WEEK 2

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 2

[It is again early morning when the train docks next. This time, however, the dock is not as busy. There are few trains to be seen, and even fewer people. Only a man stands at the dock, teeth sharp in his smile, scelera a deep gold as he stares beneath his fedora.

"Unexpected," he said with a smile. A two-dimensional dog with the head of a scribbled black cloud hops by, ignoring him. "But not unwanted. Do make yourselves comfortable."

This new place is known as Victoria's Chasm, named after an Empress. No, not that one. Her Thrice-Renewed Majesty is quite comfortable on her Throne, and rulled for much longer than 99 days, thank you very much.

In the distance, black begins to erupt like tendrils. Lightning flashes through the clouds. This is the land of monsters; tread carefully. And do not despair, whatever you do.


There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[otherworldlyking]

Hah...

[ Neither of them are being serious here. ]

I could always say it did.

[ Because he's ever so kind. ]

[higanbana]

Such cruelty... leaving an innocent young maiden like myself in such existential dismay.

[She flips the blade back open, rolling it across the back of her hand.]

And yet here I remain, like a moth to flame.

[otherworldlyking]

Something tells me that you'll do just fine.

[ ...Nice.

Though he does look at one of his hands for a moment. ]

Not like there's anywhere else for you to go, if we're talkin' outside of this land.

[ They're at the mercy of the train, so that doesn't quite count either even if it starts going. ]

[higanbana]

True enough. You haven't burnt me to a crisp yet. I suppose I can press my luck for a while longer.

[She's sorry, McBurn. She genuinely doesn't know about all the fire you're missing.]

Even so, there's more freedom to roam here than I ever had back where I was from. If I wanted to avoid you, or anyone, it's actually possible to do so if I so choose. And I can choose.

[Or you could just... tell him outright that you like having him around, Ris. Is that really so hard?]

I'm sure, for you, all of this is horribly restricting. But it is all a matter of perspective.

[otherworldlyking]

Yeah, the way I am now, you've got nothing to worry about.

[ Well, she might figure it out soon, considering his words there.

He doesn't care if people do know of such a thing, after all. ]

...That's right, you had that "Master" of yours. Well, obviously do as you like - I don't care either way.

[ Apparently he doesn't seem to dislike her company at least. ]

[higanbana]

[She's clever enough to catch on, yes.]

Let me guess... they've taken something away from you that would let you do just that, if you so chose?

Ehehe. Even if they've clipped your wings for now, it is a dangerous game I play, indeed...

[She smiles.]

That's what fascinates me about you, you know. I've long wondered what it might be like to simply not care.

[otherworldlyking]

They did.

[ He's...kind of been without it for awhile now, though - and it feels completely and totally unnatural, not even talking about the vague annoyance. ]

How's it dangerous when my flames can't even reach you?

[ ... ]

It's not something exciting. But believe it or not, there's at least something I care about.

[higanbana]

I doubt they can keep someone like you caged forever. And even without what they've taken, you're a powerful adversary, aren't you? I've heard stories.

Oh?

[otherworldlyking]

Stories from who?

[ Towa, he guesses? Or from Mithos. ]

You could easily take a guess about what it is by now.

[higanbana]

Mithos, primarily. You two have been sparring, right?

If it's all right with you, I think I'd like to watch sometime.

[She has no idea Towa even KNOWS McBurn.]

Fighting, I presume?

[otherworldlyking]

Yeah, we have, and you can watch if you want. [ ... ] Are you two friends or something?

[ So that's two people wanting to see them fight. ]

You've got it. Kind of prefer it to be an actual challenge than just easy ones, though.

[higanbana]

We've spoken a couple of times.

[She'll just leave it at that, her face and her voice not betraying any further information.]

I see.

I admit, as a non-combatant, I have little understanding of such things. What is it about a fight that so appeals to you?

[otherworldlyking]

[ ... ]

There's nothing like the thrill of a fight that's worth my time.

[ Seemingly...short and to the point. He doesn't seem interested in gushing about it, even if he does like it immensely. ]

I don't expect you to understand, and I don't care to make anyone understand either.

[higanbana]

And my curiosity is denied. Ehe... I should have expected as much.

[She wants to comment on a couple of things. That for someone who so values his time, he sure spends a lot of time wasting it; that it sounds like it might be a bit of a lonely existence... but, well.

She has a feeling she knows what the answer will be to both, so it's best not to waste his time further by asking.]

Well, in that case. It does rather sound like you're done with me, for the time being, so I'll take my hint and leave you be.