soulping | AMALTHEA

AMALTHEA

[At any time when they are not in the hot seat, PARTICIPATING MEMBERS may slip away to their dressing room. It's small and comfortable, with seats for everyone, and water. Otherwise, it's bare.]

[They will not be permitted to stay in the room when they are up on the hot seat.]

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...

...

I have to inject this. [He holds up one of the syringes.] Hold out your arm.

[She curls her fists tightly at her side- not out of anger or defiance, but simply as a desperate bid to keep their trembling from being so obvious. She has to fight to keep meeting his eyes. He's not like Coyote before, he's not enjoying this, and it's the only thing that keeps her from losing it completely. But she can't keep the quiver out of her voice.]

I want an answer.

[ fucking hell, Mint ]

...

Please don't do this, Mint.

[His voice is strained and cracking. His non-prosthetic arm is shaking a little at his own side.]

Is she going to hurt you if you answer me? Is she going to hurt someone else? Is she...is she watching you right now? Is that why you can't say it?

Just...tell me something, anything. Please, just...just say something.

Mint.

I'm not gonna ask you again.

...

...

...okay.

I'm sorry.

...

[He takes her arm and rolls her sleeve up. He rubs it with the swab even though he really doesn't need to 'cause he knows she's a robot.

He briefly wonders how a syringe even works on a robot. Does it have nanites in it or something? Whatever. He's bitterly sure it'll work either way, so he puts the needle in her arm.]

...

[After a few seconds, he pulls it out.]

You're going to see some very scary things once it kicks in, Mint.

Just try to stay calm. Try to focus on the fact that it's not real. Rely on your teammates. They're going to do everything they can to get you through until it wears off.

We will.

[ He's sure it won't work, but damned if he's not going to try to get her some dreamless tea to try and sleep it all off... :s

And then, to Tama before he actually leaves leaves: ] I hope you let me in, when I come by after this is all over!

If you have time to worry about me, put it towards your team instead.

[With that, he's leaving.]

[ God you people with your thinking Rook only has the capacity to care or worry about one thing!!!

YOU'RE IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING, TAMA!! ]

[She doesn't want to have to look at the needle going in...or at him holding it. Or her teammates. In the end she just squeezes her eyes shut tight until it's over.]

I know. How long will it last?

...or can you not even tell me that.

....I'd tell you that part if I knew. I don't.

[Sorry dude she's! Just a little bit salty about all this!!

In any case she just nods silently. Nothing else to say to him, then.]

...

[He turns and leaves without another word.]

[ Rook is sir not leaving his babs' side.

And after the fact, also after Tama leaves: ]

--if it lasts outside of the game, we can try Waldemar's tea leaves, okay? Maybe you can sleep through it, since we're all going to need some rest anyway.

[...right. Rook and the others are definitely still here. It wasn't just her alone with the Cat.]

...y-yeah. I'm sure it will be fine, though. I'm so tired I probably won't even need them, heh...

The tea helps with dreams, too! And thankfully we have a lot, since Jaguar gave me the plant to harvest.

[ Sitting down next to her, looking over her arm. ]

Does it hurt? I mean-- I know a lot hurts, but. The needle, where he did it.

Nah, it's...already closing up, see? I guess I'm pretty lucky!

[ Reaching to take her hand. And he's still eyeing the door. ]

I don't think we're through yet.

[Immediately lacing her fingers tightly through his and squeezing. Her gaze follows his, smile fading.]

No, I know. The three of us still...

Is she going to send another Cat? Why didn't they just do them all at once...?

[ So much handholding. SO MUCH. ]

... people like her ... they enjoy seeing a show.

[ He says so very matter of factly. After all, he lived experiencing it most of his life. ]

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