Mask Or Menace - IC Contact Post

[helpdesk_hero]

This is David Alleyne, I'm not available at the moment.
Please leave your name, contact information, and what this is regarding after the beep.

Comments

[helpdesk_hero]

I may not be super strong, or have active powers, but I'm a lot more dangerous than people give me credit for.
In a straight fight, I can probably take him. Hell, if he has a gun I can take him.

[made_up_names]

hes more dangerous than you give him credit for too
i had trouble and i do have pretty great superpowers

[helpdesk_hero]

And his illusions didn't grab me. My systems are used to seeing through illusions. I admit there was a bit more of an emotional aspect than I was fully prepared for, but it was easier to tell what was real and what wasn't.
He seemed freaked when I found him the first time he tried to leave a holoBeck behind.

[made_up_names]

its the emotional aspect thats the worst
when he taps into your brain directly

[ Also, did you just call him the holoBeck. That's amazing. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Yeah, David... hadn't really appreciated seeing Belasco.]

That demon I told you about? He conjured the image of it. Would have been more of a thing if I didn't dream it most nights.

[made_up_names]

[ Oh. Oh god. Peter pales a bit, his mouth dry. ]

does that REALLY make it easier?

[helpdesk_hero]

That and the fact that there is no pain he can simulate that compares to what was done to me. And I've learned to remind myself that Belasco can't get me anymore.

[And honestly? He doesn't know that he'll be able to sleep tonight.]

[made_up_names]

its still
he made me think i was dissolving again, and he cant simulate all of it, but im still not gonna sleep tonight.

[helpdesk_hero]

I had an advantage, Peter. My glasses could tell me there was nothing TO Belasco.
But I'm sorry you had to live through that.
Guess we're insomnia buddies tonight.

[made_up_names]

yeah
thats kind of what i meant
you sure answered this text even though its late

[helpdesk_hero]

I know if I go to sleep I'm going to deal with a lot of the worst sorts of dreams.

[made_up_names]

right
and maybe if you stay up long enough youll be too tired to dream

[helpdesk_hero]

If only that was how it ever worked for me.
My mutation changed how I remember things, Peter. My past? It's unfortunately flawless.

[made_up_names]

david ...

[helpdesk_hero]

I'm not your concern tonight, Peter. You need to think about yourself.

[made_up_names]

i can do both.

[helpdesk_hero]

Yeah. I suppose I can too.
I do apologize for not asking you before I got involved. There are just some things I don't stand for.

[made_up_names]

what he was doing?

[helpdesk_hero]

There are types of mental and emotional manipulation I can't... He was using you, Peter. I can't accept that. I've had that sort of thing ruin my life and those of others I care about. I couldn't stand by this time.

[made_up_names]

i had it under control.

[ He absolutely did not. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

Peter, do you really believe that?

[made_up_names]

i
okay, it wasnt perfect
but im pretty sure i was keeping him stable and now im not sure what going to happen.

[helpdesk_hero]

Men like that, Peter, they don't stop using you. You fall deeper and deeper into their clutches. You believe in them because they seem to believe in you. See the best in you, make you feel important and like you can help them achieve what they need to.

They paint this picture of how it will be better. This little thing that went wrong? Just a stepping stone. Then they use it against you. You have to do this, or it could get other people hurt. You need to be that or it could get other people in trouble. And you're the only one that can do this thing.

They use you up and you don't realize until you're too deep and it's too late and you see the monster only when it nearly kills you. If you ever do.

[made_up_names]

[ Peter is incredibly glad that David can't see his face right now; he's hit the nail on the head. It's incredibly difficult seeing his situation just laid out in text like that.

It takes a long time for his response to come back. ]

i got out, at least.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Was it Peter's situation, or something about David's past? Yes. The answer is just yes.]

I'm sorry. My intention was to tell him to back off and let you do your own thing. To stop clutching at you so tightly. And things sort of got out of hand.