BETA ROUND END

[worldkeys]

Who: The Alices of the Beta Round remaining (Sasuke, Harley, Hinata, Ken, Lalli, and Liao)
What: Everyone has a choice to make. Specifically, it begins as Sasuke's choice.
Where: The World's Hub, the room the Rabbit normally stands.
Warnings: Definite violence. Somebody got... something.

A smile reaches the White Rabbit's face as he hands the sharp key to Sasuke.

"... I'm certain you recall the choice you made," he says slowly. "But it's up to you to decide if you really want to uphold that. Who is 'most evil' in this World? You've seen so very many Hearts, after all--I'm sure you could reach a decision. ... The Cat and I, of course... well, we hardly count. We've never been human, after all."

And he'll remain in that same spot he's always been in, of course.

"While you all decide, your rooms will wait for you. Or you could all stay here and fight about it. Either way, sweet dreams, Alices."

Comments

In the next room...

[patchworkcat]

[ Waiting in the room he's usually in, standing in front of the signs on the way to their rooms, is the Cat. And he seems positively delighted to have reached this point in everything. ]

Well, well. Here we are! And end in sight, but I wonder what you'll do, Alice and... Alices.

[ He's going to answer questions, although whether you'll get a straight answer or not... Well. It's the Cat. ]

[miseris_socios]

What's this about 'most evil', Cat?

[He's... managed to pull himself together. At least a bit. He's not dripping anymore, and his eyes are... mostly back to normal. There's still flecks of gold in them, but at least he's mostly of sane mind again. At least as much as he usually is.]

[patchworkcat]

Exactly as it's laid out. You've seen everyone here, seen their deepest, darkest secrets and touched the very depths of their hearts. So, then, who, in your opinion, is the most evil? After all, someone who's evil wouldn't be missed, right? Mweehee!

[ That cat raises a claw matter-of-factly as he speaks, never once taking his eyes off of Ken. ]

[miseris_socios]

Depends. Everyone here's got a life to go back to.

[Sort of.]

You really think people in their world wouldn't notice?

[patchworkcat]

Do they have a life worth goin' back to? Not everyone has lots of friends and good times waitin' for them.

[ He'll just give Ken a grin. ]

[miseris_socios]

That doesn't mean they can't make those happen in the future.

[Even if he knows there are some who would leave their worlds behind. He's seen it, and while he can't approve... he can sort of understand.]

[patchworkcat]

...You really think all of them have a life they want to go back to? Not everyone wants to live, y'know. Or wake up from their dreams. You shouldn't force those pretty little ideals of yours on others.

[ He likes this kid. He's spicy. ]

After all, you're pretty lucky. You've still got quite a bit. Not everyone here can say the same.

[miseris_socios]

[Deep breaths. Don't lash out. That's not going to help anything.]

There's always hope. They don't have to give it up.

[patchworkcat]

[ That grin goes a bit too wide, like the cat that caught the canary. ]

Dunno. Didn't seem like much hope for your blue-haired friend.

[miseris_socios]

[His hand goes for his Evoker, but he doesn't draw it. Just leaves it there, shaking, trying to figure out what to do with this burst of anger.]

He... he gave himself up. So we could live. So that we could hope. One day... we'll figure out how to help him, too.

[He's not dead. Not permanently. He can't be. He's got to be reviveable without bringing back Nyx...]

[patchworkcat]

Kid, you're hoping against hope. This isn't a fairy tale. Not every story is gonna have a happy ending. Mweeheehee!

[miseris_socios]

I know that. But that doesn't mean we can't try to get there anyway.

[patchworkcat]

You can't save everyone. Best to just let go when you can. Otherwise, they'll just drag you down with 'em.

[ That seems almost like serious advice. Too bad the Cat is such an awful person. ]

[hopedout]

There's no way we're going to sacrifice someone! We didn't go through all that just to keep someone here!

[ He mad? He mad. ]

[patchworkcat]

Then I guess you'll all turn to foam! No skin off my back.

[ S H R U G ]

[hopedout]

That's--

[ He grits his teeth, frustrated. He doesn't like the idea of someone having to stay in this world, especially not with the appearances they have right now. It hurts. It really hurts. ]

There has to be another way. There has to be. [ His emotions seem to reflect as his hair almost lashes out. ]

[apatheticguide]

[ The door to his room had been left open, so of course he heard this. The Rabbit sighs. Raising his voice a little so he's heard (what, you think someone this lazy is going to move again? After Rahti? That was tiring as it was!), he can barely restrain the emotion from his voice.

It's... too funny. ]

... Another way? You think there's another way? I told you that all the Keys had to be gathered and then you'd be let out. I never said all of you would be leaving. He's right. ... For once.

[hopedout]

You-!!

[ Oh, did you think that he wasn't mad at you, too? Because he is. And the fact that he's laughing makes Hinata's temper all the more worse. ]

You should have told us that from the very beginning! I got your goddamn keys because I had believed that wasn't the case! I even made absolutely certain that he wouldn't come out again! And you gave the key to the one who is most likely to choose himself on purpose, didn't you?!

[apatheticguide]

[ His smile doesn't leave. ]

... Good to know you've got some spice, still. It's always the ones like you that make things interesting. But, I never lied. You're free to go home. But isn't it his choice... if he wants to or not? Unless you want to fight him, of course. It hardly matters to me.

Someone has to become the door out of here. After all, none of you belong here. It makes no difference to me as long as you leave.

[hopedout]

You're just like him.

[ He's being vague about it, but there's definitely a specific person he's referring to. They're different, just a little, but their similar enough that he an make the comparison. ]

But you just said it, didn't you? "None of you belong here". If you keep someone here, us leaving isn't complete.

[apatheticguide]

Oh?

[ He tilts his head a bit. ]

... Either way, being a door means it doesn't matter anymore. You would cease to be a person. You would become a pathway. Choosing not to choose is hardly an option, either, if you're thinking about that. Personally, I think he-- [ And you can tell he means Sasuke, here. ] --Is the only one with sense among you.

Everyone else should leave.

Who cares if one person becomes a door, so long as the majority leave? And I think you have already seen what will happen if you break the rules.

[hopedout]

No, that's wrong!!

[ He might not have any truth bullets, but he can at least refute it. ]

So you're saying that the mentality of the majority living is right? That to use someone as if they were an object is right? Then you're the one that's wrong; you've lost your sense of self from the very beginning, if that's the case! I can't just shatter a person's heart like that, even if they want to choose that option! It isn't-- it's not right. And I can't stand to see someone that I trust just do that to himself, either.

I... I can't... Not again...

[apatheticguide]

If that's the case, and it bothers you so very much, Alice, then wrest the key from his grasp and stab yourself.

[ His expression is cold and emotionless. He doesn't care if you think he's wrong; why should he? ]

Either you be selfish, or you be selfless. Pick one. If you're looking for blame to place, then it's on you for coming to The World in the first place. You should not be here. And if you continue to dally, then all of you will cease to be regardless.

Frankly, you ought to consider us generous for giving you an opportunity to leave.

1/2

[hopedout]

That's...

[ He can't do that, either. Ceasing to exist is his biggest fear, and he's not that selfless. There's things that he needs to do, people he needs to wake up from their slumber.

But. But-!! He doesn't feel like any of them deserve this. ]

[unhoping]

[ Maybe it's the overwhelming amount of emotion. Or the fact that he can't take it anymore. Regardless, the light in Hinata's eyes blinks out and all that's there is an empty abyss. ]

If you're asking for me to choose, then perhaps I'll be the one to choose for him. You said I just had to get the key from him, right? That shouldn't be too difficult for me.