CAPTIVE GAME: LiliS & Eichi

[idolpro]

[ You're in a room with no doors or windows, about the size of a living room. Depending on how many of you are around, it might feel a little cramped. The walls and ceiling are draped with fabrics, the floor covered in colorful rugs and piles of sitting cushions, but you can see the dirt ground and untreated wood walls peeking through in places. There are three or so oil lamps to light the space, each placed on a stump-like round little table that isn't big enough to hold much else. It's kind of cozy, but...

Most of the cushions are embroidered with an array of colors, but there's one pillow in particular, set aside from the rest, that's one solid color – Iris's position color. ]

Comments

[syckophant]

O-of course...

[It's REAL HARD. TALKING AS HE IS.]

I'm not about to just. Sit here and take whatever you were planning on dishing out.

[worthathousand]

[ looking up a moment from her first aid work; her voice is clipped, matter-of-fact ]

We were planning to create the illusory smell of onions.
Make no mistake that you chose this for yourself. By your own hand on the gun.

[syckophant]

[He laughs at that, bitterly.]

And so if you were held captive during a game, you would sit there patiently and await your opponent's first move? I can't even use my powers.

And before you ask- yes, I do think it's stupid to trust each other.

[vitainmorte]

...

[ staring at him, closely. At his mouth. ]

I see. You're not a person after all...

[syckophant]

[HUFFS, certain that he is only conscious because the axe is still in him.]

Just because I'm not 'human' anymore doesn't mean I'm not a 'person'.

[vitainmorte]

[ slowly shakes her head, and pushes herself up off of him, still clutching the gun ]

A person shouldn't-- wouldn't... do something like that. At least, I don't think so.

...

They shouldn't.

[syckophant]

That's just naive, don't be stupid. A 'person' wouldn't attempt to defend themself? I shot that boy in the shoulder, and I've lost my wing, and you... you say I'm not a person.

[The... tears start anew as he grits his teeth and tries to turn his head so she DOESN'T SEE.]

Next time you are captive, sit there and take whatever your captors want to give you, then! Prove your humanity!

[vitainmorte]

Defending yourself from-- onions?

[syckophant]

It isn't like you all confided in me what your goals or plans were. What would you assume as a hostage to people you don't know?

[vitainmorte]

... you don't know them? There isn't that many people in this city...

[ a pause ]

I don't think I would shoot someone who posed no threat to me.

[flamecursed]

[ Still just watching him.

She... kind of... gets it... not the last part, but the first. ]

I suppose this was to be expected.

[syckophant]

At least someone has sense.

[Even if that someone has an axe. In his body. And dropped one of his wings.]

[flamecursed]

Hmm. Brace yourself, then.

[ Not like that's gonna help, though. Whenever it seems like there's a good moment, she's going to pry her axe free of his body, though she doesn't turn away from the inevitable blood that comes with it. ]

[syckophant]

[So it hurt going in. It hurt being stuck there. It hurt being sit on and having his arm twisted, but the axe being pulled out is everything. The pain is renewed, and blood flows freely, and Eichi... is a delicate idol boy.

He does not remain conscious for even a SECOND LONGER, because. Most of the adrenaline is gone so everything rushes to him so hard.]

[worthathousand]

[ Watching the fresh gout of blood, and Edelweiss's collected reaction. And Eichi passing out, too.

A short sigh, then she drops to one knee and begins working to staunch that blood as well. ]

That was well done. I hadn't realized I was no longer the only trained combatant here.
Fetch me some of that fabric, though, please? [ gesturing her chin towards the various drapery ]

We might as well try to keep this mess from getting any worse.

[flamecursed]

I suppose it just came naturally.

[ Though it feels weird to say that.

She's going to go cut some free, returning with a bundle in her arms. ]

[worthathousand]

[ Is that weird to say? She wouldn't know. ]

Would you believe me if I told you that my first sense of a weapon in my hand came from an icicle? —In this place, I mean.

[ accepting the fabric bundle, then finding a frayed edge to allow her to rip off a narrow strip ]

[worthathousand]

Foolish boy. [ boy said with a subtle twist ]

I told you clearly: I had no desire to hurt one of Ruby's children. And then you hurt one of mine.

Trust a mother's devotion, even if you are too lonely a creature to trust that another might just be kind.

[syckophant]

"Mother" doesn't mean anything to me other than someone who wants to exert power over others. Your 'devotion' might as well only be to yourself, and I am no 'child' of Ruby's. You presume too much.

[worthathousand]

...In that case, if that is all you know, I am sorry that you have not had better.
[ that, at least, does sound genuine ]

But with or without that love, the truth of your situation was there, and you could have learned it easily.
Instead, you shot the very person who gave you the most. Perhaps you might consider a lesson in that.

[syckophant]

I wonder if it ever occurs to you that people don't listen to the words you say.

All I hear is some self-righteous mumbling. If you could stop talking, please, it's distracting me from the pain, and I'm really trying to soak it in.

[worthathousand]

[ Her lips tighten—just a moment, but it's a tell, if he's got half an eye for recognizing them, that something of that stung. ]

...They generally listen a great deal, actually.

[ And then she pushes herself to her feet, and only returns after he has passed out. ]