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

[vitaelamorte]

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!

Comments

[normandysbest]

[She doesn't quite look at them, but she does tilt her head a bit their direction. Legion, at least, is not hard to recognize around here.]

Physically, yeah. Emotionally, I feel like shit.

[And then she laughs, dips her head a bit.]

God, I fucking hate this.

[forwearemany]

This is unsurprising. We also dislike this event.

(They had not reached consensus on whether to admit this. Unfortunately, the truth compulsion isn't yet done with them.)

We have been compelled to reveal the contents of our memory to others.

[normandysbest]

If you liked it, I'd honestly wonder what the hell you were on.

[Can robots smoke? Maybe Legion can. Why is she on this. Unfortunately, this event means all tact is out the window, so her following question is probably unsurprising.]

What'd you end up with?

[And then, quickly--]

Shit, sorry, I just-- Wonderland.

[forwearemany]

We are incapable of being "on" anything.

(Legion is still Legion, even with enforced honesty.)

It is alright. You have already witnessed us in this situation.

Our people allowed us to be used by the Reapers.

[normandysbest]

I-- yeah, I know, it's a metaphor. I don't know, maybe Geth can do viruses like drugs. Cut me some slack, I'm tired.

[She does somber up when they actually speak about their memory, though, letting her hand move across the sand to cover theirs.]

I'm sorry. I should've found you sooner, or known you were in there. Something.

[forwearemany]

The Geth have not explored this possibility. Our interest is limited.

(And then they just... stare at her for several seconds, like she's said or done something offensive or otherwise horrible.)

Knowing was impossible. You delivered us from this undesirable state. Thank-You.

(They take her hand in theirs and squeeze.)

[normandysbest]

[Her heart surges a bit when Legion takes her hand, the applied pressure. Usually, she'd brush this off, try to just accept it. But Wonderland won't let her.]

I always feel like I should've done better. For you, and Mordin, and-- Thane. I should've been able to save you. If I can keep doing the impossible, I should have. I should have figured it out.

[forwearemany]

(For a moment, they are unsure of how to respond. They do not understand. But it occurs to them this is a forced honesty event, and they are unable to stop thems-)

Why?

[normandysbest]

[Her breath stutters a bit as she exhales, almost exhasperated.]

You died, Legion. You all died. What's even... the point, of being like this, like I am, if I can't save the people that mean the most to me? What's my purpose if you guys die? I don't have the right to have taken that from you for getting embroiled in my bullshit. I picked you up from your lives to die with me. And I'm not the one who paid for it.

[forwearemany]

No.

(Their voice does not have much variance in tone, but right now it's firm.)

This platform was created to seek you, Shepard-Commander. Our programs chose to be a part of it. Additionally, the Quarians had been at war with us for approximately three centuries. It is likely without your assistance we would have battled until mutual extinction.

All these events began before you were born.

The "bullshit" is not yours, Shepard-Commander.

[normandysbest]

[She can't quite look at them as she stares off into the water, and answers quietly, voice low.]

It feels like it is.

[Even if there were more forces at play.]

If I could pull off a miracle, why couldn't I have saved you?

[forwearemany]

This is a common error among organics.

(They watch her, headflaps shifting as they try to figure out what to do.)

I choose to die.

[normandysbest]

[She curls in on herself a bit more, head resting on her knees.]

Shouldn't've needed to make that choice.

[Sorry, Legion. She's impossibly stubborn.]

What's gonna be left of me if all of you disappear?

[forwearemany]

That we did is not a result of your actions.

(She didn't order that attack on their people.)

You fear being alone?

[normandysbest]

Of course.

[Ugh, she hates saying this, and he face looks conflicted even as she responds.]

I don't have a real purpose if you all disappear. If the Normandy's gone, if-- if I fail, there's nothing left. I am this mission.

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged. The Geth also experience this fear.

(They look at her and chatter.)

If you fail, it is unlikely you will be alone for long.

(It is a statement of fact, not reassurance. She'll either die or have her mind melded with her friends as they're harvested and made to suffer as components of a new Reaper, for all eternity.)

Our death, however, remains a result of our choice. Our people are at peace with their Creators, and will join you as allies against the Reapers. You did not fail.

[normandysbest]

[She chews on his words, still not happy, still not really satisfied. What's still bothering her? If they're-- if they're really fine, she's just being selfish, she's just being stupid. But is that, maybe... what it is? A selfish want to keep her friends close? A need to never lose anyone?

The event catches up to the admission before her brain does, and she almost surprises herself with the words.]

I failed myself, Legion. I promised myself I would protect you. All of you. And... I failed. I couldn't keep you safe.

[She's quiet, and when she speaks again, it's almost too soft to hear.]

I miss you.

[forwearemany]

We were unable to experience loss while no longer alive. However, we regretted that we were unable to spend additional time with you and our crewmates.

(They turn away, looking out at the ocean, and not at her, when they say the next bit.)

We sacrificed ourselves because we wanted the Geth to be able to experience similar connections.

[normandysbest]

[She swallows, when Legion talks. Shrinks a bit more, in small tight motions, like the grip of her hands and the snuffle of her legs. Nothing so noticeable by anyone else.]

It was noble. You saved your people. I’m not saying it wasn’t right.

[She’s not sure there’s anything they can say to bring her around, and this is usually the point where she’d drop it, where she’d shove her emotions down and not say anything else. But the truth continues to be forced out of her, in all of its bitter reality.]

I just should’ve been able to fix the situation. Before that was the only way. Or even maybe someone else could’ve died that wasn’t someone I cared so much about.

[She lets out a little ‘uuuugh' noise, covering her face with her hand.]

Shit, that sounds awful out loud.

[forwearemany]

(They turn and look at her, watching the subtle shifts in posture.)

"It has harmed you."

(They are unsure of what they think of this.)

"Such bias is common in organics." (And then, becaeuse they cannot stop themselves.) "We would judge the most "deserving" of death to be Creator Admiral Han'Gerrel."

(Such biases occur in Geth too, apparently.)

[normandysbest]

Of course it did. I love you. You're my family.

[It's just that simple. They are. The whole Normandy team was. They were all she had.

At least they add a small modicum of humor into this, and she grins just a bit.]

Yeah, he was a dick. Do not regret kicking that guy the fuck off my ship.

[forwearemany]

(They stare at her for a moment.)

Acknowledged. It is similar for us.

(Who says they were trying to be humorous?)

Affirmative.

[normandysbest]

[She laughs a bit, a half-shake of her shoulders for nothing more than filling space. But she does shift a bit, curl slightly out from herself. Just enough to put her hand on top of Legion's on the sand.]

I know why you did it. I just... I miss you, okay? I'm always going to. Maybe it'll get better with time, but... I dunno. It's just how it is.

[forwearemany]

(They watch as she relaxes, reaches to touch them again. They almost squeeze, but stop.

Shepard is probably familiar with the rippling motion their headflaps make when they're debating something, or otherwise in deep thought.

Their actions do not feel... sufficient. They have spent considerable time among Organics, both here and on the Normandy, and they go through their accumulated files now, seeking similar scenarios.

...Consensus achieved.

They withdraw their hand, and attempt to give Shepard-Commander a hug.)

[normandysbest]

[She doesn't quite know how to react when they move. Out of all the time they've had together- and not much, really, it was never enough with the SR2, stolen months out of time and lawless- she doesn't think they've ever hugged. She couldn't really imagine it until they started doing it and she realized, oh, this is what's happening now.

And she lets them. She's not going to stop them, she-- she's a little shellshocked, doesn't really raise her arms much but when they're close, she lets them slide around their torso, bent at the elbow, reaching up Legion's back and pressing her head into their shoulder.

It takes her a few seconds to realize she's crying.

Maybe they won't notice.]