seaofhearts | Bad Dog

[And here comes Lalli with his big ole knife, looking ready to filet Rahti out like Hannibal fucking Lecter. Harley isn't sure what's going to happen, but his words run a chill down the length of her spine and she falls still. All laughter seems to have slipped free and her hands slowly drop to her sides.

She didn't miss the implication of Cat's words, and it seems like Ken didn't either. She's not moving yet, but she's breathing a little faster.]

It ain't here... [A little louder, because this was a game changer if it meant what she thought it meant.] Wha' d'ya mean... her corpse ain't actually here? Is it there? [Back home in the waking world where they thoughts themselves safe... after all, this was all only a dream at the end of the day, right? Oh, God...

~~Does it matter, Harley? Not like Mistah J ever misses ya anyway... went weeks without talkin' ta ya... Does it matter if this is a dream or real?~~

And then Rabbit walks into the room and she can't move, a sudden pressure building around her in the Hub. Breathing becomes harder and she can't move, but she can see that Rabbit now has Rahti in his arms and can only hope they gat an answer..]

[Ken moves to step closer, but suddenly he can't. He can't and the Rabbit's talking and he could speak but the only thing he could say would be to demand answers from the Cat. But the Rabbit did this and they're both powerful, too powerful and dangerous. And he can't fight them on their own ground, not without more time and resources and he's not sure if he can come up with a big plan on his own and -]

[And the fact that he can't move is making him panic a little, and he can feel it building up in his chest and it's making him have flashbacks to horrible things in the Tower, of being strapped down and forced to watch and he can feel the hands on him, the knife on him, and it's all he can do to force a single choked word past his lips as he tries to calm himself and take deep breaths.]

No!

[He needs to move, he needs to get away, he needs to intervene, but having no movement, no chance to act at all is horrific and he can't stand it.]

[Defiled? Defiled?!]

[Since his face is apparently the only thing still capable of movement, anyone facing him will enjoy an expression of Pure Fury taking over Lalli's features. So pure, in fact, that I don't even have a proper icon for it.]

What are you doing to her?

[ Oh. Oh, this is good. These pesky little Alices got the damn Rabbit to move. But he doesn't miss the implications. ]

...Guess my job here's done. Mweehee! I'll be a good sport and get that girl's Key for you all while you guys get the one in the next World.

[ With a meow, the cat will just vanish, off to do who knows what. ]

[ He straightens, lifting her weight... perhaps too easily for someone as small and young looking as he is, but... when he looks at Lalli in particular, his eyes narrow further.

He ignores Cheshire entirely.

If he feels even the slightest tinge of upset about Ken's reaction, he doesn't comment. There's something else he must address at hand. ]

... Imbecile. You have no idea how this World works. What do you think I'm doing? There's nowhere to take care of it here. Think before you act. Even then... this is just a Dream. But if you die here... what do you think happens?

In the Alice Worlds, the stakes aren't quite so high. But if you die here--outside someone's Heart... I cannot just bring you back. It's against the rules. ... So is attacking the guides.

[Harley doesn't have to see Ken to recognized the sound of his voice, and while there is some crazy shit happening right now, her attention instead focuses on that. While, yes, she is trained to handle this sort of thing professionally, she also understands it personally.

She understands confinement... She understands being strapped down and held against one's will... She's gotten it with a straight jacket and leather cuffs in the past and sometimes, when she was extra good, they didn't include electroshock therapy.]

Ken... Ken, listen ta me... Ya need ta breathe. [Her voice is calm, despite everything happening around them. One might think that this is something she is fairly well versed in and they'd be correct.]

Ya ain't there, Ken... This ain't the Tower. [She didn't know all the horrid he'd faced there, but she was relatively certain it was his current trigger.] Ya ain't there anymore... Focus on me an' the sound of my voice... Ya need ta breathe in slow, okay? I'm going ta count ta ten, and yer gonna breathe in with me... And then exhale the same way, okay?

1...2... [She counts her way up to ten, paying no attention to the others just now. When she hits ten, she begins to count down just as slowly so Ken can slow and time his breathing.]

[Just a dream, huh.]

...so, we're sleeping. Somewhere.

And this is our Dream?

What else would "Dream" imply, Alice?

[ Come on, now. This is child's play, Lalli. ]

... Did you never stop to think why each of you can understand one another with little to no effort? Or how strange the Alice Worlds are? Of course it is.

[Lalli chooses to ignore the Rabbit's criticism, though he definitely hears it.]

[He's angry at himself too now. Why didn't he clarify that sooner? Sure, the two furries had been making allusions to dreams for the entire course of his stay here, but it never felt like he was in a dreamscape. Why? Had they-- had they taken away those senses too?]

[The thought of it forces Lalli to look down, unable to look at the Rabbit. They're breaking him down to nothing here. Thoroughly nothing. So he can run really fast, who cares? His luonto is practically comatose, his dreamy-weamy powers are nowhere to be found, and now there's this bullshit. He was never sure if they were in a dream or not, but he assumed not, because his senses told him so. And he was fucking wrong.]

[He can't even... he can't even save Rahti. He was never overly fond of her, she was annoying and loud -- but she was an innocent who the Cat killed. She didn't deserve to become a vengeful spirit; she didn't deserve to die in the first place! Now this damned rabbit says it's pointless, he can't send her spirit on, this is a dream, there's nothing he can do, but that doesn't even make sense! If this is a dream, Rahti would have become a vengeful spirit already, but she's not... and the 'body' they're seeing isn't even her body, so--]

[ ... ]

[Gods.]

[Maybe her spirit has passed on already, passed on to here. Maybe that's what's happened to all of them. This twisted game is supposed to be an afterlife-- so--]

...Are we dead?

[ One of the White Rabbit's ears twitches in response to Lalli. At first, all he says is... ]

... You overthink matters. No, you are not dead. Don't be foolish. This is a Dream. But it has Rules.

[ With that, Rahti's body disappears suddenly from his hands. He feels... unclean, as he looks down at his now-stained clothing, and sighs. ]

Events are already predecided. They always have been, always will be.

[Harley still can't move, but Rabbit's response draws her from her conversation with Ken, because what the Rabbit's said is important.]

So, if the events are already decided, then ya know what's comin' with all'a us... [She's aimed slightly in his direction and seeing him with his arms suddenly empty, Rahti's form vanishing, is disconcerting.]

Will there be more'a this? Can ya tell us that, or will it just be a surprise when ya sweep in ta take anothah body out...?

[Her tone is somewhere between questioning and done... She really does want to know; if this is all predestined, perhaps there was no choice and they should just lay down and give up.]

[ ... He pauses to look at all of them. ]

... It is my personal opinion that human beings were doomed to failure the exact moment they were created. But they still do not belong in this World, and I still must get you all out of here, so whether or not you decide to continue is on your own shoulders.

Yes, I am aware of the Rules of this place. But even I cannot, with total accuracy, predict the future.

[ ... Confusing? Perhaps a bit. You might be onto something, there. ]

... But these things were always going to happen. God created humans and decided they needed "that" in order to survive. A cruel joke, an irony. God is a sadist. ... That she would be stupid enough to break the Rules that govern this place, though... that is her own fault. And no one else's. As usual, I am left with a mess to clean up.

Whatever gods exist, they suck. Humans have to push through on their own merits.

[Hello have a small angry child who has calmed down a bit.]

Decided they needed 'that'... Hearts?

[Ugh. He doesn't want to deal with even more ridiculously powerful beings.]

Can you let us go now, though? Your point's been proven, you have the body, and my nose is getting really itchy.

... Why do you assume that this is my power?

[ He tilts his head. But sure, they'll be released for now. ]

I would prefer not to risk anymore unnecessary violence in this place either way. Do you think the rest of you could control yourselves while you're here? ... And hearts are not what I am referring to, but... I suppose you would not understand, Alice. It isn't important. ... Making me have to actually move... how troublesome you all are.

... I... I know.

[He knows, but it's still hard to focus. It's hard to keep himself calm because... well, he's always been emotional, hasn't he? It would be easier if he could shut down, shut it off, but then he wouldn't be able to focus on the things that matter. He has to focus.]

[It sounds stupid and she sounds like a doctor and he hates anything associated with doctors but he does his best to just focus on the numbers and breathe in time.]

[... It's working, but there's still that twisting in his gut that makes him want to start yelling and lashing out even if he can't move.]

[Harley doesn't consider what he might feel about doctors at that moment, though she's understand wholly if he later voiced said thought. She wasn't exactly the everyday example of a doctor, however, and had been subjected to nearly all the same things she'd seen patients subjected to; she'd managed to escape a lobotomy thus far.

She hears his breathing begin to slow, a smile touching her lips.]

There ya go. Yer doin' great, Kenny... Jus' a few more times, ya know? [And boy, did she understand. Though she would likely react in much the same way as Ken under other circumstances, there were actually a few things in Harley's favor: her training, her age, and the fact that she was 110% certifiably psychotic. She's able to distance herself from it and compartmentalize what's happening, but only because an anxiety attack is small on the listening problems they have right now.]

I get it, believe me... There's any number'a things ya wanna do right now, an' patiently breathin' ain't at the top'a the list... but ya gotta. [And when they're released, if he's still reacting, she has another plan of action if it need be.]

[He tries to nod, but can't, and that makes another wave of panic rise up, but he forces it back down. He has to pay attention. He has to figure out what's going on. He has too many questions, and the Rabbit's answered what he could before...]

[It's like when the Admins came up for question and answer sessions. He takes a slow breath, and then another, before letting out a long sigh.]

... Yeah. And besides, I don't know if you know what a Fastball Special is.

[He can't help a tiny smile at that. Even if they didn't succeed, that was satisfying to at least try on Jason.]

[Harley listens, her own breath expelling in a huff as she snorts in bemusement.]

I've heard the term, though I would like ta clarify who is in what position beforehand, ya know? I'd rather be the pitcher than the ball... [Harley had been thrown from far too many things (Windows... cannons... a rocket) over the years to let someone bodily launch her, thanks very much.

The smile eases.]

Ya good? [Unvoiced is the presumed: 'as ya can be?' because Harley is pretty clear that none of them are really 'good' right now.]

Don't worry, I've got experience being the ball.

[He wants to nod again, forces the panic down again, and sighs.]

Yeah.

[Considering everything. But at least he's not about to start hyperventilating again... probably.]

[There are places Harley would typically go with that comment, but Ken is only 11 ~~even at 14 mental years it would be a bit much~~.]

That a fact? You'll hafta tell me about it sometime...

[Another tight smile, and she'd nod if she could.]

Good... I really didn't wanna whack ya one, ya know?

[He's seen enough shit, let's not go there Harley.]

Yeah. It was pretty funny, actually...

[Sort of, at least. He huffs a little bit at her last comment, though.]

If you could catch me.

[Gurl, she won't even push you for any details that you don't wanna freely share. Whackadoodle people out there, yo.

She makes a small sound of contemplation.]

What kinda ground clearance we talkin' about? [It's all small talk, but until they can move again, there's nothing to be done but keep him calm.

A soft chuckle this time.]

Wha' d'ya want me ta do? Time ya in a three yard dash? I mean, I can, but if just shove somethin' in front'a ya an' then whack ya.

Pretty good. Up onto a platform - or I was going to, until we both got frozen. Kind of like this.

[Thanks, Ruana.]

That's true. I got pretty fast from months of running to safety around Shadows.

[Harley's brows would rise, but she gives a low whistle of appreciation.]

Alright... that's pretty impressive. Was ya pitchah human? [Because it was typically a dupe of some sort or another on the pitcher end of things. She snorts under her breath again.]

Well... It's easy ta say so when we're both stuck in one spot, ya know? Sounds like'a bunch'a hot air if ya ask me, but... [Insert a shrug without the shoulder raise. Harley knew martial arts and, as a meta human, was basically like a DC version of Captain America... with lesser morals... and a higher proclivity for murder... and insane.]

Yeah, well... you only have to be faster than the person behind you, right? And no. Yu was human, though he'd fought Shadows like a lot of us did. So he'd had a lot of training.

Bad Dog

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Well, ain't she just a responsible one when she's gotta be?!

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(Feel free to split the thread if needed)

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