victory_road | Event: The Reveal Glass

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Event: The Reveal Glass

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.

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[For what it's worth, Boober does (kind of) smile for the first time in this place when he hears that. But it's a very, very sad smile. He shakes his head and gets up onto Riz's lap, giving him a hug from there with his head resting on Riz's shoulder.

That's so much unsurprising, isn't it? Even when Riz considered death in the past, it wasn't his own he worried about. And while to a point, Boober finds it so admirable and lovely that Riz cares about saving others so much, taken this far? It's rather heartbreaking.]

I meant for you, hon. [His voice is tired, but not impatiently so. He just sounds every bit as sad as his smile looked.] Had you ever thought about your own death before.

[Boober's weigth across his lap is a nice one. It's not something he's use to; generally he is small enough that everybody is far too big to get into his lap. But like this, Boober fits perfectly, and the light pressure of him across his thighs, and the warmth of his chest is a reminder that he is not alone.]

Oh. No. No, I never think about that. It's not-- [he already winces, knowing his next words are going to upset Boober, and yet unable not to say them.] important.

[Despite seeing the answer coming, Boober flinches and hugs Riz tighter when he hears it. He takes a shaky breath in, trying not to start crying again. So far, he manages, but it's hard with Riz saying something like that.]

It is important, though. You are important, Riz. It wouldn't be bad for you to care about yourself dying, I wish you did...!

I-it scares me, that you don't, but it's even more sad to me.

It's not like I'm some suicidal blockhead!

[He doesn't court death! Or, at least, Riz doesn't think he does. He's not the one jumping on the greatest enemies known to mankind (tables).]

I just-- I want to help people! So it's okay not to think about that sort of stuff.

[He cannot quite vocalise it, but he wants nothing more than to be like his mom and dad, who had both worked tirelessly to make the lives of other people better. Unfortunately, while they had modelled that rather commendable attitude to Riz, at the same time, neither had really modelled much self-care either, not when Pok died far too young and Sklonda worked far too long hours herself.]

I know, I know you're not! And, look, I understand wanting to help! It's not-- [Boober leans back, with a strangled sound of frustration, to look at Riz.] Sorry, I'm not mad. And I would never ask you to stop doing that, okay? Sometimes I almost want to, but... No. That's as much part of who you are as anything else.

And I think that it as one of the most amazing parts of you, no matter how much it scares me. Because it does. But it isn't what makes me sad!

I don't want you to stop, I just wish you cared about yourself more. At least enough to talk about something like this that's been bothering you. I want to know when you're upset, that's the part when I can help.

[It's funny how people always sound so very mad when they say they aren't mad.

Riz's ears droop, his expression somewhat resigned. Because while he gets it, a little at least, why Boober feels like this, he isn't sure if Boober gets how... tentative friendships are for him. He has the Bad Kids now, and Boober himself, but for years he had no one. And it had been made very clear to him that that was because of Riz being who he was. The friendships he had found now were a stroke of luck, one he wasn't sure he'd be able to replicate if he is honest, and he doesn't want to outstay his welcome.]

I know people already put up with a lot hanging out with me. It's fine. I don't want to-- [be left behind] become even more of a pain in the ass.

What do you mean?

[The confusion in Boober's tone is very strong, because he sincerely doesn't understand-- Not the feeling of being put up with by one's friends. He still struggles to believe that many of his own friends - especially the other fraggles, but not exclusively - don't find him to be too much of a bore or a downer to be around. And he knows Riz is weird. He knows that he didn't have a best friend, or very many friends at all, before meeting the other Bad Kids.

But to Boober, that isn't the same as Riz being a pain to put up with. Sure, he has habits and tendencies that drive Boober up the wall! But compared to how lovable and wonderful he is otherwise, it is very minor. So he isn't really grasping what's got Riz looking so small and sad, almost hopeless.]

Riz, it's not like that. It's never been like that. You're my favorite person, and that won't change if you start worrying more about yourself. Nothing could change that.

Edited 2024-03-12 02:21 (UTC)

You don't know that! I'm your favourite person now, but that's without me telling you stuff! What if I start telling you stuff and it is too much?

I don't-- I don't want you to stop being my friend. Or-- Or boyfriend.

[Riz really doesn't mean for any of this to come across as doubting Boober. It's not that Boober specifically has given him cause to doubt him. Rather, he knows his history. He knows that what few positive interactions he had with other kids in middle school generally depended on him being useful. He could stick around a group as long as there was a group project or if someone needed his notes. It had always given him hope that if he was just useful enough, if he didn't make people so tired of him, then maybe this time a friendship could work.

It never really had. Not until the Bad Kids.]

I do too know it. People are so much for me to handle a lot, but no one's ever been too much to keep caring about. You're not about to be the first.

[His tone is certain, though there's a smallness to it as well. A bit of shame on Boober's end, for not being braver. Not being better at accepting these big things in stride, or even understanding them. So much of it still feels new, in one way or another. With a sigh, Boober sits down sideways on Riz's lap, with his knees pulled in close.]

But to be honest, I understand. I worry, too, that eventually me being different is going to be too much for other people. Most the fraggles, but... You, too. Everybody.

[No matter how often it was made so clear that no one was jumping up to be rid of him, it was too hard to trust that was always going to be the case.]

Especially because we never know what's coming, do you? I don't think there's very much we can count on at all...

But I meant it. What I said, about knowing you'll always be my favorite person. Because of all the bad things that I imagine happening even when I'm trying not to think about what could go wrong, I've never imagined that I'd stop caring about you. It's impossible to imagine, in fact.

[He gives a small shrug that's really more of a shoulder twitch.]

Maybe that's silly, but it feels very real.

[Riz reaches up, settling his hands on Boober's hips. Or, where one would imagine his hips would be under the soft fur of his body. His claws curl very slightly into that very fur, clinging to him.

It's heartening to hear Boober say that he cannot imagine not caring about him. It's the sort of thing he'd imagine his mom or dad saying. That's different, of course. They are family, and family is always supposed to stick together. It is why, the rare times he had talked to anyone, it had always been to his parents. To Riz, there was no danger there is being too much or too troublesome to care about; Sklonda and Pok had amply displayed that their love was truly unconditional.

But maybe friends could be the same. Maybe there were people who'd stick around even if he'd become troublesome.]

I can't imagine you becoming too weird for me either. I like your weirdness.

[Boober breathes in shakily as he nods, and his voice is equally shaky when he speaks up.]

That's really good to hear. I don't want you to stop being my friend or boyfriend, either.

[The very sincere moment has his tail glowing, a hazy and faint but still warm orange light in this otherwise impossibly dark space.]

And Riz...? I do want you to tell me things. I know there's so much I'm still getting used to, and a lot that's hard for me to understand, or at least... Hard for me to think about. But if I can be there for you, then it's worth it. Okay?

[Riz's shoulders creep up towards his ears, an edge of uncertainty to his voice. It's a bit of a conflict of interests to him, where he wants to do what makes Boober happy (tell him things), not worry him (which would mean not telling him things), not make him leave him (which, again, historically involved not telling people things) and keep everything painful and vulnerable clutched close to his chest (less pain that way).

So, with all that, he doesn't feel he can just promise Boober he will. He doesn't want to make empty promises.]

I can-- I can try? I'm sorry, I'm not good at this sort of thing.

[Is trying enough? Even his mom, his most closest confidante doesn't get treated to his worries too often (she is so busy, she doesn't need more on her plate).]

Edited 2024-03-12 15:21 (UTC)

Oh! Yeah, of course that's okay. Trying means a lot, it really does.

[Boober rests his head against Riz's torso. More closeness, more warmth... It seems like something they both need right now. He certainly does.]

I'm still not sure about this being a dream you're having, but... If you wanted to, you can start trying now, since it might be.

[When Riz had said he'd try, what he had really meant is 'I'll try and tell you the next time I have a nightmare'. He hadn't really expected Boober to immediately hold him to his words and expect him to... talk? Talk about what? Boober knows he died now, right? Isn't that... isn't that enough? Does he really need to go into more detail.]

Uh. What am I supposed to be telling you? Don't you already know now?

It's been bothering you, though, right? I assumed that's why you're having nightmares about it. And it makes sense! It must have been scary.

Iii-I know I won't be able to change the scariness, or that it happened. And I also know talking about how you feel isn't something you like, but maybe it would help? If you weren't alone in thinking about what happened?

I don't know how you knowing that I got strangled by a Pit Fiend is going to help me. It doesn't change what happened.

[He's not being short with Boober, really. He's just being short with the idea that talking about your feelings or experiences somehow helps you cope with them. That has not been Riz's experience at all. Then again, he's been very careful to avoid that sort of thing, so who knows. Maybe he is missing out on a fabled land of healing.

He doesn't think he is, though.]

No, it doesn't. I wish it would, but nothing can, and that's- That's really horrible. You're right.

[Well, Riz hadn't outright said that part, but Boober doesn't see how it could be anything else.]

But if I know more about why-- Well, no, not why, that's dumb. I guess how it's bothering you? That doesn't make sense, either, though. I don't--

[He sighs.]

There has to be a way I can help. There has to be.

[Riz groans, pressing the balls of his hands against his eyes.]

I don't know, Boober. When I dream about this shit, I just... dream about what happened. I see Killian and I can feel his hands around my neck and then... nothing. [A pause.] In my dreams, I don't get revived. I wake up before that. So it's just darkness and feeling like I'm falling.

[Which hadn't been related to Killian at all, though Riz has an idea where that comes from.]

That's not fair.

[That sounds odd and silly even to Boober. He's quick to clarify, and as he does, he brushes the fuzzy poof of his tail against Riz's side.]

It-- I mean, nightmares don't know they're being unfair. Nightmares don't know anything, I guess. But it's awful that you keep only reliving the worst part, and never the part where you're saved.

Mhmm.

[It is unfair, but then. The world is unfair, isn't it?]

That's why I didn't tell you I was having nightmares. Cause, like, I already know it doesn't end like that. What else were you supposed to tell me that I didn't already know?

Well... Sometimes I think it's nice to have someone be upset with you, though. Whatever kind of upset it is, it can just be nice not being alone. For me, at least, because it's good just knowing someone else thinks it's worth getting upset about, too.

And sometimes... After a point, it can also help me when I'm upset if there's someone to remind me if it's not-- Not real. At least not right then.

[Boober doesn't think his worries are one bit baseless, but he does recognize how often he gets upset about things before they happen, things that may never happen.]

So, if you think that might help you... I think that's important. And it can be me, or not me, or a few people, I just-- Of course I want to be helpful to you, but really, I just want you to have that help.

I know you do.

[Riz heaves a soft sigh.]

Like I said, I'll... try. I can... try telling you the next time I've got a nightmare. Just... historically, it's never really been the case that talking about that stuff helped for me.

And having people sympathise just-- maybe it'll be different with you. Cause it's you. But after my dad died, and everybody just kept offering us their sympathies and telling me how sorry they felt, it just made me feel angry. Cause I knew they didn't really care. They hadn't cared about him or me when he was alive and they were just saying that stuff to feel better themselves. It didn't do anything for me.

And they didn't...?

[Boober gives a little grunt that is quiet but deeply judgmental. It's not like saying something you don't mean is a concept foreign to fraggles, much less to Boober himself. He's aware of it, he's done it. But what feels so wrong to him is pretending to care about something like that. Something huge and horrible, something that - if you ask him - shouldn't require pretending. Even before meeting Pok's ghost on Halloween, Boober cared. It's just so clear to see how much Riz's dad means to him.]

I think I understand, hon. That would bother me, too. And I don't want to make you do something you're uncomfortable with.

[As much as he does want to help, he never wants to push Riz into something that isn't true to himself.]

But, yes, if you want to, I would like to know when you have more nightmares. O-or just about things like... Like what happened here. Because, well, I do care. I care about you a lot, so even though knowing about things can be scary, it's important. It's worth it.

Okay.

[Of course, being that Riz is still Riz, he doesn't take this opportunity to immediately launch into talking about things he has so far not spoken about. If it was that easy for him, they wouldn't be in this situation to begin with. While Boober might have assured him that he is willing to listen, Riz is still going to need a little bit of time to start opening up.

What he can do though is wrap his arms around Boober's furry little body, giving him a good squeeze, as he buries his face against his cap, murmuring a soft and quick.]

Thanks. Love you.

[Feeling happy in this moment - in this place, period - is out of the question, at least as far as Boober is concerned. But with Riz holding him, he gets as close as he possibly could in this moment. Because that's something in and of itself, isn't it? Maybe being here for Riz to squeeze tight is the only way he can help right now. And while Boober is not sure that's enough, or should even count as helping at all, he'll take it.

Boober returns the hug as much as he's able, his hands clutching at Riz's shirt tightly. Normally, he wouldn't grasp at the fabric like that, for fear of damaging the shirt or even just causing particularly stubborn wrinkles. But right now, it barely even crosses his mind, because the whole thing feels so necessary, right now.

And maybe, if it's what Riz is looking for, and it's what he's needing right now himself, then it is enough of a help.]

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Event: The Reveal Glass

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