lifeaftr | January Event: Rejection Rooms

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January Event: Rejection Rooms

JANUARY EVENT: REJECTION ROOMS

Who: Anyone and everyone!
What: Rejecting your Light comes with dire consequences
When: January 25th - 28th
Where: All over Monsun
Warnings: Violence and possible character death; please note any specific content warnings if they come up!

You're Ruled by the Things You Feel

This log is primarily for the Rejection Room portion of the event, for ease and convenience. To quote our event post:

Characters intent on rejecting their Light will find themselves irrevocably drawn to Monsun's shores. They might not even be aware of it - driven by their rage, their paranoia, their fear, or all of the above, and more. Monsun, for its part, is happy to receive them. Its landscape has become so warped over time...and those parts of Monsun consumed by shadow will start to distort, molding into structures that such characters are only too happy to hide within: Rejection Rooms.

Those who challenge the Rejection Rooms need not worry about death for themselves - damage taken within the rooms will simply translate to exhaustion outside of it, with seemingly mortal wounds leading to expulsion from the room itself, and an inability to re-enter.

The same holds true for the boss of each Room. Failure to beat them into expulsion means that the Room will continue to feed from their wildly catastrophizing mind, until there's nothing left to save at all.

So, simply top-level below with your character if they've signed up for a Rejection Room and prepare for whoever wants to gamble a confrontation. We recommend linking to the comment that details your character's Room, for the benefit of others. Remember to communicate; if your character is still trapped in their Room by the event's end, they will suffer a character death, though characters who merely try and fail to free them will not.

If your Rejection Room opt-in comment did not receive any response or additional discussion from the mod team, consider your Room and moveset approved; we want to allow for retroactive edits to your comments and plans, if those become necessary!

Some useful links, for reference:

[ ♆ ] OOC Event Post
[ ♆ ] Rejection Room Sign-Ups, for information on what Rejection Rooms look like
[ ♆ ] Deaths Page; death penalties have been reduced for the duration of this event, but remember to let us know if your character is still stuck in their Room by the event's end!

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] January 20th: The monthly Storytelling occurs.
[ ♆ ] January 21st: Shadows of both initial variants appear.
[ ♆ ] January 23rd: Shadows of both initial variants disappear.
[ ♆ ] January 25th Lights and Rejection Rooms appear.
[ ♆ ] January 28th: Lights and Rejection Rooms dissipate. Those still trapped in their Rejection Rooms by the event's end will suffer a character death.

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And yet any little flame can be very easily extinguished.

[Ardyn hesitated for only a moment--narrowing gold eyes and curling his hand around the suddenly-appearing Blade of the Mystic before darting forward in a thrown sword and flash of red, swinging his brother's weapon with intent to kill.]

[Ignis huffs derisively at the comment, but doesn't have time to respond before Ardyn launches himself toward him, intent to kill all but radiating off him. Even with the warp, it isn't too hard for Ignis to dodge the coming blow. He's trained for too long with Noctis to be thrown off so quickly. Instead, he dodges to the side, moving backwards a few steps to keep some distance between them.]

You say that and yet this little flame still shines. In fact, its shine has made its way into the darkest corners of your heart and reminded you that more rests there than anger and hate.

Then I'll just have to put it out, won't I? [He moved to follow in a few quick steps, sword raised and swung from the left with one hand.]

[The moment Ignis hears the blade start to swing, he rolls under it, driving himself forward toward Ardyn with a hard press of his foot. His hand lashes out in the direction of the blade that just swung over his head in hopes of catching the redhead's wrist and forcing him to let go of it.]

Funny, you've been trying that for a while and yet I still shine and your heart grows warmer despite your claims otherwise.

[Ardyn was caught off guard enough to let Ignis grab his wrist, greatsword vanishing into thin air.]

[...However, as was the mantra of all skilled swordsmen, he was not left-handed.]

[The Sword of the Wise materialized in his other hand, pressed threateningly to Ignis' throat.]

And yet, here we are.

Edited 2019-01-29 22:46 (UTC)

Indeed, and I notice, I still have my head.

[He's not afraid, that much is clear in his expression and in his softening tone as he continues speaking.]

I know you are afraid of being abandoned again, of being replaced. I know you are confused by emotions you can't understand and it's easier just to hide from it all, but if I were going to abandon you and prove all those feelings you don't understand wrong, don't you think I would do it now instead of allowing you to hold a blade to my throat?

Fight back.

[The demand came out half-growled, equal parts rage and frustration.]

I am.

[Ignis stands his ground, unswayed by the growl in Ardyn's voice.]

If you don't like the manner with which I'm fighting, then stop this foolishness. Why can you not accept that the very thing you fear is the one thing that can help make all your confusion go away? He wants to help and so do I!

You're wrong. How many times do you expect me to repeat myself? 'Your appeals to hope and loyalty will all come to naught in the end.'

[His voice was mocking as he pulled sharply to try and free his hand from Ignis' grip rather than take his head off, the words from Altissia almost a lighthearted joke if not for the cruelty inherent in the sentiment itself.]

This world is nothing but a disappointment that will always, always only ever let one down.

I'm not appealing to either of those things. I'm appealing to your bloody common sense!

[Ignis tightens his grip on Ardyn's wrist, unwilling to let go now that he's gotten a hold of the redhead.]

How many times have you told me you hate not understanding? How many? Now you have a chance to fix that, and I'm not going to let you ignore it like you've ignored everything else!

[If Ardyn hopes to strike a nerve by referencing what happened in Altissia, he succeeds, but it's likely not the nerve he was hoping to strike.]

Funny, I don't remember only ever being let down. In fact, I recall someone sitting up all night tending to me when I needed him, despite the fact that it was my own foolishly loyal actions that put me in so much pain to begin with.

A mistake I plan to correct in just a second.

[The Armiger around him began to shift and realign as the sword vanished from Ardyn's other hand, phantom blades changing to a circular formation wit all thirteen pointed directly at Ignis.]

Let go of me. Now.

Hit a soft spot, did I? That's why we're suddenly back to violence.

[Even though he can clearly hear the ghostly weapons aligning toward him, Ignis doesn't release his hold on Ardyn's wrist. He just raises his chin slightly, face serious.]

No.

You really think I won't kill you? In a place like this where death means nothing at all and it wouldn't even be permanent?

Truly, it seems you have forgotten what I am.

Oh no, I've not forgotten. Of all those who have experienced what you were, I am the one least able to forget. I'm the one who lives within a fraction of the darkness you claim makes up your entire being and I will live within that darkness for the rest of my days. Any glimpse of light this place gives me is merely a small flame that serves to remind me of why I did what I did and gave what I gave.

[Blade no longer at his throat, Ignis steps closer to Ardyn, confidence in his tone and every line of his body.]

I remember what you were for more reason than that. I remember because it's what allows me to see what you do not dare to let yourself see. I know the changes. Each tiny step. Each moment of bravery and confession. I will not betray those things I see anymore than I will betray you.

[Ignis takes another step forward, certain he is close enough now that he could steal a kiss if he wanted to.]

So kill me if you must. I will return and I will continue to burn no matter how many times you try to send me away. I live within the darkness and still I hold onto the light. It is here I've found balance and it's from this place I make my promise once more.

Et non supplantabuntur gressus.

What you fear will not come to pass.

You dare speak down to me--you dare claim to know me?! You know nothing but a shade and a memory, long lost and better left buried on the forsaken isle upon which he withered and died. He's dead. There is no light left within me now, you're wrong. You're wrong, you're wrong--!

[Ardyn's composure finally slipped and cracked like a glass knocked clear off a table, his entire body burning with shining red energy and blades beginning to spin haphazardly. When they did fire an instant later they did so with no direction, in wild arcs and aimless destruction as if Ardyn was lashing out at the throne room more than Ignis. His brother's greatsword crashed into the throne, axe and mace and star all breaking whatever they collided with.]

[Weapons fly off in wild directions and Ignis doesn't flinch. The wind of close calls shifts his hair against his forehead; sparks of pain bloom in his leg and shoulder--wounds caused by debris not weapons--and he still stands his ground.]

Am I?

[He wants to be gentle; he wants to take Ardyn into his arms and hold him until the pain is gone, but right now Ignis knows he can't. He has to be firm. For Ardyn. For his Darkness. For his Light.

For what they can be.]

If that light was gone, if he were dead and all that remained was darkness and daemons, would you fear? Would you feel pain? Would you hesitate and lash out in anything but rage and hate? Daemons cannot fear. Daemons do not feel pain. But you. You do.

You think I fear you? You, so powerless that you'll not even strike back?

[The weaponry vanished, Armiger and glowing aura vanishing in a flash of crystal.]

Without my brother and his line to beg for help, you're nothing.

[As serious as the situation is, Ignis can't help but laugh at that.]

Of course you don't fear me. Even with their power I am nothing but a stubborn little flame. What you fear is the brighter light that I am a reflection of. I am the reminder that won't go out; he is the light won't fade no matter how much darkness gathers.

Is that right.

[The growl in his throat was unmistakable, as was the fact that his skin had gone even colder under Ignis' hand. The darkness and malice in the stagnant air started to gather closer, as if drawn to Ardyn automatically.]

Perhaps we should test that.

[For a moment, Ignis is reminded of all those months ago when he found Ardyn fresh off Monsun's bad side. Growling. Cold. Stripped of all the human trappings he used to make himself seem 'normal.' He hadn't run then, and eventually he's drawn the man back out of the monster.

He's not running now either.

Despite the cold under his fingers, cold that feels almost as if it will suck all the warmth from his own body, Ignis only tightens his hold.]

Draw all the darkness you wish and we'll see who's right.

[Destroy. Destroy. Destroy everything. His Shadow had been right--existence was an almost comically ephemeral thing, so why even entertain it? And why bother with a magnifying glass when one could just drown the entire anthill? There was nothing here worth caring about. Empty words, empty promises, and frustration after annoyance after inconvenience.]

[The blast radiated outwards and upwards a moment later, a concussive burst of something tangibly malicious--a feeling of rage, of hatred, and the inexhaustible curses of a world hat had once struggled to survive in the darkness.

[It hurts. The pressure, the force of so much negative emotion crushing the air from his lungs before forcing itself in, clawing, trying to reach his heart and stop it cold. The sound that eventually forces itself free of his throat is something choked, winded, trembling.]

Ar...dyn.

[He's half bent over in a desperate attempt to keep his feet, and yet somehow, he's still got his grip on the redhead's wrist. Honestly, Ignis has no idea why he does what he does next. His arm already screams as if every bone was separated by the blast, but when he feels his knees give, he jerks as hard as he can on Ardyn's wrist, determined to drag him down to the floor with him.

And if he's successful? He will finally let go of the redhead's wrist so he can draw him into a hug, words a broken, shaking whisper.]

I'm...still here.

[He'd have needed a moment to recover from an attack on that scale, but a moment was nothing. Surely it wouldn't matter; this fight was over before it began. Now it would all be settled, and he'd never have to worry about anyone pestering him ever agai-]

[...Or so he'd thought, at least, but the next thing he knew Ardyn was yanked harshly to the ground and met with a hug instead of the knife he'd halfway expected.]

What are you...?

[It didn't make sense. What did he have to gain, why should anyone care for what was nothing but a monster after all he'd done and had yet to do for some of them? Why was he wasting his time?!]

...fight back. Why won't you just kill me and let it be done with--?!

I am...fighting back.

[His hands curl into the back of Ardyn's jacket. Not that he can really feel them. He just feels cold, so cold that he wonders if he could see his breath if he could see.]

Death is not the ending we're looking for.

[Without willing it, Ignis' head tilts forward, coming to rest against Ardyn's shoulder.]

Let me teach you to live again; let me be at your side forever; let me be your reminder.

I don't want to. Don't--you promised to help me find rest, don't say now that was a lie or I'll kill you.

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