[OPEN] The world is spinning endlessly

[spaghettification]

Who: Siebren and friends
What: October Shenanigans
When:...October? Possibly also November
Where: Siebren's home, the
Warning(s): Potential cannibalism mentions, unreality, mental unwellness, memory manipulation (self-inflicted), more in comment titles

1. This is the sound of energy [Gala Aftermath]
You can't believe how easy it is. You just have to go... a little crazy. And then, suddenly, it all makes sense, and everything you do turns to gold.
He calls into work the morning after the gala. And a couple more days beyond that. In that time, he is
metamorphosing
assimilating
unpacking
digesting everything that occurred that night. He stays at home, alone, trying to avoid everyone and everything.

much. It's too
The fragments of past that he's avoided for their sharpness rotate in him mind, turning their points toward him, crystal shards of time that threaten him. And yet, some part of him reaches out with Pandoran curiosity, like Sleeping Beauty toward the spindle. What he pricks isn't a finger, but he feels the pain just as instantly. And yet, and yet...

too much. It's
There it is, the multiple choice past solidifying in fractals, like frost spidering across a windowpane. Siebren has no way of knowing whether this is a correct past, but it is now his, memories feeling more stable than they have in years. Some things are lost, others are fake, but the end result is more real than anything he's been able to grasp before.

For three days, anyone approaching Siebren's home for any reason may hear, even from outside the building, the sounds of someone having a Bad Time™, with pained screams or furniture being thrown against walls as his gravitational powers pulse and fluctuate. For three days, he struggles.

And then, there is silence.


Traveling through the galaxy [The Library; CW vertigo]
Siebren returns to work. Nothing is wrong. He is fine. Can't you see how fine he is?

Somewhere, a book falls off a table and he flinches. And then, to anyone within a certain distance of him, the floor seems to fall away, in a dizzying cloud of galactic light, just for a moment, before he regains control, glancing around to see if anyone noticed.


Into eternity [Stargazing Night]
A notice goes up on the bulletin board, and letters are issued to penpals with explicit invitations: Crane's Ridge, 9pm on a given night. Bring snacks, drinks, something to sit on. Siebren will have his telescope and star charts.

He's brought some cheese and crackers and apple butter himself, as well, and is floating beside his big brass telescope, dressed in a comfortable sweater. For the moment, he is completely at ease. For the moment, nothing could possibly bother him.

Right?


A One Note Symphony [Wildcard]
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Comments

[spaghettification]

"Dr. West or Dr. Coldwood might, or perhaps someone at the Temple? I don't know for sure. I'm a little scared of asking."

Siebren frowns. "If you do research, it's a member of the Court of Fools, once led by Mendel, that has had this lingering effect on me. And the vertigo isn't the only thing I got from her."

[not_a_traitor]

"I can ask Dr. West," says Gaeta. "We're on good terms, and I can't think of anyone more knowledgeable about demonic lore than him. He'll know where to point me for information on the Court of Fools."

He hesitates, then asks, "There's more you gained from her?"

[spaghettification]

"Her primary domain was manipulation of memories." He doesn't yet know how to feel about that fact. But it was the larger problem while he was out sick.

[not_a_traitor]

"Oh."

And even more than the vertigo did, that admission freezes Gaeta's expression. In his head: the Eight, whispering sweetly, You didn't see them? I'm sure you'll see them tomorrow --

He shakes it off, though he's paler than he was a second ago, and unable to speak right away.

[spaghettification]

"I will not direct it at you, Gaeta. I've been tormenting myself the past few days, but I'm not going to touch anyone's mind like that haphazardly."

He hopes he can keep that promise.

[not_a_traitor]

And that yanks him fully back to himself. Siebren's spent the last few days unable to function, yet Gaeta is scared? He pinches the bridge of his nose, like that will forcibly press his composure back in place.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I..." He makes himself say it aloud. "I believe you."

He believes Siebren will do his best, anyway.

"I know you don't want to weaponize any of this."

[spaghettification]

"Not against anyone I care about."

That...isn't quite the same thing. Is it?

"I have been made a weapon by others far too often."

[not_a_traitor]

Not quite. But understandable; expected, even.

And then -- well. Gaeta sighs as the conversation winds back toward what he hoped to tell Siebren all along. No time like the present, he supposes, even if the present isn't ideal. (Is it ever ideal?)

"I know," he says, quietly. "I met Dr. O'Deorain at the Visitor's Center."

[spaghettification]

He is not surprised to hear Moira was here. His reaction is wholly to Gaeta having met her.

"I'm sorry. In a kinder world, you would never have made her acquaintance."

[not_a_traitor]

Gaeta can't help it: he huffs out a darkly amused noise that isn't quite a laugh.

"There are a whole frakking lot of other things that never would've happened, too, if we were in a kinder world. All we did was talk. I've dealt with worse. I'm more concerned about what she did to you."

[spaghettification]

"Because now you know about that." Siebren lets out a shaky breath. "I suppose saying 'I'm fine' has the sound of a lie. Which is is, yes. But it's not something I know how to discuss. I don't want to be pitied."

[not_a_traitor]

"Then I won't," says Gaeta, matter-of-fact. "Concern isn't the same as pity, Siebren. You don't have to talk about it, but..."

He spreads one hand, only a touch helplessly.

"If you ever do, I'll listen."