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. ]

[not_that_sasuke]

[Sasuke accepts the key without a word, looking totally unsurprised at this revelation. Once in hand, his grip immediately shifts to hold for what it is - a knife, meant for stabbing, rather than something as innocent as a key.

Though he looks calm, his body is tense. It would not be wise to try getting close to him right now, not when he's ready to move the instant anyone comes into range.]

...

...You say that the person who should be sacrificed is "the most evil" one. But...

Shouldn't it be "the one who doesn't want to go back?"

[Seems like the fairest option to him.]

[apatheticguide]

[ ... Heh. That amuses him, greatly. ]

That's not necessarily true, though, is it, Alice? The one who ends up becoming the "door"... the one who makes the "pathway"... they may still want to leave, sometimes. It isn't always like that.

But, in your case... if you want to spin it that way, sure.

[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?

[miseris_socios]

Just because you don't want to, doesn't mean you shouldn't.

Sasuke. Don't do this.

[Sacrificing people... it's just like before, isn't it? Except this time he actually might get a chance to say goodbye properly.]

[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!

[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 ]

[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]

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. ]

[miseris_socios]

No.

[He knows that it's good advice, but...]

If you give up on people, then there might be no one to help them.

[patchworkcat]

So it's better to just burn yourself out into an early pyre?

[ This kid's too idealistic. ]

But really. Shouldn't you be yelling at the Rabbit about this? You've all got back what you were lookin' for that I stole. He's the one that gave you the Key. I'm just confirming what he said!

[miseris_socios]

Yeah, but here's the thing, Cat.

You're a dick.

[patchworkcat]

Yeah, but the Rabbit is the worst of all. I mean, what kind of Rabbit has sharp teeth? You saw 'em when he gave that Key away, right? At least I make sense for a Cat.

[ He'll give his snicker. ]

[miseris_socios]

Most cats don't talk, either. You don't make sense for a Cat.

[patchworkcat]

And you don't make sense for a boy. You're pretty broken, kid.

[ He'll just keep that grin. Didn't take the bait, huh? ]