Kyriakos: DAY 86

[takewing]

[Suddenly, the books on several of the shelves spring to life--they flutter around the room and open above those present. As they do a magic circle springs out of their pages, enveloping the players in a beam of light and making them vanish into their pages--two to a book. Inside is a featureless room with an indestructible paper-like substance lining floor, walls and ceiling, inlaid with an intricate pattern of metallic roses. My, what long thorns they have …

On the floor somewhere nearby is an incredibly sharp quill and a bottle of an inklike substance--which is clearly labelled as ‘Not intended for ingestion unless you wish to die painfully, you twit.’]

((HERE))

Comments

[takewing]

[…]

[r-r-r-r-r-r-r-record scratch]

[unlocksmith]

[his grip tightens, ever so slightly]

And in case you believe this offer is as half-hearted as your attempt at survival would be, it is not. I have no death wishes. . . on the contrary, I have every will to live and every ounce of tenacity within me to fight for it.

[his hand slides from her wrist, to her own hand, fingers closing around hers]

But I can't protect you. As much as my heart wishes I could, I can't. That is the way of this place, and it is my burden to help you when your beliefs and convictions mean your life is forfeit.

I am. . . asking that you carry that burden for me. Only for today. Only for this game. Because for once, I have that ability to shield you as you shield others. And if this is what it takes in order to protect every inch of you, including what's in here. . .

[he reaches out to place a hand over her heart, still trembling]

Then it is worth my life. And more.

[takewing]

I …

[nope, nope, record still scratching]

[and thus she stands still, utterly still, eyes wide with disbelief]

[unlocksmith]

. . .

[in her silence, he leans forward to thunk his forehead against hers]

[takewing]

[good job breaking it, champ]

[because no]

[no, no, no no no she can't sit safely and watch him die, she knows she can't, and just the thought of trying sends a rush of panic straight through her. Heart racing, breath coming far too quickly, she stands there and wrestles for self-control.]

[unlocksmith]

Nalea.

[he knows her well enough to tell when something is wrong, and he lets go of her hand to take her shoulders gently]

Nalea.

[takewing]

[They were ripped to shreds in front of me, over and over and over, I couldn't—I couldn't do anything — I can't do it, I can't I can't I can't I can't]

[She gives her head a faint shake, trying to focus through the pounding, through the rush of memory she'd tried so hard to bury … and it's like she can't even hear him.]

[unlocksmith]

[WHAT DID HE ACCIDENTALLY DO]

[he'll keep calling her name until he gets some kind of response]

Nalea. What's goin' on?

[takewing]

[It takes a few more calls before she manages to respond, hands coming up to shakily grasp at his shirt. She gives her head another shake, still struggling for breath, still with that same glazed, unfocused look, still trembling.

She mumbles something faintly between gasps.]

[unlocksmith]

[she'll feel his hand slide up against her cheek]

Nalea? Hey, what. . . [what was that]

What's wrong?

[takewing]

[Her cheek is warm, and just a little clammy.]

P-Panic … can't hear—n-need a moment—

[Leaning against him more heavily now; he's the only thing keeping her on her feet as she rides this out.]

[unlocksmith]

Wh--


[?????]

[continues to hold her upright, one arm sliding around her back]

[takewing]

[it's … probably another minute or two before her breathing evens out, and she slumps against him, face buried against his shoulder.]

H-Ha ...

[unlocksmith]

[hugging her now, still looking bewildered]

. . . are you back?

[takewing]

I—yes …

[another shaky exhale]

Apologies. I couldn't ... hear you.

[unlocksmith]

Are you all right?

[ffffrowns]

. . . and did you hear anything I said?

[takewing]

I heard your offer.

[nnnot answering his other question, that's for sure. she leans against him more heavily] Can we sit? Head's spinning.

[unlocksmith]

Is that all?

[HE SAID SOME IMPORTANT STUFF AFTER THAT 8(]

[but he obliges her and helps ease her to the ground]

[takewing]

Everything until … worth your life, and more.

[slumps bonelessly to the ground, scrubbing her face with both hands. she's still blinking dazedly, wobbling just a little as she tries to get her bearings back.]

[unlocksmith]

[OKAY GOOD :( he relaxes ever so slightly, but otherwise doesn't press]

. . . what happened?

[takewing]

[hhhhheadshake]

Panic attack …

[unlocksmith]

I can tell.

[rubbing her back. . .]

[takewing]

… I watched my entire team torn apart and eaten alive in front of me.









For half an hour.

[unlocksmith]

[wh]







When?

[takewing]

[just makes a vague, floppy handgesture]

Pinned down and forced to watch it.

[ducks her head low, tangling her fingers in her bangs and tugging hard]

It wasn't … [a breath, slow and measured; she's still struggling to keep herself here] … it was a hallucination. A vivid one. Could have been stopped at any moment, but they wouldn't … let me. So I had to watch.