15strangers | WEEK 1

Entry tags:

*round 5,
*week 1

WEEK 1

WEEK 1

[The train wouldn't stop. Not until very early the next morning. The few who might have been awake would be able to exit the train, entering the cool twilight of the dawn. The star is dark, and few stars can be seen in the sky as a cold breeze begins to blow from the mountain beyond. You can see some chunks of rock floating idly nearby, far away from the station that it won't hit trains, but near enough that one can see they are larger than the train they just disembarked.

Lastly, laid out in front of them, the first port of call: Menahoven. The mountain: The Throat of the World.

But which world? Who knows. Not any of yours. Maybe it doesn't matter. Not when you are so far from home. Not when you have no way to get off this rock without the aid of the trains-and they will not let you pass.

It looks like you're stuck here until the Conductor decides to leave. In the meantime, everyone will need to get comfortable.

There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]

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[Yeah, he was afraid of this.]

Well, I'm pretty sure you deserve a nice room like that, but if you need it, we could move some things out to make you feel more comfortable.

[He's...somewhat annoyed, but it's not directed at Ris, and she should be able to tell.]

[She shifts a little, uncomfortably.]

It is more that the size of it is... overwhelming.

["Hi, my name is Ris, I basically sleep in a closet, what is this thing you call a bedroom."]

[...okay, now the question mark above his head is almost visible.]

But the lounge is kind of...bigger, isn't it? Is that really more comfortable for you?

[This is sort of like going to the haunted house with five spirits to get away from the one ghost in your house.]

That is true, but we both know that it is not as if the entire car is meant for me. I'm just borrowing this small bit.

The bedroom... certainly, it's more private, but such big and luxurious things meant for me and me alone, at least for the time being, feels wrong.

[Okay, so she doesn't like that it's for her personally. He doesn't like that this is an issue for her, but it gives a little more clarity on the situation, at least.

This now brings up an idea that he's not fully sure about, but at this point he's genuinely concerned about this girl, so...]

Would it help at all if you had...a roommate? Or something like it?

[Then it wouldn't be just her own personal room and all that.]

[She just blinks at him, a bit owlishly.]

I... suppose that would help, yes.

[...]

Why are you so concerned about this?

[And that's genuine confusion.]

[That...gets an awkward silence from him for a couple of seconds. Why does he want to help this girl so much? Well, he can think of one reason, but that's very personal so it's not coming out today.

So! He'll go with the a more reasonable answer, still honest answer.]

Because I think you deserve some help with this. You clearly didn't come from the best situation before this. You shouldn't be alone in a situation like this.

[Understandable. Ris doesn't exactly like talking about personal things, either.]

...I do appreciate your concern. I don't mean to sound dismissive. But...

Everything that has happened to me, it is what I was created for. I... I cannot say that I like it, not honestly, but I am used to it.

I am happier to know that what I came from happened to me, and not to any of you.

[…that...sort of gets to King in another way. Similar, even if not exactly the same.]

Well...just because you were created for it, doesn't mean you should have to deal with it. I...technically was created for a specific thing, too. I never followed through with it.

In fact, I kinda…went directly against what he wanted.

And look at me now! I turned out a lot better than you'd expect, right?

[He's trying cheer Ris up, at least a little bit. Any chance it works?]

[It does, insofar as it has her looking rather intrigued.]

...You did? And you made it this far?

...How?

[Oh boy. Well, he did start this topic. He needs to go through with it.]

Well, mostly with the help of others. Convinced some people that were...sort of helping him out to stop, and managed to find a guy just as powerful as him to take him down a peg or two.

It's...honestly kinda surprising, how much some help will do for a situation, you know?

[He's actually asking her that, a little lost in the thoughts of the past.]

[With the help of others, huh...

She casts her gaze down toward a passing cat, letting that distraction hide how her expression falters a bit.

Certainly, that would be true. But is anyone truly strong enough to stop him? Those people from before, they'd tried, and certainly they'd laid to ruin a good deal of his work, but... in the end, they couldn't stop him. ...They couldn't even think to take her with them.

If she had the help of someone stronger, though, like King had... then maybe...]

...I can imagine. They do have a saying about having friends in high places, don't they? And, well... if not friends, then someone you can make use of, at least.

[...It is best just to focus on the positives. For King's sake, at least.]

I am glad, though, to hear that you found people that could help. That would listen to you.

Yeah, they certainly do.

[He's thinking mainly about her first statement, still a little lost in thought. Then he realizes what that last part was and snaps out of those thoughts.]

But, uh, it's probably better if you can get them to be friends.

And, focusing on your situation, I just think that...it might be better if you had some help going through it? At least a little bit?

[He's pretty much offering his help here, as well as offering a hand to shake. Does it look like she's willing to take it?]

[She looks at the paw, and then at King's face.

She looks like she's thinking for a moment.]

...A little bit.

I trust you with my life, I have no reason not to. But... even so, I do have one condition, if you'll hear me out.

[Okay, we're getting somewhere, good...]

I'm all ears.

[…pun is not intended this time, even with his very large ears.]

[...

Okay, listen. You can't just hand that to her, not after what you did, King.]

Not all ears. Only mostly.

[But okay, okay:]

...Seriously, though. If the time should come that I have to return to my Master...

Please. Promise me you won't get in the way.

[She frowns.]

You may think ill of him all you please. Wish whatever horrors you want upon him. But the things that man can do, has done... you may think you would fare just fine against him, but I am not willing to run that risk.

If, in the end, the choice comes down to your safety or mine, I ask you to prioritize your own.

Can you promise that to me?

[Okay, yeah, he walked right into that one, and he doesn't seem to mind, with his only response being an eye roll.

But that request...it does get him to think for at least a good minute. Not try to keep Ris away from this monster of a master? That's...not something he likes. Not even a little. But could he do it to get her to let him help? Could he really?

He seems to be lost in thought for maybe another minute, before letting his paw fall.]

Then...I think we don't have a deal. I'm sorry, but...I just don't think I could stop myself from trying to keep you away from him.

Sorry for wasting your time.

[Ris looks a little pained when the paw falls, but it's gone just as soon as it came. She shakes her head.]

...No, don't apologize. I'm sorry for wasting yours.

[...

She stands, sending the remaining cats scattering and gathering up her blankets.]

I should probably start getting ready for the day, then. I hope you have a good rest of yours.

[He feels terrible about it, but thinking back on somethings...he'd rather risk himself getting hurt than let her stay with a man like that. That much he's sure of.

He puts his paws behind his head, letting his fingers intertwine.]

Nah. If I don't have to apologize, then neither do you.

[It's only fair.

One of the cats lazily walks over to King's side, meowing softly. King gives her some head pats.]

Hey Lisa.

[He looks back up at Ris.]

We can still be friends, though, right?

[And Ris can't stand the idea of someone who went out of their way to help her, despite having every good reason to scream and run, getting shoved under that man's knife. And she knows damn well how much the doctor would love to get his mitts on someone like King. So, they are at a standoff.

Ris is quiet, as if thinking that over, and then nods. Yes, it's only fair.]

To the extent to which I am capable, yes. Of course.

[She'd not deny him this. She owes him much more.]

[The worst kind of standoff, as far as he's concerned.

The last comment gets a small, somewhat bitter smile from him as he starts to walk backwards towards the exit, Lisa following after him.]

Good. I'll see you around, then?

[King gets a similar smile in return.]

Of course. [And it's hard to tell if she means this to tease or genuinely:] Even if either of us did have somewhere better to be.

[King gives a small laugh at that, genuine and bitter at the same time.]

Of course. Have a nice day.

[And the King has left the...uh, train car.]

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WEEK 1

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