hadriel_logs | Event Log: Bad End

Entry tags:

Event Log: Bad End

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the Bad End event
Where: All over the city!
When: August 23rd-September 5th
Warnings: Bad futures, awkward conversations, smashed mirrors

You wake up to find a mirror at your bedside - a pretty nice one, too, a silver hand mirror perfect for fixing your hair in. Only when you try to do that, it's not your gorgeous reflection that you see. It's something else - a terrible future, just about as bad as anything you could imagine for yourself.

Maybe you see your loved ones dead on the ground, and you know it's your fault. Maybe you see the goal you've been working so hard for pulled out of your reach forever. Maybe you see someone you've hurt in the past ruining your life. Maybe you see your hot girlfriend leaving you to shack up with your worst enemy. Whatever you see, it really sucks, and you know that it's possible. This future could happen if you make the wrong choices, give in to your worst impulses.

Break the mirror if you want, but you'll see the same vision in any reflective surface in the city. You can't break them all, but you can sure try. And what will you do when you see your best friend's vision - and it features you betraying them?

Seek reassurance, give reassurance, lash out, vow to yourself that you'll never let it turn out that way, sink into the depths of sorrow because you feel like the future you see is inevitable. Whatever you do, it won't take away those visions - not until the event is over.

► This log covers August 23rd-September 5th.
► Feel free to make your own logs, as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you can't handle the idea of your dark future, or maybe you just accidentally slip and fall on a mirror shard, let us know here.

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[As far as the parasites' games go, this isn't the worst they've inflicted on the populace. But it doesn't make life easy either, and she skitters between shops, casting her gaze to the street instead of to the reflections flickering in the windows -- snow-dusted ruins that look like the buildings were snapped in half by some violent earth-shaking force, distant mountains sheared abruptly. The light is dim, from a fading brownish-red sun covered in black spots. And Marian herself... nothing but a blackened, almost charred-looking skeleton, equally covered in ice and snow.

It's not surprising to hear someone affected enough to be upset by whatever the mirror is showing them. Marian isn't sure what the overall theme is yet, but no doubt Fear and Sorrow both had their hands in whatever was going on now. She's about to pass by without a word and leave them to their private sorrows, but there's an odd curiosity, enough that she lifts her head far enough to see... ]

Malkus?

[Oh no. While 'endearing' isn't exactly the word she'd use for his usual somewhat bumbling ineptitude, Marian doesn't like seeing him like this. The parasites at work again.

Unfortunately consoling people isn't really something she's good at, despite sympathetic intentions.]

Just... try to ignore it.

Everything...

[ His voice was empty. It was difficult to get words out in between the hiccups and other embarrassing crying-related sounds. And to make matters even more humiliating, Marian was there to witness it! Oh her grand impression of the doctor must be tarnished at this point. It was almost enough to make the man sob even more. But he pulled himself together enough to at least be able to hear her over his tears. ]

Everything I have worked for. Every one I had tried to help.

[ Malkus didn't raise his head to see her. Thankfully his view of her reflection was obscured for the time being. ]

I try to see past it but I can't.

[ His voice did that sad little squeaking thing one made when they tried to force words out of their esophagus. It was the cherry on this sad little sundae. ]

[Marian has no idea how to deal with a crying person. Even at her most upset it's not really her inclination. Maybe an explanation would help?]

It's another attempt at emotional manipulation, just like many of the other events the parasites have orchestrated. You just have to remember that.

[And, admittedly, that's exactly why she's been so angry about them for so long now.]

[ As an inkling of reasoning returned to the doctor, he began to realize that it really was Marian here. He hadn't spoken to her very much, but was able to get a rough approximation of her personality during those few times. So it was odd, he thought, that she'd want to remain here to talk him down from this. It wasn't that he thought she was rude! But...

Well he wasn't sure what she actually thought of him. ]

It hurts. That is the point, though. Isn't it. The parasites are enjoying this.

[ He pulled his hat off and set it over the mirror at his side. ]

How can anyone claim to sympathize with someone who would do this? This is no dreamscape. I'm not a... a milk man, this time.

[ The smallest trace of humor peeked up at that last line. It was horrifying and disorienting, but he still thought about how foolish that uniform was. ]

[Marian bolted herself in the lab for that surreal week once she clued in to what was going on. So she's not quite sure about that milkman remark, but it's always a bit of a relief to hear others being on the same page as her thoughts, especially after some network conversations had gone so, so badly.]

I don't know. I don't understand it. It shouldn't matter to any of us what happens to the parasites. But they're good at taking our forms, cajoling others... that's how it's done, I suppose.

It still sounds utterly absurd that anything would feed on emotion. But Fear, Rage, Sorrow... maybe even others, depending on the visions... I'm sure they're all getting a feast out of this. So you have to do your best to shut them out.

[Of course this is easy to say and harder to do... she's failing terribly on most fronts. But that doesn't mean she can't insist it of others.]

It reminds me of history texts. From far lands, where gods were said to take the forms of men. Animals sometimes. Sounds more demonic than anything. I need to numb myself, I understand. Focus on my work. Or finding work.

[ Even if it didn't look like it, Malkus was trying! He tried to beat down those overwhelming emotions, but seeing his fears come to life was too much. He finally brought his head up to look at Marian. Unfortunately it might be possible to see a bit of reflection in those circular lenses that protected his eyes.

He was going to continue on, but another wave overcame him and he swung his attention back down. As he did, he caught something in the reflection of the windows ahead of him. It was quick, and he barely even had time to rationalize it as he tried to force down another heaving sob. ]

Doc-tor?

Exactly. This isn't the worst that they've put us though, so there's still ways to get things done this time...

[Oh no, damn it. Marian's gaze shifts down and to the side as soon as that first hint of her own reflection appears in the eye coverings of Malkus' mask, the hint of an eyesocket being enough to trigger a full-on shiver.]

Yes?

[She replies, definitely staring at the ground 100% now.]

If I- [ He shook his head and clenched his fists, trying to snap out of it. Enough of the tears! Malkus very slowly peered up until just the bottom edge of the window was visible to him. He couldn't make out any detail besides seeing the shadow of something where Marian would be standing. She was definitely in the reflection's strange vision, then. ]

If I look. What will I see?

[ He'd have wanted the chance to explain his own monstrosity, if he were in her shoes. There was nothing saying she'd be a monster like Malkus, but he didn't really understand how it worked. Judging from her reactions, it was something she did not like to see either. Well, obviously. ]

[Marian's lips tighten into a thin line. Blocking her own skeletal face, she'd done much like Malkus when she's first seen the reflection. Sat and stared at the snow-covered, fractured and fragmented corpse of the earth, under the dim light of a ruddy sun. She knew it would be bad, expected the worst. But with even the sun itself fading so quickly... ]

Everything's dead. I already... knew it would be that way.

[She says, for once trying to keep any trace of emotion from her voice.]

[ Malkus let the silence grow between them for a moment, to let the reality of their worlds settle. Eventually he stood, nearly stumbling forward into the road in the process. He didn't need to see her nightmare, he decided. With a loud sniff, failing to rid himself of the uneasy sorrow in his voice, Malkus still struggled to think of what to say. ]

We share a bleak fate, then. It's like you say though, isn't it? It's a manipulation.

[ He shambled forward, moving around to put his back to the large window. Malkus was nowhere near large enough to block the entire reflection, but he could at least fumble enough to put himself between Marian and her own skeletal appearance. ]

Won't be a savage and smash any glass. It'd just make us look like fools when the visions cease.

[Marian nods in agreement, not entirely sure if she can hold her own voice steady for an immediate reply. After a moment she finally replies:]

It will pass in a few days, like all the parasites' other tricks. At least we can go about our daily lives in the midst of this one.

Indeed... I'm afraid I'm at an impasse with my own work, but it's more a lack of reagent. I need a vehicle for my potions. Spirits specifically.

[ He was clearly trying to move the conversation along, beyond the dark matter of their reflections. Malkus had spent a few days scrounging about the shops, but he could never find the alcohol he needed for his tinctures. ]

I... I don't suppose you're the inebriating type?

[ It was a long shot, and Marian didn't seem like the drinking sort. But he figured he'd give it a shot. ]

Not really.

[she replies, keeping her head down. Especially considering that, in the absence of sleeping pills or tranquilizers, she's been self-medicating with Carlisle's enchanted sleeping tea for some time now.]

There is a bar, although I'm not sure what they carry. I haven't been there, myself.

That is what I was hoping to hear. I'd half expected the people here to push together some dilapidated way to forget themselves.

[ Malkus noted her avoidance of his face, and quite frankly it bothered him. It's not as though she hadn't seen his mask before! In fact she's seen it a number of times! At least... twice! His eyebrows pinched together with that slight bruise to his feelings, but he persisted. This frustration was still nothing compared to the reflection's pain. ]

Well. If you are ever... Well. I'm sure in many cultures, partaking in a drink is an acceptable way of keeping one's wits together. So I shall extend an invitation.

[ The atmosphere's mood was still in an icy state. Malkus felt fresh tears drying into streaks on his cheeks. Honestly, Malkus didn't drink much himself! But the faded image of travelers and merchants drowning their problems, before the plague, was present in his mind. He never had the opportunity on his homeworld.

Still, he expected her to decline. The birdman wanted to at least leave her with the option. ]

I mean I will go regardless, to see if they carry anything of use to my potions.

[Marian sighed. Malkus was, unfortunately, correct. Minus one incident where the parasites decided to have it snow...]

No, I'll be better off keeping busy. As would you. It doesn't help anything in the end.

Watch out for the bottles' reflections, too.

You're certain? That's fair, that is fair. I'm not completely sure I'd trust any establishment here.

[ Malkus quickly nodded and fiddled with the straps of his mask. He pulled them tight and tugged on his gloves to keep them fitting snug. They were idle motions he performed in a desperate attempt at seeming casual. ]

I do intend to keep busy! It'd be good to have a stock of tinctures for various uses, you know? The spirits- [ He mimed holding two bottles, for some reason. Malkus just wanted to fill up empty space at this point. Oh lord why'd he ask such an odd thing. Was drinking unprofessional? Did he seem unprofessional now? ] The spirits have a property that pulls extracts out.

I've definitely got some work to do!

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Event Log: Bad End

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