[the bag is pulled off the person's head. there's a guy there, tied to the chair. he's obviously in bad shape. not beaten or anything, just maybe held prisoner for a while, deprived sleep and starved. he seems groggy and uncertain where he is.
you don't know him. (though maybe you do? there's maybe a glimmer of some recognition, a ghost of whatever feelings you might have had in another life. faint, not enough to be sure.)
but it's pretty obvious what you're meant to do. there are medical implements - pliers, scissors, a bonesaw, knives - all sort of rusty and unsanitary.]
At least I have no doubt you can accomplish this. Make this heretic apologize.
[ they gaze at the man, their frown only deepening. the small flicker of recognition is concerning, considering their memory is so vague at the moment. that, and the fact that torture isn't something they aren't really thrilled about, makes them hesitate. ]
Killing him is not enough?
[ that is so simpler, at least, even though they are pretty sure they know what the answer to that–you can't get an "apology" if the person is dead. ]
[in a tone that brokers no argument. you can obey, or you can refuse and accept the consequences, but you aren't going to convince anyone of anything.
the man on the chair is waking up, and you can see his expression starting to change as he regains consciousness, going from groggy and vague to recognition.]
[ they open their mouth to respond to the person making commands, but then the man speaks.
saber looks at him curiously, but they don't immediately jump to any conclusions. if this person did something to them, then it's not weird that he might know who they are. the more concerning part is that saber can't return that recognition. ]
Who are you?
[ their hand moves towards a knife, but they don't actually do anything with it yet. ]
Will you do what you're told? Or do you need to be the one punished instead?
[sorry, but there's no answers. who are these people indeed? and yet, if you don't hurt someone for reasons that are completely opaque to you, it's likely you who'll be hurt.]
[ they look back at the man and walk closer. they press the knife against his shoulder, but they don't do anything yet, instead studying him for a moment longer. ]
Explain how you know me.
[ they need some sort of answer, from someone, before they make a decision. ]
[it's complicated for him to explain because saber doesn't currently know about the mechanics of fate. maybe saying you're someone's master when they're about to torture you would sound bad. so he'll try simple.]
You know me. We've fought together many times. They must have taken your memories, but -
[you get the sense the patience of the person standing beside you is about at its end. better do something in the next tag.]
they dig the blade into the man's shoulder. it is likely not what the person wants entirely, but it's still something. but saber mainly just needs to stall for more information. ]
Why would you get captured like this? What did you do?
[the wound in the shoulder is obviously painful, but not painful enough to distract him from talking. he opens his mouth to explain more, but.]
...That's enough, Saber.
[saber feels themselves freeze in place, as if by magic. the woman picks up a knife, the blade heated hot enough to burn, and drives it not into their shoulder, but into the tendons and bone of their wrist.
they hear iori shouting, trying to say something, but the pain of destroyed nerves is intense.]
the thing is, saber's reaction to this isn't of disbelief, but of understanding. like, of course they would be punished for not following directions. they knew they were taking a risk to delay it, but the need to get some sort of clue as to what was going on was too tempting to pass. they were hoping the woman would just wait a few more seconds, but–
they bite their lip, trying not to react to the pain. it is very hard but they are getting such a good grade is not yelling right now. ]
[despite everything, they do feel that the woman is proud of them for not yelling. but they are not getting more information now. two other masked individuals will drag them away, back through the temple, where there will be much more pain and punishment waiting for them, where they'll be hurt and then thrown into an isolated cell until they regret not obeying.
they wake up, gazing at a cloudy purple mirror. they don't remember anything. they don't even recall a name. only snippets of a dream where they were alone, abandoned for a long time. and even though they don't remember this place or the people, it feels familiar. it feels that they have been here for some time. so at least, unlike that dream, they aren't alone anymore.
they feel as though they haven't eaten recently, they're weak with exhaustion, and they're in pain. there are bruises and scars on their body from wounds that seem to have been healed with magic but still burn. there's also a black, circle-like wound on their wrist.
just as before, the memories are gone, but the feelings remain behind. how was saber feeling about things, as the last scene ended?]
there was the confusion, of not understanding the current situation they were in. frustration at being told to do things, and people recognizing them, but being unable to piece any of it together. saber did not forget that there was a second where they did feel like they knew that man, but that wasn't too odd, when he had claimed to have known them. the mystery was in how, and if the man was telling the truth about what he said.
but then there was the urge to please, and to do as they were told, because failing did not feel like it should be an option. they don't know why, but they knew that they were not the type of person to not get the job done. these things battled against each other, only leaving a sense of loss and disappointment that they didn't manage to do anything.
not that they remember those finer details right now. but the vibe is currently not great. ]
they are led back to the same room as before. the same man is still in there. the situation is a little more permanent now; he has an altar, a round, flat, stone disc, that he's been chained to with chains made with magic. otherwise, same situation, same tools. same person in a hood and mask.
...not that saber knows, because they don't remember that. they also do not know this person. there is not a flicker of recognition.]
You hesitated too much last time, but I know you'll do better this time.
[ they hesitated? that doesn't sound right, but they suppose they did. the feeling of doing something wrong and failing is there, and that's the only explanation for it.
they go for the knife again, although they don't know it's again. saber walks up to the man and, without much preamble, and takes their hand in theirs. in another life, this would give them a feeling of familiarity.
[saber is going to get an A in torturing friends and acquaintances i can just feel it.
the man screams. he was lying there, asleep. and it is obvious others have beat him, hurt him, tortured him too. (or was it you? you wouldn't remember.) he's in bad shape. but the pain jolts him awake, and he starts screaming, incoherent words. "please, you know me" "don't do this, not again." "saber!"
[ saber is like, what kind of stupid ass name is saber? this guy is definitely lying.
still, they really are not a fan of doing things this way. there is no honor in torture, just like how hurting someone who physically cannot fight back just leaves a bad taste in their mouth. they hesitate again because of this, but this time it's not because they believe they know this person, but just because they dislike the overall scenario. ]
They are a heretic. They don't have to do anything to be punished.
[the person certainly is acting like they know saber. through attempts to muffle their pain and endure, they continue to speak, asking saber to remember them.]
[ oh somehow this name is stupider than saber is, so they regret asking.
sorrowglare's attention snaps back towards the man. they do not like getting chastised, and at the moment they have less of a reason to believe him because of the lack of recognition. the only reason for hesitation is their general distaste for the current situation.
but fine. they kneel down and shove the knife straight through the man's foot. ]
it's unfair, but in saber's own wound, the one on their wrist, they feel an echo of the same pain. they did everything right, but it still hurts, just as if it had been done to them instead.]
saber, like before, does not cry out again. but they do buckle down to one knee, breathing heavily at the pain. their other hand grips at their wrist. they stare at it, then at the man. ]
[but that seems to be enough of that. they are led out of the room and back to a small barrack with bunk beds, where they are given some tasteless porridge and water. down the hall, they can hear the man still screaming.
(and for a moment, it feels like maybe they do know him after all? but that can't be)
the pain is horrible, but it subsides, it doesn't last very long.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
holyspirits) wrote2025-02-23 02:30 pm
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[the bag is pulled off the person's head. there's a guy there, tied to the chair. he's obviously in bad shape. not beaten or anything, just maybe held prisoner for a while, deprived sleep and starved. he seems groggy and uncertain where he is.
you don't know him. (though maybe you do? there's maybe a glimmer of some recognition, a ghost of whatever feelings you might have had in another life. faint, not enough to be sure.)
but it's pretty obvious what you're meant to do. there are medical implements - pliers, scissors, a bonesaw, knives - all sort of rusty and unsanitary.]
At least I have no doubt you can accomplish this. Make this heretic apologize.
[so... what do you want to do?]
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Killing him is not enough?
[ that is so simpler, at least, even though they are pretty sure they know what the answer to that–you can't get an "apology" if the person is dead. ]
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[in a tone that brokers no argument. you can obey, or you can refuse and accept the consequences, but you aren't going to convince anyone of anything.
the man on the chair is waking up, and you can see his expression starting to change as he regains consciousness, going from groggy and vague to recognition.]
Saber?
[but you don't know this person.]
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saber looks at him curiously, but they don't immediately jump to any conclusions. if this person did something to them, then it's not weird that he might know who they are. the more concerning part is that saber can't return that recognition. ]
Who are you?
[ their hand moves towards a knife, but they don't actually do anything with it yet. ]
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[he is going to struggle against the binds, despite how tired and weak he is right now, still wanting to get free.]
Why are you helping these people?
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[ uh
the way they can't answer that because they don't fucking know how to. why are they helping these people!! who are these people!!!!
saber glances at the woman. ]
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[sorry, but there's no answers. who are these people indeed? and yet, if you don't hurt someone for reasons that are completely opaque to you, it's likely you who'll be hurt.]
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Explain how you know me.
[ they need some sort of answer, from someone, before they make a decision. ]
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You know me. We've fought together many times. They must have taken your memories, but -
[you get the sense the patience of the person standing beside you is about at its end. better do something in the next tag.]
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they dig the blade into the man's shoulder. it is likely not what the person wants entirely, but it's still something. but saber mainly just needs to stall for more information. ]
Why would you get captured like this? What did you do?
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...That's enough, Saber.
[saber feels themselves freeze in place, as if by magic. the woman picks up a knife, the blade heated hot enough to burn, and drives it not into their shoulder, but into the tendons and bone of their wrist.
they hear iori shouting, trying to say something, but the pain of destroyed nerves is intense.]
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the thing is, saber's reaction to this isn't of disbelief, but of understanding. like, of course they would be punished for not following directions. they knew they were taking a risk to delay it, but the need to get some sort of clue as to what was going on was too tempting to pass. they were hoping the woman would just wait a few more seconds, but–
they bite their lip, trying not to react to the pain. it is very hard but they are getting such a good grade is not yelling right now. ]
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they wake up, gazing at a cloudy purple mirror. they don't remember anything. they don't even recall a name. only snippets of a dream where they were alone, abandoned for a long time. and even though they don't remember this place or the people, it feels familiar. it feels that they have been here for some time. so at least, unlike that dream, they aren't alone anymore.
they feel as though they haven't eaten recently, they're weak with exhaustion, and they're in pain. there are bruises and scars on their body from wounds that seem to have been healed with magic but still burn. there's also a black, circle-like wound on their wrist.
just as before, the memories are gone, but the feelings remain behind. how was saber feeling about things, as the last scene ended?]
no subject
there was the confusion, of not understanding the current situation they were in. frustration at being told to do things, and people recognizing them, but being unable to piece any of it together. saber did not forget that there was a second where they did feel like they knew that man, but that wasn't too odd, when he had claimed to have known them. the mystery was in how, and if the man was telling the truth about what he said.
but then there was the urge to please, and to do as they were told, because failing did not feel like it should be an option. they don't know why, but they knew that they were not the type of person to not get the job done. these things battled against each other, only leaving a sense of loss and disappointment that they didn't manage to do anything.
not that they remember those finer details right now. but the vibe is currently not great. ]
no subject
they are led back to the same room as before. the same man is still in there. the situation is a little more permanent now; he has an altar, a round, flat, stone disc, that he's been chained to with chains made with magic. otherwise, same situation, same tools. same person in a hood and mask.
...not that saber knows, because they don't remember that. they also do not know this person. there is not a flicker of recognition.]
You hesitated too much last time, but I know you'll do better this time.
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[ they hesitated? that doesn't sound right, but they suppose they did. the feeling of doing something wrong and failing is there, and that's the only explanation for it.
they go for the knife again, although they don't know it's again. saber walks up to the man and, without much preamble, and takes their hand in theirs. in another life, this would give them a feeling of familiarity.
...
they slice off a finger. ]
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the man screams. he was lying there, asleep. and it is obvious others have beat him, hurt him, tortured him too. (or was it you? you wouldn't remember.) he's in bad shape. but the pain jolts him awake, and he starts screaming, incoherent words. "please, you know me" "don't do this, not again." "saber!"
but you don't know who that is.]
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still, they really are not a fan of doing things this way. there is no honor in torture, just like how hurting someone who physically cannot fight back just leaves a bad taste in their mouth. they hesitate again because of this, but this time it's not because they believe they know this person, but just because they dislike the overall scenario. ]
What did this person do?
[ they slice off another finger after asking. ]
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[the person certainly is acting like they know saber. through attempts to muffle their pain and endure, they continue to speak, asking saber to remember them.]
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they go for another finger, but stops. ]
... is my name Saber?
[ the question is directed towards the woman. ]
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[goes to the warrior cats name generator to give you an edgy warrior cats name.]
Your name is Sorrowglare.
[that's your name! so. guess that settles that.]
Are you losing focus so quickly? And he isn't even screaming yet, not really.
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sorrowglare's attention snaps back towards the man. they do not like getting chastised, and at the moment they have less of a reason to believe him because of the lack of recognition. the only reason for hesitation is their general distaste for the current situation.
but fine. they kneel down and shove the knife straight through the man's foot. ]
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it's unfair, but in saber's own wound, the one on their wrist, they feel an echo of the same pain. they did everything right, but it still hurts, just as if it had been done to them instead.]
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saber, like before, does not cry out again. but they do buckle down to one knee, breathing heavily at the pain. their other hand grips at their wrist. they stare at it, then at the man. ]
Why...?
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[but that seems to be enough of that. they are led out of the room and back to a small barrack with bunk beds, where they are given some tasteless porridge and water. down the hall, they can hear the man still screaming.
(and for a moment, it feels like maybe they do know him after all? but that can't be)
the pain is horrible, but it subsides, it doesn't last very long.]
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