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]

"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...