[she sights an ice pack, and unsteadily moves towards it, groping on the tableāand manages to take it, when the screen flickers into existence.
so much for regaining her sense of composure, when a ghost is alive and looking back at her. even frozen, the ice pack crushes in her hands, cooling material pushes to either side of her constricted fist.
it's a joke. it's a dream. it's a cruel illusion.
but she can't stand there and watch the man she couldn't save suffer all over again.]
[He seems to blink a little as he recognizes her, though still a little confused. And then the video appears on screen. There's a sharp, pained inhale of breath, and he just looks for a moment.
And shrugs, getting to his feet.]
Her, too? Sure. Why quit while we're ahead.
[He says this into the mic, trying to shoot a fireball at the projection if he can, although he knows they aren't really here. Then again, no one is.]
[ caleb can shoot a fireball at the projection! it's weird -- there's a moment where the world seems to rattle and vibrate, a vrmmm sound and then his mic just stops working all together. to him, it will feel like a sudden, painful headache, reverberating between his ears, though it doesn't last.
otome gives caleb a mild look. ] You shouldn't waste your firepower. There are Hypnosis Cancellers in the room you are in.
[ and then just moves on. the screen flickers away from jeralt - alive and breathing - and nott. ]
Now then. The two of them will remain unharmed beyond what has been done that was necessary, so long as the plan goes accordingly. They will be healed of any injuries upon victory. Your father will be alive, Byleth, as he was not before. Nott will return to her original state of being, should she so choose.
As you have agreed to the battle, your opponents will be revealed to you in time. You must adhere to a few rules.
[ the screen flashes up a list of rules, which remain as otome reads them out loud in a dry voice: ]
1. You must attempt to defeat your opponent behind the opposite door via a hypnosis microphone. Any other weapons will not be authorized. 2. The victor will press the switch located behind their opponent. Pressing the switch guarantees that Nott and Jeralt will be returned to safety. Only one switch may be pressed on the battlefield. Do whatever it takes to ensure that you press the switch behind your opponents. 3. You may not speak freely of what has happened here to anyone, including your opponents. Doing so will result in automatic execution of Nott and Jeralt. 4. If you do not win, your hostages will be executed. 5. If you refuse to participate your hostages will be executed.
[ she shuffles some papers on the screen, as if she's talking about the weather. ]
Already unsteady, bylethās knees give, and she sags, catching calebās shoulder with one hand, ice pack still held in the other, head spinning. It canāt. Itās not... not real.
she shakes her head, over and over, rules swimming. She barely hears calebās question, blood rushing through head, threatening to black her out at a momentās notice.
Alive. Alive.]
Iāll do... it.
[sheās barely conscious of what sheās agreeing to. But if there was a chance... even a sliver of hope...]
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no subject
[she sights an ice pack, and unsteadily moves towards it, groping on the tableāand manages to take it, when the screen flickers into existence.
so much for regaining her sense of composure, when a ghost is alive and looking back at her. even frozen, the ice pack crushes in her hands, cooling material pushes to either side of her constricted fist.
it's a joke. it's a dream. it's a cruel illusion.
but she can't stand there and watch the man she couldn't save suffer all over again.]
Yes.
no subject
[He seems to blink a little as he recognizes her, though still a little confused. And then the video appears on screen. There's a sharp, pained inhale of breath, and he just looks for a moment.
And shrugs, getting to his feet.]
Her, too? Sure. Why quit while we're ahead.
[He says this into the mic, trying to shoot a fireball at the projection if he can, although he knows they aren't really here. Then again, no one is.]
no subject
otome gives caleb a mild look. ] You shouldn't waste your firepower. There are Hypnosis Cancellers in the room you are in.
[ and then just moves on. the screen flickers away from jeralt - alive and breathing - and nott. ]
Now then. The two of them will remain unharmed beyond what has been done that was necessary, so long as the plan goes accordingly. They will be healed of any injuries upon victory. Your father will be alive, Byleth, as he was not before. Nott will return to her original state of being, should she so choose.
As you have agreed to the battle, your opponents will be revealed to you in time. You must adhere to a few rules.
[ the screen flashes up a list of rules, which remain as otome reads them out loud in a dry voice: ]
1. You must attempt to defeat your opponent behind the opposite door via a hypnosis microphone. Any other weapons will not be authorized.
2. The victor will press the switch located behind their opponent. Pressing the switch guarantees that Nott and Jeralt will be returned to safety. Only one switch may be pressed on the battlefield. Do whatever it takes to ensure that you press the switch behind your opponents.
3. You may not speak freely of what has happened here to anyone, including your opponents. Doing so will result in automatic execution of Nott and Jeralt.
4. If you do not win, your hostages will be executed.
5. If you refuse to participate your hostages will be executed.
[ she shuffles some papers on the screen, as if she's talking about the weather. ]
Any questions?
no subject
And if I win, you will kill her father?
no subject
Already unsteady, bylethās knees give, and she sags, catching calebās shoulder with one hand, ice pack still held in the other, head spinning. It canāt. Itās not... not real.
she shakes her head, over and over, rules swimming. She barely hears calebās question, blood rushing through head, threatening to black her out at a momentās notice.
Alive. Alive.]
Iāll do... it.
[sheās barely conscious of what sheās agreeing to. But if there was a chance... even a sliver of hope...]
no subject
The two of you will be working together against your opponents. Her father will be safe. Nott will be safe. You simply just must win.
[ but! she seems to take that as both of their agreements, and nods her head.
and with that, the prime minister stands from her desk at the screen. ] The doors will open shortly. Please be prepared.
[ and with that, the doors open to reveal... ]
no subject
Very softly - ]
It will only hurt us, in the end. But I don't want you to lose your father. So we can try until you feel tired of it.
no subject
but heās rightāand silently nods at his words. itās a gesture she can hold on to.]
I... donāt want to lose him twice.