driftfleet | ...And also these.

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...And also these.

[ Calibration Rooms ]
( for N-Z characters )

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ROOMS BY CHARACTER

N - Q

Nami

Nux

One

Phèdre nó Delaunay
de Montrève

R - U

R. Daneel Olivaw

Rapunzel

Remy LeBeau

Riku

Robin Redbreast

Rogue

Santanico Pandemonium

Shawn Hunter

Stefan (Alesci) Salvatore

Steve "Orion" Rogers

Steven Quartz Universe

Souji Seta

Stiles Stilinski

Syeira

Tadashi Hamada

Tekhetsio

V - Z

Wrath

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Her brow furrowed as she looked at him, looked at that crack in his mask.

She did know what it was like. And that was why she didn't move.

Quiet:] Ya don't have ta put on a show for me. I can just sit here.

Yeah but 'm goin' to go crazy if we do nothin', plus I do really thing ya would like that, I know I do. [He looked over his shoulder at the beads, and that corner of the room.] Some of my better memories.

Hell, out of everyone we got stuck here, ya really be the only one I would even consider it ok to be in here. [Another crack, near his jaw, but smaller and finer than the last one.] Only fair since ya had me in ya head before. Nothin' ya can do to hurt me here Rogue, it's all in my past.

[Now Rogue knew that wasn't true. The past was plenty painful. Still, if he wanted to share something with her, she wasn't going to say no... especially if it kept cracking his mask like that. Granted, she'd never got that high school diploma, but some symbolism was kind of... blatant.]

...alright, I'll go check it out.

[Standing, Rogue walked over to the beads, glancing back at him to make sure he didn't change his mind before she reached out to take hold of them.]

[Closing her fingers around the beads allows the room to vanish from her point of view, quickly fading out yet the feeling of the beads stays in hand. The air holds the same weight to it as it did in the room, thick and humid, the smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke in the air, yet also the coolness that only comes with night descending.

A street comes into view, busy with people as they mill around, laughing, drinking, and celebrating as if there was no tomorrow. Yet for Rogue, as these were Remy's memories, there was no claustrophobia as there would be normally for her, no fear of that contact of those bumping into her, and even having to put up with the random stranger reaching out for a hug or a kiss as they pass by, typically pushed along by their friends.

Everything is bright and sparkling, a lot of the crowd dressed in costumes, buildings decked out in decorations, more beads been thrown from ornamental floats as they drive down the road. There is a vibrant pulse beating through the city, the sounds of jazz flowing from nearby bars as people mill in and out of them. A sensation of love for this city, for all its dark and shady corners, for all its grime and hidden terrors, this was the true side of New Orleans. Celebration, fun, people coming together. It was home, and there was no better time of the year than this.]

[Rogue experienced those memories with a rush of living color. If there was one thing she liked about Remy's memories, it was the way he lived life, the way he accepted and acknowledged its brevity and sought to experience it.

He was right -- this was a good memory. She wondered what it was like to feel so connected to a place, to be able to call it home like this...

She turned and gave him a smile]

You're right. That is a good memory.

Do know what 'm talkin' 'bout now 'nd then. Not often, but sometimes. [Ok, yes, it was good to see that smile after he had taken the chance on opening up and giving her permission to seek out his memories.

At least that one, and Remy realized he owed her an apology.] Sorry for snappin' at ya before, didn' mean to. It just be that, [The mask turned to the invisible barrier.] That... donno what ya will think once ya see it. [What she would think about him.]

No apology necessary. We're all entitled to our past, ta our privacy. [Simple, quiet, with all her conviction. Strange, perhaps, from someone whose very skin leeched that away from anyone she touched. Or perhaps not so strange, considering how much she revealed about the past of those she absorbed... which was nothing at all.

...though there was something strange about what he was saying -- almost as if he cared what she'd think. And she did care, she found, staring at him imprisoned with that mockery of a mask. She didn't want that for him. She knew that Remy LeBeau was more than this.

So she took a step forward toward him, just one, in a bid for his attention.] Although I will say... when ya got somethin' there that's this big, somethin' that's ridin' you... seems ta me that it ain't just in your past.

I know. [Remy knew that all too well despite his earlier words. How his past haunted him and there was no real way to escape it, only to shove it away and make it invisible from view.] Ain't that easy, cherie.

[Then an idea spawned in his brain, a stupid one, a horrible one, but, who knew, maybe something good would come from it. Or he could completely drive her away. Was it really worth the risk? A look to her, a glance back over his shoulder at her through the eye holes of his mask, as if to judge her and see if this was worth it. Remy then stood, before he could talk himself out of it, and held out a hand to her.] Won't make ya, 'nd won't lie, it ain't pretty in there, but... [Before his words trailed off, not sure what he was really asking her to do.]

[...but if he was going to take a chance, if he was going to even risk removing that mask a little, then Rogue was only going to hesitate long enough to see if he meant it before placing her hand in his.]

It's alright. I don't need ta see pretty. [She gave him a brief smile.] I'd rather have true.

Yeah, keep thinkin' that. [Unlike with her the barrier gave no resistance to Remy, he able to pass through it with a slight shimmer that caused the 'room' behind it to flex and warp before he vanished, yet his grip still stayed until she had followed him through to the other side.

And then he was gone.]

[...okay, a little eerie to just have him vanish like that.

And then the fear hit, sharp like a penny in the mouth, like the taste of blood, but curling over her in waves as relentless as the ones pounding the... well, what Rogue assumed was the bottom of a cliff.

It was dark here, and she glanced around trying to get her bearings, trying to think, as she had been trained, passed the cringing of her stomach and the racing of her heart. It was loud here.

And... and that was not a good smell. Where was it coming from, the smell of blood and gore? What had happened here?

Swallowing, Rogue first approached the cliff to glance down into - nothing - and when being near the edge actually caused her fear to heighten she turned around and called:] Remy?

[Regardless of whether or not she receives a response, there is only one way open to her and she takes it - starting down the hall to the other 'room.']

[There is no answer for a long time, the minutes dragging on as for that time it does appear as she is alone in this, without the room's guide, yet eventually his voice is heard.]

Sorry Rogue, be a bit difficult to be here. [If he meant a physical presence or a mental one, it could be taken either way. However Remy does eventually appear, as if made of static as his body flickers in and out of existence. The mask for the most is gone, torn and broken, a quarter of the original piece remaining to cover one eye. The rest of his face is bloody but there is no visible wound to explain the blood that pools down his body, leaving footprints as he walks but they vanish whenever he takes a step or two away from them.] Don't fall, please.

I won't. [Simple, reassurance. She moves away from the edge a little further, though she is not afraid of heights.

He looked terrible. There shouldn't be that much blood. Why was he bleeding so much?

This place hurt him. He couldn't hide it.

...oh, Remy.

She spoke just loud enough to be heard over the wind.]

Where do ya want me ta go?

[She was there on invitation. She wasn't going where he didn't want her. She could give him that, at least.]

[Remy moved to hold his arms out wide before letting them drop back down to his sides.] Not like we really got a lot of options. Would say whatever takes ya fancy, but rather hopin' nothin' here would do it for ya.

[Ha, ha. It was good that he could joke here. Because this place... there was nothing subtle about the fear that went with it, gripping her insides and making her want to run, to fight, to curl up into a little ball and wait for it all to go away.

She took a step closer to him, blood and all.]

This is what your mask is hidin'?

[Her heart ached for him.]

[A touch of that normal smirk, an exhale of breath that could be considered a sarcastic 'ha', and a shake of his head before Remy answered.] Ya should know as well as I do ya gotta wear the right mask to 'nteract with others. 'm suppose to be funny, 'm suppose to be charmin', 'm suppose to be confident, it's what others expect. Can even push it as far as bein' an ass or a sleazy flirt in the right situations. Not many want to see the opposite.

He placed a hand over the remains of the mask, covering it up with his palm.] There the reason it the joker, 'cause that the role I play. This place, it just part of what be underneath it. I know ya feel what this place does to ya, can ya honestly say ya would want others to see ya feelin' this? Ya think they would take ya serious or trust ya again if ya let this out?

You're the one who said it -- we've all got our masks. I feel what you're feelin'... an' I know it, Remy. I know it 'cause I've felt it too.

[She took a half step closer to him.] I wouldn't want other people seein' me feel like this, it's true. But we all got somethin' like this. Doesn't make anyone take me less seriously when they see... I mean, heck, Remy, you saw me.

[He'd seen her at her lowest - at the memorial for her daughter, when she'd lost control because of Loki's confession of his feelings for others, when she'd had to hide in the tunnel to try to keep from razing Luceti.] Didn't stop you from takin' me seriously. I ain't ever gonna say that you should let everyone in ta see this [a gesture around them], but I don't think ya have ta be ashamed of it either.

Ya have no idea what happened here, what this represents. [Not the details at least, it was easy to guess elements of what it had been about just from how the room was set up and the feeling behind it all.] So don't ya go sayin' what I should or shouldn't be ashamed of.

This ain' 'bout some relationship goin' to merde, or powers out of control, [Remy didn't dare bring up her daughter. While it wasn't the same thing has had happened to him, it was loss, and he wouldn't dream about using that against her. As for powers, true, he had sold his soul to Sinister to get his powers under control, but that wasn't what this place was about. It was what came from that. What price he had to repay for control. Remy tried to ignore the question, would he had done it again, given the chance, would he go the madman to get control if he knew what damage he would do afterwards? He still didn't know, because as far as Remy saw it he had no other choice.

The only good thing that ever came out of it was Sarah, and even then she had lost her family because of him, and he had just up and abandoned her with another to look after her. It hurt too much to look at her and know he was the cause of her pain, it was selfish and stupid, but Remy couldn't live with the constant reminder.]

It- [Cutting himself off, Remy moved back from that step she took, heading deeper into the room and away from the cliff. It was easier to focus on his hate for Sinister than the loss of his cousin at that cliff face. All because of his stupid powers, all because he hadn't had control, all because he was suppose to be the one protecting him, and he had failed. Remy hated this room, he hated the reminder of what he had done. It was better if it had stayed buried.

He was an idiot for showing Rogue it.]

[Okay, wow. Great job, Rogue. This was something that clearly still had its hooks in him, and she'd stepped in it. Rogue glanced away from the cliff to where he was retreating, the really, really creepy scientist side of the room.]

Alright. You're right. I don't.

[But she didn't leave it there - she stepped after him, following his bloody footprints.]

I just know what this place makes me feel - it makes me feel afraid. The kinda fear that makes me wanna curl up, or run. I don't need ta be in this space ta feel that kind of fear. I know it way too well for that.

[So, yes. She owned to fearing like this, owned it freely. He was showing her it, she wasn't going to hide it from him either.] An' I ain't gonna make any call on what ya should or shouldn't be ashamed of in your past. But I do know... [and now reaching up to take hold of his flickering shoulder, even from behind. If she can grasp on, she will, if not she will very carefully let her hand hover there while doing her best not to pass right through him.]

...whatever it is, or was, ya don't have ta face it alone. Lord knows, I've got my own sins. [Talk to her when you're a matricide, buddy.] An' I'd have drowned in them, if I'd been left alone. An' I'm tellin' ya now, you don't have ta be.

[There were sweet words, oh so nice and easy to cling onto, to believe they were real and that they would stay so.] Think ya would change ya mind on that if ya knew, [A hand came up to cover hers.] Just was 'xactly I had done. 'nd I that ain't a gamble 'm ready to take. [Then he really would be alone. True, they had shipmates and were getting new friends along the way, but there was certainly a connection with Rogue that Remy hadn't picked up with other people. Not even Luke or Jean back in Luceti, as close as he was to both of them.

Rogue was special, and he didn't want to lose that because of stupid mistakes he had done.

Turning back around to her and moving his arm so he could still hold onto her fingers in the motion, Remy sized her up, looking for the wear and tear this place caused, looking to see if she was able to handle the weight on it or needed some reprieve from it all. Depending on the signs, depending on how much strain the constant feeling in the air put pressure on her, Remy would gently lead her to the chair, if she would allow so.]

[Rogue thinks Remy might be forgetting who she's dating. No matter what he's done, she's pretty sure it doesn't rank up to attempting to explode an entire planet. The past matters. The present matters more. It has to, or what's the point?

She let him cup her hand, stood just beside him and didn't flinch away.] I can respect that - I ain't gonna ask ya ta tell me anythin' ya ain't ready ta do. [At least, she wasn't right now.] But I ain't gonna take my offer back either. Your past matters, Remy. But so does your present, so does your tryin'. I really believe that. I have to.

[Or else there was no redemption, no hope for something like her. And she didn't believe that, not anymore.

She let him move her hand, hold her hand, met his gaze without flinching even though her heart was breaking for him, for his bloodstained face and broken mask...

And she didn't protest when he led her to the chair, her resilience under this kind of fear and pressure and loneliness having sadly been tested time and time again -- and she held firm. She didn't like the look of the chair, of the room, these kinds of places always frightened her.

But he wanted to show her it, and she had given him her word that he didn't have to be alone. So she slid up on the chair without hesitation.]

[The chair itself was lightly padded, enough that it was comfortable to take a seat on, but not one anyone would want to stay on for a prolong time, least they start feeling a stiffness and ache in their limbs.

Yet as she came in contact with the chair the overwhelming sense of fear and pain vanishes, lifting the weight off her form as if it was never there in the first place. It wasn't the type of relief that let someone relax and sink back into themselves. Something had to be done, there was no other choice. Determined, focused, an end goal. Hope. Even if it was only the smallest spark, there was hope.]

[...okay, these feelings were unfamiliar in this combination. Determination and focus, suiting up for a job, yes. But not to just... submit, not mixed with hope of an 'end goal' in this way.

She glanced over at the ghost of Remy for a moment and then settled further back in the chair, as if waiting.]

[Would she remember any of this? Was there any real repercussions to this all? Remy wasn't sure, but for what he had shown to her so far, what he had hidden away in the dark little corner of his mind, the next words didn't seem so heavy.] It's how I got control of m' powers. I got my head cut open, messed 'round with, 'nd suddenly I wasn't a walkin' bomb 'nymore.

[There was less happiness than there should had been in his voice for someone who had gained control so easily.] Ain' sayin' it was the right choice, pretty damn sure it wasn't, but would do it again if I had the chance, only because there was no other option other than just waitin' for the day I exploded 'nd possibly took someone else out with me.

[...oh. That was... oh.

Rogue shook off enough of the impression that she must sit to straighten up and extend a hand toward him.]

If I'd had that choice, can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing.

[Can't say she still wouldn't have. In a heartbeat.]

...And also these.

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