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Azzo was loitering around near the theater building. He wanted to use the stage but he wasn't sure if that new drama teacher would let him. And he didn't really want to bother her, what with that play that was going on and all.

He also kinda felt a little peeved he missed the auditions, he had a puppet he could've throw in there for a fairy god cat, even if he didn't get the part, at least they'd have a believable sized cat instead of what he thought might end up being some guy in a catsuit.

Though it'd be interesting to watch... hopefully it wasn't one of frankie's kind of plays though so he wouldn't have to run into the crazy thing. As he walked away from the doors he was too busy thinking to watch where he was going...

(NOTE: YOUR ACTIONS WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE OR DIE IN THIS ROLEPLAY. YOU ARE NOT FATED TO DIE JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE IN A SUDDEN DEATH. IT WILL ALL DEPEND ON WHAT COURSE OF ACTION YOUR CHARACTER DECIDES UPON.)

One of the teachers was approaching them both -- not Ms. Johnson; one of the English teachers, with his hand in his pocket. He was smiling at them both -- ugh, they could probably expect some kind of embarrassing ho-ho-ho conversation about the play to happen and some kind of congratulations Ignacio's way.

"Boys!" he said. "Boys, if you could -- "

And he reached up and sprayed something, first directly in Azzo's face, then in Ignacio's. And that was all they really knew, because then they were out cold.



They came around slowly.

What was at first most noticeable was that they had woken up in booths -- neither bigger than a shower booth, covered from waist-up with glass -- smoked dark glass in the front, and between them both, a transparent glass panel that let Azzo and Ignacio see each other -- when they finally, groggily stood.

At the front, wired to a box, was a button.

There was nothing else, except for a vent at the bottom of each booth. If you yelled, either member of the booth could hear it -- some kind of wiring system, because otherwise the booths seemed claustrophobically airtight. Definitely a wiring system, because a loudspeaker crackled to life --

"There we go. Boys, are you there? You're about to undergo a little psychological test."

Beat.

"I wouldn't push those buttons just yet. Please state your name so that we know you're awake."

Great, professor. Ignacio wasn't totally sure what he wanted except maybe to remind them or some assignments or to congratulate him on his multiple roles in the upcoming production, but before Ignacio knew it, the professor was spraying some odd something or other in Azzo's face. Ignacio took a shaky step back so he could bolt, but unfortunately, it was all too late as his last thoughts were What the fu--

--ck? Ignacio blinked open bleary eyes as he found himself facing Azzo. This was okay. Perhaps he had just hallucinated that. Too little sleep; it happened all the time. The man outstretched his hand in greeting but soon found that his hand smashed into the wall in front of him. What?

Ignacio's head snapped around from left, right, up, down. The quarters they were in were tight. Squeezing. Restricting. He could hardly move. His head almost smacked the wall as he looked up again. The walls felt like they were closing in, were going to suffocate him as he stood, cackle at his misforunte circumstances and watch him die.

For a man like Ignacio, who wandered freely from moment to moment, being in a five by five box, terrifying on its own, took an extra element. He was trapped. He couldn't leave. He couldn't wander. He couldn't do.

And then, the voice came.

...Psychological test.

...Ignacio couldn't do this. He couldn't freak out. If this was a psychological test, nothing was more important than being of sound mind. If he freaked out, he would do something irrational. Highly irrational. Probably end up dead. Who the hell let the man from Saw on campus anyway? The young freckled man shuddered visibly, but then, he seemed almost stonily calm.

...Nothing bothered Ignacio Araya. He had such confidence.

"Araya." There was no way in hell he was saying his first name, even if the professor had already known it. Araya was common enough of a last name. Saying Ignacio Araya would pinpoint it straight to him, and if he did manage to get out of this claustrophobic box--no, no, no--if he did manage to escape the Saw-esque situation, Ignacio didn't want this guy following him to finish the job.

He kept his eyes focused straight on the boy in front of him. If he didn't look around, it would be easier to keep himself calm.

Azzo looked at the man behind the glass. He'd noticed the other boy's pupils widen earlier. However now wasn't the time to show fear. So it was a pinewood box.... this was not bearing well....

He had lost an assistant last year... now he was being told to kill a guy with the push of the button... but what it was a trap and instead it was to his own grave he'd be sent....

He was still looking out at the smokey glass. "I want to be known as my Stage name if I go out." He stated Simply. "You know who I am so what's the point in saying my real name?"

He looked quickly back at Ignacio, he didn't get to know the guy but he shook his head.

"Man I hope you trust me enough to let me do this..."

Azzo settled with his back against the wall facing Nacio, "I know you're stressed out and scared, but relax, everything is fine."

"Close your eyes and just let yourself float on a cloud, picture yourself in a open field, with me across from you... a peaceful babbling brook, and the wind lightly blowing. Just relax in the sunshine and take a nap."

Azzo was talking faster than he normally would, he knew they were pressed for time but he had to see.... he just had to. "You're getting very relaxed and very sleepy...."

Azzo watched him punch at the glass. He shook his head, stupid, that's probably plexi-glass it's not going to break. And if it's not you should've put your sweater on your hand. He didn't let that irritate him though.

"I need you to fall into a deep slumber, a nice long nap in that summer time air. Forget about what's around you, but that button, that button is still in our dream. But let this world go and listen only to my voice as you relax, and as your eyes feel tired and you slumber."

"Do you understand what I'm asking of you? For this to work, for me to save us both, you must nap." It wasn't a dire tone as one would normally think.

Azzo looked, he took a breath, "You should now be deep asleep, in a trance." He spoke softly, "I need you to press that button, you know something bad might happen to me. But you must press that button. So I ask you do it now, press the button and lets see what happens."

He knew the chances that if Nacio was in the Trance that he'd break out too. Azzo watched him carefully, knowing any stressful situation would make them break out. And if that happened he was ready to yell '******** PRESS THE BUTTON'.

Unfortunately, you never should trust disembodied voices being filtered through your death chamber.

Ignacio smashed the button down, just as Azzo had abjured him to -- and immediately, there was a clink noise in his OWN vent. They both watched a little numbly as Nacio's chamber started to fill up with the promised gas -- smashing the button had simply lead to his own chamber, filling up with poison gas...

"I'm afraid your plan," said the disembodied voice, "backfired, Mr. Riff-Raff -- a good turn does nobody any good. Please enjoy your contingued longevity. Goodbye, Mr. Araya."

(MOD NOTE: IGNACIO ARAYA'S CHAMBER HAS FILLED UP WITH A FATAL NERVE GAS. PLEASE POST DEATH REACTION.)

...Well then, this was quite peachy.

His daydream prompted by Azzo continued to shatter as the gas began to flood his senses. Sight became cloudier, head became number, limbs became weaker. Hearing seemed to echo in his own head as he could feel his heartbeat. His nose was taking the air in, as much as he tried to force himself to hold his breath and not breathe.

Not breathing only worked briefly, and unfortunately he had to gasp for air eventually. There was no way that this could be happening. No way. He was seventeen, and he was about to die because he relaxed and then decided that yes, he would press that button. He would slam that button. He would get it over with.

Just like his life, now. His life was over with. As much as he would like to deny it, he felt his vision going, his sense of touch going, his sense of self going. All he knew was these suffocating surroundings and the suffocating gas that came with them. Claustrophobia was certainly justified. There need be no other situation to prove it.

He could hear Riff-Raff shouting in his defense. Whore. Liar. It was supposed to be me. Riff-Raff wanted to be the one who died? Was he suicidal? Perhaps he was only insane. Or perhaps only moral. Perhaps one of the nicest people he would never get to truly know. One last weak punch slammed into the same spot where he had punched the wall before, before Ignacio glanced up to the ceiling in an attempt to keep him from fainting for just a few moments longer. Just a few... precious... moments...

...Ignacio couldn't believe it was going to end like this... he couldn't die... he was immortal... what was this... sarin gas? And yet, he felt wobbly... hazy... like he was in a fading dream... one that was fading fast, out of his grasp... and away from anything bright.

"I hope..." Ignacio coughed, losing balance and falling into the wall as everything started to swirl around him. "You're happy with yourself, Jigsaw... You molester... of dreams and hopes... of life... of... youth." Ignacio struggled to keep himself from slipping closer to the ventilation, wanting to get a few last words out before he breathed his last. He could feel his nose burning and his head was beginning to become cloudier. He could hardly make out his surroundings anymore... he could hardly make out himself. And yet, there was still the vague hope that this was all a dream... perhaps he would wake up.

But one didn't die in their dreams. Weakly, Ignacio gasped again, attempting to get more oxygen to his dulling senses. "Riff-Raff... thank you..."

A pause, with one final gasp. "You're an... amazing person..." And a final Ignacio Araya-styled grin crossed his face before his eyes closed to this nightmare forever.