seaofhearts | BETA ROUND END

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BETA ROUND END

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."

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[He can't move. He can't get to Sasuke, summoning Dike is useless here, he doesn't have a weapon that can even hope to hurt either the Rabbit or the Cat. The Rabbit's right - he's starting to numb to it, he's starting to numb to everything, even to the point where he plunged his hands into the guts and hearts of everyone.]

[He'd operated on his own mother and he'd been able to numb his heart to even that.]

[He really is no better, is he? His heart hurts, vaguely, but that's nothing new. It's an ache that's been there a long time, hasn't it? He can't do anything, he has to do something, he's helpless...]

[Words are useless now. Weapons are useless now. But the anger growing in his chest is familiar, even if it's refined to a sharper point now. It's not a sawblade, it's a spear. A spear of righteous anger, and he pushes against the force holding him back, straining his muscles, crying out in his heart...]

[... Nothing. Even all of his anger, which is quickly draining away... he can't do anything. And as his anger ebbs, the more vacant look in his eyes returns. Hollow. Numbness. He'll still do the right thing... but it's hard to feel passionate about... anything.]

... You win, I guess. For now.

[He wants to turn away, but he can't. If he has to accept this... he has a responsibility to at least watch.]

[ The Cat has been watching with great amusement, but he's finally going to speak up. Something Hinata and Ken both need to hear, especially now that at least one of them's tinkering on the abyss. ]

Y'know, as I recall... One of the biggest reasons that kid wants to disappear... Is people forcin' him to do things he doesn't want.

[ He'll snicker into one of his paws now, watching these two. ]

...Ain't that what you're doin' right now, both of ya? Disregardin' what he wants and tryin' to force him to come along?

[He glances over at the Cat, trying to keep his temper in check. He's right, he knows he's right...]

[But he can't help but growl. It's a guttural thing, deeper than one would think he could make. His Persona can't appear, not like this, but there's a definite feeling of something straining at a leash.]

[Persona, even evolved ones, still are tamed Shadows. And all of his feelings have to be going somewhere...]

That's--

[ His voice fades out, his anger stilling over like the waves on the beach, although his red eyes shift from the Cat, who he's still mad at, although the anger is subdued then towards Sasuke. Thanks for rubbing salt in the wound. ]

Ngh...! Why does it have to be like this?! If only-- if only I--!

[ He's mad, but it's not just simply directed at the Rabbit, the Cat, and their God. Hinata Hajime is frustrated at himself for being so weak. For being unable to do anything. If only his world was a bit kinder, a bit safer. . .

He then looks at Sasuke, pleadingly. ]

Do you really... want to do this...?

[ It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. He doesn't want to see this happen in front of him, the idea of someone disappearing forever. It's enough to bring a tear to his eye. ]

Edited (i forgot something) 2016-05-14 02:50 (UTC)

[His head tips down in a tiny nod. Just barely noticeable, really. The Rabbit has the key, and he isn't going to put up anything remotely close to a fight.]

...Even before I came here...

This is what I planned to do all along.

[To be erased, completely and utterly. If he'd had his way... No one in his world would even remember him to miss him. He would have simply disappeared along with that snake spirit, leaving no trace-- except, perhaps, a body trapped in eternal slumber at the foot of a forgotten torii gate.

It would be like he'd never existed to begin with. And everything would have been better for it.]

... You see?

[ This way will be simpler. The rather long, slender Key twirls in the White Rabbit's hand a moment. He hadn't expected CHESHIRE of all people to speak up, but... well. He'll pick a less painful spot instead. The abdomen. ]

... If done this way, your disappearance would be instantaneous. I'm not cruel enough to let someone writhe here forever, you know. Even I know disappearing piece by piece into foam would be more unpleasant than simply becoming a doorway.

[Ken doesn't say anything, but just stares at Sasuke. There's nothing left to do. Nothing left to fight. This is Sasuke's decision, as much as he hates it.]

[As much as it makes him feel hollow inside, he can't do a thing.]

[Just like always.]

Damn it. . .!

[ Frustration builds up in his voice and he wants to slam his fist on the floor, but he doesn't. If he wasn't crying earlier (only the smallest starts of tears were shown) he sure as hell is now. ]

I-- I won't forget this, alright?! I won't-- [ Fuck, he's nearly choking on his tears. ] I won't forget about you!

[ He's upset. He doesn't think that this is the right answer. There should be another way, but it's not coming to him right now. He wants to curse the god that kickstarted all of this. So why can't he-- why can't he do anything!? He can feel the pain spreading in his chest, enough for him to shatter into pieces. Enoshima would be laughing at him right now, huh... For all his talk about the future, he still couldn't craft the image that he had planned at all in the slightest bit.

This sucks. This really sucks. ]

[ ... He wants to point out... ]

... Some people are happier if they reroll the dice. To be given a second chance at that is more than a lot of people would get. Better to end a life you're not enjoying then to cling to something not worth having.

[ He'll look at Sasuke. ]

Are you ready for them to leave?

...No. It would be better if you forgot.

[It occurs to him that even now, he's hurting people again. But hopefully...

Hopefully this will put a stop to that for good.

His eyes flicker briefly to the key as the Rabbit moves it. Gut wounds aren't usually the first to come to mind when one thinks of instantaneous death - hence why it wasn't normally a point he or his brother were taught to aim for - but if the Rabbit says it will be, then hopefully he can take him at his word. And if not? Well.

Too late to regret it now.]

...Yeah.

Maybe. Maybe not. But you made the choice to do this, Sasuke.

We'll make our choice to remember you or not.

[His smile is... pained. It's taking a lot of energy to pull it on, but he has to. If Sasuke's going out...]

[... Better to go out to a smile rather than a blank, worried face. Even if it hurts.]

[ Well, the stomach is important for this. He'll understand in a moment. The World seems to begin shaking as the White Rabbit forcefully inserts the Key into Sasuke's abdomen--like something is changing. Everything begins to grow darker, as if someone has spilled ink upon the pages of a book.

The churning of metal machinery can be heard in the distance. The only things that seem to still be illuminated are the Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit's eyes, as well as the path to the wardrobe leading out through the door.

It's opened now. They can go back. But it'll only lead them to their respective worlds. The moment they step through, they will be overtaken by a sensation of being flung somewhere, as though their body and soul had separated from itself.

It'll feel about like when you fall asleep and then you "fall" back into bed.

Before that, though, through the crack of the cupboard door inside the swirling darkness that's become the hub world, the White Rabbit--and the Cheshire Cat--can be seen tending to Sasuke, pulling the Key out of him, which the Rabbit wipes off and puts back into his back pocket. How it fits is a mystery (one of many left unanswerable, in this odd world), but the more important question is this:

Why Sasuke's body no longer looks like a body, why it's becoming see-through. His consciousness is already fading. It's not like he could fight what they intend. He's just a doorway now, after all. He won't last much longer. ]

... You almost caused me to lose him.

[ The White Rabbit says to the Cheshire Cat, red eyes practically glowing. ]

Edited 2016-05-14 06:27 (UTC)

He wasn't about to leave and you know it. Too little to go back to.

[ Don't blame him, okay. He's not as stupid as he seems, and he resents the fact that he's being made into the villain here. ...Well, worse one than he is. ]

... The mob mentality would've caused him to eventually change his mind, and you know it. With those two still functioning, who knows. We'll have to send the others back, too. I don't want them. He's the only one I want.

[ ... A small sigh. ]

... Still, I didn't expect you to do that. We couldn't use the other boy. He would have... been awful. Unpalatable.

[ Perhaps the worst part of this entire scenario is that some part of Sasuke's mind must still be semi-aware, some small part. But... does it matter? He chose this. They never said becoming a Door meant your body faded. ]

When they wake up, I'm locking their Doors special. I don't want to risk them coming back uninvited. That one, especially... he could cause us some trouble.

...Nah, that mob mentality was pushin' him further and further away. They were just as bad as the folks who forced him into things back home.

[ He'll roll his shoulders in a shrug. ]

...I'll take the other two back. From here, do what ya want. It's like it always is, waitin' until the next group of Alices shows up.

... You might be right. Even so... I didn't want to risk it. That other girl... she was disgusting.

[ He spits on the ground. ]

I don't even care that you had most of her. I had my eye on this one from the beginning. ... I'll make sure the paths are connected so those two adults get back, but... to be honest, they've probably already succumbed to the illness. They'll probably never awaken.

[ He'll kneel down in front of Sasuke's strangely ethereal form and run a hand over his face, a smile of sharp, pointed teeth breaking out despite himself. ]

... I don't know why we started taking adults. They're so filthy. Children or teens like him... they're much better. Not as sullied...

'Cause we can't be picky eaters. We found a way to soften 'em up, so why not? Then we have lots of chances to get goin'. Or do you want to disappear?

[ Rabbit gets to eat this one. He doesn't need that kid. Lalli's provided him with a nice, big boost. ]

Enjoy the kid, either way. I'd say this ended better than usual, though! We both got what we wanted.

... No. I don't... want to disappear. I... I'll never...

[ ... It's probably the most genuine thing he's ever said. Stubborn, almost. Childish, even. ]

... We need to find a way to make them taste better.

We'll figure it out. Figurin' out how to soften 'em up to begin with was a challenge, but I'm sure we can manage it.

[ He'll snicker. ]

...They still taste better than frogs, though. Can't deny that!

... I noticed something. You-know-who's been stirring since that one Alice... what was his name, Hinata? Got really... agitated.

... I'm concerned.

[ This is said as he leans down over the space where the barely visible spot of Sasuke used to be, mostly energy left, now. Yet, somehow, it looks like he pulls something off with his mouth and tears.

There's no noise. No cries or screams of agony. A distilled, trapped soul can't do that sort of thing, not one so trapped in being a portal. ]

We have to be more careful. I thought it was sealed up. And it is, but...

Not like he can do anythin'. No one can reach 'im. All that brat can do is scream at nothing while we do our thing.

[ He'll shrug. It's not a concern, in his mind. ]

... Mmm... you say that because you're not the one being forced to babysit it.

[ Something seems to be leaking all over the floor, but it's not corporeal. Some kind of silvery substance, barely visible to the eye. It runs down the White Rabbit's face where one might expect blood, but there is no.

... And that's it. The conversation ends there. The last thing seen is another not-quite-real piece being torn off between overly-sharp teeth and then the Door slides shut on its own; Hinata and Ken will awaken back in whatever place they fell asleep in, as if nothing had ever happened.

It is now morning.

Their bodies are completely fine. ]

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BETA ROUND END

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npcs from here on out, we hope you enjoyed your round!

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