The City of the Specter, Atem's Palace

[metagame]

The corpse sinks to the floor
Even the brightest gold, even the sharpest blade
Becomes sand, becomes dust

Comments

[pointzeropercent]

[Well. He's going for the knife on his belt right now. That's probably not a good sign.]

[prozaic]

[Shalem gives a big sigh. Buddy, don't swing that around when you can't even see who's right in front of you. He immediately reaches for that wrist to hold it fast (12), just so he doesn't get shanked. He's only just recovered, let's not stab him and send him back into his own penalty game, or worse, revert him back to a useless coward.]

Breathe deep, and calm down. You've shown your hand easily-- you're being too impulsive. Have a plan, before you even attempt something like this.

[pointzeropercent]

I do have a plan, it's stab that bastard!

[But he just can dodge away from that grip (9), so Shalem can grab him and stop him.]

[prozaic]

[Yep, definitely violent. But Shalem would like to not get stabbed for other, more medical-related reasons, so he moves to Sou's side instead and grabs him by the shoulders (16), just so he doesn't get nicked by flailing hands.]

Can you even see who you're stabbing? What you're attempting to do? Can you even see me?

[pointzeropercent]

[He makes a stab at Shalem (12) but it doesn't quite connect, and Sou lets out a scream of rage.

Then he sort of just. Drops down to his knees, defeated.]

[prozaic]

[It connects with him somewhat! Just a nick on the arm, but Shalem quickly covers it up with a Dia and licks the wound away. Then he kneels down with Sou, and decides it's probably time to ask him.]

How about a question you can surely answer-- what is something you can show, but not see?

[pointzeropercent]

[Exhausted, he doesn't really have it in him to fight anymore. Nor does he have it in him to solve riddles.]

...I don't know.

[prozaic]

Come on now, you've answered this before. [Pinches Sou's cheek.]

Think about it. What can you show but not see?

[pointzeropercent]

...'kindness'...

[prozaic]

There, see? You know the answer. Let it guide you out of your nightmare.

[pointzeropercent]

[Let it guide him out of his nightmare, huh?]

...

There's nobody left who would want to show kindness to me.

[prozaic]

Then who is this stranger encouraging you to wake up, hm? [Shalem gives Sou an encouraging pat on the hand.]

Come, you have spent too long asleep, and it's time for you to wake from this nightmare.

[pointzeropercent]

[Sou hears those words, but the paranoia is hard to shake. Who knows if that smile is hiding a knife behind Shalem's back? Sou saw how ferociously Salem attacked people, who's to say Shalem won't attack him.

...the pat on the head feel comforting though...

In his mind, he can still hear her screams and see the blood on the floor. But he squeezes his eyes shut, breathes, and opens his eyes again.

Hi Shalem. Sou looks like he's emotionally drained, but he's back now.]

[prozaic]

Good morning. [It might not be morning, who knows. They're still in this dark, dank basement after all.]

You look winded-- any lingering effects from Atem's attempt at killing you with your own mind?

[pointzeropercent]

[His heart feels like it's going to explode.]

I think I'm alright.

[He should say something more, shouldn't he?]

...thanks.

[prozaic]

You're welcome.

[Shalem straightens up and dusts off his knees before offering Sou a hand.]

Now come on-- best to get a piece of Atem right now if you want to get back at him, otherwise Soujuurou might just finish him off before we get there.