There's a cold red light

[hellshot]

who: Reaper (Gabriel Reyes) - [Open]
what: Memoryshare + Halloween Stuff
when: Throughout October
where: In Reaper's apartment for one, In Dreams for the others.
warnings:



side a - Spooky Scary

[It's not as if Reaper had expected an alien planet to celebrate a holiday such as Halloween. Back where he was from, it was a big enough holiday with plenty of reasons to look forward to it--but as this month began on the shitty little planet far from home... He was pretty irate to learn that the 'Celebration' this time around was circled around Dying. As if he needed another dozen reminders that he still existed on a plane where his body couldn't decide if it wanted to be living or dead--but to have fucking ghosts floating around the place like it was common...

He needed something to clear his head.
So even if Halloween didn't exist in Riverview? Who said he couldn't celebrate it on his own anyhow. Anyone sharing an apartment complex with the undead man would find his own corner of the room scattered with textiles and rough sketches--a table set up in the corner with a sewing machine and everything to go along with it.

Hell, if you're lucky enough--roommate or even just one of his very few acquaintances--to pay him a visit during odd hours in the day, you'll find the mask-wearing man... putting something together. And for a guy who looks like he's dressed for Halloween every day of the year, this outfit he's sewing together seems to be even more over the top than usual.]

side b - Too Edgy for Halloween (Memoryshare 1)

[It's a pretty odd perspective, seeing from the eyes of someone else when you should be dreaming things from your own life. Even odder when said eyes seem to be looking out from the oddest kind of mask--the inside of what SEEMS to be a ...Pumpkin. Yeah, seriously. Bear with it for a moment, however, as a pair of hands are raised easily to pull it off--apparently only to continue what seemed to be some sort of argument.
One of the voices may be easy to recognise, what with its tinny, almost robotic tinge. An accent--Japanese--is easy to pick out as well, but the tone... is far divorced from what you might recognise it as.

"I do not want to go to any such party with you, Commander."

The title of respect is said with nearly a hint of sarcasm--a direct line of disobedience with someone higher authority than him. And that's when he'll come into the picture. Red-eyed, dark haired; this man is clearly a Cyborg, Genji Shimada, to be exact, but something is more than a little off about him.

"McCree's going to be there. Ana and Jack, too. Ain't no reason to go avoiding it just because you're in a foul mood for the sixth time this week, Shimada."

The reply is in a voice that's recogniseable Enough as the man who calls himself 'Reaper', but the tone is less rasped, far less tired, and almost... amicable in how it sounds.

"It is not a 'bad mood' choosing my actions. Do not accuse me of something so childish."

A laugh rumbles out of Reyes' throat. "Hard not to accuse when you're the one actin' like a kid with no friends."

Apparently that response was enough to make the Shimada brother growl with an irate sound of frustration, and slam the door to his quarters in his 'Commander's' face.

Well.

Can't say he didn't try, right.]

side 3 - Shrug Emoji.png (Memoryshare 2)

[The first thing greeting you in this particular dream is more than a dozen computer screens. Each lit up with a different angle of what one MIGHT recognise as London on Earth--except it's being absolutely lit up. Machines of varying sizes bare over the town as the rattle of guns and explosions sound over the speakers, and it'll become clear that this isn't some sort of well-CGI'd movie.

Especially not when someone to the apparent dreamer's left speaks up.

"What's McCree doing in London, Gabriel?"

A woman's voice, stern, to the point. One might expect a clear and concise reply, but instead, an almost sly remark is given in response.

"Looks like He's investigating the situation from the ground."

Once again, you find yourself in the dream belonging to the man who calls himself 'Reaper' in Riverview... apparently at a time before he'd met his apparent end. The conversation between Reaper, the stern-looking woman and a greying, tired looking man continues. It contains a bit of war jargon that one might not fully understand, but it all comes to an end when the tired looking blonde gets some sort of message. A grim statement that is apparently all Gabriel needs to hear.

"Prime Minister's not Budging. We're still not authorized to operate in England."

There's an exasperated sigh from the woman, and that's when Gabriel rises from his seat, an almost uncharacteristic laugh escaping his throat.

"Sounds like the Prime Minister has it alllllll under control."

As he's heading for the door, a snide remark is easily heard just before he exits: "Ever the Hero, Gabriel."

An easy turn, a wide smile, and an even wider shrug is given from the man who now calls himself Reaper.

"I'm not the one with the statue."]

Comments

a

[inebriety]

[Tony didn't pay a lot of attention to his roommates unless they were Thor or Steve, but there was no way he could miss Reaper's presence. But Tony failed to connect the corner Reaper had claimed for his sewing machine and the man himself. At first he only takes note of its existence, but as time goes by and it becomes apparent that there's an outfit of some sort being created and he decides to poke around while no one's there.

He flicks through all the sketches, holds up the half-finished robe to examine, but it's the pumpkin head that catches his attention. Tony sticks it over his head and decides to take selfies of himself. He isn't some super soldier with superior hearing and the sound is muffled somewhat through the pumpkin head so he's not exactly aware if anyone's approaching.]

oh my god tony

[hellshot]

[First Thor, and now Iron Man. Having to deal with certain Avengers as roommates isn't hard when most of them leave the corpse-like man to his own devices, but...

He supposed he should have figured talking to the man would be something he'd have to do eventually, but catching him poking around his (admittedly festive, and messy) corner was something of a ...

Well.

He doesn't actually have the words for it, as he stands there, watching Tony taking selfies in his pumpkin helmet. Lifting a cup of coffee to his lips--a face that's seen better days, what with the black smoke leaking out of open wounds in his face and his eyes glowing red like some sort of demon from hell--he takes a long, audible sip out of it before clearing his throat.

Excuse me.]

he has no regrets....

[inebriety]

[Tony stills and turns to face Reaper, but there's no embarrassment at being caught. He even waves at the other man.]

Hello.

[The pumpkin head stays firmly on his head.]

This is fantastic, isn't it?

im proud of you tony

[hellshot]

[...Cheerful, aren't you. If he were anything like the man he used to be eight months before he was jettisoned into space, he might snatch the thing off Tony's head, but...]

Kind of loses the effect when you wear it without the rest of the outfit.

More like a scarecrow that needs to be hung up outside.

[It's not... reallllly a threat, right.]

he's a fan of your work already

[inebriety]

[His not a threat is treated more like a suggestion and Tony takes that as his cue to pick up the half-finished outfit and hold it up.]

I've never actually worn something made by an amateur before... but first time for everything, right?

[He holds it against himself and is delighted to find that the creator had someone of his height in mind even if it is wider to accommodate someone with more bulk than him. He starts to undo the buttons on his shirt so he can try the whole thing on. It's a lot harder than he thought it would be with a giant pumpkin mask on his head.]

at least someone is

[hellshot]

[...........................Are you seriously putting on his--

There's a flare of something like irritation in his chest as Tony starts to half-assedly change into the colourful outfit he'd been working on. And then being called an Amateur? That was too far.

While the other wrestles with his buttons, Reaper's going to walk up and PLUCK that pumpkin head right off him.]

If you're tryin' to challenge my pride here, you're doin' a damn good job.

Callin' a man's work Amateur and then fittin' it on...

You're askin' to be pitched out the window.

[Yeah, a real stab at his pride. Surprise, it was his outfit you're insulting Sir!!!]

[inebriety]

[Tony finds himself blinking rapidly to adjust to the light again after having the pumpkin over his head for so long. He then runs a hand through his hair so it goes from being messy to artfully ruffled.]

You don't do this for a living. You're an amateur.

[He isn't embarrassed at all by any of this. It's not like he was trying to insult the guy by calling him an amateur. It's an observation and it's not like he was wrong.

On the other hand, this does distract Tony and he puts the costume down for now. Small steps?]

b

[smokedout]

[Well... that's a shock. He immediately recognizes Reaper's voice, and Genji's... takes only a second or two longer to piece together. Not only that, he calls him by name... Shimada. It's definitely him.

When Dodger wakes up he grabs his phone to write down notes. McCree. Jack. Ana. Genji Shimada. Overwatch. And... Reaper being happy, that's something that he ends up stuck on. It's sort of sad, how little of that he gets to see even now that he's been backing away from him.

After taking a while to properly wake up and get ready for the day, he texts Reaper.]

is genji shimada someone you'd care about if he went missing?

[...And after some hesitation he adds:]

that isn't a threat. i just figured i'd ask since he was a friend back home.

[hellshot]

[Yeah good thing you cleared THAT up buddy, because a paranoid terrorist would 100% take that first bit as a threat and would have no problem meeting it with a counter-threat of his own.

Reading that second bit, however, he seems to contemplate his response with varying degrees of irritation.]

Has he been talking about me behind my back? Know the Shimada kid has gotten chatty in his old age, but wouldn't think he'd have turned senile enough to go spouting off things like us being 'friends'.

[smokedout]

[Right... Reaper wouldn't know about whatever prophetic drug trip he just had. But the information in it is apparently accurate, and he doesn't expect Reaper to admit easily to being friends with people.]

wouldn't know about that. he and i don't see eye to eye real well.

which is why i'm asking. if something happens to him, are you gonna be upset?

[hellshot]

[Not unless Dodger wanted to tell him what sort of dream he just had. Until then, he's just going to assume someone has told him about the nature of his relationship with Genji.]

Have anything to do with you being a troublemaking punk and him doing his 'job' in coming to the rescue?

[Genji was the type, after all. To swoop in and fell whomever was causing a ruckus. That aside...]

Then you are threatening him. Don't waste my time on making one statement only to contradict it.
If you don't see eye to eye, then try keeping away from him. It'll do wonders to not piss me off.

[While HE wouldn't go swooping in to Genji's rescue unless the cyborg ninja was in like... mortal danger or something, he'd rather not hear tell of someone hospitalizing the guy on a petty disagreement of any nonsensical sort.]

[smokedout]

i do more than just get under people's skin, you know.
shimada's the one that started it.

[Because Reaper has every reason to believe that, with Dodger's track record against Genji's. But in Dodger's mind, Genji actually did absolute start it. By.. doing nice things for Dodger's boyfriend.]

look let me rephrase then. i'm not threatening YOU.
him on the other hand, i wouldn't mind building some new and inventive torture mechanism for.
if you care about him, though, i'll keep his injuries to a minimum.

wouldn't mind hearing about him back before overwatch went to shit, but you hate talking about the past, right?

[hellshot]

['Hate' talking about the past is an understatement. Thinking about his past life, who he was, what he had and what he's lost for all the good he'd done... it's like willingly giving yourself heartburn whenever someone felt like they wanted some sort of backstory on him.

Pass.

Absolutely pass.]

You know what kind of a person Shimada is? Not telling you any grand stories of his past, but he's just that.
A Shimada.

Don't know what sort of shit you think you've got planned...

But if you think you're going to be able to have a leg up over him without sustaining any sort of injury...

You're an even bigger fool than I thought.

b

[mysophobic]

[ Ah. He recognizes Genji immediately, even if his appearance is different from how he is now, but there's no way he'd ever not recognize his voice. Shigeru watches with a small smile as the dream plays out. But he'll walk up to Reaper afterwards. ]

You really were his commander. [ It's not said as a question but more of a statement. ] And you really do like Halloween a lot! [ In the dreamscape Shigeru can talk and laugh just anyone else so he does. ]

You seemed really happy back then. [ There's an obvious pause as if he wants to ask 'what happened' but he doesn't, at least not yet. Instead he looks back at the two varying Reyes' now. The change so drastic it's a bit...saddening to see. ]

Genji told me you were his commander. But now I can see why he looked up to you and really missed you.

'v'

[hellshot]

[It's... Jarring, to have another voice in his own dream. Reaper doesn't often sleep, but when he does, it's very often plagued by dreams. Likely due to his brain activity being constantly abuzz with those nanomachines that are keeping him alive.

Either way, when he recognises the voice as Shigeru's, he takes a moment to try to figure out if it's just... part of the dream, or if it's really the other. Hearing him actually speak was a bit strange after all. But when the other doesn't continue speaking, he'll at least acknowledge that the other is there.

....Making statements about things he'd rather the other hadn't seen. So of course, he's going to cross his arms over his chest, like the human pretzel he was once accused of being.]

...Had a lot more to be happy about back then.

[He'll admit this much, even if it's delivered with a degree of hostility, sharp, and to the point.]

Even back then, I wasn't someone to look up to. I told him that, more than once.

[mysophobic]

[ The hostility does not go unnoticed and Shigeru might wince a little at that. He does give Reaper a small smile as he looks back at the dream and then the real Reaper. ]

But he still did and...even here he's glad that he's gotten a chance to talk to you again.

[ Though the reunion was probably rough, from what Shigeru can gather. ]

I know it's...not my place to say but, you could be happy here too. At least that's what I think.

[hellshot]

[What a strange thing to be told by someone. That he could be happy.

That someone like him could actually have a life here that didn't revolve around getting his revenge, of killing those who had wronged him, but...

He takes a moment to stare at Shigeru as if he'd just suggested something like "Squirrels are actually small dogs" or something.]

...Lost my chance at any real happiness the day I died, kid.

Doesn't matter where I am, here or back where we're from.

Could finish dying any day now. Trying to build a new life ...

Hah.

As if someone like me could.

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru huffs and puts his hands on his hips as he shakes his head. ]

Why shouldn't you be allowed to be happy? You were a nice person and something terrible happened to you...it's really not fair, you know? And that doesn't mean that you shouldn't get to be happy.

[ He has a lot of feelings about this, sorry Gabe. ]

If you really wanted I could try to help heal you too. My powers might be able to reverse whatever it is that's happened to you...but only if you want to try. I...I don't like forcing people into treatment, but I will offer it to you if you wanted to try someday.

[ As far as he's concerned Reaper isn't a bad person and therefore he will do whatever he can to help him. ]

[hellshot]

[He's got a lot of feelings about this too, man. Mostly negative ones that stem directly into him feeling like he's already had his chance at life. And you don't just GET second chances, that's not how life worked.

He was lucky to have been (forced) given new life after the explosion in Switzerland, if one would even call this kind of constantly burning un-life lucky.

He doesn't particularly feel like responding to Shigeru's attempts at telling him that he deserves a chance at being content because he'd once lived a good life, but...

It's that second bit that makes him hesitate, most of all.
When Eichi was in the city...
Eichi, the kid who was closest to 'death' and the most supportive of the idea that 'Reaper can be happy too'...
A clawed hand moves up to touch the edges of his mask, idle in remembering how the kid put all his energy into trying to heal Reaper, too. And it had almost worked.
And then he...]

It's a lot of damage.

[His tone is tired, but to the point.]

Doubt you can fix 'Death'.

3

[bunnyhopped]

[ Hang on a second.

She recognizes that sight. She knows that London, the London that's being absolutely lit up, she recognizes those death-bringing machines and everything else that she's seeing on the screen.

Hana had been having these memory dreams a lot lately - but clearly this one belongs to someone that's from the same world that she is. Could she be seeing another one of Genji's memories? No, that can't be it...

Her head turns in the direction of a woman's voice. That gear— that looks like Overwatch gear. Okay, so there's no doubt now that she's in the memory of someone from home. But the last time she checked, that mean blue lady was gone, and somehow she doubts that it's that Sombra person, so—

Reaper?

She turns again, this time to the one responding. That...

She looks back at the woman, and then at the greying man who speaks up as they dive into war jargon.

Holy shit.

She's standing in the middle of Strike-Commander Jack Morrison, Captain Ana Amari, and Commander Gabriel Reyes from Blackwatch.

Why the fuck does Reaper have this in his memories?

Hana continues to watch on in disbelief as the three continue their conversation, and this is surreal. She remembers watching news of the Uprising with her dad when she was twelve years old. She remembers when the Prime Minister declared that the situation was 'under control' and that 'no outside intervention will be needed' and she remembers that at the end of it all, it was still Overwatch that made the biggest impact.

As Reyes makes his exit, the scene seems to almost pause, the three frozen there, and Hana left in the middle of the room, completely bewildered until she sees a more familiar, shadowy, cloaked figure. So this really is his. ]

Reaper.

[ It's said with a bit of bite to it; there's a sinking feeling in her stomach that the man known as Reaper might - might actually be one of these people. But her mind is also telling her that Reaper is a terrorist and maybe - maybe this was in his memories because he was spying on the Overwatch leadership... ]

chinhands at this entire tag

[hellshot]

[Yeah.

Reaper.

He looks as sullen as ever as he, too, is forced to watch this scene over, as well. It'd be fine, if it were just as it was--a dream about a time long gone, about people who he'd (thought) were dead--but things never usually worked out for him. So why would this be any exception to the rule?

As Hana Song hisses out his name in that scathing tone, he merely lifts his head. Looking at her with an almost tired, sour look that she won't be able to see from under the confines of his skull-like mask. Only a single glowing red pit of what she could assume was one of his eyes. Burning like coals in the hollow darkness under the symbol of death he always wore.]

...Enjoying the show? [His tone is, as usual, biting and sarcastic right back with how it rumbles out from his throat, sounding not quite the same as the man he used to be. Full of life and reason--not something that should have died years ago.

Part of him figures Genji had likely told her already--how he was a commander of Blackwatch, working for the world-saving organization only to settle into the role he had now. The one she saw him as: terrorist, killer, villain.]

Some things are better left in the past.

This shit isn't any exception.

chinhands at your entire face

[bunnyhopped]

[ Her dear roommate has, regrettably, neglected to mention certain important pieces of information about Reaper, particularly the one piece about how Reaper is actually Gabriel Reyes.

She does remember, at least, that Genji has some conflicting emotions about Reaper. And that Reaper used to be someone that Genji really respected and cared about. And maybe that does a little bit to dull the sharpness of her tongue, to hold back the urge to be more aggressive toward him.

Regardless— at the moment, the two don't add up in Hana's brain; she'd much rather assume that Reaper is remembering this moment because he'd been spying on the head honchos of Overwatch than entertain the thought that Reaper might have been one such head honcho. ]

I'd enjoy it more if I had better company.

[ She offers it sarcastically. Sorry, Genji, that's the best she can do. Her gaze fixates on Reaper's grim mask, at that glow of red emanating from behind it, and she tries to ignore the feeling of ice crawling in her fingertips. She has never been face-to-face with Reaper, and even this isn't explicitly face-to-face. For one, he's wearing a mask. And second, they're in a dream. But she's never been in his presence, dreamscape or not, and he's... so much creepier in person.

How could a person like this be someone that Genji looked up to? Genji, who'd been in Overwatch and—

Wait.

No.

Genji had been in Overwatch and if Reaper was someone who had mentored him - it's entirely likely that he had done so while Genji was in Overwatch and if this was one of Reaper's memories...

Then he really was one of the three. Her fists clench at her sides. Hana, of course, discounts Amari as a possibility first, if only because her opinion of the woman is incredibly high. There's just no way. But between Morrison and Reyes, both of whom were said to have died at the Swiss headquarters explosion...

Her eyes fall on Reyes, frozen at the end of this 'scene.' Halfway out the door, shoulders shrugged in sarcasm.

There's no way Reaper is Morrison. That sarcastic bite at the end of their conversation... he had to have been Reyes. With wide eyes, Hana looks back at Reaper. ]

I can't believe it... You really were Reyes, weren't you?

/)u(\

[hellshot]

[Noone would really blame Genji for not speaking about this anyway. It was complicated enough having to share space with someone like Reaper here in Riverview, but when it turns out the man who had been making the life of all current Overwatch member's lives Hell...

Well.

There was a reason why Reaper hadn't tried to make a good impression with D.Va. He hadn't thought there was a point--she would have a pre-decided impression of him because of who he was now, rather than who he was in the past.

Gabriel Reyes--a name anyone who had anything to do with Overwatch would recognise. And with the woman's realization that she was face-to-face with the supposed dead 'Hero'...

Reaper wonders if there's any point in denying it.

Probably not.]

'Weren't you' is a good way of saying it. [His tone is deadly quiet, contemplative. Like he's waiting for her to jump on his words to call bullshit at any second.] Past tense.

Reyes was a man I used to be.

But as you know... he died in Switzerland a long time ago. 'Reyes' isn't someone I have anything to do with anymore.

[bunnyhopped]

[ The fact that he isn't speaking with the same venomous tone she's received from him before is telling enough, she thinks, that he's not just spouting bullshit. It doesn't mean that she's not on her guard, however. Reyes or not, Reaper— Reaper is still a terrorist. A cold-blooded killer.

Even if Reyes, she knows, was someone that was very important to Genji.

She bites down on her lip, culling the urge to say that a certain cyborg ninja had at least some sliver of - hope felt like too strong of a word, but - hope that the man he used to be was still within the shadowy enigma of Reaper, somehow. She's not about to throw everything he's done out the window, much less try to bridge any gaps - especially considering the way he's treated her here. Whatever history and current dynamic Reaper and Genji has is between them. ]

I didn't think he was.

[ His actions since becoming Reaper (however the hell that happened) have proved that, clearly. But it's still a jarring realization to come to. ]

Reyes at least had a sense of humor, it looked like.

[hellshot]

[He absolutely can't blame her. He is far too aware of the things he's done, the people he's killed--the news reports of the scenes he leaves behind, men turned into husks of the beings they were before he attacked--he had his reasons, reasons he would easily spout off as being necessary. Necessary for revenge for the way he was wronged, how Overwatch had burned him--how he was still burning, a fire that never went out under his skin--but being away from Earth had started to become sobering.

And having Hana take a peek in and realise who he was...

He's not sure if he'd use the word 'regret', but there's a stirring in him that's close to it.]

You lose a lot of things when you die, Hana Song.

[He says her name tersely, but that spit and vinegar is still absent in his voice. He sounds more... tired, rather than angry or spiteful. His form shifts, and smoke rises from around his coat as he lets out an almost tittering laugh. Hollow, empty.]

Even more when the people you think you trust turn their backs on you.