❧ who am I?

[dramatispersonae]

You head into the hedge maze. Immediately after everyone has crossed the stone, the leaves rustle loudly, and the hedges spring to life behind you, swiftly blocking the way back. Your only option is to proceed forward.

The pathway turns slightly up ahead, then turns again, twisting and winding deeper into the garden, before eventually opening up into a small clearing.

Comments

[dramatispersonae]

The clearing is perfectly circular, with no visible exits. In the center, there is a round, glassy pool, reflecting the blue sky above. All of the leaves on the hedges surrounding are no longer green, but sharp and glassy, thousands of tiny leaf-shaped mirrors that reflect everything around them ad infinitum. There is a doorway-shaped break in the glass on the opposite side of the clearing.

A young girl sits on a small stone bench, peering into the pool. Her features are petite, nose slightly upturned, long hair in a straight braid. In comparison to the bright colors of the world around, she is perfectly monochromatic, like she's simply stepped out of a black and white world into the blindingly vivid garden.

"Welcome," she says, with a voice that sounds like it's coming from the bottom of a well. "Tell me, why did you choose to come this way . . .?"

[puppy_loves]

Hello.

[his own voice is rather tinny]

I suppose it's a pressing question. "Who I am."

[dramatispersonae]

She looks up slowly—where her irises should be, your own reflection looks back at you. "Do you not know?"

[puppy_loves]

Not entirely, no. Do you know who you are?

[dramatispersonae]

"I know some things," she says. "But sometimes it's hard to know what's what."

[puppy_loves]

Yes.

[dramatispersonae]

She leans forward a little. "How do we find out?"

[puppy_loves]

Questions, perhaps?

[dramatispersonae]

"I'm asking questions. I'm asking questions . . ."

[puppy_loves]

Why do you feel like you don't know who you are?

[primetimehero]

[ JUST POINTS TO THE DOG ]

[dramatispersonae]

The girl . . . blinks at him, eyes flickering with mirrors instead of irises.

"You just followed the dog?"

[primetimehero]

Yep.

[ #legitimatelifechoices ]

[dramatispersonae]

"Do you have any thoughts on this yourself?"

[primetimehero]

I know who I am. I'm Ben Tennyson, wielder of the Omnitrix. Ben Ten, teenage superhero, adored by the masses. Chronosome of Ruby. I mean, call me what you want, but it's still all me.

[dramatispersonae]

"Do you think a name makes an identity?"

[primetimehero]

Nah. Like I said - call me what you want, it's still all me.

[dramatispersonae]

She shakes her head. "I don't understand."

[puppy_loves]

...Hello Ben.

[primetimehero]

'Sup?

[puppy_loves]

Well. Questioning identity. You know how it is.

[primetimehero]

Sounds rough, buddy.

[ a beat ]

Why do you feel like you don't know who you are? I mean. Amnesia aside.

[ i'm helpful ]

[puppy_loves]

...it's complicated...

[primetimehero]

Okay? I mean, don't talk about it if you don't want, but this is kinda the place for it, right?

[puppy_loves]

I ... I don't know. For me, or for her?