Group 1: Kunzite & Estelle

[dramatispersonae]

The room you find yourself in is a bit odd. It's clearly just a white tent with a table and chairs in the middle; on the table is a single picture book. But the walls of the tent have been sloppily painted to look like a room, a bookcase painted on one wall, a bed, a basket of apples. The paint seems wet, elements dripping and blurring into each other and the ground below.

Comments

ROUND 1

[dramatispersonae]

In front of you, you see a picture book which is almost more of a toy catalog -- images of all sorts of toys for children from dolls to teddy bears and beyond.

Marjory's voice comes hesitantly: "Please... make a toy. Um, it can't be just any toy, but it can be, too. It'll accompany the main character on a story we'll tell. You can't control the main character or anything else, but you can influence her through the toy s-so keep that in mind. You can make it look like whatever you want. A stuffed toy, or a toy soldier, or whatever you like. You need to give it one flaw, too, and one positive trait. Like... it could be protective, but missing a button. P-please discuss and decide quickly."

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[supersensitive]

It should be a fluffy toy.

Re: DISCUSSION

[ahorseforgood]

That seems fine...

[a little diffident]

Re: DISCUSSION

[fullmoonblooms]

I do like the idea of something fluffy.

TURN-IN

[dramatispersonae]

Re: TURN-IN

[adropintheocean]

Our proposed toy is a soft plush animal with a puppy's body, teddy bear ears, and a bunny's soft tail. It is covered all over in incredibly soft, fluffy fur, and has squishable paw pads.

Its positive trait is that it is extremely supportive; a companion the main character can rely on.

Its negative trait is that it is also extremely stubborn, and not above arguing with the main character if they have different ideas about how best to proceed in a situation.

ROUND 2

[dramatispersonae]

DISCUSSIONS

[dramatispersonae]

Individual 'pages' of the story will be fast-paced individual turn-in with no discussion requirement. Please use this section for if your characters wish to talk during the storytelling.

Re: DISCUSSIONS

[ahorseforgood]

Ah. . .

[. . . doesn't seem to know how to respond to page 4.]

Re: DISCUSSIONS

[ahorseforgood]

[WE'RE ALSO DISCUSSING PAGE 5

GOSH.]

PAGE 1

[dramatispersonae]

The picture book closes and reopens to show an image of a little girl with brown ringlets dangling from one hand the SOFT, SUPPORTIVE BUT STUBBORN CHIMERA.

"Marlinchen's mother married a new man. They had been poor before, and it had often been difficult to see where their next meal was coming from. But the new man was friendly, and if not rich he was well off, with a garden and orchard of his own. He had a son, too, who became Marlinchen's brother, and the two got along nicely. But the boy was older and would inherit, and the mother dreamed that Marlinchen would be able to inherit instead, would be the sole recipient. She cautioned Marlinchen to not love her brother too much. After all, he might betray her later in life, leave her with nothing; something similar had happened to her mother before. Disturbed, that night, Marlinchen clutched her CHIMERA to her chest and asked what she should believe, how to react?"

((PLAYER INPUT: Please leave your thoughts for the toy to pass on, individually. The toy cannot take action directly but can influence Marlinchen. You do not need to discuss as a group; I'll take all the input as a whole and move on after a break for replies - 10 minutes-ish, or after everyone's in))

Re: PAGE 1

[supersensitive]

...It's okay to love your brother. Sometimes people get hurt, but it would be sad to never love anyone because they might hurt you, right? It's okay to trust him.

Re: PAGE 1

[ahorseforgood]

. . . if this worries you, the solution could be to build a life that won't require him to give you his inheritance, rather than not loving him. . . love in your life benefits both people, him and yourself, and it is not worth forgoing.

Re: PAGE 1

[adropintheocean]

He's older, but you're both still young. It's all right to love him, and your mother too; it's not a given that things will go to that extreme at all.

...it may be a good idea to start thinking early about how to be more self-sufficient as you get older yourself, though. That way, you won't have to fear having nothing.

Re: PAGE 1

[fullmoonblooms]

I don't think you should hold back on loving someone simply because they might betray you. Give your brother a chance; maybe you can both find a solution about the inheritance together.

Round 3

[dramatispersonae]

The toy you've made has become tattered and dirty, bloodied and stained. It looks up at you with an intelligent, eye, vengeful but deeply loving and protective.

"Will you destroy it, and its damage along with it, and be rid of it? Will you keep it exactly as it is? Will you change it in some way - your choice? Please answer individually. Please. I need as many voices as possible. I need to know the best option. Not just what one person is telling me. Not just what I'm telling myself."

Re: Round 3

[ahorseforgood]

Keep it, but do something to make it your own instead, a talisman or shield you can keep with you. If your brother is not the one telling you these words, you need to make your reminder into something that has your voice instead. I do not know what would make it your own -- cleaning it, or giving it a name, or only keeping it close. That part is your choice. But--

You need to remember that you're loved by people who do not do it with ulterior motives; you need to remember that you weren't at fault for what others did; you need to remember that you need to protect yourself, even against someone who's said she does evil in your name. Those are all messages that you shouldn't lose sight of. So keep your toy, and make those words into something you can listen to again and again.

Re: Round 3

[dramatispersonae]

[Go to Endgame]

Re: Round 3

[supersensitive]

He's been able to guide you before, right? Shouldn't you ask him? Do what will make him happy. If he can't tell you, then all you can do is guess, and trust yourself to make the right choice.

Re: Round 3

[dramatispersonae]

[Go to Endgame]

Re: Round 3

[fullmoonblooms]

Ask him what he wants, and work with him. Do what you need to in order to ensure that you're both happy.

Re: Round 3

[dramatispersonae]

[Go to Endgame]

Re: Round 3

[adropintheocean]

[quietly]

I would give it the ability to move forward and make its own choices, to be able to confront or walk away from the damage dealt to it on its own.

The scars and experiences you went through -- they're not for others to excise, or to be erased through some kind of magic. They are there for you to take hold of and find value in your own way; to help you grow.

Re: Round 3

[dramatispersonae]

[Go to Endgame]