January Event: Rejection Rooms

[lifeaftr_mods]

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!

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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 )

Comments

[shatteredlenses]

Why don't we wait until the end to assume that, hmm?

[Ignis presses another kiss to his temple, a small smile crossing his lips.]

Lets not go borrowing trouble. There is enough of it in this place as it is.

[scourgingstars]

If I do this--if I listen to you and attempt to learn how to act human again...I've one condition. Should things go wrong and should I be something needing to be dealt with, then kill me. I don't care what you do or how many times it takes. Just don't--

[Ardyn's voice cracked, his next breath coming shakily.]

...don't lock me away. Don't leave me alone somewhere and forget I ever existed.

[shatteredlenses]

[When they have come so far, Ignis hates that they still have to have killing Ardyn as an option, but he's already made this promise in a way, hasn't he? So long ago when Monsun appeared for the first time. So long before they had any of this, and if he could make that promise back then, he certainly can make it now.]

I promised you such when we first met on Monsun. In a little different form, but in the end, the intent is still the same. If death is the path we must take, then it will be. I will stay by your side until it is done so that I can guarantee you are not locked away and left alone once more.

[Even if it means his own death and depending on Ardyn's state, it very well could mean that. If it comes to that, he can only hope that Gladio will forgive him.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn was silent for a long moment after that, hiding his face against Ignis' shoulder and clinging to him.]

...I'll...try again, one more time. No matter how I doubt it will ever work.

I'd like to go back to the desert, for a while yet. The light from that damnable rock hurts my eyes.

[shatteredlenses]

You know trying is the most I will ask of you.

[Ignis runs a hand over Ardyn's hair before wrapping his arms around the redhead again.]

I would like that too, though, perhaps we should stop by the cottage first. I can get you my sunglasses. Unless a certain chocobo has stolen them again, that is.

[Tired, bad joke, get? Yep.]

[scourgingstars]

No--it'll be fine. I...suppose I should get used to sunlight, anyway.

[shatteredlenses]

Tell that to your daughter the next time she runs off with them.

[Ignis smiles and presses a kiss to Ardyn's hair.]

One step at a time, beloved. If you change your mind, the offer is always open.

[scourgingstars]

...I'm sorry I hurt you.

[Sure enough, gradually the throne room began to dissolve back into the shoreline of the desert.]

I can't promise I'll not do it again, sooner or later. But I don't--I don't want to. I-...care about you.

[shatteredlenses]

[Oddly enough, the worst of the pain fades as the throne room does, leaving Ignis suddenly exhausted instead. He sighs softly, leaning a little harder into Ardyn than he was before.]

I think... Something just happened with the room, didn't it? The pain just faded. I'm more tired now than hurt.

[Still, he knows Ardyn means more than just physical hurt.]

Even people who have been together for years still occasionally hurt each other. They don't want to, but it happens anyway. Just remember how much you care. I will, and that is why I won't leave your side when it inevitably happens.

[scourgingstars]

[Something probably had happened, but Ardyn didn't look up to check. He was suddenly exhausted himself, still clinging to Ignis like that was all that mattered.]

Most people aren't bloodthirsty daemons.

[shatteredlenses]

Not the point, love.

[He bumps his head gently against Ardyn's, careful not to pull away from the hold the redhead has on him.]

The point is that if normal people slip up sometimes and it's okay, then it's certainly okay for--as you put it--bloodthirsty daemons to do the same.

[scourgingstars]

Except were I to slip, I'd be liable to injure you or worse. That's truly a risk you think me worth taking?

[shatteredlenses]

Yes.

[Once more, there is no hesitation in the answer.]

There is nothing in life without risk. Not serving Noctis; not working alongside Gladio; not loving you, but these are all risks I have chosen and I will not regret those choices.

[scourgingstars]

...alright. Just know that I'm the only thing I doubt I can truly protect you from.

[shatteredlenses]

[Gently, he coaxes Ardyn to raise his head so he can press a gentle kiss to his lips.]

It's all right. I understand.

[scourgingstars]

[That seemed to startle Ardyn at first, but after just a second he leaned into it without argument.]

...you must be terribly exhausted. [He straightened out a little, enough to pull Ignis against his chest. Being absurdly tall had its advantages.] Rest here for a while--you've nothing to fear. I'm far more dangerous than this desert's perils.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis hums softly, not willing to argue when he is so tired even though they should really head to one of the camps first. He settles against Ardyn, head resting in the crook of the redhead's neck.]

Will you try to rest as well? You must be as exhausted as I am.

[And lets not revisit the 'I don't sleep' argument. They both know that things are different when exhaustion is at play.]

[scourgingstars]

I will. [He ran a hand idly through Ignis' hair, holding him close.] So there's nothing for you to worry about.

[shatteredlenses]

All right. I'm holding you to that.

[Ignis smiles tiredly, leaning forward to press a gently kiss to Ardyn's jaw before settling down once more and closing his eyes. Unsurprisingly, it takes only a few moments for sleep to claim him.]