Memory Sharicus - Oh No, not again!

[heromedal]

About 8 am on July 15th, Rex does something stupid in his usual genius way. It was meant to be a small, simple test run of a method to scan a person and instantly gain all the data he needed to produce a Phantom.

The small field the spell was meant to spread just kept growing, until popping like a bubble with the most counterintuitive sound of all- two seconds of white noise, sounding as if it was coming from inches away. Not everyone heard it. But everyone who did...

It's a painless process, almost ticklish and instantaneous as numerous coloured orbs fly out from their chest, taking wild curving trajectories that launch them all over the academy and some of Soleil, coming to a sudden stop and hovering silently for just a few seconds.

That's when they start to slowly float towards the nearest possible recipient of the memory they contain, accelerating as they get closer as if thought and mind have a unique sort of magnetism.

It's sort of beautiful to see, really, not that Rex will notice because 60% of his mind is consumed with fear he will get into trouble and the Phantom project will be compromised. On the other hand, the Phantom project could provide the perfect scapegoat. So about six hours after the initial event, he released his latest creation- the Phantom mischief-maker, Waggery!

What a disaster.

(( ooc: The planning post is here! Be careful to warn for the nastier memories! If you already have memories planned to share, feel free to write them as a top level or just put up your character and link to the planning/make it a free for all. There'll be a post below for Waggery shenanigans and random NPC memories up for grabs. ))

Comments

[hawkwardness]

< You, coming home to your kid. >

[Yes, this is extremely stupid--how can he save this, make it less awkward?]

< So, yours are out there too. Not sure what you want to do about that. >

[bejustorbedead]

You were Knighted a few days ago, and while in this period it wasn't unusual for newly minted knights such as yourself to be taken into the arms of the Order of the Knights Templar, especially with the last fervor of reclaiming the Holy Land.

What made you stood out was the Grand Master had been there to see your ceremony, and your age. You tried to swallow back the nerves as you looked at the faces of older men, knights who had served the chapter - some longer than you been alive as you stepped forward into the center of the square. There was only two recognizable faces in the throng of men, the Order forbid outsiders from watching, even if they're family.

The Grand Master steps forward, with three senior men. You stood ramrod straight as he calls out to the whole of the room, asking if any had doubts about your joining - for a moment you tense, worried if someone would object to your age, or your inexperience, but there was no word of protest - you resist the urge to relax, it's not over.

The three knights soon approached and circled you - each in turn asking you questions, your willingness to commit, to remind you of the harsh life you had signed up for - you found it surprisingly easy to confirm each any every requirement, to never marry, to not stray from the faith, to be of good health and nature.

You now understood why they didn't practice with you like your Father did with your knighting ceremony, they wanted an unrehearsed, honest answer. You barely registered when you are told of the fabled benefits of the Order, the wealth and good horses that they had earned thanks to their favored status - then rebuke you if you had any thoughts of greed, which you denied - you didn't join for those, you wanted to serve the people.

Then the floor was opened, the observers asking their own questions, a Spaniard in particular engaged you in hypothetical scenario, a difficult one involving the judgment of a sinful man of the faith and a virtuous pagan. You weren't sure if it was the right answer, but it was the one that felt the most just in your eyes, that it was virtue rather than profession of faith that was the most important thing.

It was then - it was only then that the three seniors fully stepped away, and the Grand Master approaches, a woven belt and their white mantle in arms. It was a miracle you managed to keep your joy contained as the belt was first placed against your belly, as you ignored the scratchy sensation of it - it was to be a reminder of your vows and never taken off - the tabard was draped over you, three drawn swords touching your shoulders as you were gestured to kneel.

Cheers erupted as you now rose up, the Grand Master embracing you, accepting you not as a young man with lofty goals, but as Sir Kiske, of the Order of the Knights Templar, protector of the populace and smiter of the wicked.

[partiallysquirrelblood]

[You're getting to see dinosaurs. Actual, for real dinosaurs. Not only that, but you get to interact with them too. Petting Pachycephalosaurs, running with Gallimimuses, sliding down an Apatosaurus's neck, and riding on Rubeosaurs.]

[The only downside is that Quetzalcoatlus rides apparently aren't a thing, due to the danger involved. It's a shame, because you're pretty dang sure you could do it with no problem. Even so, this trip has been the most fun you've had in ages.]

[unpocoloco]

[Several emotions flicker over his face in quick sucession. No anger. But fondness and grief-- of all different kinds-- settling on something wistful.]

That is a rather nice one. Definitely one of the better ones.

[He shakes his head.]

There's nothing to be done. At least not that I can think of right now. I'm glad you got a better memory.

[marmoron]

[These motherfucking memory orbs, man. Keith's trying to mind his own damn business chasing after a red orb of his own but there it goes zooming towards Ana. And what's presumably a red orb of Ana's heading right towards him. Instinctively, he tries to swat that away, but....

The emory begins in a small office. There's nothing unique about it, really. It could be anyone's cramped little office. The desk is grey and the chair and filing cabinets in the back are also grey to match. The lighting is fluorescent, cold and uninviting, and the floor is tan linoleum, heavily scuffed. It's sweltering hot and you can feel a bead of sweat trickling down your forehead which you wipe away angrily with the back of your child sized hand. But that's the least of your problems. The knuckles of both your hands are bruised and throbbing.

The door opens and your gaze shifts down to the floor, your whole body tense with anger that has every muscle in your body wound up, taut and ready to let loose.

Keith.

It's a woman's voice. You grit your teeth. You aren't looking at her face, but you know she's looking at you with disgust, You know it and you hate it.

Keith. This is the second time you've been suspended at school. If you keep this up I'm going to have to relocate you again. Are you trying to be difficult on purpose?

Your fists tighten as a knot forms in your stomach. You know from the sound of her voice that there isn't a drop of concern here. She's pissed off because you're being an inconvenience. That's all you've been of late.

No You respond. You're barely able to contain your anger.

Then quit acting like it.

You get to your feet, The chair clatters behind you.

It's HIS FAULT! Jack keeps making fun of me cuz MY DAD--

THAT'S ENOUGH, KEITH. The woman snaps, and you flinch. You hate that you flinch so much that you're immediately going for the door, something dangerously close to tears sting the corners of your eyes.

You get back in here, young man. She warns, but you don't listen. You're running away as fast as you can.]

[hawkwardness]

[...oh, that's right, the guy's dead, had been trapped in the Outlands or something. He shouldn't have said a thing. Damn.

He looks back at his phone, the website about dinosaurs, unwilling to meet Héctor's eyes.]

< Me too, I guess. Weird, but maybe not all bad. >

[unpocoloco]

[The hawk is hiding from him now. He smirks a little, voice gently teasing.]

Wierder than hawk life? Does it hold a candle?

[hattersgonnahat]

[??? How did he do that? All of her memories were safely stashed and locked away, in her mind. Or so she thought.]

I-I do like it. [That wasn't so much a secret. Not often talked about - but not a secret.]

[trademark_skull]

[Emizel watched the memory play in silence. The name Overlord Zale did sound familiar to him - he had heard mentions of such an Overlord causing trouble not too long ago by daemon standards...but it was not humans that brought him down. His father had done it instead. There never was anything about humans entering Hades, or that the former Tyrant was involved.]

['They must've abandoned their mission like the cowards they were,' Emizel would have originally thought. ...But no, that hadn't been the case. That raw sense of determination was enough to know they wouldn't have backed down. Unless humans are better liars than he thought.]

[But no, more than likely, something probably happened to them. The Outlands was not a place mortals should enter if they wanted to live.]

[Emizel simply sat down where he had found the memory. Ironically, the lack of emotion was probably the most emotion he has ever shown.]

[heromedal]

Rex spends a moment calculating- even feeling vicariously pretty good about himself he's still imagining there's some sort of trick involved. He does calculate pretty quickly though and concludes that if it's a promise he disagrees with on principle he'll just break it. What's she gonna do, pull his heart out and show it to him?

(maybe)

"Go on," he says with a degree of pleased anticipation, big ham hands held up near his chest.

[highelves]

[ ana is frozen in place when the memory ends. she doesn't remember crying. she doesn't remember feeling guilty over nana's suffering, or loving anyone named kano -- but she hears his voice.

yuya's voice.

volunteering to die.

when the memory ends, tears sting the edges of ana's eyes. guilt lingers in her chest and it isn't even hers. she feels love for someone named kano that isn't hers, either. when the adrenaline starts to die down, ana covers her mouth and takes in deep breaths. ]

Yuya...

[highelves]

[ ana sees an orb floating towards her, and keith a few feet behind it. she does her best to avoid getting hit by it, but like keith, her instinct is to swat it away. she knows what's coming up.

--

You wake up in an unfamiliar room, yet, there's a sense of familiarity and routine when you do. You're lying on a small bed, and when you look up, you see stickers of stars and planets on your ceiling. You sit up and your walls are lined with bookshelves and stacks of books. Most of them are children's books, though there is the occasional thick book on runes that a child certainly wouldn't be able to read very easily.

More importantly, you hear sniffling coming from outside.

You walk into the living room. A woman is sitting on the little couch in the living room with her head in her hands. You look at her curiously. You're worried. You've never seen your mother cry like this before. ]

Mother?

[ The woman looks up wearily. She looks worn. Tired. ]

Anastasia.

[ You want your father to comfort her. You turn back into the hallway and enter your parents' room, only to find half of it vacated. Your father's messes are gone. He's nowhere to be seen. You check the bathroom, even the closet -- no one.

You walk back out into the living room. ]

Where did father go?

I don't know, Anastasia. He just...left.

[ You don't understand. ]

But...why--

There IS no reason. He's gone now, and he's not coming back.

[ You've never heard your mother sound so angry and hurt before. It scares you. There's no way your own father could leave you just like that.

...Right? ]

[highelves]

Truly. This is getting a little ridiculous, if I'm being honest.

[ just. head in hands. ]

We ought to find out what started this and put an end to it.

[thegoofball]

H-Hey!

[Ugh, he's already fucking it up. He shakes his head, trying again.]

Hey.

[He's nailing it.]

So I just-- Um.

[highelves]

[ he seems...nervous? more than she's ever seen him be, honestly. ana tilts her head curiously. ]

Is everything alright?

[thegoofball]

I saw your memory.

Of us kissing.

[N...nailed it...]

[highelves]

Oh.

[ well. that explains it. anastasia hesitates. ]

Um...

[thegoofball]

I felt what you felt.

[Uhhhhhh. He hesitates.]

It's...

[highelves]

[ that's. that's not good, is it. ]

...Go on.

[thegoofball]

[What does he do? What does he say? He doesn't want to make promises he can't keep, but he wants to keep this promise.

He takes a deep breath, before letting it out slowly.]

I'm not going to leave you.

[highelves]

[ she freezes up. that's -- that's what he felt. she didn't want him to know about how afraid she is of being left behind. she didn't want him to know how insecure she is, because he deserves better than that.

but...

he knows it now. and even then, he's saying this to her. even though a small part of her wants to doubt him and question him, ana is actively fighting those thoughts off because it's lance. she wants to take this chance on him because he makes her feel things she's never felt before. ]

I...

[ she takes in a deep breath. she looks so touched, so enchanted with him that she might start crying again. ] Lance...

[thegoofball]

[He doesn't hesitate. He pulls her into a hug, tucking her against his chest. He doesn't want her to feel unwanted. He doesn't want her to feel like she's going to get left behind, abandoned, that he's going to...get tired of her and move on.

He wants her to feel like she belongs.]

It's okay. It's okay.

[And he means that.]

[transfusionem]

Yeah, of course. The Hog's Swill, right?

[Just...to double check. She doesn't want to burden Jill with her problems, not when she doesn't even know the half of it, but she can't just...

Tell her that.]

[highelves]

[ she's gotten used to the cold, to being alone during the lonely nights in her bedroom, on the streets, in an attic, in her dorm room. she's so used to feeling frozen out. only now is she realizing that maybe she's the one who's been freezing everyone out instead, being here in lance's arms like this where it's warm and comforting.

she hugs him back tightly. she doesn't care who sees. she's feeling way too many things to worry about the judgment of those who wouldn't understand. ]

[transfusionem]

Really?

[She grins up at him, eyes bright. She doesn't believe him for a second.]

But then who would you go running through the woods with?