once told me the Universe has a way of making sure those who need help find those who can give it."

"Well, maybe next time the Universe can help instead of just pushing things off on me." One let out a sigh and shook his head before telling her, "You know, the last guy just up and fell out of the sky? I was in the middle of the woods for crying out loud."