[traumaprom]

[actsofconviction]

[The whole world seems to spin around you, colors blazing and swirling, sound muffled—it feels like you're going to faint—

. . .

Seconds later, it's over.

And you're somewhere else entirely. It looks like you're trapped inside a dome of frosted glass; nobody can see in, you can't see out, and should you try to break it, the only thing your efforts will earn you is a bruise.

It's a small space, which you're sharing with one other person—perhaps they're very, very special to you, perhaps they're not. Either way, other than them, all you'll be able to find is a long, sharp knife, and a vial labelled with naught more than a skull and crossbones.]

Comments

[actsofconviction]

[nods after a moment.]

Yeah... yeah, you're right. I know Alvin won't let anything happen to Elize, and he promised he'd take care of himself.

[kind of wavers on that last bit but still.]

[humanspirit]

Jude. There's nothing we can do. We need to start thinking about what we can offer.

[actsofconviction]

[... stands up straight.]

I don't have anything with me that's worth much. I mean, other than this.

[reaches into the collar of his shirt and lifts out Milla's necklace.]

[humanspirit]

[she nods.]

And I have my sword. But would someone who's capable of dragging people across worlds and cutting them off from the spirits be interested in these sorts of things?

[actsofconviction]

I don't know. It depends on what she considers to be valuable. From an outside standpoint, your necklace is just a glass bead. But it's priceless to me because of what it represents. The house and the garden... they were both pretty lavish, so I don't think she's lacking for money.

[humanspirit]

Perhaps my question was too hasty. What do we know about her? We know that this space is hers. We know that Sabra is a world in which one exchanges memories for a wish. We know that she has great power, but we don't know what that power is. If we are to play her game, we must play it well, and if she has a weakness, we must take advantage of it and save as many people as possible.

[looks expectantly at Jude; do something with this, second protagonist.]

[actsofconviction]

Sabra? I didn't hear anything about that.

[humanspirit]

A girl explained it to me. She seemed very familiar with it… surely you noticed that both Alvin and Elize have amnesia.

[actsofconviction]

I noticed, but... are you sure you can trust that girl's information? I asked around, and there were a number of different places mentioned.

[humanspirit]

She seemed to know where we were. Why? What did you find out?

[actsofconviction]

I talked to our host, very briefly. She just said this place was her home and garden, not part of some larger system. And a few other people were familiar with this kind of setup, but they were talking about somewhere called "Aather."

I don't think anyone but our host was here ahead of time. She must have brought everyone from different worlds. The basic idea just happens to be familiar to some of them.

[humanspirit]

How strange. The girl I talked to even knew that she would be telling us to kill each other.

[actsofconviction]

Then... I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong. But either way, the rules of this "game" are the same.

[humanspirit]

What does it mean?

[actsofconviction]

[meets Milla's eyes, his face gone a little pale.]

If our offering isn't accepted, one of us is going to die. That's the important part.

[humanspirit]

I'm well aware of that. We need to offer something that she would consider valuable.

[actsofconviction]

No, I know. I just mean that even if we find a good offering, we... we'll need to make a decision.

[humanspirit]

…Yes.

[actsofconviction]

...

The world needs you more than it needs me.

[humanspirit]

Yes, it does. But I find… I am unwilling to let you die so easily.

[actsofconviction]

[laughs weakly.]

Well... I can't say I'm not happy to hear that.

[humanspirit]

And if my powers can't be reclaimed, neither of us is more expendable than the other.

[she is going to reach out for his hand, k.]

[actsofconviction]

[yeah handholding is a go.]

We have to assume that once we're released from this place, your powers will come back to you. Maxwell's power can't just... just disappear.

[humanspirit]

No. It can't.

[her hand tightens.]

I don't have anything material that's valuable enough for your life.

[actsofconviction]

[he's quiet, unsure of what to say, and just squeezes Milla's hand.]