Second Temptation ♆ Like hell [accidentally dictated]

[putuporshutup]

[Very suddenly, the muffled sounds of anguished, blood-curdling screams echo from the journals]

[Meg wakes up screaming. The thing immediately wrong with this picture is that she was sleeping in the first place. Demons don't sleep. And it takes a hell of a lot more to make her scream than a bad dream.

But this isn't just a bad dream. It's a fucking nightmare. They said this place was bad, but she had no idea. She's still screaming. She can't stop. And are those tears? What the fuck?

The chilling clarity slices through the blinding terror like a knife. She was human again. For an entire week. And her charred, blackened, jacked up soul was restored that entire time, wreaking havoc on her subconscious while she played along in some schoolgirl fantasy game. This place definitely wasn't fucking around with the metaphysical.

She's remembering nothing and everything all at once, but the week at magic school as an ambitious and mischievous vixen is taking a backseat to a vivid recollection of every foul, wicked thing she's ever done violently ricocheting around her mind. Every cut, every slice on the rack she ever gave or received. Every life she ever snuffed out for the sake of the cause. Every manipulation. Every misguided power grab.

She tries to scream for help, but the words won't form - and what help is there to be had, anyway? All that comes out is unintelligible anguish and choked sobs.

After what seems like an eternity, she manages to regain physical control and at least stops screaming bloody murder. She is still far from okay, and begins to beg and plead with the power that did this to her.]

Why? Why? WHY?! I can't... this is too much. I don't want to feel anymore. Make it stop. Just make it stop. Please. PLEASE.

[[//ooc: Feel free to take full advantage of this very rare (and temporary) emotionally vulnerable Meg. Positive and negative CR equally welcome, but this is a very rare chance to solidly get on her good side and earn some of that unshakable loyalty.]]

Comments

Meg

[unvarnished]

[okay so maybe he only knew her through the false memories he gained at Hogwarts, but there's still the fact that she's screaming and in obvious distress. August isn't sure she'll even answer, but he'll try anyway]

What happened?

August

[putuporshutup]

[The oddly familiar and kind voice startles her, but she clings to it because it's warm yet doesn't burn like every single other conscious thought.]

[Between sobs, he voice raw from the screams] The castle... it... it made me remember. It made me feel. I don't want to... I can't...

Meg

[unvarnished]

["it made me remember". That immediately makes him think of the curse in Storybrooke, and what breaking it must have done to the people there. Not that he thinks Meg was cursed in her home world, but clearly something terrible in her past is coming to the surface.

August remembers her as a friend, or at least a girl he playfully flirted with. There has to be a way he can help her]

You want to talk about it?

August

[putuporshutup]

[She shouldn't want to talk about it. She never wants to talk about it. There's never anything to talk about. But she isn't herself right now, and the offer is a distraction from the searing pain, or perhaps just another outlet for it.]

[She draws a shaky breath] Yes... no... I don't want to. But I need to. But I can't... it's awful. So much evil. Terrible... horrible things. So much pain.

Mag

[unvarnished]

Listen, I've heard a lot of terrible stories in my life. And I've been living in Paradisa for months now. You're not going to scar me with whatever you need to say.

dictated

[kungfuwitch]

Whoa, whoa! Meg, calm down. Where are you?

Dictated

[putuporshutup]

[Between strangled cries] I... can't... my room. 325.

[Muffled, indistinct] Please... stop... please...

[kungfuwitch]

I'll be right there.

[Hear that? That's the sound of a slamming door as she takes off running for Meg's room]

[putuporshutup]

[Meg opens her mouth to protest, but a weak groan is all she can manage. She didn't even know her damn journal was open and certainly didn't need the whole castle coming to check on her, but she had liked Phoebe when they first spoke and had an odd feeling she might actually be able to help somehow.]

All right. Th-thanks.

[kungfuwitch]

<>[It's only a couple of minutes before Phoebe is pounding on Meg's door]

Meg?!

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley shows a rare moment of compassion here. He knows it's hard, being turned human, but it must be even harder for Meg. She WAS human, once]

If it's any consolation, you get used to it, eventually.

[putuporshutup]

[Meg can't help screaming and gasping when the more vivid memories of torture flash through her mind, but she's sure that if anyone here can even begin to understand, it's Crowley. How ironic.]

Oh God I don't want to get used to it... I just want it to st-stop. Why is this happening?

[onlyanapple]

Because Paradisa fucks with you, that's why. You either get used to it or go loopy and live in the maze in the basement.

[putuporshutup]

[Oh that's very reassuring thanks Crowley -_-]

Great. Well, fuck off, Paradisa.

[onlyanapple]

[He is the most reassuring]

It probably won't listen to that, but you're welcome to give it a try.

/dictated for now

[bro_codebreaker]

[normally Barney would go into White Knight mode, something straight out of the Playbook, but he's still feeling a little muddled thanks to his own backwards memories. and he's never heard anyone scream like that. it makes him feel cold in a way he thought was reserved for cheesy books and movies.]

.... Meg?!

Dictated

[putuporshutup]

[Meg hears another confusingly familiar voice. The false memories are so hazy compared to the violent flashes of guilt and pain, but it's still oddly comforting.]

[Gasping for breath] Yes. Yeah. It's me.

...Barney?

[bro_codebreaker]

The one and only. What's wrong? You hurt? ... [he's not even sure Paradisa has ambulances. Oh man. there might be some panic creeping into his voice. no no no. stay calm. he's supposed to know everything, it's the Ultimate Play, the answer has to be somewhere. he starts rifling through the old journal, frantically]

[putuporshutup]

I'll - I'll be alright.

[This probably isn't very convincing given the fact that it's followed up with more painful moaning and obvious tears.]

[bro_codebreaker]

... You sound like you at least need a drink. Maybe a bottle. Maybe a couple. Maybe me minus clothes.

[that's some forced bravado edging its way into his voice, as he heads for the door]

[silentrunning]

[Chell'd heard the screams, and from the first one she was on her feet, and following. She'll arrive at Meg's door, not even sure whose door it is, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, her hair down for once. Seems someone had been caught off her guard and sleeping.

Slooowly she taps on the door.]

[putuporshutup]

[Meg turned slightly, not sure if she was hearing things or if there was someone knocking at the door. She was paralyzed for the most part, twisting with too much pain internally to fathom moving. She managed only a feeble response between sobs and screams.]

Come in, if you want.

[silentrunning]

[Chell opened the door and pattered into the room, walking over to stand next to Meg. Her eyes are full of concern. Normally she'd write since she doesn't know this person. But instead, she just speaks this time.]

What's wrong?

[putuporshutup]

[Meg looks over at her unexpected visitor, not recognizing them in the slightest but not at all ungrateful for the company. She does her best to pull it together and answer because another presence is oddly soothing and she doesn't want to scare her away.]

The short answer is post-traumatic stress. I guess this is my first dose of how badly this place can really mess with you. [She fights back a groan] What's your name?

[silentrunning]

[Chell frowns. She knows about Para's bullcrap...]

Chell.

[She answers the name question first, and then flops down either next to Meg on her bed, or on the floor beside her.]

This place can really fuck you over.