Event Log: Is It a Wonderful Life?

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for Is It A Wonderful Life? event
Where: All over the city
When: Jan 4th-8th
Warnings: None

Throughout the next few days, you may find yourself plagued by visions and dreams of back home. The dreams will be lifelike and difficult to tell apart from reality, as the world will be constructed from what you remember of your world. However, unlike usual dreams, you won't be present, and will find yourself unable to be seen or heard by those around you.

The dreams are vivid reminders of what might happen in a world without you: a world in which you disappeared when coming to Hadriel, a world which desperately needs you back for some reason or another. You may see your parents putting up missing posters, your significant other moving onto their next relationship, or even your hated villain finally taking over the world without you there to stop them.

When the vision leaves, you're back here and nothing about the city has changed. Though maybe you have a different outlook on it now...

► This log covers January 4th-Januray 8th.
► 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 try a weird solution to make it back home, please let us know here.

Comments

[braveoff]

[ Drake nods -- basically everything he would typically do is crossed off the list because of their current situation. Normally he could make a deal with the gods for something special, but not right now. He grins slightly as Tinya redirects the topic. ]

You can talk about yourself too, you know. I'll listen. But uh. I waffled for awhile, then told her I had feelings for someone else. She said she needed time to think about it, then disappeared and came back with the new arrivals saying she remembered my death and had moved on from me so we just let each other go. I wanted to stay friends but she disappeared for good not long after that.

[ He shrugs a little -- he'd gotten better closure with Liv after, when she was briefly back a few months ago, but this conversation isn't supposed to be about his past love life. It's supposed to be about his current one. ]

He's pretty amazing. I don't think I've ever met a bigger badass, and no one's ever... acted like I meant so much, before? I had to become part of their lives, it never felt like our life like this does. Sometimes I have to stop and process it all over again, that I found somebody I matter to like this. I guess it's just what being loved feels like? And I've just never been on the receiving end before.

[unphase]

[girl's having doubts about her own relationship, but it's hard to talk about]

...I can? All right. Later, though. Right now, it's about you. [and she winces at his description of what happened next] That sounds rough. But at least you had someone else to see you through all of that, right?

[you have to know something about the past for the present to make any sense.

and she visibly melts at his description] Really? That's wonderful. It really is. To have someone you can really share your life with, to being loved like that, it's what most people dream about, but never find. You're lucky.

As for what you could do . . . Is there something in particular he really likes to do? [a wink and a naughty smile] Not just sex.

[braveoff]

Yeah, I am lucky. What are the chances, right? That we'd both end up here.

[ Especially since they're both dead. He doesn't mention that Ephemera disappeared for awhile, for months in there. Because he didn't mean to, and he's back now and that's what matters. Except then Tinya keeps talking and whooaaaaa no. Nope. He knows she's an adult in her world but it's still weird. Drake just laughs softly, shaking his head. ]

Yeah, I'd like to come up with something besides that. What he likes to do... [ Around here, besides fighting shit? ] He's an artist?

[unphase]

About a billion to one. You should be proud of yourselves, that you beat the odds here and made something beautiful in your time here.

[what? it's not like she's a virgin or anything? even though the rest of the Legionnaires seemed like terminal virgins, what with Lyle trying his "pulling on the pigtails of the one he liked" with Brainy and Saturn Girl seeming to be unable to choose between Cosmic Boy and Live Wire. she might be the only one with real world experience in these matters]

Okay, he's an artist! What does he usually like to paint? Landscapes or life models?

[braveoff]

[ Yeah, he'd agree with that. It's something amazing, against all odds that they would meet and it would work, he's never had something work like this. And it's all the more precious being so aware that it could be gone at any minute. But Drake's trying to keep his mood up right now.

Look, they can talk about her sex life if she wants, and he can be a responsible adult figure, but talking about his feels strange. ]

Both, actually. He sketches the people he knows, people he saw, paints them sometimes. Most of our walls are landscapes, though, or cityscapes, or galaxies... if Love was around I'd ask for some good supplies or something, but I'm working with what we've got right now.

[unphase]

[he should keep his mood up! the two of them meeting and connecting the way they did was a miracle! one brought about by the strange place they were living in.

don't tempt her, she's already having doubts about her relationship, if she starts, she won't stop]

Hmm. Has he ever drawn you? And I don't mean a sketch, I mean something that can be hung on the wall. One not necessarily risque, but one that you share? And can share with others as proof of your love? I know I'd like to see it.

[braveoff]

[ Oh man, that sounds personal. Drake considers it for a minute, then shakes his head. ]

No, he's only sketched me and usually keeps those private. The people on the walls are portraits of his old squad, folks from here we miss, that kind of thing. But is it really a gift to ask him to do something?

[unphase]

[aren't most relationships and romances personal? she thinks so from her limited experience]

It's something he likes to do and the two of you would be doing it together. Or you could try treating him to other things he likes to do that you can do around here.

[braveoff]

If any of the gods around right now were the ones I usually dealt with, I'd ask for some good supplies for him... then maybe that'd be a nice surprise. I'll think about it. What else I can offer with it, but it's a good idea.

[ He's not sure he knows anyone who could make those things, but maybe. Drake takes another sip of his drink and turns his focus on Tinya. ]

Is there somebody you wanted to talk about? Sounded like it, for a minute there.

[unphase]

In the long run, I'm sure he'll be happy with whatever it is that you do. Because you're doing it and he loves you. That's the important thing. Love. Especially in a place like this.

[she wouldn't know, either. but her best guess would be trying at the Lab? and she squirms slightly under the focus]

It's just--I have a boyfriend back home. And I'm kind of wondering if we took things too fast.

[braveoff]

Thanks, Tinya. That makes me feel better about missing it.

[ And now he's settling in to listen, though at her squirming he does turn his gaze back to his drink so she doesn't feel like she's under a microscope. ]

Well I'm not really one to throw stones about that, but part of growing up is realizing how fast is too fast. It can vary by relationship, there's no hard and fast rules... what makes you think you might have?

[unphase]

[she beams at him] I'm glad I could help.

[and she squirms slightly in her seat and bites her lower lip briefly]

It's just. . . when we met, there was this instant connection, like I'd known him forever. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before, but there were . . . problems. Like the fact that he already had a girlfriend. And the fact that he worked for an absolute sleazebag as a superhero for hire.

[braveoff]

[ Drake considers the situation... those sure are problems, yeah. Obviously they got together anyway, but it doesn't necessarily mean the problems were solved, so he has a question. ]

Okay... has any of that changed?

[unphase]

[no, the problems were sort of floating in the background, waiting to rear their ugly heads at any moment]

Not. One. Bit. He's sort of--trapped working for the sleazebag as he paid for Jo's ticket out of Rimbor. Rimbor's not a UP world, so it cost a fortune. And his first girlfriend is a teammate, so. . .it's not like they can avoid each other.

[braveoff]

[ Oh. Uhhhhm. ]

Does his girlfriend know about you?

[unphase]

Yeah. She kind of hates me. [a pause] Not that I can blame her.

[braveoff]

It's not just about you. If she's unhappy sharing and he's seeing you both without resolving that... I don't know if he's such a great guy, Tinya.

[unphase]

[she sighs] It's different where he's from. People don't have relationships, they have--they have sex with no strings attached. And they don't have families, they have gangs. So I can't really expect him to act like a Bgztlian or even a Terran.

[braveoff]

[ Drake hesitates, trying to figure out how to word this in a way that isn't going to upset her. It's not really about customs to him, it's about decency. ]

Maybe not. But you can expect him to respect that one of his partners is unhappy. Unless his culture says that what other people are feeling doesn't matter... in which case he's going to have to learn that it does, if he wants to keep up with either of you.

[unphase]

[and she is so new at this. her Terran blood kept Bgztlian suitors from seeking her out, despite her royal blood, so she's completely new at this courtship and dating thing]

His culture does say that what others are feeling doesn't matter. But. I get what you're saying. I can't exactly expect him to conform to Bgztlian standards, but Terran standards? Maybe.

[braveoff]

It's less conforming and more meeting you halfway. You seem to be cutting him way more slack than he is considering your feelings. Communication is important.

[ He shrugs. ]

Obviously he likes you both, so he should be willing to put some effort in. And you need to sit down and have a conversation about sharing, it doesn't sound like his other girlfriend wants to.

[unphase]

Yeah, that's what I've heard. [an embarrassed laugh] I'm still new at this whole relationship thing.

To be honest, I don't really wanna share, either. Call me old-fashioned, but I'm not into the whole polyamory thing.

[braveoff]

[ Drake tilts his head at Tinya -- her youth is showing here, that's for sure, but he's not judging. Just trying to fully understand. ]

So you're just hoping he'll pick you, when you know he doesn't fully understand that kind of relationship? Have you talked to him about this?

[unphase]

[her inexperience can partially be blamed on her mother who was set on nothing but a boy from Bgztl's high society for her daughter]

Well. . . I think he has chosen me. When it was time to decide who would go where to fight the White Triangle, he chose to go with me instead of her. And right before I--I came here, he told me that he loves me.

[braveoff]

Don't guess about this stuff, Tinya. Communicate. As soon as you get the chance again, just ask.

[ He'd be inclined to do it for her, be all big brother 'what are your intentions?' but has the feeling she can handle it herself. ]