notsuperman | Io & Ren, Trauma Game

...Has nobody told you that some of the echoes like to kill us for fun?

Because that's a thing that happens. Is happening.

No? Can they even do that?

( arim told him a little about echoes, but he doesn't remember anything like MURDER. )

How do you know it's happening?

( concerned looking around. )

...Yeah, they can. I was killed before in a game like this. They don't care.

[ Frowning pretty heavily. ]

We have to pick one of us who will die, and then do our best to offer something to keep it from happening. Well, and hope everyone else offers less.

How much power does an Echo even have? What the hell!!

( DEEP SILENCE as he considers this. )

Neither of us is gonna die!

No, we're not. Not if we can help it.

[ The fact that they can is the main reason she hasn't started full-out panicking. ]

...But I don't mind being put down as the "sacrifice", just in case. Trust me, dying in your first bad game is no fun.

I—

( . . .

io, this is how you end up with a teenage boy developing a crush on you. he's really touched and it's written all over his face. )

I don't want you to die for me. I'll do it.

[ ...okay that is entirely unintentional and not a good ]

We're a team, Number Three. It would be bad enough for you to have to watch me die, I'm not going to make you go through it this soon.

( he's just starved for kindness, it's no biggie. )

It's Ren. Arim named me.

( . . . )

What about the offers? We don't have to let anyone die if we put up an offer, right?

[ do you really want to have a crush on someone who didn't know your nickname, though ]

Yeah, we don't. Which is why I fully plan on giving up enough to keep myself alive.

( as the lady james bond, she is free to do so. all cool, reliable, and also pretty. he's got the admiration from afar thing down, he just doesn't know it yet. )

What do we offer? I don't think we have money. Or parts of us?

[ ...she really needs to make it clear that she's not going to marry anyone else in alectryon ]

...My guess is it has to be something important, something we don't want to give up. But it doesn't seem like it's any more specific than that.

( else? did tora convince you into a wedding, io? )

That's vague. Guess it's because we don't have a lot to offer. Maybe memories will work?

[ no she's already married to the best person: herself ]

Memories...if they're of someone or something important, that just might work.

[ ...which puts a (terrible) idea in her mind, but. it is better than death... ]

...I just don't want us to start hacking off body parts. That's really not worth surviving.

( must have been a lovely wedding.

but the law of the land seems to be shards = everything. )

Yeah, I guess you're right. What if we gamble with body parts and one of us still dies?

( ... )

The more important the memory, the better the chance, right? I think I have one to give.

Exactly. We don't even know if they'll cut it off properly, or if they'll intentionally let it get infected or something.

I have one that might work, too. It's one I don't want to give up, which makes me think it's a good idea.

( VISIBLE WINCE at that mental image. )

Is that a thing that happens? Ugh.

But yeah, it's probably not a "sacrifice" unless it's something worth giving. What are you going to offer?

Snake, Riku, and Galen. My former teammates.

[ ...zephyrus and that weird bunny guy too, but these are the three that will really hurt. ]

...Might toss in my voice as well, since I won't like losing that, but it's worth it if it keeps me alive.

Oh.

( that's right. that's totally a thing. )

That's a pretty important memory. Are you sure about it? I can offer more instead!

( none of this sits right with him )

Your voice too? That seems like overkill! How much is enough anyway?

...I don't know. I have no idea whether one memory between the two of us is enough, or whether we'd need to give up our collective pasts. I'd rather give more than is necessary so we can both stay alive.

I'd like to think that they'd understand, too. They didn't want to see me dead then, they'd let me avoid dying now.

[ ...that is not at all something she's sure about, but she's telling herself it anyway to make herself feel better. ]

I'm sure they'd understand. Your life comes first.

( firm. )

I can—I can still offer myself up instead.

( dead already so what's it really matter! no need for someone living to sacrifice so much for him. )

...No. Even though I have no intention of letting either of us die, if worse comes to worse, you shouldn't be the one dying. Not when this is your first bad game.

Alectryon protects Alectryon.

( rubs a palm through his hair. "alectryon protects alectryon" is the only truth he's got going for him so far. )

Just this once! Let me offer something almost as precious then. My real name. I know it. I'll let the Echo have it.

[ ...the fact that she learned this from galen is part of why letting go of her prior teammates is so hard c': ]

...Are you sure about that?

Yes. Alectryon protects Alectryon.

...Okay. As long as you're sure about it, I won't be stopping you.

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