weep not for the memories

[brushoff]

WHO: Everybody!
WHERE: all cities
WHEN: March 4 - March 6
WHAT: it's a catch-all log, sucka! Tag here and thread around for the Dorian Ruins Everything Guilt Extravaganza part of the overall March plot. Please check out this ooc post for details!
WARNINGS: Traumatic memories. Possible talk of murder, death, blood, other nasty things. I'll try to update if the warnings needed but please use content warnings if it gets super nasty!

It starts off on March 4th, the early morning before the sun's even risen. You know those weird mirages that were hanging around the day before? Well now it's getting a little personal.

These mirages come and go seemingly for no reason. They might stay for a minute, they might stay for an hour. The images vary between person but the unifying factor is that the mirages consist of people the player characters have hurt, whether people in-game or from their homes. Whether they murdered them, slandered them, or even had a petty little argument, the unifying factor is the guilt each character feels towards or about this mirage. After all, you know you hurt them somehow. You know their existence somehow makes you feel guilty.

Another unifying factor? The creepy way these mirages just seem to stick to you. They'll follow you if you try to leave, staring you down with their creepy unblinking mirage eyes. And whoops: everybody can see said mirages. Hopefully you're not being stalked by someone you and somebody else both know, wouldn't that be awkward?

Have fun confronting your traumatizing past and/or wondering why your buddy's got some creepy ghost guy following him, imPorts!

( ooc: this is a catch-all log! Make starters of your characters getting haunted by their creepy mirages, have other people react to said creepy mirages, ???, profit. Hit me up on the ooc post if you have any questions! )

Comments

[h2no]

Naw, it's used by everyone. I'd show you Sharpedo as well [because of course he wants to show off all his precious children.] but it would get hurt on land.

[he makes a face. all these transwhosits...]

Er... I'm pretty sure some Pokémon can do transdimentional stuff. When I was doin' research on Kyogre I saw some stuff about Palkia, Dialga and Giratina. They basically own space and time... I think Giratina was the one that does that whole dimension thing-y. Jeez, if Shelly ever shows up I'm directing her right to you! Though she'd probably deck you if you tell her humans ain't good at streamlinin' stuff. After she's done kicking the shit outta me...

[helpline]

Well let's find some water then so you can show off Sharpedo that way!

[ And so the Doctor can continue to distract himself from the mirage ghost of Donna that he knows is still staring at him from a few feet away. Ha ha! It won't hurt if he doesn't acknowledge it! ]

[h2no]

[is he slowly going very red in the cheeks? yes, yes he is.]

Uh... if you're sure.

[archie looks to crobat, who just snorts a little and pushes itself up, flapping to take off and follow them.]

[helpline]

[ All dogs are good dogs and all Pokemon are good Pokemon, Archie. If you've got a weirdo shark thing THEN HELL YEAH, LET'S SEE IT. ]

There's a stream and a bridge separating this park from the parking lot--I have stick races with some of the kids there occasionally. I think there might be enough water there for your Sharpedo.

[ which the Doctor assumes is some sort of water creature because it's got "shark" in it's name. Look, humans are awful at naming things. ]

[h2no]

[archie grins a little fondly. he doesn't know the doctor at all, but he sure can appreciate the guy's laid back attitude about basically everything.

at the mention of sharpedo, crobat crows a few times, flying in a circle above them.]

As long as there's enough to cover its gills, it'll be fine. Sharpedos are tough little buggers. Looks like I ain't got a choice, anyway. Crobat wants to see its friend! Come on.

[helpline]

[ The Doctor continues walking, assuming that Archie will follow him. ]

There should be! It's a shallow creek, but deep enough for people to splash around and kids to get far too muddy in.

[ And then they reach the creek! It's a good four or five foot deep, deep enough for Sharpedo but shallow enough that you can't really swim in it. ]

[h2no]

[he does, because he wants to show off his perfect child.]

I know the type. Back home you'd have Surskits and Mudkips runnin' around stuff like that. Both of 'em are great with kids, too. Even the wild ones.

[when they get there, archie stands at the edge of it, taking a good few minutes to make sure it's safe enough. no sharp stuff, looks just about deep enough. fuck it, he'll just wade in and make sure sharpedo stays safe personally. he carefully steps into the creek, not really caring about the mud or getting his trousers wet. when he gets about a third in, he releases sharpedo into the deepest part he can see. it forms out the pokéball with a splash and a happy little shaaaarrpedo.]

There it is! [archie says happily. crobat lands next to the doctor and watches from the shore, chittering.] Hey, pal. Sorry I ain't been able to get you out and about as much. I know you get lonely. [he crouches down into the water (anything for his precious child) and rubs the shark along its back. its red eyes follow him, but it seems happy enough.] What do you think, eh? You know, people have the gall to call these guys the trash of the ocean. I think they just ain't got the will to handle the energetic water types. Sharpedos ain't ever done anything than try to survive.

[helpline]

[ Oh. It's called a Sharpedo because it says "sharpedo."

That makes a lot more sense.

Still! Look at that beautiful little shark thing, he's amazing. Almost instantly the Doctor's taking off his shoes and socks and rolling up his trouser legs because hell yeah he's gonna pet the shark. ]

It might be a compliment! Apparently trash is a compliment these days, I saw some kids call themselves Kaneki Trash at the last FanPort.

[ fully unaware that Archie probably doesn't understand half of that sentence, the Doctor starts to wade in the pond, walking over towards Sharpedo. ]

[h2no]

Believe me, it's not. Watch the dorsal fin. It don't like being touched there by strangers. Sharpedo can bite through steel, you don't wanna know what it can do to your hand.

[it snorts a little when the doctor approaches, but archie shushes it and continues gently petting it.]

They were almost hunted to extinction for those fins. For soup! Then when they were allowed to build their numbers up - like it was a favour - all they get is a bad rep from people annoyed they can't up and murder 'em anymore.

[sharpedo doesn't seem as annoyed about the topic as archie does, as it just floats there serenely. he's trained it well!]

[helpline]

[ The Doctor proceeds to give Sharpedo scratchies. c: ]

You know, there's something like that which happened in this world, but with sharks instead of Sharpedos.

[h2no]

[he looks like he's about to flip out for exactly 2 seconds then deflates.]

'Course they do. Wipin' innocent things out sure is one of humanity's great fuckin' talents.

[salty? just like the sea.]

[helpline]

[ Well. That's an interesting response. The Doctor continues to give Sharpedo scratchies, though he's thinking more about Archie's response. There's a story there and he kind of wants to see what it is. ]

Don't worry, humanity's nothing special. There's thousands of species across the galaxy that are annoyingly genocidal.

[ not that he's bitter or anything (oh god he is bitter) ]

[h2no]

[crobat seems to sense that the conversation has gone a bit south (probably with those giant ass ears) and chirps, flapping a few times to perch on sharpedo's nose. they're friends, sharpedo is fine with this.

the doctor's gonna get a big wing plapping against his shoulder. crobat likes him enough to try and make him feel better.]

Colour me whatever the colour for not bein' surprised is.

[helpline]

Taupe?

[ the Doctor asks, as he turns to give Crobat scratchies. Scratchies for the shark, scratchies on the belly of the giant bat. He gets Crobat's intent and wants to thank him all the same. ]

It's not a very surprising color, I'm all for taupe being the color of not being surprised.

[h2no]

Agreed.

[he sighs, then crosses his arms on sharpedo's back, resting his head on them.]

Can't really pretend like I'm above any of 'em though, even if I don't agree with it.

[helpline]

No, but you're aware of it. Honestly, I'd take someone who's aware of their faults and the faults of their species over someone who claims that there aren't any faults to begin with.

[ The Doctor's a big fan of nuance. Nobody's perfect, nothing's perfectly black and white, and the more people realize that and realize what they have to grapple with just because they're human or Time Lord, the better. ]

[h2no]

True.

[he almost says better than being too negative. better than the doctor knowing what it took for archie to even realise this.]

...Y'know, I ain't ever seen Crobat take to someone so quickly. I think you got something about you, mate.

[helpline]

[ heartfelt conversations will come LATER when they're not in the middle of a stream and trying to ignore creepy mirage guilt ghosts. maybe over ice cream or something. ]

I've got dad skills, maybe there's some bat skills as well hanging out in the brain.

[h2no]

[that makes him laugh.]

Dad skills, eh? You wanna come help me corral the kids I'm meant to be teachin' how to swim at the school? Most of the time by the lil' scamps are done runnin' around and are calm enough to pay attention there's only about ten minutes left.

[helpline]

You know, I don't mind helping out in the slightest! It's always good to have an extra hand with these things, after all.

[ plus, kids. The Doctor likes kids. ]

[h2no]

You know it, bro. They're a right handful. Wouldn't have it any other way, though. I'm more used to dealin' with, uh. Teens and up.

[actual children are a whole other can of worms.]

Sharpedo and Crobat won't be there, though. Pretty sure I'd get fired if I sent them out...

[helpline]

[ yeah, the Doctor speaks baby and hangs out with Clara's preteen students, HE'S GOT KIDS IN THE BAG. ]

Understood. There's a whole different skill set you need to deal with teens in comparison to not-teens.

i'd say this is coming to a close, ye?

[h2no]

Yeah, order a pizza and do movie night Fridays for 'em. That always sorted the grunts.

[speaking baby... a good power.]

We're having a water polo thing on Friday, you wanna come join then?

yup! and then they played water polo and like all the children dogpiled on the doctor

[helpline]

Course I do! I haven't played water polo in ages.

[ the Doctor seems genuinely excited about the prospect of water polo and playing with kids and all of that fun stuff as he gives Archie a big grin. ]