EVENT LOG: BURY A FRIEND

[inthenightmods]

EVENT LOG:
BURY A FRIEND

characters: everyone.
location: around town.
date/time: october 9-17.
content: the hallucinations begin...
warnings: psychological horror. please cw tags appropriately.

it's probably something that shouldn't be said out loud

October 9 feels like a normal day at first, save for the red lighthouse beam cutting through the darkness overhead. You know by now—or you've heard—that the lighthouse is only active during ferry arrivals and events... And there's definitely no ferry docked at the, er. Beach. The town is quiet, the forest spirits behave business-as-usual, Rastus doesn't know what's up. Whatever's going on, you'll have to figure it out for yourself.

And you will, though the hallucinations are subtle at first: objects moving when they shouldn't, people's proportions looking just a bit off, voices in an empty room, and so on. Is it just your mind playing tricks in the darkness? Might be! Will did warn you all about the effects of living without a sun and a proper day/night cycle.

As the days go on, the hallucinations are harder to ignore, no matter how much you may wish to wave them off as flukes. What's wrong with everyone's faces? When did all the howling start? Who do you hold onto when the world drops out from under you? And those hands...

While you might know it can't be real, it certainly feels real. But at least it can't last forever!

...Right?

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Comments

[saibot]

[How very ... brave? Was that the correct term to use? He wasn't sure, but he did find this kid to be slightly intriguing. Not many people dared to stand there ground around him (even before he became what he is now).

Were he still human he might have felt a bit of respect towards him. But alas most of those feelings were something he were incapable of anymore.

A very small part that might have remained of his humanity did find the question somewhat amusing.]

That would be impossible.

[He says as though he didn't just walk right through the wall like it was something completely normal to do.]

[pearlstrings]

[Brave is a word for it. Others might call it stupid; Selina certainly would. But then she's always been quick to remind him of his recklessness- the moments that he allows his desire to learn and know to eclipse any self-preservation instincts.

But the figure pauses long enough to entertain his question, and then reply. It makes Bruce hesitate in turn. That would be impossible, he says. And instead of arguing this point at all, he accepts the fact for what it is. It would be impossible. The reply seems to chide him in a way, offer a reminder that Bruce had been too quick to accept what he sees as reality instead of digging a little deeper.

It's polite curiosity that beckons him forward another step. He never comes close enough to infringe on the other's space or to block his exit. The question lingers in the back of his mind: can he be sure that this is real? Can he be sure that this isn't simply a new and strange hallucination?]

Then, you were just passing through?

[saibot]

[He's certainly no hallucination, though the way he can phase through things and create shadow clones of himself might make him seem like one. Which, the clone beside him steps to the side, moving a small distance away. When he's traveling the shadow clone carries his lantern leaving him free to fight without much as much risk.

In a way it was kind of light cheating.

His gaze follows Bruce as he steps forward, but he does not move. He almost reminds him of himself in his youth. Reckless and unafraid of danger. It made him a good assassin, but ultimately aided in his original death.]

That is correct.

[He takes a very brief pause before adding ...]

You are unafraid of me.

[pearlstrings]

[He has a double. The man watches him but at his back, a second shape, identical to the first, emerges and steps to the side. That figure carries the lantern and it begs not one question, but many. Bruce's thoughts race. Are they twins? (Unlikely, there is only one lantern.) A clone? (Theoretically possible, but Bruce suspects that like his own clone, who is his own person, that would also require two lanterns.) A duplicate then? (Most likely.) Then which of them is the original? The one carrying the lantern or the one without? Is it too much of a risk to make an assumption based on his own preferences? After all, Bruce wears his lantern tied to his waist, near his back so that he too has his hands free.

He doesn't turn to look at the shape that joins them, but it's clear that he notices all the same. Notices, and remains aware of how and where it moves.]

I'm afraid.

[Bruce has felt unafraid before, in the throes of his recklessness- when he'd been more desperate to hurt or to win than he'd cared for his own safety. This isn't the same. He knows that he's very composed. But he's also acutely aware of the danger this man and this situation could present. Still-]

But I'm curious too.
About how you did that. If it's something I could learn.

[saibot]

[And yes he is very dangerous. More-so now than in life, at least then he had something of humanity. A trait stripped away by the very sorcerer who conspired in his death and created him as he is now.

He regards Bruce for a moment, watching him closely. He held his composure well, a respectable skill in itself. Emotions gave away intent and appearing without them gave an advantage. He'd probably make a good assassin, or even Lin Kuei.]

I control the shadows. The darkness is my greatest ally. But it is not something that can be taught. My powers were gained after a previous death and through dark magic. Before that my abilities were much different.

[pearlstrings]

[The metahuman, metaspiritual elements might be enough for someone else to visibly pause and come up short. It might have been true for Bruce, once. Before the Court of Owls and the League of Shadows. Before Ra's al Ghul had wanted him as an heir and before Bruce had killed him, watched him return from death. Anything is possible, and the longer he spends trying to ignore that fact the longer he keeps himself in the way of danger.]

But they aren't simply powers, are they.

[The darkness is my greatest ally, he says.
Bruce thinks yes. It is mine, too.]

You've learned skills. Had training.

[saibot]

I have. Before my death I was a member of the Lin Kuei.

[He pauses for a moment before continuing.]

An organization of assassins. But their training did not give me my abilities. If it is Lin Kuei teachings you are wanting to learn, you should ask my brother.

I am Lin Kuei no longer and I do not take in students.

[He's not even sure he takes on allies.]

[pearlstrings]

I see.

[He doesn't. Or perhaps it's more appropriate to say that he sees in part. Lin Kuei is not a phrase that leaps to his memory from mentions over the network and thus will require him to circle back, to reread and see what he might be able to glean. If anything. But even without the precise image of his organization, Bruce has encountered a trained school of assassins before. His training had not been lifelong but the experience had been- intimate. Had revealed troubling truths he'd been unwilling to acknowledge within himself. Had asked things of him that Bruce had been unwilling to surrender.

The shake of his head is small- not meek, but polite.
Contained.]

I don't think I would be well suited to it.
I'm not very good at following instruction.

[It is as good a place as any to excuse himself. He's imposed enough and can recognize that however subtle he may have been thus far, he has pried. They are strangers to one another and by extension there are no debts to be paid. But the question sits there within him, waiting for an answer. An answer that won't be found until Bruce puts the words to it.

He takes a small step to the side. It's a demonstrative gesture instead of a practical one, after all, he isn't blocking the exit. But perhaps it serves as a reminder that the doorway is there regardless. That he doesn't wish to force a reply- even if he's hoping for one. Bruce's head lifts at the last moment. He looks back.]

Why aren't you? Lin Kuei.

[saibot]

[The more Bruce speaks, the more he reminds him of himself. Well, the brash Lin Kuei warrior he was before his death. The person who no longer exists except for small lingering hints here and there.

The similarities are almost enough to make Bi-Han want to murder Bruce here right now.

But he can also show restraint. Anything else would be a sign of weakness.]

I have grown far beyond what they are or what they represent. My brother claims to be the current Grandmaster. I have doubts though I cannot say the previous one was much better.

If I am to be apart of a clan again, it will be one I create. I will not join one controlled by my brother.