bravenewworld | Descent into Darkness

Descent into Darkness

As the characters arrive, they will find what appears to be a rather deep cavern. Upon entering, the caverns are quite narrow, with twists and turns everywhere and different tunnels that all seem to be interconnected. As characters travel deeper within the caverns, reality around them will start to warp, they will start to see and hear things that aren’t necessarily there - images of old enemies, past failures, voices of condemnation, visions that strike at the soul and core of the characters. Once this begins, it will only increase in power and volume, demanding it be confronted, lest they be trapped within these caves forever.

[OOC: This event will run for a week. All characters who enter the caves will be subject to some of their deepest fears, darkest demons, and most abject failures. To overcome them, characters must help each other out, finding their purpose through strength of character and resolve to move forward. In general, these visions should require characters to come to grips with themselves. Illusory images and voices can and will appear and can take any number of forms, depending on what is most appropriate to a character. Additionally, characters may thread with each other and are encouraged to help each other out to overcome these personal demons. For those who wish to take part, they are able and encouraged to narrate their own personal demons, which will be on display for everyone who enters their thread. IC threads may be made in this post.]

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[Oh, yes. She definitely was. The apparition seemed to smirk with the haughty amusement of a well kept Persian as he motioned for the girl to join them.]

"Nonsense. He's merely tardy for some remedial lessons. Any good student would be worried if they somehow earned too many marks on their record."

[Waver was frantically shaking his head in the silence. Don't do it-- run.]

[Should Fuuka go ahead and join them? She didn't want to, she didn't want to encourage them on continuing to belittle this. But...her fear was talking.

Instead of running away, she eventually walked up to them with a heavy sigh. If only Yukiko could see her now...]

But...it seems so harsh. Perhaps you can go a little easier on him. It seems like he has done enough to earn a second c-chance.

[Will this work...?]

[Probably not.

Waver sighed, already feeling defeated, and shook his head in silent frustration at the girl. Why wouldn't anyone listen to his warnings already?]

"He's already had gone beyond his second chance, and enough chances to be counted upon both hands-- there's no reason to offer anymore favors."

[Looking up now, Waver dared to offer a protest.]

All I asked for was access to the libraries if I couldn't afford classes. That's hardly asking for any--

[The apparition cut him off with a click of his tongue.]

"Wrong," [he said, wagging a finger.] "Did you honestly believe that we would let in just anyone from the streets because they asked?"

[Dropping his gaze back down to the dirt beneath their feet, Waver grit his teeth rather than stammer out a reply. He had known it was a lot to ask-- and still he tried.

Again.

And again.]

[Yup, she can definitely tell that Yukiko would be so disappointed if she found out what Fuuka did just there. Although, if anything, this only proved her parents were right. As she bit her bottom lip to listen to this strange man's words to the young boy, she so desperately wanted to speak up.

But she was just one young woman against someone’s harsh words. What could she do when they didn’t bother to listen? Should she try again and fail or should she just let it be?]

H-How about we can let him visit the library for only 10 minutes? Even if he is someone on the streets, it seems so mean to say that to him when he just wants to learn!

And I don’t see anything wrong with that!

[She’s trying, really!]

[No, Fuuka was doing something that she could be proud of-- standing up to a bully who hid themselves under the guise of tradition. Waver looked at her, almost surprised to hear those words uttered from someone that he had never met before. Although he had never gathered the courage to outright argue like this, those were indeed his thoughts.

No one needed to cling to a five hundred year old tradition so strictly, and Gigas would never have been able to hold the city for forever even without Union's intervention. The Magi needed to change.

And, even if he wasn't the one to do it, that didn't mean that he wasn't going to try.]

Forget it, [He said, shaking his head.] He's part of the reason I left Sanctuary anyway. They're not going to just change because something's unfair.

[Oh how she longed to stand up to those who have wronged her in someway. Of course, it wasn't always as easy as it looked. It was always so much better to stand up for other people rather than herself wasn't it?

Even now, as he brushed off, it didn't seem to suit Fuuka too well.]

But aren't they going to listen? Because I really don't want us to get involved with a fight. And besides, haven't we had enough of that already?

[At least, that's what she hoped. Because right now? There was a voice in the back of her mind telling that it just can't be done]

I don't know, [he sighed.] I really don't know...

[And it was a shameful thing to admit, for a young man who was verging on his twentieth year and having spent his entire lifetime within the high walls of Sanctuary. As much as he wanted to push change along, the Magi were too stubborn-- and, perhaps, it was his ideas of making information easier to access that had denied him entry into the academy in the first place.

The shadowy lecturer sniffed in haughty disdain at those words.]

"It isn't your place to know. It's your place to accept your lot in life-- and, face it. You still have it better than most. Perhaps one day your children, or your children's children, will be able to achieve what you can't in this lifetime.

"That is, after all, part of the life of a Magus."

Magus...? What's that?

[She wasn't sure what this ghost was talking about but maybe she was eavesdropping in on a conversation she wasn't suppose to hear. There were still a lot of things she didn't know about the young man but there were a lot of things he didn't know about her either.]

Better or not, it's still no right to treat him like that! And if you don't, I'll...I'll...

[...What can she do? As she looked around, there definitely wasn't a lot she could do. And there was no way her poor Espurr could even to attack him. Without a second thought though?

She immediately grabbed Waver's hand and made a run for it!]

[And with a startled yelp, Waver found himself being immediately dragged along by the young woman into the depths of the labyrinthine library. His eyes lit up once he understood what was happening-- she was making good on her unfinished threat. A glance at her was enough for him to understand that she was no better than he was in actual combat, and that knowledge was gleaned without the indiscriminant use of his own particular skillset.]

Where do you think we're going? [He demanded as they flew passed rows upon rows of dusty shelves, leaving the apparition further behind them. Bluster was always his default reaction, despite his personal gratitude for her sudden actions.]

I...I don't know but we need to get out of here! I just thought you needed to get away from that man!

[Best plan ever, Fuuka! Of course, now that she was running, she knew she couldn't keep it up forever. Even after a couple of minutes, she found herself starting to pant a little with each passing row. While her Pokemon was worried, she didn't even want to think about what would happen if she stopped.

However, she didn't neven bother to look behind them. For all she knew, the ghost was chasing after them and preparing for an attack should they stop]

We...got to keep...moving...

[A glance behind was enough to show that they weren't being followed. The apparition had been left behind in the dust of a well aimed distraction-- that being the young woman-- and Waver made to pull himself out of her grip once he was satisfied that they were relatively safe.]

Don't be dumb, [He chided, looking at her in disbelief,] you don't even know me-- what if you got hurt over this?!

[Once he let go, Fuuka immediately placed her hands on her knees to allow herself some time to breathe. Of course, she didn't respond at first but instead simply just looked at the male before giving a small smile at him]

I-I know, I wasn't thinking but...I just couldn't stand back and allow him to berate you like that. [Breathe, Fuuka!] It didn't seem r-right…

You....

[Waver looked at the young woman in utter dismat, not fully believing the words he was hearing from her until he saw the sinceriity in her eyes and shy little smile. Groaning, he buried his face in his ands and turned away from the girl, unable to stand that look any longer.]

You really are an idiot. Everyone in Union is an idiot. Why is everyone here so dumb!?

[Tell her something she doesn't know. As she continued slowly breathing in and out, she still couldn't help but chuckle.]

I know, I’m not thinking clearly but that’s okay right? At least I can help save someone! I think that makes it worth it! [A giggle] Oh dear, that isn’t like me to be so reckless. That is strange!

[Between getting lost in the caves and risking herself? It was rather thrilling really!]

[Waver heaved a sigh, feeling utterly defeated in the face of that particular logic.]

...Who exactly are you anyway? [He asked, finally regarding her directly. Whomever she was, she looked to be nearly as old as he...and far less experienced.]

[The power of Fuuka compels you, Waver!]

Me? My name is Fuuka Yamagishi, it's nice to meet you! Although, I did wish we met in other circumstances!

[She said before giving her hand out to him. Would this be the start of a friendship?]

[So-- so cheerful!

Waver awkwardly reached out to take her hand, giving a shake that could be best described as 'uncertain', because how does a person make friends?]

Waver Velvet.

[He glanced away.]

Uhm. About everything..... that is, I think--

Thank you. That was dumb, but that was also helpful.

[Don't worry, Waver, Fuuka has no idea either.

Which was why as she shook his hand, she was also equally uncertain herself. After being raised in a hospital for so long, exactly how does one befriend someone else anyway? Just wing it and hope for the best right?

Riiiggghhhttt?]

You're welcome! And yes, it was a rather dumb move but...I can hear my parents now. They wouldn't be very happy to see how reckless I was being!

--that's why you don't tell them, and why we get out of here as fast as we can.

[Because answering questions about why someone's daughter was injured in the caverns helping a stranger was the absolute last thing Waver wanted to deal with...and, being stuck in the dark like this always unnerved him to no end.]

[Well, there was something else going on but Fuuka didn't want to address it. Not in the caves anyway.]

Then we will need to find the exit as fast as we can...?

[Which was why she started to look around the area to see if there was any sign of light at all!]

Um...perhaps if we continue walking down where I entered, we'll find it eventually!

We don't really have a choice, do we?

[Waver sighed.]

Lead the way.

Uh...o-okay then...?

[While she was more than willing to help, that was the problem. She was the leader now? Oh dear, hopefully she'll do a good job of leading them out right?

Right?]

It should be that way...

[She mumbled to herself as her Pokemon just raised an eyebrow at her. Although, her Espurr eventually took a good look at Waver and...gave him a small pout]

[Waver looked away from the Espurr, uncomfortable underneath the kitten's gaze. If he had the proper information, he would have tried his hand at crafting up a tracking spell for them to at least be a guide...but, he hadn't even realized that they were entering the lair of the Minotauros.

As such, he was equally blind, and equally lost.]

Don't think about it too much, [he said.]

...in fact, we might have better luck if we don't think. I certainly wasn't when I got here.

[Well, that's something she hasn't ever heard before. Both her and the kitten just stared at him as if he said something wrong.

She didn't intend to make that expression but...]

Wouldn't that make us even more lost if we don't? If we don't think about it, we might not recognize which places we have looked past and end up getting lost.

[Or at least, that's how she saw it]

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Descent into Darkness

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