riverviewlogs | ( open ) memory share + catch all

Entry tags:

( open ) memory share + catch all

who: Genji Shimada + you!
what: Memory Share Event and general October catch all
when: October
where: All throughout Quarantine
warnings: violence, attempted murder, blood, gore, mental health issues

THAT NIGHT — FIRST PERSON

[ The memory start with Genji entering a dojo with an elaborate painting above the scroll on the wall. By his slow and casual pace, one can tell he doesn't appear to have a care in the world in the moment. By the gauntlets seen on his arms, he's dressed in his formal gi and he scratches some dirt off the emblem on one of them as he apparently waits.

Genji is looking at the scroll when there are heavy, deliberate foot steps behind him. He doesn't turn around before he speaks. ] Why call me out here in the middle of the night, brother? I thought we were finished settling all of Father's—

[ There's an audible metallic sound suddenly before there's a dull, wet thud and Genji chokes. He stumbles and his vision shifts to look down to see... blood. Blood dripping from his shoulder, blood obviously falling from his mouth. He sputters and whirls around to see his older brother, Hanzo, holding his blade now glistening with red. ] Brother, what— What the hell?! What are you—

[ They talk, but at this point, the words said don't mean much to the Genji of now. The wide, blood shot eyes of his brother slashing at him is all he really remembers. He's furious and pained and his jaw is clenched so tight it's a wonder his teeth don't crack.

Genji, at some point, pulls out his own blade to defend himself but his wounds are too much. The brothers eventually make it out to the balcony on the side of the dojo, the moonlight reflecting off the smear of Genji's blood all across the floor. Genji can barely speak, blood and tears and spit clogging his throat but he manages— ] Brother... brother why...!

[ Genji's hand reaches out to him. There are tears, so many tears streaming down Hanzo's face that he won't remember for almost a decade but all he says is: "You disrespect the clan and you must be dealt with to retain order. This is my duty. We could have built an empire together."

And in an instant there's a flash of blue light, the sight of two dragons surging towards him and Genji is falling— Falling, falling, falling and smashing against the rocks of the cliff as he does so. He lands with a wet thud, his hand reaching up to the sky. He tries to speak, but it's a gurgle... his lower jaw is entirely ripped to shreds now. There are burns and open wounds all on his hand.

The vision blackens for a moment, until there's the sound of a chopper. Boots on the ground. There's a voice that some people around the Quarantine might recognize calling for evac.

Genji is eventually picked up and placed on a gourney. His arm stays where it lay.

The vision blackens. Only an overwhelming bright light is noticeable, as a muffled voice says: "We have to keep him sedated. When he's awake all he does is scream." ]

BLACKWATCH — THIRD PERSON

[ Genji's time in Overwatch's covert ops division sometimes blur together. His initial body is a stark contrast to the Genji of now. He's silent and violent, lots of memories of assassinations and hunting down his former clan.

Some flashes of him just staring at a wall in a medical room, eventually starting to just slam his head into it over and over and over so he can feel something. Dr. Zielger or Reyes finding him and talking him down.

Some lighthearded. Hanging out with McCree, the few times he tried to go to Overwatch functions, training with Lena. Even posing for a picture.

He leaves when dismantling the clan is done, after the embarrassing final fight with Doomfist. He and Reyes fight. It isn't pretty. He leaves without saying goodbye to anyone. ]

FALL — FIRST PERSON

[ His face is covered by a cloak and he peels it away as he comes across breaking news on his phone. Headline: Overwatch Swiss Headquarters Explodes. Morrison and Reyes dead—

Genji drops his phone. His vision blurs with tears, he blinks them away. A pause. A croak. He yells and slams his fist into a nearby wall. And keeps yelling. ]

WE WALK IN HARMONY — THIRD PERSON

[ It's snowing and Genji is staggering along in the freezing temperatures. His joints are locking up from the ice and his lights are flickering as he does so. It's obvious he doesn't care anymore, ready to be done once and for all... he slumps to his knees, then falls over face first into the snow covered ground.

A glowing orb suddenly appears over him. A figure emerges from the snow, covered by a cloak before reaching his prone body. The cloak falls and it's an Omnic monk of the Shambali. He leans down and puts a hand on Genji's back. ]

It looks like you need some help, traveler.

DRAGONS — THIRD PERSON

[ Genji confronting his brother again in the same place he was 'murdered' is an entirely different experience. He had his blade at Hanzo's throat and he could have killed him, gotten his revenge, but he chooses mercy. Genji Shimada has come full circle. ]

Think on that, brother.

( Feel free to have your character react to these like they just dreamed it, or be in the dreamscape with Genji while experiencing it! I can make specific starters for specific characters/memories as well, just hit me up on PM or at

bonethief! )

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[ Her knees are cut up and likely her legs are, too, but she's tucked them beneath her as she rest of her is curled up. Her shoulders shake with each deep, erratic breath she draws in and it's not until she feels his hand on her shoulder that she looks up at him, with tears still streaming down her face. ]

I saw— what happened.

[ Her one hand is still grasping at the wrist of the other, as though trying to curb that burning sensation. ]

I don't know how or why but I saw it— I saw your brother killing you.

[ He tries to brush away more of the glass to be picked up later and almost moves like he's about to go fetch the first aid kit when—

Genji's heart plummets to the floor as he looks at her tear stained cheeks. That's not... possible? And yet, from what he's been seeing himself—

And then for a hot flash of a second he's furious, furious at whoever would do this who would force her to see such a thing that she didn't need to see. Something in the past that should stay there. But the anger leaves as quick as it comes and his heart just aches with a fierce twist. Genji's voice is hoarser than usual when he speaks. ] Oh, Hana... Hana, I'm so sorry.

[ He brings his hands up to cup her damp cheeks, wiping her tears with his thumbs. ] But I'm not dead, I'm right here. [ He attempts a smile but he just frowns, closing his eyes. ] Of all the things for you to see...

[ She has known since that afternoon they spent dyeing each other's hair, that the story of Genji Shimada and his family does not have a happy ending. She's known that he didn't particularly fit into the mold of what they'd wanted him to be, and that one way or another, a fallout had permanently forced him out of the clan and then into the cybernetic body he now has. That he helped Overwatch take them down.

But what she didn't know— ]

He tried to kill you, [ she repeats it, emphasizing the killing part like she has to remind Genji of how awful that is. ] His very own brother.

[ Hana doesn't have any siblings, but if she did - nothing in the world could ever make her kill them, she thinks. Family is too precious to lose in a world like the one where they came from. It's that thought that brings her to tears and keeps upsetting her, along with the surge of emotions that she'd experienced secondhand from Genji. ]

Why didn't you tell me, Genji?

He did. [ He says it simply, evenly. ] And I'm reminded of it every time I look in the mirror.

[ But he shakes his head and moves his hands, brushing some of her hair out of her face. ] But I can't let the worst moment of my life define me either. You saw the end, and not the beginning and the middle.

[ All the stress, the obligations, the subtle manipulations by the clan elders. His brother had been crafted into a weapon not allowed to think for himself, and the clan had used him to carry out their dirty work. He understands that now.

But he doesn't expect everyone else to understand that either. ] And because I have forgiven him.

[ Hana isn't as good of a person as Genji, she thinks. If that happened to her... forgiveness would never be in the cards.

And somehow, that makes her cry, too, moved to tears because of how compassionate and kind Genji is. She knows he was a different person in his past, and not quite so compassionate and kind, but she treasures who he is now so much that she can only regret how the path he'd taken to get to where he is now had been so bloody and painful. She wishes she'd known him before. Maybe they could have met while he was traveling.

Regardless, she hopes that if they ever do get to go home, that she remembers him and how important he's become to her.

Her lips draw into a thin line - no, she still doesn't understand how things got to the point where Genji's brother committed fratricide, but if Genji is at peace with it, she should try to be, too. For now, though, the emotions are too raw and still too painful, almost like she'd lived through everything herself, so she just leans in and rests her forehead against Genji's shoulder, shoulders still shaking with each sob and sniffle. ]

I'm sorry. What happened to you was so awful. It hurts. I saw it and felt it almost like I was in your place...

[ He just holds her when she leans in, letting out a breath as he does so. ] Whatever is causing this is cruel for making you experience that. It was for me and me alone to deal with, not anybody else. [ Genji gives her a gentle squeeze. ] I'm so sorry.

[ He pats her on the back gently. ] I can explain things if it would help you understand and deal with it. But first, let me get some bandages on those cuts on your knees. Is that okay?

[ She nods quietly against his shoulder. As time passes since that final flash she's slowly beginning to feel the pain of her current injuries - not the phantom ones she had experienced through Genji's memory. She can feel her knees wet and she's sure that not all of that is from the water that had spilled on the floor when she dropped and broke the glass. ]

Okay. I'm sorry I broke the glass, Genji.

[ He shakes his head. ] That, of all things, is the least important. Don't worry.

[ Genji pats the top of her head gently, looking down at her. ] Let's get to the couch. Do you think you can stand? Or would you like me to assist you?

[ He doesn't want to overwhelm her as she comes down from all of that. Take it easy and slow. ]

I can do it.

[ Or she thinks she can, at least. Because as she pulls away and rests a hand against the shoulder she'd just been leaning on to brace herself and tries to stand up -

her legs give, knees going weak from the pain, and she falls almost as soon as she tries. ]

[ He catches her before she can fall back onto the remaining glass, scooping her up against his chest. ] Apologies. Here, let me help.

[ With that, he gets up with ease and carries her over to their couch. Placing her down gently and offering her a pillow after he does so, he gets a better look at the cuts on her knees. ] I'll go grab the first aid kit and some tweezers just in case. Sit tight.

[ Then with all the speed of a cyborg ninja he rushes off to do just that. ]

[ She shoots him an apologetic look as he carries her to the couch, and wishes once again that she wasn't so damn weak. Never mind the fact that what she'd just experienced was completely out of the usual realm of possibility; this is the second time that Genji has had to tend to her injuries, too.

When he goes off to get the kit, she just sort of sinks further into the couch, hugging the pillow that was given to her tightly, almost hiding behind it by burying her face into it. ]

[ Genji is only thinking about how rare it is to have an anger bubbling inside him with no place for it to go. He's frustrated that this kind of thing even happened and he doesn't know who or what even did it... it's too cruel, isn't it? His past was always just for him and his brother to deal with, not be beamed directly into his dear friend's brain on a whim.

He takes a calming breath as he picks up the first aid kit and the tweezers, closing his eyes for a second. After that, he rushes back to Hana's side and kneels down on the floor next to the couch.

Genji looks at her knees and gingerly plucks out a bit of glass with steady hands. He flicks open the kit with his free hand and bring up a bit of gauze to wipe at her wounds. He finally speaks after a moment. ]

If you need to ask questions to process it, I don't mind.

[ She moves the pillow down slightly when he returns, only just enough so that her eyes are peeking over at him. Her eyes trail over Genji's face, from his hair to his eyes to the scars on his face - she'd felt what it was like to get those wounds, earlier, but Genji... Genji has to live with those reminders every day of his life. In the end there's only one word to encompass all of the questions she has:]

Why?

[ Why did his brother try to kill him? Why did it have to happen? Why his brother? Just... why? ]

[ Genji sighs, a deep and hollow sort of sound coming straight from the bottom of his lungs. ] There isn't an easy answer. [ He starts to clean her wounds, gingerly wiping up the spots of blood across her knees. ]

The clan, my family— was very traditional. There were plenty of rules and responsibilities put upon us from birth. Elders helped run it alongside our parents. My brother was to be next heir, and was raised as such...

[ He pauses his story as he picks up some band-aids. (Pink, with rabbits on them of course.) ] I started to resent it and wanted nothing to do with it. I wanted the glamour of being part of the family, but none of the responsibility. I acted out and did many things I am not proud of.

[ He puts the bandage over a cut, leaving his hand there. ] I was always a liability to the clan. When our father died... something in my brother snapped. He was ordered to get rid of me for disobeying... and you saw what happened.

[ It's hard to hear what Genji's saying. Not because she can't hear, but the words are hard to take in, hard to process. It's difficult even imagining a Genji whom people wanted dead - but she'd seen now, with her very own two eyes, how such was the case.

Hana's family life was mundane. She had her parents, they were supportive of their only child when she wanted to pursue gaming as a career, and continued to be so when it landed her on the frontlines of their war. She can't imagine a family with as much in play as Genji's family seemed to. ]

Were you and your brother close...?

We were, when we were younger. [ He goes back to tending to her wounds, peeling open another bandage as he talks. ] That picture I have? That was sort of the last moment things were sort of 'normal' between us.

[ Genji places it over the last wound that needs it, gathering up the wrappings to throw away. ] We both sort of pulled away from each other for a while. It's one of the things I still have some regret over.

[ A painful look flashes over his face and he closes his eyes. ] And I didn't handle our mother dying well. I inadvertently made his responsibilities even more strenuous.

[ She nods, remembering the picture - it was the same one that gave her the idea for them to dye their hair together, after all. Hana looks down at her knees, now properly taken care of and covered in pink rabbit band-aids thanks to Genji. She is so immeasurably grateful for having him around that it almost makes her cry again - someone like Genji was so hard to come by, at home in a world like the one they'd come from. And yet they both wound up here, somehow, and met. She is so moved that he would talk about these things with her, even though they were painful and even though it's almost been forced upon them by the strange phenomenon happening now. ]

I'm sorry, Genji. I wish I didn't have to make you remember all of that again.

[ He shakes his head. ] You don't need to apologize, Hana. I came to terms with my past a long time ago. And what's happening isn't your fault.

[ He's so very thankful for her as well, so happy to find such a good friend here. It always aches a little at the thought that one day they might have to return home... and he might not even remember her. He hopes they will find each other again.

He rubs at a scar on his face. ] I know I didn't tell you all this when I spoke of my past before. It wasn't because I don't trust you or anything like that, I— [ He huffs and gives a slightly sad little smile. ] I just didn't want to make you cry.

[That pulls a small, bittersweet smile from her. She wishes she hadn't cried. That she wasn't so... weak. Hana barely ever let herself cry in front anyone. It's entirely like that the only people who have ever seen her cry are her parents - and that most if happened when she was a baby and couldn't do anything but cry. ]

No, I understand. I didn't think that... [ that she thought he couldn't trust her, she means. ]

I didn't mean to cry. It's just—

[ It was all so sudden, and all so shocking, there really couldn't be any other emotional response to it. ]

Thank you, Genji.

[ He shakes his head a little. ] There's nothing wrong with crying. [ Genji tosses the wrappings into the garbage and moves to sit next to her on the couch.

Then gives a smile, it crinkling the beginnings of crows feet around his eyes even more. ] You're welcome. I'm glad your cuts aren't that severe as well.

[ He pauses and shifts, leaning his arm on the back of the couch. ] I wish I had been the one to tell you but— I honestly do not mind. The only people that ever really knew were my superiors in Overwatch... I wasn't in any place to speak of it back then, obviously.

If I were in your place, I'd never want to talk about it ever again...

[ Hana is running out of words to say. None of this changes how she sees Genji, but it does make her appreciate who he is now so much more. That he's alive and at peace with what he's become and so kind and caring.... He's the strongest person she knows.

Carefully, she lifts her arms to wrap them around him in a hug. ]

Overwatch... saved your life, didn't they?

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( open ) memory share + catch all

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