[ help me rosamund. it's fine. also why the you know what i'm not gonna ask about centipedes. anyway. you hit the buzzer and the swell of cheery, jaunty music fills the studio. the square-headed host runs around, the soft pitter-patter of his feet echoing in the studio as he waves for the cameras. ]
"Welcome to our livestream of Faith to Face! I'm your host, Andes Komeji. Ready to get started?"
[ you blink, and in your dreamlike state you seem to see a few people materialize before you. you aren't playing alone, it seems. there are three other people in the room. on the opposing team are twogirls. and when you blink you notice your partner has materialized, too. having her by your side makes you feel safe. protected. loved.
even if you think this gameshow's kind of lame...maybe it'll be fun?
the music plays again, and soon the question's asked. ]
"Which Taoist symbol, shaped like interlocking black and white commas, represents the origin of all things?"
[Well the host sure is something else. Even Rosamund, who comes from a land of high curses and is now experiencing the wonders of space, has to pause as she perceives his very square head.
It really makes turning into a frog look more appetizing than ever.
Her competitors are normal though, and her partner is lovely. She smiles bright at her, bolstered by her very presence. Hopefully she's better at trivia than Rosamund is?]
"Taoist?"
[Girl help she's from the fantasy middle ages. She looks to the other girl.]
The only thing I can think of is the Goose and the Gander, but that's if they just laid down next to each other in the right way. And the Goose is Golden, not white. That's no help at all.
[ yes this is the correct response to komeji honestly, i would also agree being a frog is better.
when you look at your partner, you feel a sense of...well. love. safety. warmth. she's always had answers for you when you can't come up with them yourself. after all, that's what big sisters are for, aren't they? she smiles at you, a little thoughtful and yet still a little tense. ]
"No, but it's a good guess." [ she says thoughtfully. ] "We talked about this before, haven't we? When you asked why yin-yangs were two different colors."
[ perhaps that is your answer. she's not going to buzz in for you, but she is here to walk you through things. she's always been your biggest supporter anyway. ]
[ she smiles at you when you buzz in with the answer, and the host smiles even wider. ]
"Correct!" [ the host cheers, and your two opponents clap politely. ] "Ah, you two make a father proud. I remember when you were both young--"
[ you seem to tune out the rest. it's embarrassing when he starts talking too much. around you, the scene seems to waver like it can't decide what you should be looking at. for a moment, it flickers and you find yourself in the studio. it's dark, and there's a cart ahead of you with a large bag. the zipper is right in front of you, ready to be pulled...there's water on the floor. the sound of silence envelopes you. but before you can react...
...the scene's gone. you're back to the gameshow, and the host is continuing. ]
"With that little introduction, let's move on to our next game: Which Would You Choose?" [ the studio audience cheers, but it sounds a little distorted. your partner goes a little rigid. no one else seems to think anything of it. you know that in this game, you're given two choices. so...what will you choose? the lights shift, shining on you and your partner. ]
"Which would you choose? Follow your dreams, or spend quality time with your family?"
[See, the particulars are eluding her. She doesn't get how real each part is supposed to be. Is this actually their father? God, she hopes not.
Then there's the bag on the table. It's the size of it that worries her, and the presentation. Too much like their terrible trials on the weekends. The water on the floor makes her skin crawl.
Then they're back at it. She's blinking wide as the show goes on, the sound turned strange. The question stranger.
She looks to the girl. Her sister?]
Um... [Her own path was different. She had to choose too. Comfort and home, or open ended wandering, no guarantees of hope or safety or love. Family either.
This illusion isn't enough to sway her on that, though there's a burble of dread rising in her gut.]
[ so sorry to report that yes this is actually their father. he really do just look like that. your sister stands by your side, but she seems a little frustrated with the question even if she's trying not to show it. there are no right and wrong answers in this game, after all. ]
"I'm a daydreamer, you know." [ the host says, seemingly nostalgic but suddenly facing you with a frown of his own. there's anxiety in his features, and something quietly sad. ] "I didn't think of our family when I wanted to pursue my dream career. And that frustrated you, didn't it? You tried to support my dreams, but all I did was bring you grief."
[ he shakes his head, and the studio lights dim just slightly. the audience appears to grow quieter and the next question comes. ]
"Would you rather earn money slowly but honestly, or try to get rich quick?"
[ the way you're like the second or third person to ask, i'm crying.
anyway your sister looks at you with your question, though she shrugs a little. ]
"You know dad's been trying his comedian career for a while now. We just...have to try and support him."
[ when she says that, something in you seems to snap a little. no. no, you don't want to be supporting this anymore. you've watched your father continually fail to make his career into anything, and you've both been struggling for years. shouldn't he give up already? some dreams just shouldn't be real.
the host hears your answer though, and he nods along. when he turns, there isn't a microphone in his hand. it's a gun. ]
"...if only I had been as smart. I should have listened to you more, shouldn't I? But...it was all for you."
[ the studio goes pitchblack suddenly, and soon the screen behind you lights up. you get the sense everyone around you has suddenly disappeared, and you see a short scene, almost like a movie up until 20:19. (for clarity icly the conversation between ryuki and tama cannot be heard.)
when the scene ends, the lights come up but remain very dim. it's you alone in the studio, though you can see the three silhouettes of the girls you were with off in the distance. they're huddled together, seemingly waiting.
before you is a cart, and that same bag you saw before awaits.
[That's not her father. And he's been running them into the ground. Running her into the ground, chasing some frivolous ambition. The air is getting thicker around her, and she's having trouble telling which are her thoughts and which belong to the dream.
Then there's a gun in his hand.
And she's no longer being, but observing. Shoma, enraged, shouting at his father.
"You should just die already!"
And the lights come back up. The show is over, but the girls are waiting, and Rosamund has to open the bag.
She doesn't tremble, but the sweat pricking her brow and the tight line of her lips betray her all the same. She knows what she's going to find.
everything's dim and you feel the world fall away. you're nervous. you know you probably won't find anything good, but you have to look. something in your gut is telling you to look, or maybe it's your damn curiosity that's always getting the better of you.
you open the zipper...and even in the faint light of the dark studio it's clear what's there. the right half of your father's body, cut cleanly down the middle, lying on his side in this bag.
a cold horror washes over you, and fear grips you tightly. you don't want to believe what you're seeing, and you can't even bring yourself to scream like you want to.
did...you cause this? maybe you did.
soon the studio walls fall away, and rosamund finds herself falling out of the memory. she's back in the void, and the real shoma's standing there frowning a little too heavily. hm. not really a pleasant memory, but what can you do? ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
"Welcome to our livestream of Faith to Face! I'm your host, Andes Komeji. Ready to get started?"
[ you blink, and in your dreamlike state you seem to see a few people materialize before you. you aren't playing alone, it seems. there are three other people in the room. on the opposing team are two girls. and when you blink you notice your partner has materialized, too. having her by your side makes you feel safe. protected. loved.
even if you think this gameshow's kind of lame...maybe it'll be fun?
the music plays again, and soon the question's asked. ]
"Which Taoist symbol, shaped like interlocking black and white commas, represents the origin of all things?"
[ how would you like to answer? ]
no subject
It really makes turning into a frog look more appetizing than ever.
Her competitors are normal though, and her partner is lovely. She smiles bright at her, bolstered by her very presence. Hopefully she's better at trivia than Rosamund is?]
"Taoist?"
[Girl help she's from the fantasy middle ages. She looks to the other girl.]
The only thing I can think of is the Goose and the Gander, but that's if they just laid down next to each other in the right way. And the Goose is Golden, not white. That's no help at all.
no subject
when you look at your partner, you feel a sense of...well. love. safety. warmth. she's always had answers for you when you can't come up with them yourself. after all, that's what big sisters are for, aren't they? she smiles at you, a little thoughtful and yet still a little tense. ]
"No, but it's a good guess." [ she says thoughtfully. ] "We talked about this before, haven't we? When you asked why yin-yangs were two different colors."
[ perhaps that is your answer. she's not going to buzz in for you, but she is here to walk you through things. she's always been your biggest supporter anyway. ]
no subject
Yin-yang, then? [She looks to their (ugh) host.] Is that the answer?
no subject
"Correct!" [ the host cheers, and your two opponents clap politely. ] "Ah, you two make a father proud. I remember when you were both young--"
[ you seem to tune out the rest. it's embarrassing when he starts talking too much. around you, the scene seems to waver like it can't decide what you should be looking at. for a moment, it flickers and you find yourself in the studio. it's dark, and there's a cart ahead of you with a large bag. the zipper is right in front of you, ready to be pulled...there's water on the floor. the sound of silence envelopes you. but before you can react...
...the scene's gone. you're back to the gameshow, and the host is continuing. ]
"With that little introduction, let's move on to our next game: Which Would You Choose?" [ the studio audience cheers, but it sounds a little distorted. your partner goes a little rigid. no one else seems to think anything of it. you know that in this game, you're given two choices. so...what will you choose? the lights shift, shining on you and your partner. ]
"Which would you choose? Follow your dreams, or spend quality time with your family?"
[ buzz in when you're ready. ]
no subject
Then there's the bag on the table. It's the size of it that worries her, and the presentation. Too much like their terrible trials on the weekends. The water on the floor makes her skin crawl.
Then they're back at it. She's blinking wide as the show goes on, the sound turned strange. The question stranger.
She looks to the girl. Her sister?]
Um... [Her own path was different. She had to choose too. Comfort and home, or open ended wandering, no guarantees of hope or safety or love. Family either.
This illusion isn't enough to sway her on that, though there's a burble of dread rising in her gut.]
My dreams?
no subject
"I'm a daydreamer, you know." [ the host says, seemingly nostalgic but suddenly facing you with a frown of his own. there's anxiety in his features, and something quietly sad. ] "I didn't think of our family when I wanted to pursue my dream career. And that frustrated you, didn't it? You tried to support my dreams, but all I did was bring you grief."
[ he shakes his head, and the studio lights dim just slightly. the audience appears to grow quieter and the next question comes. ]
"Would you rather earn money slowly but honestly, or try to get rich quick?"
no subject
Is this for real? [Rosamund turns to the girl beside her.] These questions are really pointed. I don't think it's a fun game at all.
[What dreams are these he's talking about? Rosamund breathes thin and answers anyway.]
Well I'm already royalty, I don't need more money than I already have. And even if I weren't it's better to be honest about it.
no subject
anyway your sister looks at you with your question, though she shrugs a little. ]
"You know dad's been trying his comedian career for a while now. We just...have to try and support him."
[ when she says that, something in you seems to snap a little. no. no, you don't want to be supporting this anymore. you've watched your father continually fail to make his career into anything, and you've both been struggling for years. shouldn't he give up already? some dreams just shouldn't be real.
the host hears your answer though, and he nods along. when he turns, there isn't a microphone in his hand. it's a gun. ]
"...if only I had been as smart. I should have listened to you more, shouldn't I? But...it was all for you."
[ the studio goes pitchblack suddenly, and soon the screen behind you lights up. you get the sense everyone around you has suddenly disappeared, and you see a short scene, almost like a movie up until 20:19. (for clarity icly the conversation between ryuki and tama cannot be heard.)
when the scene ends, the lights come up but remain very dim. it's you alone in the studio, though you can see the three silhouettes of the girls you were with off in the distance. they're huddled together, seemingly waiting.
before you is a cart, and that same bag you saw before awaits.
will you open it? ]
no subject
[That's not her father. And he's been running them into the ground. Running her into the ground, chasing some frivolous ambition. The air is getting thicker around her, and she's having trouble telling which are her thoughts and which belong to the dream.
Then there's a gun in his hand.
And she's no longer being, but observing. Shoma, enraged, shouting at his father.
"You should just die already!"
And the lights come back up. The show is over, but the girls are waiting, and Rosamund has to open the bag.
She doesn't tremble, but the sweat pricking her brow and the tight line of her lips betray her all the same. She knows what she's going to find.
Gently, she coaxes the zipper open.]
no subject
everything's dim and you feel the world fall away. you're nervous. you know you probably won't find anything good, but you have to look. something in your gut is telling you to look, or maybe it's your damn curiosity that's always getting the better of you.
you open the zipper...and even in the faint light of the dark studio it's clear what's there. the right half of your father's body, cut cleanly down the middle, lying on his side in this bag.
a cold horror washes over you, and fear grips you tightly. you don't want to believe what you're seeing, and you can't even bring yourself to scream like you want to.
did...you cause this? maybe you did.
soon the studio walls fall away, and rosamund finds herself falling out of the memory. she's back in the void, and the real shoma's standing there frowning a little too heavily. hm. not really a pleasant memory, but what can you do? ]