October Event: Feeling Like a Ghost (Part I)

[lifeaftr_mods]

OCTOBER EVENT: FEELING LIKE A GHOST

Who: Anyone and everyone
What: Your past returns to haunt you
When: October 10th and onward
Where: All over!
Warnings: Character death, as well as potential for discussion of trauma and suicide ideation - please mark as you go!

Try and Hear Me, Then I'm Done

You can find most of the information you need in the OOC info post! In the meantime, feel free to use this log as a catch-all for the duration of the event. While this log will focus on the past portion, you're free to use it for the future portion. As always, you can also make your own logs if that's your preference! Come the 21st, however, we'll likely get an additional log up for those who want to play around with their future echoes as well. Remember also that the present portion will be played out in Mu, during this month's Storytelling.

Remember to let us know if your character dies during this event. Bear in mind, however: death penalties will NOT be reduced for this event.

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] October 10th: The ghosts of the past appear.
[ ♆ ] October 20th: The warped Storytelling occurs, the Storyteller returns, and those who have died are revived.
[ ♆ ] October 21st: Future echoes replace the ghosts of the past.
[ ♆ ] October 25th: With equilibrium restored, all visions vanish, and life returns to how it was.

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

Keith Kogane | OTA

[thermalwind]

Keith...

[The voice is one he hasn't heard in years. He chocks it up to a dream and buries his face against his arm to shut it out. He's not going to deal with nightmares or dreams of the desert that turn to war. Not today.]

You should get up, son.

[Keith's eyes open and he rolls over. Faded and worn like the old photos tucked into his personal effects his father sits beside his bed. A stab of loss hits him like a spear through his chest. It's like when they told him his father was gone all over again. His voice cracks despite his best efforts to prevent it.]

Dad...now they're using you?

[His father shuts his eyes and slowly shakes his head.]

Is it really so bad? We get to catch up. Sit up, let me see how much you've grown.

October 10th

[Keith can be found wandering like a ghost. He often stops to talk to someone that clearly isn't there. His frown grows more and more pronounced as the day goes on. Sometimes he mutters 'got to be kidding me'. Other times he stares across the land and sighs. But as the sun is setting he can be overheard saying the following.]

You shouldn't know about that. Only Lance knows what I said that night. I told you I was trying to give them everything I could before-

[He cuts himself off and shakes his head, walking away from where ever he was going.]

I did what I thought was best.

October 11th-20th

[As the days go on Keith becomes quieter more resigned as if someone is removing the fight from him. But three days in that changes and the fire in his eyes is a spark of rage.

Whatever was said by his ghostly father who is becoming more and more real, he whirls on him with eyes gone yellow and pupils bright violet.]

You're not- Mom is fine! Last I saw her she was safe and sound. You don't get to lie me about this! You died but she's okay!

[He growls and storms away, possibly into you. The following days he just glares at where his father is and turns away from him. A rift has formed and no matter how badly he hurts from his father's loss...he has to cling to the idea his mother is perfectly fine. He has to choose a way to deal with this.

But what? The more desperate the ghost becomes the more he goes off by himself, trying to see solutions to this issue.]

Wildcard
[Got an idea? Put it here or hit me up for plotting.]

october 15

[galrarm]

[ To his credit... he's been trying to keep an eye on Keith while dealing with his own specter. Adam lingers at the edges of his vision, and Shiro feels that spike of pain, of loss, whenever he gets too close. It's hard not to. It's hard not to get close, but what allows him to come back to himself and not focus on what the ghost is saying is-- ]

Keith? [ he says gently, hands coming up immediately to rest on Keith's shoulders. Keith doesn't look good at all, and that's what makes him worry the most. ]

[thermalwind]

[He breathes in as his mind registers who it is he's accidentally run into. The emotions running high and wild like a storm breaking overhead are easier to breathe through. It takes him a minute to pull himself together. His irises are still just that shade of inhuman, too bright and cat-like when he looks up at him.

He blinks and the effect is gone.]

I'm, [He looks to the side and his jaw clenches.] I'm fine. It...I was just surprised.

[He'd thought of the possibility of losing his mother. She's a Blade. But she'd been right there when they saved Shiro. She's safe and in a position, she could easily defender herself. The ghost of his father drifts in his direction and his gaze snaps to him, watching his every move.]

...He'd have never said any of those things he's said. [The loss he feels when the shade of his father drifts close is the loss of a child losing the ground beneath their feet. Not the dull ache that's been smoothed at the edges for years of an adult.]

...it's fine. Sorry for running into you. I lost my head a bit. Are you alright?

[galrarm]

[ He's never seen Keith with his eyes like that--he figures it's his Galra half, but he's not scared or worried for himself. He's worried about Keith. He don't know what would cause him so much distress that his eyes would change, but what matters is that he helps Keith through this, as much as he can. As much as he is able.

He'd have never said any of those things he's said.

He wonders if it's his father he's seeing. Shiro's hands instinctively, unconsciously, tightens just the slightest on Keith's shoulders. ]

It's alright--you don't have to apologize. I'm alright. [ Keith's words to little to assuage those intense feelings of worry.

Shiro himself, well... ] ... Actually, to be honest... I could be better.

[thermalwind]

[He has to wonder who Shiro is seeing. Is it Adam? He won't ask. His hand comes up to rest on Shiro's arm again. He wants to ground him as much as he can.]

...let's walk and talk about it. If you want to. Maybe we can figure out a way to deal with this.

[He glances back the way he came to the shade of his father. His eyes narrow.]

There's got to be a way to figure out what is causing this.

[galrarm]

[ Keith's touch does just that: grounds him. Behind him, off to the side, Adam says something nasty, and Shiro glances toward the specter. Something in his expression hardens; as convincing as the illusion is, he knows Adam wouldn't say anything like that.

... and nothing like what he says next, which makes a tiny bit of color rise in Shiro's cheeks. ]

Sounds good, Keith.

[ Deep breaths, Shirogane. Keep your head. He lets out a breath and looks to Keith. Keith is here, so it's fine. It'll work out. ]

Let's search near the Storyteller's Temple.

10th

[forwearemany]

(Legion is not remotely happy about this event.

This is probably obvious by the way they're stomping around and growling and their lights are glowing red.

Still though, when they hear an ally arguing with their own ghost, it causes them concern.)

Keith.

(They state calmly, coming to a stop.)

[thermalwind]

[He stops and looks up, uncomfortable and it's written all over his face.]

Legion.

[He takes a deep breath and holds up both his hands.]

Did you find some...sort of shade this morning?

[forwearemany]

Yes.

(They chatter briefly, displeased.)

It is the same for you?

[thermalwind]

Yeah. So, it's likely...several of us have shades.

[He glances to the side where his father stands with his arms crossed. He recognizes the old look of 'really keith', he's wearing. Faint threads of loss weave their way into his heart and he steps away from him.]

Do you feel...something bad when they're close?

[forwearemany]

Affirmative.

(To both. "Shades" are likely ubiquitous. Tali'Zorah's presence intensifies the loss and betrayal they have experienced, and ignites their anger over it.)

10th

[ladytakamaki]

[ there are times where ann can be seen talking to someone who isn't there, too. her chest is welling with pain, memories of all the pain shiho went through fresh in her mind. she's trying to fight it, just like keith is, because she knows shiho is in a better place now. she's away from all the people who have wronged her. she has a chance to start over.

ann sees keith when the sun is setting. shiho's talking to her, telling her about all the good times they had since they first met. but she knows this will pass. she hopes that talking to keith will move her attention elsewhere.

ann catches up to him and taps on his shoulder. ]

Hey.

[thermalwind]

Huh? Oh hey. [He jerks away from staring at his father to turn to her. He looks vaguely haunted but relaxes when he sees who it is.]

Ann. How's it going? I mean uh, other than the usual here.

[She'd caught him with the spear he'd once given Lance. He'd waded a little into the water with it in hand, one foot carefully pressed down after the other.]

[ladytakamaki]

...Could be better.

[ is he seeing things, too? she can't be sure. ]

Sorry, were you in the middle of something? I can leave.

[thermalwind]

Nothing that can't wait. Or I could show you how to do it. I'm spearfishing.

[He holds up the spear made of coral, stone, and various sea life. The slick weapon catches the light as he creeps a little deeper into the water.]

And yeah, could be better for me too.

[ladytakamaki]

Sure thing. It'll definitely come in handy, someday.

[ ann slips off her shoes and steps into the water, following him. shiho's apparition follows behind her. ]

Hey... Am I the only one who's seeing things?

October 13th

[savedbyasong]

[Shion sees Keith turn quickly and has just enough time to brace himself as the boy storms into him. He is still knocked backwards but stays upright. Rat laughed from where he was stood nearby, not kindly.] Are you alright?

[He moved to Keith's side, he doesn't know him. But he knows he is someone Aster considers a friend and that is enough for him to be concerned.]

[thermalwind]

Sorry. [He keeps his gaze turned away briefly and when he looks at him his pupils are slitted like a cat's. He blinks and the effect is gone.] Sorry.

Had a fight with... [He looks over his shoulder in the direction he'd left his father. No pursuit this time.] It doesn't matter. Are you alright?

[savedbyasong]

Sorry! [Shion notices and notes the strange eyes but does not mention them, he's seen many strange things and he's not going to pry.

He looks in the way Keith does, seeing nothing.] Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about it.

[thermalwind]

[He opens his mouth to argue then closes it. There's no point in an argument. It's just his blood running hot after his father tried to claim his mother was with him. She's alive. She's fine.

He scrubs at his face.] Yeah, okay. ...has anyone found a way to get rid of these shades? They're getting more solid and seem...real!

[savedbyasong]

They aren't real. [He shook his head.] I'm not sure how to get rid of them. But... Usually the way to survive visions or voices from your past worlds is to try and focus on the now. Be with friends and don't go off alone. It is easier for them to get you to listen if you are on your own.

[When have you ever listened to me Shion? Ignoring my advice, doing your own thing. You haven't changed a bit.]

Oct 10th

[attheclocktower]

Keith?

[ His voice is familiar but she... has to do a double-take when she sees him. Wheeeeen did he get that tall? She missed something didn't she. ]

Are you seeing someone too?

[ She doesn't sound surprised or anything, just... resigned. Roxas keeps trying to edge his way into her line of sight, but she's pointedly trying to ignore him as best she can. She's played this game before. ]

[thermalwind]

[He looks up his pupils cat-like for an instant and revert. Keith turns towards her away from the shade of his father.

From the front he's obviously older, his shoulders broader and eyes not quite human. A scar mars one side of his face and he walks towards her making their height difference obvious.]

Yeah. I think everyone is. What do you feel when yours is close?

[attheclocktower]

[ Man, she feels short in this moment. She always feels short but having to tilt her head back more than she used to in order to look him in the eye makes her feel even shorter. ]

Sad. [ She closes her eyes briefly. ] Regret. He's not helping either, but... I don't expect he's supposed to.

[ Not if this is anything like the last time she was followed by shadows. But it also means that it's not Roxas. ]

[thermalwind]

I don't think they're supposed to help. [He agrees as he drops down to sit on the ground. He needs a moment to think. Keith shuts his eyes.]

Several people think they're made from our memories and yearnings. I agree with them. I just don't know why.

[They don't seem to be feeding off of them. Not passively.]