Event Log: Beetlejuice

[hadrielmods]

Who: Everyone participating in the event!
What: The event log for the Beetlejuice event!
Where: All around the city
When: August 13th-August 18th
Warnings: Scary stories to tell in the dark! Maybe a few goosebumps? Taking a walk or two down Fear Street.

When you wake up on the morning of August 13th - well, you'll notice that morning just doesn't really happen. The light that usually illuminates the cave doesn't start coming on, leaving things as dark as night. As if that's not enough, the light switches don't seem to work either. No matter how many times you flip them, the lights won't come on, although mysteriously the other appliances work as normal.

Afraid of the dark? Don't worry! You have oh-so-kindly been provided with lanterns, candles, and flashlights that sure do love to flicker just when you least want to be terrified. Hey, it's something, right?

Just as you begin to realize the artificial 'sun' isn't coming up, Fear appears to make an announcement to the network. What's not fun about scary stories when you're stuck in a dark cave surrounded by monsters? Nothing, that's what! So have fun, everyone - terrify your friends with that story about a cactus filled with spiders, try that classic scarecrow-falling-from-the-ceiling prank. It'll be a good time for everyone, especially Fear! We're sure no one will hold anything against you. On the morning of August 18th, the lights will finally come on as usual. Let's hope you don't have any nightmares!

► This log covers August 13th-August 18th.
► 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 scare yourself to death, please let us know here!

Comments

[lineare]

[ Jean shouldn't be terrified of this, really -- she holds a power in her capable of obliterating anything she sets her mind to; but this place, this place is something else. This place holds supernatural horrors reminiscent of the few frightening movies she'd seen, and she blinks at that, unsettled and chilled.

It calls to an old, primitive part of someone, anyone -- the imagination conjuring up things that make her lean just a little closer to Jack. It's a story, just a story. She can handle what comes, right? She thinks of a single pale girl with twitching movements and long dark hair, and can't resist a glance up at the ceiling. ]

What happens if you do?

[benumbing]

If you do... [Jack trails off, watching her closely, leaning in and waiting for that exact moment when she glances at the ceiling. He thought she might, she seemed more susceptible to ghost stories than most. And when she does, he lunges and grabs her arms.] She gets you!

[It might not be wise to jumpscare a girl with her powers. Maybe she'll find a compliment in the fact that he's forgotten that she's not a normal girl.]

[lineare]

[ Jean jumps, startled, a few glasses shattering nearby as a result. It's a strange, new thing to have someone scare her this way, to look at her like she's just another girl, and Jean immediately flushes at his proximity and the embarrassment of startling a few of the other patrons.

He's very handsome, disarmingly so, but she quickly recovers and gives his shoulder a light punch, her cheeks pink as she huffs. ]

Oh! You scared me!

[benumbing]

[It's only when the glasses shatter that Jack remembers, and he slowly withdraws his hands from her arms. He's still smiling though, not regretting the risk that he took one bit no matter what he says next.]

I'm sorry. [His smile stretches when she punches his arm.] Don't be afraid. I'll have to be dead before I let anything hurt you. And look at me, still alive.

[And then his smile becomes downright devilish.]

Or am I?

[lineare]

You're warm; you're alive.

[ Jean shakes her head at him, smiling at that mischievous wickedness -- she knows that it's rare that he gets to indulge, and she decides that she quite likes this side of him, too. It suits him in subtle, interesting little ways. So he won't let anything hurt her, huh? Jean privately decides that she would do the same for him; he deserves a second chance at life, at freedom. ]

Isn't being a knight a downgrade from being a prince?

[benumbing]

I used to think so.

[And it wasn't that long ago at all. He was pretty much forced to believe otherwise.]

Some people might say that a prince is just born a prince, and that a knight is defined by his actions.

[But Jack knows that there's a lot of work that goes into being prince too, appearances and expectations. It's left him exhausted down to his bones.]

I've never wanted anything just handed to me.

[lineare]

[ Jack's thoughts, his emotions are easy to pick out -- laced with exhaustion and resentment, sadness, a loneliness that goes so deep that it will take time to heal.

She thinks of princes and knights, that old-school charm of his, the gallantry of protecting women that runs deep -- ingrained philosophy. But he is no wounded bird, he's a fighter, and she smiles faintly. ]

Now's your chance to fight for what you want. Does it scare you?

[benumbing]

Not in the slightest.

[Jack's answer is automatic, honest.]

Being helpless is a thousand times more frightening than fighting, even if you know you could lose. Even if you know you could die. Now tell me something. [Jack scoots closer, offering his hand for her to take.] What is that you want here?

[lineare]

[ Jean looks down at his hand -- oh, the many brave souls she had met here; the bright, shining lights, each one with their own stories and their own struggles. Her brows knit faintly, considering her answer with care.

She takes his hand then, squeezing it lightly. With all her heart she hopes that he finds what he's looking for. But as for his question... ]

I don't know. [ She says honestly. What does she want here, really? ] Be better at not hurting people. And maybe make a few friends. [ For a person who can read minds, Jean's isolated, lonely. ]

[benumbing]

I'd say you're doing okay so far, wouldn't you?

[Jack gives her hand a squeeze in return. She certainly hasn't hurt him, and it's hard not to think of such a sweet soul as a friend. The only that that would stop him is Jack not thinking himself worthy of it.

He looks over, and with his free hand reaches for a bottle of something fruity and sweet.]

Come on, let's have a drink together.