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

[unlocksmith]

. . .

[he doesn't know how he can make her watch. . . after learning that]

[he falls silent, totally out of options]

[takewing]

[she gently pulls away from him, mutters a low, sharp curse under her breath in her own language, and … buries her face in her hands.]

[unlocksmith]

Nalea-- Nalea. . .

[no no no, he hadn't meant to make her cry. she pulls away from him, but he reaches for her again, fingers brushing up against her arm]

[takewing]

[Khoalan …]

[She doesn't respond to his touch, though, and she's utterly silent aside from the shaky hitch in her breathing.]

[unlocksmith]

[pressing himself against her side, leaning his forehead against her shoulder. . .]

[what do we do?]

[takewing]

[I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't]

[it's … probably a few minutes until she can bring herself to speak up again, her voice a rough whisper]

S-Spark …

[unlocksmith]

What is it. . .?

[seeking out her hand again]

[takewing]

[he can take it, though she doesn't really grasp back]

… we can't do this.

[unlocksmith]

We don't have the luxury of saying "we can't."

[takewing]

[falls silent again, pulling her hand away from his and burying it in her hair instead]

[unlocksmith]

[lets her]

[. . .]

[he ducks his head, shoulders tensing]

[he is out of options, isn't he--?]

[takewing]

[rests her forehead on her knees, clenching her fingers so hard they hurt.]







Do as you will.

[unlocksmith]

[lifting his head, surprised. he had been about .05 seconds away from saying the same thing]

. . .

[If it destroys you, how can I?]

[though that goes unsaid]

N-- Nalea. . .

[takewing]

[somewhat despondently, and without lifting her head]




You have my agreement in advance.

[unlocksmith]

. . .

[lifts a hand and scrubs at his face tiredly]

Whatever I do. . . you won't like it.

[takewing]

Of course I won't.

[unlocksmith]

[glancing away from her]

I won't force you to watch. [me die goes unsaid]

[takewing]

[I'll watch anyway]

[she doesn't respond]

[unlocksmith]

[what do I do what do I do what do I do what do I do]

[is this what it feels like to be indecisive? to truly be stuck between a rock and a hard place?]

[every decision up until now has been so easy, and this one would seem to be as well, so why--]

[why is it so difficult]

. . . lemme think about it for a bit, okay?

[takewing]

[this slight dip of the head could be … is probably a nod?]

[sorry, spark :(]

[unlocksmith]

[it's okay. he is. sort of understanding what is going on here]

[after a moment of silence, he speaks]

Why are you leaving it up to me?

[takewing]

…

[very quietly, addressing her knees.]

I can't. You … can. I could never resent you for fighting to save your own life.

It's the best I can give you.

[unlocksmith]

[and that manages to clear up any indecision left in his mind]

[he can't make her watch. he won't make her watch. he needs to survive-- for his sake, and hers]

If I were to make an offer the Echoes do not accept, then. . . would you wish for it to be you?

[his way of asking "hey yo do you want to volunteer to die in case she hates my offer" only in a much more eloquent way]

[takewing]

... [sucks in a sharp breath, but then catches herself.]

If it's for me alone, I would refuse any offering at all. You know why.

[unlocksmith]

[ah, yes. . . that was a dumb question]

. . . I understand.