bravenewworld | 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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This whole scene is starting to feel very familiar to Rise. She can feel the walls of her nightmare around her, even closer than the cave's real walls, and feel the thousands of eyes on the back of her neck, waiting for her to make a mistake, a thousand voices waiting to jeer and claim her.

She ignores it, though. She's faced that, and right now it's apparently Yukiko's turn. "Yukiko decided to leave for herself. If she ever does decide to go back, it'll be for herself too!"

She's talking to the apparition, but looking back and forth to Yukiko as she does, voice full of confidence in her friend in the hope that she can pick up the hint.

Yukiko’s voice trembles a bit, hitching with worry as she looks to Rise. Swallowing, she steps forward again, reaching out for some of that borrowed courage. Tears form on her cheeks, silver streams beginning to trickle out.

“I did. I’m not going back for them. If I do, it’s because I want to. But I can’t…I just can’t stay! I’m not going to let myself be trapped by what my parents want from me. That’s…that’s wrong!”

“Is it? Is it really like that for us? You really think you can just leave home by choice and come back because you want to? No. Don’t be stupid. You’ll come back because you’ll fail. You can’t help anyone, seriously look at you. You’re listening to an idol for advice, you constantly go crying to Chie. Gods I’m sure she’s sick of hearing you whine. Ever stop to think that’s why you’ve never had anyone come rescue you? No prince to carry you away? They think you’re pathetic, and they’re just humoring you. And in the end? You’re just going to end up trapped…by tradition, and by your own failure.”

Rise takes a deep breath and steps closer to Yukiko, offering to take the other girl's hand.

"So what if she's listening to advice, huh? So what if she has someone's shoulder to cry on. Is it wrong to have friends?" Rise asks, determined and a little offended at the implication that her advice is worth less because of her career choices.

"We're not humoring you, Yukiko. Everyone needs a hand sometimes, and friends help each other out."

Yukiko's fingers curl tight around Rise's, squeezing hard. Her attention fixes onto the shadow now, and emboldened by the words she finally answers.

"Right! So, what? You're nothing like me, if that's what you think! Nobody can make a difference on their own. Everyone needs help! And I know I've been doing good things."

"What? Because everyone told you after Sanctuary? Because you frightened a bunch of people into submission? Don't kid yourself. You've thought that. And you think-"

"SHUT UP!" Yukiko all but shrieks through her tears. "Just STOP! I don't think that! I don't want anyone to do everything for me! And I don't want to scare people! You're...you're awful! Right Rise? This thing is just a nightmare, isn't it?!"

Rise nods...slowly...

Half in memory, half from the effects of this place, the two girls are then surrounded by walls, one of which has a wide, stagelike opening onto something much like an auditorium. The seats are empty, for now, but Rise knows that they could be filled with leering shadows. She takes a deep breath.

"It's a nightmare, Yukiko. But...we have nightmares about things we're really afraid of," she says. "I've...had one like this. A lot."

"W-What?!" Yukiko's eyes go wide as she looks around the auditorium, confused and unsure. Her shadow blissfully remains silent. For now, anyway.

"Where are we? Why...are you afraid of something like this?"

Rise looks around, and toward the "stage" opening.

"I don't...well, I guess I do know. For all that being famous is great, there's just so much pressure," she says. "If you do good, everyone watches your every move, and if you do bad, they forget you in a second, and that's if you're lucky."

She takes a deep breath and sighs. "And what happens if you quit, then decide you really love it and want to go back? I don't know whether I'm more scared that no one cares, or that some people do."

"I'm sorry, Rise. I really had no idea."

How could she? She's simply the daughter of a spa-owner, not a famous idol. Her hands clench though, and she steps towards Rise, her own shadow all but forgotten. It raises a voice in protest, but no sound comes out. Yukiko spares it one last glance.

"I'm not going to listen to you. You're being ridiculous, and you're telling me a lot of shit that's not true. Or is only half true. So go, just...go."

As Yukiko's hand drops onto Rise's shoulder, her own problem fades out, much like always. She can ignore her troubles for other people, and it's said it's piece anyway.

Rise smiles shakily. "Hey...like I said, I've been through this nightmare. I'm working on it, it's just a pain."

She does appreciate it, but she feels like something's been missed here. "I mean, the point I was trying to make before I got all maudlin is that nightmares aren't meaningless, but we've all got them, you know?"

"Right. We all do, I know that. I just..."

She shrugs.

"I wish we didn't. I just hate feeling like a burden, y'know?"

"You're not a burden, Yukiko."

Rise squeezes her hand.

"You're a friend."

"Thanks, Rise."

Yukiko squeezed back, head bowed.

"You are too."

Descent into Darkness

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