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[wherever you started off, each of you wanders deeper and deeper into the fog. the woods surround you, the tall looming trees of the forest the only thing you can make out. tall dark pine trees and twisted gnarled oaks. the sky that manages to filter through the treetops is dark, though you can’t tell if you’ve been wandering so long that night has fallen, or if the gray is just more fog. there’s no clear path to follow, and you step through bog and dark mud. but you have a strong and powerful sense that there is something dangerous in these woods, and you must not let the fog catch up with you. you shouldn’t stop. even if you’re tired of walking, you need to keep going.
eventually, however, the dense trees start to clear little by little. you can see that you’ve wandered much farther than should have been possible. there are mountains springing up, both ahead and behind you, a tall and looming range of white rocked peaks from a range that looks impassable. at some point during this journey, some of you find each other; perhaps you’re relieved that you aren’t alone here, and perhaps you help one another make it through the difficult and long day of walking or try to navigate. or maybe you’ve been alone all day, and you’ve only just now stumbled upon the others who have also been lost. that’s up to you.
what’s clear now the only way ahead is to follow where the trees start to clear, giving way to patches of farmland, and, further ahead, a medieval city. there’s a little town made of thatched cottages and farmhouses, walls with towers meant for archers and soldiers to sit and wait, and beyond, up on a hill, is a castle built from gleaming white brick that looks somehow grimy all the same. there’s also, in the center of town, a massive oak tree, visible even from this distance. the city doesn’t look welcoming. the dark gray clouds still hang heavy in the air, and the pale colors of the stone and brick of the city give a mostly monochrome effect, broken up only by the colors of mud and dirt. there’s a chill in the air, and you don’t see any people about. there should be farmers tilling the land, but the patches of crops look withered; the little cottages seem abandoned, and there’s a smell like vegetable rot hanging heavy in the air. the city ahead of you, from what you can make out, would normally be bustling with shops and travelers and activity, or even simply manned by guards, but you don’t see anyone.
but the gates to the city are open. there’s a path that heads directly through them towards the center of town, towards the castle and the tall tree. you have a bad feeling about this place. it seems dead, and there’s something malevolent about it, too. but you’ve been walking for so long, and the fog hanging heavy in the woods, creeping close behind you, at least does not seem to stop at the edge of the city walls. maybe you can rest here.]
eventually, however, the dense trees start to clear little by little. you can see that you’ve wandered much farther than should have been possible. there are mountains springing up, both ahead and behind you, a tall and looming range of white rocked peaks from a range that looks impassable. at some point during this journey, some of you find each other; perhaps you’re relieved that you aren’t alone here, and perhaps you help one another make it through the difficult and long day of walking or try to navigate. or maybe you’ve been alone all day, and you’ve only just now stumbled upon the others who have also been lost. that’s up to you.
what’s clear now the only way ahead is to follow where the trees start to clear, giving way to patches of farmland, and, further ahead, a medieval city. there’s a little town made of thatched cottages and farmhouses, walls with towers meant for archers and soldiers to sit and wait, and beyond, up on a hill, is a castle built from gleaming white brick that looks somehow grimy all the same. there’s also, in the center of town, a massive oak tree, visible even from this distance. the city doesn’t look welcoming. the dark gray clouds still hang heavy in the air, and the pale colors of the stone and brick of the city give a mostly monochrome effect, broken up only by the colors of mud and dirt. there’s a chill in the air, and you don’t see any people about. there should be farmers tilling the land, but the patches of crops look withered; the little cottages seem abandoned, and there’s a smell like vegetable rot hanging heavy in the air. the city ahead of you, from what you can make out, would normally be bustling with shops and travelers and activity, or even simply manned by guards, but you don’t see anyone.
but the gates to the city are open. there’s a path that heads directly through them towards the center of town, towards the castle and the tall tree. you have a bad feeling about this place. it seems dead, and there’s something malevolent about it, too. but you’ve been walking for so long, and the fog hanging heavy in the woods, creeping close behind you, at least does not seem to stop at the edge of the city walls. maybe you can rest here.]
[ Pickles had been running and running and running. If there's anything about the fog, it's that he doesn't want to be out there, engulfed in it from what he heard from the events of last Thursday night. The city might not be welcoming, but Pickles finally stops here. He thinks he needs water.
So when he reaches the center of the town, he tries to break into one of the buildings. He's thirsty. Give him some water!! ]
So when he reaches the center of the town, he tries to break into one of the buildings. He's thirsty. Give him some water!! ]
[ Geto had probably been in the fog a while, aware that he's lost, but opting to approach the situation steadily. Marking trees to track his path, and climbing up the branches to gain a better view of his surroundings. It doesn't matter. In the end, he stays as lost as ever, driven by an urge to escape and keep going.
The unease doesn't stop when the city and the mountains come into view, but at least the sight of Pickles bounding on ahead is a welcome distraction, and he hurries after him.
... But doesn't approach. He hangs back, and just watches Pickles do whatever Pickles is doing, because he's still suspicious of everything. What if Pickles had been evil this entire time. ]
The unease doesn't stop when the city and the mountains come into view, but at least the sight of Pickles bounding on ahead is a welcome distraction, and he hurries after him.
... But doesn't approach. He hangs back, and just watches Pickles do whatever Pickles is doing, because he's still suspicious of everything. What if Pickles had been evil this entire time. ]
[ after being trapped at the pyre by the fog on thursday, alfyn is also not very keen to be wandering out in it. i leave it up to eric as to whether or not the theatermates have run into each other, but regardless - he's on the defensive, ready for any sort of trouble to come out at him from the fog and trees. he doesn't panic, though. traveling across all of orsterra has prepared him for strange or dangerous situations, and he's lucky to look at the city and think huh. that looks familiar.
all the way down to being unwelcoming. at least this is more familiar to him than most of what the village of scawwy has given them.
he sees the others and perks, hand behind himself and prepared to draw on any dangers but relieved to see familiar faces. ]
... is it just us? [ asked quietly, because. the energy is terrible here. gods, it really, really reminds him of somewhere back home... ] No townsfolk? No guards?
all the way down to being unwelcoming. at least this is more familiar to him than most of what the village of scawwy has given them.
he sees the others and perks, hand behind himself and prepared to draw on any dangers but relieved to see familiar faces. ]
... is it just us? [ asked quietly, because. the energy is terrible here. gods, it really, really reminds him of somewhere back home... ] No townsfolk? No guards?
[ like everyone else, todomatsu is more than a little wary of the fog after last thursday, and as much as he hates going through the dark on his own, it might be for the best that so much of this trek was a solo one — no one to see him panicking every time he thought he saw something move in the woods, or hear him complaining to himself once he finally moved on from fear to annoyance at the fact that this stupid trip is taking so long! can't we skip to the next scene already?!
it's not until he's out of the woods and nearing the walls of the city that he sees alfyn, though he hurries over to join him when he does, feeling some relief despite the foreboding atmosphere waiting on the other side of the walls. this doesn't feel familiar at all to him; as far as he's concerned, it's just one more cliche set the cult threw together.
he frowns a little as he sees who "just us" is, because seriously, what a sausage fest. but at least that also takes off some of the pressure since he doesn't feel obligated to try quite as hard to impress this group... and he can make a pretty good case for why he shouldn't have to do any physical labor if it comes to that. ]
Seems like it... [ he keeps his voice down, not wanting to draw attention if it isn't really empty. ] Ugh. Is this another horror movie setup...?
it's not until he's out of the woods and nearing the walls of the city that he sees alfyn, though he hurries over to join him when he does, feeling some relief despite the foreboding atmosphere waiting on the other side of the walls. this doesn't feel familiar at all to him; as far as he's concerned, it's just one more cliche set the cult threw together.
he frowns a little as he sees who "just us" is, because seriously, what a sausage fest. but at least that also takes off some of the pressure since he doesn't feel obligated to try quite as hard to impress this group... and he can make a pretty good case for why he shouldn't have to do any physical labor if it comes to that. ]
Seems like it... [ he keeps his voice down, not wanting to draw attention if it isn't really empty. ] Ugh. Is this another horror movie setup...?
[pickles, you run into one of the buildings to get water. you can find some water, but the building wasn't empty. there was a family in there - a mother, a father, a little girl - but all of them seem very frightened. they run off and hide after you break in.
the city isn't completely empty, the villagers are just apparently all staying indoors, avoiding interacting with anyone. there also do appear to be some guards farther away, patrolling near the castle. you can't see them all that well - the castle is a ways away. but you get a sense, watching them, that there's something not right. maybe it's the way they move, or something about their appearance. from this far away you can't tell, but you still can tell that they're dangerous.
the road into town leads in one particular direction. there's the hill the castle is on, a good deal further away. but there's also the large tree in the center of town - something like a central square, with beautiful buildings set up around it, what look like churches and fine homes. in contrast to the picture, the large tree is gnarled without leaves on it, like in the dead of winter.
also, there's something in the tree, hanging from the branches. from this far, you can tell that much, but you can't tell what it might be.]
the city isn't completely empty, the villagers are just apparently all staying indoors, avoiding interacting with anyone. there also do appear to be some guards farther away, patrolling near the castle. you can't see them all that well - the castle is a ways away. but you get a sense, watching them, that there's something not right. maybe it's the way they move, or something about their appearance. from this far away you can't tell, but you still can tell that they're dangerous.
the road into town leads in one particular direction. there's the hill the castle is on, a good deal further away. but there's also the large tree in the center of town - something like a central square, with beautiful buildings set up around it, what look like churches and fine homes. in contrast to the picture, the large tree is gnarled without leaves on it, like in the dead of winter.
also, there's something in the tree, hanging from the branches. from this far, you can tell that much, but you can't tell what it might be.]
[ Well.
Pickles finds some water, drinks to his heart's content and turns to where the family might have hidden. ]
Woof.
[ The puppy thanks you for the water.
And Pickles trots back out to where the others are. Hello. You are all familiar. He wags his tail and lifts his paw in greeting as if he didn't just break into someone's home for a drink. ]
Pickles finds some water, drinks to his heart's content and turns to where the family might have hidden. ]
Woof.
[ The puppy thanks you for the water.
And Pickles trots back out to where the others are. Hello. You are all familiar. He wags his tail and lifts his paw in greeting as if he didn't just break into someone's home for a drink. ]
[ Pickles just terrorizing this poor family.
Geto is like... okay, well... I guess the four of us are just here now, so he'll head over to where Alfyn and Todomatsu are while eyeing the guards off the distance. ]
Maybe we somehow ended up where the cult is.
[ He's looking at the tree now. ]
We should keep a low profile.
Geto is like... okay, well... I guess the four of us are just here now, so he'll head over to where Alfyn and Todomatsu are while eyeing the guards off the distance. ]
Maybe we somehow ended up where the cult is.
[ He's looking at the tree now. ]
We should keep a low profile.
[ shifting to make sure that todomatsu can duck behind him if something happens, all instinct, he raises his free hand up in response to pickels without hesitation. at least things seem... okay? with them? his fingers close around his axe, unless siz is about to tell us that we're weaponless, and he just waits as he squints into the distance. ]
... maybe. I dunno. It looks kinda like a castletown I'd see back home, which is a lot different from the village. But that doesn't mean anythin'.
[ but, still, alfyn looks around to see if he can't spot anything else odd closer to them. is anybody peering out of their windows at them, or through a crack in their door..? ]
If we wanna be low profile, we might wanna get off the street.
... maybe. I dunno. It looks kinda like a castletown I'd see back home, which is a lot different from the village. But that doesn't mean anythin'.
[ but, still, alfyn looks around to see if he can't spot anything else odd closer to them. is anybody peering out of their windows at them, or through a crack in their door..? ]
If we wanna be low profile, we might wanna get off the street.
[ also raises his hand at pickles, though less enthusiastically. ]
I don't think so... some of the requests they've been filling are for pretty modern stuff.
[ and he doesn't think they'd waste magic energy or whatever to bring them in from different worlds, but what does he know.
and now that he's looking a little harder... yeah, this place isn't quite empty, is it? not exactly a relief. ]
...Yeah, let's move. There are actually some guards over by the castle. [ and they have bad vibes. ] I don't know if we want them spotting us.
I don't think so... some of the requests they've been filling are for pretty modern stuff.
[ and he doesn't think they'd waste magic energy or whatever to bring them in from different worlds, but what does he know.
and now that he's looking a little harder... yeah, this place isn't quite empty, is it? not exactly a relief. ]
...Yeah, let's move. There are actually some guards over by the castle. [ and they have bad vibes. ] I don't know if we want them spotting us.
[you don't see anybody; maybe there's an indication here and there of shutters being drawn.
also, you may notice another group of guards coming from another direction, behind you. these ones are a little closer, so you can make out some more details. they move stiffly, almost too perfectly in sync with one another. there's no personality to them, nothing human.
they haven't noticed you yet, but will very soon unless you keep moving. you could try to hide in one of the houses, though if it's not empty, there may be more problems there. or you could head deeper into the city to avoid them.
geto, you look at the tree. it seems to be some sort of central quarter, but it's especially still and quiet; the buildings around it look damaged, so may actually be abandoned. you can't make out exactly what's in the tree, but there are a few different shapes visible.]
also, you may notice another group of guards coming from another direction, behind you. these ones are a little closer, so you can make out some more details. they move stiffly, almost too perfectly in sync with one another. there's no personality to them, nothing human.
they haven't noticed you yet, but will very soon unless you keep moving. you could try to hide in one of the houses, though if it's not empty, there may be more problems there. or you could head deeper into the city to avoid them.
geto, you look at the tree. it seems to be some sort of central quarter, but it's especially still and quiet; the buildings around it look damaged, so may actually be abandoned. you can't make out exactly what's in the tree, but there are a few different shapes visible.]
[ Pickles is satisfied that he has his greetings done, and then looks at the guards. He's not surprised about them moving stiffly in perfect sync, because he's very used to the sight.
Nevertheless, he looks at the others to see what they would like to do. ]
Nevertheless, he looks at the others to see what they would like to do. ]
[ Pickles like this is just normal guard behaviour.
Geto spots the next set of guards approaching, and then glances toward the tree again. ]
... Yeah, we should probably get off the street and move further in. There's something by the tree I want to check out— you can all come, or we can split up for a bit.
[ Though if they do split up, they should probably agree on a meetup spot. He'll stick around long enough to settle on one if they decide to go that route, but otherwise he's going to get off the main road and move into the smaller roads to zigzag toward the central square. ]
Geto spots the next set of guards approaching, and then glances toward the tree again. ]
... Yeah, we should probably get off the street and move further in. There's something by the tree I want to check out— you can all come, or we can split up for a bit.
[ Though if they do split up, they should probably agree on a meetup spot. He'll stick around long enough to settle on one if they decide to go that route, but otherwise he's going to get off the main road and move into the smaller roads to zigzag toward the central square. ]
I'm fine comin' with, considerin' we got no idea where the hell we are or what's goin' on. And I'm not...
[ he looks back when he notices the other guards, and whatever he was going to say completely gets sidetracked. hm, bad. reminds him of the moving skeletons back home. ]
... and I don't like the look of that. If we get split up, we can head towards the tree since I think we can probably spot it from most anywhere here? Thing's huge.
[ but he's going to start heading in that direction, because it's away from the guards approaching on them and they're being left to fend for themselves by the townsfolk closing their shutters. ]
[ he looks back when he notices the other guards, and whatever he was going to say completely gets sidetracked. hm, bad. reminds him of the moving skeletons back home. ]
... and I don't like the look of that. If we get split up, we can head towards the tree since I think we can probably spot it from most anywhere here? Thing's huge.
[ but he's going to start heading in that direction, because it's away from the guards approaching on them and they're being left to fend for themselves by the townsfolk closing their shutters. ]
[ looks back where the others are looking— oh there are more, great. ]
Yeah, sounds good to me. Head toward the tree, figure it out from there.
[ aaand he's going to hurry up and get out of the center of the road and stick close to the buildings as they start off that way. if it looks like the soldiers are going to catch up he'll duck into the space between some houses for a moment. ]
Yeah, sounds good to me. Head toward the tree, figure it out from there.
[ aaand he's going to hurry up and get out of the center of the road and stick close to the buildings as they start off that way. if it looks like the soldiers are going to catch up he'll duck into the space between some houses for a moment. ]
[okay. sounds like all of you are heading towards the tree. the soldiers do not appear to be catching up; they didn't notice you, they're just doing patrols.
as you get closer, you start to have a better sense of what the tree actually is. this whole area is some sort of holy site for the city. there are symbols showing the sun on some of the temples, and the surrounding area does appear to be mostly abandoned and shuttered temples with that symbol on it. everything is very ornate because this tree was designed to be the center of some sort of worship.
however, the tree is very dead. the wood is dark and you can smell rot. there are no leafs on the branches, but it doesn't seem to be a function of it being winter. the tree isn't growing anymore. you start to feel a sinking sense of wrongness from it, specifically, like some of the rot of this town is emanating from here.
also, the things hung from the tree appear to be bodies. there are four of them - hanging from nooses strung from the branches. two adult men, one large and one smaller, a teenage boy, and woman. they're almost certainly dead, given that they're swaying openly in the wind, hung from their necks - although you can't tell for sure from this far away. nor can you tell for sure who these corpses belong to, but you can notice that they're dressed oddly. they're wearing clothing that looks like the four of you. todomatsu can see something very similar to what he's wearing on the corpse of the smaller man, while geto can see his clothing and dark fabric mimicking hair on the corpse of the teenage boy. alfyn can see the woman is dressed in clothing resembling his manner of dress, with her hair cut short in a similar style to his own. pickles, you can see the larger man is actually wearing the skin of an animal, mimicking fur.
you can't tell who these corpses are, but you have a sudden sense that they look very familiar...
right as you notice this, you also hear a commotion from further down the road, up at the castle. you aren't all that close, but you're close enough to hear screams of fear and terror and the sounds of people crying for help, and you understand, instinctively, that something is happening in there. something bad, something terrible enough to cause all of the fear you've seen in all of the villagers hiding in the town.
and the voices that are crying out also sound familiar to you...]
as you get closer, you start to have a better sense of what the tree actually is. this whole area is some sort of holy site for the city. there are symbols showing the sun on some of the temples, and the surrounding area does appear to be mostly abandoned and shuttered temples with that symbol on it. everything is very ornate because this tree was designed to be the center of some sort of worship.
however, the tree is very dead. the wood is dark and you can smell rot. there are no leafs on the branches, but it doesn't seem to be a function of it being winter. the tree isn't growing anymore. you start to feel a sinking sense of wrongness from it, specifically, like some of the rot of this town is emanating from here.
also, the things hung from the tree appear to be bodies. there are four of them - hanging from nooses strung from the branches. two adult men, one large and one smaller, a teenage boy, and woman. they're almost certainly dead, given that they're swaying openly in the wind, hung from their necks - although you can't tell for sure from this far away. nor can you tell for sure who these corpses belong to, but you can notice that they're dressed oddly. they're wearing clothing that looks like the four of you. todomatsu can see something very similar to what he's wearing on the corpse of the smaller man, while geto can see his clothing and dark fabric mimicking hair on the corpse of the teenage boy. alfyn can see the woman is dressed in clothing resembling his manner of dress, with her hair cut short in a similar style to his own. pickles, you can see the larger man is actually wearing the skin of an animal, mimicking fur.
you can't tell who these corpses are, but you have a sudden sense that they look very familiar...
right as you notice this, you also hear a commotion from further down the road, up at the castle. you aren't all that close, but you're close enough to hear screams of fear and terror and the sounds of people crying for help, and you understand, instinctively, that something is happening in there. something bad, something terrible enough to cause all of the fear you've seen in all of the villagers hiding in the town.
and the voices that are crying out also sound familiar to you...]
[ When Pickles gets closer to the rotting tree, he stops to stare at the people dangling from them, but mostly at the man who is wearing the skin of an animal.
...................
Then his ears perk up due to the commotion. He isn't here to invoke justice of any kind, but there is something so familiar to him that he doesn't even stop to bark. The dog paws take him away from the tree, wanting to get away, and see what the commotion is about, even if he has a sinking feeling that it will be worse than what he saw at the tree.
Alas. He must persist. ]
...................
Then his ears perk up due to the commotion. He isn't here to invoke justice of any kind, but there is something so familiar to him that he doesn't even stop to bark. The dog paws take him away from the tree, wanting to get away, and see what the commotion is about, even if he has a sinking feeling that it will be worse than what he saw at the tree.
Alas. He must persist. ]
[ Honestly, most of this seems in line with everything they've seen since being summoned: the symbols, the rot, and decay. Just another miserable part of this weird dimension they've been pulled into.
But the sight of a body wearing the Jujutsu Tech uniform gets his blood to run cold, even if it doesn't look quite right, and suddenly there's nothing but staticky urgency between his ears.
He barely registers the other voices calling for help, running instead to the tree to check the identity of the corpse that looks like him, as well as looking around for anything that might help cut the body down. ]
But the sight of a body wearing the Jujutsu Tech uniform gets his blood to run cold, even if it doesn't look quite right, and suddenly there's nothing but staticky urgency between his ears.
He barely registers the other voices calling for help, running instead to the tree to check the identity of the corpse that looks like him, as well as looking around for anything that might help cut the body down. ]
What the... [ alfyn isn't far behind geto, honestly, even if his head snaps in the direction of where pickles goes and the voices that call for help. he's torn in two on what decision to make, but - he has to know. he has to see who these people are, and if they really are dead.
sometimes, you hold onto life by the skin of your teeth. maybe they can help them somehow. if nothing else, they can stop this mockery. his voice comes out in a hiss, hoping that nothing is drawn to them: ] Geto, I've got my axe, if we can just get up there -
sometimes, you hold onto life by the skin of your teeth. maybe they can help them somehow. if nothing else, they can stop this mockery. his voice comes out in a hiss, hoping that nothing is drawn to them: ] Geto, I've got my axe, if we can just get up there -
[ the objects in the tree come into focus and todomatsu stops in his tracks.
oh, what the hell.
it's more unnerving than most things he's seen these past two weeks have been, not only because of the inexplicable resemblance between the corpses' clothing and their own, but because this kind of imagery is going a step beyond what he's used to seeing — slapstick violence and gore are one thing, and they've used nooses in gags more than once, but the quiet horror of this is something else altogether.
he swallows; as uncomfortable as it feels to stand here and stare, it's hard to look away too, when he's still trying to process exactly what he's seeing.
...anyway, he's never been the type to run toward a cry for help. ]
oh, what the hell.
it's more unnerving than most things he's seen these past two weeks have been, not only because of the inexplicable resemblance between the corpses' clothing and their own, but because this kind of imagery is going a step beyond what he's used to seeing — slapstick violence and gore are one thing, and they've used nooses in gags more than once, but the quiet horror of this is something else altogether.
he swallows; as uncomfortable as it feels to stand here and stare, it's hard to look away too, when he's still trying to process exactly what he's seeing.
...anyway, he's never been the type to run toward a cry for help. ]
[goodbye, pickles.
pickles runs towards the cries - possibly because he could recognize them more easily than the rest of you with his canine ears. he can make out familiar voices - that might be daniël and marina shouting for help? the rest of you take a little longer before you start to notice. among the voices, it sounds like you might be hearing camille, kate, rondo, robin. some of them are shouting, some are crying, some are begging for help. you don't have long if you want to save them. you certainly don't have long enough to cut anyone down from the tree - it's possible to cut the ropes, but they're high up there. you'll have to climb if you want to get them down.
but you do have long enough to get a better look. geto, the person in the uniform has been awkwardly dressed to resemble you, but you can see the shock of white hair peeking out underneath. todomatsu, you realize that the person isn't just dressed to remember you. he looks exactly like you. almost exactly, but perhaps there are enough little differences despite the clothing for you to have a few guesses who this might be. alfyn, even with her hair cut shorter and dressed in these odd clothes, you recognize a beautiful young woman with a dancer's body. pickles, you left, but perhaps you already had recognized the man hanging there by scent or by his looks, someone very important to you.
they look very dead. still, not moving, eyes open and staring blankly ahead.
you have to decide now if you will follow pickles towards the castle, or if you will try to cut these bodies down. you may each reach your own decision, but decide in the next tag.
pickles runs towards the cries - possibly because he could recognize them more easily than the rest of you with his canine ears. he can make out familiar voices - that might be daniël and marina shouting for help? the rest of you take a little longer before you start to notice. among the voices, it sounds like you might be hearing camille, kate, rondo, robin. some of them are shouting, some are crying, some are begging for help. you don't have long if you want to save them. you certainly don't have long enough to cut anyone down from the tree - it's possible to cut the ropes, but they're high up there. you'll have to climb if you want to get them down.
but you do have long enough to get a better look. geto, the person in the uniform has been awkwardly dressed to resemble you, but you can see the shock of white hair peeking out underneath. todomatsu, you realize that the person isn't just dressed to remember you. he looks exactly like you. almost exactly, but perhaps there are enough little differences despite the clothing for you to have a few guesses who this might be. alfyn, even with her hair cut shorter and dressed in these odd clothes, you recognize a beautiful young woman with a dancer's body. pickles, you left, but perhaps you already had recognized the man hanging there by scent or by his looks, someone very important to you.
they look very dead. still, not moving, eyes open and staring blankly ahead.
you have to decide now if you will follow pickles towards the castle, or if you will try to cut these bodies down. you may each reach your own decision, but decide in the next tag.
[ Pickles wants to stop and howl, but he knows that there is no time to waste. He continues to sprint towards the the commotion, thinking that he smells very familiar people. People who were nice to him, people who respected him as an equal, people who...
...
He doesn't want to acknowledge that he lost Charlton. He doesn't. Charlton is still alive, probably watching his favorite soccer games on the telly, and maybe throwing a ball to Wendy for her to show off her fantastic fetching skills. There is absolutely no way that he is here. It doesn't make sense. Everything philosophical feels like it crumbles and he feels like he's returning to nihilism.
Did it ever matter?
Anyway, Pickles tries to find the attacker. ]
...
He doesn't want to acknowledge that he lost Charlton. He doesn't. Charlton is still alive, probably watching his favorite soccer games on the telly, and maybe throwing a ball to Wendy for her to show off her fantastic fetching skills. There is absolutely no way that he is here. It doesn't make sense. Everything philosophical feels like it crumbles and he feels like he's returning to nihilism.
Did it ever matter?
Anyway, Pickles tries to find the attacker. ]
[ Not sweet Pickles giving into nihilism.
There was a time where Geto would've been logical enough to understand that there's no saving Gojo, and that it's his duty to help those still in need—he liked Camille, and Marina was just a kid like him—but right now, those voices don't mean anything to him. All he cares about is the boy hanging from the tree. (He might regret this later.)
The sight of that white hair stops him for just a second, ] Satoru, [ and then he's on his way to climb up the tree, however he can. There's no chance there's still a pulse, he's clearly dead and Geto's seen dead bodies before, but.
As he's climbing - ]
Alfyn, I'll help you up— Or toss the axe to me—
There was a time where Geto would've been logical enough to understand that there's no saving Gojo, and that it's his duty to help those still in need—he liked Camille, and Marina was just a kid like him—but right now, those voices don't mean anything to him. All he cares about is the boy hanging from the tree. (He might regret this later.)
The sight of that white hair stops him for just a second, ] Satoru, [ and then he's on his way to climb up the tree, however he can. There's no chance there's still a pulse, he's clearly dead and Geto's seen dead bodies before, but.
As he's climbing - ]
Alfyn, I'll help you up— Or toss the axe to me—
[ rip to pickles and to us
alfyn's breath hitches, and despite his deft attempts to climb upwards at first, he slides down the tree a bit as he loses traction in his movements, fingers going slack and shock on his face. ]
P...Prim? [ she's high up, out of easy reach, and she's -
her beautiful hair cut away. the sad eyes and sharp smile all gone. no more of that bright, burning spark that had kept her going after the revenge had finally been put to rest. and, now, she's dressed like him. what's this supposed to mean? what kind of screwed up message is this? ] C'mon, this isn't... it's...
[ not funny? not real? he can't help but just stare at her, heart in his throat, misery on every line of his face. but he hears geto and snaps out of it, clambering upwards again with a snarl of grief. ]
Go, go, go. We gotta get 'em down, at least, and then - [ and then they have to help the others. they have to. ]
alfyn's breath hitches, and despite his deft attempts to climb upwards at first, he slides down the tree a bit as he loses traction in his movements, fingers going slack and shock on his face. ]
P...Prim? [ she's high up, out of easy reach, and she's -
her beautiful hair cut away. the sad eyes and sharp smile all gone. no more of that bright, burning spark that had kept her going after the revenge had finally been put to rest. and, now, she's dressed like him. what's this supposed to mean? what kind of screwed up message is this? ] C'mon, this isn't... it's...
[ not funny? not real? he can't help but just stare at her, heart in his throat, misery on every line of his face. but he hears geto and snaps out of it, clambering upwards again with a snarl of grief. ]
Go, go, go. We gotta get 'em down, at least, and then - [ and then they have to help the others. they have to. ]
[ ah. if anyone else here takes note of that smaller body, they'll think todomatsu is just facing a mirror image of himself, but for him, it's clear as day who he's looking at. his hair may be a mess after however long he's spent idly swaying in the wind, but there's still that single cowlick sticking up in the back. his mouth is wide open, and though anyone else might write it off as a sign that he was desperately struggling for air, todomatsu can see it for the big stupid smile it is.
he starts to open his mouth to say his name, but stops himself halfway through the first syllable.
no... this doesn't make any sense. it's some kind of hallucination, he decides, like the zombies that had shown up to throw karlach off during the execution last weekend. it has to be because they aren't in the right genre anymore, and because jyushimatsu-niisan is the only one of them who hasn't done anything to deserve this.
he closes his eyes and turns away, and in something of a daze, heads in the same direction pickles just dashed off to. looking at people who are still alive has got to be better than this. ]
he starts to open his mouth to say his name, but stops himself halfway through the first syllable.
no... this doesn't make any sense. it's some kind of hallucination, he decides, like the zombies that had shown up to throw karlach off during the execution last weekend. it has to be because they aren't in the right genre anymore, and because jyushimatsu-niisan is the only one of them who hasn't done anything to deserve this.
he closes his eyes and turns away, and in something of a daze, heads in the same direction pickles just dashed off to. looking at people who are still alive has got to be better than this. ]
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