a thing

[heroinhisowntime]

[In the tradition of Aather games, the setting is a stone room with no windows... or doors. There is a simple table with two chairs set with some basic food - meats, cheeses, fruit, etc. There is also a piece of paper on the table with instructions, but it just reads Take this chance how you will.

There is nothing else in the room except for its two inhabitants, who both appear in it suddenly.]

Comments

[verypointed]

Show up where? Here? What is this place?

And I remember plenty! The first time I saved you from death, that failed birthday party...

... why? Do you... not remember things?

[heroinhisowntime]

...You haven't lost your memories?

[verypointed]

[looks at him warily]

... don't you think I've dealt with that more than enough?

[heroinhisowntime]

[HONEST CONFUSION]

What?

[verypointed]

. . .



Did you lose yours?

[heroinhisowntime]

I... yes? Like I said, everyone loses them when they show up here. I've been here a month or so, so I've won some back, but...

[verypointed]

Where is here? Why are you so calm about this?!

[heroinhisowntime]

I don't know what's going on! Aather's a different world—this must be a game, but—!

[verypointed]

[Oh god, is he using the puppy-dog eyes on me?]

Aather?

[heroinhisowntime]

Yeah, like I said! Everyone loses their memories when the personae pull them here, it's just how it works. We work to win them back, and fight the darkness and protect all the worlds in the process. So how... are you here...?

[verypointed]

I don't know! I was in bed just earlier.

... how much do you remember?

[heroinhisowntime]

Er, well... not a whole lot. Sometimes winning games isn't the most important thing!

[verypointed]

Winning means getting your memories back and if you have it all you can go home, right?

What's more important than that?

[heroinhisowntime]

[Not dying? Wait no not saying that]

Well, I'm a knight here, and that means it's my job to help everyone out. Sometimes the games are a little rough, and I'm not just going to take advantage of people so I can win.

[verypointed]

Always a hero, even when you're not in a suit.

[sighs]

But have you ever considered the fact that there are people waiting for you back home? You have a daughter, for crying out loud! What do you think is happening right now while you're here?

[heroinhisowntime]

...I have a daughter?!

[verypointed]

. . .

How do you remember me and not your own daughter?

[heroinhisowntime]

I don't know! Most of the memories I've gotten have been from a pretty brief period of time! It's not like I pick them!

[verypointed]

[Just. Going to grab a seat over there and stare at you.]

[heroinhisowntime]

[Shifts his weight from one foot to the other awkwardly, muttering.]

I don't know what's going on at home, obviously.

[verypointed]

I can't believe you don't remember Kaede and yet you still remember to call me Bunny. And it's Barnaby, by the way.

[He stops to look at the surroundings, eyeing the walls and the sparse decor to see if there is a way out.]

[heroinhisowntime]

I remember calling you Bunny, so obviously you're Bunny.

[There is no obvious way out. The walls, floor and ceiling all appear to be made of solid stone.]

[verypointed]

You're not allowed to call me that until you remember why you call me that.

What's outside these walls?

[heroinhisowntime]

Uh, the ring, maybe? Or if this is a game, this might be a persona's realm... er, either way, a pretty small area. The part of Aather we're in now is called Wonderland, I think.

...You called me Kotetsu.

[verypointed]

That IS your name, you know. Besides Wild Tiger. Kotetsu T. Kaburagi.

So if we use our powers and bust out of the room, what's the fastest way to get out?