Descent into Darkness

[bravenewmods]

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.]

Comments

[footprints_on_your_face]

What's so bad about-

[Chie starts, but she's cut off by the scream. She straightens and looks in the direction of the sound before glancing back to Lucca.]

Hey, who is that? Someone's in trouble in there!

[sparkofgenius]

It's...It's mom.

[Lucca teeters, ducking her head and shaking as she collapses to the floor.]

She...this is how she got hurt. I wasn't...I don't know how to stop this...

[The scream repeats, like it's stuck on a loop, and the normally chipper and brave engineer just quivers there, unable to move.]

[footprints_on_your_face]

[Chie's face goes white as the screams continue. She had no idea.]

What... what happened to her?

[sparkofgenius]

[Lucca sobs into her hands]

One of dad's inventions malfunctioned. It...she can't walk anymore because of it. And I couldn't...I couldn't stop it...

[footprints_on_your_face]

O-oh...

[Chie really has no idea how to respond to that, so she drops down to Lucca's level and hugs her instead.]

Lucca...

[sparkofgenius]

[The scream continues, and Lucca just shakes into the hug. She can't really resist it. All around them, the scene begins to shift, the inside of the lab becoming more plain. A conveyor belt, some automated hammers, and a woman stuck.

And a little girl. A six year old girl, frantically trying to climb up onto a control console. But she's too short...and it's too slick.]

...I just...why did it have to be this?

[footprints_on_your_face]

Well...

[Chie's thinking. She isn't completely sure what to do here, but she's looking around uncomfortably.]

...Maybe you can help her this time?

[sparkofgenius]

...maybe.

[Lucca shakily stands up and walks over, pressing a few buttons.

And the machine grinds to a halt.]

...you...you know how much I've wanted to do that?

[footprints_on_your_face]

It must have been really hard, holding that inside all this time... I never knew something like this happened.

[Chie frowns, placing a hand on Lucca's shoulder.]

Is this why you got into machines?

[sparkofgenius]

Most people don't. I don't talk about it. Even Estelle doesn't know. She just knows there was an accident, and Mom's legs were crushed.

[Her head hangs but she doesn't move as the illusion vanishes.]

But it is. Yeah. To find a way to help mom. My first real invention was a self-moving wheel chair, but I've not ever found a way to make any sort of really workable prosthetic.

[footprints_on_your_face]

I bet she's really proud of you, Lucca.

[Chie doesn't know the woman at all, but she's sure there's no way she blames her daughter for this.]

[sparkofgenius]

I know she is.

[There's no trace of doubt there. Lucca's composure is coming back by this point.]

But I haven't found the solution. Yet. That's why I came to Union. Because I will.

[footprints_on_your_face]

Everything I've seen you invent so far has been really amazing. I know you'll figure it out someday.

[sparkofgenius]

Yeah. I...hope so.

[Look, you made her blush.]

Anyway. Let's get going. Those radio waves aren't finding themselves, and my helmet's telling me they're close.