Void Missions (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
voidmissions) wrote2022-05-15 05:21 pm
voidmissions) wrote2022-05-15 05:21 pm
MEMORY SHARE: 12 OF BEETROOT EVENT (May)
JEMA'GRETHY MEMORY SHARE
The caves of Jema'grethy will allow for a few different ways for memories to be interacted with. But for most, such as those entering in bonds, it will be seen like a vision in their head, putting them in the position and perspective of whose memory it is.
For people sharing bond memories, and also memories being shared while moving through the Memory Cave, this is the spot to place said memories! It's not necessary if you'd like to write it during the thread, but hopefully convenient for others. Just make a toplevel with your character's name in the header, and remember to include any content warnings thereafter for each memory, as applicable!
For people sharing bond memories, and also memories being shared while moving through the Memory Cave, this is the spot to place said memories! It's not necessary if you'd like to write it during the thread, but hopefully convenient for others. Just make a toplevel with your character's name in the header, and remember to include any content warnings thereafter for each memory, as applicable!
Idia Shroud
Bonding Memories - for Lan Jingyi
First memory - 48 Hours (End of chapter 5 spoilers, chapter 6 implications)
It had been such a hassle! Far too many people around! Even Idia had been dragged out and forced to do a presentation in front of so many people! It was horrible! He just knows everyone was talking about him… ‘Wait, isn’t his hair burning? Is he from the Shroud family? Look how gloomy he is!’ Ehhhh, Idia hates it all… And there had been no way for him to wiggle out of it, Riddle had made sure of it. Why couldn’t there be systems in place for extreme introverted people like him?! Why did he have to actually be there physical for some stupid presentation?! But he had gotten through it, and no one had noticed he had been using a voice synthesizer and typing his answers the entire time. He had even been able to answer questions without actually needing to talk!
Then he had managed to escape to his room. Ortho had wanted to go and see the other booths and clubs… but there was no point to it. It was just a bunch of high school crafts and experiments, none of them were worth his time. The Ignihyde dorm had some nice pieces for it, but Idia had of course seen all of those before they even went on display. No, he would rather hide away in his room and recover from the day, Ortho had even vanished out to get some snacks for him so they could watch the VDC performance together.
It did leave Idia alone, which would be nice normally, but his mind was busy as he tapped away at his computer on his desk, getting the stream open so they could watch the performance together. He could still hear the ding of emails coming through to him, a constant influx of them appearing in his inbox since he had finished his presentation, his expression turning more annoyed and grim with each one that sounded. Ughhh, why can’t they leave him alone? He knew this would happen… he was rather proud in the item he had been forced to present… but he hadn’t wanted the attention for it. All these offers of internships from a range of companies across so many fields; IT, communication, magical engineering research, app development. Well, he would be amazing for any of their companies, he knows this, and he’s an asset they would all love to have. Even the Olympus Company had made an offer…
But it was pointless… his future was set already, whether he liked it or not. He was a Shroud, he would do his role as required. He didn’t need anything from the outside world. There was no room for him in it anyway. Even if there was-
Idia stopped his typing, sighing as he sat his elbows down on his desk, his face in his hands. Stop thinking like that… there’s no point. He just wished- Stop it. If he could just- Don’t you remember what happened last time you tried to fix it?
Why did it have to be this way? Why? Whywhywhywhywhy!?
“Big brother! I’m back! I got the last of your favorite candy from the machine! Hm? Big brother?”
Idia suddenly felt a hand placed lightly on his head, having not heard his door enter when Ortho returned, he turning his head just enough to see his little brother, Ortho’s eyes set in such a way that Idia knew he was smiling at him.
“Big brother, you’re bad habits are coming out again, you’re thinking too much.”
Yeah… yeah, yes, that was right, Idia staring at Ortho’s face for a long moment, his jaw tight and teeth gritted… then closed his eyes and let out a sigh, moving to sit back in his chair. “Yeah, yeah, I am.” Get a grip. Idia scrubbed his palm across his face. “I-I-I’m just… tired from all that talking.” Right, that was part of Ortho’s programming, to monitor him, to keep him from…
Sensing that he wasn’t still quite right, Ortho handed over one of the candy, a blue skull candy on a stick. “Here, I made sure I got them, you like these ones the best. Now you have plenty of snacks while we watch the performance! Who do you think will win?”
“…thank you.” Idia reaching out to take the candy, unwrapping it and sticking it in his mouth, moving it to one side to hold between his teeth, feeling the hard candy surface crack under the pressure of his sharp teeth. He then let out a long ‘ehhhh’ of a sigh as he got the live feed up and running of the VDC main stage, Ortho putting the rest of the snacks down on his desk before moving to hover behind his chair, his hands on the back of the chair so he could see over the top of Idia’s head. “Vil’s group better win, I hate losing to Royal Sword…”
He heard Ortho let out a giggle from behind him. “I am sad I didn’t get to be part of it, but I hope its fun to watch.”
“Me too… I’m still going to vote for NRC no matter what though.”
Second Memory - Positive (Slight hints at chapter 6 spoilers)
Whatever, it was done, and while Idia was still nervous over them not keeping to their word and letting everyone know… he had gone to work and very quickly put together a body for Ortho. Not that he cut corners, just worked himself ragged to get it done in three days. It wasn’t simple either, walking, let alone running, was so difficult to replicate! Does no one understand just how much harder that is to recreate than giving Ortho flight?! Both the hardware and software that had required to do this! Recreating natural movement was so difficult! If it was anyone else it couldn’t had been done to the degree Idia was able to pull it off! Idia had spent three long days and nights working on it, much caffeine was consumed, and many of his classes ignored.
He’s ready to fall asleep for a week after this.
But looking at Ortho’s ‘sleeping’ form right now, he was rather proud in what he had put together in that time. Sure, it would need updates and patches as they found bugs and ways to improve it, but for a first model… it was pretty good, if he says so himself.
Sitting back in his desk chair with a holoscreen hovering in front of him, Idia hesitates for a moment in waking Ortho from sleep mode. It really was all he could do in this time, and yet… he’s hesitating. What if he failed at this? What if Ortho didn’t like it? …what if the twins didn’t keep their word? No, no, focus on Ortho, not them. As long as he reached the conditions, which he did, they would uphold their side of this all, it was just another contract to them after all, and they followed the rules of contracts. The focus was Ortho here. With his finger hovering over the button to wake him, Idia paused, then pressed it.
Ortho’s waking from sleep mode was nothing different from normal, that pause, a blink, before he seemed aware to the world. And before his eyes crinkled in a way that Idia knew would be a smile upon seeing him. “Big brother!” It was always so good to see that welcome, it settling somewhere warm in Idia’s chest, but also heavy…
“Run diagnosis, I want to make sure everything is installed correctly.” It would be, but it was important to do this step. Idia knew he wouldn’t had over looked anything, but there was a procedure to this, if not for right now then to help with updates down the line. Ortho’s eyes closed for several moments, silent and very still. It was… weird, Idia was so used to him having that gentle bob of his hover jets working, enough to give him some movement so others didn’t notice just how still Ortho was. Since that hovering was missing here Idia had made sure to program in some ‘movement’ to make Ortho look more… alive, to fool the brain into thinking he was breathing, something the hovering often did for him since it worked to hide that same ‘stillness’ that the human brain knew was unnatural for something that looked humanoid.
“Scan complete, all systems responsive and working within acceptable requirements.” Ortho’s typical high pitched tone, that of a child’s, replying, the panels either side of his ‘mouth’ lighting up with each word.
Ok, moment of truth then, Idia pushing himself out of his seat and moving to stand near Ortho’s sleep chamber. Ugh, part of him really didn’t want this… but, he held out a hand. “Okay, lets test this out then.” Please let this work. Please let this work. Pleaseletthiswork. Pleaseletthiswork. He didn’t want to disappoint Ortho. “It may take some getting used to, you’re not used to being on the ground.” It should be fine but… Idia can’t help but worry. Not only for his own sake with the twins… but for Ortho’s. What… what if he’s disappointed in this? What if he finally got to do this and realized he didn’t like it? Idia only wanted the best for Ortho, only wanted him to have fun and good things, to shelter him from the bad and negative. I have to protect him this time. I can’t fail again.
Ortho pauses, looking up at Idia for several moments with those big golden eyes, then they closed again to show he was smiling. ”Of course it will be ok, because my big brother made it for me!” There’s no hesitation in taking Idia’s hand, even if Ortho was far stronger than Idia ever could be, and not nearly as fragile as the human body. He took a step out of the chamber, stood there. Then bounced a little with the springs that were built into the heels of his new feet, his eyes down towards them. Then shooting a wide eyed look up to Idia. “I’m standing.”
That comment helped to break the nervous tension of Idia’s, a soft ‘ha’ of a laugh as he smiled. “Yeah, you are.” That smile increasing as Ortho continued to bounce on his heels, getting a bit higher each time.
“I’m walking, I’m walking.” Ortho letting out in a singsong tone, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, the other foot kicking out to the side as he rested on the other. “Big brother is the best! I can’t wait to try this out! I want to go running.”
There’s more of a chuckle this time from Idia, “Not tonight, it’s late. You can try that when I have PE tomorrow.” It followed by a lower ‘hehehe’ laugh from deep in Idia’s throat. “Maybe I can convince Vargas to let you run for me.” Idia hated PE and that meathead of a coach… But right now it wasn’t important, and even the lingering threat of the twins weren’t in Idia’s mind, it instead taken over by the joy he could see on Ortho’s exposed face as he continued his little side to side dance in front of Idia. Idia may not had wanted to do this going into it, but seeing Ortho so happy… it was worth it all the stress and anxiety that had been around it. Anything to make him happy.
“Oh, and if you do get bored of it, I put jets into your heels, so you can still fly when you want to.” Of course! Who said Idia couldn’t put both in?! Sure, he thinks walking is boring… but Ortho seemed to love the idea of it, so this way he got the best of both worlds.
“Thank you, big brother!” Before he started to tug on Idia’s hand, pulling him towards the door of the room. “Come on! I want to walk around the dorm to try them out!”
Ahh, noo, he just wants to sleep now! “It’s late, Ortho, I’m tired.” Idia whined, but moved along with that tug. He knows Ortho wouldn’t really hold onto him if he wanted to be free, but also knew there was no way for him to break out of his little brother’s grip.
“It’ll be quick, and we can stop and get you candy!”
Ortho’s reply getting a laugh out of Idia, those sharp teeth of his peering through as he grinned. "You normally tell me not to eat too much of that.” Complaints aside though, Idia moves to follow Ortho out of his room, keeping that hand hold with him as the wandered the empty night time halls of Ignihyde.
Third Memory - Negative (Chapter 6 and Dorm Card spoilers. Warning: Loss of family/mourning)
It’s well into the morning rather than the night, somewhere between 4 and 5am, early enough most wouldn’t be up around NRC yet, that Idia stirs in his sleep. He may be able to control his thoughts while awake, but not during sleep. And it is… all flames and a thick, black, ink-like substance. Blot. And the cries of help from a very young voice, calling for his big brother to save him.
Then blaming him.
By the time Idia surfaces from the nightmare he’s near hyperventilating, mouth gasping and open as he pressed the heels of his palms tight to his closed eyes. And that mass of blue fire hair now burning bright orange and flaring up around his head, the blue of his lips and covered blue rimmed eyes darkened to ashen black.
Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stopstopstopstopstop! Stop, please stop! He knows what he did! He knows! Stop reminding him! He knows what he did! He knows! He knows he should had been the one instead! It would had been better that way! Why did the fates have to let this happen?! Why wasn’t it him?!
Why did he have to lose Ortho…
It takes several minutes for Idia’s breath to move beyond that panicking need to get air into him, though it’s left still rapid as uneven, shaky, shallow breaths, though it’s between tightly gritted teeth now, coming in an out as a jittery hiss each time. Why did he bother? Why keep going? Why did he have to create that? Just to not be alone? To remind himself of what he did?
To have another chance?
He had let down Ortho once… this time he wouldn’t. Not again.
And… maybe because Idia has no one else. It had always been him and his brother. In the end it was supposed to be just them. Even if they had to turn their backs on the world, they would always have each other.
…until they tried to fix it. To change their fates. And had both paid the price.
Opening his mouth as if to let out a silent scream, Idia’s lips drew back, baring his teeth, before slowly allowing them to close, take a deep breath in, hold it…
“I’m ok. It’s fine. It’s fine. I’m cool. I’m fine.” He whispered out, that orange flame lingering for a moment, before slowly starting to disperse as Idia lifted his hands to smooth them upwards and back over his head and hair, a slight shake of his head before it returned back to its normal blue flame. Taking a moment to breath, close his mouth, swallow, then open again for a few more breaths, he stayed still as his heartrate lowered and his breathing got under control, hugging his knees to his chest.
Idia reached up a hand, rubbing the heel of his palm, then the back of his hand, across one eye and the other, brushing away those tears that had collected under his palms during his panic. Then with some hesitation, eventually looked over to Ortho in sleep mode across the room. Good, he hadn’t activated his monitoring controls. Maybe it would had been better if he had, Ortho was good at helping him calm back down… but right now…
Destroy it. No. No, nonononono. It’s not him. I don’t care. You made a fake! It doesn’t matter! You replaced him!
“Stop…” Idia croaked out, “Just… stop.” Using the back of his wrist to hastily brush away new tears. “It’s done. I know.” He accepted it. If only he had earlier, none of this would had happened. It’s done. Idia’s accepted this. He’s accepted the consequences of not only his own actions but his ancestors’ actions. He would be the next watcher of the STYX, of the Underworld, of Tartarus, and of every Phantom that was imprisoned within it. That’s his role. Just… alone now.
It takes several more long minutes before Idia reached out a hand, snatching his headphones off the desk right next to his bed and shoving them over his ears. Dropping back onto his bed, Idia roughly grabbed at the arm stand connected to the head of his bed and which held a small tablet in a connector, he brushing at his eyes again with one hand as he tapped away with the other to bring up an episode of the latest anime he was binge watching. He only started to fully relax as the sounds of the episode started playing in his headphones, watching it but also really not, just letting the motion on the screen and sounds of the intro song wash away everything else going on in his mind as he hugged a pillow to his chest.
Don’t think about it. It won’t change anything. Just accept it’s already happened.