hereyouare ([personal profile] hereyouare) wrote2014-01-09 06:00 pm

MAZE ONE

[You wake up on a cold metal bed in a room that is unfamiliar to you.

How long have you been out for? Why does your head hurt? Why can't you remember how you got here?

Before you find the answer to these questions, you might want to check out that hand-written note. There's one in every room.

Dear [NAME],

Thank you for volunteering to participate in the experiment. With your help, this project should be quite successful. My name is Huey Laforet, and I am the one responsible for this experiment. I will be here observing and the point of my project will be revealed by the end.

Your goal today is to find the exit. To do so, you'll need three card keys. However, to activate them, you will need the item listed on the card to move forward. You might not be able to find everything by searching, but certainly, there are other ways to get what you need. I've left them scattered about,

If you fail to escape by the time the experiment is over, you will have to participate in further experiments with me. If you succeed, then you will be able to successfully leave the maze.

I wish you luck. Try to stay alive.

-Huey Laforet
]

[contact|instructions]
affectate: (in this infinite rage,I shall)

[personal profile] affectate 2014-01-10 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
... Those sorts of people...? I see.

[ It makes her skin crawl, honestly. She hasn't made a mistake assuming this kid was similar to her, she's sure by how little he cares for himself, by the way he talks about himself, but --

This obsession of his is seriously troubling. Even if she'd worn her usual vacant smile just previous, it's disappeared now. I'd throw in a sentence about how obvious it becomes her smile's totally fake, but Komaeda is Komaeda so who even like, cares. ]

Rather than placing your faith in such people, Komaeda, would it not be more satisfying to attain a position that pleased you on your own merits? Do not salivate at the heels of such people -- they are born blessed. There is nothing for you to gain in doing so.

Although you were likely cursed from the moment of your birth and ostracized by your peers as trash lower than even the worms that crawl beneath the soil, Komaeda -- I believe that there are things that only you may do! You may, for instance, be exceedingly skilled at being trash! I believe that it is possible for you to turn this ability to power. It is possible for you to create an accepting world that you are able to love without waiting for those people.

They have no interest in you, and there is little that you may do for them, besides! Should you chase them this continuously, you shall meet the same fate that you had doubtless expected -- you shall die alone and hated, then subsequently be forgotten as a poor memory.
Edited (prepositionsss) 2014-01-10 10:10 (UTC)

[personal profile] outbalance 2014-01-11 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
That's impossible.

[ a point-blank response. he had been listening, certainly; but he's been told such things so many times before that he has the reasoning almost entirely memorized. maybe he hadn't heard all of that from one person before, it'd maybe just been bits and pieces, but he'd heard it all.

you don't have to think of yourself like that. there must be something only you can do. have you considered seeing a therapist? your ideals are pointless. just try loving yourself instead. all sorts of different things that made up pretty words that didn't suit him.

and he would give up on explaining, but he simply couldn't. not entirely. he knew he wouldn't be able to convey the full breadth of how magnificent hope was, but he simply couldn't not speak of it. it was the least he could do. and often times he wonders if that's all he can really do, pitiful and worthless as he is. yes, yes. how very becoming of filth.

he speaks with the patience required for instructing a small child. he will teach you, small monster, how greedy you are. ]

Have you ever been in love, Elaine? If something like you can feel anything so wonderful, that is.

[ yes. that was a good place to begin. ]
affectate: (13)

[personal profile] affectate 2014-01-11 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ After a bit she becomes aware her muscles aren't behaving like usual, so she pastes over her expression with that vacant (but civil, that's the important part, she thinks from observing her father and uncle and the maids) smile from earlier.

It's not her first time being condescended to this way. If not the words, she's got the tone and the motions and the sentiment down and memorized so intimately it's a part of her. So she doesn't really feel anything in response (disappointed, something along the lines of slightly upset, maybe, that she got blown off so easily cut that out let her help let her help). Of course she's a thing. Of course she's lower than dirt. It's only natural he'd speak to her that way, even if he's the same. She's the worst; after all ]

Ah, you are correct, I am afraid! I am a monster; feeling romantic affection for another is beyond my capabilities. Such positivity from interacting with others eludes me.

Have you ever eaten roast lamb with mint sauce, Komaeda?

[personal profile] outbalance 2014-01-11 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
At one point, I'm sure. My parents fed me properly.

[ that was their mistake, of course. had they known, he's certain they would have left him in an alley somewhere, to die in infancy. but he isn't very fond of what ifs. ]

But you digress. The pleasure someone derives from eating a meal is nothing like feeling pure love. If I had to be honest, I'd say I pity you. Ah, but it's not as though I think I'm any better -- to be frank, I think even calling myself a "monster" would be too generous! Being repulsive refuse, lower than even a worm, as you've said -- being even worse than a nothing -- I've accepted it all!

[personal profile] outbalance 2014-01-11 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
And that's what makes my love so strong! I don't admire them because that would suggest I would want to be like them; garbage can't possibly hold such ambitions! I don't want their acknowledgment, nor do I want their praise, nor even hope of my own. It will forever be unrequited . . . But it can't be helped, right? Because I am what I am. It's enough for me to be used by them, and if it will ultimately aid their hope in shining i even brighter, I don't care if they step on me, revile me, or even kill me! That's what love is!
affectate: (04)

[personal profile] affectate 2014-01-11 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
That is what love is?

[ She thinks back for a moment to her two older samples. Her grandmother went mad with grief after her grandfather died, and she's never known her father not to be mad over her mother (her own fault, partially, she knows but there's nothing for it but to hope for his recovery. haha. hope. what a joke that is.), and then --

Then there's this boy. There's Komaeda. It doesn't really contradict what she's seen; so, after a amassing a solid collection of three in-depth samples, she reaches the conclusion that this is what love is like, and she feels almost grateful she's a heartless piece of garbage. (Almost. Maybe she'd like to try being happy too. Fat chance.)

But how can she save someone who doesn't want to be saved? That's the riddle. ]

In that case, Komaeda, do you feel happy? Could you feel joy being entirely disregarded, as well, rather than simply reviled?

[personal profile] outbalance 2014-01-11 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
If that's how they deem fit to treat me, then it simply can't be helped... Of course, I would be happiest knowing I was able to be of use, but it's not as if they need to use me... It doesn't have to be me at all. But as long as their hope shines brightly, I'm happy. Selfishness is not a privilege I'm allowed.
affectate: (62)

[personal profile] affectate 2014-01-11 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
It is not any particular manner of treatment, Komaeda. They are scarcely aware that you exist. As you've said, they have no need for you. It will always, without fail, be someone else. Please refrain from squandering your valuable time on such frivolities -- although I believe our ages to be similar, the life of a human is still rather short, isn't it? What you do is meaningless, so it follows naturally that you are granted the luxury of behaving selfishly.

[personal profile] outbalance 2014-01-11 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ he smiles, in resignation ]

I feel like we're having two entirely different conversations. I really wish I could make you understand, but... It's a shame. Loving is such a wonderful feeling, and yet you're more hollow than I am.