EVENT: Kind Gestures and Dark Mirrors

Entry tags:

EVENT: Kind Gestures and Dark Mirrors

Characters: Ensemble cast, any/all characters of Xistentia!
Summary: While F.A.T.E.S. encourages kind gestures to repair the city's shield, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. sends their agent to sabotage everything with a virus. Infected characters turn into dark mirror versions of themselves, ready to burn the very bridges we were supposed to rebuild.
Date(s): 9 - 26 May. Check out THE MOD ANNOUNCEMENT for more information.
Warnings/Notes: Psychic influence, potential trauma, violence and upsetting themes. Please use subject header warnings appropriately!

KIND GESTURES & DARK MIRRORS EVENT

It's emotional warfare on a dimensional scale.

NOT SO/GRAND GESTURES

While the confessions might have helped some, hurt looks and uncomfortable silences abound across the city. The shield over the city has started to flicker and transmit odd, geometric shadows across the ground. One thing is clear: we have to fix this.

F.A.T.E.S. has a solution. On the morning of 9 May, F.A.T.E.S. will send a message to all residents through their daemons:

F.A.T.E.S. WARNING SYSTEM
Threat Assessment: Moderate
Phenomenon Type: Shield Fluctuations
Predicted Duration: 2 weeks to Critical Failure

The psychic bomb has crippled the defense system over Xistentia. As a result, the modified laws of physics that protect physical consent within the city limits are experiencing problems. Be aware that this means mild injury from physical assaults are now possible within the city.

To repair protective functions, residents are kindly requested to kiss and makeup. Just kissing would also be helpful. Friendly gestures varying from gifted coffee or morning salutations will also be extremely helpful contributions. Your cooperation is appreciated.

In other words, it's time to rebuild bridges. Residents are all encouraged to talk, to reach out to the people around them. Do something nice for a friend, or an acquaintance, or a stranger in need. Of course, if it feels a little forced— that should come as a surprise to no one. F.A.T.E.S. is but an awkward SUPERCOMPUTER, after all.

Good Samaritan: Help a little old lady across the street. Alternatively, given the consent defenses are dialed down, maybe you'll catch somebody about to be hit by a falling pot plant from a higher-floor window. Time to rescue!

Grand Romance: A single rose, a bouquet of flowers; their named tattooed over your heart, or a sword engraved with the insignias of one's ancestors; a boombox held outside the window or an acoustic guitar solo among the fireflies. If you love somebody, this is the time to let it out.

Family Dinner: Whether it's blood or a found family, this would be the time to reconcile over a spread. Or at least-- to try. Funnily enough, even conflict technically feeds energy into the city; a little bickering never killed anybody. But of course, if the argument kills the relationship... that's a turn for the worst, for the city as well as for you.

Apology Gifts: If you made a mess during the psychic bomb event, this would be the time to clean it up. Write a letter, send the text, or show up on the doorstep amid pouring rain.

Wildcard: Want to make a different gesture? Be F.A.T.E.S.' guest.

Enter the Villain

That doesn't really work for D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.

The enemy takes the opportunity to contact their agent Ignacio, giving him instructions to plug a data stick into the Chronological Cartographer in the Temple, in order to release a virus.

During the early hours of the morning on 9 May, Ignacio carries out his mission. The virus takes F.A.T.E.S. by surprise, crippling their internal defences and spreading quickly through their system. All computer systems managed by F.A.T.E.S. suffer disruption, including characters' daemons. All over the city, individuals experience change. The infected have turned into Mirror Versions of themselves. They remember everything about their lives, but their personalities and perspectives have changed. Instead of trying to rebuild, they want to tear down everything they once held dear.

DELETING THE VIRUS (May 26 +)

Over the course of the month, F.A.T.E.S. will be working desperately to clear the virus from their system and from every infected timeline. Daemons will continue to experience glitches, lag and crashes throughout the month.

Finally, by 26 May, F.A.T.E.S. manages to isolate the last pockets of the virus and stop it from replicating. From there, it's a simple matter to delete it from the rest of the system. Over the next few days, all afflicted individuals will return to normal.

Over the next few days, all afflicted individuals will return to normal - and then it's time to pick up the pieces.

Now feeling much more like themselves again, everyone who turned into a mirror will remember everything they did while infected. Now is the time for damage control - both for your personal lives, and for the city's defences. Xistentia is now more vulnerable than ever.

The deleting of the virus will mean a sudden and immediate change for some, and a slower, more gradual change for others. However, all characters will have returned entirely to normal by the end of the month.

ANYTHING ELSE

You can find more information on this event, as well as opportunities for plotting, in our Event Plotting Post!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I. It's Too Late to Apologize (OTA)

[ It is not actually too late to apologize, but- That doesn't mean Rose is any good at it. She's spent a lot of her life not having to be sorry for her actions because she was the only one really affected by them. That's the tricky thing about getting involved with other people though, isn't it? Suddenly, it's not just her she has to think about. In some ways, she's gotten better about it. In others, she's still just as unsure.

This seems to be one of the later as she browses for a gift. It doesn't need to be grand or romantic, she's sure, but she still needs something. ]

Hey, uh. What kind of gift would you get someone that says 'Sorry I didn't tell you I'm going to die if I go home'? Kind of niche, I know, but- I appreciate any advice.

[ Sure. That's one way to do it. ]

II. Mirror Mirror, On The Wall (Closed to CR)

[ It's not a drastic change by any means.

She's still the same happy-go-lucky blond that most people know and like. There's a smile ready for anyone she's familiar with, a friendly wave, and even a- ]

What's up? It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that, I just... I mean, like, you know. Things get kind of crazy around here.

III. Who's the kindest of them all? (Closed to Vanyel)

[ When he comes home, there's dinner ready for him. That's new. Last he probably checked, Rose had no idea how to cook anything edible. She still doesn't, not really, but she manages to slap together something simple and easy. Candles are lit. There's music playing, too, which is anything new but its soothing and slow to set a comfortable mood.

Not seductive, just- Nice. ] Hey, [ she says, coming to greet him immediately. ] Welcome home. [ It's punctuated with a fleeting kiss, sweet and sincere. This is also new since Rose usually lets him come to her. He's always been the more domestic of the two of them, certainly, so this is all a little... off.

But it's not bad. It's actually likely (hopefully) a good change. That's the whole point, really. Just nice enough to plant a singular seed of doubt somewhere down in him. Doubt that Rose - the actual Rose - is really all that good for him after all. ]

[It actually strikes him as something of a role reversal - these are all things he would usually do for her. And while he doesn't mind cooking, or generally being 'the domestic one' between the two of them -after all, he has a great deal more experience in the role- he can't deny this makes a nice change of pace.

His arms wrap around her automatically as he kisses her back, hands settling on her hips. No seduction there either, just Vanyel being his usual touchy-feely self.]

Thank you. [He murmurs once the kiss breaks, letting his forehead rest against hers. Then, playfully] What's the occasion?

[Because while it's certainly nice, it's also just a touch out of character for her, aside from special occasions.]

Edited 2018-05-15 11:04 (UTC)

No occasion, [ she responds almost immediately. Her smile's still on, of course, perfectly pleasant. While most of them are genuine these days in Vanyel's presence, this is still different. Peaceful. All the tension and scars - more mental than physical - that Rose carries with her seem to be gone. ]

I just wanted you to have something nice to come home to.

[ Her arms reach up to loop around his neck, keep him close. Dinner might get a little cold at this rate, really, but she doesn't seem to mind. ] Aside from me, of course.

[ And that's also new, though just as subtle. Rose doesn't often think of herself quite so highly, does she? ]

[He's not blind to the lack of all that tension he's never seen her entirely rid of, but- he's also loathe to look an apparent gift horse in the mouth. If she's managed to make some level of peace with her past, and all the scars it's left... then that's no bad thing. How suddenly it seems to have happened, though...]

Well, this certainly is that. [His own smile doesn't so much as flicker as he answers, dropping another kiss on the tip of her nose.] For the record, though? You are more than enough.

[He cups her cheek, thumb stroking gently over the curve of it. For all their recent troubles, he doesn't want her thinking she isn't good enough or doesn't do enough for him, even for a moment.

And, knowing her as he does, he can't help but worry that her seeming to think so highly of herself is just her projecting more self-confidence than she really feels as usual.]

[ If only, if only. She gives a happy peep at that kiss to her nose, cheeks pink from both the compliment and his closeness. ]

I'm glad you think so, [ she says to that. ] I love you, you know.

[ Rose often lets her actions speak more for her than words in that regard. Still, she imagines it would be nicer to hear more than once in a blue moon for him. She wants to do everything better than before. ]

[He smiles at that peep, and can't resist stealing another brief kiss on account of it. When he draws back, though-

His brows shoot up toward his hairline in surprise - pleased surprise, though, she's right about that. He never doubts her feelings for him, but it is nice to hear.

So his expression mellows into an undeniably delighted smile as he replies] I love you too.

[ That's exactly what she had hoped to hear. In fact, she practically glows at the words in a way that she often does but there's something so genuine about it tonight.

Usually, her response would be something along the lines of how she doesn't deserve him. How he's far too good for her, but- That isn't what she says this time. Instead, she asks- ]

Oh, yeah? And just how much do you love me? I admit, I'm curious.

[His brows rise at that response -it's definitely a little out of her usual character- but his tone is still warm as he answers.]

We've been over it in broad strokes already, I think. Enough to want to spend the rest of my life with you- [his next few words are close, quiet, serious] -and also enough to lay down my own life if it would save yours.

Edited 2018-06-14 13:34 (UTC)

I'd do the same, [ she says, without hestitation. ] I'd do anything for you.

In fact, I've been thinking that. You've done so much for me but I haven't been... the best at returning that affection. So, tell me. What can I do for you?

[Well, almost anything, he thinks, remembering their bitter argument over what she'd intended to do when she went back to her world. He doesn't say so, though, just kisses her forehead.]

You're more than enough and you do more than enough. [He repeats, stoutly.] But if you insist... it'd be nice to spend a quiet evening here, just the two of us. We could... trade more stories about our worlds, perhaps?

[ This Rose? She'd do anything. Even change her plan, for him. ]

If you say so, [ she hums. ] And that sounds lovely. There's a lot of yokai folktales I could think of, or maybe I could tell you all about the Morgans. That's another fun story.

[It may be better he doesn't know that - it would undoubtedly hurt worse, if he got this one to agree to that only for the real Rose to stick to her guns...]

I do say so. [That's punctuated with a kiss to the top of her head before he lets it go, in favor of that subject change.] That would be nice. I haven't heard much about them, yet...

[And he wants to. He wants to learn all he can about these three people who became so close to Rose, during her time at home. They're important to her, that's all the reason he needs.]

[ And isn't that the point, really? It'll be that much more devastating when she switches, when she goes back to the strongheaded and reckless woman that he thought he loved for her flaws. Maybe he still will but they'll certainly be more prominent. ]

I can't believe I haven't, really. They really were so amazing. I think out of all of them, you'd probably like Misto most. I mean, you both have such great taste when it comes to women so... Clearly, you'd have at least one fun thing in common.

[ Her. She's the fun thing.

Either way, she'll gladly tell him all about the Morgans. The trio of brothers who saved her life and took her in, taught her similar to the way he did about the importance of bonds instead of fueling her desire to run. ]

[He catches that implication easily enough, and raises a brow - but it gets a smile out of him too.]

Yes, clearly.

[Worried though he is by how out of character some of this has been for Rose, he relaxes enough to listen attentively to her stories, asking a question or two but mainly just letting her voice wash over him.

Peaceful nights are rare enough here that he's not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.]

[ The change is subtle enough that Wyatt does not, at first? Realise there's something wrong. That's good, because he's already having a day of it with whatever's happening to everyone. He's his normal self, and for this brief few moments, he thinks she is too.

So he goes in to hug her, relief all over his face. ]

Oh, thank god. You don't even know how right you are, babe. Have you seen Vex today?! I had to get out of the house. He was wearing a goddamn apron last night. And he cooked dinner! I think something's wrong, like seriously wrong. He's gone all, like...domestic! And old timey? He's driving me crazy.

[ She melts into the hug in a way she might not usually have. It's warm and friendly. It's not that Rose isn't usually these things but certainly not often so earnestly. She even lingers, hands still on his arms when he draws back and sincere smile on strong. ]

He what. Wow, that's something I'd love to see. Is he at least a good cook? [ Funny enough, she cooked dinner for Vanyel last night too. It's also something she almost never does, so. Her and Vex are - for once - in tune. ]

And if there's anything I can do to help, dude, just let me know.

[ Okay, so that's a little off. She's being way more friendly and helpful than she usually would. And she's touching him without overly flirting with him, which is also off, but…

It's nice. He really needs a friend right now, and it's not so far off that he actually thinks something's awry. Maybe she's just in a good mood. ]

He's…I mean, yeah, he's a good cook. I'd never even heard of a Yorkshire pudding before. Newsflash: it's not a dessert. I don't know what to do, though! He's not acting like himself. He got all suspicious about why I was leaving, too. What should I do, Rose?

[ So a friend he'll receive. No passes or moves to be seen despite the closeness, just a kind nature. It's something that Rose does possess. It's just doesn't usually have a chance to shine with how lowly she thinks of herself, how she tends to put her foot in her mouth. ]

It's not? Huh. Weird. I thought puddings were always sweet... [ They aren't. ] I'm guessing you tried to talk to him about it and that got nowhere. [ She knows, actually, because Vanyel had done the same. ]

I'd say... Maybe try reminding him of how it used to be? Like, do something wild! Fun! That might work?

Yeah! I tried, and he just swore nothing was wrong.

[ Which obviously hadn't been true. Wyatt shakes his head. ]

He threw Mark's ring away, Rose. He would never do that. He'll never stop loving Mark.

[ Which gives Wyatt pause, for a second. He knows it's not real, that it couldn't be real, that Vex might want to move away from Mark. That just doesn't ring true. He swallows, and then concentrates on her again. ]

You mean like. A party, maybe? Or we could go out. Do some sex thing, he'd never say no to that. Yeah, okay. Thanks, I'm gonna try.

He what.

[ That's shocking. Even to a strange reflection of Rose. She can't imagine that he'd do anything that extreme, really- ]

Definitely take him out. I can actually give you some good date spots, if you'd like. Vanyel and I have tried to get a little creative after spending so much time here together and all.

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EVENT: Kind Gestures and Dark Mirrors

hanako 'rosalina' nurumi 🌹 original character (ota + closed)

YOU KNOW WHICH

BOY DO I

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we can wrap this one I think as cute storytelling time if you're okay with that!!!

yep, works for me!

Mirrored!

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