livestage | UNHOLY DISORDER

UNHOLY DISORDER

You find yourselves in a surprisingly sterile room. It's entirely white, almost blindingly so. There are a few beanbag chairs to sit on, though perhaps not enough for your entire family. On one of the walls, there's a laminated poster of a wheel. At the center of the room is a table with a glass case on top. If you lift the case, you'll find a single red button. Behind a glass panel on the wall is a monitor that is currently off.

Curiously, it does not seem as though you can actually destroy anything in this room (save for a simple note by the button), regardless of how much you may try. The glass will never shatter. The poster cannot be torn into pieces. Furthermore, your blessings and powers are off and none of your personal belongings are actually on your person.

A simple note lays by the button on the table, a reminder of your directive: Will you push the button?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nothing.

[reaches out to tap at his head]

That ain't a nothin' look. Yer empath senses tinglin'?

No. I don't hear anything.

Is that the problem?

No.

... maybe a little.

Figured as much. Sorry we're a bunch of bastards, kid.

. . .who're you the most worried about?

You're not.

My sister and Gingham, obviously. But everyone. If everyone presses a button, someone's getting hurt. If no one presses a hurt, everyone's getting hurt.

I'm at LEAST 50% bastard, bud. And yeah, it's kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

This ain't your fault. Empty words when this shit stings nonetheless, but it's just a show designed to piss people like you off specifically. Make ya feel powerless.

Can't let it eat at yer head.

...

I feel a lot less responsible for this than other things recently, so it's fine.

Edited 2025-05-31 00:56 (UTC)

You should feel zero percent responsible in this case, but that's a start.

It's still gonna eat at ya though, ain't it?

[ wryly: ]

Is this the part where I point out getting dragged back to a room full of hurt people is always going to eat at me, or...?

Hah! Fair enough. Maybe if ya get yer eyes gouged out you won't be able to see 'em.

[HELPFUL??? then a hum]

I'll make ya the same offer I did Heron. If any of your important folks get fucked up, you get a favor from me. Anything ya need to make it up to folks.

Literally does not help with the feeling it part.

[ looks away ]

There's no reason for you to do that. We've discussed we can't always protect each other. It's not even like we're choosing them ourselves.

[ he fiddles with a ring on his finger before breathing out. ]

And even if I'd choose differently if I was by myself, I'm not and I know how everyone else will vote.

Back up a second. No reason? The reason is you feel shitty and I wanna help ya. Don't you go trivializing that, or I'll kick your ass. [HUFFS!!]

And next--what's with the ring?

I'm not? I just mean -

You guys keep trying to protect me but this is my choice, too. I told Flamingo I would never do something intentionally that would hurt him so even if I- I have to hold to that.

[ a sheepish look down. we'll go with the ring he's been fidgeting with recently was confiscated but he wears multiple rings rather goose would have noticed or not is a question ] Nothing, I'm just fidgeting.

Obviously it's your choice. If you were really riled up against us, you could try taking us out. Wouldn't work, but you could try. So it's not about protectin' ya, it's about caring about you, idiot. You'd do the same.

[Probably didn't recognize exactly which one it was, just noticing the tick. But raises an eyebrow that clearly conveys: Doubt.]

I could, but I'd be outvoted and outnumbered.

[ He says it without any real heat as he glances down. Skeptically: ]

If I told you I wanted to press the button you wouldn't question it? Like, be the one to do it.

[ shrugs and stuffs his hands in his pocket. ]

I would rather know I did something bad and meant to, in some way, than not know at all until it was too late.

Edited 2025-05-31 01:41 (UTC)

[A tilt of his head, crossing his arms]

I'd be surprised and asked if you're sure like, once? Then after that, yeah no questions. You're old enough to make your own bad decisions, too.

[ snorts ]

Yeah, I should expect that one. You and Flamingo.

[thumbs up]

Ain't nothin' wrong with being a little predictable.

Or honest. Straightforward.

[snorts]

If nothing else, you can count on that. I got no reason to lie to anyone, let alone family.

I know. It's one of your good traits

Gross!

UNHOLY DISORDER

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