WEEK 3: CYOA (Rufus, Sumire, Taako, Dorothy)

[retellers]

Comments

[misstrust]

[ Oh my god.

Dorothy just kind of sits there, frozen. Like wow. The student went there.

And she kind of feels like there's about to be a murder and honestly all she does is sit back and watch Rufus supportively.

You go, Rufus. She'll hold your flower. ]

[soulus]

[The powers that course through his demonic blood may be dormant here, but Rufus still sees red once his rage kicks in.

The desk and chair both topple over as he lunges violently at the student. It doesn't matter where they end up nor how primitive his actions are; whether it's on the floor or a mess of furniture, he aims a furious fist at the student's jaw as many times as he's able.]

[retellers]

[ If Dorothy doesn't stop him, then Rufus can punch the student as much as he wants, even until his face is nothing more than just a bloody mess. The other students just watch. Some pull out their phones to record it.

The hooded figures step closer. ]

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy doesn't stop him. Look, the kid deserves it?? And watching Rufus beat the shit out of someone is much more interesting than watching the creepy hooded trio come closer.

She does finally stand up to take away a few of those phones from the students and chuck them in different directions though. ]

[soulus]

[Beating a trick of the light isn't satisfying, but he does it anyway. He scrapes his knuckles raw against the student's face, his own expression one of vengeful wrath. A phone goes flying past, and he briefly considers picking it up and smashing it against the student's head before resuming the deed with his own fist.

Only once the figures enter his periphery does Rufus halt his assault in the middle of winding back for another punch. He snaps his head in their direction.]

[retellers]

[ The student does not move.

The smallest figure steps forward again and speaks. Her voice is feminine and British. ]

Please stop! You're disrupting the lesson.

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy stiffens, for just a second-- and then she sighs heavily, now stepping closer to the figures. Three of them.

Of course. ]

You can stop now. I know it's not really you.

[soulus]

[A short ways behind Dorothy, Rufus rises slowly to a stand to watch the four of them. The student by his feet is no longer worth the energy.]

[retellers]

[ There's a pause, and they all remove their hoods. While it was the small brunette who spoke first, this time, the blonde steps forward with a smile. ]

Would you like to see the lecture? Your friend will enjoy it.

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy can only stare at them, looking both conflicted and resigned. Of course. Of course.

They're not really here. Rather, she thinks, they can't all be here like this. But her eyes still darken a bit. ]

If I say no, you'll show it anyway, won't you?

[soulus]

[That's different.

Rufus remains silent. Enjoying it is doubtful, but it seems they must let this nonsense run its course to proceed.]

[retellers]

[ Princess just smiles. ]

I'm sorry, but you know how school is. [ There's a gentle laugh. ] Although this one's a little different from ours...

[ All three girls look towards their right. If Dorothy and Rufus do as well, they'll see that there is now a new addition to the wall. Specifically, there is someone chained to it, a gaping wound in her stomach as blood and, probably organs, pour out of it and towards the ground. She's staring right at Rufus.

Princess speaks again. ]

Sorry about the mess.

[misstrust]

Wh--

[ Wait, she's... has she seen this woman before? She looks vaguely familiar, but she can't quite place where--

Rather, the woman's also got a hole in her stomach and she's bleeding and Dorothy reaches out to hook her fingers into Princess' collar and drag her in close. Please go to the bleeding woman, Rufus. ]

What are you doing?

[soulus]

[Rufus hasn't seen his mother in many centuries—at least, not the mother from whom he inherited the colors of his hair and eyes. Seeing her like this in the flesh now, he can only convince himself that she's nothing but an illusion. After all, she passed away so many years ago.

Why is it that, no matter where he sees her nowadays, she never smiles? Why must misery dog her very existence at all times?

Well, he has a feeling as to why.

He stares back at the tortured image of his mother on the wall, unmoving.]

[retellers]

[ Princess allows herself to be grabbed, as Beatrice and Chise just watch. ]

This is the lesson. The mothers always die, don't they?

[ Melanie makes a soft gasping noise, and one of her hands reach out. ]

[misstrust]

You know that's not true!

[ She should probably not shake Princess, even her murderous doppelganger. Ange would be so scandalized.

... But Ange is also not here, so she shakes her anyway before she shoves her back.

God, can they just leave

Is there a door ]

[soulus]

[They do, actually.

No matter how much his heart may ache, he's arrested by the simple fact that this has to be an illusion. He knows better. But the sentimental part of him continues to look at his mother while he coldly addresses the three girls.]

When does the lesson end?

[retellers]

[ Beatrice speaks this time. ]

It ends when you end it.

[ Because the only door is the one they came from, and it won't open.

But Rufus will find that there is now a knife in his hand. His mother stares at him. ]

[misstrust]

...

[ Dorothy... doesn't have anything to say to that. Nothing she could really say would help him, anyway.

So instead she falls silent, frowning. ]

[soulus]

[It ends when the mother dies. Of course.

The noose was the same. He had to hang before Dorothy could cut him down. Rufus feels the knife in his hand and approaches the wall on the girls' right where the image of his mother is chained.]

[retellers]

[ The three girls fall quiet. Princess, still smiling pleasantly, will reach over to grab Dorothy's other hand. Very tightly.

Melanie continues to just look at Rufus... until she speaks. Her voice is weak, although it's hard to tell if that's from sickness or the whole disemboweled thing. ]

Maybe he'll come back now...?

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy pauses, glancing down at Princess and her tight grip on her hand.

What, does she think Dorothy would be able to stop him? She just shakes her head and doesn't move. Princess will probably let go when Rufus... finishes.

But it does make her feel a little sick to watch. ]

[soulus]

[Rufus stares.

He never could fault his mother for her undying attachment to his father when he's the same way. Perhaps this is another quality he's inherited from her. No matter how painful or out of reach someone may be, love endures.

His grip around the knife tightens.]

. . . He already did.

[Despite everything, a part of him is happy about that.

In the next breath, he drives the knife above her gaping wound—between the ribs—into her heart.]

[retellers]

[ She doesn't look away from him, until she can't look at anything anymore.

There's a quiet moment, but then Princess lets go of Dorothy to clap her hands together. ]

It's time for the next lesson!

[ The door opens, but it looks like the three girls are going to follow them. ]

[misstrust]

[ Why.

Dorothy will wait for Rufus to start moving before she heads out of the classroom with a grimly set expression, but why does the posse have to come with them. ]