Lucidstuck II

4> Lucas: It’s time to talk about Alice.

Seconding, when you've built your sense of self around another person it's best that you understand how you really feel about them

> 3: Talk about how you feel.

Seconding. I don't think Lucas is ready to hear the truth about Alice right off the bat. Let's ease into that conversation first.

4> Lucas: It’s time to talk about Alice.

4> Lucas: It’s time to talk about Alice.

Seconding, when you've built your sense of self around another person it's best that you understand how you really feel about them

Lucas: Talk about how you feel

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Lucas: ... You can't be... him.
Lucas: I killed you.
???: Hm.
???: You killed a Lucas, you're right.
???: But I'm not him.
Lucas: Then how... Why do you look like me...?
???: Ha! Take a guess.
Lucas: ... This can't be real...
???: This moment is only ours to share in. What is or is not "real" doesn't matter.
???: Let's get straight to the point, shall we?
???: How are you?
Lucas: ....
Lucas: I'm fine.
???: Would I look like this if you were fine? Please make an effort.
Lucas: I'm... tired.
Lucas: I don't want to continue, but I cannot stand still either.
Lucas: I've felt this way for so long it has numbed me.
Lucas: I feel like I'm being dragged forward.
Lucas: That's how I am.
???: I see. Well that's a start.
???: Why not dissect this feeling of yours.
???: Why do you not want to continue?
Lucas: ......
???: Too high a hurdle?
???: Very well then, let's go smaller.
???: Why do you feel you can't stand still?
Lucas: B-because..! This isn't where we belong!
Lucas: This environment... None of our friends are here. We're alone.
Lucas: If I stand still then... I'll never get out of here.
???: Ahh... You feel trapped.
???: So this is your motivation to continue, but now why don't you want to?
Lucas: ...... Here I'm useful.
Lucas: It's just Alice and me. If we continue eventually... She'll have others to rely on...
Lucas: She won't need me anymore.
???: .....
???: I see.
???: So you want to remain the only person she can count on while also despising the fact that you're locked in a cage.
Lucas: I guess...
???: I suppose the next topic is... Why Alice?
Lucas: .......
Lucas: What do you care...?
Lucas: Why does this matter to you??
???: Because your matters are my matters. If you haven't clued in yet, I'm you.
Lucas: You're...
Lucas: You're also... me?!
Lucas: How can... That be?
???: Well I'm not the you I'm looking at.
???: I'm just a big chunk of you.
???: I've been trying to sort out the mess you've made of us but you keep running away.
???: Now let's see what black mold is under this carpet called Alice shall we?
???: Why do you love Alice?
Lucas: ..........
Lucas: You're me, so I shouldn't have to explain it.
???: Wrong.
???: I do not actually know.
???: That means either it's a delusion on your part or you've somehow kept something from me.
Lucas: ...??
???: What about Alice do you love?
Lucas: .......
???: .........
???: Hmm... Perhaps that is a loaded question.
???: What do you think about when you think about Alice?
Lucas: ...... I see... Beauty... Something to protect.
Lucas: A flower surrounded by ash. I cannot explain my fixation, I just--
???: Ahh!
???: Now this is something I can work with.
???: Do you know that Alice is a guardian of illusions?
Lucas: Yes.
???: What makes you think she doesn't know exactly what she's doing?
Lucas: ......
???: "A flower surrounded by ash"... What is the ash in this scenario? enemies? Slander? Dread?
???: You're a knight for a reason, you think Alice doesn't know this?
???: Alice has you exactly where she needs you to be.
Lucas: ........
???: And... you understand all this.... Don't you?
Lucas: Yes....
???: And yet....?
Lucas: This.
Lucas: This is truly my pain.
Lucas: I love her....
Lucas: I.... Want to love her...
Lucas: I have to love her...
Lucas: If I don't then--
???: You don't.
Lucas: ...!!!
???: You don't love Alice.
Lucas: I... I do!
???: This makes the most sense. I do not feel this way at all.
???: Your destructive behavior was under this pretense, and I couldn't understand it.
???: So... Now I understand why you locked me away.
???: If I found you, you would wake up from this dream you gave yourself... And lose the will to go on.
Lucas: .......
???: Don't worry, Lucas.
???: We did it.
???: Say it now.
Lucas: ......
???: You don't love her.
Lucas: I...!!
???: It was a means to an end, always has been.
???: If you say it, you can be free.
Lucas: .... I can't...
???: She is not the way forward for you.
???: You are her knight, yes.
???: So you can continue to play that role.
???: But you can be useful to anyone.
???: Derrick, Lexii, Garreth... Emily, Lucia...
???: You can be useful to just us if you want.
???: You will always be useful.
Lucas: ......
???: You can always be useful.
???: You aren't alone, even though you may think so...
???: Don't give in to her delusion. Because that's all it was.
???: You needed it. But not anymore.
???: Say it, and you're free.
Lucas: I... don't love her...
???: Say it again.
Lucas: I don't love her.
???: Again!
Lucas: I DON'T LOVE HER.
???: There we go.
???: You're free now.
???: How do you feel?
Lucas: .....
Lucas: I feel...
Lucas: Like the tunnel I've been staring down has widened.
Lucas: .... Feels like I can explore new options than follow the same track I've carried on with.
???: That's good.
???: I feel good too. Having finally reached you.
???: You are worthy of a great love, Lucas.
???: Not this cheap nonsense.
???: Someone who will wait on you just to see your face.
???: That person won't have to wait forever now.
???: And even if you may never find them.
???: You won't be under anyone's heel.
Lucas: ... Thank you.
???: ...!!
Lucas: I... I never imagined I could just decide to feel this way...!
???: You can always decide.
???: All you need is some peace and quiet.
Lucas: What can I call you...?
???: Lucas?
???: I'm you. What can you call yourself? Your name.
???: But Lucas was given to you, we do share another name. You remember?
Lucas: .... That weird thing?
???: Yes!
Lucas: ...Qruewloh.
Qruewloh: That's me.
Qruewloh: If you wind up dead, it will be you too. So please, don't.
Lucas: ... I won't.
Qruewloh: Now I don't expect our talk to stick forever, so if you're alone again try and be still.
Qruewloh: We share this moment within the cracks of perception and silence.
Qruewloh: Maybe I won't look this ugly the next time, heh.

Your depiction of Qruewloh begins to fade away, and you're left with a feeling of liberation.

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Azriel: Lucas?
Azriel: The perceived passage of 2 minutes has ended.
Azriel: Hello?
Lucas: ..... Ahh, I guess it has.
Azriel: How was it?
Lucas: Fucking great.
Azriel: Excellent.

Two claps for the character growth

>Lucas: Derrick said he needed you. Assist him, and your team.

>Lucas: have a quick talk with Azriel to catch him up to what happened. He can help you stick to your guns.

^^ Catch Azriel up and join the others.

Lucas: have a quick talk with Azriel to catch him up to what happened. He can help you stick to your guns

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Lucas: I was able to speak to... myself.
Lucas: Calls himself Qruewloh.
Azriel: Ahh yes. I know this name.
Lucas: He helped me rationalize my fixation with Alice.
Azriel: I have also felt this change.
Azriel: Seems my will to protect her has no longer become unconditional.
Azriel: An enormous change from before, seeing as you were willing to die for them.
Lucas: ....
Azriel: I can now better focus on your protection now that you have reclaimed priority.
Azriel: Continue with the progression you've made, I shall do my part to assist you however I may.
Lucas: Thanks buddy.
Lucas: Let's see what these guys wanted.

You head downstairs and find everyone surrounding a rather tall shadow creature...

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Archadia: So you see...
Archadia: I can't stand to be in this dark any longer.
Archadia: Not just the dark...
Archadia: My form... I can't remember what I looked like anymore.
Archadia: Before...
Archadia: I was willing to end a child's life to escape this place.
Archadia: But... Not at the risk of this "life".
Archadia: I don't want to die from these things down here... Silently, alone in the dark.
Archadia: I want to feel something other than dread and fear.
Archadia: So... Can you help me?
Emily: ... It seems you have been through a lot.
Emily: What is your name?
Archadia: I'm called Archadia. I... Don't remember any other name.
Emily: Archadia, I may have the answer you have been looking for.
Emily: I have a way that release the pain and fear you've been suffering from.
Emily: I will hold your hand, and cleanse you of all of it.
Emily: You can know peace once again.
Archadia: ..!
Archadia: You have this ability?
Emily: Yes. However I need your help.
Emily: I cannot do it without your permission. You said you don't want to be here anymore right?
Archadia: ... Yes.
Emily: I can help you pass on from this place.
Emily: You will leave all your pain behind here, and find peace to this unending life of suffering.
Emily: What do you say?
Archadia: .....

Archadia pauses for a moment. You can tell she wants to but she's scared. Her situation is understandable, living in a cave sounds crappy in general... Maybe she only wants to because she doesn't know any better?

1. Motivate her to go through with it. (Exercise Archadia)
2. Present an alternative in case she may have lingering doubts. (Spare Archadia)

> 1.

why are we questioning this?

>1

>1
Release archadia’a pain (and souls)

>1. Explain that you have done this in the past with others who felt trapped like her.

we don't really know if the exercised monsters really are sent to a better place, maybe let her know what the surface looks like first? maybe she will like it better there
>2

>1 She will be stuck in this form even if you put her somewhere else.

>1 She will be stuck in this form even if you put her somewhere else.

she can learn how to love herself later
what if this place Emily sends them isn't good at all? theres no way to see it and we'll never be able to get them back its irreversible
all Archadia knows is the cave, i just think it would only be sensible to let her know the other places first, just to make sure thats what she wants

>1 She will be stuck in this form even if you put her somewhere else.

she can learn how to love herself later
what if this place Emily sends them isn't good at all? theres no way to see it and we'll never be able to get them back its irreversible
all Archadia knows is the cave, i just think it would only be sensible to let her know the other places first, just to make sure thats what she wants

[Archadia is a threat to have around, she's only agreed to this cause she's not strong enough to kill the dreamers and so it's better to be rid of her. I'm only making the argument I'm making in case it reaches Emily.]

to me it sounds like she's only dangerous because she's stuck on a literal cave full of creeps at all times as far as she can remember
besides i don't think she would try to kill anyone on the surface because a) we have been nice to her b) we have shown her what we are capable of and c) the monsters on the surface although mostly friendly, are still absurdly stronger than her

we don't really know if the exercised monsters really are sent to a better place, maybe let her know what the surface looks like first? maybe she will like it better there
>2

seconded, what the fuck guys

Emily's literally skipping the whole 'you gon be dead', all this fucking poetry speech is cultish, and the worst part i the more we let her go through with it, the more SHE'S gonna buy it

Lucas: Motivate Archadia to go through with it

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Lucas: Hey although it may seem scary... Just ask yourself would you rather things stay the same?
Lucas: Life's all about choices. This counts too I suppose...
Lucas: Which seems worse?
Archadia: ... Very well.
Archadia: I accept your offer, child. Take my pain away.
Emily: O-of course..!

You watch as Emily takes Archadia's hand. It begins to glow a soft blue.

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Archadia: Oooh!!!
Archadia: This is... Amazing..!
Archadia: I feel... Free!
Emily: I'm glad I could share this with you.
Archadia: Thank you, child...! This is what I needed...
Archadia: I hope even just one more finds you... so that you may share this to them as well...

Archadia has been exorcised!

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Emily: Farewell, Archadia.

1 EXQUISITE SOUL with 34 souls is available, what will you do?

1. Give it to someone (Who?)
2. Save it for later

>1 (Lucia / Ira)

>1 Azriel

>1 ira

we don't really know if the exercised monsters really are sent to a better place, maybe let her know what the surface looks like first? maybe she will like it better there
>2

seconded, what the fuck guys

Emily's literally skipping the whole 'you gon be dead', all this fucking poetry speech is cultish, and the worst part i the more we let her go through with it, the more SHE'S gonna buy it

finally someone who understands

>1 ira

Seconding. Or thirding I guess :)

Lucia needs to remember.