entrancelogs | 'Tis rather inconvenient like this. +

Entry tags:

'Tis rather inconvenient like this. +

Who: You! !oot ,uoy dnA
Where: Wonderland, both Real and Mirror side
When: June 3 to June 10
Rating: PG-13, will vary by thread, warnings for higher ratings appreciated
Summary: A catch-all log for Mirrors and Reals during the reverse espionage event. Anything from Mirrors leading their daily lives, over Reals reacting to the show, to Reals and Mirrors exchanging messages goes here. Just label your locations and sides accordingly!
The Story:

Your own medicine is worth twice the sweetness in the bush, that is what they say! Here is my plan, now make sure you listen well, or you get it wrong, and then I would need to pair you all up, for only two even wrongs set my head back on right, and we've no time for such things, no time at all, do we?

As mighty as the sharpest blade, as stout as the hardest shield, a spool of thread woven from hearts of gold. It must exist, and I must have it! She'll do worse to my head if I search, but you'll help, won't you? I will let you see, and you will be my eyes! All good things come tomorrow - then I'll let you see, and you'll be my eyes, and when it's all done you'll use your own mouths to tell my personal ears all you know, won't you?

All of Wonderland's mirrors are suddenly working in reverse. The Real side can see everything, and the Mirror side is left with nothing but their own reflections. Details of the event can be found here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ There were a lot of things Darcy had been willing to do in the name of personal security. When there'd been a drop in the number of Avengers, she'd taken the time to breathe and come out of her shell a little. Yes, the Captain was terrifying, but as long as she stayed out of his way he seemed to stay out of hers. It couldn't be that simple, though... Could it. People didn't seem to stay gone for long and she'd reverted back to her default, vulnerable state. She was alone, the few friends she'd made long gone.

Then Fitz came along.

Fitz came along and she'd found a way to be able to sleep at night - to walk the halls without having to constantly look over her shoulders. She'd relaxed and that was a mistake. She should have known better given her life on this side over the past two years. He'd even gotten her a present for her two year anniversary here even though she hadn't felt like celebrating. It had been incredibly sweet - at least until the truth came out. Until she let her guard back up and took a minute to take a chance to question the promise of security he'd given her. Everything had fallen into place when she'd learned about the true nature of the bracelet, of what she'd been trying to deny for so long. She'd tried to do the right thing, the smart thing and get rid of the bracelet with the tracker - try and stand on her own two feet and get out from under his thumb.

Of course, maybe it wasn't so bad to be the equivalent of a kept pet. The cost to remove the bracelet had been high - too high. She'd learned a lesson she hadn't wanted to - one that after two days of hiding and healing sent her crawling back to the one person who'd made her feel safe. She swallows hard, hand hovering in front of the door - hesitant. What if he's mad at her, what if coming back was only going to make things worse. What if -- she can't wait any longer. Can't keeping running through scenarios in her mind. Her hand finally makes contact with the door, the sound soft and light, head dipping so her hair hides her face from view.

Maybe this was a bad idea after all. ]

Edited 2016-06-03 23:43 (UTC)

[She gives him too much credit, really. He'd just been minding his own business, keeping to himself as much as possible. Living here was about the opportunities available. It was about being able to conduct proper research, free from the restraints of morality that seemed to dog the boring version on the other side. He'd been created to examine the suffering of the human condition as an academic, detached from the process. He took his work seriously.

But science needs help. Darcy had been an easy target, desperate for someone to provide shelter from the rough survivalists and hostile atmosphere that plagued the place. She needed someone to take her in, to teach her how to stop being afraid. They served each other's purposes. It was something of a symbiosis. Provided she never stray too far, he made it clear that she wasn't to be bothered. On the mirror-side, people generally knew better than to affront the mad scientists. It seemed to be accepted that provoking them was mutually assured destruction.

Is it cruel that he hadn't genuinely noticed that she'd run off? She hadn't been gone for very long, and there'd been such progress in his work. He's currently nestled under the base of his giant laser project, examining wiring and "hmm"ing. When she enters, he speaks as if she hadn't been missing any time.]

Ah, there you are. Hand me the wire cutters, won't you? I'll have to pull this out and start over.

[ She'd expected something more than ignorance at her absence. It was almost a slap in the face, adding insult to injury for everything she'd gone through in an attempt to get away from him. To free herself in some way.

Darcy doesn't say anything, instead handing him exactly what he asks for - making a point to use her left hand instead of her right. An attempt to hide the lack of a bracelet. Maybe he won't notice since he hadn't seemed to notice much else. Rather than lingering, she crosses the room to sit in one of the chairs gingerly. Her body was still sore, wounds trying to mend - not that she wanted him to notice. There's a temptation to leave again, to see if he'll even see her... No, she can't. She made her presence known. It couldn't be this soon.

So, she'll sit and wait - see what he does next. If he looks up, he'll see a tear-streaked face with downcast glance. Ready to apologize if things escalate. If it's just a delay because he's so distracted. ]

[He gives her an absent glance, though he doesn't remark on her appearance until after he's pulled out the offending wires. But he rolls out afterward, frowning lightly and giving her his full attention.]

Something's upset you. Has one of them been giving you a hard time?

[His tone is calm enough, but the threat is there nonetheless. He'll have no problem murdering anyone who's even looked at her more aggressively than she'd like.]

Is this about Rogers?

It's -- [ She doesn't look up, hands moving to rest in her lap before she changes her mind and tucks them under her thighs. Skin around her wrists raw and still red. There's a slight flinch at the shift, already regretting her attempts to hide it. ]

Not Rogers. He didn't do a-anything.

[ She wants to be more convincing in how she says that, to keep her tone even and steady. But, she can't. Not right now. Not when she's barely keeping herself together as is. ]

[He stands in front of her, a hand coming to rest on her shoulder.]

Darcy, you know you can trust me, right? With absolutely everything. I'm here to solve your problems, but I can only do that if you trust me with them.

[ She doesn't want to flinch at the touch, but she can't help it. The things that Ray had... She wants to believe his words, but it's so hard right now. Trust was a fragile thing. ]

I'm so- I'm sorry. I tr-tried --

[ That's all she can get out right now, a shaky breath exhaling into a soft sob as new tears fall. ]

[Frowning, he settles down beside her, pulling her into a more proper hug this time.]

Even if you've tried and failed at something, at least you've made an effort. That's the scientific method at work.

Tell me about your failure. We'll reconstruct your hypothesis accordingly.

[ She settles into his embrace, fighting the urge to just curl up into his lap and cry it out. Taking a breath, she steadies herself - trying to not stutter while she speaks. To not be an annoyance any more than she already is. ]

I ran from you. I tried to -- I... [ Oh boy. ] I figured out what was in the bracelet and I -- I'm sorry. I'm... [ Her hand shifts a little, the redness around her wrists coming back into view as her skirt shifts. She didn't want him to push her away, to reject her - she'd known where she'd gone wrong.

Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing to happen, though. If she really thought about it. ]

[His grip tightens around her, and then loosens considerably. One hand trails down her arm and takes her hand, raising it to eye level. It should be comforting, but it's mostly an appraisal.]

... Silly girl. Why would you do a thing like that? It was a gift.

[ That firm grip is all it takes for her to already regret her words. Maybe she shouldn't have been so honest - maybe it was time to try something else that might not land her in a worse situation than what she'd had. She lets him look over her wrist, taking in a shaky breath. ]

I couldn't -- I wanted... [ No, no. No time for talks of desires for independence. Or is it. ] I I just wanted to be able to have a little -- [ Time for herself? There's no easy way to explain it without it backfiring. ] It was f-foolish.

[He brushes his thumb along the welts in her wrist, the tortured skin that so suffered from being freed from its proper binding. His free hand strokes her hair, combing it gently.]

Your instincts are often foolish. That's why we agreed that you'd trust me, isn't it? Have I done something to change that? Haven't I always been kind to you, Darcy?

[ She swallows hard, not sure how to answer that. Yes, he'd been kind - more than kind... He'd been good to her and she didn't know how to deal with it. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. She can't help but turn herself further into him, into the familiar warmth and touch - ignoring the hiss of pain that wants to escape at the touch. Her words muffle slightly as her head adjusts to bury further into his shirt. ]

Yes, you have. But you were also tracking me and I -- I just... after everything. I g-got scared.

You shouldn't be scared. Not of me. Not of anything. Fear makes us weak. And didn't I tell you you'd never have to worry when you were close to me?

[He kisses the top of her head, letting her cuddle as much as she'd like.]

Something else happened, though. There must be some reason you came back.

I know. I-I wasn't thinking... I -- [ She wants to make herself look small, to shrink until she was almost non-existent. To just melt into the chair and be invisible. She doesn't want to answer the question, not sure how he'll take it. ]

Someone offered to help me with the bracelet, but it -- it -- [ She cracks, body shaking as the words leave her and a sob takes over. ]

[He shushes softly, cradling her and rubbing her back.]

Someone touched you. But you'd gone away from me so I couldn't keep you safe. Is that what happened?

[ She doesn't fight the comfort, breath refusing to even out. But, it doesn't stop her from trying to talk - from answering the question. Not that he really needed an answer. ]

I'm s-s-sorry I left -- [ That much is genuine. She pulls back slightly so she can look in his eyes, lower lip trembling. ] It hurt... I-it hurt so much.

Tell me who hurt you, Darcy. I'll make everything right again.

[Nobody touches his things and gets away with it.]

[ There's a shake of her head in a quick no at his request before breaking his gaze and letting her hair face back into her face... Maybe not a request, but all the same. She doesn't want to say the name, doesn't want to possibly unleash a fury that could destroy more than just its target or vice versa. Ray had that bit of a mad science genius type of vibe to him, as well. She didn't want to see what would happen if the two of them ever went toe-to-toe.

Just like she didn't want to see what would happen if they found common ground. ]

Edited 2016-06-04 03:20 (UTC)

[She's silent... That doesn't bode well. But Darcy is silent more often than not.]

You're worried. That's all right. You can tell me once you're comfortable again.

[He leans back, letting her get as comfortable as she'd like.]

But you won't run off on your own again, will you? I can't bear the thought of you finding trouble again.

[ She's grateful that he doesn't press her for the name. It's not like she'd have held out for long, but still... It works well towards her wanting to trust him completely.

Just like she wants to believe there's sincerity in his not wanting to see her hurt. She moves as he leans back, ignoring protests from her aching muscles. She needs the physical contact - the reminder that she's safe. Or as close to safe as she can get. A leg gingerly rests on his, almost draping over as she settles more against his chest. ] I won't run again, I promise.

I don't want m-more trouble.

You're not ready yet. You're still a work in progress. You'll learn to fend for yourself in time, but you're still not there yet. Maybe eventually...

[The hair-stroking persists, though it's a bit more like petting now.]

Would you like me to replace your bracelet, dear?

[ Was this going to be the life she's chosen? To be pet and looked after like a kept cat? She doesn't want to know what he's got in mind for her, what twisted plans she could possibly fit into... but something told her she might not it. That it wouldn't be sweet and caring.

There's a hesitation with her answer, not wanting to go back through having a tracker again when she'd just had it removed. When she'd lost a part of herself in the process. ]

I'm... I'm not sure.

What's not to be sure about? It was a lovely bracelet. I thought you'd appreciated it...

[She hadn't vocalized the tracker, and for all appearances he's not acknowledging there was even one there.]

Did you hate it, Darcy? Don't you enjoy my gifts?

No, no I didn't hate it. It was beautiful, I just...

[ There's was no way for her to try and dance around the topic and she was too concerned with his alternate methods of keeping tabs on her, but still -- ]

He said -- [ Oh sugar cookies. She can hear her blood pounding in her ears as she tries to keep talking. ] It was more than a thoughtful gift.

cloѕed тo м!ғιтz | cw: darĸ тнeмeѕ, creeper мιrrorѕ, wιll υpdaтe ιғ мore

Username might change midway through the thread - I keep almost making a mirror journal and then not

lol sounds good

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