bernkastel ◇ witch of miracles (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
pawful) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
dramadramaduck2013-06-18 01:05 am
pawful) wrote in dramadramaduck2013-06-18 01:05 am
Entry tags:
VI | VIDEO | CANON MOVE
[ as if it's being recorded on a particularly bad camera, the video shakes and flickers. Bursts of static dart through the frames, sometimes obscuring parts of the view. But, if you try, you can make out most of it.
A darkened theater, large and grand. Two people sit in the audience, the empty seats around them almost swallowing them up. One is not from the community, though its members might have seen that person before. Another Ushiromiya, by the name of Lion.
The other one.. is Ange.
She stares at the stage. Ashen face, wide eyes — her expression is that of a person who has forgotten how to breathe.
However, the stage is empty. Whatever was on it... was only for the eyes of those already in attendance. ]
M... Mom... [ her voice, small with disbelief, catches in her throat. ] Mom... It's... a lie... It's all a lie...!!
[ she screams and starts to sob. Lion moves slightly, arms half-raised to placate or console. The dim light catches on the metal encircling Lion's wrists. The same chains wrap around Ange, binding them both to the seat. Truly, a captive audience. ]
Ange... please, calm down...! That couldn't possibly be what your mother truly feels...! It's just something that the Game Master made Kyrie oba-san's piece say...!! [ Lion looks up, staring into the surrounding darkness. Desperate anger echoes in the Ushiromiya's voice. ] Bernkastel-san!! Enough of this!! I don't care who the Game Master is!! Stop this pointless game right now!!
[ the theater goes pitch-black. Undeterred, Lion yells into the darkness, repeating the plea to stop the game.
Abruptly, a spotlight shines down on the center of the stage. A woman dressed in white stands in the middle, her face expressionless, like a doll's.
Lion stares at her. ]
Clair...!! So... you were the Game Master after all?! ... I don't get it. Why?!
[ the woman so named "Clair" doesn't answer. Instead, in response, another light pierces the darkness, illuminating the side of the stage.
— Bernkastel is there. The sound of applause thunders forth from the audience, even though no one is seated there except for Ange and Lion.
With a soft giggle, she raises her right hand, acknowledging the "welcome." The applause dies down, leaving behind the same tense silence as before. ]
Bernkastel-san!! So... you were the Master of this game after all...!!
[ Bernkastel looks at Lion, a smile tugging at her lips. ]
... Lion. How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not the Game Master?
Then are you saying it's Clair?! That's impossible...!!
Yep. Of course it's impossible. After all, Clair is dead. ... We were just conducting her funeral. Did you forget that...?
Then just who is standing there...?
A corpse. She's not a mannequin. So, of course, she still has her insides. ... She's hiding it under a beautiful exterior, but she's actually packed full of guts.
[ another light snaps on. In the blinding glow, Bernkastel raises her right hand again, but this time... a black scythe materializes in it.
Lion watches, clutching the arms of the seat. ]
Wh... what are you planning to do...?
... When they're alive, you can enjoy watching them struggle. When they're dead, you can enjoy tearing out their guts. Tales are things you get to enjoy twice. ... That's what it means to be a witch of theatergoing.
[ Bernkastel touches the tip of the scythe to Clair's stomach. She begins to drag it across, slicing apart the cloth, exposing the vulnerable skin beneath.
But, she doesn't dig the blade deeper. Not yet. She calls out: ]
Ange. Can you hear me?
[ slowly, Ange looks up. Her face holds no more shock. The disbelief lingers still, but all of the vulnerability from before has vanished, consumed by a growing anger. She glares at Bernkastel. ]
... I hear you... You tear me to bits, make me read! What's next?! Are you showing me this worst possible tale to hurt me even more?! Is this fun for you?! Yeah, I'll bet it is. I'm just happy with all this too...! You think... that I'd give up after that?! You think... I'll sit around crying any longer because of that disgusting game of yours?!!
... Both you and Lion... seem to have the wrong idea. I'm not the Game Master. This tale is not one that I created.
Then that woman in the dress is the Game Master?!
[ Lion's head shakes in vehement denial. ]
No, she isn't...! That can't be! Then who's the Game Master?! Who created this disgusting tale?!!
You still don't understand?
[ Ange, frustrated: ] What don't we understand?!!
Ange. You gambled everything on a faint chance of a miracle. throwing yourself forward. ... I invited you to October 4th and 5th of 1986 out of respect for your courage. ... What was your goal? To take your family back. ... That would be a very difficult thing, and without the blessing of a miracle, a thoroughly impossible one. You were prepared for that, weren't you?
[ Ange lifts her head, defiant. ]
Yes, I'm prepared...!! And I still haven't given up on Onii-chan, Mom, and Dad!
Whether you give up or not is your choice. That's your own game, after all. I won't support you, and I won't even watch. I've already enjoyed my fill of games that use you as a piece, so I have no need for you any longer.
[ with bitter sarcasm: ] Well, that's a relief. Then why am I here? Didn't you invite me?!
Yes, that's right. I invited you here... to thank you for entertaining me for a while, as my piece.
To thank me?! [ she grits her teeth. ] Ha, so this is how witches show gratitude!! [ Ange bangs her hand hard against the arm of the seat, a raucous clanking of metal accompanying her movement. ] Sure, this has been loads of fun, you devil! How could you make this kind... this kind of game... and do that to Dad and Mom?!!
[ even with the brunt of Ange's anger directed at her, Bernkastel's voice doesn't change in the least. She continues speaking, patiently, calmly, as if explaining something to a small child. ]
Ange. You made a wish, hoping that you could take your family back. However, you made one more wish. Remember?
[ Ange hits the seat again. ]
No, I don't!!!
You wanted to know what happened on that day.
That's right... so what's your point?!
[ Lion's eyes widen before shutting tightly, as if in pain. ]
... You don't... mean...
Ange. You still don't understand?
... What...?
This is the truth. The insides of the cat box of October 4th and 5th, 1986. Afterwards, Eva survived the explosion by escaping to Kuwadorian. ... And, since she never spoke of the inside of the cat box no matter how much you wanted to know, that truth was shut within the cat box for all eternity.
What... are you saying...?
Only Eva returned alive. Even though the police claimed it was an accident, the public didn't believe it. Then, she took over her husband's company, and the harder she worked to make it more and more successful, the more enemies she made. A public image of her as a great queen of conspiracy grew stronger and stronger.
[ Bernkastel's grin widens. ]
... I'm sure she wanted to tell people about the truth. That truth that no one would ever believe without proof. ... Bit by bit, Eva's heart began to snap. You rejected Eva, so she rejected you in turn. The relationship between the last two members of your family was completely strained. Each time she compared you with her beloved son, she grew more and more twisted and broken.
This is the truth.
[ silence. ]
... You're lying... You're lying... lying...!! If this really is the truth, you should be able to say that in red!! [ Ange buries her face in her hands, screaming. She starts pulling against her chains. ] There's no way you can, of course there isn't!!
Ange...!! Ange, calm down...!!
[ suddenly, Lion gasps.
All over Ange, red stains form, splotching her skin and her clothes. ]
What's that? You want me to announce it clearly with the red truth? Then I'll do that, just for you. [ Bernkastel doesn't even so much as pause. ] This is all truth —
[ Ange screams. ]
Nooooooooooooooooooo!!
[ the witch only laughs again. ]
Stupid kid. If only you hadn't made me say that, I could've shut it up inside the cat box. But you did tell me to, right? I knew you would, of course. And I so wanted to see you scream like that... what a lovely expression, one that'll keep me laughing for about a hundred years. [ she giggles. ] Go back to being scrap meat.
[ as Ange continues screaming, more and more blood starts pouring from her, dripping down her limbs and puddling on the floor. ]
Mom, Dad... it's a lie, right?! Lies... lies...
A-Ange...! Ange...?!
[ by now, it's clear that Ange is beyond listening, her palms pressed tight against her head as she begins to fall apart — literally. Bit by bit, skin, flesh, fingers, hands, arms, mouth, nose, ears, eyes, all of it reduced to the consistency of — yes, scrap meat.
Empty, her chains make only a soft clink as they fall down. Nothing remains in the seat anymore but a red gooey pile, the remains and guts of a person named Ange.
Here, the video sputters and jerks, everything fading into black, and the last thing that can be heard is Bernkastel's laughter. ]
( ooc: if anyone wants to try and worldhop to where Bernkastel is and confront her, feel free! B) otherwise, all replies will be dated a while after the events in this post. )
A darkened theater, large and grand. Two people sit in the audience, the empty seats around them almost swallowing them up. One is not from the community, though its members might have seen that person before. Another Ushiromiya, by the name of Lion.
The other one.. is Ange.
She stares at the stage. Ashen face, wide eyes — her expression is that of a person who has forgotten how to breathe.
However, the stage is empty. Whatever was on it... was only for the eyes of those already in attendance. ]
M... Mom... [ her voice, small with disbelief, catches in her throat. ] Mom... It's... a lie... It's all a lie...!!
[ she screams and starts to sob. Lion moves slightly, arms half-raised to placate or console. The dim light catches on the metal encircling Lion's wrists. The same chains wrap around Ange, binding them both to the seat. Truly, a captive audience. ]
Ange... please, calm down...! That couldn't possibly be what your mother truly feels...! It's just something that the Game Master made Kyrie oba-san's piece say...!! [ Lion looks up, staring into the surrounding darkness. Desperate anger echoes in the Ushiromiya's voice. ] Bernkastel-san!! Enough of this!! I don't care who the Game Master is!! Stop this pointless game right now!!
[ the theater goes pitch-black. Undeterred, Lion yells into the darkness, repeating the plea to stop the game.
Abruptly, a spotlight shines down on the center of the stage. A woman dressed in white stands in the middle, her face expressionless, like a doll's.
Lion stares at her. ]
Clair...!! So... you were the Game Master after all?! ... I don't get it. Why?!
[ the woman so named "Clair" doesn't answer. Instead, in response, another light pierces the darkness, illuminating the side of the stage.
— Bernkastel is there. The sound of applause thunders forth from the audience, even though no one is seated there except for Ange and Lion.
With a soft giggle, she raises her right hand, acknowledging the "welcome." The applause dies down, leaving behind the same tense silence as before. ]
Bernkastel-san!! So... you were the Master of this game after all...!!
[ Bernkastel looks at Lion, a smile tugging at her lips. ]
... Lion. How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not the Game Master?
Then are you saying it's Clair?! That's impossible...!!
Yep. Of course it's impossible. After all, Clair is dead. ... We were just conducting her funeral. Did you forget that...?
Then just who is standing there...?
A corpse. She's not a mannequin. So, of course, she still has her insides. ... She's hiding it under a beautiful exterior, but she's actually packed full of guts.
[ another light snaps on. In the blinding glow, Bernkastel raises her right hand again, but this time... a black scythe materializes in it.
Lion watches, clutching the arms of the seat. ]
Wh... what are you planning to do...?
... When they're alive, you can enjoy watching them struggle. When they're dead, you can enjoy tearing out their guts. Tales are things you get to enjoy twice. ... That's what it means to be a witch of theatergoing.
[ Bernkastel touches the tip of the scythe to Clair's stomach. She begins to drag it across, slicing apart the cloth, exposing the vulnerable skin beneath.
But, she doesn't dig the blade deeper. Not yet. She calls out: ]
Ange. Can you hear me?
[ slowly, Ange looks up. Her face holds no more shock. The disbelief lingers still, but all of the vulnerability from before has vanished, consumed by a growing anger. She glares at Bernkastel. ]
... I hear you... You tear me to bits, make me read! What's next?! Are you showing me this worst possible tale to hurt me even more?! Is this fun for you?! Yeah, I'll bet it is. I'm just happy with all this too...! You think... that I'd give up after that?! You think... I'll sit around crying any longer because of that disgusting game of yours?!!
... Both you and Lion... seem to have the wrong idea. I'm not the Game Master. This tale is not one that I created.
Then that woman in the dress is the Game Master?!
[ Lion's head shakes in vehement denial. ]
No, she isn't...! That can't be! Then who's the Game Master?! Who created this disgusting tale?!!
You still don't understand?
[ Ange, frustrated: ] What don't we understand?!!
Ange. You gambled everything on a faint chance of a miracle. throwing yourself forward. ... I invited you to October 4th and 5th of 1986 out of respect for your courage. ... What was your goal? To take your family back. ... That would be a very difficult thing, and without the blessing of a miracle, a thoroughly impossible one. You were prepared for that, weren't you?
[ Ange lifts her head, defiant. ]
Yes, I'm prepared...!! And I still haven't given up on Onii-chan, Mom, and Dad!
Whether you give up or not is your choice. That's your own game, after all. I won't support you, and I won't even watch. I've already enjoyed my fill of games that use you as a piece, so I have no need for you any longer.
[ with bitter sarcasm: ] Well, that's a relief. Then why am I here? Didn't you invite me?!
Yes, that's right. I invited you here... to thank you for entertaining me for a while, as my piece.
To thank me?! [ she grits her teeth. ] Ha, so this is how witches show gratitude!! [ Ange bangs her hand hard against the arm of the seat, a raucous clanking of metal accompanying her movement. ] Sure, this has been loads of fun, you devil! How could you make this kind... this kind of game... and do that to Dad and Mom?!!
[ even with the brunt of Ange's anger directed at her, Bernkastel's voice doesn't change in the least. She continues speaking, patiently, calmly, as if explaining something to a small child. ]
Ange. You made a wish, hoping that you could take your family back. However, you made one more wish. Remember?
[ Ange hits the seat again. ]
No, I don't!!!
You wanted to know what happened on that day.
That's right... so what's your point?!
[ Lion's eyes widen before shutting tightly, as if in pain. ]
... You don't... mean...
Ange. You still don't understand?
... What...?
This is the truth. The insides of the cat box of October 4th and 5th, 1986. Afterwards, Eva survived the explosion by escaping to Kuwadorian. ... And, since she never spoke of the inside of the cat box no matter how much you wanted to know, that truth was shut within the cat box for all eternity.
What... are you saying...?
Only Eva returned alive. Even though the police claimed it was an accident, the public didn't believe it. Then, she took over her husband's company, and the harder she worked to make it more and more successful, the more enemies she made. A public image of her as a great queen of conspiracy grew stronger and stronger.
[ Bernkastel's grin widens. ]
... I'm sure she wanted to tell people about the truth. That truth that no one would ever believe without proof. ... Bit by bit, Eva's heart began to snap. You rejected Eva, so she rejected you in turn. The relationship between the last two members of your family was completely strained. Each time she compared you with her beloved son, she grew more and more twisted and broken.
This is the truth.
[ silence. ]
... You're lying... You're lying... lying...!! If this really is the truth, you should be able to say that in red!! [ Ange buries her face in her hands, screaming. She starts pulling against her chains. ] There's no way you can, of course there isn't!!
Ange...!! Ange, calm down...!!
[ suddenly, Lion gasps.
All over Ange, red stains form, splotching her skin and her clothes. ]
What's that? You want me to announce it clearly with the red truth? Then I'll do that, just for you. [ Bernkastel doesn't even so much as pause. ] This is all truth —
[ Ange screams. ]
Nooooooooooooooooooo!!
[ the witch only laughs again. ]
Stupid kid. If only you hadn't made me say that, I could've shut it up inside the cat box. But you did tell me to, right? I knew you would, of course. And I so wanted to see you scream like that... what a lovely expression, one that'll keep me laughing for about a hundred years. [ she giggles. ] Go back to being scrap meat.
[ as Ange continues screaming, more and more blood starts pouring from her, dripping down her limbs and puddling on the floor. ]
Mom, Dad... it's a lie, right?! Lies... lies...
A-Ange...! Ange...?!
[ by now, it's clear that Ange is beyond listening, her palms pressed tight against her head as she begins to fall apart — literally. Bit by bit, skin, flesh, fingers, hands, arms, mouth, nose, ears, eyes, all of it reduced to the consistency of — yes, scrap meat.
Empty, her chains make only a soft clink as they fall down. Nothing remains in the seat anymore but a red gooey pile, the remains and guts of a person named Ange.
Here, the video sputters and jerks, everything fading into black, and the last thing that can be heard is Bernkastel's laughter. ]
( ooc: if anyone wants to try and worldhop to where Bernkastel is and confront her, feel free! B) otherwise, all replies will be dated a while after the events in this post. )