entrancelogs | It may very well be the worst thing that's ever happened to you!

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It may very well be the worst thing that's ever happened to you! | OPEN MINGLE

Who: EVERYONE!
Where: EVERYWHERE!
When: Friday October 27th - Tuesday October 31st
Rating: PG-13, warn if you're gonna go higher!
Summary: A catch all for the Horrible Memory Truth Event!
The Story:

For the duration of this event, everyone's entire room will be replaced with a memory playing on loop. They will likely recognize the moment as soon as they see it – it is a moment they remember as the worst moment of their entire lives. It could be a memory from home or something that happened in Wonderland. Lengths of the memories will vary, but they will find that these are not memories they can merely watch – they can step into these memories and attempt to make changes to them, and the memories will be long enough that they have time to make changes (though no more than 24 hours). However, anyone who tries will find that it is futile. No matter what you do or how hard you try, the outcome is always exactly the same somehow. No changes you make will prevent that horrible outcome. It just happens over and over and over again no matter what you do.

On top of that, perhaps complicating any attempts to make changes, everyone will be forced to be honest for the duration of the event. No lies or half-truths are allowed, and filters will be gone for the entire five days. If something bothers someone then they will blurt it out, regardless of whether or not it hurts someone's feelings, and no one will be able to simply keep quiet when they have something to say. They must be truthful and honest with every word they say.

This is a catch-all log for all of your Worst Memory needs! Please mark your threads clearly in the subject line with your character's name and Room Number + Floor for character rooms, or just location if you're making a top level for a public place in the mansion (like the tea rooms or the kitchen) so people can see if there's already a thread available. And here's the plot post if you need it!

Have fun!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[No, it wasn't traumatic or scarring, but Damian wasn't expecting it to be. Not that this was expected either. what he had been anticipating was for Jon to still be lamenting about his mother's cat.

Instead, he find what looks to be a kidnapping, flames, and Jon actually yelling at his parents. That has to be the most alarming part of it all. Kent thought the world of his parents. So to see him actually losing his temper with them? Well, he conceals his approval. Damian has his own issue with Superman for leaving his son so unprepared for the life of a hero. The fact that Damian seems to know more about Jon's powers than the boy knows himself was always a testament to how poorly prepared his parents left Jon.

He silently moves to stand next to Jon's huddled form. Pressing his back against the wall, Damian slides down until he was sitting next to the other boy. Watching the scene play a few times, Damian listens as Jon softly cry, but says nothing. He knows how much Jon misses his parents. Possibly more than Damian missed his father.

So he doesn't say anything about the tears. He even if he doesn't like seeing Jon cry, he stays silent and just sits by him.]

( goldie did nothing to deserve what happened to her, but if jon hadn’t done what he had done, she would have gotten eaten, anyway. stupid hawk.

damian comes in and sits next to him, and jon--doesn’t say anything, keeps his eyes faced forward, but not saying anything isn’t denial, either; he’s letting damian in, lets him watch his memory run on repeat, so. there are worse ways he could have responded to him. after a few repeats of the same things--the fire, the guns, the yelling, he raises a hand up, wipes across his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket to dry his tears. )

I’m still mad. ( because of course he is. ) I hate liars. I get that. . sometimes you gotta not tell the truth to protect others, but. ( that wasn’t the case, was it? jon was more than strong enough to handle the truth. he takes in a deep, steadying breath, tries to calm himself down a little. it really doesn't work. )

I--I miss them, even if they make me mad sometimes.

[Damian continues to look forward at the family when Jon speaks.] Good. You should be.

[Who wouldn't be? Being lied to sucked, even if it was to protect you. Superman sucked, parents sucked and having a whole new world shoved in your lap sucked...but even with all that. The family of liars and betrayals, Damian still missed his father. He still missed his brothers.]

Of course, you do. They were still good parents. [Listens again to Jon struggling with his breath. The boy was trying to calm down rather than just...cry. Again Damian didn't like tears, emotional situations were hard for him, he somehow manages to always say or do the wrong thing in them. So he stops and tries to think ‘what would Grayson do?’

Ask him what's wrong for one, but that would be redundant. Jon already said what was wrong. The teen shifts and raises a hand, pausing for a moment in hesitation to recalculate, but sadly emotional situation could not be solved with math. He moves his hand forward again and lightly places it on Jon's hair.]

It's okay. To be mad and to miss them. [Because as much as he hated the woman. There was small a flicker that still even missed his mother to.]

( it's times like this when jon does realize just how mature damian is. he's bratty, snarky, runs his mouth far too much--yes. but damian has the kind of maturity one can really only get when they grow up way too fast. damian isn't good with feelings, jon's well-aware of that, but he's trying to be.

for jon. the tears start up again at full force as he turns into damian, wraps his arms around him and buries his face into his shoulder, holds onto him as tight as would be safe when--holding onto a human with breakable bones, and wails on him. he's sure damian's just as lonely, isn't he? his family's not here, either--aside from tim.

later, once he's dried his own tears, he'll take him out for ice cream or something. do something nice. they can talk about their feelings, or whatever it is damian does when he's upset. for now? he'll let the tears keep running, because crying always makes him feel better than holding it in. )

[A grave mistake was made obviously, because Kent was now lunging at him. Dammit, Kent, he was just trying to--Wait...Damian frowns at the boy and felt the wetness of his tears on his neck, soaking the fabric of his hoodie. The quiet cries are no longer so quiet. ’Oh.’ He tenses up in Jon's hold, body ready to defend itself as was his usual instinct, but he slowly relaxes once he stops sensing danger. Shoulders slumping just a fraction and letting Jon pull him in with a soft grunt.

One eye closes as the larger boy’s hair pressed to his cheek. This was... well he wasn’t sure if he was making things better or worse, but he figured if he was making things worse, Jon would have thrown him out of the room by now. It seems the Grayson method was working then? Regardless his hand remains on the boy’s hair as Jon shook with his sobs much like how he had kept his hand over Jon's the day he lied bloody on Damian's bed.

Damian is lonely, but even back home that feeling was still there. He was used to it, like a familiar weight on his shoulders. You learn to endure, much like anything else in life. Still, the floodgates had opened and Jon was letting it out now, and Damian felt at a complete loss, but he stayed still and kept trying to be there for his friend.]

I know you miss them. I miss mine to...

[Wait, why did he say that part out loud? He frowns but decides it was just a lapse in judgment due to stress.]

Edited 2017-10-28 04:32 (UTC)

( of course damian does. for all his bravado, damian is still just a thirteen year old boy. jon wants to answer, to give him something to hold on to, but it’s a little hard when he’s busy still trying to catch his breath in between sobs. he gives a choked sound against damian’s collar, pauses to take in a deep breath—just to start keening again. it’s—it’s one thing, to hold back tears when you’re in front of someone you really don’t want to cry in front of. to hold them back and keep silent. but it’s a lot harder not to cry when you’re trying to talk--especially about feelings.

especially with damian’s hand pressed gently into his hair, when he’s just—letting jon cry on him like this. ) I—I’m f-fine, on my o-own, I d-d-don’t need them to. . w-watch over me, I don’t. ( he shakes his head, wiping tears off against the fabric of damian’s hoodie. clothes are easily replaced here, right? ) ‘m. . I can t-take care of myself. ‘m strong. ( a little too arrogant with that strength, maybe, but-- ) ‘s. . k-kinda easier here without them, haha-- I don’t have to h-hide. I hate hiding. I—just wanna be me.

( another deep, deep breath in, rubbing his face into damian’s shoulder once more. ) I bet your d-dad’s looking for you. He loves you—a l-lot.

[Damian wasn't the one falling apart so he wasn't sure why Kent was even trying to talk. If that was talking? He hadn't been exposed to people crying for this long before or this closely. Was this the average time it took for a 10-year-old child to pull it together?]

You are strong. [He says, again the words seeming to jump out against his will and that was-- 'Something's off.' Damian side eyes the boy when he again manages to squeeze out a few words between ragged sobs.] I know you do. You're fine the way you are and don’t need to hide...

[Jon was normal. Even when he was being Super he managed to know just what to say or do. Doing what was right just came naturally to him. Jon knew things like how to do laundry, sew or even how to just hug someone. Seriously this was Grayson levels of cuddly even if it was kinda damp. Jon knew how to be both civilian and hero at only 10. Something Damian couldn’t even figure out.

No, Jon didn't need to hide who he was. He even tried to take acting lessons at one point just to try and learn how to be someone else. It was hard, okay? How to separate Damian Wayne from Robin was just a code he couldn’t crack, because, in the end, they were all just Damian al Ghul.]

Tt, he’s likely enjoying the break. If he’s even noticed I’m missing yet. [Okay, that bitterness in his voice with those words were not supposed to come out, he shakes his head and tries to pull his face back.]

Edited 2017-10-28 18:31 (UTC)

( he's fine. he's got this. he's totally, one hundred percent okay. absolutely. damian's staying calm, so jon has, to, too. or at least, that's what he's telling himself. he takes a few more deep, steadying breaths. tries to get himself under control. he's cried it out enough, hasn't he? damian's being nice and letting him for now, but--damian has feelings, too. he's probably as upset about all of this memory stuff as jon is, if not more so. )

No way. Your dad loves taking you around with him. ( as opposed to his dad, who usually leaves him behind when he goes off to do his superheroing thing. sometimes, he'll take jon. but more often than not, jon stays back and protects lois. ) I. . want to think that our dads are looking for us tirelessly, but it's been months already. ( this is totally, 100% not how he'd meant for this comforting session to go, but-- ) Maybe they forgot about us.

Maybe no one's noticed we're missing. ( at the very least, the tears have stopped. even if he's still keeping his face pressed into damian. )

Tt, tell that to Batman and Lark. I sometimes wonder--[’Why’d he bother to bring me back...’ He pauses, never intending to say any of this out loud and stops himself from saying anymore with a bite inside his own cheek. What is wrong with him? Luckily Jon seems to be preoccupied with his own thoughts. It’s surprising to see Jon take this sudden dark turn on. Pessimistic and cynical was his job Jon. What do you think you're doing on his turf?]

Forget? Don't be an idiot. [He looks away remembering just what being forgotten by your parents was really like, at least this time he wouldn't be present to witness it.] Your father wouldn't forget you.

[He frowns and leans back to look at Jon’s face. Hands moving to the boy's shoulders.] You know this Jon. Don't let this place mess with your head.

Edited 2017-10-29 23:06 (UTC)

He did forget me, once. ( obviously it wasn't bad enough to be his worst memory, but. ) Mr. Mxyzptlk. . erased me? I guess? But Mom and Dad both forgot who I was for a little while.

( jon's very pointedly keeping his eyes away from damian's as he speaks, nose wrinkled in distaste. ) I made them remember because I was there, but this time--I'm here, and I don't know where they are. What if they forgot and I can't help them?

( being paranoid and pessimistic is damian's job, but--sometimes, he can't help it. jon is still only a child, and sometimes--he can't avoid negative thoughts. )

[Well that much he didn't know. This must've been another one of those things that happened in the future...] I didn't know your parents forgot you to.

[Damian notices Jon avoiding eye contact. That won't do, Jon. He moves his hands up to cup Jon's face and make the boy look at him.] No one has erased you this time Jon and if they did forget you, you'll make them remember again when we get back.

They did, for a little while. It wasn’t. . long, though? I mean I found them, and I talked to them until they remembered me, so. ( it was a lot of yelling and a lot of almost crying but not quite, but he did get them to remember who he was.

and then they ended up in different, younger bodies, which was weird as heck but who is he to judge? just another weird thing to add to the list of weird stuff that happens in his life, he guesses. damian grabs onto his face and moves him around and jon, at the very least, doesn’t fight him on it. ) But what if we don’t get back? And if we get back—does that mean we won’t get to see Tim, Kon, or Bart again?

[Oh...well that was expected. His tone might be a little flat when he answers because come on now.] My father forgot me for weeks. I wasn't allowed to talk to him.

[His bitterness aside the idea of forgetting Kon and Allen? He could care less. Those two could rot for all he cared. Drake though? He never had this kind of relationship with the Drake of his world. Nor would he ever get the chance since... Tim Drake in his world was dead. That thought gave him an icy chill.]

I could use a little less of some of them now, but no, guess we wouldn't.

Edited 2017-10-30 14:42 (UTC)

I--don’t want to forget about them. Or lose them. ( he’s not entirely familiar with how this whole alternative realities thing works, but. . if damian says they can’t take them home, they probably can’t. bart, kon, and tim probably wouldn’t want to come with them, either. they have their own homes to protect. ) Bart is pretty cool, I like Tim, and Kon--I never thought I’d have any sisters or brothers, you know? I didn’t even know about Kara or anyone before the um. incident. But Kon’s a great big brother.

I know we wouldn’t remember, but I’m sure I’d miss him. I don’t want to lose him. ( he turns his head back to the memory, scrunches his nose as the fire plays out again. ) Why couldn’t you talk to him? You’re his kid.

[He was no expert on the alternate reality stuff, but he had some knowledge. After all, Grayson's kid Flash was from an alternate reality. Even Jon himself wasn’t originally from Damian's world, but they left and stayed for reasons. They weren't here against their will like these people.]

Wouldn’t your dad say something corny like: [In a perfect Clark Kent voice.] "As long as you carry them in your heart. You'll never truly forget son."

[Okay, yes he knew when he did that it creeped Jon out, but it was done to pull his attention off the memory replay. He then gives a small shrug at the next question.]

Pennyworth asked us all not to. He wanted Father to not be Batman anymore and I guess he thought that seeing us would return his memory. I... think Father was happier forgetting.

( why do you have to use your superpowers for evil, damian. jon's head turns around fast enough when he starts mimicking clark, a hand raising up close to damian's mouth in warning; he'll make him stop if he doesn't stop!! but he does. crisis averted.

it's what comes out of damian's mouth next that really concerns him. he furrows his brows, drops that hand back down--opens his own mouth to speak, quickly closes it, and--opens it again. )

You're thirteen. You live with him, don't you? How can someone just. . expect you not to talk to your dad? You're his son. Being his son doesn't have anything to do with him being Batman.

[Because you are way too easy Jon, that's why. He smirks at Jon raising his hand in warning, but doesn't do it again since it successfully distracts Jon just as planned. He sighs at that line of questioning.]

I was actually 12 or 11 at the time. [11 if you didn't count the months he spent dead.] I was traveling the world with Ducard when it happened. When I returned, he was set in his new life and I wasn't a part of it.

[But lets face it. He knew why he really had to cut himself off.] I wouldn't give up Robin and take on a normal Wayne son life full time anyway. I doubt I can even if I wanted to, so, I vowed to protect Gotham with the others if father couldn’t... even if that meant not being his son anymore.

Edited 2017-10-30 22:33 (UTC)

That's not fair. ( and it seriously ticks him off. an eleven or twelve year old shouldn't have to live without their family. damian didn't deserve that. damian--damian needed his dad, didn't he? just like jon needs his. taking that away from him is cruel--even if bruce was happier when he forgot, damian should not have been left out of his life.

he wants to start yelling; jon wants to get pissed, angry, go find alfred and give him a piece of his mind; but how far is that really going to get him?

instead, he just holds onto damian tighter. ) I'm sorry. You deserve better than that. You know that, right? I'm sure your dad--wasn't happy with it when he remembered everything, too. You're his son. He needs you just as much as you need him.

Life's not fair. [Damian didn't just say this all the time to be sarcastic. It was a fact. A harsh fact that he's come to terms with more than once.

Was it fair the al Ghuls raised him to be a killer? That he was kept secret from his own father most of his life? That he was forced to choose between his father and mother? What child should ever have to make that choice? He did. So no, life wasn't fair. It was cruel and didn't care whether you were an adult or a child. Terrible things happen regardless of who deserves them or not. That’s why it needed people like them to bring justice when life was just being an asshole.]

I don't know what I deserve-- [He softly grunts when Jon squeezes him tighter. It didn't hurt, it was just surprising. Still, he'd let Jon get away with hugging him this long, why stop him now? He awkwardly pats the boy's back, since well, he was supposed to be the one comforting him, right?]

You’re right, it’s not. ( unfair stuff happens all the time. people get pulled out of their homes, stranded. left on alien planets, like kathy and his dad were. people die. but that doesn’t mean others have to go out of the way to make it even worse, right? damian being around bruce isn’t bad—that, jon’s certain of. he hasn’t known either of them very long, but he is familiar with them enough to realize that they do need each other. batman has always needed a robin, just like the robins always need their batman.

that’s probably enough hugging though, isn’t it. jon pulls away, moves his hands to damian’s face to push his cheeks in together while looking into his eyes. ) You deserve to be happy. To have friends, a family. No one’s got the right to take that away from you.

( not even alfred, even if he thought he was helping bruce. damian needs just as much love and compassion as bruce does—probably even more. he’s young, still. )

[At least Jon was starting to get it-- What the hell was he doing now?! The boy starts to squish Damian's face, Hey, he didn't squish face you when he made you look at him!] Kehnnt.

[He tries to say back because Kent was saying some pretty sappy stuff. The intense thing was also his job, Jon. You are just stepping all over his turf. He reaches over to pinch the boy's nose.] I ghet ith.

[He might need some time to truly make himself believe that, but he got it.]

( he’s helping. helping means stepping all over damian’s turf, getting up into his face, and squishing his cheeks. and the speeches are totally jon’s turf, thank you. he grins wide when damian grabs onto his nose--releases his cheeks in return before shaking his head to try and get damian’s hand off of him. )

Good! I’m glad. ( the memory playing behind them is all but forgotten; even if jon does take comfort in the sound of his parent’s voices playing behind them. )

[Damian gives Jon's nose a squeeze before letting go as well. This day had so much intrusion of personal space and he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

The memory being ignored was a good sign though and he didn't even have to make Jon mad to do his bidding for once.]

Come on, we didn't get to finish that movie we were watching. We can try the tv in the Robin cave... Course, that is if it's not too scary for you.

[He gives a shrug and pokes Jon's forehead.] Bet you were happy it got interrupted.

It wasn't that scary. ( look, he didn't even lasereyes through the screen. so obviously, it wasn't scary enough! but jon gets to his feet fast enough, brushes off his legs and rubs his own cheeks with his palms to try and get rid of the puffiness of his eyes.

it helps, a little. ) Should we get some more ice cream while we're at it?

Sure. [Maybe get some ice water on those eyes.]

Maybe that hot chocolate stuff to. We deserve it. [Life was harsh and cold. Why not give something warm? He gestures for the boy to follow him. It was time to leave the past in the past for the night. Damian wasn’t ever going to be as good or comforting as Jon's parents, as Kon or probably even your average teddybear, but Jon was still here, so he liked to think he was still better than nothing.]

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