seaofhearts | BETA ROUND 1 WEEK 3: RETURNING TO THE HUB

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BETA ROUND 1 WEEK 3: RETURNING TO THE HUB

Who: The White Rabbit, and the Alices.
What: Everyone has returned from Sasuke's Heart. In... a... state. Of some sort.
Where: The World's Hub.
Warnings: None for the moment, although it looks like there might be more potential for violence, given the explosion a supposedly nice easy school break turned into. As before, any powers, strange abilities, items, or effects from Sasuke's World will have worn off or been left behind once back in the main hub, unless a change is otherwise noted to be permanent. All powers will go back to being nullified.

When they all return this time, the White Rabbit is more than unhappy; he's caught between what seems to be hopelessly gloomy, and livid, leaving him in a miserable state to rival the Alices themselves. In particular, when he locks eyes with Harley, Liao, and Lalli, he outright glares, muttering under his breath repeatedly.

"You're finally back. No thanks to SOME of you, it seems you have the next World Key in hand. ... Hand it over already."

He insists this impatiently, tapping his foot, red eyes seemingly boring into whichever one of them ended up with the Key, in the end. For whatever reason, he seems in quite a hurry to get them to hand it over.

"It will take me some time to open the next Door, so the sooner you ignoramuses give it to me, the sooner you can go home and the sooner I can get some peace."

Judging by his current mood, it would probably not be wise to poke at the Rabbit, but you're free to try anyway. He might be a bit unpredictable...

[ OOC: Starting with this log onward, characters will be chilling in the Hub for 3 OOC days, so they may do whatever they please during this time, including revisiting previous places they were just in. Starting from now on, each World will run for 2 weeks. OOC World information and Returning to the Hub Logs will go up 12AM on Friday, giving everyone 3 days to backtag, finish up, get additional CR, plot, and what-have-you. The World will then open up to be posted to with a Mingle log the following Monday, by the character whose Heart they're exploring. ]

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[ Well, Hinata himself doesn't have the key. However, he's noticed that a lot of people are under a lot of stress and while it's not similar to Murder Island, he decides to offer a suggestion, to lower the tension. He knows he's probably risking a bit by doing this, however... ]

You know, since we haven't had a proper chance to hold a good conversation without focusing on the keys, I was wondering if we could possibly take a quick break. I know it's risky, but-- we could have a small party at the beach to lower tensions and mentally prepare ourselves instead of just jumping head on into the next world. I think it would also be good for Sasuke since... [ With the way he reacted, he's not sure if it's worse or better than himself. But then again, Hinata always bounced back after a while.

He remembered her words, after all. "If you just do it, it'll be okay!" ]

[ ... He interjects in irritation. But it's not Hinata... he's angriest at... ]

... It's pointless. Whatever's going to happen will have already been planned in advance. It's destiny. But... if you want to go back there and fool around like a bothersome moron, be my guest. It'll get you out of my hair.

[ Leave the hare's hair, please. ]

Because you all fought so much, and wasted so much valuable time, I have to do all of this... honestly, why do I even bother... it's a wonder they don't even a listen anyway... all of them, completely ignorant buffoons who are oblivious to the obvious...

[ He just goes on muttering, it seems. ]

Look, if we get everyone to at least cool off a bit, we might be able to avoid doing stupid shit in the next world and shave off some time in regards to solving the puzzles and getting the key. Working together is key [ GET IT??? ] and if we're fighting amongst ourselves, we're losing sight of the true goal.

Would your rather have infighting happen in the possible future too, because of our exhaustion and stress?

[ He's being reasonable, actually. At least he didn't Kamukura when going back to the Hub this time. ]

I liked him. He was interesting.

[ Says the Rabbit. You can practically hear his childish whine. Except he never emotes, and there isn't... actually any emotion to his voice in almost any instance when he isn't being angry or irritated, so... you kind of can't, really. ... But, Hinata didn't voice that, did he? Huh. ]

But if I simply must deal with you, it's better than babysitting a bunch of broken Alices. Do whatever you want; I do not care. I will call you back here when the Door is open.

You're wrong about that.

[ Look, he's going to vehemently deny that every chance he's got. ] But fine. Just call us when you're ready.

[ He falls into an irritated silence for a moment, before-- ]

It would work better if you just pulled it back.

[ By the way. ... Here. He'll just... take something out of his pocket. A hairband. ]

It's just going to regrow. You know that.

[ Your hair, that is. ]

...

[ That's something. ] Thanks?

It's better than carrying a pair of scissors like a moron. You cannot do that all the time.

[ He sighs.

... It seems, despite his demeanor, he is at least somewhat trying to help? ]

[Ken walks over, holding the key out. He looks pretty unhappy about all of that... everything.]

... Here.

... You.

[ He practically snatches it, sighing. ]

You think rushing headlong into their stupidity is going to help?

[ He heard what happened outside the infirmary, you know. ]

No, but I'm going to try to pull them together, one way or another. If that means I have to drag them into it, then I will.

[He tucks his hands into his jacket, sighing. He... kind of misses the ears and tail.]

They're idiots, but they're idiots that have to work together.

[ He scoffs. ]

It's pointless to continue to do this... bothersome... you continue to create a mess, and I have to clean it up. And now look at what I have to deal with... you are all pushed back...

I've been trying to clean up the mess. It's like herding cats to get them to get in line. I'm the youngest and they're the ones acting childish.

[Though whining about it isn't particularly mature either...]

[ ... He sighs gloomily. ]

What a pointless hassle this has all become. The Alices are a wreck, hanging on by mere threads... I suppose fighting this, too, is pointless. Predetermined outcomes cannot be fought.

... I'll pull them together. They have to see that we can't do this alone. Otherwise we're all going to break down.

I have doubts. A glass half full can't tell a glass half empty how to feel about itself, you know. Trying to tell someone what to do can be impossible. ... But you should try. You will need their help.

[ He knows he will. ]

I know. We're all going to need each other's help. The things we see... aren't easy.

If it's not... against the rules or something... can you tell us which Heart's door is next? It might help us prepare.

I could not. Even if I did know.

[ He has no idea, it seems. Sorry, Ken. ]

I thought I'd ask.

... I don't suppose you know of any way to shut the Cat up either, huh?

If I knew that, I would not have to put up with him, would I?

[ You can practically hear the loathing in his voice, now. This is one of the rare times he shows emotion in it. ]

I figured. At least I can find a bucket somewhere, probably. That cat needs a bath.

[ ... He pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

That... is the result of what he has done. The decay was neither obvious nor disgusting before, but he has always had a penchant for the stealing of things, and he recently decided to take it upon himself to replace what was missing...

I'm afraid it would not help.

So he replaced his own scent with a corpse scent? I dunno, maybe giving him a good dunking could help scrub a little bit of it off...

[He's starting to grin a little bit.]

... If you don't understand... ask him yourself. He will likely only find your attempt amusing.

[ That's all he can say. It's not his place. ]

... He has been this way for a long, long time.

Everyone can change, though... it's definitely possible. I've seen it happen.

[ He falls silent for a long moment. ]

... What makes you believe... we have not changed already?

Maybe you have. That doesn't mean you can't change more.

... It isn't a matter of personality qualities. I do not think you understand what you are talking about.

[ He lets out one of his typical, overly-gloomy sighs. ]

You are one of those "glass half full" sorts, Alice. You would likely never understand. ... But let me pose you a theoretical game a certain irritating Cat likes to play: If faced with a terrible decision, a decision of "change or perish", which would you pick?

Would you not desire to persist? Have you not looked death in its face and laughed? ... Or perhaps sighed, on many occasions. While you may be accustomed to being brought back due to circumstance, not everyone is like you. Not everyone was so fortunate.

[His expression shifts, becoming more serious. Really? Even with that...]

At home I wouldn't be brought back at all. I don't know if I'd count as 'glass half full' yet. I'm trying, but...

[Well. Determination and optimism aren't the same thing.]

A while ago, I would have said 'perish' under a lot of circumstances. Now... 'change'. Probably. It depends what I'd change into.

... Then you're just like him, and have no room to judge him so harshly.

[ He's being honest. ]

I would think about that, next time you talk to him. He might be disgusting, but he, too, is a guide here. He is here for a reason.

... Am I?

[Now there's a thought.]

Oh yeah? What's he supposed to guide us to?

[Is it a hatred of cats?]

[Sasuke will notably be absent from the general hub area.

Should anyone think to look in his room, they will find it is pitch black inside, with no option of turning the light on again. If he is indeed inside, they will have a difficult time locating him.]

[ ... Him... for him, he will have to take care of him. He can't exactly LEAVE... oh, how bothersome. ]

...

[ ... He'll have to use a projection again, but that's fine. When he looks inside the Door (mind you, not the cupboard itself), he isn't... surprised, per se. At all. The darkness poses no issue to one such as him. ]

You are a mess.

Edited 2016-01-25 00:46 (UTC)

[No answer. But does it really need one? It's obvious now, to everyone here.

He doesn't want to talk about it. Or really...

He doesn't want to do anything at all.]

[ There's a brief moment of silence before a small, then wider smile stretches on his face.

It can't be seen in the darkness. Only his red eyes really can be made out, the color of them. ]

... It's all right, Alice. ... You hurt, don't you? The others don't exactly understand that they just make everything worse. ... You want to disappear, don't you? There is something you could do. We could grant that wish, if you wanted.

[...

It's a tiny shift that no other than the Rabbit would be able to make out in the gloom. Dark and deadened eyes raise just slightly to meet the glowing red.

What does he mean...?]

[ Ah, he notices it. It doesn't escape his eyes. ... Good. He's listening. ]

Rather than just locking things away... why not help the rest of them leave? Then you can cease to be. You wouldn't have to suffer anymore.

... Of course, it goes without saying, that I have not yet told them this. If I did, it might cause them to fight one another even more, and I want to avoid such strife... but you... you have always been able to work by yourself, have you not? There is... two ways to link world and World. One way is impossible for all of you.

The other... it requires all the World Keys, and a choice.

[His eyes narrow slightly as Rabbit speaks, trying to force his mind out of the dark haze to understand.

"Cease to be?" That's exactly what he wants right now. But what's this about a choice?

...Wait. Before he left... Was this what the Cat had meant...?]

[ He seems to be having a one-sided conversation, but that doesn't particularly stop him, almost as if he doesn't require Sasuke's verbal confirmation. ]

If you spoke with him, and he said something along these lines... yes, but probably not quite, he has a bad habit of not giving full information. The only way to leave here is for someone to sacrifice their own self.

To link World with world, you require a bridge. To make that bridge, I require all my Keys. And when I have all the World Keys... well. ... Tell me. Who do you think is "most evil"? That is what will be asked.

[A sacrifice...

So there wasn't any way for all of them to leave in the first place. No matter what, at least one of them would have to stay - no, cease to be.

The Cat had claimed that all he did was try to sacrifice himself - which was true, in some ways. But it had always been for selfish reasons, deep down. A chance to feel like he had done something right, if nothing else.

He is left behind as the others escape to where they belong. It would fit with his own plans perfectly.]

How...

[It's quite, barely more than a whisper.]

How are they chosen?

[And how can he ensure it's him?]

[ He watches carefully for Sasuke's reactions. ... That's the kind of thinking he expected, yes. ]

At the end, the final Key will be given to the "winner". The person who has... solved the most. Done the most. But, there's nothing stopping it from being taken. There are no rules against that. The only rules in place are "someone must be a bridge" and "the rest must leave".

The one who is the most evil... do you think it's you? The others will attempt to argue that case. Whether you believe that or not... leaving this World is impossible without a bridge. That is why it is so very unfortunate you are all here.

[The winner...

He's not sure if he can win. He's also not sure if he can successfully steal it. But both are options - options that he'll need to work towards.

The darkness seems to fade slightly, but only just. How ironic that in order to ensure a final rest, he will need motivate himself to work for it.]

Does it matter?

[If he thinks he's most evil or not. When you get right down to it...

He just happens to want what the key grants.]

Not the slightest bit. It's just a motivator, isn't it? It makes it easier to kill someone if you have an excuse.

[ That's all, really. ]

And people always need an excuse.

[He merely watches the Rabbit for a moment, before nodding and turning away.

He doesn't think he could convince the others of that. That leaves either winning, or stealing...]

[If he had a shorter temper, Liao would've given what is the ancient Chinese version of two middle fingers and a big FUCK YOU to Rabbit, because SCREW YOU, he, Harley and Lalli found and solved two puzzles before things exploded. That's two more than Rabbit ever solved, and if he wanted them to solve it quicker than he should get involved sooner instead of sitting on his lazy fluffy butt in the Hub.

But because Liao's a more polite, dignified and responsible (key word here) person than that (~~and because canon is unfortunately silent ancient Chinese rude hand gestures~~), he merely inclines his head, acknowledging that they had taken too long for the World Key, that they could've done incredible damage to Sasuke's heart because of that fight between Lalli and Harley, that he should've been less indecisive, more out there in terms of getting people to work together.

As a general, he should know these things. But at his heart he's always been a solo warrior; he can't even get along with some of his fellow countrymen.

The mess outside the infirmary was his fault, and his alone.]

Words are meaningless. Instead, I swear on my honor that I will find the next World Keys and bring them to you. No delays.

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BETA ROUND 1 WEEK 3: RETURNING TO THE HUB

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