forum The Pandora Effect (OxO Closed)

Started July 18, 2023 by @LolaBug

tune

Alouette stands in the courtyard, her body trembling from the aftermath of unspeakable torment. The cold, gray stones beneath her bare feet send shivers through her weakened frame, but she refuses to show weakness. Her torn and tattered clothing clings to her bruised skin, serving as a testament to the horrors she has endured. As she stands there, her body swaying slightly, Alouette struggles to maintain her composure. Every breath is a laborious task, a painful reminder of the torment that has been inflicted upon her. Taking a breath, she carefully wanders further into the courtyard, stepping off of the stone and onto the soft grass. The air is heavy with the stench of fear and suffering as her fellow experiments begin to join her.

In the distance, the muffled sounds of her captors' voices echo through the courtyard, a chilling reminder of the danger that lurks nearby. There are always guards watching. The only time she's ever alone is when she's in her cell and even then there are cameras watching her every move. The feeling of always being watched has left her paranoid and miserable. Even if she ever gets out of here, the effects of her time here will linger through the rest of her life.

Slowly, she lowers herself to the ground, finding a secluded spot where the sun's warmth touches her skin gently. She leans against the wall, closing her eyes. There's no telling how long they'll allow her to stay out here so she wants to enjoy this small taste of freedom while she can.

As she sits there, she becomes aware of movement around her. The shuffling of feet and soft whispers reach her ears, and she slowly opens her eyes to see the other experiments joining her. Each one carries the burden of their own pain and torment, but there is a silent understanding that binds them together. Some crawl, weakened and broken, while others hobble with visible wounds.

Though she recognizes many of those joining her, there are a few new faces but the broken expressions tell her that they've been here for awhile. Her gaze lands on a man who's slowly making his way to the corner of the yard. What has her focus isn't the man himself but rather the gloves on his hands. It's not unusual to see various forms of restraints but the gloves are new and it has her curious.

It's funny how much he yearns to be with the other experiments yet he is often too shy to go up to any of them. God, it felt like it had been an eternity since he truly talked to anyone that didn't have a lab coat on. He tends to worry that he had completely forgotten how to talk to others. And yet, Keanu was now more concerned about his own abilities ruining everything for him as well as others.

So that is why he went to a corner. People watching is one of his favorite things to do. The best part about it is that he can do it whenever he wants to as long as he doesn't stare at anyone for too long. To be honest though, he does keep an eye on how each guard moves. He imagined being in a match with each of them. What punches they'd throw and what ways he could knock them out, people watching enabled his mind to imagine these things.

That isn't to say he only does people watching to plan and strategize fights; he only does so when it came to scientists and guards. If someone wasn't either or, then he just enjoyed the sight of them like a beautiful flower under the sun. It was always a fun thing for him to do.

In the moment he stopped moving and turned around, one person caught his eye. Or maybe, he caught hers. Keanu didn't know. He wasn't really sure if she was looking at him or something on him. It could be the gloves or his hair that's slowly going silver. Regardless, her wings were beautiful. He found it to be a shame that the scientists had put restraints on them, but more importantly her.

His lips grew thin. What was he supposed to be doing or saying something to this person? His face flushed pink. In the back of his mind, he hoped that he didn't look like a weirdo. There was not a single thought in his mind, giving him nothing to say. He didn't know what to do. In an absent-minded way, his hand slowly raised up and gave a half wave. Keanu bit the inside of his cheek before lowering his gaze to the ground.

So lost in thought, she doesn’t even realize that she’s staring. Her eyes examine every inch of this stranger. The way silver seems to be slowly creeping into his hair is just as interesting as the gloves on his hands. Both are due to the experiments, of that she’s certain. The question is why. Why must he wear the gloves? Why is his hair changing? She’ll likely never know the answers and she’s alright with that.

Examining the others in the courtyard is the best way to past the time. Occasionally she’ll get a chance to actually speak to someone but for the most part this group of people seems to stick to themselves. While interaction would be nice, she worries that one day she’ll approach the wrong person. With all of these dangerous powers around, she’d rather not risk it.

As the man hand raises up for the half wave, she tilts her head slightly in response, her curious eyes locking onto his. A faint smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she observes his flushed face, sensing his nervousness. Her wings, though restrained, seem to flutter slightly in a show of empathy.

This isn’t what she had been expecting. At first glance, it had seemed like the man wouldn’t bother trying to interact with her. But here he is, waving and attempting what she assumes to be a smile. It’s sad that a small gesture has her so excited. Very rarely does anyone actual initiate any sort of interaction with her so this is a nice change.

Part of her knows that she ought to leave the man alone but the other part of her is trying to convince her that this is worth the risk. For a time, she sits there quietly and lets the two sides fight it out. Eventually, she decides to take a chance and say hello. The guards are nearby if this guy decides to kill her so she’s managed to convince herself that this is low risk.

Seeing as she’s not too far away from him, she scoots a few feet towards him, making sure to still give him ample space in case he becomes hostile. “Hi,” She whispers, her voice strained. She hasn’t talked in awhile so the words forming on her tongue feel foreign and wrong.

He wondered if he was overstepping by waving. As much as he wanted to look up at the lady again, he worried that his gaze would turn into a long awkward stare. With his hair changing colors and his eyes sometimes doing the same, he already is awkward. The fire and strength just made him even worse.

But then she began to make her way towards him. At first, he couldn't believe it. Keanu longed for true human interaction and it was finally happening. She stood just a few feet away. A orange-bluish shade flickered in his eyes as they grew wide. They briefly stared into her violet eyes. Even though he could guess that it was due to the experiments, they surprised him. They looked pretty. He was surprised that she walked up to him.

Hi. Hearing the word brought his heart a pang of joy. Was it weird that hearing the word made him so happy? Being happy in a place like this was odd to say the least. It felt like he wasn't supposed to be happy here, but he couldn't help himself when he smiled.

Keanu wasn't sure to what to say. Excitement to talk to another person made him smile, but the medicine and gloves the scientists had given him made his mind foggy. The back of his neck was covered in goosebumps. Everything was cold. He didn't know what to say to this lady. Still, he wanted to show that he wasn't dangerous and wanted to be friends.

So, he gave another half-wave to her. "Hi…my name is…Keanu," He muttered. The words came out slowly. They were soft and he worried that it was barely audible. He bowed his head then spoke a little bit louder, "Sorry…my name…is…Keanu…Nice to…meet…you, Miss."

Stopping a few feet in front of the man, she starts to wonder if she should maybe reconsider this. She doesn't know him. As Alouette stands before Keanu, she can't help but be captivated by the uniqueness of his eyes. They have a mesmerizing quality, sometimes flickering with an orange-bluish shade, which sets them apart from anyone she's ever met. She finds herself drawn to those ever-changing hues, unable to look away. A side effect of the experiments is likely the cause but she finds them fascinating regardless.

She can sense his uncertainty and awkwardness, but she also feels his genuine desire for human connection. It's a reflection of her own thoughts and feelings. Being locked in here and treated like an animal has left her struggling with basic interactions. She desperately misses her friends and family. In this awful place, they rarely get a chance to interact with anyone other than the cruel scientists who torture them day in and day out.

The first time he speaks, she struggles to understand what he's saying, between how quiet his words are and how groggy and dazed she feels from the constant experiments. Thankfully, he speaks again and louder this time. The tension eases from from her shoulders, glad that they'll be able to have a proper conversation. She lowers herself onto the ground, sitting down across from Keanu.

"Hi Keanu," She murmurs slowly, taking much longer than she should to reply. She finds herself struggling to figure out her words. It's been so long since she's spoken to anyone. All she's been doing since she arrived at this hellhole is screaming in pain as they abuse her relentlessly. It's left her throat sore and scratchy. Her words come out broken and awkward but it feels so good to actually speak after having not for so long.

It takes her a few moments before she's able to continue with what she's saying. "My name……Alouette." It feels wrong to say her name. She leans back against the tree she's settled in front of, her body aching. Even just breathing right now hurts. The pain in her wings has started to dull but it won't go away, not for awhile. And by the time her wings stop hurting, they'll drag her back to the lab and give her a whole new reason to be in pain.

As much as he had desired for human interaction, Keanu had to admit that he felt strange. Not that he didn't want to speak to this kind person…No no no. He was so happy to be talking with her. It's just she was the first person he's talked to in a very long time that wasn't a scientist or a guard. He dreamed of this moment, but he was unsure if it would come true. But it did! It did.

Talking was a task. It was for him and it was for her. Who knew? He never really spoke to anyone since whenever he was dragged into this hellhole. The only time he did was to shout "No" or "Yes" and sometimes even "Okay" to whatever the scientists wanted. He didn't know if it was the same for this lady but he figured that she might be able to relate to this in some way. Maybe. He wasn't sure.

When she sat down against the tree, he decided to sit on the ground with her. Keanu gently sat down with his legs pulled in. The tip of his chin rested against his left knee. He kept shifting his gaze at different things so he wouldn't be staring at the lady sitting in front of him.

He found the name to be beautiful: Alouette. In his mind, he spaced out all of the syllables. Keanu faintly smiled at her. "Alouette," He muttered, "Lovely…name…and…wings." For a second, he lifted his finger to point at them before resting his hand on top of his other hand. His gaze wandered to the ground. It lingered for a while till he lifted his chin to look at Alouette.

It was then when he was able to get a better glimpse of her eyes. Still, he wanted to limited eye contact for he wasn't sure how comfortable Alouette was with it. The shade of her irises reminded him of lavenders and wisterias. Keanu would've said something nice about them, but he decided to be silent at the moment.

(Sorry! I found a cat on the side of the road a few days ago and things have been a little hectic!)

Being trapped in such a place, deprived of human interaction, and treated as an experiment is undoubtedly isolating and dehumanizing. In the storm of darkness and misery that is her life, she finds Keanu to be a small ray of light at the end of the tunnel. She appreciates his attempt to engage in conversation and finds his compliment about her name and wings heartwarming. She already finds herself admiring his gentle mannerisms and the way he speaks with consideration despite that talking is a challenge in and of itself.

She notices his gaze wandering, and she can tell that he is still trying to adjust to this newfound interaction. She shifts her position slightly, trying to convey a sense of ease and acceptance to hopefully make him more comfortable being near her. Having a conversation should be natural and easy, yet just speaking a few words to each other is a struggle. It feels….wrong to be doing something so normal.

Deciding to let the silence linger for a moment, she offers him a moment of quiet companionship so they can both adjust to the situation. Once she's had a few seconds to collect her thoughts, she speaks: "Thank you." It's a simple phrase and one she's must have said a million times over her life and yet she struggles. Having been silent for so long, some times speaking feels like glass scratching her throat. Despite her discomfort, she isn't ready to give up.

She turns her eyes onto him, studying him. His unique features interest her. Many people here have changed looks due to the experiments but this is the first time she's cared to properly take notice. "I like…..your….hair."

Though she has many questions for him, she knows that they have to start slow Neither of them are able to carry on a proper conversation and that's okay. For now, she's just happy to have some company. It's been so long since she talked to someone…..touched someone. She would kill for a hug right now or just some form of affection. The rough hands of the scientists grabbing her and strapping her to the table for torture should deter her from wanting any physical interaction and yet it doesn't. She desperately misses just being held.

Isolation has left her with a hunger that seems insatiable, a deep ache that gnaws at her soul. She longs for the warmth of another's hand in hers, the simple comfort of an embrace, and the reassuring presence of someone beside her. It isn't just physical touch she craves; it is the emotional connection that accompanies it. She yearns to be seen, understood, and cared for, to have someone with whom she can share her thoughts and fears. She dreams of having a companion who will be there to lean on when the weight of her experiences becomes too much to bear alone. Her mind often drifts into daydreams, imagining the sensation of a gentle caress, the feeling of tender fingers tracing patterns on her skin. She craves the closeness of a hug, the way another person's arms would envelop her, offering a sense of safety and belonging that she so desperately desires.

(It's all good! Sorry about the wait)

"My hair?" Keanu whispered. He combed through his hair twice then sighed. So far he has lived through twenty-three years and his hair is going gray already. Having abilities that could harm everyone was already difficult enough to deal with on his own, but his hair changing was something else. If he returned to normal life, he worried about what others would say.

A faint smile appeared on his face. "Thank…you…" He appreciated Alouette and her words. If he wasn't so exhausted from all the tests, he would feel jittery from all the excitment. His heart was warm with glee. Even though he kept his eyes down at the ground, they were lit up.

He didn't know what else to say. There was so much he wanted to say to Alouette, but he found himself struggling to find the best way to talk about whatever was reveling in his mind. Talking wasn't really much of his thing. In almost every conversation, he just sat there while the other person or people just talked the whole time. He only talked here and there, and that was perfectly fine for him. In a space like the lab, it wasn't. Not once did he ever get the chance to be with someone else so there was no talking nor listening.

But he wanted to do both. Mostly listening though. That'd be difficult to do for the time being. It was understandable to him though. Rarely do any of the subjects get a chance to talk to one another. They never get to be close or anything. Perhaps it is strange, but he wanted to be close with someone. Holding hands, hugging, or some form of physical contact, he yearned for it as much as having conversations with others. Even putting his head on someone's shoulder or vice versa would be like a dream come true.

Keanu wanted to ask Alouette a million things like what's her favorite food or what hobbies is she interested in. With a lift of his chin, he gazed into her eyes. "I like…your…eyes," He finally said. The more he slowly spoke, the more he got comfortable with it yet he had to keep speaking slowly. "They remind…me…of flowers…Do you…like…flowers?"

(Man, I’m sorry. I’ve been so bad about replying to this lol But things will be finally settled by like Thursday so I’ll be posting regularly then)

Alouette can’t help but notices Keanu's silent worries about his hair. She watches him comb through it, feeling a twinge of sympathy for the internal struggle he must be facing. She understands perfectly the weight of feeling different, the fear of judgment from the outside world, granted they ever get the chance to return. Society doesn’t look kindly on those who are different so she worries about how being reintroduced to society will go for everyone here. Some people have more obvious physical differences than others that will make them targets. Despite her eagerness to get out of here, she does worry about if she’ll ever be able to live a normal life again.

Her eyes soften as she takes in his faint smile, a surge of warmth spreading through her at the thought of being able to offer him some comfort amidst the trials of the lab. She meets his gaze as he thanks her, her own lips curving into a the beginnings of a smile. She senses the excitement in his voice, even if it's masked by exhaustion. They’ve both been without proper interaction for far too long it seems.

A proper but shy smile tugs at her lips when he mentions liking her eyes, and she ducks her head for a moment, feeling the weight of his gaze on her. His comparison to flowers catches her off guard, a hint of surprise lighting up her features, yet the sincerity in his voice reassures her that he means every word. She knows that they’ve changed since the experiments started. The violet color is unnatural so it’s a relief to hear kind words. Gathering her thoughts, she finally responds, her words carrying a mixture of timidity and warmth.

"Thank you," she says softly, her own eyes lifting to meet his. "I… I do like flowers. Sunflowers….snapdragons…..” There are dozens kore than she loves but she doesn’t have the energy to try and sort through her brain to figure out the names. She used to have a small garden on the balcony at her apartment that was her pride and joy. Her heart sinks as she realizes that her once-vibrant garden is likely now a somber tableau of withered petals and drooping leaves.

“What did….you do….,” She has to take a moment to clear her brain a little more before finishing her thought. “before all of this?”

(No, you're all good! Sorry for taking forever. I just started classes so my responses are gonna take a while, but I'll do my best to respond asap.)

All it took was one second for his eyes lit up orange again. Was it weird for that to happen all because of Alouette's eyes met with his? He really did like the way her eyes looked. Flowers, jewels, stars, he was reminded of all of those things as they stared at each other. The small smile remained on his face. It warmed his heart. All of it did.

He would have said something about her smile. Mesmerizing. Vibrant. Lovely. Keanu wasn't able to. Blush began to cover his face. Almost instinctively, he ducked his head for a second or two. It wasn't long before he returned to staring at Alouette and her smile. He took note of the two kinds of flowers she said. Sunflowers and snapdragons. "Those…they are…really…pretty," He whispered. His gaze lingered. When she asked him a question, he bit the inside of his lip.

The first he could think of was boxer. When his mind said the word, something felt off. There was more to what he was doing before magically winding up here. Boxing, working at his mom's restaurant, the gym…Wait no, that wasn't it. He remembered that he quit boxing so he could get ready for his first semester at college. A lot. There's a lot that he was doing before he magically ended up here sitting with Alouette, wearing gloves that somehow stop him from setting everything ablaze. Not that he didn't mind sitting with Alouette or anything.

"I did…a lot…of…stuff," He shrugged. The words floated around his mind. It took extra energy for him to put them all in the right order. Keanu didn't want to talk about his mom or anything. It made him think about getting out of this hell hole, and he couldn't imagine one way to escape. He was weak to begin with. On the other hand, he wanted to keep this conversation with Alouette going. She was lovely to speak with and he wanted to get to know her better.

"Boxing…I used to…do that…but I work at…a gym…I was…supposed…to go…to…college…" He finished. His hand rested on his right knee. Glancing back at her, he asked, "What about…you?"