[WEEK 1 GY POST: Bring out your dead]

[purrtagonist]

[he awakens with a start in his bed in the House of Hearts, long after the investigation has concluded. the first thing he does is bolt upright, hand flying to the side of his head where Croix's blow knocked him unconscious, then to his right eye which is. . . huh. completely whole again. his heart hammering madly in his chest is evidence enough that he isn't dead (he. . . thinks?), so after one or two steadying breaths to reorient himself, he slips out of his bed and through the front door]

[he meanders for a bit. everything in the Hare's Abode looks exactly the same, and there are people milling about everywhere, talking about the evidence they found, the bodies they found. it's probably a good thing he has yet to go to the market and see his own, uh. head, honestly. but no matter who he runs into, no matter how hard he shouts and waves his hands, no one seems to notice him, which is. . . well. disconcerting.]

[for the fellow dead? Akira can be found standing outside the Timeshare, staring at the bloody footprints as he twirls his cat mask around his finger. look ma, no mask!!]

[his expression is blank. unreadable. shoulders tense, posture stiff. let's dead person party guys!!]

Comments

JUST BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING SO WELL

[mcmurderer]

[ Before they know it, the White Rabbit presses the button on his stop watch. Time around them all pause and instead, the White Rabbit is the only one moving. He hobbles, hops and points to the dead ghosties in the timeshare, watching everything unfold. ]

Very fast! Not a second to pass. None, never any! Hurry, listen to me: the next week something awful awaits!!! The rabbit hole will appear soon. Very soon! I will seek you out shortly, but I must have you prepare yourselves to face your worst fears. Can you — can you do this? The - the Queen knows not of this! This is the only w-w-way for you to be revived. Y-Your incentives will be attributed, your wishes made, but without overcoming — you s-s-shall perish here in Wonderland.

[headingsouth]

.... Rabbit. I fulfilled my end of the bargain -- but I want to change my incentives before we go forward.

[....]

If you let me do that, then I will face what's ahead.

[mcmurderer]

The incentives can not be changed after the rabbit hole appears. Be mindful of your choices.

[headingsouth]

I understand.

I want the safe return home for everyone innocent -- including the unalive.

[don't look at her Akira]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . LOOKS AT HER!! brows raised]

[headingsouth]

[I said don't look at her :(]

[SHE'S NOT LOOKING AT HIM!!!]

[purrtagonist]

[but he's looking at her :)]

[just :)]

[even though his expression is neutral]

[headingsouth]

[stop that she can feel ur protag eyes burning into her soul]

[purrtagonist]

[they sure are]

[this is what they call a change of heart!!]

[headingsouth]

[you can't prove anything she's a big bad villain she has a cape :((((( SHE DOESN'T HAVE FEELINGS]

[nonidentity]

[d'awww, good work akira.]

[headingsouth]

[look she might have had 0.5 of a feeling about you too buddy]

[mcmurderer]

S-So long as things move quickly — you do not need to w-w-w-waste your incentives. As long as we can work together!

[headingsouth]

So it's achievable if we work together?

[purrtagonist]

[it's a bit surreal when everything freezes around them, but Akira is used to strange things happening like that?? so he just. swivels to face the rabbit (he was in the process of mimicking flicking Mejojo's ears) and tiles his chin up]

-- tell us what you need from us. I'm ready.

[mcmurderer]

I need for y-y-you to be ready to combat y-y-your madness. To succumb with it, to fight it and overcome it — that is the only way to find yourself back to what you once were: alive. The Queen's power i-i-is not great, but the Cheshire Cat... the one who gave her the chance to seize the th-throne from her sisters — the Cheshire feeds on madness. With enough... you are able to strike a d-deal.

[purrtagonist]

[Cheshire Cat. . .]

[he rocks back on his heel, kicking at the ground lightly]

I combat distortion on a daily basis. Madness, I'm sure, is no different.

Bring it on.

[this fuckin' protag]

[mcmurderer]

[ EYEROLL. ]

We shall see...

[purrtagonist]

[he saw that, mister cottontail!1 but he just. arches his brows and grins]

Have a little faith in us, Cottontail-san. I do.

[nonidentity]

And if we fail?

[mcmurderer]

Y-You shall find yourselves familiar with the Hare's Abode for quite some time.