Hijinks Mingle

[potentite]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Anywhere around the hub!
When: Days 103-105
Open/Closed: Open mingle!
Notes: See this post for details on the moon prompt and this one for the telepathy/dream/spirit prompts!



[A | Flower Gleam and Glow]
[The nearby moon is still passing close to the hub island, meaning the effects are still in play. Perhaps now is the time to stop and smell the large lit up sparkling moonflowers that have bloomed? Or be annoyed by the mosquito-like insects that came with them.

Alternatively, the deer seem to draw some sort of energy from the moon's light. Given their size, at least their sudden aggression and proximity to the base camp isn't the worst thing in the world but a kick would still break a rib or other bone so be careful! Possibly help each other deal with these cute but troublesome fauna.]



[B | Eavesdropping]
[For some reason, the telepathy will suddenly get rather wonky. Characters won't know why it's happening, though of course no doubt there will be ponderings, but it means characters won't be in control of their ability to broadcast — or more specifically, not broadcast — their thoughts. Time to find out secrets of an embarrassing nature. Or maybe something sadder is going on in your character's head.

If this wasn't bad enough, the area around the signet might experience burning or tingling. Just try to keep a lid on your brain for the day and distract yourself from any annoying pain.]



[C | Talking In Your Sleep]
[Or maybe your character just doesn't have the most interesting thoughts. Maybe they're busy thinking about pie instead of their upsetting childhood. That's fair. Pie is great.

But surely sometimes it haunts their dreams. With the telepathy running amuck, it's no wonder dreams and nightmares are leaking through, too. Of course, it doesn't have to be an accident. Feel free to grab a friend and share a fanciful dreamscape together on purpose! But for those nuts that are tougher to crack, accidents can and will happen.]



[D | Who You Gonna Call]
[Last but not least, as Friday rolls around, there seems to be something odd going on with the island. If your character is inclined towards the spiritual or supernatural, they'll no doubt notice the strange heavy thickness hanging around. There are whispers in the air and all of new energy just feels solemn. Might be good to give people a heads up and keep an eye on it.]

Comments

[splinten]

Was I?

[He's pretty sure he was.

The lingering uncertainty over what to do. He swallows.]

I'll stick this through as long as you want me around. That declaration does not include a clause about fuck-ups or injuries. It is a blanket contract with no caveats or exceptions.

[Even back then, he could never really have been through with Jake.]

[potentite]

[Jake's fingers curl against the bedsheet.]

That sounds frightfully unconditional, don't you think?

[splinten]

I'm a sort of terrifyingly unconditional kind of person when it comes to the people who matter to me.

[potentite]

I know. [It's soft, a slight frown on his lips.] I like it. But...

[But Dirk deserves better than accepting anything just because it comes from someone he cares for.]

[splinten]

[Dirk can't reply to those unspoken thoughts. He doesn't know what to say to that. He knows what he thinks.

No, I don't.]

[potentite]

[It's hard to miss. He doesn't need telepathy malfunctions for it.]

Hey. [Sitting up, Jake pats the spot on the bed next to him.] Come here.

[splinten]

[It's a strange vulnerable terror that runs through him. There's something about Jake that it's impossible not to see. The goodness in him. The kindness. And he knows the kindness is meant for him, that Jake wants to help him. Be good to him.

And he's scared, because he doesn't deserve that kindness. Just like he doesn't deserve more than what those he loves will give him. He doesn't deserve this.

But Jake is being brave. Jake, who has had his self-confident slammed down to zero, is trying to help him despite everything that terrifies him. Jake deserves Dirk meeting him half way.

Slow to start at first, but then faster, Dirk moves over, sits down. He draws his hands together and he looks down at his knees. His shades don't hide it well. But he's trying.]

[potentite]

[A moment of fear, Jake worrying his bottom lip, fingers curling. He wants to put his hand over Dirk's own. He wants to comfort him more than this.]

Why... do you think that?

[splinten]

[There's a pause.] It's difficult to explain. You are basically the kindest person I know. You'd rather think badly of yourself than of someone else.

It's unfortunate, because you underestimate what you're capable of, both in terms of skill and intelligence and also in terms of your goodness, morally speaking.

[potentite]

[It startles him enough that his telepathy shorts again — no no wrong i'm not — but he tries to keep himself vocally on track.]

I— What does that have to do with why you think that way?

[splinten]

I have to point out that your rejection of my assertion actually supports it.

[Since, you know. He says Jake undersells himself.

He's not really dodging. Honestly, he's kind of teasing.]

[potentite]

[Jake huffs.] Well I think not.

[splinten]

Again. My point.

[But he glances back down at his lap. Why doesn't he deserve it? Because there's something wrong with him. Because he is, inherently, flawed. Heartless, manipulative, possessive. Aggressive, overwhelming, inadequate. Evil.]

[potentite]

[Passionate. Loving. Growing. Stalwart. Determined. Loyal. Strong. Good.

But he doesn't say them, even if Dirk can no doubt hear them.]

But you haven't done anything loathsome.

[splinten]

[Brobot comes to mind. Jane's misery. Roxy's alcholism. Jake's own hurt.

But he says,]

You knew how much I hated the auto-responder. Just the act of making him was fucked up and cruel, and what I ended up with was an exercise in self-loathing that I kept literally right on my face at all times.

[potentite]

[Jake tilts his head towards Dirk.]

Why did you make him? Was it really only for a philosophical sparring partner?

[splinten]

[Dirk touches his glasses. The AR isn't there anymore. They're just normal computer shades. But they were where he lived for so long, the way they interfaced. For three years, they were him.]

I don't know. I guess there were a lot of reasons. I felt overwhelmed by everything I was trying to accomplish, and I wanted help. I had some kind of Heart player instinct to splinter off, maybe. I wanted to see what I was capable of, and what I'd be capable of if I were as rational as code. Or maybe I was just lonely.

I don't know.

[potentite]

[A beat of hesitation. Dirk no doubt catches the troubled, unsure feelings before they something warm bubbles to the surface. Jake reaches out and puts his hand over Dirk's.]

Why limit yourself to only one frightfully sad reason?

[splinten]

You're right. I've earned my multiplicity of bullshit sad justifications.

[A pause. He doesn't pull away, though]

Sorry for making you feel worse.

[potentite]

No no, I just... It's hard.

[splinten]

[He hesitates. The thought: Fuck I hope this isn't the wrong thing. Dirk squeezes Jake's hand.] What is?

[potentite]

[Jake flushes but squeezes back.] Just... the way you grew up, I guess. Um, I think... you did the best you could with what you had. And there isn't any shame in that, even if you made mistakes. I know you were trying your best.

[splinten]

And you weren't? [Wait, fuck—] Sorry. It's that Strider pushiness coming in again. I'm the colossal douchebag, it's me.

[potentite]

[This time the fluster comes simply from shame as he looks down.] No. It's okay. I... really wasn't.

[splinten]

Sorry, but that isn't true. [Dirk is a stubborn ass, and he's very stubborn about his friends.] Yeah, you fucked up, but you didn't exactly have a shining childhood guaranteed to produce a healthy and balanced breakfast cereal, let alone a mind. Maybe I got a life of Lucky Charms, but you got Count Chocula.