❧ what do I do?

[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]

In the center of this clearing is a tall, sturdy oak tree, underneath which a knight in full, black armor is resting, leaning up against the trunk. A giant axe, nearly as tall as the knight, is firmly embedded in the ground next to the tree. All around the edges of the clearing, there are dozens of different, narrow paths that seem to lead deeper into the garden.

"Welcome," says the knight, with a voice that echoes faintly, empty and metallic. "Tell me, why did you choose to come this way . . .?"

[allinyourhead]

[oh heeeey you look a lot more like people at home. relaxes a little.]

Because honesty seemed mildly important and I know the answer to the other two questions.

[fullmoonblooms]

-- That was kind of the same for me. I have enough memories to know who I am, and I never really questioned how I felt before but...It's still hard to decided what to do sometimes.

[adropintheocean]

Because I have -- plenty of uncertainty on what course of action to take at the best of times; and Aather and memories have made that more complicated since.

[dramatispersonae]

The knight shifts, armor clanking. "Are you uncertain now? About what to do, where to go . . .?" The question is posed to all of them.

[allinyourhead]

How could I know? I'm on an alien planet, surrounded by alien organics. I don't belong here, but I'm told there's no way back except to stay here. I don't know what I'd find if I did go back.

[fullmoonblooms]

...I missed a lot while I was gone, and I just learned that a Persona friend of mind is having trouble, and several more too. I want to help but I'm not sure how.

[adropintheocean]

I am trying to get back literal years of my life. I don't know what's happened back home. I don't know what's happened to the person I was with. I don't know if I've done what I set out to do. I have a dozen puzzle pieces and no frame in which to fit them.

The same thing here; we have some knowledge in Aather, compiled, but it's less than the sum of its parts. Every time I look in the library, or write up a new set of notes, or participate in a Persona's game -- especially when it takes a tone like this -- I have more questions about what to do, what can be done. Context means a lot and it's often missing, so even the people who have been here for a year or more still run on theories and hope.

Are you uncertain, as well?

estelle

[dramatispersonae]

The light seems to slowly grow dimmer as you continue along the narrow path. It’s difficult to see where you’re going—it starts to seem less of a hedge maze and more of a clustered forest path, wild and winding.

Eventually the path opens up again into another clearing. Standing in a circle are statues, frozen in exaggerated poses, hands outstretched. Their faces are familiar … you can recognize Rita, Fell, Obsidian . . .

Re: estelle

[fullmoonblooms]

[stepping out onto the path and freezing...then moves closer to Rita's statue]

Rita...?

Re: estelle

[dramatispersonae]

There's a slight rustling noise off to the right near the statue of the unicorn. A girl is bent over there, crying softly into her hands.

Re: estelle

[fullmoonblooms]

[--stops, then beelines to the girl by the Unicorn]

Hello?

Re: estelle

[dramatispersonae]

She looks up quickly. It's like looking into a mirror, simply drained of all color—a monochromatic version of yourself, face distraught.

"It's all my fault."

Re: estelle

[fullmoonblooms]

[...kneeling down to be more at level, taking a deep breath and mentally reassuring herself that it's Just A Game]

Why do you think it's your fault...?

waver

[dramatispersonae]

The light seems to slowly grow dimmer as you continue along the narrow path. It’s difficult to see where you’re going—it starts to seem less of a hedge maze and more of a clustered forest path, wild and winding.

Eventually the path opens up again into another clearing. Standing in a circle are statues, frozen in exaggerated poses, hands outstretched. Their faces are familiar … you can recognize Ruka, Bones, Yfandes, The Dog, Cutie Velvet . . .

Re: waver

[adropintheocean]

[NOPE???]

Ah--!

Re: waver

[dramatispersonae]

There's a slight rustling noise off to the right near the statue of the dog. A boy is bent over there, crying hard into his hands.

Re: waver

[adropintheocean]

Hey!

[heading over there, equal parts angry and concerned; touches the boy's shoulder]

Re: waver

[dramatispersonae]

He looks up quickly. It's like looking into a mirror, simply drained of all color—a monochromatic version of yourself, face distraught.

"It's all my fault."

Re: waver

[adropintheocean]

[this game is really rude; there's an edge to his voice]

Uh, why?

tumbler

[dramatispersonae]

The light seems to slowly grow dimmer as you continue along the narrow path. It’s difficult to see where you’re going—it starts to seem less of a hedge maze and more of a clustered forest path, wild and winding. All around you, faces start to appear—whispering, watching with wide empty eyes and mocking smiles.

"You don't belong here."

"You'll never see Rewind again."

"You're useless."

Re: tumbler

[allinyourhead]

[freezes up for a second, then keeps moving, head down and forward like he's leaning into a driving wind.]

And exactly what is this supposed to prove?

Re: tumbler

[dramatispersonae]

The clearing that you step out into is more of the same—dozens of eyes and mouths moving in the darkness, keening sounds and sharp laughs, whispered breaths. The pathway through is directly through the center of them all—getting louder as you go.

There is a girl in the centre of the clearing, curled up with her hands over her ears. Her colors are faded out and monochromatic, like she's stepped out of a black-and-white picture. Her dress used to be something beautiful and elegant, but the sleeves are ripped now, and words are scribbled on her skin in an ashy scrawl. Witch. Outcast. Untrustworthy. Bastard child. Ill omen.

Re: tumbler

[allinyourhead]

Okay, just to be clear, this isn't actually helping me understand anything.

[but sighs and approaches the girl.]

Uh…

Re: tumbler

[dramatispersonae]

She looks up and narrows her eyes, recoiling warily. "What do you want?"