Round 1: Return from Ankh's Heart to the Hub

[worldkeys]

Who: The Alices, and the White Rabbit.
What: Everyone is returned from Ankh's Heart. YOU CHEATERS, YOU.
Where: The World Hub.
Warnings: A lovely bunch of cheating cheaters that Rabbit is, frankly, not sure if he should applaud or be exasperated about.

When they return, the White Rabbit seems like he can't decide if he's annoyed or impressed.

"... Another one, is it? Well... that was at least marginally faster than I'd expected you to go, compared to last time. Maybe I'll get them all back in a decent amount of time. I'll unlock the next Door for you, then."

As always, of course, he fully expects they're going to pester him with random, stupid questions. At the very least, he seems in a better mood than last time.

Comments

[worldkeys]

[ The figure does a little spin in place, then pauses to tilt its entire body to one side, watching Otoha. It's a rather whimsical gesture. ]

I already know that, silly. I'm God. I know everything.

[bakegarasu]

Then you know what I'm missing. And you probably won't tell me what it is, since I'm guessing that's against the rules.

[It's something. Something that's rubbing a ragged hole like a wound, but he can't feel it, doesn't know what it is...]

... I feel pain here. Can you take that away?

[worldkeys]

[ It holds a wispy hand to its 'face', as if in amusement at what he's asking. ]

Whyever would I do any of those things? The first rule of the Alice Worlds is that everyone is Alice, so no one is anyone else. Of course you feel pain. You should hurt.

[ Its tone might be a little more malicious seeming despite the sweet way it says that last part. ]

[bakegarasu]

I'm not supposed to. Even if these aren't our bodies, I don't feel pain when I'm in the armor, either. My soul shouldn't be able to feel it.

[And the truth is that he's afraid of this - afraid of feeling pain. ... Not being able to feel pain was part of why he was called a monster. If he's not a monster... what is he?]

[worldkeys]

[ If they care, they're not really showing much sign of it. ]

... You don't think that's your body, Alice? You don't think that's you? Just because you're dreaming, there shouldn't be any doubt it's you, you know. That's not how the game works.

[bakegarasu]

If it's my body, I shouldn't be feeling pain. If it's not my body and it's my soul, I don't see why I can feel pain, either.

[worldkeys]

[ A grin splits onto the figure's face, and a laugh emits from them. ]

Ahahahaha! So that's your reasoning...? Silly, foolish Alice. I'm God. ... You're just Alice. If you think that kind of thing isn't possible for God... you're wrong.

[bakegarasu]

If it's possible for you to give me the ability to feel pain... what would it take for you to take it away again?

[worldkeys]

[ The figure considers his words for a moment, tapping its chin. ]

What would it take? Well, gosh... I don't know, Alice... what would you be willing to give?

[bakegarasu]

I don't have much here other than...

[Other than his soul, his amulet, and his sword. He needs all of those things. But he's starting to get an idea...]

... The Cat can take things. Things that shouldn't be able to be taken. Did you give him that power? I think... I don't know what he took. I can't remember. You can take memories too, can't you?

[Since this thing is 'God'.]

[worldkeys]

What do you think, Alice? I've already told you the obvious, haven't I?

[ The figure folds its hands behind its back, swinging on its heels. ]

I know what Mister Cheshire Cat took. But, I'm not going to tell you that. That's against the rules.

[bakegarasu]

Of course it is. I figured it was.

[... This may be a bad idea, but...]

You could take more memories, if you give me the ability to not feel pain back, maybe...

[worldkeys]

[ Something about the atmosphere grows... darker. Heavier. And the misty figure's voice seems to take on an edge to it. ]

Oh, Alice... that's boring. Why would I ever want that...? You'd have to give me something worthwhile for something so serious. Watching you play with the others like this is so much fun, you know... I'd hate to take it away.

[bakegarasu]

... You can't have my soul. I need that when I get back home.

[worldkeys]

[ The misty figure snickers. ]

Oh? I never mentioned your soul, but... all right, Alice. Then, there's no chance of a deal.

[bakegarasu]

Well, I don't have much else here.

[It's kind of a problem... hm.]

You could take an arm, as long as it's not my sword arm.

[worldkeys]

[ A shake of the head... sorry, Otoha. ]

Oh, Alice. You're trying so hard. The harder you try, the more inclined I am to make you feel pain twice as hard... hee, hee, hee.

[ The figure will reach out to touch Otoha's forehead, suddenly. Will he try to run? ]

[bakegarasu]

[It's tempting, but no. He doesn't run. He's never run.]

[Never, ex... cept... no. Never.]

[Right?]

[worldkeys]

[ When the figure touches Otoha's forehead, he will experience a brief moment of strange electricity through all the nerves in his body, like all his senses have... heightened, suddenly. Then they'll move their hand downwards, toward his arm. They run a finger over it, and as if stricken by a knife, it will slice open. The wound isn't very deep, but he will bleed, and it will hurt twice as badly as it usually did.

The figure will draw back, giggling. All pain Otoha feels will now be magnified twice as much. ]

[bakegarasu]

[He shivers, frozen in place, and he's suddenly aware of all of his nerves - a connecting system of lightning and flesh. It's... odd, and then the figure is moving again, but he should move but he can't and -]

[And then his arm slices open, and he screams, trying to use his coat to staunch the blood flow. It's agony, and as much as things had hurt before this is so much worse. He falls to the ground, trembling, trying not to throw up. It hurts and it's nearly blinding and there's tears in his eyes and he can't do much more than growl in an attempt to stop screaming.]

[It's hard, so hard, and he can see the red staining his coat. He reaches underneath to check on it but the instant he touches near the wound it's agony and he draws it back, shaking and staring at the blood on his hand.]

[worldkeys]

[ They watch Otoha's reactions and laugh, laugh away, moving back in a wispy way, giggling. He's only bleeding just enough, after all, but his reaction... it's so satisfying to them. ]

Poor, poor Alice. If only you had offered something worthwhile...

A little boy went, into a barn,
And lay down on some hay.
An owl came out, and flew about,
And the little boy ran away!