Lapis Lazuli (
ssmisery) wrote in
entrancelogs2019-08-08 12:13 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Entry tags:
[OPEN] Next what's fear and silence in wait just all we'll then
Who: Mirror And/Or Real Lapis... and you
Where: All over the dang place.
When: All month and potentially beyond, or until something puts a stop to this.
Rating: Currently defaulting to PG
Summary: Mirror Lapis is playing tourist. (And as a result, so is the Real one whether she wants to or not.)
The Story:
✻ Mirror Lapis, Real Side (replies from
sslillappy natch)
Now that the Mirrors have tacit permission to cross over to the Real side of things, it simply stands to reason that visits from them should become an ordinary, everyday thing. It's the new normal, right? So it's perfectly reasonable when Mirror Lapis finally starts to get in on that. Not too often, and nothing big; it's just a quick visit here or there, now and then, when she feels like it. Real Side simply has better stuff, and on a particularly fine day, it would be such a shame to stay cooped up in a mirror. She can't possibly be the only one who thinks so.
Anyway, she can be found all over the place from time to time. For those familiar with Real Lapis, the Mirror is easily distinguishable by her general cheerfulness, and she has a friendly greeting for anyone whose eye she catches, but she's looking to avail herself of the facilities foremost. (She's certainly not actively avoiding anyone, what would give you that idea, how silly.) As she explores, M'Lapis shows up just about anywhere, gravitating towards anything that seems amusing; for example...
If you're wondering, Lapis is in fact coping with this situation, but it's still KIND OF A PAIN. Personal baggage aside, Mirror Side sucks, and being randomly yanked away to it without warning sucks worse. She isn't committed to exploring or seeking out fun, and she certainly doesn't want much to do with the locals. But she doesn't particularly need to hide herself away either. More slowly and with less enthusiasm, she too ends up looking around. Anyone can get used to anything, they say, and like it or not, she's got a lot of time to kill over here.
Which is why one day she can be found in the Mirrorside library, straight-faced as she builds herself a book fort based around a large table. That's just how life ends up sometimes. Uninvested though she may seem, you can challenge her on her choice of distraction at your own risk.
✻ Wildcards
Since this is an open-ended situation by nature, there are countless possibilities! The Lapises can be encountered in so many times and places! Don't hesitate to run things by me if you're not sure! And also feel free to get ahold of either of them on their proper side as well.
Where: All over the dang place.
When: All month and potentially beyond, or until something puts a stop to this.
Rating: Currently defaulting to PG
Summary: Mirror Lapis is playing tourist. (And as a result, so is the Real one whether she wants to or not.)
The Story:
✻ Mirror Lapis, Real Side (replies from
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Now that the Mirrors have tacit permission to cross over to the Real side of things, it simply stands to reason that visits from them should become an ordinary, everyday thing. It's the new normal, right? So it's perfectly reasonable when Mirror Lapis finally starts to get in on that. Not too often, and nothing big; it's just a quick visit here or there, now and then, when she feels like it. Real Side simply has better stuff, and on a particularly fine day, it would be such a shame to stay cooped up in a mirror. She can't possibly be the only one who thinks so.
Anyway, she can be found all over the place from time to time. For those familiar with Real Lapis, the Mirror is easily distinguishable by her general cheerfulness, and she has a friendly greeting for anyone whose eye she catches, but she's looking to avail herself of the facilities foremost. (She's certainly not actively avoiding anyone, what would give you that idea, how silly.) As she explores, M'Lapis shows up just about anywhere, gravitating towards anything that seems amusing; for example...
- She checks out the more elaborate setups like the arcade and bowling alley, where she spends a while examining the equipment curiously. It's pretty clear she has no idea what any of it is, and might benefit from assistance.
- She plays in the water at the edge of the lake, raising shapes out of it and even constructing herself the wall of a fort, the way normal people might build from snow. While she's not particularly looking to drag other people into it today, someone passing too close does indeed stand a risk of being splashed. But honestly, it's a neat display anyway.
- She pokes her head into the diner... and once she knows what it is, she'll definitely be back a few times for brunch. Does she count as a regular yet? Do these brightly colored alien ladies even normally eat food?
If you're wondering, Lapis is in fact coping with this situation, but it's still KIND OF A PAIN. Personal baggage aside, Mirror Side sucks, and being randomly yanked away to it without warning sucks worse. She isn't committed to exploring or seeking out fun, and she certainly doesn't want much to do with the locals. But she doesn't particularly need to hide herself away either. More slowly and with less enthusiasm, she too ends up looking around. Anyone can get used to anything, they say, and like it or not, she's got a lot of time to kill over here.
Which is why one day she can be found in the Mirrorside library, straight-faced as she builds herself a book fort based around a large table. That's just how life ends up sometimes. Uninvested though she may seem, you can challenge her on her choice of distraction at your own risk.
✻ Wildcards
Since this is an open-ended situation by nature, there are countless possibilities! The Lapises can be encountered in so many times and places! Don't hesitate to run things by me if you're not sure! And also feel free to get ahold of either of them on their proper side as well.
mirror lapis at the lake!
But since she recognizes that the Lapis playing in the lake is 99% for sure not the actual Lapis and Ange doesn't particularly feel like talking to her Mirror, she decides to just quickly walk past the lake without interacting, hoping to just peace out of here and go read a book in her room or something. Being anti-social. The usual.
That plan is quickly halted when she miscalculates just how close she's walking to the water. And with how the water is splashing off the Mirror's display, there's a bit more puddles there than there usually are. Which means that of course with Ange's kind of luck, she manages to step right into one that's particularly muddy, and it makes her slide until she downright trips and falls butt-first on the ground.
"Seriously?"
It's hard to even tell whether that was aimed at Lapis' Mirror self or just the universe in general. (Probably the latter, but still.)
no subject
"Trust me, there's nothing serious about any of this. Need a hand?"
no subject
It's said in Ange's usual deadpan way - the same deadpan she most likely would have levelled at regular Lapis, really. The only difference is that she wouldn't be too surprised if this Lapis did try to pull her into the water. Ange's interactions with Mirrors so far are fairly limited, and even though she isn't exactly openly hostile to them, she's just.. cautious.
(But then again, when isn't she when it comes to other people.)
She manages to stand up by herself, trying to wring some of the water from the puddle out of her skirt.
"I didn't expect to see you out here."
no subject
no subject
"Have a lot of people passed by here today or do I have the honor of being the first one?"
no subject
Apparently satisfied that it's no longer needed, M'Lapis lets her fort wall slide back into the lake. In its place she idly pulls up a snakelike swirl, guiding it in spirals with one hand as if it barely requires any attention. Play is very important. Of course, she's also mindful not to let the surface of the water go still -- M'Lapis is good at ignoring her peripheral vision, naturally, which is a crucial skill for any Mirror trespassing on Real Side, but there's no point inviting difficulty.
no subject
Still, she can't help but at least ask the question she's most curious about. Although she's trying to seem as casual as possible about it. "Did you ask Lapis to swap for a bit?"
no subject
But on the bright side, hey, no one can stop M'Lapis from doing whatever she wants, which is the whole point of her doing so. Also, she is still operating from her one previous meeting with Ange, who, at the time, didn't actually seem that fond of Real Lapis, so that's a plus. In any case, her smile does not waver but sharpens: a little conspiratorial, a little challenging.
"Why would I do that?"
no subject
"Isn't it kind of the considerate thing to do? You're just going to piss her off if you keep randomly shoving her in there without advance notice."
It's maybe put a little more diplomatic than Ange's real thoughts on it are, but.. look, she's not dumb enough to straight up piss off someone who has water powers while standing right in front of a lake. That's something her brother would've done, not her. It's better to put it in a way that's shoving the benefit to this Mirror version too.
no subject
"She'll be fine. I've spent years stuck over there, and I never got a say in it."
no subject
Once she finds a way that will at least make her seem like she isn't worried for the other, anyway.
So for now she slightly changes the topic to avoid a pointless argument.
"What's it like over there anyway?"
Thankfully Ange's own Mirror doesn't seem as interested in taking trips over here as Lapis' does, since Ange hasn't suddenly found herself over on the other side lately.
no subject
So hey, R'Lapis isn't even missing anything, since she never knows how to appreciate the nice little pleasures anyway.
no subject
(Also, it feels really weird to have someone with Lapis' face talk about fun.)
"But no, I haven't been there before. I guess my Mirror thinks it's plenty fun there."
Or she just doesn't care much about fun. Just like regular old Ange here.
no subject
Nobody is interested in that. It's not a serious offer. But, like, if free intermingling between the sides is going to be the norm now, maybe the Reals might as well start thinking about their possibilities too. Why not?
no subject
"I'll pass. I don't like talking to people."
And yet you're here, Ange.. Talking to a person...
no subject
no subject
"They don't?" See, usually that thought wouldn't be too strange to Ange, since they're probably all just super weird over there. But.. "You seem like the talkative type."
Then again, maybe that isn't too difficult when compared to the actual real Lapis...
no subject
Raising her hand, M'Lapis pulls the water up straight and flattens it like another wall, broad and tall enough to hide behind if it weren't transparent. Her image is blurred and choppy through the liquid curtain, which quickly stills in precisely the way she was previously avoiding. There is a gesture from her other hand, and the water becomes glassy, unnaturally reflective, superimposing Ange's own image over the lake and M'Lapis.
It can't possibly be producing the same effect on the other side, or else the Mirror wouldn't still be here. How very fancy.
"You're a reasonable person," she continues, still casual and playful as if this display weren't meant to have any greater significance. Maybe it really doesn't; she's like that. "And that means it's a pretty good bet that your Mirror isn't, right?"
no subject
Proof that Mirrors suck #1: Mirror Lapis over here suddenly forcing her to think about all these things that she'd rather not be thinking too deeply about, and all with that light tone to boot.
"You think that'd be the opposite of me, huh?" Her stomach churns, but she manages to force the same tone as ever even as she stares at the water image. "I guess you might be right."
That's a lie. Ange knows what she truly is at her core - a sad existence, the ghost left behind of someone who lived out a completely depressing life. She doesn't know if she could ever face a completely happy Mirror version of herself without breaking down.
All of these thoughts just because she worried and wanted to see if the real Lapis was okay while her Mirror was out here like this. Dangit, Lapis, once you're switched back around Ange is really going to have a Talk with you about these shenanigans and how to try and prevent them.
".. But it's not like Mirrors are our total opposites. You and the other Lapis have some stuff in common from what I can see."
no subject
"Not as much as you'd think," she says. There's still a bit of a petulant note, but it spends itself there and moves on as she pauses. The water wall ripples gently as from a breeze; if it was hard to see her expression before, it's impossible in this moment. "You know, if you just want her back, all you need to do is ask."
That one IS a legitimate offer, or at least it seems a lot more legitimate. Make of it what you will.
no subject
And that trust is the other half of the problem. What if Mirror Lapis is just saying that to mess with her? Years of bullying have taught her most offers are never as nice as they seem.
So she ends up with a more calculated response, like she's trying to put out feelers to see how legitimate this offer is - since Ange just really sucks at telling that easily. "I thought you liked being out here more than over there."
no subject
Her face still isn't visible, and her voice doesn't have that teasing friendliness anymore, but it's calm. M'Lapis wouldn't lie, not like this anyway. Where would that get her in the long run, and when she's already burned a bridge or two elsewhere? No, she's going to make a real point of being sensible and likable and, yes, reasonable. This is just an ordinary, friendly visit, and there's no need for anyone to have any problems with her. Put her to the test and find out.
...There's just no guarantee that it isn't also a little bit of a test for Ange.
no subject
But.. whatever. No matter how much Ange likes maintaining her cool and collected facade, she can't fully do that if it means not saving a friend from a boring or annoying experience.
".. Then yeah, you should switch back around. I want to see her." And know she's alright, most importantly, but Ange is already admitting a lot by her standards here. These are baby steps.
no subject
She is making a couple mental notes, however. For one thing, she certainly won't be so eager to chat with Ange next time. And she really will have to keep an eye out for the girl's Mirror now. You never know, that just might be someone worth getting acquainted with.
M'Lapis's fancy semitransparent water wall twists, its top half turning all the way around; Ange can see that, indeed, the other side is much clearer, as the Mirror takes a good look at herself.
no subject
She stares down at the water for a moment in reproachful startlement, then up at Ange. Then she buries her face in her hands for a long, loud, exasperated groan.
no subject
She moves up a hand to rub at her temple to try and alleviate it for now. Not much time to deal with her own emotions when the real Lapis is suddenly here again.
Instead she just sucks in a deep breath, waiting for the other to be done groaning before speaking up.
"Are you okay?" Listen, it's really tempting to just make one of her usual deadpan remarks, maybe something like 'welcome back to the real world' or something, but she's too tired to not just be straightforward. "Yeah, I heard that groan, but I mean more like 'not physically hurt'."
It's an oddly blunt kind of concern, yes, but it's concern nonetheless. She doesn't seem to bother to hide it as much.
no subject
The lake doesn't exist Mirrorside, and the grounds don't extend that far, so she has no idea where M'Lapis has ended up. It's highly unlikely that she's somehow listening in; it's not clear if she's ever listened, for even a second. If she were spying, that might arguably be an improvement. Indirectly, Lapis has been getting to know her Mirror a little better, but mostly through being pointedly ignored.
Regardless of any of that, she doesn't feel like hanging out at the lake any longer either. Why, the edge of her skirt has gotten wet! "Let's get somewhere else."
no subject
But she won't drop the subject, because that's important to talk about right now. She's still quiet for a few moments more as they walk, but then she speaks up, looking straight ahead.
"Has she been swapping with you often lately?"
no subject
"A few times," she says, in a tone of bitter understatement. She is fine, but a few times is plenty to be a tremendous headache. "Yours hasn't?"
It has clicked for her now, belatedly, with the initial jolt passed, that Ange is worried about her. Ange doesn't even know all of the reasons to be worried about her. But even if she did, Lapis is holding up better than she herself might have expected really. It's an ongoing nuisance, and probably has the potential to become a bigger problem, but there's no way to gauge that and nothing she can apparently do about it. If she really wanted to pick apart her feelings they'd be more complicated, but mostly she's at a bit of a loss.
no subject
Those are all the words she's willing to waste on it right now. Somehow Lapis' Mirror's words got under her skin more than she thought they would, and the last thing she wants to think about right now is her own Mirror.
"We need to think of some way to get yours to stop doing it so much." Since it does obviously seem to bother Lapis - even if Ange has no clue about all the reasons, but she assumes it's just an annoying thing to happen to you in general - even if she isn't actually hurt. "She left this time because I asked her to, but I doubt that's going to be a permanent solution."
no subject
no subject
"I asked her if she bothered to ask you about swapping before going for it, and she just said 'why would I?'"
no subject
"Of course she doesn't like me," she says, and then before she can think through the full impact of it, adds, "I wouldn't either."
She continues to grow steadily more tense. She wouldn't either, and that's partly because there are similarities between the Lapises, partly because the entire Mirror thing is just a bad situation for everyone. Neither of those is comforting or comfortable to think too hard about. There are still very big differences, and Lapis doesn't exactly have much sympathy for M'Lapis regardless.
no subject
But no, she's actually thinking while she's quiet. Her brain automatically tries to look for a way to put what she wants to say in more deadpan terms. Because of an image she has to keep up, because caring is terrifying in the face of potential loss. But she's tired. She's been overthinking enough during her conversation with Lapis' Mirror, and Ange is just Done with that for the day. She doesn't have the energy left to try and wrap a message up in indifference.
So after letting out a sigh that sounds almost frustrated, she just goes with her initial thought. "I like you." Her pokerface even melts into a concerned frown. "So don't say 'of course' that easily. Those Mirrors mostly seem like annoying idiots, and I can't say much about liking yourself, but I like talking to you. You seem to understand things better than other people. If that Mirror has anything of yours, it's only bad parts."
Like, you know, the potential to drown Ange pretty easily, for example. But at least she doesn't have to worry about that being a possibility around this Lapis.
"Do you really think I'd be nice enough to convince a Mirror to switch back around for the sake of someone I found totally unlikeable?"
no subject
It's not what she meant, so getting a heartfelt reassurance about it right now is awkward. It's worse because it's not actually wrong either; she's got her share of self-loathing in there, yeah, and this whole little ordeal has been trying... lots of things have been trying, lately. She too doesn't have the wherewithal to not be touched by the genuine emotional gesture. She's gone a bit darker blue in the face.
That said, the distinction is still legitimate and worth making. Lapis endeavors to school herself a little and make a better go at it. "...Or, I mean -- that's what I meant. I'm the reason you don't want her around. I'm why she's trapped in a mirror."
no subject
She tries to swallow the awkwardness as well as she can so she can speak up again.
"It's not like you forced her into existence though." Not.. directly, anyway? Ange still doesn't know everything about the Mirror business, but even if they're created by their presence here.. "We didn't exactly voluntarily come to this place on a vacation, which means we're just about as much victims of circumstance as they are."
And forgive Ange for being selfish enough to think more of her friend's wellbeing over some random Mirror's in that case.
"If she's mad about that, then that's just being petty at the wrong person."
no subject
She doesn't disagree with any of that, petty sounds absolutely right. And she still doesn't really feel bad for her Mirror. In the wake of that bout of awkward, she's certainly not going to re-add that she's quite capable of being petty too; that she's been, if not exactly that person, something similar. That's still unsettling to think about. Yet at the same time, somehow, it makes the Mirror situation feel a little less like some vast existential terror and more just... a person who's being a brat. Maybe that's why she's coping.
"Yep. You're free to tell her that if you think it'll do any good."
no subject
"Do you know how much of a pain it was to deal with her? I can't exactly tell her to get lost. We just got lucky that she decided to switch back around when I asked her to."
no subject
"You've already talked with her more than I have. Do you think she'd hurt people?" Besides emotional backstabbing and causing ongoing headaches, anyway.
no subject
"I don't know. She hasn't really tried to hurt me, but she just doesn't give me a very good feeling." Granted, Ange knows that she's leaning a little on the paranoid side of things when it comes to these matters, and she figures she should probably slap that disclaimer on top of her opinion since Mirror Lapis' potential for danger is an actual serious topic. "Maybe that's because of personal experience though. People who acted all cheerful and loved to play around with those kinds of powers back home usually were just as gleeful about hurting people using it."
no subject
"Well, I don't see what anyone can do besides wait for her to get bored of passive-aggressively alienating people, so just be careful, I guess."
no subject
It doesn't sound particularly passive-aggressive or anything - there's no 'what else can I do' sort of meaning to it. It's always hard to guess with Ange's tone whether she means something genuinely or in a deadpan way though, but this is genuine. She's willing to defer to Lapis' opinion on the matter.
"Should I just leave her alone and let you sit in that other place until she switches back?"
no subject
no subject
"The only way this could be fixed if the connection between this place and theirs was somehow just completely severed. But I doubt that will just miraculously happen anytime soon."
no subject