𓆩 🗡 𓆪 — goose

[restitui]

that's who
you are

performance ⛥ instructions ⛥ turn-in

The lights flicker on and you find yourself standing inside a vintage-looking subway car.

It both feels and sounds like it's in motion, but the only thing that can be seen outside the windows is pitch black darkness.

It also feels like there's somebody else in the car with you. There are three small cases in the front, middle, and back of the car that hold a small vial.

Comments

[restitui]

I'm not telling you because you'll tell me not to.

I will promise that it is not a memory, an emotion, or something that would alter my identity. I promised I wouldn't throw myself away like that if I can help it.




And you wouldn't appreciate it if I did either, right?

[brother_nature]

Sure as hell wouldn't. If it's somethin' you think I'd stop you on, I wanna hear it.

[crosses his arms]

Or I won't talk to ya for a whole week.

[restitui]

Bold words for someone who's nearly as loud as Forte.

[ like. taps his forehead. ]

I only think you'd stop me on it because your first choice is self-sacrifice and I know you'd rather not something happen to me.

[brother_nature]

. . .

Shit.

[CAN'T TURN OFF HIS BRAIN!!!]

I choice self sacrifice cuz it means less to me than it does to you. But everything means something to you.

If I don't think it'll like, cause ya some kinda brain break, I won't fight ya on it. So fucking tell me.

[restitui]

I refuse to believe there's anything wrong with that.

And you'll looking at it.

[ He gestures to himself and then pauses - ]

[ Pulls out the chain necklace he keeps under his clothes - a moon pendant, an old coin, a ring (it's the memory ring from the car accident), and a iridescent feather on it. Somehow it works.

From his pocket, he pulls out a journal. Then shifts so the glint of a ring with a star on it can be shown from the way he holds it. ]

Let's call it "self-expression". The things I always carry with me and wear, because I feel like if I don't I won't remember who I am.

[brother_nature]

. . .

[a tilt of his head, wary]

It's more than just jewelry. You won't start acting weird if they keep it? You don't know if they'll really give it back.

We know we'll come back though.

[restitui]

And there might be day we don't come back.

[ Pointed, ]

The one performance when the Producer took me away - She made me sacrifice my memories and identity in exchange for ensuring the next room couldn't hurt you guys. Except, she left me with just enough to kind of remember you and who I was around you guys. But I wasn't me, it was all just pretend.

This stuff doesn't make me. Maybe memories don't either, because you've said I couldn't change if I tried.

What matters more is the people in my life.

1/2

[brother_nature]

. . .

[him and his stupid emotionally supportive words during bartender. awful.]

Yer a real stubborn brat, you know that?

[brother_nature]

[and then SUDDENLY

a vine just, whips behind Phoenix, ganking the necklace off him, dangling above as it retracts back toward Goose. Looks like it's coming from a sleeve. (he's not fully covered in vines/darkness, he doesn't have that back yet)]

Alright then, punk!

You wanna sacrifice this shit so badly, then here's the deal. Take it from me, doin' whatever you have to. Powers, trickery, I don't give a shit.

Then I'll let you do it, no arguments, no takebacks.

[restitui]

[ starts more than a little and instinctively moves to grab back the necklace and then just




turns to stare at him as Goose continues ]

Seriously?

[brother_nature]

. . .

[holds it up

drops it

swallows it]

Seriously.

[restitui]

...








Now you just made me never want it back.

[brother_nature]

Oh? Must not be that valuable then. Guess ya can't sacrifice anything!

[waiting to see if he really means it before showing he can just rip his stomach open with little fanfare,]

[restitui]

[ more ways to make him never want it back - ]

I don't want to wear something that's literally been in your digestive tract. That's gross and weird.

[ Pointedly. As he measures what he's supposed to do or can do, ]

[ electric light flickers in his eyes ]

[brother_nature]

It hasn't gone through there yet. So tick tock if ya want it back before it gets that far.

[a wide grin, just watching him, but posed to move]

[restitui]

What if I asked for something else instead?

[brother_nature]

. . .?

I'm listening.

[restitui]

You stop trying to convince me you're some irredeemable monster and accept that even you have the right to live.

[brother_nature]

[a slow blink]

Okay, but for me it's just me stating facts. I don't feel bad about it, and it doesn't keep me up at night. I don't care if folks think I'm a monster or not either, I just live the way I want.

[then, a thought]

This is just hypothetical, so ya don't have to answer it if ya don't wanna. But if it came down to it, me murdering an innocent person, and you taking me out to stop it--what would you do?

[restitui]

You'd expect me to stop you, wouldn't you?

[brother_nature]

You really wanna know what I think?

[restitui]

What?

[brother_nature]

Haah. Nevermind, of course ya do.

I think, you'd be too afraid to act. Too afraid to save that person, too afraid to hurt me. Then no matter what happened after, you'd blame yourself. Say I should have been stronger, or you let that person die. Or Goose won't look at me the same, or something there.

That's what I think you'd do.

I didn't actually care what ya answered with. Was just hoping you'd say something definitive. Instead, ya asked what I think.

Yer resolve ain't solid enough. Not yet.

[restitui]

[ he's not entirely wrong - he's also - ]


[ the electric blue light gathers at his fingertips ]

Then you don't know me as well as you think you do. Not yet.

[brother_nature]

[a light snort]

I've been waiting for ya to prove me wrong, kid.