Trauma Game

[redatheart]

[What the fuck is this.

What the fuck are these decorations.

What the fuck are these rules.]

They cannot possibly be serious about this.

Comments

[ballstouching]

-- Y'know, I've got a bad feeling they are.

[redatheart]

This is beyond ridiculous.

[ballstouching]

You're tellin' me..

[ he runs a hand through his hair, stressed. ]

This is what they mean by bad games, huh?

[redatheart]

I can imagine how it might be worse. But not by much.

[staring at him for a few moments, and then, somewhat forcefully:]

I'll do it.

[ballstouching]

[ he's taken off guard by that. ]

What - - you've gotta let me have some input!

[ since it's fairly easy to guess what he means. ]

[redatheart]

What's your input?

[not dismissive exactly, but he already sounds pretty determined]

[ballstouching]

[ he's not sure he has any input, really, but it's still the principle of the matter ]

Shouldn't we talk about it first?

[redatheart]

I spoke to Miles before we were transported here. Even if we are unable to offer a fitting sacrifice, it won't stick. Either these Echoes will revive us, or our patron will.

Either way. I can handle it. What is there to talk about?

[ballstouching]

-- Okay, first of all ... I'm fine with it if you're so set.

[ though he still sounds more than a little uneasy with it ]

Just -- it doesn't hurt to ask first.

[redatheart]

If I had asked, what would you have said?

[ballstouching]

... I woulda agreed, but that's not the point.

[redatheart]

It would have made you feel better? To say, "yes, you do it"?

[ballstouching]

It would've made me feel better than you just saying you'll do it straight off the bat. It's not like -- I want you to die.

[redatheart]

This way, the responsibility is entirely out of your hands. It's better.

[and absolutely in no way could it be troubling]

...We still need to think of a sacrifice. Will you help me with that?

[ballstouching]

Oh, wow, so I'm off fucking scott-free? That's a relief.

[ the sarcasm is dripping in his voice, and he's clearly mad just at the sentiment. ]

And -- of course I'll help.

[redatheart]

[just shrugging off the first sentiment. feelings can be later]

The game aspect of all this...if only some of the offers will be accepted, then it seems likely that the teams chosen would be the winning ones. Perhaps they're judging based on creativity...or level of suffering. I can't decide which.

[ballstouching]

... It's not like you'n I have got much to offer, right now.

[redatheart]

Not memories, no. But I suppose I could offer...

[Nadia. Nadia telling him that he DOES have courage]

I'm no sure it's enough to equal a life, though. Maybe every memory of her, but...I don't think I'm willing to offer that. Even for this. Even for winning.

[ballstouching]

-- You don't gotta offer anything you wouldn't give up. But remember it's ... Your own life on the line here.

[redatheart]

Yes. I realize that.

I could always offer a limb. I suppose.

[ballstouching]

[ a bit of a wince ]

You think that'd be enough?

[redatheart]

I don't know. It's also not terribly creative. If that's what they're interested in.

Perhaps something more intangible. Though I'm still not sure what would be enough. A loss of short-term memory? For a certain time period.

[ballstouching]

That'd sure be a pain in the neck.

[ ... hm ]

Would it be permanent?

[redatheart]

If I was offering, I would ask for a short period of time. A week, perhaps.

[sighing]

Creative, but not as immediately traumatic as losing a limb. I'm not sure which would be more likely to appeal to them. What is enough.

[ballstouching]

Kinda wished I'd asked before we wound up in here ... But we couldn't have known.

[ a frustrated exhale. ]

I could lose -- my sight.

[redatheart]

[there's a set to his jaw that indicates just what he thinks of League offering anything, but he doesn't say no. yet.]

If we both offered something...maybe individually they would not have to be as bad.

[ballstouching]

[ the implication doesn't pass him. ]

... When'd you get the impression I'd just let you take care of everything? 'Course we're at least splitting it.

[redatheart]

[a loooooong moment, and then he nods. Fine, fine.]

One physical and one intangible, then. We can cover our bases that way.

[ballstouching]

[ he exhales, at least glad he didn't have to argue that. ]

You decided?

[redatheart]

If you are comfortable with losing your sight, then that can be the physical. If not, I can take the physical aspect on.

You'll specify a time period, though. It may ultimately be up to them, but we should at least try. Don't leave it entirely to their mercy.

[ballstouching]

I'm -- fine choosing it. And yeah, yeah, I'll pick a time.

[ he hesitates ]

A week ... That sounds alright. So you're gonna pick something non-physical?

[redatheart]

Short-term memory. As I said, not entirely traumatic, but it should be frustrating enough.

[ballstouching]

Alright ... So we're gonna stick with those.

DECISION

[redatheart]

[taking the quill and....writing, I guess.

"We offer two things: Loss of sight for League, and the loss of short term memory for myself. Both for a week only. I will take the penalty, if the offer is not enough."]

(ooc: Ampere's rating is a 6/10, League's is 7/10)

FAILURE

[cardless]

[Your offering was REJECTED.]

[Words appear on the ground before you in glowing green. “Your sacrifice(s) are to die, by quill or by ink. Make your final peace, then meet your fate.”]



[Of course, if you wait for longer than fifteen minutes, the matter will be taken out of your hands. The oddly metallic pattern of roses on the wall, with their unnervingly long thorns, peel off the paper and lash out — they snake themselves around the doomed sacrifice and squeeze, ever so gently and ever so slowly. It’s a long death by exsanguination for you poor lost soul, as the thorns stab deep, like so many tiny knives.

Not to worry, though! They will only hurt the sacrifice, even if the other partner tries to attack them or pull them off. The thorns won’t so much as cut the skin.]

[redatheart]

[............oh.

He...closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them to look at the quill and ink.]

And you couldn't provide anything more immediate. Of course.

[ballstouching]

[ ... shit.


he looks alarmed between Ampere and the quill -- and the ink, and they'd already made the decision but the finality of it happening -- having their offer rejected -- seems to just be hitting him. ]

Fuck, I'm -- sorry.

[redatheart]

[shaking his head]

It was my decision. We did the best we could with the offer.

It's not nearly as permanent, in any event.

[he...sounds surer than he looks]

[ballstouching]

It's still kinda a big deal, dying!

[redatheart]

[just...looking at the pen and quill again]

Yes. I'm aware.

I'm not...

[nah, he made the decision, he's not allowed to lay trauma at League's door, he'll figure this out himself.]

[ballstouching]

[ he watches Ampere's gaze for that, anxiety very clear on his face -- but he's also assuming Ampere isn't quite having an easy time with this either. ]

Shit, do you need -- help?

[redatheart]

No.

[it's a fairly immediate response. No not making teammate kill him

...but which one which one will be faster and hurt less......maybe the quill. Picking it up and....hesitating again, sharp edge hovering over a wrist.]

[ballstouching]

[ that's a pretty self-explanatory motion and he nods before ... closing his eyes, pretty certain Ampere wouldn't want him to watch either. ]

[redatheart]

[he still hesiitates for several very long moments, drawing in an unsteady breath or two.

and then he brings the quill down twice, once on each wrist in the longest, deepest gash he can manage. and tries not to make more than a hissing sound when he does.

aaaaand then sort of just lowers himself to the floor. to wait.]

[ballstouching]

[ it's not hard to tell what the hiss indicates, and still he doesn't open his eyes, waiting -- he's not sure what he's waiting for, exactly, but maybe hoping this will just end soon. ]

[redatheart]

[who fucking knows

it turns out he's not the worst at suppressing pain, so all League will hear are shallow breaths. getting more and more shallow.]

[ballstouching]

[ SOMEHOW THAT MIGHT BE EVEN WORSE ]

[redatheart]

[PROBABLY.

And eventually, eventually there's nothing at all.]