originally posted in:The New Dojo
[u]Nothing Left but the Mind. [/u]
[u][i]-Wasteland outside the dojo, 11:46 p.m. [/i][/u]
[b]Rook continually pacing around the ground. He had finally snapped, all the memories he had tried to brush under the rug like dust. The horrors he wanted to hide from his past. He continually counted to keep his sanity, his voice losing all the vigorous energy he had.[/b]
"One...two...three...four...f-five...six...s-s-seven...eight...nine...t-ten...what comes after ten!"
[b]He screamed in pain, he sat down, clutching his head. The sharp pain as the memory of horror crept to his mind. His AI, Ion, tries to keep Rook calm. But the insanity Rook tried to run from had found him. He drew his sidearm, aiming it at nothing, almost as if something was there. The rain continually poured down. Rook's head dashed from one side to another, believing that the memories he'd seen were happening right before him. He continued to count, the stutter in his voice was getting worse, his head darting back and forth faster and faster. [/b]
[spoiler]Open. If Rook cannot remember how to count, he will lose it.[/spoiler]
English
-
[i]Eleven! It's Eleven![/i][b]Eren runs up.[/b][i]Are-are you okay?[/i]
-
[b]Rook spun around.[/b] "W-who are you?"
-
[i]Eren, former Battlemage. You... don't look well.[/i]
-
[b]Rook calmed down a bit.[/b] "I'm Rook, I would say I'm fine, but I would be lying, the physiological problems I've endured my entire life have caught up."
-
[i]Oh, well, do you need something?[/i]
-
"The only thing I want is the tormenting to stop. I've tried everything, but it won't stop."
-
"Eleven." A man walked up beside Rook, a cane in one hand and an umbrella in the other. "And watch where you point that thing, someone could get hurt."
-
[b]Rook turns around. Lowering his weapon.[/b] "W-who are you?"
-
"I'm Vince. And like I said, eleven."
-
"Vince, nice to meet you, I'm Rook."
-
"If you don't mind me asking, what is happening? You seem quite agitated." He looked up at the dark clouds that could only herald rain.
-
"It's just, I've had problems, psychological, and I think it's happening again, but worse." [b]Rook's head darted quickly behind him, thinking something was there.[/b]
-
"Ah. Well I'm no psychologist." The first raindrops began to fall and Vince put up his umbrella.
-
"It's been happening since I was young. My mind playing tricks on me. I always skipped out on getting help. Entering the war our country got in took a toll on it."
-
"Not getting help is a bad idea. Especially if there's a chance trauma caused some of it." Vince sat down next to Rook and stared at the clouds with a far away look in his eyes.
-
[b]Rook chuckled a bit.[/b] "Yeah, I guess that would be the case. But what could I do? I was living under the rule of a war-wanting leader. Doctors always told me to take this medicine, theropey that never worked. Then I had to join the military. Nothing else I could do. Then everything just got worse."
-
"Then the best answer is peace. Peace often dulls the sharpest pain."
-
[b]Watcher, an NCR Ranger sat by Rook while fully armored. He looked over at the man, speaking a single word [/b] "Eleven."
-
[b]Rook turns around to face the ranger.[/b] "W-who are you?"
-
"A savior..."
-
"Is that what everyone calls themselves now? Saviors? Savior of what?"
-
"You." [b]Watcher places a hand on Rook's shoulder [/b] "You must be saved."
-
[b]Rook quickly backs up. Drawing his pistol, something making him mad.[/b] "That's what they said. All of them. They promised to help, but it's all lies."
-
"Look at yourself! You're sick, hurt."
-
"Do you think I don't know that!? I've been told that my entire life!" [b]Rook's tone of voice was getting harsher. He started pacing back and forth a bit faster. He had lowered the gun, but he still held it in his hand.[/b]