002; elevator of forced honesty

[memefox]

elevator of forced honesty

» POST: a top level for your character(s) » RESPOND: to other characters ICly. your characters are now trapped in an elevator together. » UH OH: neither character can lie. » ADDITIONAL, OPTIONAL COMPLICATIONS: at player discretion characters may also... a. be unable to remain silent when asked questions b. be unable to speak around the truth when answering c. be compelled to reveal truths/secrets unprompted THE POWER OF THE ELEVATOR COMPELS YOU.

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[ohhmrburnsides]

Don't tell me. [It's a tough decision, but...] If I'm not gonna remember when I go back, then fuck it, right?

... Is it gonna drive you crazy if you don't tell me?

[spellslots]

Nah, I'm pretty fucking selfish and you not knowing benefits me enough that I can live with it.

[COOL]

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Uncool.]

Tell me.

[spellslots]

[God dammit. Taako's expression softens.]

You fall in love with Julia and I'm pretty sure you get married, and then some guy called Governor Kalen murders her. When we met, it was... you were still a mess. I was so sure you were gonna use the chalice to change things.

[ohhmrburnsides]

That's... That's not right. We got rid of Kalen. We—

Wait, Julia? Holy shit— [His face turns red and his smile is just. Uncontrollable.] Julia Waxmen? That's gotta be wrong. No way. She is, like, way outta my league, dude. Naw, I don't buy it.

[Then his smile disappears. It's clear he's lingering on the murdered part now, but he says nothing about it. There's a long pause before he speaks again.]

I don't use the chalice? Why wouldn't... But I'd have to have. I'd do anything for Raven's Roost. [His attention is turned away from Taako now; he's talking at the air, and he's getting angrier.] That's what the chalice was made for, that's—It's not like I'd fall victim to the thrall, I made the damn thing—Why the hell wouldn't I—

[He doesn't realize how deep he's dragging himself until he punches the wall and shakes the elevator. A pause.]

Sorry.

[spellslots]

[Even when he's angry and lashing out, Taako isn't scared of Magnus. He steps back to give the guy some room, waits out the punch, and then steps forward again to rest a hand on Magnus's arm.]

You said she wouldn't want you to do it.

[That seems like enough of an answer.]

[ohhmrburnsides]

... That doesn't make sense.

[But he's done lashing out. Shamefully, he looks at the ground as he speaks.]

But she's a lot smarter than me.

[After another beat, he looks back at Taako.]

Why didn't you wanna tell me, again?

[spellslots]

[This would be super if he could blink out of here, right now.]

Because it's— because you're happy, now, and things are easy and I dunno what's gonna change if you're thinking about your future wife.

[ohhmrburnsides]

Oh. Yeah. I didn't realize you might know about... that.

[Yeah, that is complicated.]

... I shouldn't have asked.

[spellslots]

[Taako leans back against the wall of the elevator, shrinking in on himself a little because he sure does feel like a dick.]

I shouldn't have asked, I was just trying to make myself feel less shitty about this.

[ohhmrburnsides]

...Yeah.

Do you feel better now?

[spellslots]

Nope.

[He has at least five regrets.]

I'm sorry I'm a fucking asshole.

[ohhmrburnsides]

Taako, it's...

[Still dejected, he leans against the wall as well.]

I get it.

[spellslots]

Well, fuck, I was kinda hoping you'd refute that one.

[Welp!]

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Shrug.] Yeah, I kinda figured. Too bad for you I care more than you want me to.

[since we're on truth elevator]

[spellslots]

That's not--

[He's not even sure what he wants to say or what is true.

Taako runs a hand through his hair.]

Are you mad at me, about... all of this?

[ohhmrburnsides]

Uh, yeah. But like I said, I get it. If it were me, I'd... [Sigh.] I guess I'd have to tell you. But it would suck.

[spellslots]

[He deflates a little, but at least Magnus gets it.]

I wouldn't wanna know, I mean - except the stuff about Lup, but everything else is fuckig bullshit.

[ohhmrburnsides]

Yeah, definitely. I wouldn't even think if I knew something about Lup, I'd just tell you immediately.

[This, though... He didn't want to know what was at the other end of that red string. Not yet.]

Do you know anything? About your... you know. [He lifts the finger the red string had been tied to.]

[spellslots]

[Aw, beans.

Taako is quiet for a few moments, straining against the compulsion to speak, before he finally gives out.]

Kravitz. He's-- We're-- fuck, I dunno what we are, but he said he loves me.

[And that's scary, but the fact he hasn't completely balked at it is almost just as terrifying, because it means he... wants that. It's all so confusing, though, when so much has been via a canister.]

[ohhmrburnsides]

[It'd probably be rude to say "wow" to that, huh? The idea of Taako committing long-term is startling, but Magnus did see the red string with his own eyes. It's just weird acknowledging it. He chooses his words carefully.]

That's... big, Taako. Congrats.

[He smiles, and it's genuine, but maybe a little melancholy.]

[spellslots]

[Maybe a little rude, but not entirely inaccurate.]

He's uh, the grim reaper? And already super dead, so...

[Taako has a lot of fears about losing people, especially someone like Magnus, who's so painfully human, and that's kind of negated by Kravitz's whole situation. He could still leave Taako, and that's scary, but it's not as scary as death.]

[ohhmrburnsides]

Oh, shit, that's badass. And perfect for you, honestly.

[In a way that Magnus wasn't.

...He thinks he shouldn't ask, but he can't stop himself.]

Are you cool with that? Like... commitment.

[spellslots]

I'm more goth than Lup, fucking finally.

[He says it with a flash of a grin that doesn't quite last through Magnus's next question, because that's... hard. It's one of those things that he doesn't quite know for himself yet.]

Maybe? I mean, fuck, the rest of you assholes settled down, far be it from Taako to miss out on the fun.

[ohhmrburnsides]

[He laughs.] That's a very Taako answer. I like it.

[He means to say something like, Hey, I think you could do it, but what he says is:] I'd be surprised if you could.

[And he sounds. Kinda bitter. ...It's actually the first time on this ride he was gonna lie about something so he didn't know that was gonna come out if he were to keep talking. Whoops!]

I, uh. I didn't. [Except he did, so he can't finish that sentence ahahahahahahaha.]