[log] The Pit [open]

[snowblindmods]

Characters: Anyone participating in the Pit event.
Location: A room.
Date: Day 330
Summary: You wake up in a room.
Warnings: general warnings; potential for morbid/suicidal thoughts; note specific warnings in subject line, please!

Comments

II

[motherserpent]

You are full of fun facts.

[The smile Tess gives him is a little sad. She's put her coat back on and shouldered her pack, RGBV perched atop her shoulders and backpack. She reaches up to clasp her hand over his where he's got her by the sleeve.]

You need to let go, Flynn.

[cahooted]

[There's something terrible in her smile, something that makes his heart skip a beat - but NOT in a good way - and he clasps another hand over hers.]

N-no! Look, that's just what it wants us to think, I mean, just, think! Rationally! There's no way we can survive this! You're a scientist, aren't you? You told me about chemistry! Maybe it's just chemistry in our brains, it could be... it could be anything!

[motherserpent]

Well, yeah. Altered brain chemistry, telepathic interference -- I know these thoughts aren't all mine. I'm just still going to do it. Don't worry, I can't die by falling.

[cahooted]

You don't know that!

[There is a serious and upset quality to his voice that goes beyond his regular agitation.]

Things that... things that seem to be true for me, things that seemed to be true for me aren't anymore. The rules are different and-- and you don't know that you can't!

[motherserpent]

[Well, all of their hands are going to be clasped together now because she brings up the other to pat his.]

Alright. So I find out. Let go; you don't have to come with me.

[cahooted]

No, I won't!

[He shakes his head violently, clinging to her.] Please, we have to hold on.

[motherserpent]

No, see, that's what I'm saying, that's the opposite of what I need you to do right now, because you've got -- you're a creature of free will, you know? So it wouldn't be right for me to pull you into that pit with me when you've always been nice to me. So I mean, I have this giant snake and I don't want to tell him to bite you, but it turns out he's not venomous anymore, so I can have him bite you and you won't die. I'm just saying.

[cahooted]

But you're a creature of free will, too and you can't listen to the pit impeding your free will because that is the opposite of free will and it's not right and--

Really? You're threatening me with the snake?

[motherserpent]

Free will is relative, and also yes. Yes, I am.

[cahooted]

Well, that is really not cool because that is seriously impeding on my free will and not just relatively.

And my free will tells me that I should absolutely keep you safe and from not following your free will, so technically I am acting in the best interest of your free will.

[motherserpent]

But you're impinging on my free -- oh, hell with it. Roy, bite him.

[RGBV seems to perk up at the instruction. He's moving rather quickly, at least, as he shifts himself and draws his neck into a striking position. You've got like two seconds, Flynn.]

[cahooted]

[Flynn didn't expect her to really go through with it and his eyes widen at her words.]

Wh-- wait, no! [His grip loosens momentarily when he brings up one arm in startled defense.]

[motherserpent]

[He sort of lucks out; RGBV is still coiled around Tess, so when she twists out of his grip in his moment of distraction the serpent goes with her and RGBV's strike goes wide. Tess moves quickly, practically throwing RGBV off her shoulders, calling out as she hops into the abyss:]

Listen to Flynn while I'm gone!

[cahooted]

No!!

[Flynn tries to reach but he's too slow (too slow always too slow and he calls out for Nicole but it's too late). It feels like he's brushing Tess's clothes and then she's

gone.

Flynn stumbles, strenght leaving his legs and he breaks down, his fist uselessy beating down on the ground.] No, please...

[motherserpent]

[The feathered serpent she left behind twists in the air, off balance somehow for a moment before he finds his equilibrium hanging there in midair. RGBV 'slithers' through the air toward the hole, tongue flicking rapidly in and out in distress as he turns to circle above it, looking down at where Tess has disappeared into darkness. Every so often his eyes turn to Flynn, then sharply away again in his agitation.]

[cahooted]

[For a moment the strongest urge to just stay down flares up in Flynn. Or to follow suit and get it all over with. He failed. He can't protect anyone, he's useless.

But he has to try.

He rubs at his face, stifling a sob, then pushes himself back up. For a moment he stares into the pit, then at RGBV, back into the darkness.]

I'm sorry. [He doesn't know who exactly he's addressing.] I'm...

[He takes another shuddering breath, then gently holds out his hand towards the distressed coatl. He doesn't know if RGBV really will listen to him but he has to try before it decides to follow Tess.]

Roy... Roy, come.

[motherserpent]

[RGBV noses downward for a moment like he is thinking of following, orders conflicting with loyalty conflicting with instinct. He turns his beady eyes on Flynn again, circles once more, then finally comes to perch on Flynn's outstretched arm. He's not as heavy as a snake his size should be, but there's still quite a lot of him.]

[cahooted]

[Feeling empathetic to his agitation and loss, Flynn dares to briefly run his hand over the snake's head comfortingly.

In a way it's almost hysterical. The Librarian with a giant snake on his arm – really, the Serpent Brotherhood would have a field day. But while it registers, he can't find the humor in it, not today. Everything is just too sad.]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I... I tried. But maybe we can still save some of the others.

[motherserpent]

[RGBV doesn't show much sign of understanding what's being said to him, but he slithers up Flynn's arm to drape around his shoulders. The serpent keeps looking at the pit, tongue flicking in and out, but he'll be a warm presence on Flynn's shoulders, letting himself be taken away from the edge and remaining with him.]