saturations | Week 6 cyoa: hei, jiuqing, vin, and kashuu

Miss Su...

[ Then Chang Geng also proffers his weapons, which should be his lisa frank knife and whatever he had at w3. His gumballs, too, if any. It all should match with what she remembers. Or expects. ]

What did you do today, earlier? I took a trip to the museum after training in the dojo. The exhibits are interesting.

[ For some light conversation, he wants to hear about her day! ]

[he's not real.

if it was him, he would know...

she looks down at her tea.]

...nothing important.

[ This feels like me pointing at flurry telling her omi wouldn't say this in 7rings. A sigh as I have to remember what happened in w3. ]

Your adventure was terrible, but I wished there was something in there that wasn't. [ He takes another sip. If she doesn't want to talk, he will. ] I've been thinking about home lately. It helps to not become complacent.

[ The way he holds the cup's handle is... Rigid. ]

I find myself missing it. [ more like missing someone. ]

[she smiles faintly]

There's a lot we all wish for.

[they wish that people wouldn't get hurt every week, that they wouldn't die every week, that they could just go home - but so much of that hasn't come true.

...but he's right; they can't get complacent. her expression becomes a little more faraway.

home...

her mother, her friends...]

I do, too. [...] No matter how much this place tries to convince us that it is our home, it isn't. It can't be.

[ Chang Geng's expression too conveys he goes to a distant place. They're allowed to both dream, to both hope, and to both wish for the better of the people here in the Prism with them.

Home waits for them. It waits for him, for her, but he knows something is taking him. He can tell by how his fingers tense on the cup's handle. It rattles. ]

It can't and it won't. [ ... ] But there is one thing I'm grateful to the Prism for.

Edited 2022-03-30 19:23 (UTC)

...

[her grip tightens a little on her cup, as well. this isn't real, she reminds herself. don't be affected, no matter what he says.]

And what would that be...?

When we return home, I will miss that something from here.

[ A preamble as he strings the proper words, but they stop here because the cup in his hand rattles louder. Quietly, he musters all of his fortitude and control into keeping his hand steady. He's successful... And this means he can continue without scaring her.

He can say this as who he wants to be, not as the monster he is or the monster the Prism makes of him. ]

It's... This.

[what? he's going to miss ... this? the game room? being up at night and trying not to murder each other?

(she's not stupid. she knows that's not it, not what this false version is trying to say.

she doesn't want to hear this.)]

...Sir Chang.

[her voice is soft, but there's a note of warning in it.

don't.]

[ Her tone says don't, so he doesn't. For her, he will keep the words lodged in his throat and they will follow him home. He can feel his sanity slipping away, but he starts to wonder... Reality? Dream? The woman in front of her—what he feels. His descent. The cup raised a little higher rattles again, furiously.

Home. Here. Her. Her name slips out of his mouth. ]

Jiuqing...

[ And the cup shatters in his hand, pieces cascading onto the flood with sharp clinks. Quickly, he takes the colorful knife and the night the Prism craves for begins. He lunges at her and if she were to escape, he hunts her down. Of course she isn't defenseless. She has her knife and gumball and maybe she took it with her as they escape the game room... The chase feels like it goes on forever, never-ending fear as Chang Geng's eyes glow a bright red.

With every swing, his blade seeks to sink into her body. Tonight, it is her or him.

Roll for surviving or dying. If surviving, what will she do with his body? ]

[well.

she survives.

it's not what she wanted. she never wanted chang geng to die for her, not even a false version of him. but she runs, and he pursues her, and she can't just lay down and die - she still has people to get back to.

her home.

her mother.

her friends, in daxing and in the prism. the real chang geng, wherever it is that the souls of the dead are being kept. she has to survive.

she's breathing heavily, shakily, tears and blood mixing on her face when she looks down at him, the blade of her knife buried deep in his heart.]

No...

[she shudders.]

This isn't... it isn't real...

[it can't be.

she leaves his body where it is and stumbles back, in shock. she's not gotten through this unscathed. she needs a minute.]

[ With an 18, Chang Geng left quite a number of lacerations on her. Despite having only tailed after her, he nicked her a few then sliced her many against her back, then also plunged his knife into her shoulder. She will find her arm lacks mobility from now on, but the shock overwhelms her. No matter how gruesome his death or how terrifying he was tonight, he looks peaceful, as if he's simply sleeping and will wake up the next morning. She could already hear his voice greet her solemnly on the day where they would find their dead. That will never be—his fate was always to die this night. His body is still warm because only minutes ago he was alive. That warmth now slips away, extinguished by her very hands.

She looks like a mess, stumbling back, bleeding profusely from her wounds as tears well in her eyes. Her hair looks like a bird's nest, half of it with split ends or some strands just sliced off from Chang Geng's pursuit... The question still comes.

WAS IT WORTH IT?

For you to find comfort in another in this place? To have built something, or the semblance of something, when you know the Prism will take it away? You've taken this man's future. You've doomed his homeland—you've made sure those who loved him would never see him again. You may know there might be a chance to return the dead, but those chances are nebulous.

Is it worth it? If it is, would she listen to him the next time? ]

[jiuqing shudders, staring down at his peaceful repose. he's gone. she knows he's gone. he's been gone--

he's gone now, and it's all her fault. he has died so that she can live.

was it worth it?]

No! Bring him back! Please!

[ She gives her answer.

Bring him back!

And so Chang Geng is brought back. They return to the game room, except this time she has all of her wounds. She bleeds out on her seat, but it seems he can't see her... He is refracting even earlier than last time—his gaze is distant and again he tries to talk to her.

Jiuqing, I █▓▓▒░░ ░

But he couldn't. Again, it catches him too quickly, then the night continues. The question is asked one more time... Except, this time, she is the one who dies. The blade that would cut through her shoulder, this time finds itself in her chest, through her heart.

Was it worth it? Does she want to listen to him? ]

Edited 2022-03-30 20:58 (UTC)

[was it worth it?

is this just going to keep happening? what does it matter if she doesn't listen? she's so tired. she just wants this to stop.

is it her own stubbornness that's making her keep going, trying to find a way out of this situation that simply doesn't exist? is it stubbornness that keeps her from listening to what it is he wants to say?

or is it fear?

the pain in her heart is intense, and she can't tell if it's from the knife, or from something else.

it's not worth it to struggle.

this time, she'll listen.]

Ch— Chang Geng...

[ ... She wants to listen, but life is not written like a storybook.

This repeats and it repeats, much like the trials she doesn't remember, and the question must be asked at trial's end. Death weighs heavy and the number she has been killed by Chang Geng is over three digits, four, maybe five. Her own death at his hands are almost equal. Slowly, she forgets that. Every time she kills Chang Geng becomes new.

There is an anomaly, somewhere in these cycles, he's able to tell her what he wanted to tell her. Chang Geng won the race against refraction, at least once in all of this madness.

"Meeting you, being with you—it is the Prism's only blessing. Jiuqing."

Such beautiful words and yet she's there, covered from head to toe in so much blood. It congeals, heavy like tar, and turns black in color. Her wounds, too, are too many to count. She barely feels that she's here and every movement hurts. How did she become this? She knew many cycles ago, but now she finds herself appalled as she's dressed in her forgotten sins. Yet, these words, maybe it is a light in this darkness. Maybe it can comfort her through this unending pain. But she would forget this moment, too.

With the number increasing, every cycle is new, until the question returns one last time. Like clockwork, all the memories of this hardship floods into her. Darkness consumes what she can see of her stained hands.

Was it worth it...?

Why live to only suffer? ]

[why live?]

Because—

[everything hurts. breathing hurts, speaking hurts. but jiuqing pushes through it, her arms wrapped around herself, holding tightly as if she can keep herself together. she feels sick to her stomach, reeling from the pain of her injuries and the crushing memories that have all come crashing in.

it's too much.

but.

her mother - her friends - general lin... they're all waiting for her in daxing.

and in the prism - there are people waiting for her there, too. so many more of them than she ever expected herself to get attached to, but they're important. too important to lose herself to this place. she has to see them again.

and the people they've already lost...

her vision blurs. she's not sure if it's from pain or from tears, or both.]

Because it's my life, and... my life is worth living. Even if it hurts, it only hurts because I care. And as long as... as long as I'm still alive, I can always do something to make it better...!

[she grits her teeth]

This can't be all there is...

[ The black bird has been watching, silently. That does not change. This answer...

This can't be all there is.

But in darkness comes light. Her trial, all of it, for now will be sealed in the deepest part of her mind. That doesn't change that when she opens her eyes, she will find that her wounds are very real, but less severe. The black blood that covers her still stains her and this... Makes Ysayle, who had been talking to Hraesvelgr, gasp. It seems like she had finished before Jiuqing and no harm has come to her.

Quickly, he comes to supply her aether. It does not heal, but it keeps her from collapsing. ]

[ PLEASE HELP ]

Jiuqing—what happened? You're injured!

[ But a primordial roar that shakes the very land they stand on sounds from the east... ]

Come, my kin! We shall bring end to the sons of Thordan! Vengeance will be ours!

Mine brood-brother would sing his warsong once more... But thou have passed thine trials.

[ A shiny glint from one of Hraesvelgr's eyes goes to Jiuqing! She's in possession of one of the dragon's eyes. ]

... May this power turn the tide.

[ Ysayle is glad, but she's also FREAKING OUT. Gently, she takes Jiuqing's hand. ]

No. 'Tis too soon. We must flee.

Edited (i don't write dragons well) 2022-03-30 22:49 (UTC)

[ But it is too late... Who lands is Nidhogg in his black scaley glory. He's the same size as his brother and he lashes out, asking him if he's smitten with children of man once. Man did not uphold their alliance made by union of Hraesvelgr and his beloved. Man spat on Shiva's visage, called her a craven whore who slept with the dragons. Heretic. They! Killed! Their Sister!! Hraesvelgr is quiet, but does his best to distract his brother as Ysayle tries to lead Jiuqing away.

Very sad they never attuned to any aetherytes since there aren't many on the way here.

Nidhogg, unfortunately, notices them and turns "fun"-sized. Nidhogg has taken Estinien's body as a vessel. He speaks with this Elezen's voice, morphed with his own as he uses Draconic language. With a flick of his wrist, his lance covered in his own blood lets out a shriek. ]

[ There's enjoyment in his voice as he jumps down to them swiftly, using the physical prowess and abilities of the Azure Dragoon, trained and primed to slay dragons. ]

If thou cared for them not, watch as they die!

[ Swiftly, Nidhogg points his lance and lunges for a pierce straight through Jiuqing's throat. Ysayle isn't quick enough to block it for her, but Jiuqing can see her expression... Desperate, sorrowful, regretful. ]

[what the hell—

jiuqing barely has the chance to react to the fact that she's covered in blood? wasn't she just closing her eyes a second ago? what happened? why does everything hurt—?

what does she even do with a dragon's eye. help.

she's vaguely aware of ysayle taking her hand, but her attention is drawn to estinien's body, the blood-soaked lance, nidhogg leaping down and lunging—

it's only sheer dumb luck (and a roll of 17) that saves her from getting skewered. she stumbles, and his lance tears through her shoulder. she lets out a pained noise and twists, trying to move, to put some distance between them.]

Run—!

[...she is also attempting to get ysayle to run and leave her behind, because nidhogg/estinien can't murder ysayle while he's murdering her! she tries to tug her hand out of ysayle's and push her out of his reach. but she rolled a 6, so like. who knows how persuasive this will be.]

[ Ysayle cannot be persuaded by a mere 6, especially when Jiuqing is covered in the blackest of blood, wounds littered all over her body. She's the one that slows down and ushers her ahead. Her expression is schooled back as she makes her decision.

"Keep running, Jiuqing. Someone on this star will always look for peace, but there is only one of you."

Ysayle doesn't have family. She doesn't have friends. If she died for peace, she's sure no one would mourn her. Someone else will pick up her mantle, but Jiuqing... There must be people who love her. She must have bonds irreplaceable. She must be returned.

Nidhogg comes with a high jump, sending himself into the skies. Bright dark aether rings appear, starting from the highest peak to them, as a guide for his descent. With an air-piercing dive, he comes for them, but Ysayle lifts her hand to form a barrier. It forms with a frosted blue film, fragmented like ice, and it holds... For now. The barrier is already cracking. How could she, one person, fend off a great wyrm?

"Go!"

Conveniently, Vidofnir is here, curious to know how the trial went, but this is pure chaos: "thou may ride my back, Jiuqing." ]

Edited 2022-03-30 23:24 (UTC)

But you—!

[well.

with a roll of 3, she is not able to resist when ysayle ushers her away from the fight, toward vidofnir.]

Lady Ysayle! Please - be safe! I want to meet you again! There is only one of you, too!

[...is vidofnir really gonna let her be a dragon rider when she's dripping with blood? yikes. but i assume ysayle is able to get her on there and vidofnir will get going.]

[ "Thank you."

It may be the kindest words she has ever heard, to her person.

Whether Jiuqing hears her gratitude with the shrieks and roars from the dragon army prepping for war, who knows. Ysayle keeps the barrier up until she knows Jiuqing is safe with Vidofnir. Also... Vidofnir has to witness her uncle possess an elf man who's covered in his dragon blood? No biggie with how Jiuqing looks, but just so we know that Vidofnir has a surprised face, it's here. The white dragon takes no time and soars to escape.

Ysayle turns back to watch Jiuqing leave, smiling sadly to see her go, but it's also a smile full of purpose. For a short moment, Ysayle's image flickers between the appearance of two girls.

Their voices in unison ride the wind to her: come home.

A fight breaks out, but Jiuqing can only make some of it from the distance. There's a lot of shards of ice, Ysayle's ritual to transform into Shiva herself, but Nidhogg... He would return to his dragon form and snatch her life with his jaws. Even from far away, Jiuqing knows Ysayle—Yujiao and Ying are dead. ]

[WHAT THE FUCK, HER BESTIES.

anyway i guess jiuqing is just going to cling tightly to this dragon's back and try not to fall off. with a roll of 12, she does not critically fail and go plummeting out of the sky, but she's not very comfortable, either.

come home, they'd said.

she has to come home to them.]

[ and she... Passes by Vin and Kashuu along the way as they try to smack a dragon who keyed their manacutter. Vidofnir notices them, but with Jiuqing seemingly in poor condition and mental state, she quiets.

What she asks instead is: ]

Whither to, child?

[ They leave the Churning Mists, now returning to Dravania. Nidhogg's brood hasn't passed through yet to fly to Ishgard. ]

[she is so tired.

um.]

I think... it was said before that... there was danger in Ishgard? I want to help...

Week 6 cyoa: hei, jiuqing, vin, and kashuu

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