Event Log: Fear Itself, Mk II

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the Fear Itself Mk II event
Where: All over the city
When: May 19th-26th
Warnings: None

It starts with a sense of dread- something that boils deep in your gut that doesn't quite have a place. For the first few days, you can probably just chalk it up to paranoia and doubt, but it's clear that something is building and ramping up, but you're not quite sure what... or maybe if you've been in this city for long enough, the sensation is just familiar enough that it jogs your memory...

It doesn't matter though because it can't be stopped. It only takes a few days before it comes to a head and you begin to see your worst fears- a person, an event, a monster... the thing you fear most materializes seemingly out of thin air to terrorize you. It's not harmless either, whatever it is can hurt you, even if nobody else can see it or interact with it.

Of course, that doesn't last for long either- soon enough, people around you can see your fear and you can see theirs. Is that better or worse? Maybe both, because your fears will begin to combine after a time into some fucked-up supermonster that will try to hurt or kill you both.

We hope you're ready.

► This log covers May 19th-26th.
► 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 your fear winds up ending you, please let us know here.

Comments

Angus McDonald | OTA | CW for bad dads, implied emotional abuse/neglect

[hellosirs]

Earlier

[ Angus doesn't think much of the creeping dread, at first. He's faced his fears several times over in Hadriel, and now that he has a family and future ahead of him, he's pretty sure he can handle whatever comes next... right up until he sees his father's reflection glaring coldly at him from a shop window.

His father, who is just as imposing, strict and disapproving as ever. His father, who barely spoke to him on a good day, and who up until the Voidfish broadcast his de-facto family's adventures across the universe, had still assumed that he was in boarding school for the last year rather than living on the moon (not that the man had ever checked, but Angus is kicking himself now for never having thought of this eventuality). His father, who once expected him to be the perfect trophy son, and who does not look very happy to see him as he approaches.

Angus freezes up for a moment, then bolts.

Over the next few days, anyone who knows Angus will notice that his habitual formality has been turned up to 11; his posture is ramrod straight but full of nervous tension, he's downright obsessive about calling people 'sir' and 'ma'am', and if he is less than meticulously polite to someone, he trips over himself apologizing. More than that, he's extremely jumpy and keeps glancing over his shoulder, like he's being followed. He knows (or at least, really really hopes) that this can't be real, and the more he stays by his friends, the less he sees of his estranged biological family. He'd like to keep it that way. ]


Later on

[ The longer this goes on, the more Angus is convinced that he's either going crazy, or that his father really did turn up here on the last Arrival day. Either way, he can't avoid the man forever, and the next time Angus leaves the house, Mr. McDonald is suddenly there with a hand firmly gripping his shoulder, leading him away down the street.

'What do you think you're doing, young man?" he says, and the words hit Angus like a bucket of ice water. "You are in a lot of trouble. It's time to stop this foolishness and come home."

Angus digs his heels in and shakes his head, and says "I'd really rather not, Sir." It's not much, but it's been so long since they've spoken that it's the best he can manage.

(Needless to say, any help getting out of this situation would be greatly appreciated!) ]

later on

[outofthefire]

[Laura is out and about, on her way to a shift at the Speakeasy when she crosses paths with Angus and--is that his father? she thinks she remembers seeing him in one of the other bits of Hadriel bull.

Angus' dad's attitude is enough to make her grateful that she's started carrying her bow and arrows around with her always.

she doesn't draw yet, hoping that her presence and the fact that she's armed will make the guy back off]

Hey, mister. He said he'd rather not. You might wanna listen to him.

[hellosirs]

[ Angus twists around to stare at Laura, and kind of squeaks the minute he sees the weaponry that she's packing. Loosely translated, that squeak probably means 'oh my god, please don't shoot my dad full of arrows, Laura!' ]

I-it's okay, Miss! There's really no need for archery of any kind!

Is this the sort of company you're keeping, Angus? You'd do well to mind your own business, young lady.

[outofthefire]

[she is totally ready to fill his dad with arrows. for Angus' sake. he looks miserable]

Laura. You can call me Laura. And are you sure.

[to him] You better believe it's the company he keeps! 'Cause he's a good person and deserves people being good to him! [and a pause, while she taps her index finger against her lips] And, no. I don't think I will.

[hellosirs]

I am extremely sure Miss Laura!

[ Look, this situation is very stressful, he's taking the formality in baby steps and trying to make sure that nobody gets murdered in the process! ]

He obviously hasn't been keeping polite company, [ Mr. McDonald scoffs, tugging at his son's shoulder as he begins to turn away. ] This is a family matter, and you have no right to intrude or decide what he 'deserves', particularly when he's been lying about his whereabouts so flagrantly. He doesn't need help, and he's far too old for a nanny.

[outofthefire]

Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself.

[she's getting really close to pulling an arrow on Mr. McDonald]

Maybe I'm not polite company, but I'm his friend. And since I'm his friend, I have every right to have a say in what he deserves. Besides, he does need help, 'cause I don't trust you any further than I can throw you.

[hellosirs]

[ Mr. McDonald keeps on walking and steering them away down the street, seemingly ignoring Laura's protests. ]

Then it's a good thing that your opinion has no influence on this matter. Good day.

[ He might need to have an arrow pulled on him to take the threat seriously! ]

later on; lemme at him

[restinglichface]

[Funny how the fear she's been feeling so intensely over the last few days seems to momentarily disappear the second that Angus needs help. Sure, it's gonna come back soon enough and strike back just doubly as hard as before, but for now, all Lup sees is red when some stranger strolls up to Angus and tries to usher him away from his own damn house.

Not on her watch, bub. Lup wastes no time at all in calling out after them.]

Let him go or your ass is roasted, fuckface. [Her hands fall to her side, already wreathed in flames. If there was ever a week to not fuck with Lup, this is it.]

Don't know and don't care who you are, but Ango's one of us, thanks. Let him go.

round 1 FIGHT

[hellosirs]

[ Mr. McDonald turns to stare at Lup with the affronted expression of someone who isn't used to disrespect, let alone being called 'fuckface.', and now that he's facing her, she'll be able to see the family resemblance. Angus and his dad have the same dark skin, floofy hair and brown eyes, but Mr. McDonald looks like he hasn't smiled in twenty years, and doesn't intend to start anytime soon. ]

Ah. You're one of the elf twins, from the Story.

[ He heard the Voidfish's song back home, and Lup's fame is probably the only reason that he isn't looking at her like something he found on bottom of his shoe. Both hands are settled on Angus's shoulders now - it's definitely a power move, but it's also not hard to see that she'll have a hard time incinerating him while he's holding a boy bodyshield. ]

I think you'll find that he's one of mine, actually.

Ma'am, i-it's, it's okay! This is just... um, well, it's not really a misunderstanding at all, but, um, I'll talk with him, it'll be fine!

[ Probably not, but Angus is trying like hell to prevent his found family from barbecuing his biological one. ]

[restinglichface]

[It doesn't matter how similarly they look or how obvious it is that they're family, that this imposing figure must be Angus' old man. Lup just sees the hardness in his gaze, the too strict press of his mouth together, the stiffness in his grip on Angus' shoulder.

It doesn't matter that they're family. If anything, it's enough of a mark against him. With the exception of Taako, all of Lup's family turned out to be backstabbing assholes, why expect Angus' to be any different?

Why else was a kid his age working with the bureau instead of living at home with his parents? Why was a kid his age working for a living instead of going to school?

Nah, fuck this.]

Bold of you to assume I give a shit. [She takes a long step forward, refusing to give him even an inch.] Angus, c'mere.

[hellosirs]

[ Lup isn't far off the mark with her assessment, the home situation in the McDonald estate is more than slightly dysfunctional. Mr. McDonald stands firm, hardly even flinching as Lup steps forward. Angus, for his part, looks like he's caught between two oil tankers that are on a slow but inevitable collision course, just waiting for the explosion. ]

Bold of you to assume that your opinion matters, here.

[ Oh gods, here we go. Angus barely suppresses a wince. ]

I... I'm not sure that's a good idea, Lup, it might make things worse!

earlier

[madamdirector]

[ Lucretia's made a habit of having Angus over for tea every week. The tea is a mostly transparent excuse for the both of them to fill up on cookies or tiny tea cakes, and the visit itself, of course, is her way of keeping connected with him in the absence of their Bureau work. Lucretia also harbors some delusions of being a stabilizing influence for him - she loves the twins and Merle, of course, but sometimes she shudders at the idea of Angus living with them, growing up under their influence.

She's always enjoyed their visits, and up until now Angus always has, too, or so she thinks. Today, however, something seems off. Angus is quiet and stiff, overly formal even for him, and seemingly nervous. She sets his teacup down and settles down in the chair next to him, looking at him in concern. ]

Is something wrong, Angus?

[hellosirs]

[ Bless Lucretia for trying in vain to be a responsible adult, honestly.

Angus, for his part, tries not to flinch at the question. With his dad's strange, possibly hallucinatory reappearance comes the guilty realization that he, uh... never mentioned his father to The Director when he was initially hired? He's pretty sure he'd given the impression that his Grandpa had been his only family when asked, and while that was true in a sense - he hadn't spoken to his father in over a year - it didn't give the full picture. He may not have outright lied to Lucretia, but lying by omission is just as bad, isn't it?

He isn't sure how she'd react if she finds out, whether she'd be upset or even disappointed. It's hard to say which would be worse. ]

I-I'm fine, Ma'am! [ Which isn't the same as saying 'nothing is wrong', technically. He busies himself with adding milk and sugar to his tea, carefully avoiding eye contact. ]

Did you go to the Colosseum on Arrival Day, by the way?

[ He isn't sure what he's expecting for an answer here - "Why yes, Angus, and I happened to see someone who looks like you in forty years, you aren't going crazy after all!" is probably out. ]

[madamdirector]

[ Lucretia narrows her eyes, but nods. ]

Yes, I was there. [ Looking for Barry, but she doesn't need to bring that up now. ] I found Merle there.

[ She pauses to take a bite of her cookie, but keeps her eyes on Angus. He's not going to get out of this one so easily. She can't remember him ever being unable to meet her eyes before. ]

You'll forgive me for saying so, Angus, but that sounds an awful lot like deflecting.

[hellosirs]

[ Damn, she's good at this. If Lucretia ever feels like putting the Director thing aside, she'd make a killer detective. Angus keeps his expression carefully blank, and sips at his tea while he tries to come up with a good response. ]

Does it?

[ ... that was definitely not a good response. He may be good at keeping things close to his chest, but Angus is a fundamentally honest person, and he kinda sucks at outright lying. Gods, is this what it feels like, being investigated? This is awful! ]

I wasn't deflecting, really, I was just... I think the Turbo-Liches are up to something again, I've been a little paranoid lately. So it's fine. Would you like another cookie? They're chocolate chip, this time.

[ look, he's a nervous rambler! ]

[madamdirector]

[ She learned it all from you, Angus. Lucretia waits patiently while Angus rambles on, but she doesn't take another cookie. Instead, she just watches impassively, and waits until he's run out of words before she finally speaks. ]

Paranoid?

[ She takes a sip of her tea, watching him expectantly. ]

[hellosirs]

[ Angus knows this technique, this stuff is Basic Interrogation 101: ask a few leading questions, and then sit back, quietly stare at the suspect, and let them fill in the awkward silence for you. It's amazing how much information people will give away when they're nervous. Angus isn't a very intimidating person, and hasn't had much luck with this technique himself - he tends to play up the innocent-little-boy act to get people's guards down instead - but The Director has so much calm gravitas in her stare that he can't stop himself from answering. ]

I've been, um... seeing things? People? But like I said, it's Turbo-Lich stuff, which means that it isn't real. So it's fine.

[ Probably. Maybe. ]

later on, ofc

[pocketspa]

[Look, Taako may be going through his own version of memory hell roulette, but it's all sort of tossed out the window once it becomes apparent it's hurting Angus. Hadriel has run all of them through the goddamn meat grinder, and he may be having an exponentially bad time of this one, but he doesn't care if Angus doesn't know him when he appears he will not let this stand.

(He does care, actually, he cares a lot? But if he gets to kick the shit out of whatever Angus' fear is, maybe he'll feel better about it.)

As soon as he hears the voices walking away from the house, Taako stomps downstairs, pointedly slamming the door to get both of their attention.]

Hey, sucker! You kinda look like you're stealing right now, y'know? Taking a kid outta school is bad for them!

[He sounds like he could be a secretary, if he wasn't stomping towards the scene with his hand on a star surrounded with knives. Y'know. Like a responsible adult.]

[hellosirs]

[ Angus jumps about a foot in the air at the interruption, and when they both turn to face Taako, he'll probably recognize Mr. McDonald - he last saw the man at the head of a fancy dreamscape dinner table, and it doesn't look like his general mood has improved since then. The guy has a face like a thundercloud, and he certainly doesn't look happy to see Taako, or the pointy monstrosity that he's using in place of a wand. Angus mostly just looks confused, if happy to get some backup from... somebody who he likes very much, and who is Important, although he's a little fuzzy on the details. Taco? Taako? Something like that, that sounds right. ]

A-actually, sir, I haven't been to school in quite some time now, although I do appreciate the moral support!

[ Mr. McDonald's grip on his shoulder tightens, and Angus gulps. ]

Ironic, considering that you were supposed to be in boarding school. Mr... 'Taaco', I think you'll find that this doesn't concern you.

[pocketspa]

[Taako knows him when he sees him, but Angus is sporting somewhat of a different look. He's not especially concentrating on it right now, seeing as Angus is still in the middle of being kidnapped as far as he's concerned, even if it's by his own father. He looks down towards the boy quickly, because he can't in any way stop himself from firing off a response.]

Kid, you're not helping, you're not even in the realm of helping.

[He refocuses back on the man next to him, cocking a hip out and putting his hands on his sides, the Krebstar in his right hand pressed flat with his palm. Not doing anything with it. Just Out. It's fine.]

And uhh, it's totally concerns me, because I'm his teacher? Sooo if you're takin' him from my school, buddy boy, you better have some reasons that I'll tell you instantly are all bullshit.

[Taako's kind of betting that these fears and apparitions can't really hurt them- they can affect minds, sure, but there's no way they can actually be mortally wounded by these things in their heads. Still, he keeps an eye on the hand between the two; he's more concerned these are real enough to hurt than he is able to dismiss the idea that Angus' father wouldn't hurt him. Taako knows better than betting on parents to protect you. He knows much, much better.]

[hellosirs]

Sorry, sir!

[ Angus isn't 100% sure what he's sorry for, but whatever it is, it merits an apology!

Mr. McDonald raises an eyebrow at Taako and just barely avoids sneering at him, torn between the disdain that he'd usually have for anyone below his station, and a kind of reluctant wariness that comes from knowing the guy you're butting heads with helped save the universe. ]

Your 'school'? Is that what you called your little magic lessons? How quaint.

[ Angus looks more confused than ever, but just as he's about to protest in his own defense, Mr. McDonald puts both hands on Angus's shoulders and draws him closer, in an unmistakably possessive gesture that makes Angus flinch. ]

As his father and legal guardian, I have the right to pull him out of classes. He was meant to be in an actual school, not running around doing foolish detective work and joining cults on the moon.

[pocketspa]

[At least Angus is still calling him sir, which is... better? Probably? He quite literally has bigger fish to fry right now, so fuck it. His eye ticks upwards in a sharp motion as the man draws him closer, using Angus like a body shield, like Taako is some feral animal about to attack him. It makes his blood boil. Save the whole ass universe and he can't even get an ounce of fucking respect up in here?

Maybe it just drives him nuts to see rich assholes writing him off like that. As much as this is Angus' nightmare, to feel powerless, it's certainly making him feel like a kid again.]

And he's gonna get a better education there? Not out of, you know, the certified best wizard on the entire planet? My dude.

[Actually, no, he has more words, that was not the pause he thought it was going to be.]

Also what the hell do you mean foolish, they're fucking-- he solves murder cases! He, he does more than most people on this goddamn planet, is that just some kid's game to you? Oh ha ha, Timmy found a corpse and arrested a knife wielding murderer, what a laugh!

[Obviously he's not trying to suck up at this point.]

[hellosirs]

[ That gets a pause. Mr. McDonald looks like he's weighing the prestige of having his son tutored by the universe's most famous wizard against literally everything else about the situation, and it's hard to say which side is coming out on top.

... Actually, no, Taako is being Rude and Disrespectful, which definitely outweighs the prestige. His glare hardens even further. ]

It's not what a young man of his station should be doing, and as this is a family affair, I'd thank you to keep out of it.

[ Angus, who has been torn between staticky confusion and utter delight at the praise, finally speaks up, although it's in a controlled, polite tone that speaks volumes about how many times they've had this argument. ]

Sir, I really am very good at it, and with all due respect, you haven't checked my whereabouts for over a year, so--

Don't talk back.

later on.

[substances]

[There's something mighty familiar about the particular scene Klaus sees as he's walking down a street, trying to get away from some of the more...insistent ghosts that have been following him around, making his life a little more of a living hell than it had been before. The giant snail tentacle ghosts had always been sort of neutral on him, not totally obsessed like the ones back on Earth, but now they chase him around incessantly and make gurgly pain noises at him. Not cool.

But when he seeks a neatly-dressed kid being steered along the street by a stiff-backed man who seems to be chastising him as they go, it hits an almost painfully familiar chord. Wow. That looks a whole lot like how Klaus got raised, and the idea of someone else dealing with that and ending up like him and his siblings? No fuckin' way!

So he sidles up, a tall, rumpled man in a military jacket with the sleeves torn off and dog tags and a crop top and a pair of leather pants that lace up the side and floral alien knockoff Doc Martens, waving at this dude and a scared-looking kid.]

Whoa, hey, you all right there?

[It's pitched perfectly cheerfully, for now, because, wow, awkward.]

[hellosirs]

[ Honestly? Klaus looks like he could have raided Taako's closet, and in Angus's eyes, that instantly makes him seem trustworthy. The same can't be said for Angus's dad, who stares at Klaus like he just climbed out of a dumpster, equal parts horror and revulsion. Luckily, Angus is the one who manages to speak up first. ]

I don't think I'm in any physical danger, sir! This is just--

[ Mr. McDonald pulls Angus back, and glowers. ]

None of your business, I believe. Move along.