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

[miseris_socios]

That's -

[... He slumps slightly. That's... oh.]

So... you can't...

[But if they were alive, and now they're here... but they don't count...]

... You've never been human. But you've been alive, so -

[But if they don't count for making a Door, they don't count. There's... not much he can do to change that, is there?]

... For what it's worth... I'm sorry.

[He really means it, too. He's sorry that he's stuck here, sorry that he died... have they been here so long that they're both just clinging to the parts of their personalities that are the strongest?]

[apatheticguide]

[ He's about to say something, but there's... a pain. A pain somewhere... is it his head? Or his empty chest?

He holds a hand to his head. Ken--and the others around them, too--will hear the beginning of a conversation. It seems to be between two people, their ages and gender difficult to discern. It's buried in static, like their voices are waning in and out. Preceding them is another voice, androgynous, difficult to make out, but it can be clearly heard at first before they cut in:

"...This is what happens when you cling so desperately to who you are. Even they can barely remember anymore. Turn to foam, turn to foam... all these bubbles... what will you all do, I wonder?"

"C▇▇▇▇▇▇e, I d▇▇▇t w▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇i▇. Are ▇e ▇▇▇ll▇ ▇▇▇d?"

"Th▇▇ ▇s ▇l▇ ▇▇u▇ ▇▇▇lt, B▇▇▇! You ▇▇▇▇▇▇ us!"

"My ▇▇u▇▇?! It ▇▇▇ your ▇▇e▇ in the f▇▇▇t ▇▇ac▇!"

Arguing and fighting sounds like it erupts, and it cuts off there. Then, a piercing child's scream can be heard--

"You ▇▇or▇▇ off m▇▇ EA▇▇!"

Then, a quiet laugh can be heard, and nothing more. The White Rabbit shakes his head, frowning. ]

... This is why... I hate him... it seems even our God likes you. ... I don't... really care what you think about me. It doesn't... really matter.

[miseris_socios]

[He hesitates once the Rabbit is done speaking, once he hears what he hears... but he reaches out to put a hand on the Rabbit's arm.]

... Doesn't it?

[If he can reach them... if they can find something else... and even if they can't, to be stuck here with no hope of leaving... at least if he has some kind of connection, maybe it'll... help.]

[apatheticguide]

[ ... He shakes his head. It still aches, just a bit, but more importantly... what on earth does this child think he's going to get out of this interaction? Touching him? Trying to coddle him? He doesn't need this sympathy. ]

... It wouldn't help you. What exactly do you think "reaching us" would accomplish?

[miseris_socios]

[Hope. Maybe. ... It's also a bit annoying that both of them can read his mind like this, but... he can't stop them, really.]

It's not about me.

[Not really. He takes his hand away, sighing.]

... You don't deserve this. Neither of you, no matter how awful that Cat is.

[apatheticguide]

... I suggest you prioritize attempting to secure your exit rather than this avenue of conversation, Alice. It won't get you anywhere.

I'm losing my patience.

[ A warning: quit while you're ahead, you're not going to get anywhere like this with him, nor will he allow it. ]

[miseris_socios]

Mm.

[He looks over at the others.]

All right.

[If that's how the Rabbit wants to be... he can't stop him.]

[apatheticguide]

[ Ken can't see it, but he's obviously crossed an obvious line in the sand, so to speak. Rabbit doesn't like revealing anything about himself, or talking about himself in this fashion, much less ever thinking like that.

It's pointless to hope.

He discarded hope a long time ago. ]

A word to the wise: hope is a pointless emotion. All it can do is die.

[miseris_socios]

Maybe in one person. Not in everyone.

[And with that said, he heads back to the main group.]