Event: The Reveal Glass

[indigo_league]

Across the Pokémon world, characters may have spotted a falling star last night. Or at least, one would think that's what it was: a naturally occurring phenomenon, rather than a legendary artifact. Specifically, the Reveal Glass fell to earth during a fight among a group of legendaries started by the return of a long-lost family member. But it's probably best to leave them to handle all that themselves, while your characters deal with other consequences.

The Reveal Glass shattered upon impact, and the shards scattered throughout Kanto, Johto, and the Sevii Islands… And made their way into the hearts of your characters. But bleeding isn't the concern here. Instead, the impact will hit when a character first looks into any reflective service. An eerie feeling hits them as they're transported to the Mirror Dimension.

While this realm can be many different things for different characters, one thing is always true: It is a place of honesty, where true selves are revealed. Those struck by a shard will find themselves facing truths they are no longer able to hide, and now must accept. Fortunately enough, even those who haven't been struck will be able to enter the Mirror Dimension during this event via a reflective surface to offer help. By the end of the 29th, things will return to normal. Characters will be back in the usual Pokémon world and their hearts will be rid of the shards, but time is strange in the Mirror Dimension, and the experience may feel like it goes on far longer than a day. Or, maybe that's just the emotional exhaustion.

The Reveal Glass plot is here. You can swing by the event info post for additional details and FAQ, and play out your characters’ enforced therapy on this post. As with most VR events, this plot is entirely optional and your characters don't need to take part at all.

Comments

[pennyloafer]

"Oh, yeah. Been there."

Louie finds the words just come out, and he puts that on being surprised by the answer given. He'd been hoping for answers, some explanation to what was going on in general. Something personal hadn't been what he expected to hear, much less such a relatable thing.

And he doesn't mind that he said it, really, he just isn't sure where to go with that. He gives a helpless little shrug - more a gesture to himself than anything else - before gesturing to one of the shards depicted a fully robotic Shadowmaru.

"Is that you? You know, when you're where you're from."

[sassymaru]

"Have you?"

He sounds surprised, even given the fact he's looking at an anthropomorphic duck. But, maybe that's not it. The species isn't the issue. It's everything else. A fully living, organic creature - versus...

Versus the completely robotic being Louie just gestured to.

"It is." He trails off, staring at it, until it shifts to his human form. "And... I'm not sure. Which is really me."

[pennyloafer]

Louie nods with an affirmative hum. "Yeah. It was hard to see how I could fit in with the rest of my family. They do things so differently than I do, and I wanted to be part of that but I didn't know how I could."

It's a vague, simple version of the story, both because it's not one he's used to - or entirely comfortable with - just dropping on people, and because... Well, it's not about him right now, is it? He figured all that out. It sounds like this guy hasn't, though.

"I'm guessing life here is really different for you, huh? That would throw anybody off."

[sassymaru]

"Your own family?"

Wow, that sure sounds... familiar, doesn't it? Having a group you belonged with, but no real place in it. The one left on the sidelines. It's painfully familiar.

His attention turns to the broken pictures. In some of them, there are occasionally other robots. Which only makes the human Shadowmaru standing near them more obvious, more out of place. In others, the people he's met here in this world - with his own robotic form juxtaposed against them.

"It's ... very, very different."

[pennyloafer]

"I mean, don't get me wrong, my family's cool. They weren't trying to leave me out, it just kind of... happened. And when they tried to get me in on things, I just felt more out of place. 'Cause they're the kind of people who jump right into things, and I'm not, so things- They didn't click for me, not for a while."

Louie frowns as he looks over the scenes playing out, with Shadowmaru always the one who's so different no matter who he's with. He can relate, in a sense.

"My family's big, and really close. I didn't really have other people I was close to before I came here. That's a part that's been very different for me."

Sure, overall Louie didn't have that hard a time adjusting to being in the pokemon world, but being away from all of his family that way felt weird at first. It was the first time his social circle truly branched out beyond that group, or at least, the first time Louie had branched out of his own choosing, and not through friends of relatives.

He looks up at Shadowmaru, thoughtful frown still present. "It's weird, right? Building a whole life in this place where it's you, but it's also not."

[sassymaru]

"A big family..."

He trails off, almost thoughtfully. His eyes still flicking over the assembled images. Like you can see the "buffering" circle repeating over and over in his own head. He supposes he can relate to part of it. To having many people around you often. Or constantly, in some cases.

While this processes, his shadow seems to shift of its own accord, and seems to thread fingers through his own.

"I was not close to many, either." Even in the broken images, he's stood apart. Separating himself. "A lone wolf, as it were."

Because of course, there's at least one image up there with him in his dog canine form. Granted, it's a giant robot canine, but still.

"You, but also not," he repeats. "A succinct way of putting it. And truthful. I don't know what to do."

[pennyloafer]

"Is there anything to do about it?" Louie asks, looking up at Shadowmaru once he tears his eyes away from the shadow, moving on its own. It's got some weighty associations for him to see that, a "living shadow," but the malicious intent he'd normal think of doesn't seem the case here. Just the loneliness.

"I've been here for years, and honestly? I still go back and forth between homesickness and never wanting to leave. I even was gone for a while, and now back... So now I try not to worry about that stuff. It's not easy! Don't get me wrong. But it's just, you know, I'm here now." He shrugs. "And I can't do much about it other than be here."

[sassymaru]

"I'm not sure. It feels as if there should be."

As if there should be something to piece it together. Stitch it all into one whole again. But there isn't. Nothing he can puzzle out. Even with his shadow at his side, in silent support.

"We are here, yes. We have to make a life here... but that doesn't mean - " He frowns, then, trying to work it out. The complicated feelings. How if he goes, or stays, he's always going to be apart.

Always going to be different.

"Do you fit, here?"

[pennyloafer]

"Me? Yeah." Louie doesn't have to think about his answer for very long. "Maybe not just anywhere here, but I like where I am now, even when I'm feeling homesick."

He frowns, looking over the spread of images, and then back up at Shadowmaru.

"I guess you don't feel that way, huh?"

[sassymaru]

"Good. It isn't a bad place. Not at all."

So it's good that someone was able to find a place, find their place. As simple as that. Someone should be able to. Mando has. His children have. And so many others. But himself...?

"I suppose it's obvious, isn't it?"

He doesn't look at his new companion. Instead keeping his gaze locked on the images, while his shadow moves yet again, trying to gently nudge his attention to the other living thing in the room, instead.

[pennyloafer]

Louie shrugs. "I just figured that was why you asked me about it. It can be easier to talk about someone else's stuff, right?"

There isn't judgement in what he's saying. He certainly thinks it's right, at least.

"What's been the problem? With fitting here, I mean."

[sassymaru]

"Mm. I suppose so."

He allows his head to be moved. Not seeming to mind letting the shadow do it for him. It's easier than doing so on his own.

"Hah, well. Isn't it a bit obvious?"

A gesture to himself, his current state. Then to the jagged pictures, images, all over the walls. He doesn't match, not in any single one.

[pennyloafer]

Louie tilts his head in thought, scratching at the feathers on his cheek.

"I don't know, not necessarily? There is stuff about being here that's complicated for me, like I said, but not... I don't changing was a big thing. It bothered me at first, but mostly because being here bothered me at first. So I complained, you know?" He shrugs. "But it wasn't that different, all things considered. My body's different, but there isn't much else that has to be because of it. I don't know how much that's true for you."