What You Take With You part II: Reflections In The Fog

[unpocoloco]

Who: All those on the What You Take With You mission and everyone else (who OOCly wishes to join in)
What: An important artifact is brought back only to immedaitely activate. Further details are here.
When: November 10th
Where: Daybreak Campus and around Soliel
Warning: Warn in headers as appropriate

On November 10th the recovery team sent into the Outlands makes their return with the obsidian mirror. Thus far it hasn't seemed any different than any other obsidian mirror, nothing spectacular about it beyond its age and where it came from. But Daybreak was only called to retrieve it, not anything more. The spell is worked to open the path between the Outlands and Daybreak, allowing them back. But as this happens, the mists rise up as they often do when the two worlds intersect. The team might even see it ghosting over the mirror before catching their own reflections in it. A light flashes over its surface and in that instant, the mirror activates.

Just one look in any reflective surface throughout Soliel-- a mirror, a window, a bit still water-- and people will be struck with sudden dizziness, a feeling of being knocked back, and then darkness. You'll find, on waking, a dark and desolate landscape full of smoke and fog. It'll be hard to tell where one is going. You won't be alone. People all over the academy have been brought into this vision. You may run into them, but even more likely, you'll run into the spots of color that cut through the fog.

And dwelling with this color? Why it's you. But better. Or maybe, much, much worse. It seems the mirror has something to show you. But is that something a promise? Or a threat...? Learn its lesson and you may escape both the shadowy realm and a terrible fate in your future. What image will you leave on the world?

Comments

[deuteranope]

[Telling her would be cheating -- because she isn't his Adelaide, the way he isn't her Maverick. He could help her out here and there, not that he'd even be able to stop himself from that entirely, wanting so badly to make her happy, but the big issues? He should be able to tell her himself.]

Yeah. I can be a real pain in the ass, huh? Good to fucking know that's a universal constant. [Jokes aside...] You wanna know what I think the best fucking part about this vampire shit is? Because it ain't --

[He takes a step and dissolves into mist, just to reconstitute on the other side of her, all smiles.]

-- Fun and useful as that is.

[transfusionem]

[She huffs out a laugh, feeling more at ease around this foreign Maverick already.]

Sometimes you can be.

[She doesn't think he's unbearable most of the time - she can't really recall a time he's ever pissed her off, but she can tease him for being bombastic.]

But I have no idea what the best thing is.

[She turns to face him, tilting her head.]

[deuteranope]

[His smile for her changes, and while Maverick's given her plenty of those over the months they've known each other, they haven't been quite like this. It isn't just the fangs, though those are an obvious difference. He isn't...guarded, or sarcastic, or tired, or playing it up. He's just there, smiling at her.]

It's not being so goddamn scared all the time. I thought... [He laughs a little to himself, scuffing his foot on the ground.] I really fucking thought this was one of the worst things that could ever happen to me. But I'm still me! And I like me...most of the time. So if this wasn't so bad... So what, right?

[transfusionem]

[It's...strange, in a refreshing way, to see Maverick so open. Quietly, she hopes she can see her Maverick smile like that. If there's anything she can do to make it happen...]

Of course you're still you. [She reaches out to him, taking his hand in hers.] I don't think anything could ever change you.

[But that...gives her things to think about. She can't avoid the truth forever. It's not fair to Maverick - but perhaps more importantly, she's realizing, it's not fair to herself.]

[deuteranope]

[Maverick laughs, happy, and gently squeezes her hand.]

Damn straight.

[He is Maverick, hear him roar. And hear the message he's trying to get across without beating her over the head with it... Well. Adelaide is smart. He doesn't have trouble believing in her.]

...You know, an eternity with you ain't such a bad fucking thing to have gotten out of this, either~

[transfusionem]

[Her laugh is bright and gentle, and the smile on her face is hopelessly fond.]

There's nobody else I'd rather spend an eternity with.

[deuteranope]

[Mm. He can't really blush, anymore, but he looks down, shy and pleased like he might have, were he human. Then he's releasing her hands to instead fumble around with his fingers. Soon enough, he's offering out one of his many rings, simple in design, with a cheesy grin.

Might as well make it official!!!]

[transfusionem]

[Oh. She's not expecting that, and there's a flush of warmth in her stomach.

She reaches out for the ring, before hesitating and holding out her hand.]

Wanna put it on me?

[deuteranope]

[If he had a heart, he has no doubt it would be fluttering.]

Fuck yeah I do.

[It's quite possibly the most tender those words have ever been said. He uses his free hand to take hold of hers, and gently slides the ring onto her ring finger. Even as a twig of a boy, his hands are just big enough that the ring isn't a perfect fit...but it's the best he's got right now.]

...To infinity and beyond.

[transfusionem]

[She blinks at him, and laughs after a moment.]

Did you just quote Toy Story at me?

[She twists her hand, threading their fingers together while tugging him close.]

[deuteranope]

[Delighted, he laughs. You better fucking believe he did, lady!!! He comes easily with the tug, settling in close and squeezing her hand.]

Shit like this is why you love me, right?

[ugh he loves her so much this is GROSS]

...Can I kiss you?

[hey I just met you and this is crazy, but]

[transfusionem]

[She can't believe this. What a dork.]

...Yeah, I guess it is.

[She shakes her head, laughing still. What would she do without him?

At the question, she pauses, looking at him but then...]

...Yeah. Yeah, you can.

[deuteranope]

[As happy as he already looked, he seems uplifted even more by her permission, and squeezes her hands again before taking another half-step closer, like they weren't close enough already. It's easy to imagine the warmth that might have been there once, the quickened pace of their hearts... but he doesn't really need to waste time on that, even if there's all the time in the world. Instead he can focus on the flow of her hair, the twinkle in her eyes, and the curve of her lips as he shifts up onto his tiptoes looks up to reach her. The softness of the kiss. The overwhelming feeling of joy and acceptance he feels being able to do this, after liking her for so long.

He can only imagine he'd be jealous, if he knew. Sucks to be him.]

[transfusionem]

[She leans down to meet him halfway, and when their lips touch a part of her heart breaks. She wishes this was...real, in a way that it isn't. A part of her feels guilty for even thinking it, especially when Maverick doesn't even know the truth, but...

But is it so much to just wish she could have something like this for real? Something concrete, something she could hold onto when it felt like everything was falling apart? The Maverick she knows...he would never kiss her, she thinks, and she doesn't even deserve it. Rex... It's complicated. Rex is a broken man and there's only so much Adelaide can do before it's on him to fix it.

Tears sting her eyes and roll down her cheek - one of the few signs of humanity that come with being well fed. She pulls back with a sniffle, lifting a hand to wipe at her eyes.]

Sorry, sorry. I'm not upset!

[She's a little upset, but she's mostly overwhelmed.]

[deuteranope]

[oh no what did he do -- ah.

This version of him isn't good at dealing with tears, either, more prone to being the one breaking down than others and being allergic to emotions with most people, but Adelaide is one of the people he tries to be better for. He takes a half step forward automatically, pauses, then reaches up the rest of the way to take her hand again while his other one takes over brushing away her tears.]

It's okay. Take your time. We got plenty of that, right?

[If only... He doesn't know how long this will last, or what's going to happen when it's over, but... Well, he supposes it's still true, outside of this place. They just...might not have it together.]

Feel whatever you need to, and don't fucking apologize.

[transfusionem]

[She's a mess. Just a complete, absolute mess. She nods, slowly, still sniffling as she tries to calm down.]

I just...

[She lets out a breath, squeezing his hand.]

I just wish we could have forever.

[Which admitting it makes her feel even guiltier. It's like she's drowning in it, guilt swallowing her whole and filling her lungs.]

[deuteranope]

[He'd give her forever if he could. In a heartbeat, he'd normally tease to cheer her up, but it doesn't feel as funny right now. It'd just be another reminder of how he's not who she'll have waiting for her when she finds her way home away. Instead, he opts for quiet, stroking his fingers along her face to continue drying it and to motion reassuring circles.]