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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Then we'll just need to keep a closer eye on where we're going. I know that I just came from that direction, so perhaps we'll just avo-

[Of course, before she could even finish her sentence, she was quickly cut off by another voice. Oh dear, this wasn't going to end well was it?

As she listened to the conversation, she took a step back before looking to the side.]

Um...mind if I ask who is 'she'? [She didn't want to drop in but ,at the same time, she just had to do something]

[Gordon picks up the pace a bit, perhaps trying to outpace the voices.]

My wife.

[The next blind corner leads to the image of a rooftop in Union, a man recognizable as a younger James Gordon, his hair still red, is smoking a cigarette in the company of a rather pretty blonde woman, who speaks with the second feminine voice, not that of his wife as she turns to him.]

You're driven. That's one of the things I like about you, Jim. It's admirable.

[The pair step closer together, and the older, real James Gordon heads for the roof access door, trying to get through the door before what he knows is coming. He gets the door open just as limbs entwine and the figures embrace.]

[Fuuka didn't need to be told what was going to happen next. As they made their way to the door, he could see the hint of red that was slowly starting to show on her face]

A-And I suppose she isn't your wife, is she?

[Although, with the way things are, she had a feeling she already knew what would be the outcome of this. She didn't say it but he could see that she clearly wanted to say something about it]

She was really pretty, I'm kind of envious though.

[Gordon frowns. At the question, at the girl, at his former self. The target of his ire is unclear, though he responds simply to her question.]

She was a mistake.

[He leaves what happened on the roof all those years ago at that, leading the way. The noise like a too-taut violin string shifting to something more manic, the same string played by a maniac in something that could only loosely be considered music.]

[Almost by instinct, the girl flinched at the frown. Oh dear, did she say something wrong? Clearly she must have if he was giving that expression.]

O-Oh...I'm sorry, I didn't know. That must have been a difficult time...

[Or at least, that's what she thought. But it was kind of funny, between hearing the strange loud music and how erratic the music got? It served to remind her of her own home life too...]

W-What's that? Is that you? Uh...your other self playing music?

[Gordon shakes his head.]

Never really learned to play an instrument. I have no idea what that is. Somewhat foreboding, though.

[The sound only grows more chaotic, like razors dragged along violin strings as he turns the corner, finding a front door, pleasant and normal and entirely out of place in the caves. Mike the Squirtle lets out a happy little noise and runs up, jumping slightly to get to the door knob.]

[That...doesn't make things any better. If anything, her Espurr just tighten her grip on Fuuka's head as she awaited to see what could be making that noise.

As they gotten closer, Fuuka just had to cover her ears. Whatever was making that sound, the young girl couldn't stop shaking. She just couldn't get ride of this bad feeling she was getting. Even when Mike was reaching to get the doorknob, she bit her bottom lip.

Whatever was going to happen, she wasn't going to like it...]

[Very astute. The door opens on an actually rather welcoming little home. Nothing fancy, the occupants well to do, but not particularly wealthy, but it has a sort of lived in charm, with walls and shelves covered in pictures and other momentos that have built up over the years. The floor is significantly less inviting, the tension snapping, the chord cut through.]

[On the floor lie three lifeless bodies, two female, one male, red hair and redder blood pooling beneath the women, the boy simply in a pool of blood. As one voice, Gordon and his pokemon all make a distressed noise, running to their side. The squirtle shakes the girl, trying to rouse her, big watery tears forming as he fails.]

[The silence is broken by words, not a voice, nothing so chaotic could be considered a voice, it hard to believe that it could possibly come from any man or mon.]

Home late again, Jim? You missed all the fun.

[It laughs, fading as if it's source is walking away, but no source is visible, no-one to have spoken.]

[And Fuuka was right. She covered her ears as much as she could as the chord was heard. She didn't know why but with the music being heard, the room was somehow even more scarier than it was suppose to be. Of course, as she got a better look of everything, she gave a loud gasp when she saw the dead bodies nearby.

With her Pokemon gripping her hair even more, she covered her mouth with her hand hoping that she wouldn't be too loud. If this strange place was anything like she thought, something else was going to happen next. And the last thing she wanted right now was to be shaken up by something else.

But once the voice came on, Fuuka immediately started to look around]

W-Who are you and...what what do you want? Why are you doing this...? [It was rare for Fuuka to be so angry but...this was one of those times]

[The only reply to Fuuka's question is a slight renewal of the fading laughter before it disappears and the room becomes deathly still except for Gordon, Fuuka, and their pokemon. Gordon looks for the source of the voice, but his attention soon returns to the bodies of his family, and his face falls, shoulders shaking.]

I should have been there. I've made so many excuses, but...

[He trembles, falling to his knees, running his fingers through the woman's red hair.]

[Meanwhile, as the laughter started to disappear, Fuuka gave a frown of disappointment. Angry as she might, she knew that she couldn't stay that way forever. Especially not when there was someone next to her in mourning.

As she walked over to the bodies, she kneeled forward across from Gordon]

...I'm sorry, that...that must have been a terrible time for you. It must have been difficult when you found out.

[It might seem like the obvious but right now? Fuuka wasn't even sure how to talk to him. Just what can she say back?]

This isn't the past.

[Not that that clarification makes the image hurt any less.]

I just hope it's not the present.

[Now that really confused Fuuka. As she continued to stare at the bodies, her lips made a thin line all the while trying to figure out what happened]

What do you mean? Are you saying...this hasn't happened yet?

If it hasn't...what does this imply?

[Gordon shakes his head at her question. Her second question gets a different action. Jim's voice, more youthful, less changed by years of smoking, but coming from everywhere all at once.]

After the baby's born, I promise.

The city needs me.

This weekend.

I'll make the time.

[The voices are all over the spectrum between the voice of the young man who spoke earlier and the old man on his knees in front of her. There's a tension then, not the taut wire of earlier, not the chaotic music of a madman. Just a pressure, or maybe a presence, a sense of someone, or something, watching. The unshakable prickling of the hairs at the back of the neck. Gordon sighs heavily.]

That I haven't been spending enough time with them. I wasn't there. I could have stopped this, I could have prevented this.

[At first, Fuuka attempted to walk closer to Gordon before she took a step back. She wanted to tell him that everything was going to be okay but clearly she can't. Especially with the way how it has affected him.

However, whatever fear she had in her? She swallowed it as she walked forward and gave a hand out to him.]

It's not your fault. I'm afraid I still don't fully understand what is going on but you must not blame yourself for what happened. This situation was completely out of your control and no one can blame you for what happened.

Whatever it may be? I know I don't and neither does my Espurr. And I have a feeling your Pokemon feel the same way, sir. I'm not asking you to forget what happened but...I think you must forgive yourself first or else.

[Was she doing what she was suppose to do? Perhaps but his needs out weight her own right now. Whatever insecurities she might be feeling will have to wait]

[As if confirming Fuuka's words, Rex nudges Gordon, the large dog looking at the man with concern. Gordon rises to his feet, taking Fuuka's hand for leverage. He looks at the lifeless bodies of his family.]

Let's find what we came for and get home.

[His voice is stern, a part of the man wanting to abandon their quest and go straight home to check on his family. He gives Fuuka a weak, forced smile.]

Not exactly meeting me at my best.

[At least it was something right? Even if she managed to get a smile out of the man, it told her that she was doing something correctly. As she gave a light chuckle in return, she could see that his Pokemon was worried about him.]

But at least I got a smile out of you, that's still something!

[She mumbled before looking back at the ground.] But please do consider what I said though. It...really isn't your fault.

[Gordon looks at the illusory bodies again.]

It could be... but it doesn't have to be.

[He looks around then, and opens the nearest door. In the real world, it's a broom closet. Here, it opens out onto the caves. He leaves the grisly scene behind, heading towards the well lit chamber at the end of this tunnel.]

[When Fuuka simply followed Gordon, she could see that her poor Pokemon was starting to get scared. With everything thrown at her all at once, she didn't know what was going to happen next.

Even with her trainer trying to calm her down, Fuuka had to admit. She was starting to get scared as well. But for now, at least they can perhaps relax. ...Just for a short while]

You think it's safe to enter there? I don't know what might happen but...

[Gordon doesn't slow in his pace, but moves at a pace that shouldn't be difficult for the girl to maintain.]

After what we just saw back there? You'll understand when you have children of your own, but nothing scares me after seeing that.

[And the good news for the pair, unless one of them happens to have some phobia of gem stones, or the color pink, the horrors are over, and Diance awaits.]

[With that, Fuuka remains silent. While she might not have children of her own, the idea of seeing her parents and her friends getting killed in that manner? She can't imagine what it must feel like to see his own family like that...

Which was why she didn't say anything. Maybe she felt a tad bit guilty but as she looked up to him? She gave a small sigh]

...Sorry...I didn't mean it like that...

[Gordon stops, sighing.]

I know you didn't.

[He turns to the young woman, giving a small, weak smile.]

You haven't exactly caught me at my best. This has been a trying day. I don't mean to take it out on you, but... after what I saw in there, I just want to find what we came for and get back home to my family.

You think we'll be able to find an exit any time soon? Because I think right now, the best thing to do is just to look for your family.

[And she gave a pause]

And make sure that you always tell them that you love them no matter what. You don't know what might happen to them.

[Gordon gives a small smile at that.]

I have every intention of doing so.

[He looks forward.]

And... I might have a bad track record of prioritizing on this, but we came here to do something. I'm going to do it. Then I'm going to get home as fast as my Rhyhorn can carry me.

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Descent into Darkness

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