TAKSHAKA

[soulping]

[The room you step into looks like it could be a miniature ballroom, complete with stained glass windows and vast, ornate mirrors.

Your team's column is set into one wall, easily accessible but as impregnable as ever. One of the mirrors may prove almost as interesting, if you can tear your eyes away from your trapped teammate. Through it, you are somehow able to see every other team's column and what is inside, though nothing beyond that.

The floor beneath your feet polished, patterned wood, inlaid with the pattern of a grand sundial in your team's colors. In the center of the pattern stands a pedestal, upon which sits a collection of colorful glass ornaments. It looks like there's room for other items, but there's nothing else to be found just yet . . . ]

Comments

Choice

[soulping]

Re: Choice

[barrette]

[ SMASHING THE BLUE SPOOL OF THREAD BEFORE ANYONE CAN STOP HER ]

Re: Choice

[swordedpast]

--don't bother.

[ In a cracked voice. ]

It won't be enough to save her. So, I'll write her off as lost. You shouldn't hurt yourself anymore.

Re: Choice

[barrette]

[ TOO LATE THE SPOOL IS SMASHED ]

I have to try!

Re: Choice

[swordedpast]

It's useless.

[barrette]

[ IGNORING HIM

because she has to hold onto that last bit of hope that Raven will be okay. ]

[infiniteregress]

[The ornament shatters, releasing a fine mist. When it clears, you find a spool of silvery thread and a needle resting on the pedestal.

Nyssa speaks up:] Your task is to sew a sense shut, completely, and to leave it that way.

[barrette]

[ UM ]

What can I sew shut?

[ already picking up the needle and thread (and trying to thread the needle if it isn't already. ]

[friendshipismusic]

[oh. D: FROM WHERE SHE IS ON TOP OF ARCHER]

... If you ... need help ...

[barrette]

I... I think I can do it. Do you think my mouth would work? I wouldn't be able to taste...

[ STEELING HERSELF FOR THIS UNPLEASANTNESS ]

[friendshipismusic]

I think it would, but ...

Please allow me to help if I can, to make sure that you are okay.

[barrette]

[ she nods and smiles reassuringly. ]

If I need help, I'll let you know.

[ LIFTS THE NEEDLE TO HER MOUTH AND SLOWLY STARTS STITCHING IT CLOSED ]

[swordedpast]

Don't do it!

[barrette]

[ WHAT WAS THAT, SWAN

BECAUSE SPARROW IS DOING THE THING REGARDLESS ]

[swordedpast]

[ He's trying to get up and run to stop her now but it's hard with Finch on top of him. ]

[corvitae]

[IF I WEREN'T DOWN ATM I WOULD ACTUALLY PROBABLY BE AGREEING WITH SWAN BECAUSE

BECAUSE]

You can't...

[barrette]

[ SHE'S SORRY BUT SHE WANTS TO TRY AND SAVE RAVEN SOMEHOW ]

Re: Choice

[takewing]

[t-taps at the glass while she tries to keep her head above the water]

Everyone . . . I'm sorry—I didn't want any of you to be hurt.

Re: Choice

[corvitae]

[nope nope nope]

Raven!!

Re: Choice

[takewing]

[THIS ISN'T WORKING VERY WELL]

I . . . I'll be okay!

Re: Choice

[corvitae]

[ugh no NOTHING IS OKAY, covers her eyes because she doesn't want to see this]

Re: Choice

[friendshipismusic]

[nopenopenopenopenope]

Raven—It's—It's okay! We love you, so we wanted to try!

Re: Choice

[takewing]

[o-oh no feelings while I'm flailing to keep my head above water (it's not working well)]

It's not, but—but . . . I love you too!

Re: Choice

[swordedpast]

No!

[he gets back to his feet and runs for the column. And he starts pounding frantically at it, with his good hand and his stump, heedless of the pain]

I won't. I won't fail to save you!

Re: Choice

[barrette]

[ Sparrow can't scream. she can't apologize for not being good enough, or for not being able to save her.

all she can do is hit the glass feebly and cry. ]