PC: Harrowhark

[hardrocklife]

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Weekend 0, Sunday

[hardrocklife]

[Zelgadis is in his full-body white garb, standing at the end of the hall and looking over the dormitory directory. He notices someone coming up behind him, but doesn't turn to look.]

Looks like there are people on the other floors, too. Supposedly.

[He's tracing a finger along as he reads, apparently looking over the names thoroughly.]

[outsidebones]

And beyond the gates, the rest of hell.

[she looks at him. somehow wearing all white is also a goth as hell look, she approves.]

Zelgadis Greywords. Is that your name?

[hardrocklife]

Yeah. 'Zelgadis' is good enough.

[No last-name formalities for him. He'll turn around to look at her.]

And you're Harrowhark, correct?

Week 0, Friday

[hardrocklife]

[Zel's in a hallway on campus, tapping at his phone and staring at it with a mildly annoyed look. Noticing Harrowhark nearby, he looks up.]

Hey. Notice anything strange happen last night?

[outsidebones]

[she's a bit on edge but she nods at him.]

We were locked in to our dormitory. We lost consciousness, eventually. It was altogether very sinister.

[hardrocklife]

[Hm.]

Same thing in the library. Couldn't get the door to budge, even with force.

Week 1, Monday

[hardrocklife]

[You know what's a really huge mistake? Walking into a House of Mirrors when you've already got massive self-image problems! Zelgadis stands frozen in place in front of one of the mirrors for what seems like a very long time... then suddenly spins on his heel and turns to leave, walking right into Harrowhark. (Sorry -- it is a lot like having a brick wall walk right into you.)

All around them, there are only more mirrors. Which way did they come in through, again?]

[outsidebones]

[she absolutely falls on her ass in that case.]

Ow.

[hardrocklife]

Sorry--

[He mumbles a quick apology, tugging the scarf over his lower face. His eyes go to the direction she just came from.]

Is that the way out?

week 2; monday

[outsidebones]

[zelgadis can find harrow sometime on monday exploring the new island. specifically, she's in the aquarium room, and it sounds like she may be in there with someone else. she's looking into the tank of fish, one hand on the glass, talking as though it's to someone else in the room, but no one is there.

when he comes into the room, she blinks, startled.]

Oh - good afternoon. [even then she sounds a little oddly hesitant.]

[hardrocklife]

[... He stops, then nods in greeting.]

Sorry. Didn't mean to disturb you.

[outsidebones]

You haven’t disturbed us.

[she says that and then has a look of worry, furrowing her brow and chewing her lip.]

Yes. How are you this day?

Week 2, Saturday

[hardrocklife]

[Well, some time after the trial, Zelgadis crosses paths with Harrow. Maybe outside, where he's getting some much-needed fresh air and space away from crowds.]

... Feels like this day went on long enough for two days.

[outsidebones]

...Yes.

[she can't dispute that. it was so long, and so stupid.]

We solved it, but I still don't understand how.

[hardrocklife]

... I think I saw Itto licking the evidence just before it all came to a head...

[Thereby legitimizing the practice for all time.]

Week 3, Monday

[hardrocklife]

[Hey Harrow, checking out one of the new places? So is Zel. Very cool that they're in the same place at the same time, just in time to get dumped in a memory-hole.

a memory starts playing on the screen immediately.]

MEMORY: CHIMERA

Everything is different now.

The villagers used to greet you with smiles and warmth, seeing you and your group arrive with the Great Sage Rezo. But now they look at you with fear and suspicion. Sometimes you forget to cover your face... until you hear the screams of children as they flee from you.

Your men still treat you the same, for the most part. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising... You were always a band of misfits, welcoming outsiders, beastmen, people of all stripes. Zolf, Rodimus, Noonsa and Dilgear... They may be the only ones who still see you as you.

I'm fine with this, you tell yourself. This is the strength I wanted!

Rezo granted your wish. He knew you wanted strength, and he gave it to you. What right do you have to complain? Besides, it's not as if you'd be welcome in any company other than his.

...

But one day, you see him walking alone. You follow him, deep into the depths of what looked to be an abandoned building. But far below the surface... you see him, toiling away in a laboratory, surrounded by malformed specimens. Chimeras.

"Why... WHY!?" The Red Priest howls in rage. "Using chimera fusion techniques, I should be able to restore my vision! I'm willing to completely alter this body of mine, and yet...!" Furious, he swings his staff and smashes the tables, the containers with specimens, even the furniture. Until there's nothing left unbroken.

You watch this in silence, and you realize... It was never about your wishes, was it?

Everything he did was for himself. You were merely another experiment, not unlike those pitiful creatures he now smashes in anguish.

You never mattered at all.

(watch the anime version of this scene?)

[outsidebones]

[your code is so nice...

she's heard some of this story before, but she didn't really understand. she's too much of an edgelord to understand minding if people see your face. but the rest of it fits a little more. she knows what it feels like, to be used, to only be worth what others need from you.

she doesn't want to dignify these memories with conversation, but they are still stuck in this theater.]

...Who was he to you?

week 4; saturday

[outsidebones]

[haha, what the fuck. we're in the void for this one, though feel free to specify a location if there's one that appeals to you. she's in a foul mood, pacing back and forth.

she'll not to him.]

I don't have the faintest sense what happened.

[hardrocklife]

[he folds his arms and nods.]

... I don't think I understand it any more than you.

week 6; monday

[outsidebones]

[she's out here on the mountain, wearing a goth black cloak that isn't winter appropriate and shivering.]

Have you seen that dangerous man skulking around here?

[hardrocklife]

[Zelgadis is wearing his normal cloak which is also not winter appropriate, but he seems fine. Until she mentions a dangerous man, and he immediately looks around, alarmed.]

What man?

Week 6, Friday

[hardrocklife]

[Hey Harrow, Zel's at the Sitting Room in the Resort, sipping some coffee and staring out a window at the snowy landscape. Noticing her, he glances over.]

... There's coffee, if you want some.

[he's not sure she drinks coffee but like. it's something warm, anyway.]

[outsidebones]

[she actually does drink coffee. so she'll take some, grateful.]

...Good of you. [she pauses.] Interesting results.

Week 6, Saturday

[hardrocklife]

[after the trial, Zelgadis can be found at the ice bar. he glances to see Harrow, then looks back to his drink, a simple beer, and takes a big swig of it. he looks tense as all hell, but what can he do? it's over.]

[outsidebones]

[she wants a drink, too. so she will pour one.]

At this point, I hope you'll say so if it was you. I will be somewhat cross, but that will be the extent of it.