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

Tch.

[ There's no point arguing. Even when Jon laid down a very fair reasoning for him ー the 'real' truth ー Mondo can't find it in himself to agree. ]

The fact that it was an accident doesn't excuse anything. It all rooted from my weakness.

[ There's no point, but the tongue control's still in action. Much as he hates to argue further about this, they slip so easily from his mouth. It's clear for Mondo after so many encounters, that this guy's not going to back down, just like he won't. Mondo's not taking a 'no' for answer, and neither will the other. Had this been a normal time, he'd keep his mouth shut to avoid further arguments about it, alas. God, this is the worst.

And what's worse than worst, the asshole's now spouting bullshit. ]

Comin' clean to who? To you? What change can you do? Even if you came from the same world from me, what can you do, knowin' this? There ain't a point tellin' anyone else who ain't concerned with this. 's not like I kept all these from everyone. People who matter already know. Stop acting like you're some mentor or some shit, 's sickening.

_{It all rooted from my weakness.

Ryuji seems to take that into solemn consideration for a moment, head canted and expression strangely subdued without the anger from earlier animating it. Had these... these head games and "class trials" not applied pressure to a weak heart the way pressure is applied to a stress point in an already weak bone, would Mondo have broken?

The realization comes to him with startling clarity then: the killing games had been doing the polar opposite of what the Phantom Thieves had worked for, hadn't they? God. Take their cause and flip it to Akechi's side of things--whispering madness and hopelessness into their ears--and you have Monokuma's competition. Manipulating people's hearts with the hope of bringing those weaknesses out and harness them. Survival of the most willing to bloody their hands and hide the fact.

Now he really does feel sick.]}

... Because you wanted to prove yourself? _{[Is that it? The latticework holding together Mondo's Palace? He nods to himself as much as Mondo.]} Then let's do somethin' about that weakness, then.

_{[Once again, it doesn't sound so much like an offer as something he's already decided upon and merely letting Mondo in on the plan. He's no evil robot bear setting off bombs in Mondo's face, but when it comes down to relentlessly bullying people to do what they don't want to do, he and Monokuma could be fit competition for one another.

In a move he hopes might press his point a little, Ryuji concentrates until he feels blue flames and the cool confines of a mask settle over his skin. This event wants the truth? Well, here's his--his inner truth made manifest on the outside.]}

I'm no fairy godmother, I'm a phantom thief. Takin' away those twisted feelings you got is kinda what I do. What I did, back home.

[ Look at this shithead consistently poking his nose in to every single gap Mondo has yet to block out. ]

Why the fuck I gotta work it out with you?

[ His protest is cut short, though, because suddenly he's in for a magic show. Holy flipping what. That mask wasn't just a costume this dude owned? It just appears from thin air like that? What kinda trick did he use?! ]

..........

[ What. ]

Hah?

[ That's the only reaction Mondo can give, blank look and everything. Because like, first of all, the hell's a 'phantom thief'?! It sounds so goddamn cheesy he can't even process it. The fuck does he mean with 'taking away the twisted feeling'? How do you even do that? Is that something more ~*contextual*~ and not to be taken literally? He definitely doesn't look like a counselor or therapist... not that Mondo knows what they look like, but judging from the bleached hair and all these annoying shit being thrown at him, he doubts this fucker's something official.

...Oh. Hold up, Mondo's figured it out. ]

You're some host club dude or somethin'?

[ If yes, they sure have low standards over there. ]

_{[Of all the comparisons to make...]}

What kinda hosts do you know that look like this?

_{[He's too incredulous at Mondo getting "host club" from skull masks and making criminals pay to be offended, crossing his arms in stupefaction. He might be giving this guy way too much credit assuming he can grasp a good opportunity when one's presented to him...

After all, it's not every day a phantom thief has to confront a person directly without the use of a calling card; it defeats the purpose of being a thief, a fact Ryuji is constantly a bit disgruntled over.

This is probably why Morgana had insisted on calling cards and subterfuge--when someone sees their change of heart coming, they make fun of it. Talk about rude?]}

Try again, asswipe! I ain't some actor! I'm serious. I've dealt with real criminals, the kind who invite themselves to their own killin' games.

_{[People who make Mondo look like a misbehaving puppy.]}

Edited (picked the wrong icon) 2017-12-04 08:33 (UTC)

Shitty ones.

[ Not that he's much respect for 'other' host club dudes either. All they do is always just getting flirty with the ladies that somehow flock to them, after all. Maybe those masks are part of the 'play'. Whatever, he doesn't know and doesn't care. He just thinks that's the lamest name ever, period. ]

Yeah, sure. [ Considering this is an event where they're forced to tell the truth, Mondo'll kindly give him a benefit of the doubt. He'll let this asshole explain the crap outta himself, even if 80% of him still thinks that this is bullshit. ] Then? What the hell didja actually do?

Must be. _{[Shitty, that is.]} Well, joke's on you, you're way off base.

_{[Why is it the people most in need of a change of heart are the ones that pitch the biggest fit about it being real? The compulsion to air his truest feelings means his eye roll is as extravagant and exasperated as the human body is capable of making.

Ah, but the question answers itself; if Mondo had his head on straight, he wouldn't be trying so hard with his sneers, and ridiculous hair, and going around pretending he's the boss of his explosive anger when it's the boss of him.

In lieu of having a Palace to slip into for a more decisive confrontation, Ryuji does the only other thing he can think of: he explains. Morgana would probably have a shit fit to hear him lay it all out in the open, but oh well. Ryuji's not the man (or the cat, as they case may be) with the plans; the best he can do is try.]}

You saw a bit of it already. When we were all in each other's heads, sharin' our dreams.

_{[In the city. Where your brother died. Where your classmate died.]}

That effed up castle? It belonged to Kamoshida--that was inside 'im. Inside his heart. I was there, and I've seen inside others besides his. When people got somethin' festerin' in 'em, one of those places pops up. I'm bettin' if we took a looksie in yours, you'd have one, too. It's why you did what you did--your heart's so busy proppin' up one of them damn houses of cards, it's no wonder you ain't got time for anythin'e else.

It's why we call ourselves the Phantom Thieves of Hearts--we find those Palaces and tear 'em down.

[ So, not host club dude. Well, that explains. ]

Huh.

[ Kamoshida. He faintly remembers that name. Wasn't it the guy in the picture that was displayed all over that... palace, castle, whatever that place is? Mondo can't deny that the dream realm was definitely conveying something real. At least, all his memories were real. So were Tsumiki's. No matter how fictional this guy's seemed, that was part of his memory too, wasn't it? That was... how his world was, maybe. ]

So what? You're sayin' that back in your world, you could've... [ God, saying this makes him feel gross. ] ...what, 'helped' me? Hah. What's the point of sayin' all that now? There ain't a thing you can do about it. And I'm tryin' to do what I can here. I don't need your fuckin' hand.

We could've cut your ass loose from the lies you've been tellin' yourself, yeah. Changed your heart from the inside out.

_{[Physically. Tangibly. Nothing metaphorical about it. On the outside, the Phantom Thieves' mission sounds almost romantic--reaching into hearts and setting them free, what's more poetically high-minded than that?--but it'd been real, and more importantly, it'd worked.

Not missing a beat, Ryuji shakes his masked head abruptly, dismissing Mondo's protests before he's even finished giving voice to them.]}

Oh, you better get used to seein' my face--you ain't gettin' rid of me that easily. I only wanted you to know all that so you get I ain't takin' no for an answer. You're right that I can't steal your heart the normal way without the Metaverse.

You're gonna do it yourself.

_{[His is an offer Mondo can accept either willing or unwilling, but the end result is going to be the same, Ryuji has every intention of seeing to that.]}

[ Hearing that makes him feel sick. Changing people by goin' inside their hearts and takin' down their weak points and stuff? Hah! Ridiculous. ]

'Course I am! The fuck you're talkin' bout? Look, ya might feel all high and mighty for your ability back home... but do ya seriously think what ya did had any meanin'?

[ At this point, he's not questioning the legitimacy of whether or not that really happened. ]

What's the point if the person doesn't change on their own?

Are you? _{[Skepticism is scathing enough to be a third presence in the room.]} 'Cause you sure as hell been takin' a roundabout route hidin' the guilt and coverin' up secrets.

_{[The proof is in his classmate's completely preventable death, and Mondo damn well knows it, just as a part of him must know that constantly lashing out and slapping open hands extended toward him does him no favors except give him more time to marinate in his self-pitying narrative of needing to hide the truth to stay strong.

This might qualify as the first time Mondo's ever given him a straight, honest explanation of events, which isn't saying much under these conditions. Honesty doesn't count when it's forced--a point he's heard directed toward the Phantom Thieves before.

What they were doing was a violation, they were just kids playing dress-up and acting out, no better than the criminals they pretended to bring to justice... There'd been so much push-back against them that Ryuji had had times where he doubted their mission. Times when the public seemed to overwhelmingly hate them and he'd wondered if disturbing the hornet's nest had been worth it when as many people were dying as they were saving.

But then he'd found out about the Grail. His eyes are open now.

Unable to help himself, he bristles a little at hearing the Grail's taunting coming out of someone else's mouth.]}

Of course it did! Someone like Kamoshida was gonna get away scot free usin' the guys at our school like punchin' bags and feeling the girls' up. He thought no one was ever gonna stop him. He didn't want to stop. It took someone else to make 'him. That's what we did.

_[But...]

You're not like that.

_{[A distinction Ryuji doesn't hesitate to make. Kamoshida hadn't gone so far as murder, but he'd felt no guilt for the harm he had caused. Mondo had, and guilt seems to be the mortar holding together every crack and crevice of the wall he's built.

Both are capable of change of heart. With Mondo, it might just have to be less traditional.]}

If you seriously wanna start puttin' things right, then this way could work for you. But only if you really mean it. It starts with admittin' you need help. You can't do it by hidin' the truth from people.

[ Mondo grunts annoyedly. ]

God. Don't you fuckin' get it? I told people who matter. Why the fuck should I tell you? [ Like okay, technically this asshole saved Mondo's life and shit, he knows that, but for the umpteenth time: he didn't ask for it! He's not gonna 'pay' for something he didn't even ask for! This is just like those cheap frauds delinquents do on the streets! ] Even if ya don't tell me shit, I was gonna figure things out on my own! [ Back the fuck off, busybody.

He doesn't comment further about the 'Phantom Thieves'. If that works to stop those kinda people, whatever, then. It's not like he could offer a better way to stop people who'd become far gone. In fact, for a brief moment, just for a split second, he wondered if these phantom thieves could've cleaned up Monokuma and the organisation behind it if they existed in his world.

But nah. That's too much credit for 'em. Too much credit for this dude. ]

Duh. I already know I need help. But not from you. Look, there's no point tryinna get someone who don't have the proper knowledge for these shit, ya know? 'm not just sayin' this to fuck with you. It's... probably got somethin' to do with the stuff here, I dunno. [ He taps on his temple. ] I wanna know how to control that anger... it could happen again, and I don't wanna hurt people for no reason. [ Fuck this truth serum. Stop his tongue, goddammit. ]

_{[What a shock, what he's saying has gone in one ear, gotten turned around in that rat's nest of a hairdo for a while, and come out the other. Ryuji claps back with steely command in his voice.]}

All you're doin is arguin' to argue! Take your own advice and quit runnin' your mouth for a hot! Why don'tcha take a breath and think about where this is actually comin' from.

_{[A heavy exhale. If Mondo won't deep breathe to get himself under control, he will.]}

It ain't even about me and you damn well know it ain't. I've met worse people than you--I could help you if you just let the bullshit go. This is about you. You and your teammates you were too scared to tell the truth to 'cause you were busy tryin'a fit this image you thought you had to be for your brother.

That part of you tryin'a hold it together don't wanna accept help 'cause it'd mean you'd hafta let people see past it. But there's that other part of you that wants to find a way to let those feelings go. C'mon, Oowada. Which one are you gonna listen to?

[ Arguing for the sake of arguing? Hah. That's one funny theory. He doesn't even want to have this conversation altogether! Guess the fact that this asshole's able to see within people's hearts made him feel that he knows everything about everyone, huh? ]

Whoa, you sure know me well.

[ It's impossible to miss out the sarcasm in his tone ー he's making it as obvious as possible. It's not about him? Then what's this constant barging in even when Mondo already states clearly that he's aware of his need of help, just not from him? ]

Tell me then, y'can help me, how?

[ Who the hell does this fucker think he is, thinking he can be of any more help than the others? Some psychological expert? ]

_{[Undeterred, Ryuji juts his chin out.]}

Then you tell me I'm completely off base. Tell me what it's really about.

_{[He doesn't think he's wrong, though. If anything, Mondo side-stepping the conversation reinforces the impression of someone playing keep-away with their Treasure, holding tight to it even as they refuse to talk about it. For a guy who lives and breathes confrontation in every other aspect of his life insofar as Ryuji has seen, it's telling.

Maybe Mondo does feel threatened by this ambush coming from him and not someone else. Or maybe Mondo feels threatened because Ryuji's in the general ball park.

As answer to his question:]}

I haven't given up on you yet, for starters.

_{[And how many people can he say that about? The people who matter stay and fight for you--it's life's litmus test for finding out who your real friends are. If Mondo has bonds like that in Wonderland that can help him shave off this chip on his shoulder, all the better for his rehabilitation.

But not everyone would. Not everyone does.

Ryuji's still be here, pushing the point. He's not Mondo's friend, but he's committed by virtue of being a phantom thief. Whether his intervening is wanted or not, that counts for something.]}

[ Mondo raises an eyebrow. It's not a completely surprising response, since the dude's been barging into his emotional personal space, but he was expecting yet another argument. He definitely can give some credit for the tenacity ー this whole chasing down has been going on since last month, and there's no much merit in it for this fucker apart from the ego-feeding thing. Unless the ego means a lot to him, then well. ]

Hah. Feelin' like a good person for not givin' up?

[ It's still way too difficult for him to trust this guy now. It feels like he's shown him too many of his cards without seeing the opposite.... not that he wants to.

That's exactly what puts him in a disadvantage in this particular situation, though ー with how he's forced to tell the truth ー as he has nothing to ask, while this guy keeps asking more and more questions. If only there's an option to mum himself or some shit.

With a grunt and heavy sigh, he responds. ]

It ain't so much I don't wanna accept help as much as I wanna get a proper help before anythin'. Proper as in people who actually understand all these things about controlling emotions and shit... dunno what they're called. But maybe there's one or two 'round here, who knows.

[ And what can you do, in that retrospect? Mondo highly doubts the guy has something he's looking for. ]

I told you, I don't wanna hurt people for no reason.

_{[The rhetorical question might only be a jab, but Ryuji cocks his head, considering it.]}

I wouldn't be a very good person if I gave up, so yeah. I guess you could say that. It don't take the Metaverse or special powers to do somethin' about somethin', I learned that bein' a phantom thief. Try me--I know a lot more than you think.

_{[The skeletons in Mondo's closet and his explosive anger were the reasons he was stepping in, not the reasons he would back down; to Ryuji, that's an important distinction and he assumes that's what the other is getting at until professional help enters the equation.

That surprises him. Professional help as in... therapists and shit? That's the last recourse he would've expected Mondo to take, let alone voluntarily bring up on his own. It's not an unpleasant surprise, just... a surprise.]}

Are you talkin' about therapy?

[ Well actually, he meant to be sarcastic. So when he gets this honest answer... he isn't too sure how to react. Scoffing is the only thing he can do ー no smartass counter, no nothing. As much as this guy annoys the living hell out of him, he'd give some cookie points for that honesty. ]

Ah?

[ Therapy? Is that what people call it? ]

Yeah, prolly? Heck if I know. ...What, you know someone who deals wit' those?

[ Well... this shithead might know more than Mondo thought, like he said. Prove yourself to be useful, manhole face. ]

_{[Heck if he knows, either. Head shrinking is one of those things people tend not to talk about--or at least, he hasn't met anyone yet who goes to therapy.

Is Mondo serious? He can't be lying, but it just seems bewildering Mondo would consider talking to a strange doctor when he's been so obstinate about holding even a normal conversation at room volume. Unsure what to make of this, Ryuji shifts his weight to one foot, crossing his arms in a thoughtful pose.]}

Not me!

_{[He just confessed he steals people's emotions for a living, he's not the person to ask where the normal healthcare professionals are hiding.]}

But if you're for real about it... We all come from a zillion different worlds, there's gotta be someone. You'd really be honest with a doctor?

_{[Well, it's not the police, but... it's something. More than he expected.]}

[ Oh yeah, he's so fucking serious. The last thing he wants is to hurt someone innocent over his uncontrolled anger, and for that, if a professional help is needed, he'd take that over this bullshit 'heart stealing' crap he's been hearing from this shithead. ]

Duh. [ When he hears therapy, he just imagines the thing you do after injuries to rehabilitate your... whatever, wrists, ankles, those stuff. You can't get diagnosed without telling your symptoms. ] Doctors can't read yer mind. [ Unless they can do magic or some shit, he will never know with the people here. ] What's the point of lyin'?

Uh. If you hadn't noticed, you're kinda a son of a bitch?

_{[Matter-of-fact about it, he shrugs as if to say ya feel me? He's having a tough time picturing Mondo setting aside his denial and his pride to have a heart-to-heart with someone. Not without having that heart stolen first.]}

Aah?!

[ That's uncalled for!! What the fuck?! ]

The fuck does that even mean? I don't go punchin' doctors for nothin'!

Is that a surprise? _{[Is it really?????]} You can say you wanna be better about flyin' off the handle, but I ain't seen you tappin' that brake much!

_{[More like revving the gas and threatening to run Ryuji over. He doesn't mean it in a harsh way but he's calling it the way he sees it, both because he wants to and because the event wants him to.

Imagine his surprise when the guy with the more volatile temper suddenly says he wants to go to a therapist. Not even Ryuji had considered that, when he'd been at his lowest. But then again, he doesn't have to live knowing he murdered someone who looked up to him all because he couldn't keep a lid on his shit.]}

[ Well, he's trying, you just keep making it hard for him!! ]

How much have you seen of me, anyway? You throw me shit, I return you the shit. That's just how it works!

[ Obligatory "YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!" speech. ]

A guy can't miss ya with that hairdo!

_{[Too much is the answer, really, but certainly plenty enough for Ryuji to have some deep suspicions about the internal logic of this. Mondo's making his case for him by getting defensive, even if the squabbling is by now a familiar pattern to their encounters.]}

I ain't a shrink or nothin', but don'tcha think that's your whole problem? Gettin' riled up and makin' things worse for both sides?

_{[The very kind of posturing Ryuji's been trying to get him to chill out about this entire time? Granted, he hasn't made it easy--he needles Mondo and he knows it. But sometimes the bastard just asks for it.]}

[ At this point Mondo can tell that it's a sarcasm, but he's not gonna bother engaging with that when another point is being brought up. ]

Hah! Like you're one to talk. Don'cha see that it's yer problem too? Get off your high horse and thinkin' you know better than others!

[ Whatever. Let's get this done and over with. ]

That's how it is. Ya satisfied now?

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

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