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]

[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.

[takewing]

[drops her head back down.]

What have you decided ...?

[unlocksmith]

[. . .]

You said you can't resent me for fightin' for my right to live. But I think you would if I allowed myself to die.

So I'll fight.

[takewing]

[silently, and without looking, holds out a hand to him]

[unlocksmith]

[and without hesitation, he reaches for it]

[takewing]

[tugs him closer to her, though her grip is still loose.]

I'll fight with you.

[It sounds like it hurts for her to say that.]

[unlocksmith]

[he steps closer to her]

[and after a moment's pause, she'll be able to feel his hand on her cheek]

[takewing]

[still pretty curled up on the ground here :( her cheeks are damp with tears]

[tilts her head very slightly into his hand …]

[unlocksmith]

[brushes his thumb against those tears. . .]

I love you.

Dearly.

[takewing]

A-And I, you. I love you, no matter what.

[unlocksmith]

[breathes out deeply, almost. . . relieved? when she says that]

[I guess they can stay like this until the game ends!1]