snowblindrpg | [log] The Pit [open]

Well, yeah.

[ And he's made plenty of bad idea choices in his life. "Don't ditch school to go on a murder spree!" "Don't cut off your dominant hand!" "Don't swear allegiance to a guy who beats you up daily!" Why stop now? ]

[ He makes an annoyed noise. ]

...why doesn't it count?

[ He totally would've thought of it even if you didn't mention it! Honest! ]

[Squalo, there might be a pattern there. Have you ever tried listening to people and see if it makes a difference.

Just, you know, once.]

Well, for one because that was a rabbit hole, not a gaping hellmouth. And she didn't jump, she just followed the rabbit, not knowing that it would cause her to fall.

[ Uh no, why would he do that? He's perfectly happy with his decision making and his life! ...though some people might disagree. ]

Well, maybe I don't know that -- [ yeah there's no way not to go splat here, right? ] Alright I've got nothing. But don't you wanna see what happens? Afterwards, I mean.

[ There were usually consequences after these things, he was told, and sometimes they provided information... ]

[ Without realizing, he sort of tries to tug himself away again. ]

[Please. Look at your life, look at your choices, you are standing in a literal death chamber with a murder pit, arguing Alice in Wonderland with one of the resident nerds.]

I do. More than anything. [He... actually didn't want to admit to that out loud and it shows with a sudden reluctance on his face. Oh well, it's out now.] That's what's scaring me.

[Actually, death is what's scaring him. Memories of dying, still present in his mind and absolutely terrifying the hell out of him is what's scaring him and frankly, that's the only thing that's keeping him from following the call of exploration and adventure and the promise of answers.]

[ ...yeah okay that's a new low even for him and his whole life has been one huge tire fire. ]

Why? Would you usually not want to pursue knowledge or whatever?

[ He doesn't think of death in particular. It's always there, for him. When you can very likely die every minute of every day and know it, it sort of becomes an invisible elephant in the room, and it's never his first guess when maybe it should be. ]

Yes, I would. [And that hits a sore spot.

Death is very much on the table whenever Flynn goes out on his missions, too, and he's no stranger to the danger. That it keeps him from exploring - or at least the pull in his head that tells him to explore - is wrong and un-Librarian.

Then there's another side that tells him that he's just being rational because there can't be anything down there, it's a trick, so he's doing the right thing. He's just doing it for the wrong reason.]

But this is different. It's not right, it's... I think it's a trap.

[ He almost holds his breath for a moment, then lets it escape as a loud sigh. It's... logical, honestly. He should believe this. And yet... it's the only way out of this room. Clearly that has to mean something. ]

You know what, I think you're right.

[ gasp shock horror. oh no the mania demands an outlet. the words come out fast, with generous amount of gesturing. ]

And I still wanna take a fuckin' swan dive with a triple flip and see it for myself. It's -- a chance to make a choice, you know? This whole being stuck thing gets so old so fast.

[It's okay, Squalo, that's how Flynn communicates even without mania so he sees absolutely nothing wrong here.]

But is it really a choice if it's telling us to jump? Because I know - I mean, logically I know - that I would never jump into a bottomless pit. I mean, I don't know about you, maybe that's a thing you do. Is that a thing you do?

[This is really complicated when the voice in your head tells you the exact opposite.]

[ Excellent. They speak the same language. ]

[ Squalo considers this angle. ]

We can still choose to listen to that or not to. And -- and we can choose to jump not because it's telling us, right? Or not to. Those are choices.

[ It sort of sounds like he's trying to convince himself here. At Flynn's question, he's got a momentary look of "caught" on his face but it disappears quickly. ]

Uh, no. No I -- are we talking metaphorically? 'Cause I've kinda taken on some suicide missions in the past and all. I'm just bad at dying.

Well, I've taken on some pretty suicidal missions myself, I'm just not fond of dying. In fact, I try to make it a point in my life to very much keep from dying. [Almost the same thing? Maybe?]

This pit isn't going anywhere, right? [...] Let's hope this pit isn't going anywhere. It can't hurt to wait and see if-- something else happens? Something reveals itself up here? We find some hints or clues?

[A puzzle solver can dream.]

That'd be ideal, sure.

[ Sounds like they're both not too keen on dying, at least. Also that reasoning does seem to interest Squalo, as he eyes both the Pit and Flynn with newfound interest. ]

Hey, you could be onto something here. Maybe it needs a certain number of sacrifices before anything else happens up here...

[ his look wanders toward other people that haven't been pit-ed yet. can you guess what he's thinking bro ]

[s q u a l o n o.]

What? That is not what I-- how did you even get to that--

[Flynn follows his gaze and his eyes widen, brows shooting up.]

Oh no, nonono, forget about it, we are not sacrificing anyone! [Let him rephrase that.] You are not sacrificing anyone!

[ SQUALO YES ]

[ also he heard that 'we' in there he knew you'd be on board in your heart of hearts ;) ]

Well, we don't need to with how excited everyone seems to be about taking a plunge. Not yet, anyway.

[ dun dun dun ]

I will not let you kick anyone down there!

[A beat.

And then, because he knows you,] Or punch! Or shove! Or trip! Or lure! Or... otherwise cause to suddenly find their way into the general direction of the pit!

[ Squalo looks like he's about to protest for a moment but then his expression just goes gradually flatter with each new method Flynn forbids. He wasn't even planning to go for loopholes, honestly. It's not even that much of his thing. Did he really train this guy that well in such a short time... ]

Fine. Guess I'll just do it myself.

[ LOOK WHAT YOU DID FLYNN ]

[ABORT MISSION what is even happening? Why is this his life?]

What, no! If you're so bored, how about keeping people FROM doing it? I thought you were a bodyguard!!

[ ...Squalo considers the suggestion for a moment. Honestly, he'd kind of forgotten about the whole bodyguard schtick. There had been no reason for it around the insane clown posse. Whoops. ]

Yeah, well, I'm not getting paid for it now, am I?

[ But at least he's sitting back down so he's not jumping in or shoving someone down the pit for now. That's something, right? ]

How about I keep an eye on you.

On me?

[Flynn blinks at that. That's...

Okay, it's not that new, considering that someone looking after him kind of just... tends to happen sometime during his missions, but still, the offer catches him by surprise. However, if it means it will keep Squalo from pushing others in or doing a flip down himself...]

Yeah, okay. Okay, you keep an eye on me. [He's actually doing the mutual eye pointing gesture there.

A pause.] I don't have anything to trade.

[ Guess you're just very lookable-after, Flynn. Or just happen to be in the right place at the right time and say the right thing. Possibly both. ]

[ Squalo seems to consider the confession for a moment. ]

So just return the favor. I'd rather not end the night at the bottom of that thing, yeah?

[ And he's... really not sure if he's not going to just start forcing his way there in another hour or so. The temptation is rather overwhelming. ]

[Okay, that's something he can definitely get behind.]

Deal. You look after me, I look after you. And we're even.

[Squalo seems like a guy who likes to be even. And of secret promises like "this tacitly implies never to speak of this ever again".]

[ He kinda does, yeah. Though he also doesn't mind putting in the effort for people he likes, so there is that. ]

Sounds good. [ He side-eyes the pit for a bit. ] Should probably get as far from it as possible and try to do something else. Wouldn't happen to have a deck of cards on you, would you?

[ He sort of regrets not picking up one of the games from the arcade now. Focusing on a different task would probably help keep the voice of the pit at bay. ]

[Yes, distraction should be the name of the game.]

Nope. Have some books and stories I could offer, though?

[It's really too bad he doesn't know about your Rome nerdiness yet, Squalo.]

Have some charcoal, too, we could draw a gaming board.

[ He'll just... go take a seat by the wall and sort of tug Flynn along if he doesn't follow. Their "deal" and all. ]

I can play... checkers? [ he doesn't sound too sure ] What kinda books and stories? 'Cause I'm sure you know I prefer 'em flashy and fightey.

Well... I have a book on European myths and legends? Lots of gruesome stuff in there. Gore and decapitation, as they used to do.

[He takes out one of the charcoal pens, drawing a checkers board.] Do you have something we can use for pieces? Otherwise we just have to draw them and our moves, too.

Afraid not. Unless we can use nails.

[ He pulls out a box and wiggles it. Honestly, the book sounds like the better option right now, even if he's not an avid reader. ]

Yeah it's usually good stuff. [ there were some especially gruesome tales up north as well. ] Show me the book?

[log] The Pit [open]

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wrap up / fastforward?

wrap sounds good to me!