[OPEN] Now we can't tell them apart

[mettatonvevo]

Who: Mettaton, his mirror, and YOU!
Where: All around the mansion, and on various Real and Mirror sides
When: May 13th – 20th; a catchall for the event!
Rating: PG-13 to be safe though I will adjust accordingly
Summary: The mirrors have been given permission to cross and both Mettatons know what that means; it’s time to take advantage of the situation. Some responses to prompts on this log will be coming from Mettaton's mirror account poetsdaffodil
The Story:

[Almost immediately upon hearing the Queen of Heart’s commands, Mettaton’s mirror goes to his real, writing urgently on the glass.]

Darling, get over here. I need to tell you something.

[It’s just as rapid of a response with Mettaton rising from where he was seated at his desk and rushing over. He stands at attention in front of the mirror.]

What is it? What’s happening?

[Mirrorton’s writing is hasty and a bit sloppy as he tries to get as much information out as possible. He knows his fellow mirrors can be very, very deadly to any Reals they come across, so this warning must be prompt lest something terrible happen.]

The Queen of Hearts has given all of us Mirrors permission to cross over to your side. Due to a recent incident with an experiment some of your scientists did, it allowed an opening for some rogue mirrors to cross illegally and cause some mayhem. The Queen is furious, unsurprisingly, and has tasked us all with apprehending the traitors. I will need to go over there to do her bidding or risk being unmade.

[Mettaton blinks as he reads everything in front of him and then nods slowly.]

All right. So we’re going to switch then?

Yes. And you will be trapped over here until I switch over again.

[The idea of being trapped on the mirrorside is an uncomfortable one at best, but… if it means his mirror self stays safe, then it’s the least he can do.]

It won’t be safe for either of us to be on one side for too long. You and I will need to switch throughout the time it takes to find those traitors. Also, it is for the best for you to pretend to be me while you’re here; that way less people try and accost you.

[With how suspicious everyone has been lately towards Mettaton’s relationship with his mirror, it’s an understandable precaution to take. His mirror writes back an affirmation and Mettaton turns to Mini, who had been quietly watching their father talk to the mirror.]

Mini, sweetling, you’re going to need to hide for the next few days. Don’t leave this room and don’t talk to anyone that isn’t me or your other father. Even if it’s Alphys. You’ll have no idea if it is really her or her double. Do you understand?

[The tiny bot beeps quietly. There is no protest from them as they wheel themselves off to where their pet bunny is. They can tell from the tone of Mettaton’s voice that this is not something to question.

Mettaton looks back to the mirror and nods. He steps forward, putting a hand on the mirror and waits. It occurs to him as he does that this moment will be the closest they will have been since September and Mettaton feels a small ache in his soul. They can’t touch. Not really. But maybe, for a moment, they can pretend.

Mirrorton, for his part, squares up to the mirror in tandem with his real, smiling as he sees him put his hand up. He raises his hand as well, allowing his fingers to push through first and interlace with Mettaton’s. It’s the smallest incident of contact, and it can’t last, but Mettaton’s grateful smile is worth seeing. Perhaps, for a second, he’ll be able to feel him like he did all those months ago.

The mirror steps through, limbs and head magically passing through the glass and if they both believe it, for the briefest of seconds, they both existed on the same side, able to feel each other in their entirety. Whether this truly happened or was a product of their hopes is irrelevant. Soon Mettaton blinks to a mirrored dull reality and Mirrorton finds himself standing on the other side, unable to see his real. Their hands, interestingly enough, still touch, though it is only Mirrorton’s fingers that cross through.

Mirrorton immediately looks away from the mirror and raises his other hand, searching for the dry erase marker he uses when he realizes… he doesn’t have to write now, does he? He grins for a moment and then speaks.]

I’ll let you know when I intend to cross back again. Now, my dear Mettaton, please remember: my fellow mirrors can be very, very dangerous. Do not leave my room under any circumstances. It’s not safe out there. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

[He doesn’t see his real’s response. He doesn’t hear his voice and it pains him; but if he could read the words sprawled across the glass, they would be a solace.]

Of course, darling. Stay safe yourself, all right?

[The mirror lingers for a moment longer, fighting down the urge to look back to his precious Mettaton. Then he pulls himself away and strides out the door.]




Mettaton – (throughout the week)

Mirrorside: [He’s been left to his own devices and he trusts his mirror to get his business done as fast as he can. So he waits in his room like a good, dutiful robot-

Oh who are we kidding? This boy lasts maybe an hour before he leaves his Mirror’s room. He’s intent on exploring and gathering information, for both his and his mirror’s sake, and he knows it is dangerous but this is for both of them. …And, perhaps, he’s a bit worried about other Reals stuck on this side with him.

Mettaton can be found throughout the mirrorside, though notably he will be hanging in the Library trying to read anything new that is on this side, lingering near a certain Tea Room even though he knows the Queen’s bedroom won’t be found there, shadowing the outer edges of the Fifth Floor and exploring the Mirrorside Gardens and being baffled by how the world doesn’t extend farther than that.

Feel free to stop him in hallways as he walks around or any of the places mentioned! He’ll certainly be curious about who is Real and who isn’t…]

Real side: [As for the times he is on the Real side, he can be found throughout the mansion, most notably near as many mirrors as possible. You might see him pacing up and down the 2nd Floor Hallway or in the Entrance Hall as he tries to not get caught up in all of the Real and Mirror shenanigans. You might also catch him in the Music Room as he tries to calm his nerves by playing some instruments.]

Mirrorton – (Throughout the week)

Real side: [This mirror is on a mission, and that mission is to try and find those traitors for the Queen. Who knows if he will succeed, but you can find him practically anywhere. If you are close CR with his real, however, there is a very, very good chance that he will approach you directly. Just to talk, of course! Nothing more than that! No death threats here, no siree!

Outside of that, he can be found throughout many hallways on many floors as he investigates. He can also be found in the Performing Arts Theater as well as the Attic and the Basement, oddly enough. What is he doing there? Who can say!]

Mirror side: [It’s home sweet home for our robotic mirror and while he’s not the happiest he could be, it is at least familiar to be back here. While he’s here, he might as well try and corral any stray Reals on this side, so he can be found in the Entrance hall, the Dining room and various other locations where people who don’t have a place to go can end up.

And if he’s mistaken for his Real while here, all the better, isn’t it?]

Comments

[neverknewbest]

[She's not sure, at first, whether it's him or not. Both Mettaton and his Mirror are quite alike, after all, in appearance and mannerisms. She spotted him leaving the mansion, and so decided to follow- knowing that there may have been a switch. And if there was one, then him wandering like this is liable to get him in trouble.

It's when he looks so confused by what he sees beyond the garden, that she's certain it really is him. It isn't the expression of someone who's familiar with this side of things, and it's boundaries.

So she steps forward, no longer trying to hide herself- because if it were his Mirror, then quite frankly- she doesn't want much at all to do with him.]

You. You do not belong here, do you?

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton jumps a little, having been so engrossed in his examination of the abrupt end of the grounds and not noticed someone coming up behind him. He turns around, wondering if he should be ready for a fight when he realizes that it is Toriel speaking to him.

Or at least, a version of Toriel.]

...Toriel.

[He looks at her for another moment. The real Toriel wants little to nothing to do with him. Would she approach him out of the blue like this during an event? Or would her desire to never see him again extend into that too?]

You're her mirror, yes?

[He'll wager a guess, then.]

[neverknewbest]

Obviously.

[She highly doubts her real would really go around wearing the crown and armor that she sports, after all.]

I understand if that concerns you- but there is no need to be worried. I am Empress Toriel, ruler and protector of Monsterkind. That title may mean nothing in this place, but it means everything to me.

This place is not safe, and I am here to ensure that no harm comes to you.

[She holds her hand out, and gestures for him to follow- speaking in an authoritative voice as she turns around, cape billowing behind her as she begins walking, expecting him to follow.]

Come.

Mirrorton - Mirror side

[choosetruth]

[Georgia isn't exactly happy to be here, but she also isn't as disappointed as she might be. Shaun caught on to the fact that the other Georgia wasn't her, so she's free to take advantage of this opportunity without worrying too much about him.

Which means when Mirrorton comes into the Entrance Hall, he'll see her very carefully sticking her hand behind a pillar. She pulls her hand back and glances around. When she catches a view of Mettaton, she nods politely, expression blank behind her sunglasses. It's probably the Mirror version who she had not gotten along with spectacularly well, but that's no reason not to be polite. If for no other reason than that it will probably annoy him.]

[poetsdaffodil]

[Well well well! Look who it is. He's not entirely sure if she is the real or mirror, but either way her actions are suspicious and the Queen would not like anyone to be doing anything unsavory on her side of the glass. So he walks to her, eyeing her carefully.]

Now, what exactly are you doing?

[choosetruth]

[Lucky for him, he won't have to wonder for long. It hasn't even occurred to her that she could pretend to be her Mirror, but if it did she'd reject the idea. She's not a very good liar. She takes pride in that.

She straightens, hand trailing into grabbing distance of her gun, though she doesn't actually reach for it. She doesn't want to fight. She's just prepared in case other people do.]

Exploring. Seems like a fair enough way to spend my time since I'm trapped here.

mirrorton, real side!

[sciencelizard]

[This entire week has so far been a disaster. Mirrors are running everywhere, she can't tell whose who, and it seems their mission is to steal and most of them have interpreted that as "I'm going to bring back a corpse". There's plenty of mirrors she's sure don't like her- not that she talks to any of them- but she's been pretty on her guard for the last few days.

She doesn't notice him close by; she's twiddling away on her device, reading new posts rapidly as she tries to figure out the current updates on the calamity. What do you do, Mirrorton?? DO YOU DARE???]

the kill bill sirens live on in my heart

[poetsdaffodil]

[He spots her quickly enough and makes a move to go towards her before stopping short. He ducks around a corner, peering around it and going over his options.

This is the real side. So that should be Real Alphys. But, with the Queen's permision, he and his other mirrors have been crossing over throughout this week with no warning. So it could, essentially, be "his" counterpart more or less.

He holds no fear in his heart for Mirror Alphys, but to engage with her is to be ready for a fight. And he won't walk into a fight mindless of who his opponent might be and their limits.

So he extends a hand to a nearby painting, shaking it off its holding so it goes crashing to the ground and retreats behind his corner. The way this Alphys reacts will tell him everything he needs to know.]

they live on for us all

[sciencelizard]

[Thankfully, she doesn't see Mirrorton knock the painting, but she does react to the crash rather spectacularly, throwing her phone directly up in the air and jumping at least half the height it gets before they both come clattering to the floor. This is directly followed by some rather ungraceful skittering as she retrieves her device, pressing it close to her chest and looking around intently.]

Uh... h-hello??

[Surprise! or not. It's Real Alphys and you don't have to get shot today.]

Mettaton - mirorside

[sliva]

[Mirror Bucky spends a lot of time in the library. He'd always enjoyed books, was a favorite pastime before the war, and now that he's living in a place with practically nothing to do most days, it's a hobby he'd gladly picked back up. When the Queen goes on her rant, demanding service of all her mirrors - he takes his time getting to it. He's loyal only to himself and then the Queen, but that's out of instinct to survive over anything else.

So he goes to the library, walking up and down the aisles, further into the back where it's quieter and oh.. look who we have here.

Bucky isn't one hundred percent certain that this is a Real, but his gut tells him to assume it is. Which means a few things. This is the robot his Real seems to think so highly of. Real Bucky does a damn good job of skirting mirrors and he doesn't get to watch him as much as he'd like, but he's seen the way they are around each other.

Smirking, he steps up next to him and drags a finger down the spine of a book next to the one the robot's looking at.]

Hey, pal.

[He arches a brow.]

What're you doin' down here?

yessssss

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton jumps a little, slightly startled. He'd been so preoccupied with trying to find something, anything that could help him and his mirror that he hadn't noticed anyone approaching. But he knows that voice and he looks up and sees Bucky and smiles a little.]

Bucky! You're here too? I suppose you're trapped like me.

[It's a relief to see him here however. If he's stuck here, at least he has one of his good friends here too.]

My mirror crossed over to do the Queen's bidding so consequently... here I am. I'm stuck here until he comes back over.

[sliva]

[Bucky smiles back, sliding closer to Mettaton. He could see why his Real was always around him, there was something intriguing about the robot. Something that pulled him in.]

We're all trapped here. Mirrors and Reals.

[No confirmation needed if he goes philosophical.]

And who knows how long that'll be, right? [Bucky throws caution to the wind and runs his fingers down Mettaton's arm, nudging him gently to get him to face Bucky.] Probably a while. Let's do something to pass the time.

[He almost smirks, really lays it on, but he aims for something more affectionate. Bucky crowds in slowly, raising up on his toes a bit, fingers splayed and hands on his shoulders.]

Yeah?

mirrorton, real side

[naughty_nurse]

[So while Mikan doesn't entirely understand what shenanigans are going on this time, from what she's gleamed it's Not Good. Because of this, she's been trying to find her friends and make sure they're all right. The network seems hard to trust right now.

At the entrance hall, her frantic running begins to slow down, as she sees a 'familiar' face.]

Mettaton! Are you okay, Mettaton? Something weeeird is going on!

[poetsdaffodil]

[He doesn't recognize the voice initially calling out to him, though he schools his expression into one of neutrality as he turns to assess who is calling out to him.

Oh. Mikan.

What a beautiful opportunity this is!]

Mikan! I'm all right. What about you? How have you been?

[Let's see what a little idle chitchat can do to this little friendship...]

[naughty_nurse]

[She slows down to a halt, catching her breath.]

Th-here was... There was a Mae, but it wasn't Mae, I think it was the Mae in the mirror... and I think something is happening with all the mirrors, and I don't understand it and it's scary... and I got worried so I wanted to check on everyone, but I didn't know if mirrors could use the network...

[Pant pant pant. Phew. Was that everything?]

Thank goodness you're okay!

Mettaton - mirror side

[chooselies]

[Towards the end of the week, Mirror Georgia finally goes back to her side. She's had her fun and thoroughly annoyed some Reals. What more can you ask for? Which means she can finally put aside pretending to be her Real and wear the clothes she prefers. Ones with a little color in them, for one, and today she goes for green contacts to protect her eyes rather than sunglasses. It's so much easier to connect with people when they can see your eyes, even if it's not really what your eyes look like.

Like her Real, she spends a lot of time in the library, so it's probably not a big surprise she runs into Mettaton there.]

You read?

[mettatonvevo]

[There is just so much for Mettaton to unpack with that two word sentence. But it delivers a powerful punch of information:

This person looks like Georgia. This person who looks like Georgia is sporting a different fashion than what he usually sees her in. This person who looks like Georgia whose fashion is different than usual also, apparently, is surprised he can read.

All in all, he can safely reason that this isn't Georgia but her mirror, and Mettaton does not look amused as he takes in her looks.]

Of course I can. Can you?

[chooselies]

Obviously. I'm a writer. Not a... [She waves a hand dismissively] whatever you do.

But it wasn't your ability I questioned, it was you coming here specifically to do it.

Mirrorton, Mirrorside, this definitely won't end badly,

[rlynotfeelinup2itrnsorry]

oh, metta.... i'm so glad you're safe....

[the ghost has all but given up looking for their mirror, and seeing their cousin hits them with a wave of relief]

oh yes this will be, so nice,

[poetsdaffodil]

[It doesn't matter where he's standing on the Mirrorside because he hears his "cousin's" voice, so full of care and concern for him and it makes him grin, his teeth sharp.]

Ah... Blooky. How wonderful it is to see you!

[He knows this is the Real. The mirror would never speak to him like this.]

fan-diddly-tastic

[rlynotfeelinup2itrnsorry]

They float towards him quickly, looking over his body for scuffs or scratches, relieved to find nothing.

”i’m so glad you’re okay…. i haven't seen your mirror yet, do you know what he’s doing? i’m so worried, he was so mean…”

[Mirrorton] [Real Side/Attic] ARE THOSE KILL BILL SIRENS I HEAR~?

[ghflskhu_ph]

[If basements are equated to dungeons with buried artifacts, then attics are pockets of nostalgia with a more metaphysical treasure lost to time. Old memories become refreshed, secrets unburied and exchanged through generations as the new discover the forgotten remnants of the old. A place of discovery...

What better a location to hide a few hidden ciphers he can peek through later?!

Until now Bill has never seen this place, but with a sharpie in his mouth and a few choice triangle’s scribbled in various alcoves, that should soon change. True, dragging a sharpened object through the dusty walls is much more his style, but wouldn’t you know it, this darn place healed itself from specific damage! A more subtle decorating technique would have to do.

Heck, maybe he'll pull a Shooting Star and break out the glitter sometime. Really strike fear into the hearts of those that discover his message with some artful decoration!

Bill turns slowly when he hears the footsteps. It’s hard to say who was here first, this attic was fairly large. There are a couple reflective surfaces nearby, with any luck the symbols he sketches will copy over to the other side for even better vantage point. Regardless. He might be needing them for another reason entirely.]

WEEEE WOOOO WEEEE WOOOOOO!!!

[poetsdaffodil]

[The attic is an interesting place to be, all things considered. So many things left over from older residents exist up here, and while it is a long shot to think that anyone from the past had gotten close to figuring out anything about Wonderland itself, the mirror still thinks it is worth investigating.

It's as he's going through that he sees... Dipper? Is that who that is?

But no... something feels off.]

Who are you and what are you doing?

[His words are cut and dry. Direct and to the point.]

mirrorton, real side, theater, 15 minutes late with starbucks

[fulllifeconsequences]

[They're not surprised to find Mettaton at the theater. It's his element. Not in the ironic, deprecating way Alphys called the dump hers, either - radiant beings belong in places full of dazzling light and booming acoustics.

The only question is... which one is he, right? Can't tell who anyone is now. Don't know who's real. Maybe none of them are. Maybe the only one who isn't real is Chara, ha ha. They've never so much as spoken with Mettaton's mirror, let alone seen him. Haven't played this game enough to memorize the cues. Don't know whether the plastic smile or the empty nothing would be more advantageous to wear on their face.

Doesn't feel very interesting when Frisk isn't here anymore. Nothing does.

They make their way quietly to the front row. Delicately sink into a seat. Stare, pointedly but politely, up at him. Nothing written in their expression. Don't know what to wear, so just don't bother putting anything on, they guess. Wait and see how he reacts. Let him set how the game is going to be played out, let him offer the first clues.

If the audience speaks up before they're cued, after all, that's just heckling.]

tags back 15 years later with an off-brand coffee franchise

[poetsdaffodil]

[He's been observing the theater for awhile, reverently taking in this proverbial temple to Mettaton and his being. The speakers in the shape of his box form... the delicate decoration and gold leaf along the edges of the stage spelling out his name...

The high ceilings, the padding on the walls, everything built to a perfection to bounce sound around the room so all may hear. It's beautiful. It's extravagant. He stands on the stage and he feels a surge of jealousy and anger. That damnable Queen keeps him from being who he should be and he should be on this stage with his Mettaton. They should be performing together as the stars they are born to be.

He hears someone sit down and he whips around. His eyes lock onto Chara immediately, those red eyes of theirs standing out amongst the empty row of seats and he stares. He meets them in their silent observation, calculating as they calculate. They won't make the first move? That's fine. He suspects he knows who they are, anyway.]

Come to see a star perform? You're lucky that here in Wonderland you don't have to pay for admission.

[Keep it neutral. Light. Watch their moves and find the right time to strike.]