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

[lunchleader]

[Right and his Pokemon also cough a little. There's some singed marks on his clothes and their fur. Soft Steel is definitely sporting actual burns, due to being part-steel himself.]

...You okay? [Right hasn't left Hayato's side since they got out, and is looking a little concerned upon seeing Hayato staring at his own hands.]

[expertonshutters]

[What a questions. He doesn't answer him, though. Instead his gaze snaps to the Doctor who is ...presently trying to get his machine to work. A fire lights in Hayato's eyes as his expression becomes damn near murderous.]

You!

[He storms over to the man and shoves him away from the console. His hands go for the man's throat. It seems anger burns just as strong as the flames of justice in this one.]

You will never get your hands on me again. I'll make sure of it!

[....He sure is about to choke that guy.]

[lunchleader]

No, wait! Stop!! [Right quickly follows after Hayato and tries to get him to let the other man go!] Hayato, don't kill him! Please! I don't want you exiled!

[expertonshutters]

[He's holding the guy a few inches off the ground. He looks pretty pathetic there gurgling in distress.]

Don't... please...I beg you....

[Which almost makes his grip tighter in his anger. Lines sear their way onto his face. Red scars. Right's probably never seen them.]

Would you listen to those words from someone strapped to one of your tables!?

[The guy just kind of makes choking noises. He doesn't seem to be hearing him. Right might have to try harder to talk him down.]

[lunchleader]

Hayato, stop! Don't do this! [Right tries to pry Hayato's hands off of the guys neck.] If you kill him, you'll...you'll be no better than them!

[expertonshutters]

[That ...gets through to him. For a moment he goes stock still, his eyes growing wide, and then he's letting the guy go and taking a few steps back.]

[The Doctor sits in a heap on the ground, coughing and then looking up at him. There's a sneer in his voice, but even as he speaks, the lab is fading back into the cave.]

Keep down the path of anger and revenge and you really will lose your humanity. Who are you, Hayato Ichimonji? A man or a monster?

[He fades away with a haunting laugh as Hayato drops to his knees.]

[lunchleader]

[Right breathes a sigh of relief as both the doctor and the lab faded back into the cave. So it wasn't entirely real...it was another test. Hayato's test...

Hayato...

Now that the adrenaline is slowly ebbing out of his system, Right's staring to notice those red scars on his face. That, on top of everything else that has just happened... Is Hayato really...?

He shuffles over to Hayato, looking pensive for a few moments. Then, he slowly kneels down next to the other man, looking him in the eye.] ...you're not a monster...

[expertonshutters]

[He doesn't hear him right at first. He's too busy staring at the cave wall trying to wrap his head around what just happened. Fucking caves. Holy Savior he was swearing off caves. He could have--]

[And then he hears Right and looks up at him startled, eyes wide.]

[Right saw everything. His hands reach up to his face in distress. His scars were showing, too. He had to get out of here- he had to-]

[What did he just say?]

Wh. What?

[lunchleader]

That jerk...that illusion is wrong. You're not a monster. Even if you're not like the rest of us... [He swallows the lump in his throat.] Even if you are an Enhanced...you're still you. You're still my friend. And I'll always trust my friends, no matter who - or what - they are.

[Right's going to try and take one of Hayato's hands. If he succeeds, then he'll fully put his own hand into the palm of the other man's hand. He gets that one wrong squeeze from Hayato could hurt him, just from their typings.

But he trusts him not to do so.]

[expertonshutters]

[Hayato doesn't really know what to say. He just kind of stares at him while his words sink in. He looks down at their hands and- he can't help it. He tenses at Right touching him. He always gets wound up when someone touches him. He has to make himself relax- which he does after a moment.]

[He will carefully close his fingers around Right's hand. It's loose but there. The scars start to fade gradually and he takes a deep breath.]

[He doesn't look at him right away. Eyes averted to the ground.]

That- ...Thank you, Right. I'm sorry you had to find out like this.

[lunchleader]

[Right shakes his head, a small and sad smile on his face.] It's alright. I'm just glad you're still in one piece.

[He wraps his free arm around Hayato's shoulders.] Besides, we're friends, right? And friends stick by each other and beat up anyone that messes with them.