.aspects game

[decomposed]

GAME ENDS 4PM PST 8/19

hit me up on slack (utaoutauhito, display is 森 歌) or plurk (sacae) if you have any questions! probably people won't get very injured if at all but there is some chance of getting mauled to a small or possibly significant degree. careful guys

Comments

[decomposed]

[ the door is maybe a little easier to open this time, going in. everything about the garden is the same as before - the forest feels bad and the path is pretty and appealing ]

[ofobedience]

[he totally still prefers the path, would rather be near the flowers than the bad feeling from the forest but-- well. he'll stand for a moment steeling himself before turning towards the forest this time.]

Re: 1.

[ofobedience]

[LATER HE will also check out this door. After he works up the courage for it because that sense of solemn importance is kind of intimidating. He'll push it open though, eventually. peer inside.]

Re: 1.

[decomposed]

[ you’re in a courtroom. even if that should be unfamiliar to you, somehow you know - you’re in a courtroom, and you’re right at the stand.

the stand itself is shaped as if it was carved from a cylinder, with the standing platform a step up from the marble floors and the partly encircling wall standing to about chest or waist height. it’s starkly isolated in the center of the room, but a good two or three yards off to either side, it’s flanked by elevated seats, a few rows of them each. for jury, or for audience. either way, they’re empty right now.

directly in front of you is a rise in the room like a balcony - and Uriel upon it, with one hand settled on the railing and his gaze fixed steadily on you.

he opens his mouth, and with a real voice, he speaks - ]

Confess your sins.

((scoring criteria is engaging with Uriel. powers are off.))

[decomposed]

[ the light falls mottled through the leaves, but it’s bright enough, and at least for now the canopy coverage thin enough, that it’s not even dark. since you’re not following a path, there’s a fair smattering of gnarly roots underfoot, but it’s perfectly easy to see and avoid them. the shade would almost feel a little nice, except for that feeling that’s gotten worse. it’s somewhat like anxiety, combined with a slight ache in your chest.

it’s stronger going straight forward, right into the thick of the woods, but there’s - maybe a separate offshoot? that feels like it’s off to your left. it’s easier to travel that way, since it’s still close to the edge of the woods. ]

Re: 1.

[autorejoin]

[ Saber pauses at that, taking a full moment to stare in surprise at Uriel actually talking. He was used to the telepathy, even used to the fake voice he'd made for himself back home, but this was....

Different.

But then the casual expression of a ne'er-do-well crosses his face, and he grins. ]

Am I to be charged for them, then?

[ofobedience]

[the feeling-- it's unpleasant, and for a while he does nothing more than stand where he is and try to focus on his breathing, trying to calm himself. It's not working though, and so he'll try edging left, trying to alleviate some of that anxious, aching sensation.]

[ofobedience]

[well that's not intimidating at all.

It's Uriel, and so Giovanni should feel comfortable in his presence, only everything about this situation thrums with tension and already he has a Very Bad Feeling about having stepped through this door. He looks at the ground for a moment. Bites his lip.]

I'd rather not.

Re: 1.

[decomposed]

You are not. This is not a formal trial.

But you and I both know full well that you have not led a life without regrets, Yue.

[ it's a cooler, more distant tone than Katou's used to from him, but it couldn't be called truly cold or detached. it's a sort of neutral, without actually abandoning familiarity.

rather, he's calm. ]

[decomposed]

[ you can see the path through the trees as you walk - there are plenty of spaces where it would be easy to just cut through and walk along that way, instead of through here. that anxiety still clenches in your chest - even going this way, it’s getting a little worse now. ]

Re: 2.

[rightwingman]

Hmm.

[okay, up the stairs, holding on tight to the railing]

[decomposed]

[ Uriel's voice goes a little bit softer, but even aloud, it's more composed than he might normally "sound." ]

There are no witnesses, only us. You are not here to be tried - but you must face your own wrong-doings, Giovanni.

Re: 2.

[decomposed]

[ the stairs lead up to a single doorway, simple and elegantly made like the very first door, but far better maintained. nothing is blocking the way. ]

Re: 1.

[autorejoin]

Of course not. Should I start from the beginning, then? I hope you've got enough time.

[ofobedience]

[the temptation to head back to the sunny path amidst the flowers only grows stronger along with the cold pressure of anxiety, but he keeps moving for now, glancing at the path at regular intervals and trying to keep his mind off the growing feeling of unease]

Re: 1.

[decomposed]

I have time.

[decomposed]

[ eventually, up ahead of you, there’s - it almost looks like a person, but not quite. not quite substantial enough. not quite… human-looking enough. whatever they are, they seem to be floating.

also, that pain-- it’s definitely from them. the closer you get to them the stronger it becomes, that heart-hurt just from looking at them. their expression, from what you can make of it, is so twisted and sad.

and then they spot you, and lunge straight for you, hands reaching for your neck and mouth wide in a voiceless scream.

if you run, let me know if you go further into the woods or stay on the edges or try to get out of them ]

[ofobedience]

[that helps somewhat, but he keeps his eyes on the ground regardless.]

But what counts as wrong-doing? Lately, it's harder to tell.

Re: 1.

[autorejoin]

Alright... Well, if "sins of the parents" count, then I'm off to a really excellent start. Child of adultery! I've lied, I've cheated. I've stolen, I've caused fights... Did so much drugs and alcohol, you wouldn't even believe it.

[ He pauses, trying to make a cigarette. Sadly, that fails. He takes a moment to pout before adding: ]

Well, you might believe it.

[ofobedience]

[he's really missing the flowers right about now.

Instead, there's that feeling, so strong now he feels almost crippled by it, and the indistinct figure looks so strange and sad that it brings him up short, leaves him standing still and concerned and wanting to run.

But then it sees him and the screaming starts and it's lunging towards him and instead of running like he wants to that other thing kicks in, fight or flight where fight wins out because it's what he's supposed to be and so he rushes forward instead, tries to defend himself]

[decomposed]

Have you done harm to another?

[ofobedience]

Yes.

[decomposed]

[ any attempt to strike them just glances right off, and their clawed hands grasp for Giovanni's face - and the moment they make contact it suddenly becomes clear, that feeling didn’t just come from them. it’s theirs. they are in absolute agony and there is nothing.

nothing.

nothing to console them.

everything was taken from them and they have nothing except their own suffering, their hurts and betrayals and anger and failure which haunts them and haunts them and haunts them and why won’t you help them? why did you let this happen? why did you let this happen? surely you could end their pain and yours if you help them help them help them help them help them help them help them ]

Re: 2.

[rightwingman]

[knocks]

Re: 1.

[decomposed]

Is that all you have done?

[ not in a dismissive way, so much as expectant ]