This is the Era of Consciousness. You're either a Dreamer or Realist. Choose a side.
Song of the Day: Black by Kari Kimmel
Cassi is a bad ass and this she knows. Shagging the most powerful man in the country, keeping the Dreamers on their toes, and spying on the entire operation, she has it absolutely made and she is absolutely dangerous. No one knows her rage, no one knows her pain and no one knows her schemes. Dangerous doesn’t even begin to cut it. She’s a slave to the machine but she can control the machine and she’s watching for a crack, a soft spot in the foundation. A soft spot caused by the Dreamer known as Grace. Grace, the one they cannot control, the one who holds the entire Era in the palm of her hand.
Seth Howell. The name alone is enough to strike fear into the hearts of the United States and it’s citizens. He’s ruthless, an ultimate villain, quiet and the most dangerous man in the country in this time of reform. Rand’s brother, Seth is a Realist. He sees the world as a cesspool of free thinkers and vows to make the left minded individuals the supreme individuals. While his reform isn’t without the occasional “drawback”, school systems flourish, math and science scores soar, and the political atmosphere is exactly how he likes it. However, all that glitters is not gold. Grace Filmore will make her entrance as a Dreamer and expose what he wants to keep hidden: his past and his struggles, his demons and his vices, and most importantly, his relationship with the Toons
Rand Johnson knows exactly who he is. “Supporter” of the Toons yet the devilish voice behind the regime, he has the Jekyll and Hyde complex down pat and he’s not afraid to show it. Being the brother to the most powerful man in the country as well as being directly involved with the torture and capture of Dreamers, he revels in the power. He revels in the pain he brings. Haughty and charismatic, he brought a country to its knees and continues to watch as it becomes more and more of the Realist society he desperately craves. As he struggles with the realisation that a Dreamer has escaped his grasp, as he is pulled more and more to the side of the angels, he becomes drawn to Grace Filmore, obsessed with her, determined to make her fall. But who is Grace to him? What secrets do people know? And does he really know his brother as well as he thinks he does?
Hayden is haunted by a secret that may destroy the very foundation on everything the new regime is resting on and the appearance of Grace does very little to calm the unease he feels. Seth is watching him. Rand is watching her. But who is Grace Filmore and how does Hayden have a dangerous connection to the two most powerful men in the country?
Hayden considers himself to be a “realistic dreamer”, a cartoon who can see the black and white and the creative colour of the world. However, he’s not the only one who thinks that or sees that. The unofficial “leader” of the Toon rebellion, he’s suspicious of everyone including his own kind. Wronged by Cassi, trapped by Jewel and confused by his inner conflict on who’s side to be on, the mysterious human who seeks refuge in his abandoned studio throws him into the fire and throws him into the fight he never really wanted to begin with. Torn between a secret and love, he’s not the only traitor in the studio of Toons.
First and foremost, Jewel is an animation. She was created by a Dreamer but before she could have real purpose, the Era of Consciousness took away her animator and a story which would never be told. Half drawn, fallen apart, she takes refuge in the studio which created her, along with a host of other animations. Following the Toon leader, she thinks she finds her footing until a human threatens to disrupt their plans. Jealousy, hate, confusion, these are the makings of a traitor, but which side does she betray?
Rand Johnson and Seth Howell grew up together, brothers, best friends— devious together until the end. But how close are they now? How close will they be when the revolution starts? Everyone has to choose a side.
Author Mckenzie Williamson here. I won’t be around today or tomorrow much. Work tomorrow (I know I have an actual job, shocker) until late night and who knows what I will be doing in the morning. So, if you have questions, ask. Enjoy what I have posted so far.
Cassi is the product of imagination and she hates it. Blonde hair and blue eyes, she’s perfection encapsulated in a created body. It’s this self hatred that leads her to serve, that leads her to hate those who are exactly like she is. The main leader of the eradication of the arts, she is the one the Dreamers see before they die. Server of the brother, lover of the Realist, how is she herself a realist? How did she become? How far will she fall?
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