[Audio] - Backdated to the beginning of the event because I've been slow

[monochromatically]

(ooc: Hello! I am happy to say Mono saw one of your characters memories if you tag this, because I think he probably would have run into a lot and not known what to do. I just picked through a few that I think would grab his interest to start from the lists people provided. This is also a good place to have your character approach him about seeing one of his. They can even talk back and forth about each other’s memories if we want to say they both saw each other’s.)

[Mono was…

Well, he was panicking a little.

Or a lot. It was hard to tell with him sometimes, most of the time he expressed vague discomfort and an honest opinion about something he didn’t like.

Today was a little different. He’d been running messages for work when all this started, and at first it hadn’t been too bad. Confusing, yes, but not too bad… But then it started to pile up. Too many memories, too many feelings that didn’t make sense to the child. He doesn’t like it, not one bit. It’s hard enough to try to figure feelings and how things should be, without this.

And he was pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to see any of these things. This all felt like it was private. Private thoughts. Private feelings. Experiences that if he were these people? He’d want to forget they happened for the most part… The bad ones, at least.

So he’d halted his deliveries in a panic and found a place to hide until it all hopefully passed, but he had questions… Oh boy, did he have questions.]

I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t like it! Where are all these things coming from? Why’s the sky throwing other people's thoughts and feelings at me?

[The static interference is a lot stronger today. So perhaps it was easier to tell he was panicking. Mono’s emotions were not in check.]

It feels really bad to see all these things! ‘Cause I didn’t mean to look at people's thoughts, I don’t even mean just the bad stuff! [A pause and his tone gets very dark as he mumbled.] even if I’m really mad at the stuff I saw happening to my friends… I want bad stuff to happen to the person who was mean to Tommy and also that creepy guy with Illyana…

But even the nice stuff…?? Some people come from such different places, even from here and it’s… It’s all so weird and confusing?? Some people aren’t even the same as they are now, so I think they were older… Like Mr. Rhy was really small in one of the ones I saw! Like me! But not… It was really nice, like a castle in the fairy tales. [A pause,] And some of it’s not even really people?? Just feelings? Aren’t these things supposed to stay in our own heads, not in crystals?

[Another static filled pause occurs as something crosses the boy's mind…]

And I don’t want people to see where I’m from.

[Because no one should see that place.]

Comments

[Audio]

[doubled_speed]

[Ever since the rain of crystals had started and Tommy had been treated to a brief glimpse of Illyana and Belasco (who he had his own bone to pick with but that's another day), Tommy had been in action. He'd shut down the business for the day, returned fees, and done everything he could to get each one of his kid employees somewhere safe, with food as well to get them through at least the day.

Tommy was more experienced than just about anyone here at the traumas of experiencing someone else's life after all.

But damn if he hadn't had a shit ton of trouble trying to find Mono. And now, with the message, he doesn't even CARE about the implications that Mono saw some of the fucked up shit of his childhood. All he cared about was getting to the kid.]

Tell me where you are. I'll get you back to your room. I promise. Help me find you, Mono.

[monochromatically]

[That was the thing about Mono, the child was very good at hiding thanks to where he came from. Kids who did not know how to hide well didn’t tend to last long. His eyes darted to the tell-phone again as Tommy’s familiar voice came through. What he’d seen of Tommy’s memories… It made him so very angry, so upset to see someone he cared about hurt at all.]

Tommy...?

[As he answered, the static continued to come out in loud bursts across the feed.]

At the docks... Was making a delivery to one of the places there, found some crates to hide in so the stuff doesn’t fall on me anymore.

[doubled_speed]

Do what you can to mark it from the outside without getting another crystal. I'll be there. I'll find you.

[His voice is firm and strong, in ways he never was around his kids unless someone threatened one of them around him. He was, after all, a super hero.]

I promise you'll be safe.

[monochromatically]

I’m trying. I don’t want anything else in my head!

[Static crackled, obscuring the boy’s voice for a moment.]

It’s all confusing and bad... So much stuff I saw makes me so angry! Like I should do something, but I can't! If I had been there, I would have...

[doubled_speed]

Well, keep knocking the side. I'm going to be there in a second.

[Tommy didn't like the idea that Mono was angry possibly for him. So he stops thinking. He flips his collar up, sends his boyfriend a text to let him know that he might be home later, and then raced to the docks to find his friend.]

[monochromatically]

I will!

[Mono was absolutely angry for Tommy... He hated to have seen how people treated him, that people could be so cruel. Mono hadn't felt quite this upset in a long time, not since he'd been in his own world.

But he began knocking on the side of the overturned crate he was hiding in, as odd as that seemed to do. Usually when he was hiding, he tried to avoid making sound... This was different, though.]

[doubled_speed]

[Tommy doesn't respond. He's not need to because a few minutes later he's knocking back.]

Mono, kid?

[Audio]

[faithfulsupport]

[He's happy it isn't a monster even if he isn't too happy about the memories of his own and others being exposed. Six of one, half dozen of the other as the expression went he supposed.]

They are indeed supposed to stay rather private. However, if you wish to take something positive from it, it gives you a sense of compassion as to what others have gone through to become the fine people that you know now.

[It was the only positive spin he had.]

And I do share your sentiments regarding what needs to come back around.

[Ignis definitely understood revenge.]

I'm so sorry, Ignis ;;

[monochromatically]

[It's been quite a long time since Mono had been in this particular state of upset. It was rarer these days, this world (for all its strangeness) was more pleasant than his and people were so kind to him… Which is probably why some of these memories were hitting so hard, compounded with the multitude of feelings and emotions he wasn't used to and did not understand. So while on some level, the child probably understood Ignis was trying to help by pointing out the positive things to take from all this… A lot of it wasn’t connecting properly.

Mono was alone, overwhelmed and a little… Unbalanced at the moment.]

It just makes me mad! They shouldn’t have been hurt to begin with! Everyone kept telling me adults are supposed to take care of kids and protect them!! It always made me feel weird because that's not how it is where I'm from! And it's not even true! There are terrible adults everywhere!!

[Static crackled angrily across the feed, snapping and popping more loudly than usual and obscuring the child's voice somewhat.]

They should have to hurt like the ones they hurt. I’d make them hurt if I were there…

[faithfulsupport]

[He wasn't sure why the boy was so upset but obviously this was pulling strings on him that Ignis couldn't see, nor could he have known about.]

Indeed it is rather upsetting and you're quite right, no one should've been hurt like that and there are terrible adults everywhere.

[But even with acknowledging that, he wondered at the layers and depths to the boy. But he tried to be the voice of reason as he usually was.]

I completely understand and your feelings are valid, but this is their past and it can't be changed. And unfortunately the responsible parties aren't here.

[monochromatically]

[Ignis’s words were rational and logical, yes… But Mono was not in a rational, logical frame of mind. The child had already been one bad day away from becoming the biggest problem in his world, and if he had full access to his abilities here? Things might have been getting broken.]

That doesn’t make me feel better… [And he wasn’t sure how it was supposed to. The static jumped again as he tried to figure out how that was supposed to be helpful, but it only frustrated him as he tried to sort through the jumble of emotions and thoughts rolling around in his head.] There’s too much stuff in my head and feelings don’t make sense like this.

[Another low electric hum and a crackle. Unless he could get his emotions under control, this was going to be a problem for a while.]

I’m tired of having to watch friends and other kids being hurt or put in bad places! That’s all there is in my world, bad places and people that hate me and other kids. That are barely people anymore! [Admittedly, Mono was saying more than he meant to.] It made me feel weird when people acted like that wasn’t normal! But at least it seemed like maybe there were places without that stuff! But there’s not.

[faithfulsupport]

[He could relate, but Ignis had been one to shove most of his feelings aside and have to be the practical and logical one. But as he listened, he began to understand this 'child of the wind' as he'd referred to him to Nida one evening.]

Unfortunately there are rather unsavory people everywhere.

[And not everyone could be saved, though Ignis wished that were a far different thing. But then an idea or two occurred to him.]

Well, you do have some options here. We can get you some things to help you get out your aggression or we can see what we can do to help those that might be in trouble here.

[monochromatically]

[Mono fell silent for a moment. Instead of talking further on the why of his upset or about his world, the child latched onto the other things. Action seemed better than talking.]

I already try really hard to help people! But even if bad stuff happens like my world or what I saw, my power doesn’t work right here! There’s nothing that works with it.

[And while his abilities scared him a lot sometimes… He wished he could do more than run around like a scared child or stay out of people’s way when there were other things happening. Harry had offered to help the kid learn about his power, but he wasn’t even sure how to do that when he couldn’t really access them properly. All they did was mess up his tell-phone.]

I don’t think people’d like me breaking stuff just because I’m angry, though?

[It was easier in his world, that… Though, honestly, that wasn’t better. The things he’d broken there with whatever large heavy objects he could swing around had been attacking him and his friend.]

[brotherofagod]

Mono. Mono.

[His voice is calm even as a slight panic twists at his chest. He doesn't know what's happening but he knows how hard it could be on a child. It isn't fair for him to have to be opened up without his own consent.] Hey. Listen to me. It's Jacob. It'll be okay.

I don't know what's going on or if we can stop it but there are people here to protect you. I've been gathering up crystals but trying not to look at them. I might have some of yours too. They'll be out of sight once I figure out how to get rid of them. And there are others trying to help you too.

You aren't alone.

[He has seen some of Momo's memories in his efforts but he doesn't think it's best to focus on that now.]

Tell me where you are. We can find somewhere safe. You don't have to experience these emotions okay and don't feel bad for it. It isn't your fault.

[monochromatically]

[Static fizzled and popped as the kid received the message and opened the feed to respond.]

Jacob???

[Mono’s head still hurt. There was so much going on in his head right now he couldn’t really figure out how he felt. Anger was at the forefront, anger at what he’d seen happen to so many of his friends. And… Well, he’d seen what happened to Jacob when he was small too. So many of his friends had bad stuff happen when they were his age! So many of them had told him kids were supposed to be protected and kept safe, but they hadn’t been safe!

And not alone? Well, he knew that now. After all the times that he felt weird when people made it clear his world wasn’t normal. It had been scary and so very bad for them too! But it wasn’t nice to think that, it didn’t make him feel better to know that they’d gone through such bad things too.]

I don’t have to? But already am! It’s all jumbled in my head and confusing!!

[And his tone lowered slightly, the static hum getting louder.]

It makes me so angry to see what you all had happen… It’s not okay!

[But where was he? He… he could answer that.]

I’m at the docks. I was delivering letters for people. Tommy’s gonna get me and take me to the gray building, though.

[So... that was covered, he’d be there probably sooner rather than later if anyone knew how fast Tommy was.]

[brotherofagod]

Good. [He knows that Tommy is fast and is happy that Mono will soon be safe.] Listen. It's important to realize that those experiences are not your problem. You don't have to worry about them. You can care for your friends but they shouldn't make you feel bad.

I know that I've had time to deal with my own past and I'm sure others have too. They shouldn't hurt you because... [His voice softens as if he's repeating something he has told himself over and over again.] It's behind us. The only memories that can hurt us are the ones we let hurt us. You have a choice.

And that doesn't mean you have to stop caring about your friends. [He adds that addendum quickly.] You can be there for them and you can ask for help in understanding but it shouldn't hurt.

Only the present hurts.

I live in the Gray Building too. Can I come by? I don't know what I'd do without my lil Shade.

[monochromatically]

[Mono knew Jacob was being... reasonable. It was just hard for him to be calm right now, to be rational.]

None of that stuff should have happened at all! It makes me so mad because people shoulda helped! Shoulda stopped stuff! [Static hissed for a moment, and muffled the boy's voice.] I feel like if I had been there I coulda made people pay!

[He wasn't sure how but... Well, he'd taken care of the hunter, and the bad doctor...]

I'm tired of bad stuff happening to people...

[He blinked, Mono hadn't known Jacob lived in the Gray Building. Which was funny, since he tried to keep a very close watch on that to make sure no bad people showed up. But he'd been a lot more relaxed lately, maybe too relaxed...]

I... Okay, I guess... Um... Just let me know and I'll open the door for you.

[brotherofagod]

I know. I know. [His voice remains soft, intimately understanding the war happening within Mono's heart. Bad things happen and sometimes there wasn't someone there to help.] But you're going to grow and get stronger right?

We can't change what's happened but you can help people now. You can keep helping people Mono. You're a good kid.

[It's one of the reasons that Jacob likes to help people, even if his version of helping involves decorating Christmas trees with kitchen gadgets. Even a small smile is important.]

I'm out right now but I'll stop by soon. I'll bring hot chocolate. It's what made me feel good when I was a kid.

[monochromatically]

[It seemed to Mono like there was never someone there to help...

And he'd already lost his friend Six, and maybe that was the other reason why this was all hitting him so hard. Half of it was how weird he'd been feeling in the year he'd been here for being from such a different place, and people telling him adults were supposed to protect children. The other half... He had so many friends here who'd been through bad stuff, and he couldn't help them either.]

I gotta... I gotta get stronger, and better, and then I can make sure this stuff doesn't happen anymore. To anyone!

[Big dreams, that... But the kid was a little desperate to make things better, and to make bad people pay for hurting him and other kids.

Mono wasn't sure how hot chocolate would make him feel better, not with all the emotions built up in his head and the anger that wanted something to lash out at. But... He didn't want to be alone right now, and he was a little afraid that saying no would mean Jacob wouldn't visit.]

You can bring some if you want... I'm not sure how it's supposed to make stuff better, though.

voice;

[soulsword]

They are supposed to but I suppose someone it this place decided differently. [ There's no attempt at all to even hide her irritation. ]

What creepy guy did you see?

voice;

[monochromatically]

It shouldn’t be this place's choice! It should be ours!! [Because he sure wouldn’t choose to show anyone what rolled around in his head most days. He sounded as irritated as Illyana, but more emotional perhaps. Static hissed over the line more loudly than usual.] There’s more than one creepy guy???

[Yeah, he’s not liking the sound of that.]

He gave you a knife! You cut yourself!

[soulsword]

Choices are often taken from people. [ She said with quite a bit of frustration in her tone. Strangely it was far more emotion than she usually displayed. ] There are many. [ But even before he answered her she had a very bad feeling about who he meant.

There was silence on her end for a few seconds. ]

Belasco.

[monochromatically]

Yeah and it’s stupid… [He was so tired of there being so little control in life, that it seemed to be a continued constant in new and unpleasant ways. So he shared in her frustration there, the static fizzling over the feed as he listened.] Sometimes your world does sound a lot like mine…

[A name…]

Why’d this Belasco guy do all that?

[soulsword]

If your world really is like Limbo then I am sorry. [ Because honestly Limbo was the worst. ]

Power. Though later he claimed a different reason.

[monochromatically]

You didn’t make it that way, so I dunno why you’d be sorry. [He hummed a little over the distorted feed.] A lot of it reminded me of some stuff- except the pretty area you made. That was nicer.

Power? People do stupid stuff for that… [But people were like that, he knew.] What was the other reason?