Event Log: Regret This

[hadrielmods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The Regret This event
Where: Throughout the city
When: June 25th-July 3rd
Warnings: Sorrow is resurrected, and everyone is immediately full of regrets

Hope has finally managed another god resurrection, and the people have spoken! On June 25th, he musters his powers and brings Sorrow back to Hadriel. An orchard appears across the river, in the until now ruined part of the city, and Sorrow's temple is also restored. Hooray! One more god to make things a little more livable in this place.

Of course, it's not that easy. It never is. Along with Sorrow himself comes a wave of regret and guilt that blankets the city. All those affected will be inclined to not only be sad, but to linger over past regrets and things they feel guilty about. They can distract themselves with everyday tasks or whatever else they please, but they'll find that their thoughts drift back to these regrets regardless of what they do.

And of course, the best way to purge a guilty conscience is confession, right? On top of these persistent sad thoughts, people will feel the urge to tell others about them, to air their past mistakes or misdeeds and possibly receive some kind of forgiveness. So what if your neighbor doesn't care that you cheated on your final exams all through school? You have to tell someone, and they're right there. If it doesn't make you feel better, that probably means you haven't confessed to enough people yet, or maybe you just haven't found the right person. Better try again!

On July 3rd, Sorrow has settled in and this urge to confess your sins will die down, along with the constant regret. Let's hope you didn't confess anything too personal. Remember, you're gonna have to see some of these people every day.

► This log covers June 25th-July 3rd.
► 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 somehow manage to end up regretfully dead, please remember to hit up our death post!

Comments

[keep_smiling]

Then today is your lucky day, friend. I realized I hadn't either, so I grabbed as many good stones as I could. By the looks of things, you could use something to make you smile, so you should give it a shot. It might just cheer you up!

[Elmer picks up another and throws it, the rock skipping 4 times before it sinks.]

Can't seem to get more than that yet. I'm rather out of practice myself.

[ushahin]

[He tries to copy the movement of Elmer's arm and wrist. His rock doesn't so much skip as make a dismal plopping sound into the lake. Ushahin frowns down at his left arm. He's out of practice at using it for too much.]

I never have been strong physically. Perhaps it's why I failed them all.

[A random way to twist the conversation, but Ushahin feels that he needs to talk about what has been on his mind.]

Has your failure ever cost someone their life?

[keep_smiling]

Mm? [That's an odd question, but Elmer considers it for a moment. His smile never wavers.]

Probably. If not directly, than indirectly. Why do you ask? Is that what's got you down?

[ushahin]

I failed my family. They all died because of me.

[He looks down at his hands, a cloud of gloom hanging over him. He sees their faces all so clearly in his mind. Not just the end, when their eyes had been clouded in death. He's reminded of the way they looked in life, strong and ready to take on the world. That hurts worse than anything else.]

[keep_smiling]

That so? That's too bad. I'm sure it was very difficult.

[Elmer nods, considering it, before picking up another rock and throwing it. Only three skips this time.]

They probably wouldn't want you to keep reflecting on it though. Staying so sad when what's done is done. And I'm sure you tried your best for them, yeah?

[ushahin]

That's just it. I'm not sure I did. If I had done just a little bit more, pressed the limits just a little bit harder...who knows?

[Ushahin can see the patterns in people's thoughts, seeing how things might turn out. He should have been able to see the things that were coming. He grabs another stone, letting it sit there in his hand. As he flings it, he explains, his words punctuated by another dismal plop into the water.]

The worst was the last one. My cousin and I, we could have escaped together had I asked him to. But we both knew we might be caught. Only by sacrificing himself could he be sure I would survive. I should have taken the chance.

[keep_smiling]

There's a lot of "what ifs" to every situation. If we sat around thinking on them all, we'd go mad. And it sounds like you were in a tough situation. I'm sure he knew you'd do the same for him if you could.

[Elmer looks over the rock he picked up, but it's not suitable for skipping, so he throws it far into the lake. A few moments after it sinks, there are some ominous bubbles. Probably best not to think of what's down there.]

I'd also wager that after all that sacrifice, he wouldn't want to see you sad, either.

[ushahin]

[Considering that Ushahin is already mad, he doubts that thinking of the past can drive him any further towards the edge. What Elmer says does make sense. He knew his cousins better than just about anyone and knew that Tanaros had made his choice long before it had been presented to them. It was the fate he wanted. He picks up another stone.]

No, Tanaros never was one for dwelling upon sadness. Anger was what sustained him over the years, right up until the very end.

[It wobbles as Ushahin throws the stone, skips a second time, and then sinks into the water. Maybe he's getting the hang of this. A sad, wistful smile comes to his face.]

[keep_smiling]

[That's almost a good enough smile for Elmer, but not quite yet. His own smile never wavers during their discussion.]

Right! I'm not one to think that people's family members would wish ill of the people they sacrificed themselves for. Though I'm hardly an expert on these things, that's for sure. It just doesn't make much sense to me otherwise.

[ushahin]

Perhaps you are right. If he knew I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself, his spirit would cross time and space itself to tell me to stop. Both of them would.

[Each of the three had always had something that motivated. Tanaros by anger, Vorax by greed, and Ushahin by madness. His cousins would not have wanted him to sit there and grieve over his loss.]

[keep_smiling]

[He laughs good-naturedly at that, visualizing it in his head.]

See? That reason alone should be enough for a smile. The idea that, even in the afterlife, they still care! That's got to be worth something.

[ushahin]

It is worth a lot to me.

[He does manage a small smile then. It's still tinged with old sorrow and regret, for Ushahin is not one to feel happiness for any length of time, but it is a great deal better than the state of moping he has been in.]

[keep_smiling]

[That's enough for Elmer. For now, anyway.]

Then that's all that matters, my friend. Ah, you know, I haven't gotten your name. I'm Elmer. Elmer C. Albatross.

[ushahin]

Ushahin Dreamspinner.

[He doesn't offer his hand to shake, only acknowledging Elmer's words with a slow tilt of his head. An odd man, he thinks, but no stranger than himself.]