ssmisery: (shut it la goon)
Lapis Lazuli ([personal profile] ssmisery) wrote in [community profile] entrancelogs2019-08-08 12:13 pm

[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 [personal profile] 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...
  • 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?
✻ Real Lapis, Mirror Side
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.
entreats: (i abandon my body)

mirror lapis at the lake!

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-08 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
The cheerfulness gives off such double feelings to Ange. On the one hand, it's a good thing since it makes it a whole lot easier to tell that this is for sure not the real Lapis, unless something drastically changed about her overnight. On the other hand, it's so.. weird to see her that playful and cheerful. Which is kind of a sad thought, since it'd be better if she could be more happy in general, but with the way things currently are, it just doesn't seem to suit the other girl.

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.)
sslillappy: (and I'm the devil who)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-09 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
That does indeed get the Mirror's attention, and obviously, her first response is a peal of laughter (with a snort). That's just natural. M'Lapis recalls having a favorable impression of Ange, though, so she's not gonna go out of her way to be a jerk or anything. Still standing with her feet in the water, she pauses her waterworks and calls out.

"Trust me, there's nothing serious about any of this. Need a hand?"
entreats: (we're going for a drive)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-10 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"A hand to get into the water?"

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."
sslillappy: (256)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-12 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Pshaw, you should have! What silly fool wouldn't want to play in a lake on a nice day?" M'Lapis says, always an expert at interpreting other people's words in any way she chooses. See also: "That said, you can come in if you really want, but I'll warn you my fort is well defended."
entreats: (she swears that there's no difference)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-12 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thanks, but I don't really feel like swimming." Yes, Ange is indeed the silly fool who doesn't want to play in a lake on a nice day.. Or do anything fun ever, really. Although she's still a little doubtful of how much fun it'd be to do that with Lapis' Mirror to begin with. Not to mention if the Mirror is here, then the real Lapis is probably on the other side, right? That's a little worrisome, although - as usually - Ange tries to keep said worry in the back of her mind.

"Have a lot of people passed by here today or do I have the honor of being the first one?"
sslillappy: (168)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-12 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"You're definitely the first to come visit me." So what if that was unintentional, that too is not important. "I haven't been at it that long. It's just that we don't even have one of these over there, you know?"

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.
entreats: but better is no excuse for tonight (so you almost feel better)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-13 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Mirror Lapis really does seem like she's just playing with the water. And it'd make sense that she just came over here to do so if they didn't have a lake over on the other side. Not that it means Ange is fully letting down her guard, but at least she's willing to believe there's an innocent reason behind all of this.

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?"
sslillappy: (when I'm not even there)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-13 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
The Real Thing is a topic M'Lapis is never happy to talk about. Well, very rarely. It definitely tends to be a buzzkill. And even with her skills in interpreting things, it's difficult not to read a little judgment into that question, or at least the expectation of judgment waiting in the wings. Which is sorta fair, even -- specifics aside, the Reals can't be comfortable knowing their Mirrors can switch places on any passing whim now. There's little they can do about it, and no one can stop M'Lapis from doing whatever she wants.

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?"
entreats: (and you could say just how you feel)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-14 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh geez. See, this is exactly why she isn't fully comfortable interacting with the Mirrors, especially the Mirror versions of people she actually knows. Something about the edge to Mirror Lapis' smile says it all. Ange has rarely felt more glad for her ability to keep a pokerface in almost any situation, because it sure comes in handy right now when she's mentally dragging her hands over her face in agony at having to handle this situation.

"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.
sslillappy: (I'm just pretending to care)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-15 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
The Mirror pouts. That's disappointing.

"She'll be fine. I've spent years stuck over there, and I never got a say in it."
entreats: (it makes you feel hollow)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-15 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Ange gets the feeling she's not going to win this one either way. And thankfully they should switch back around soon, right? Maybe she'll go look for the real Lapis later once she's back and talk to her about this Mirror business and maybe find some way to deal with it.

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.
sslillappy: (I've ruined the lyrics!)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-15 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"You've never been, huh? It's not that different, really, there's just... less." M'Lapis waves a hand at the surroundings, her water stream following the gesture. "Less space, less stuff, less color, less fun."

So hey, R'Lapis isn't even missing anything, since she never knows how to appreciate the nice little pleasures anyway.
entreats: (we're going for a drive)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-17 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Some of those things are kind of subjective," she remarks, but with enough deadpan in her voice that it doesn't really sound any different from how she talks just about 90% of the time.

(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.
sslillappy: (when I'm not even there)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-17 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"I could try to find her sometime, if you're interested."

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?
entreats: (she'll find someone to need her)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-17 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Is there some very small part of Ange that's kind of curious about what her own Mirror would be like? Sure, that kind of curiosity is only human. But at the same time that feeling is utterly squashed by Ange's desire to stay far away from this Mirror-related business.

"I'll pass. I don't like talking to people."

And yet you're here, Ange.. Talking to a person...
sslillappy: (and then cannot tell)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-17 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"Then I could invite her to come over here. Nobody socializes on that side." M'Lapis is comfortable asserting this because she doesn't, and if anyone does they probably aren't important. Anyway, her tone is teasing and it's still not a serious proposal. There probably isn't any real danger of her going through with that, for several reasons. "If you're curious, nothing beats seeing it for yourself."
entreats: (to come back home)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-17 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank god her tone is teasing. Ange is paranoid enough that she feels like there might be a danger of Mirror Lapis going through with it anyway, but for now her chances still seem pretty good of not getting involved in this whole annoying Mirror business yet herself.

"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...
sslillappy: (257)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-17 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Look, there are obviously some wonderful exceptions, but the thing is, Mirrors kinda tend to suck."

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?"
entreats: (it makes you feel hollow)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-18 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Ange thinks that there's at least one thing they agree on then here - that Mirrors kind of suck. Or probably do, since Ange doesn't have as much experience with them. (She agrees with that statement even more than the latter one about her being reasonable, although she still likes to think that's mostly true.)

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."
sslillappy: (I'm just pretending to care)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-19 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
M'Lapis tries not to look too openly offended by that. Fortunately, Ange can't see her all that well right now anyway. In turn, the Mirror isn't aware of the existential crisis she's causing either, but then, her life is one big existential crisis all the time.

"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.
entreats: (and you could say just how you feel)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-19 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a dangerous offer. Because duh, of course Ange would rather be talking to the actual Lapis than the Mirror one. But admitting to even the slightest hint of attachment is hard for Ange, especially in front of people she can't trust.

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."
sslillappy: (202)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-19 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"I like coming over and playing with your toys, but it's not like I was planning to hang out in a lake forever. It's already getting a bit old anyway."

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.
entreats: (when i woke up this morning)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-19 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Ange sure is treating it like a test, anyway. Especially with how she can't even try t read the Mirror other than by her tone alone. Hence why she doesn't reply right away. She's thinking, and she definitely doesn't have some quick and snappy deadpan remark ready for situations like this.

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.
sslillappy: (255)

[personal profile] sslillappy 2019-08-20 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
M'Lapis sighs lightly, but once again doesn't show her offense. "Well, all right, since you asked so nicely. It was good to see you again. Enjoy the rest of your day!"

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.
entreats: (when i woke up this morning)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-21 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Despite still standing on dry land, the splash is big enough that Ange does get some of it on her - although it's mostly just tiny droplets from this distance. She makes no move to avoid them though, too focused on the tension that ebs out of her body as soon as the Mirror is gone. That sure were too many emotions flashing through her than she would have liked to deal with today.

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.
entreats: (you can't make your way to anywhere)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-22 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a moment where Ange stares at Lapis wordlessly, but then she turns and starts walking. Mostly idly, since she herself doesn't really care where they're going right now, but if Lapis wants to get away from the lake, then away from the lake they shall walk.

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?"
entreats: (when i woke up this morning)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-24 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
She shakes her head. "Luckily enough."

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."
entreats: (to come back home)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-25 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"She doesn't seem to like you a whole lot." Maybe it's a common Mirror trait or maybe Mirror Lapis just really has something uniquely against Lapis, who knows. But the fact that she doesn't seem to like the real one a whole lot seems clear as day, at least.

"I asked her if she bothered to ask you about swapping before going for it, and she just said 'why would I?'"
entreats: (she'll find someone to need her)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-28 01:48 pm (UTC)(link)
For a moment Ange is just quiet - and since her face is.. well, pretty much the same way as it always is, mostly devoid of emotion, it almost seems as if she's just letting the conversation die with that for the moment.

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?"
entreats: (when i woke up this morning)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-29 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. Oh. It's definitely more than just a little awkward to have actually said that when there apparently wasn't even any need to do so. Sure, you can tell your friends you care just randomly, but Ange is so unused to being so plainly forthcoming about it that she definitely looks embarrassed when she hears Lapis speak.

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."
entreats: (we're going for a drive)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-08-31 03:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"If I wanted to die, I could just take care of that myself." That, at the very least, she does manage to say in a more deadpan way. Maybe a bit more snippish around the edges since it's Been A Day, but it mostly sounds the same as how Ange would usually say it. After all, that was the whole reason why she was so careful in trying to deal with the Mirror to begin with. Both Lapis and her Mirror have powers, and Ange.. well, she can kick giant goat men? Not going to do much against someone with magical powers.

"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."
entreats: (she'll find someone to need her)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-09-01 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
There's a slight pause, since Ange is giving that question some actual consideration instead of immediately going for some quick comeback.

"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."
Edited 2019-09-01 07:05 (UTC)
entreats: (you can't make your way to anywhere)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-09-02 10:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Then what should I do the next time she shows up?"

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?"
entreats: (she'll find someone to need her)

[personal profile] entreats 2019-09-04 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Regardless of whether it's a sarcastic remark or not, Ange is pretty sure bringing a book is the best suggestion she can come up with as well. What else are they supposed to do about the situation? It's not like they can just somehow stop that Mirror.

"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."