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[ninjabanish]

[TWO HEXAPATH PROMOPTS (hexaprompts, if you will:)

A: Sometime mid-to-late game! It's time for a save point! Which means the party is now making camp in front of a large, glowing crystal, someone has brought out a full cottage from their inventories, and Alice is currently stirring a pot on the campfire. What is everyone else up to while Alice tries to keep dinner in one piece?

B:

Alice has just betrayed the party, and given Ulrich the relics they were collecting. Immediately afterward, Ulrich tried to kill the party, keeping Alice on his side. Alice instead did nothing, paralyzed by fear and confusion, as Ulrich grew steadily more unhinged, until finally his attacks fell on Alice herself.

"Useless son", he called her. And as he attacked, she was protected by the party, telling the party everything- She was truly Lucifer, the heaven-sent child, an assassin, his very own child- Son, he always called her. Why would they cover her? Lucifer was nothing more than his own tool.

Finally, they drove him to retreat. And Alice hasn't moved since, slumped over on the ground, staring blankly at nothing. She seems like a doll whose strings have been cut, or perhaps... Someone waiting on death row.

She isn't moving. There's no reason to.]

Comments

b

[liveofftheland]

[Marie mutters a curse. She steps forward, making sure she's heard so Alice won't panic before she sees Marie crouched over next to her.]

Alice.

[ninjabanish]

[... She's going to just continue staring blankly at the ground.]

... Do what you must.

["make it quick"]

[liveofftheland]

["Deserters and traitors are too dangerous to live," they'd said at the academy. "Remember that. What they know and what they've done isn't worth any bond you may have." Marie had flinched then, not knowing why.

She shakes her head and slowly lays both her hands empty on the ground. The mini crossbow on her wrist isn't loaded. No, she actually went and unstrung it, too.]

Don't get me wrong. I'm still mad that they have all the pieces now. I set out on this thing to put those back where they came from. But to me, when all this started, it seemed like just random bandits stealing ancient artifacts. You? It was something you had to do because you didn't have a choice.

...And let's just say I'm not gonna judge anyone for trying to please her old man when all he wants is a perfect little stepping stone. Don't get me wrong, you had it worse. Just.

[ninjabanish]

[Hope is the poison of the mind. It will blind you, drag you into traps. You will cling to it, and it will drown you in delusions and falls you could have avoided. Having hope is the same as avoiding reality.

Such were the things she was taught. And yet... Something is warm in her chest, a small hope. Maybe... Maybe they won't hate her...

But she extinguishes that hope. She has no right to even wish for that.]

I... I did have a choice. I could have ran sooner. I could have not obeyed him. I have killed so many, for him, and...

[She's strong. She won't cry.

... But even so, her voice wavers.]

[liveofftheland]

I know. But there's still that what-if, right? Always stringing you along. ...Besides, given you gave him the pieces and he still dragged you over there and started going on about everything you didn't tell us, then attacked you anyway? I'm not sure you're the bad guy here. Even if he made you do all that s...tuff.

[ninjabanish]

... I...

[She stops. Her heart hurts. Her voice... She can't trust her voice anymore.]

I'm a demon. I... I ruined all of our hard work... And now... He can...

[She takes a shaky breath, as if trying to steady herself.]

I don't... deserve to be with you any longer...

[liveofftheland]

...Look. Of course I'm mad about the pieces. But they're still just things. Important things, but you're a person, and way more important than he ever said. Doctor or assassin, you've always done things for people out of the goodness of your own heart. Even if... oh, man, we scared you, didn't we? Back when you first helped us out. That's why you wouldn't take payment and you kept trying to run away.

[ninjabanish]

... I... was frightened.

[It's so hard for her to admit, but.]

... I... had tried to kill you all. I thought... You must have recognized me, no matter how much I had changed. You must have desired revenge... I was so busy running away from everything, I didn't want to get caught up with anyone who might have a tie to my past... I wanted to run away, cover my ears and avert my eyes...

[liveofftheland]

[She's about to say something, sighs, and shakes her head.]

You know, I can't even say anything. I dropped out of the academy when I was 17 and ran away to live in the woods. My parents haven't spoken to me in years. If I judged you at all, that's just hypocrisy.

But why would we want revenge? We escaped when we fought you. Even if it's weird to think of that assassin as you. I don't know about you, but the only ones I want to get back are your old man and his buddies. Bet the General's just laughing at us.

B

[thecageysort]

[There's just the sound of footsteps and then silence, as Aran walks over to Alice and just stands there. It's a moment, and then that moment stretches out into several moments, and then...

Aran simply sighs and holds out his hand towards her, an offer to help her up.]

Come on. Let's have a look at you.

[ninjabanish]

[She flinches, as if she expects the hand held out to be a blow.

Without taking his hand, she obediently stands up, though her gaze remains pointed firmly at the ground.]

[thecageysort]

[It's good enough. He gives her a look over. Her mental state is obviously not great right now, but before that...]

Any injuries?

[ninjabanish]

... None.

You protected me.

[The question "why?" goes unspoken. Just... he did what he set out to do. She doesn't need to question it. She doesn't deserve to question it.]

[thecageysort]

Things got chaotic there. Had to be sure.

[But, good. Good, she's alright, at least physically. It's a start.]

But take it easy anyway. We should get you sitting down properly... [Properly, not just... defeated on the ground like just moments ago.] Alright?

[ninjabanish]

[Properly...]

Understood.

[She kneels down on the ground once more, head remaining bowed. She looks rather like someone waiting to be executed.

Because, you know. She is. That's what she's waiting for.]

[thecageysort]

[Oh. Oh, no.]

Alice. [And he puts a hand on her shoulder.] That's not what I meant.

[ninjabanish]

[This... only confuses her more. She flinches at the touch to her shoulder, but... The words don't make any sense.]

What?

B, if you don't mind additional party members in the sadness party

[celadontyousee]

[The tap-tap-tap of Celadon's staff on the ground is faintly audible as she walks over to Alice's slumped form. She doesn't say anything at all when she reaches her, just flops down to sit on the ground beside her with the carefree gracelessness of a child.]

[She remains silent as she slowly tilts to one side until she's leaning on Alice, like a cat showing affection.]

i never mind sataning

[ninjabanish]

[At first Alice doesn't move. She just... sits there. Staring at the ground. It's questionable if she even realizes Celadon is there.

But finally... She has to ask one thing.]

Did you foresee this, as well?

[celadontyousee]

This... and not this... it's never just one thing. Like reaching into a rainstorm and picking out a single drop. But... I know that I saw you. And me.

And we could have been from anywhere, and we could be going to do anything, and there's no way to know where and what until we go and do it.

[She reaches down with one hand and squeezes Alice's hand gently- not enough to hurt, but firm enough to be something to focus on, to be very clearly there.]

I see you. Still.

[ninjabanish]

[...

She doesn't understand. She doesn't understand any of it. But that touch... That comfort... That presence...

Her voice sounds weak. Like she might break at any moment. Like she wants to break, just so she doesn't have to endure this strain any longer.]

What should I do now?

[celadontyousee]

You take another step.

[Celadon's voice is... so strangely gentle. It's odd to think that this little wisp of a thing, with her soft voice and messy hair, was casting curses down on a man just a moment ago.]

[None of those curses ever came near Alice. The whole fight, it never looked for even a second like she might try.]

And another. And another. You can't see the path, and you don't know if it's even there, so you feel it out bit by bit, going slowly until you've found a way.

You don't have to know the way- we're all still walking, and you can walk with us. It's fine for everyone to figure it out together.

[ninjabanish]

Can someone like me do that...? I don't deserve to be with you... I don't deserve to be with any of you...

[She continues to stare at the ground.]

My only path is one of hurting others...

[celadontyousee]

I don't know what people deserve... they usually don't get it, anyway. But I don't think you deserve a path like that.

[A gentle smile.]

Why don't we try to find you a better one? I think you'd be happier, that way. You don't seem like you're having much fun...

[ninjabanish]

... But I've done so much evil...

I don't know what I can do.