[ up as close as he is to lila, now, he'll see the way she's struggling. that black seems like a creeping shadow in her irises, and she's fiercely trying to push it back, but it's not working. she looks desperate this close, desperate and terrified and so, so young. ]
I can't, I can't be awake - I can't -
[ and then, like something just snaps, the dark void returns, and the lila who isn't quite lila finishes her sentence for her with a screamed - ] Die!
[ and up close, that noise from that microphone is screamingly painful - it will rattle his eardrums and run through his body like an electric shock, the reverberations slamming his head into the wall as lila shoves him again, and the blows keep coming with every sentence. ] You useless - pathetic excuse for nothing - it's all your fault, you couldn't even snap me out of this if you tried! You aren't strong enough!
[ the switchblade in his pocket and the mic alike start to feel a little warmer. ]
[whatever he was about to say, it's cut off from the pain of that word, the disorientation from the impact as she slams his head into the wall. blood trickles down his scalp and tears start to form as he feels the weapons start to grow warmer. he doesn't want to hurt her, but he can't just - he can't help anyone if he doesn't make it out of here, if he just lets her kill him. he ignores the switchblade, because he can't use that on her, he can't, but into the microphone, loud and desperate, he finally yells—]
Stop! I know you're in there, and you don't want to do this! You're stronger than this!
when rupert uses his microphone, it doesn't cause sonic booms or thunderclaps. it doesn't create lightning, it doesn't make anyone feel like they've been stabbed. instead, a light comes from the microphone itself, emanating from the gentle, fluffy cloud shapes built into the microphone, and the first sensation that washes out is warmth. it fills up the entire arcade, a soft, golden glow to the fluorescence of ufo catcher machines.
the world around them seems to pause, almost humming softly; his words echo around the room. you're stronger than this. lila looks up at rupert; her eyes are dark and voided, still, but her mouth falls a little open, and slowly, the black shadow starts to recede. she looks stunned where she holds still, and the mic clatters out of her hand. ]
...Rupert? [ the black shadow over her eyes expands and contracts, pushed back by light and attempting to claw its way back in, back and forth; tears fill up lila's eyes, and she stares at him, temporarily paused.
whatever tried to take her over is still trying to maintain its control; she makes a soft, hurt noise, but isn't attacking back again, clearly struggling with holding it back. ]
[there's a stunned silence from his end, as well, but as soon as he realizes at least that the microphone is helping, and that she's free for a moment - the words start coming out in a rush as he tries to stand up, even though everything aches, even if there's blood dripping down from the injury on his head. again, into the microphone:]
Yes! Yes, it's me, I'm here - and you're here, too. You're okay. You're going to be okay. Just keep fighting!
[ slowly, the golden light in the room intensifies. lila looks at him, and her hands come to her heart, clutching together tightly; a tremor goes over her body. she takes a step forward. another, and another, and the black void in her eyes suddenly takes over her entire pupil -- and then disappears.
the light remains in the room as long as rupert talks, and a tear drips down lila's cheek, but her expression softens into something warm and soft and utterly, completely thankful. the magic from the microphone lifts her off of her feet, and she floats, across the room, reaching out for rupert again.
and this time, when her hands lift, one comes up, hesitates in mid air, and then reaches out to cup his cheek. ]
... Thank you. [ she says, her voice soft and hoarse. her voice. uncontrolled, untainted; the microphone with the fox details on the floor changes back into a plain silver mic, depowered and out of her hand. ]
[he - relaxes and reaches up to touch her hand as she comes closer, blinking back a few tears himself. the hand that's holding the microphone drops down to his side.]
I wish - I should have been able to do more. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
[it wasn't her, but everything that illusion said - it's not so easy to forget, even as his hand tightens on hers. it feels so real, and so present, even though it can't be.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I can't, I can't be awake - I can't -
[ and then, like something just snaps, the dark void returns, and the lila who isn't quite lila finishes her sentence for her with a screamed - ] Die!
[ and up close, that noise from that microphone is screamingly painful - it will rattle his eardrums and run through his body like an electric shock, the reverberations slamming his head into the wall as lila shoves him again, and the blows keep coming with every sentence. ] You useless - pathetic excuse for nothing - it's all your fault, you couldn't even snap me out of this if you tried! You aren't strong enough!
[ the switchblade in his pocket and the mic alike start to feel a little warmer. ]
no subject
[whatever he was about to say, it's cut off from the pain of that word, the disorientation from the impact as she slams his head into the wall. blood trickles down his scalp and tears start to form as he feels the weapons start to grow warmer. he doesn't want to hurt her, but he can't just - he can't help anyone if he doesn't make it out of here, if he just lets her kill him. he ignores the switchblade, because he can't use that on her, he can't, but into the microphone, loud and desperate, he finally yells—]
Stop! I know you're in there, and you don't want to do this! You're stronger than this!
no subject
when rupert uses his microphone, it doesn't cause sonic booms or thunderclaps. it doesn't create lightning, it doesn't make anyone feel like they've been stabbed. instead, a light comes from the microphone itself, emanating from the gentle, fluffy cloud shapes built into the microphone, and the first sensation that washes out is warmth. it fills up the entire arcade, a soft, golden glow to the fluorescence of ufo catcher machines.
the world around them seems to pause, almost humming softly; his words echo around the room. you're stronger than this. lila looks up at rupert; her eyes are dark and voided, still, but her mouth falls a little open, and slowly, the black shadow starts to recede. she looks stunned where she holds still, and the mic clatters out of her hand. ]
...Rupert? [ the black shadow over her eyes expands and contracts, pushed back by light and attempting to claw its way back in, back and forth; tears fill up lila's eyes, and she stares at him, temporarily paused.
whatever tried to take her over is still trying to maintain its control; she makes a soft, hurt noise, but isn't attacking back again, clearly struggling with holding it back. ]
no subject
Yes! Yes, it's me, I'm here - and you're here, too. You're okay. You're going to be okay. Just keep fighting!
no subject
[ slowly, the golden light in the room intensifies. lila looks at him, and her hands come to her heart, clutching together tightly; a tremor goes over her body. she takes a step forward. another, and another, and the black void in her eyes suddenly takes over her entire pupil -- and then disappears.
the light remains in the room as long as rupert talks, and a tear drips down lila's cheek, but her expression softens into something warm and soft and utterly, completely thankful. the magic from the microphone lifts her off of her feet, and she floats, across the room, reaching out for rupert again.
and this time, when her hands lift, one comes up, hesitates in mid air, and then reaches out to cup his cheek. ]
... Thank you. [ she says, her voice soft and hoarse. her voice. uncontrolled, untainted; the microphone with the fox details on the floor changes back into a plain silver mic, depowered and out of her hand. ]
no subject
I wish - I should have been able to do more. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
[it wasn't her, but everything that illusion said - it's not so easy to forget, even as his hand tightens on hers. it feels so real, and so present, even though it can't be.]
no subject
[ lila says, shaking her head when rupert starts to apologize to her. ] Just... promise me that you won't die. Okay? Be strong for me.
[ and with a last smile, lila pats his cheek - and that bright golden light fills up the room...
... and rupert will find himself standing somewhere else entirely. ]