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

[brandnewshoes]

Estelle glances at Gato and Gonzales. She grimaces. She isn't sure that she wants to do that to a friend. She knows how these things can go. She lost her mother; she doesn't know what waits beyond that door, but she knows how it can hurt. Estelle swallows, then she looks at Lucca.

"They think you needa see it," she says. "Face your fears or... something. Do--do you wanna do that?"

Estelle is taking a moment to try to work up the nerve.

[sparkofgenius]

The Makuhita and Golett nod silently. And shove Lucca forward. The scientist doesn't resist.

"I...don't really want to but I don't think I get much choice," she manages to quip as the two Pokemon push open the door. Noise floods the halls of the Ashtear house, the mechanical clatter, a slamming of hammers against anvils, and a scream for help

Inside, clearly visible through the doorway, is Lucca's own mother. Her leg is caught against some sort of conveyor belt, and industrial hammers are pounding away. One of her dad's inventions, steadily moving Lara Ashtear towards her fate. Estelle might remember her from home, a crippled woman bound to a wheelchair.

Lucca stands there numbly at first, watching as the seconds creep by.

"I...couldn't save her, then. I couldn't...I couldn't reach the controls..."

[brandnewshoes]

Estelle remembered Lucca's mother -- Mrs. Ashtear, she always called her -- and the fact that she had been maimed. She never asked how, but it seemed rude. The wrong thing to ask. She stares at the contraption, her eyes widening, as the conveyor belt drags her towards that gruesome fate.

"I'm sorry, Lucca," she answers, quietly. "That's... that's a tough thing to have to live with."

After a moment more, she asks: "How old were you?" she asks. She didn't know Lara Ashtear when she could walk. It must have been after they met; it meant that Lucca must have been young.

[sparkofgenius]

"I was six," Lucca says dully, taking a teetering step into the room. "And ever since then...I've been trying to find a way to make life easier. Because I can't undo this. I can't undo my greatest failure."

She just wasn't capable. She knew that. And even as she stands there, a tiny version of herself comes running into the room.

"Mama! Mama! Hang on! I'll help!"

The adult in her flinches, looking away as the girl runs towards the controlboard. She jumps and tries, but the controls are too high, at least the ones that matter. A combination of keys needs to be put in, and the child not only doesn't know that...she can't reach them. Her voice is weirdly modulated, detached almost, her Steel typing obvious.

"I...can I...should I try now? Does it even matter, here?"

[brandnewshoes]

"You were six," Estelle repeats, but the emphasis was different. She has thought long and hard on how she lost her mother. How, if she could do it over again, she would. She knows it wouldn't be the same because of one thing:

"You're not who you used to be, Lucca." She looks sideways at her friend. "You've grown up. You're not the little girl you were then. You can't change the past here--" She assumes, at least. "But you can see how much you've changed."

Her eyes turn back to the machine and Lara in it.

"I think that still means something."

[sparkofgenius]

"Grown...up."

Lucca closes her eyes and nods. Her voice still has that odd quality, and she steps forward, reaching out. Her hand clenches once. Twice.

"I've...I've always wanted a chance to fix this."

And then she puts in the commands.

L-A-R-A

The sounds of the machine begin to slow, to die, and finally it grinds to a halt. Lucca slumps forward on the console, her younger self vanishing as she does. Her breathing relaxes a bit, becoming more steady.

"If I could, I'd turn back time just to do this."

[brandnewshoes]

Estelle watches, as the machine comes to a stop. When it does -- and the younger Lucca vanishes -- she steps up next to her, then she nods at the statement. "Yeah," she says. "I... I can get that."

She thinks, briefly, of her mother. It wasn't easy. She still hasn't quite accepted everything that happened.

"But... you've still come a long way. I know you can't forget what happened here, but--but remember you're not who you used to be, okay?" she says. Then, she smiles; it's not the big, bright, mischievous smile that she often has inside of the workshop. "Even if you can't change the past, you've got an incredible brain up there. You can totally change the future."

[sparkofgenius]

"Yeah. I know. I'm a full two feet taller now," Lucca can't help but quip. Maybe it's inappropriate, but in a way? It feels right. The workshop begins to fade away as the machines grind to a final halt, returning them to the bare cavern.

"And you know what?" she turns, finally smiling that big old smile she used to. "I think I'm glad for the chance to see that. And to share that with you, dude."

Stepping forward, she pulls Estelle into a big bear hug, arms a lot stronger and less noodle-y than usual.

"Thanks, Estelle. For being there, and being the best friend I could ask for. Even...if you are a hurricane on feet."

[brandnewshoes]

The quip prompts another smile from Estelle and it only widens with the hug. She returns it, hugging Lucca back with the usual tightness. She is a Fighting-type Enlightened who didn't know her own strength, sometimes, when she grew up.

"Of course!" she answers, cheerfully. "Besides, what would I do without you? Someone's gotta do my thinking when I forget to!"

The way she says it, and the grin on her face, suggests it may be a joke.

Her tone becomes more thoughtful. "It worked out, but I think I'm gonna have some words with whoever set these caves up," Estelle adds. "Showing personal stuff like this without asking is really not cool."

[sparkofgenius]

To her credit? Lucca? doesn't wince anymore. Her bones are sturdy! With that behind her though, it was easier to go forward, to let go and just be herself again. She grins back, casually tapping her helmet in a gesture of acceptance of the compliment.

"I don't know either, but I know I'm ready to get out of here. It was probably the gods. Articuno did say they were gonna test us, after all. And we never did find those radio waves...a damn shame but I've had enough of this nonsense."

[brandnewshoes]

"I probably shouldn't punch a god," Estelle sighs. "By words, I meant punches, by the way."

As if it wasn't obvious.

She nods, though, as she takes a look around them. "I think getting out of here is a good idea," she says. "We'll get an explanation, somehow. Even if we need to dig into it more."

[sparkofgenius]

"I got it." Lucca's voice? Is so bland.

"Anyway, yeah, let's get out of here." She turns and looks to Gato and Gonzales, and shakes her head. "And YOU two are going to get a lecture when we get home about grabbing a lady like that. Rude, guys."

...Gollllll...

[brandnewshoes]

"Sometimes they got no respect for a lady!"

Behind her, Adol just sighs.

[sparkofgenius]

"Don't even, Adol," Lucca turns, laughing.

And with that, Gonzales takes the lead towards an exit, teetering back and forth and chanting a march. As he was wont to do...