CITRINE

[dramatispersonae]

You're standing together on what seems to be the main street of a small village, paved with cobblestones, with low buildings standing silent on either side. If you look in any of them, you'll find them dark and empty.

In contrast to the Ring, it's rather chilly. The sky is slate-grey, and it seems like there's snow falling, blanketing you and the village in pure white. On closer inspection, the snow turns out to be ash – but the bleaching is literal. Even when you brush it off, your skin, your hair, your clothes, and your keys remain ash-coloured.

A single, feeble light flickers further down the street.

Comments

round three

[dramatispersonae]

You reach the final three doors. The girl waits in front of them, looking between you anxiously.

“While her body is strengthened and warmed, there is the last thing. Through the left door, you may give her strength, by exchanging it for her weakness. Through the middle, you may give her this with your mind. Through the right door, with your heart. This will be your most difficult task. Choose wisely.”

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[inherited]

[MMM LING'S STUMP

I


mean]

Whatever this is, I bet it's permanent. What do you guys think?

Re: discussion

[thankyouverymooch]

[ STOP EYEING MY STUMP. I am oblivious to your urge to nom on it however ]

You already know my answer. Short of death and losing memories or parts of my personality, I'm fine with everything.

Re: discussion

[inherited]

Mind and heart sound like that's just what's going to happen, but you can do the strength one and I'll take the others.

... I'm pretty messed up anyway.

Re: discussion

[thankyouverymooch]

Then I'll take the left door. If you're going to do two tasks, you should pick the first one. I'll do the second, and then it'll be up to you again.

Re: discussion

[thankyouverymooch]

... Most difficult task, huh. Want to do all three?

Re: discussion

[inherited]

We can quest to fix whatever is taken. I'll take two, since that ... stump is gonna take a quest of its own.

[his voice quavered when he said that part with the stump]

decision

[dramatispersonae]

Re: decision

[inherited]

Middle.

Re: room

[thankyouverymooch]

left

Re: decision

[inherited]

Right.

room

[dramatispersonae]

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

In the middle of this room is Firebird's golden sword.

You are aware that when you pick up the sword, you will be trapped in a repeated feedback loop of your worst memory (or memories), over and over. If you do not have any particularly bad memories, you will experience one of being burned alive. This will not end until after the game.

Only one of you has to do this.

Re: room

[inherited]

[wow, this is the worst time of his life for this.

ever.

Riku walks toward the sword and takes it, though, and gets a feedback loop of being possessed by Ansem, of fighting Sora, of hurting him, over and over and over again ...]

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

Y...you go tiger.

The sword vanishes. Another match appears, and this time the little girl is the one to pick it up and strike it. Her basket is now empty.

The back wall crumbles, revealing the open village gate beyond. The village is bright now, bustling.

But you're going back to do another door.

Re: room

[thankyouverymooch]

... you're not very lucky, are you.

Re: room

[inherited]

Just go.

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

In the middle of this room is Firebird's golden sword.

You are aware that when you pick up the sword, you will be compelled to run yourself through the heart with it, and then twist the blade. You will not die or lose consciousness, but you will feel all the pain associated with this, and you will not be healed until after the game.

Only one of you has to do this.

Re: room

[thankyouverymooch]

[ ... oh.

And now there is hesitation, because even if he knows he won't die, all logic says THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RUN YOURSELF THROUGH THE HEART WITH A SWORD.

But eventually going to pick up the sword and do the task, twisting the blade and screaming at the pain now because holy shit ]

Re: room

[inherited]

[drifting closer, looking concerned, but pretty caught up in all that blood.

I thought you were stronger than that.

over and over





then he's turning sharply to do another door, yes]

Re: room

[thankyouverymooch]

[ he is sort of realizing you + blood is a bad combination right now, so it's going to take him a bit for him to follow after him-- which works for the better anyway, because it takes him a while to be able to move at all. And he's just sort of stumbling as he walks anyway, what with all that pain and stuff. ]

These guys are seriously annoying.

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

In the middle of this room is Firebird's golden sword.

You are aware that when you pick up the sword, you will experience absolute despair and loneliness. Any defenses you have against this – such as enjoying negative feelings, or being unable to feel very much in the first place – will be battered down completely. This effect will not end until after the game.

Only one of you has to do this.

Re: room

[inherited]

Here ... goes ...

[his voice is shaky as he heads toward the sword without much conviction.

and takes it]

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

WELL THAT SUCKS.

Another flame figure – an old woman – is coming up the road beyond the village gate.

The girl takes off running past you, straight into the old woman's arms. They embrace, then both turn to you as the scene fades . . . you hear a faint, crackling 'thank you.'

And you find yourselves at endgame.