BETA ROUND 1 WEEK 4: RETURNING TO THE HUB

[worldkeys]

Who: The White Rabbit and the Alices.
What: Ken's World has concluded, and everyone is probably in awful shape. Surgeries sure are fun. As are vivisections!
Where: The World Hub.
Warnings: Probably talk of what went on, potentially violence knowing this lot. A lot of broken down people, maybe.

The White Rabbit seems exceptionally cheerful once they finally return, not at all the usual picture of impatience he tends to be.

"At last, we have only three World Keys left to get. His and his, and hers," he says, motioning to Lalli, a certain General, and Harley. "This is wonderful. Would that we could only be able to retrieve them at once... alas, we must continue as we have. A shame he ended up out here, but I see it served you well."

He nods to Sasuke.

"I am confident you all can retrieve the other three and return home."

He seems completely oblivious to the suffering you all have endured, it seems.

Comments

[not_that_sasuke]

Well. That happened.

Sasuke is indeed already in the Hub when they return, hands frequently wrapping around his own wrists as though to make sure there's no lingering bonds. To be honest, he's got half a mind to double check to make sure his chest hasn't been split open again, but he wrestles that feeling down.

He just needs to keep it together. Three more Worlds. If he can last through those...

Needless to say, he won't be terribly talkative, but he's around.

[apatheticguide]

The White Rabbit will give Sasuke a rare smile. It seems he's... rather proud of him, for all he's done so far, if that's any indication. Still, he says nothing; Sasuke knows already what he must do.

[not_that_sasuke]

He catches the look, frowning slightly before he turns away again.

This has to be the right path...

[miseris_socios]

Ken walks over to Sasuke, but he doesn't say anything. Not yet. The black goop drips down from him, hitting the ground and disappearing, and his gold eyes stare at him.

... But he doesn't say anything. Sasuke's alive, but... he wouldn't blame him if he hated Ken now.

[not_that_sasuke]

There's something special about seeing the person who just vivisected you while you were perfectly conscious up until death. Although his body is tense, it's not actually that much of a change from the way he normally carries himself, has adapted to since he came to this place.

The whole place has him on the defensive constantly. As a result, his expression doesn't even flicker with Ken's approach.

He has nothing to say himself. But after a short pause, he reaches out and places a gentle hand on Ken's head.

He doesn't blame him. He had, quite literally, asked for it.

[miseris_socios]

Ken flinches, ready for an attack, but one doesn't come. He's not being yelled at, he's not getting attacks flung at him, it's just... nothing. Acceptance? Comfort? He's not sure.

"... Why?" Why is he offering comfort, why is he seemingly okay with this, why is he letting Ken near him? It hurts to say more, a wad of emotions caught in his chest with no way out. And maybe they shouldn't come out. Maybe they should, but they can't either way.

[miseris_socios]

Ken is in the Hub, staring off into space. His hands grip his Evoker, knuckles white from how tightly he's holding it, but he's not saying anything. Everyone saw. Everyone saw what had happened, everyone saw him acting like him... just what was that supposed to accomplish? Nothing, that's what. He'd hurt them, he'd reached into their bodies, and not just the other Alices but people he knew. People from Animus, and... and his own mother.

What kind of a person is he now? A horrible one, obviously. But he can't even bring himself to care. Is this what Apathy Syndrome was like from the other side? He blinks slowly, now-golden eyes unfocused, not caring about the thick black goop that's dripping off of him. It seems to disappear a few moments after it hits the ground, but if he could bring himself to care he'd be horrified.

... But he can't manage to do even that.

[apatheticguide]

The White Rabbit, on the contrary, has a pasty sort of smile on his face. He will observe Ken, watching curiously.

"Oh, dear. The Alices are beginning to dwindle. You will all have to hurry. ... Such apathy. I understand, hm..."

[miseris_socios]

He turns to look at the Rabbit, the corner of his mouth twitching. When he speaks, his voice is a little dry and raspy.

"You think this is funny, don't you?"

[apatheticguide]

"No," The White Rabbit replies, his smile dwindling. "I think it is tragic."

He places a hand to his chin.

"... I cannot do much. The World is affecting you. You must leave quickly, Alice. All of you are beginning to lose yourselves to The World. You. The one with two minds. You will all suffer if you remain here, you know. To be tortured by your own heart... it's grueling. That is why I cast mine aside years ago. Is apathy not better than experiencing pain and misery?"

[hopedout]

Of course we'll get the other three.

[ Hinata's voice remains even, regardless of the fact that just happened, and he couldn't stop it. And for better and for worse, he's not. . . as disturbed as he'd like to be. Maybe he's too used to death. Although he can't help but be disgusted about the whole vivisection and just ripping things apart. All the murders back on the island were somewhat clean, after all. They never opened a body like that in the slightest bit.

But maybe it's the Kamukura side that's getting to him. ] Is there a reason why we wouldn't?

[miseris_socios]

[Ken looks over at him. Hinata... Kamakura? Whichever. Both. It doesn't matter. So full of hope... and then despair. And now both at the same time, right?]

[He blinks slowly, watching him.]

Because they're not sure how hard we'll break. But even if we do, we don't have a choice.

[hopedout]

We don't. Even so, we have to keep going. It's the only way out.

[miseris_socios]

Yes. ... It doesn't matter what happens. We have to move on.

[Maybe the worst is over for him. He's not sure. He wavers there, dripping black goop, his shoulders sagging. He doesn't feel like he can move on... but there's no choice.]

[apatheticguide]

[ An ear twitch. ]

I was quite afraid that boy's Heart might break you all. It is dangerous what lurks in everyone's suppressed minds and emotions, is it not? You have now seen many of these things, but it is only going to continue until you retrieve the last of them. I wonder which path you will truly take.

[ He's a blunt sort, that Rabbit. ]

[hopedout]

It won't happen. [ He puts clear determination in his voice. ]

Maybe it's dangerous, but people aren't perfect.

[apatheticguide]

You are all already losing this battle. Divided, you will fall. United, you will scrape by.

[ He scoffs lightly. ]

It does not matter to me what happens as long as I get the Keys back. Even if all of you become like that--

[ He motions to Ken, here. ]

--So long as the Keys are returned, you can go home. I want all of you out of this World. You do not belong here. I warned you if you lingered what would happen. I warned all of you, that prying open a person's deep-seated hidden truths can only be dangerous and unpleasant. These doors must be locked again. Do you understand?

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley will look just a touch different when she emerges from Ken's Heart, and while the changes are still slight they are present all the same. Her hair, once a solid blonde, seems to have a strange bit of coloring going on; one half red and the over half black. Though the colors aren't as if they've been newly dyed, instead looking faded and unkempt. Her costume seems to have changed a bit as well, no longer the black and red body suit, but a shorter jester uniform that cuts low into her cleavage and is held closed only by a few buckles. It appears she is either wearing just black panties, or something similar enough beneath the costume.

Different, but the same. Did a difference in her costume really mean so much?

Yes.

She'd worn this one during some of the darkest years she'd ever know. Had she been through those years yet? Were they still in her future? We're they even real? She had a daughter then... one she'd hidden from the Joker... Or did she?

She's leaning against the wall, gloved hands hovering over her stomach and brows drawn together tightly.

There had been stitches there... heavy staples holding her abdomen closed... she'd been semi-conscious during the operation, but it was seeing what they'd done ... what Ken had done... during the surgery... what they'd taken.

Had there ever been a baby?

Her brows draw together beneath the black mask around her eyes, a shaky breath slipping past her lips as she leans her head back against the wall.]

Dunno what's real anymore...

[Who knows if she's even talking to anyone or just to herself, but for certain, one Harley Quinn seems to have grown far more serious than any here had yet seen her.]

[miseris_socios]

[Harley... hurting her had hurt, on a vague level, even if they all knew that it had to be done. Ken looks up at her, at the black mask and the distressed expression,]

[He'd been afraid, when it had been his turn. He'd fought, but it didn't help. Was it better or worse to be on the operating side? He'd never asked Jin, when he snapped out of it. He'd thought it better not to. Even now he's not sure of the answer, though operating had seemed much more dull, the fear more blunt than sharp.]

[He tries to meet her eyes, tries to keep going even as the goop falls from him.]

... We're real.

[Just hold on to that, if nothing else. Even in this madness... they're real.]

[hesmypuddin]

[Her gaze lifts from where she'd been staring at her nearly bare midriff, the bells of her costume jingling slightly as she shifts.

Where her blue eyes had been full and vibrant, they had dulled to match her faded hair and clothes and seemed faraway and unfocused as she looks at Ken.]

Are we? How can ya be sure?

[She doesn't seem to argue his words, so much as seek reassurance. You wouldn't know, to hear her, that she was more than 10 years his senior.

Her hands hover over the phantom wound... a wound far more symbolic and personal than any surgery Ken could have ever put her through.

Her head tilts slightly to one side after a beat and she offers a faint smile, though it doesn't come close to reaching her eyes.]

It wasn't yer fault... don't want ya ta blame yerself, ya know?

[apatheticguide]

Just because this is a dream does not mean it is not real.

[ Rabbit is here, of course. He had observed her change. She had had a drastic one, during all of that. Hmmm... ]

All dreams are real, Alice.

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley hears Rabbit as he speaks, unsurprised that he's made himself available now that they've returned to the central Hub. It's at the last that she actually rolls her head slightly, turning her gaze to settle on him. She stands there silently for several moments before finally speaking a reply, her entire demeanor uncertain and wary.]

Yeah? But this place don't let ya hide from 'em, does it? Brings all the warm and fuzzies right ta the front an' center... [Her gaze rolls away again, though it focuses on nothing and no one in particular.]

[patchworkcat]

[ Would you look who it is! It's the Cat! Except, well, he's not asking his usual question, or causing problems. He's just sitting there, against the sign, seeming to be taking a nap. ]

[miseris_socios]

[If only he had a bucket of water...]

[He sits down near the Cat, staring at him. He doesn't poke him, not yet, but just stares. If only the Cat could be asleep all of the time...]

[patchworkcat]

You shouldn't assume someone's asleep just 'cause their eyes are closed, Alice.

[ And now he's just blatantly reading minds. ]