Trauma Prom

[hitlist]

[ So we're in a tiny cell, it's pretty dark. Good thing Arya is a tiny person, because this could get cramped fairly fast. However she is already up and roaming around the small space, looking for a way out.

Arya logic. ]

Maybe we can find candles. Where are we?

Comments

[regrets]

... It's a game.

[hitlist]

I don't like this game. [ sullenly poking about ] We should find a way to go back.

[regrets]

[feeling around for an opening ...]

Do you know how we got in here?

[hitlist]

No. I just stepped into the ring, and then I was here. Do you?

[regrets]

The ... same. I was in a game that seemed impossible to beat before, but we managed to win.

[hitlist]

I think we can win. We just have to make sure that no one dies. I have to keep my promise.

[regrets]

... I can't die.

[hitlist]

I know, I won't let you.

[regrets]

No, it's ... I've been ordered not to die. Even if I would prefer to make that choice here, I'm not capable of it. There's a ... curse of a sort that's keeping me from doing it.

[hitlist]

Why would you ever want to die on purpose? [ this seems like a nifty curse to her, until... ]

I don't want to die either. We have to trade.

[regrets]

... Sometimes people deserve to die.

But you're not one of them, so a trade is in order. After all, a different situation would lead to me readily making that choice.

[hitlist]

Only the bad ones. You aren't a bad one.

Right. We will make them a good offer. They can't refuse us if we make a good one. Should we ask what they like? Or...should we guess?

[regrets]

Something ... worthwhile, for your life. I'll give up anything.

[hitlist]

I would give up... [ considers ] anything too. Maybe my stick. Or a hand.

[regrets]

Ah ... well, I'd like the opportunity to give something up all on my own. Since ... even if you are keeping a promise, you don't have a choice here.

[hitlist]

Alright. But if you get hurt, you have to promise to let me put a band-aid on it later.

[regrets]

Well, I wasn't thinking of losing a hand or anything. Maybe something deeper.

[hitlist]

Like what?

[ SUSPICIOUS PEER ]

[regrets]

If I could get rid of the ability to not choose whether I live or die, I would, but they would find that ... unfitting, I suspect. I thought ... perhaps memories.

[hitlist]

They might like it. It means next time, they can get you too.

[ PEERING STILL ] Do you not want to remember something from home?

[regrets]

That's a point ... but it's still selfish for this time. And sometimes, it's worse to put us through this.

[hesitates]

And ... yes, but I'm not sure what yet.

[hitlist]

I think the Personae are stupid. These ones are at least.

[ nods ] Alright. But what if you can't get it back? Will you be able to go home missing that?

[regrets]

Most of them are untrustworthy ... and demanding of our respect. They created a system that continually puts us at a disadvantage.

... I—I'm not sure.

[hitlist]

I'll quest for it back, if you can't. I want to help you, too.

[regrets]

... I suppose I can't tell you no, can I?

... Ah. What kind of world do you come from?

[hitlist]

There is a lot of war. But I had at least three brothers, and they weren't there when I had to kill someone.

I had a wolf. She disappeared, too.

[regrets]

That explains why you're taking this in stride. It's ... a little surprising. I'm sorry you've lived in such a violent world

... I killed someone when I was younger, too. There's a lot of war, too. Unnecessary war. I've never liked it.

[hitlist]

I liked it, I suppose. I can't remember much of it.

[ she looks at him, a little warily ] I think I killed a lot of people. I can't remember if that makes me bad or not.

But I don't want to die. And I want to protect my friends. You're my friend.

[regrets]

... I've killed a lot, too. It does make me bad, and a lot of my resolve ... is to not kill again, and yet somehow, I keep doing it.

But I'll accept your friendship. Thank you.

[hitlist]

[ she hesitates.. ] I don't mind being bad if it means I can help my friends and my brothers. I would kill all of the bad people for them.

You're welcome.

[regrets]

... Ah ...

Something terrible happened, didn't it?

[hitlist]

I can't remember. I just remember being really determined that I would kill people...who I can't remember either.

[ shakes head ]

But we're still stuck. I want to trade something, too.

[regrets]

Maybe ... you can trade something less and that means I can trade something not as bad.

[hitlist]

[ thinks.... ]

I'll give up sight. That's not so bad.

[regrets]

... How can you protect people that way? That's too much!

[hitlist]

I could give up one eye...

[regrets]

No, I don't want you to harm yourself.

[hitlist]

Fine. Then I'll give up my name.

[regrets]

... So everyone will forget your name? I guess that's suitable.

[hitlist]

We can always make up a new one. And no one will get hurt.

[regrets]

... All right, then I will give up the memories of someone I love—someone who's here. It will be up to the personae who they choose, so that the choice won't be in my hands. Afterward, we can quest to get those back.

[hitlist]

Right. I'll remember, so I can help. [ hand shake....? ]

[regrets]

[handshake]

OOC

[hitlist]

Arya is giving up her name; no one will remember that her name is Arry. It will be approximately a 3. Suzaku will be giving up the memories of one person that is in aather that he loves (lelouch, beatrice, nunnally, or euphemia). The Personae are allowed to pick which person he will forget. His will be a 9.

If their offer is not accepted, Arya will be the one to die.

[dramatispersonae]

I'm afraid that others have outbid you.

[and then water begins to flow into the cell, seeping between cracks in the walls and floor and rising quickly (there seems to be an invisible barrier stopping it from flowing out between the bars). If you've made a decision about who will die, then the surviving person will instinctively know that they can breathe the water just fine. Either way, you have about sixty seconds to put any plans for dying into action before the water reaches the top of the cell. Once the person who was meant to die has died, their body will disappear, the water will recede and the door will swing open. Stepping through it will cause the survivor to find himself or herself in the Ring.]

[hitlist]

No--!!

[ that is a lot of water! oh god-- she grabs up both the poison and the knife and looks frantically from one to the other. ]

Tell Mako I'm sorry. Alright?

[ she hesitates, but with the ease of practice she drops the poison and stabs herself. a lot. ]