[Noah is the sort who doesn't learn his lesson the first time around. Which is to say, the thought of "avoid the red mirrors" does not, in fact, cross his mind. After the first pass-through, he becomes something small and dwarvish in shape, and he thinks this is funny. Nothing wrong with being a lawn gnome or something, right? And he figures, as he waddles along on tiny legs, that the next red mirror will reset him back to normal.
In a way, it does, gives him his height back and all that, except his legs become something akin to sticks and it makes it impossible to walk. So, Noah drags himself across the presumably-dirty floors and toward the next red mirror he spots. At the very least, he wishes silently, give him his fucking legs back.
...
Might be a good idea to stop him.]
★ Death Reversed
[The green mirrors are, surprisingly, the only mirrors Noah actively tries to avoid. Becoming an eldritch horror with spindly limbs? Fine, that happens, whatever. Normal shit. Having all his traumas aired in front of him when he's trying so hard to forget all of that? Bad. Worst. Awful, fuck that!
The first green mirror is ignorable — whispers about how he's a burden, he'll never be good enough, common little nagging thoughts that he's always had but will suppress until the day he dies. The second gets a little more intense, where he swears he sees a man with a scribbled-out face in one of the reflections. Despite being pretty unclear, Noah would recognize that stark white hair anywhere, and anyone with him may just watch him spin on his heel and quickly retreat in the opposite direction. He ignores the whispers from the impostor's reflection, "Why did you give up on me?" and further comments about his lack of worth.
Unfortunately, the third green mirror he comes across is the only one in the maze he can pass through — there are no other colours available if he wants to move forward — and Noah's fists clench at his sides.
He grits his teeth, decides he's not going to deal with this any longer, and swings his fist around to drive it into the mirror... but all that happens is his hand phases through it, and Noah tumbles uselessly to the ground on the other side, having lost his balance in the ensuing shock.
If you just happen to stumble across him at this moment, he'll be picking himself up off of the ground and holding a hand over his eyes to obscure his vision, though he'll assure you,]
I'm fine! Just hit my head when I fell, that's all.
[You know, despite the fact he is anything but.
If you were with him before and didn't hold on tight, however, you may find yourself wandering the maze alone... who knows what section of the funhouse this mirror just threw him into? He can probably hear you if you shout, though.
Probably.]
★ Temperance Reversed
[Maybe an hour after getting out of the mirror maze the first time around, Noah's wandering the park with his hands tucked behind his head, an ostensibly casual stance compared to what was definitely him crying about the green mirrors earlier in the day. He's fine! He's all good. There is nothing wrong with Noah Ebalon. If he spots you from across the way, he'll wave and run up to you, where he then offers:]
Hey! Do you wanna go through the mirror maze with me again?
[No sense of self-preservation. Approximately none to be seen. Maybe he'll quit it after he re-traumatizes himself?]
★ Wildcard
[In case you do not want to play in the mirrors :)]
( two broken teenagers enter the maze. in another story, perhaps only one would come out. but in this, they're both plagued by horrible, awful little whispers in their minds. mafuyu clutches her head, hunched over and legs shaking as her mother admonishes her more and more for not listening- if she'd been good she wouldn't be in this mess.
and then noah tumbles in, shocking a brief but startled scream and an actual flinch out of mafuyu before she stops herself, staring- when noah does look at her, he'll see that her eyes are red from tears and she looks tired. )
Ah- Ebalon-san...?
( she- he's real, right? visual hallucinations didn't just become a thing in the last few mirrors? --no, no, just... just audible. after a moment, she crouches beside him, offering a hand. )
[I mean, only one could come out if you wanted that, murder is okay—
Anyway, Noah immediately dissociates. Which doesn't say a lot about him as a person, or maybe it does, who's really paying attention? Time to slap that happy persona on and pretend he didn't just try to punch glass. Hey, someone else is sad! Whack! He can help with that probably, he's very cool!]
My ego's a little damaged since I fell, but I'm okay! [To the left of him is an image of Clamor dying in a mirror's reflection, but it's okay, he's ignoring it. He's ignoring the screams and pleas and the blood being spilt oh god please enough he's seen this before—] What about you...? You look... no offense, but you look not great.
it's probably going to be cws the whole way down lets be real
mafuyu watches quietly before- Mafuyu... look at this. Aren't you embarrassed? This isn't like you. You're better than this. Now this carnie is worried about you- and the words in her ears are making her flinch again. almost instinctively, she looks away with a muttered apology to someone who isn't there. )
Oh- um. No... it's... it's just hearing things. It's okay. I'll be okay.
[But by Elria's Light, he's going to force himself to be happy, for himself and for her, for all the fucked-up shit they're having to deal with, so—]
Hey, c'mon! Let's get outta here. [He'll offer a hand out, making the cheeriness return. To his left, blood splatters across glass and a scream rings out from somewhere distant and unknown.]
( unfortunately, mafuyu's always been good at seeing through masks. less unfortunate, she at least recognizes there's a reason for it, and calling him out won't make anything better at the moment. hell, most of the time she's perfectly fine letting people go about with their facades- the only time she hadn't been, she'd been hurting and she wanted to hurt others just as much.
her mother sighs and she can hear her belittling her choice in rescue- no one is ever good enough. no one, no one, no one.
she still takes his hand, nodding quietly. )
Alright. ... I- I don't like the red mirrors. Can we avoid those?
( because she's used to her mother's voice. but that twisting transformation makes her feel ill. )
[Sometimes, there's only one path forward. Sometimes, that path forward takes you through a stupid red mirror, and your legs become long and gangly and fucked up and flat, and you have to crawl across the sticky floors and—
Noah shudders, visibly, and then slips easily into his facade again.
The blood splattered floors of Seven Tower loom ominously in his peripheral.]
When we're out, [he says as they walk, to keep the hallucinations at bay,] do you want to try some of the weird food they have here? I haven't tried everything yet! I got a lot of tokens to buy stuff with, though. It'll be my treat!
( and yet she finds her mother scolding her in her ear so much more comforting. because at least she's used to that, on some level.
she lets him lead the way, careful not to look at the mirrors at all, and listens. it's... a plea for comfort, his talking. a distraction. something to focus on that isn't what the mirror is doing to them.
that's alright. she doesn't mind. )
... Sure. But... I can't really taste anything. So you'll have to tell me how bad it all is. I still can feel textures though.
You can't taste anything? Is it... er, genetic? Or did something happen to you otherwise? Sorry if that's... if that's personal.
[But it's probably easier to talk about why her tastebuds don't work than to focus on the memories flashing in every reflective surface near them. Probably easier for her, too, he thinks, as he squeezes her hand in his.]
( ... does he know what zinc is? either way, she wouldn't be surprised if he just assumes it's natural, given how other deficiencies can work and the lack of real common knowledge. )
... I've been rather glad I can't while we're here, though. Someone had me try the fried jello...
[She had just been debating on returning when she heard Noah's voice. She looks up, a smile crossing her face. She was nervous about going back in, but something in her really really wanted to.]
S-Sure! I would like the company.
[It would probably be funnier with someone else. Maybe she won't hear those whispers if she's with Noah.]
[This is now filed under "shit that's just a horrible fucking idea".
So! Noah excitedly whips around and starts leading Shiemi back to the mirror maze. Surely this will be fine. Nothing bad will happen to them.]
Did you go alone the first time? I did, too. It was [not a good experience] kinda fun! [no] I liked going with you on my... third time through, I think it was.
Edited (quick edit so i can go tag your toplevel lol) 2022-09-19 19:10 (UTC)
[Her insistence that it's fun should be a red flag. Noah has his rose-tinted, mirror-influenced glasses on right now, so
...
there are no red flags and there is only fun :)
Noah squeezes Shiemi's hand as they walk, like some part of him realises they're both lying to themselves, like he's trying to be comforting. The thought doesn't reach his mouth, or even much of his brain in the first place.]
Are there rules against taking food in? [Beat.] Do you think the red mirrors change the way the food looks too?
[Look at them, both avoiding all the red flags and being driven by mirror tainted glasses to continue going back in.
Love it.]
I'm not sure. We can try. I'm sure someone would tell us something if we can't bring food in. [She giggles, because the thought of an elongated street food is really funny.
Noah veers them toward where the food is, casually swinging their intertwined hands. Normally, he'd have a "hehe, girls" reaction to this, but right now he has been infected with mirror brainworms. And also a bit of hunger.
So, with that in mind, toward the food they go! Noah stops to contemplate the options really hard, in fact, hmming every couple seconds. How much can he reasonably carry without letting go of Shiemi's hand?]
I think I have to try the shrimp corndogs. [NO! YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AT ALL!] That one will be funnier if it stretches out in the red mirrors!
You owe me a shake if it gets longer than three feet!
[She seems excited about this, so Noah gets one for her, too, even if the idea of shrimp corndogs is inherently fucking cursed. The Masks are all too happy to give the two their horrifying little corndogs and send them on their way.
Noah has to resist the urge to take a bite lest he lose this bet.
The HouZe of Reflection looms ominously in the distance as they approach.]
[With the corn shrimpdog in one hand and Noah's other hand in hers, Shiemi found herself feeling quite happy, which was a nice change of feeling since being here. She had been either scared, stressed, or anxious since waking up, and now, be it the compulsion of the mirror maze or just the company, she found herself smiling wider.]
Okay! It's a date then.
[She's giggling and really does have to resist the urge to take a bite of the food they're holding.
Okay, entering the maze was simple enough, but once they're inside Shiemi does take a step closer to Noah.
It feels out of place when it finally appears, the surface of the glass rippling and shifting like water. It appears to beckon, to ache for acknowledgement, and should Noah decide to step through he will find himself in the midst of a moonlit meadow. Trees encircle the clearing, flowers scattered amongst the knee-high grass that shifts and sings in a gentle breeze. Their petals are stark white, almost glimmering beneath the full moon's illuminating rays.
The world hums with a melody that is felt rather than heard.
The flowers feel uncannily familiar, and he doesn't give them more than a passing glance; but a specific type of white flower was always Harque's favourite, and Noah tries not to think too hard about that.
He'll push forward into the meadow, looking for signs of... well, anything else. A house, or a way back to the park, or indications that he might have somehow made it back to Elrios or even Tirnog. He'll take Tirnog. That's surely better than whatever this is!]
Beneath the watchful gaze of the stars above, all seems peaceful. That is, at least, until Noah's foot clangs against something hard and metal hidden in the grass. He can trip and fall on his face or catch himself, but regardless of how it happens he's found... Something!
It's an ornate golden ring, two blue-gemmed prongs jutting off of it in a decorative manner on either side. Decently sized, perhaps just large enough to orbit a weapon?
That sure is familiar! Noah scrambles from where he absolutely fell on his face, crawling on his knees to pick up the sundial. Of course he'd recognize this; he's the one who fucking made it. This means that there's a Clamor around here somewhere.
Maybe? Ugh.
He looks for other sword parts that might be lying around while he's here. The tassel or maybe the sword itself? Or just the whole Clamor?]
There doesn't appear to be any more sword parts here in the grass! Just the one, which could either be a good sign or a bad one depending on how active his imagination is. The metal itself begins to warm under his palm, seemingly thrumming to live in a heartbeat without rhythm.
A tether once cut feels whole once more in his chest, weak but definitely real. Pulling, desperately tugging and beckoning Noah to come locate the source. Somewhere to his left, deep within the dark forest of trees.
[Noah's imagination is very active, thank you! He's freaking the Fuck out, clutching that sundial close to his heart like maybe he'll hear Clamor's voice. Though, because Noah is So Good at repressing his emotions, he tries not to let it show physically, even if he's alone.
He stands, nervous hands brushing away dirt from the gold, and makes his way toward the forest. This is surely a good idea. Nothing bad has ever happened in the woods to him. Ever.]
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amuze2022-09-08 12:04 pm
no subject
cw: body horror
★ Death Reversed
★ Temperance Reversed
★ Wildcard
★ Death Reversed (cw: emotional abuse oh god)
and then noah tumbles in, shocking a brief but startled scream and an actual flinch out of mafuyu before she stops herself, staring- when noah does look at her, he'll see that her eyes are red from tears and she looks tired. )
Ah- Ebalon-san...?
( she- he's real, right? visual hallucinations didn't just become a thing in the last few mirrors? --no, no, just... just audible. after a moment, she crouches beside him, offering a hand. )
It's okay. You aren't hurt, right...?
cw these are just two sad children
Anyway, Noah immediately dissociates. Which doesn't say a lot about him as a person, or maybe it does, who's really paying attention? Time to slap that happy persona on and pretend he didn't just try to punch glass. Hey, someone else is sad! Whack! He can help with that probably, he's very cool!]
My ego's a little damaged since I fell, but I'm okay! [To the left of him is an image of Clamor dying in a mirror's reflection, but it's okay, he's ignoring it. He's ignoring the screams and pleas and the blood being spilt oh god please enough he's seen this before—] What about you...? You look... no offense, but you look not great.
it's probably going to be cws the whole way down lets be real
mafuyu watches quietly before- Mafuyu... look at this. Aren't you embarrassed? This isn't like you. You're better than this. Now this carnie is worried about you- and the words in her ears are making her flinch again. almost instinctively, she looks away with a muttered apology to someone who isn't there. )
Oh- um. No... it's... it's just hearing things. It's okay. I'll be okay.
( liar. )
no subject
[But by Elria's Light, he's going to force himself to be happy, for himself and for her, for all the fucked-up shit they're having to deal with, so—]
Hey, c'mon! Let's get outta here. [He'll offer a hand out, making the cheeriness return. To his left, blood splatters across glass and a scream rings out from somewhere distant and unknown.]
no subject
her mother sighs and she can hear her belittling her choice in rescue- no one is ever good enough. no one, no one, no one.
she still takes his hand, nodding quietly. )
Alright. ... I- I don't like the red mirrors. Can we avoid those?
( because she's used to her mother's voice. but that twisting transformation makes her feel ill. )
no subject
[Sometimes, there's only one path forward. Sometimes, that path forward takes you through a stupid red mirror, and your legs become long and gangly and fucked up and flat, and you have to crawl across the sticky floors and—
Noah shudders, visibly, and then slips easily into his facade again.
The blood splattered floors of Seven Tower loom ominously in his peripheral.]
When we're out, [he says as they walk, to keep the hallucinations at bay,] do you want to try some of the weird food they have here? I haven't tried everything yet! I got a lot of tokens to buy stuff with, though. It'll be my treat!
no subject
she lets him lead the way, careful not to look at the mirrors at all, and listens. it's... a plea for comfort, his talking. a distraction. something to focus on that isn't what the mirror is doing to them.
that's alright. she doesn't mind. )
... Sure. But... I can't really taste anything. So you'll have to tell me how bad it all is. I still can feel textures though.
no subject
[But it's probably easier to talk about why her tastebuds don't work than to focus on the memories flashing in every reflective surface near them. Probably easier for her, too, he thinks, as he squeezes her hand in his.]
no subject
( ... does he know what zinc is? either way, she wouldn't be surprised if he just assumes it's natural, given how other deficiencies can work and the lack of real common knowledge. )
... I've been rather glad I can't while we're here, though. Someone had me try the fried jello...
(no subject)
(no subject)
★ Temperance Reversed
S-Sure! I would like the company.
[It would probably be funnier with someone else. Maybe she won't hear those whispers if she's with Noah.]
no subject
So! Noah excitedly whips around and starts leading Shiemi back to the mirror maze. Surely this will be fine. Nothing bad will happen to them.]
Did you go alone the first time? I did, too. It was [not a good experience] kinda fun! [no] I liked going with you on my... third time through, I think it was.
no subject
I think this will be my… [She looks down at her hands, counting on her fingers. Maybe this is a red flag.] Fifth? I-It’s ah… It’s f-fun!
[She reaches out and grabs Noah’s hand, holding it in hers as she walks. For support? Probably.]
no subject
...
there are no red flags and there is only fun :)
Noah squeezes Shiemi's hand as they walk, like some part of him realises they're both lying to themselves, like he's trying to be comforting. The thought doesn't reach his mouth, or even much of his brain in the first place.]
Are there rules against taking food in? [Beat.] Do you think the red mirrors change the way the food looks too?
no subject
[Look at them, both avoiding all the red flags and being driven by mirror tainted glasses to continue going back in.
Love it.]
I'm not sure. We can try. I'm sure someone would tell us something if we can't bring food in. [She giggles, because the thought of an elongated street food is really funny.
And also a great distraction!]
no subject
Noah veers them toward where the food is, casually swinging their intertwined hands. Normally, he'd have a "hehe, girls" reaction to this, but right now he has been infected with mirror brainworms. And also a bit of hunger.
So, with that in mind, toward the food they go! Noah stops to contemplate the options really hard, in fact, hmming every couple seconds. How much can he reasonably carry without letting go of Shiemi's hand?]
I think I have to try the shrimp corndogs. [NO! YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AT ALL!] That one will be funnier if it stretches out in the red mirrors!
no subject
[Because obviously, that's what they need to worry about.
But also consider all the possibilities!
Regardless, funny shrimp corndogs being long and curly make her giggle and she's bouncing in excitement now.]
no subject
[She seems excited about this, so Noah gets one for her, too, even if the idea of shrimp corndogs is inherently fucking cursed. The Masks are all too happy to give the two their horrifying little corndogs and send them on their way.
Noah has to resist the urge to take a bite lest he lose this bet.
The HouZe of Reflection looms ominously in the distance as they approach.]
no subject
Okay! It's a date then.
[She's giggling and really does have to resist the urge to take a bite of the food they're holding.
Okay, entering the maze was simple enough, but once they're inside Shiemi does take a step closer to Noah.
Just in case.]
Okay... We have to find the right mirror first.
★ The Tower - Black Mirror :) ★
The world hums with a melody that is felt rather than heard.
looks at you.
concerning? He supposes.
The flowers feel uncannily familiar, and he doesn't give them more than a passing glance; but a specific type of white flower was always Harque's favourite, and Noah tries not to think too hard about that.
He'll push forward into the meadow, looking for signs of... well, anything else. A house, or a way back to the park, or indications that he might have somehow made it back to Elrios or even Tirnog. He'll take Tirnog. That's surely better than whatever this is!]
no subject
It's an ornate golden ring, two blue-gemmed prongs jutting off of it in a decorative manner on either side. Decently sized, perhaps just large enough to orbit a weapon?
no subject
That sure is familiar! Noah scrambles from where he absolutely fell on his face, crawling on his knees to pick up the sundial. Of course he'd recognize this; he's the one who fucking made it. This means that there's a Clamor around here somewhere.
Maybe? Ugh.
He looks for other sword parts that might be lying around while he's here. The tassel or maybe the sword itself? Or just the whole Clamor?]
no subject
A tether once cut feels whole once more in his chest, weak but definitely real. Pulling, desperately tugging and beckoning Noah to come locate the source. Somewhere to his left, deep within the dark forest of trees.
no subject
He stands, nervous hands brushing away dirt from the gold, and makes his way toward the forest. This is surely a good idea. Nothing bad has ever happened in the woods to him. Ever.]