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15strangers2019-08-04 10:27 pm
strangerpeople) wrote in 15strangers2019-08-04 10:27 pm
WEEK 4
[After the meeting, Lilac gives everyone a small vial of something red. Those who left the meeting receive it from the rats on the crew. She gives instructions as to how to take it. Take in a drink, preferably tea. Drink it slowly. Make sure you can get to your bed once you finish. The headache will come quickly.
Nevertheless, even as everyone slips into sleep, they are visited once more by the Conductor in what must have been a dream. Or was it? It's not clear.
She is quiet as she speaks, looking out the windows, even though the view is obscured by the glass.
"I know you think me as a monster. Maybe I am after all these years. I have no illusions. But I cannot regret the things I've done.
"Nor can I regret the Bazaar...it was so wonderful. It opened my eyes to the truth of things and opened doors I never could have seen on my own. It was the first time I felt true love for another. I wasn't the only one-my daughter, too, passed through the Wicket. Saw the sea more sunless within the Bazaar's body. Learned as I learned. She sought to rival me in symbols, in marking skin."
She closes her eyes.
"She is dead now, of course. Everyone I knew in the Neath-on our Earth-is. Well. Almost everyone. London endures, naturally. But the Echo Bazaar...it's beautiful promise...it's gone. The Seventh City will never fall, and it's Message will forever remain undelivered. Of all the creatures in the universe who might remember it, I am alone in honoring it.
"Perhaps it's noble. Perhaps it's foolish. In any case, maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe it's the thought that's important. As long as I am here, there is yet a possibility that the deed may be finished, somehow.
"Still, I wonder. Maybe you have the answer.
What happens to a Message, when neither the sender and receiver exist anymore?"
As the day dawns, everyone wakes up to the sound of howling winds and darkness. Their head hurts, but they do have a new memory to accompany the ache. They are also at a new port. It is a dark place, teetering on the edge of safe space and the unknown in between void, where those who enter rarely return. Or, so you have to assume, right? Either way, that blackness on the deep horizon doesn't look particularly fun to try to drive through.
There is a legitimate fear in Lilac's expression that betrays her for the first time, as she lets everyone disembark, including the unicorn and the young man, who quickly jump onto another train to get away from this place. She also refuses to leave the train. She does leave you with a fair warning.
The Synod of Carcels is dangerous, in its own way, and everyone can feel it. Everyone can feel something hanging in the air. It's not natural. It's bending reality. It's also not something that started with you or your arrival. Yet it threatens to become that way, to become part of you. You can feel the temptation gnaw at you. You can hear the winds whisper of it. There is a hunger here-and knowledge as well.
The question, of course, is whether the price to uncover those things is worth it-and what will be found here with the price that is paid. But as the Conductor said-a reckoning cannot be postponed. Not forever.
There are eleven strangers left in this place.]
((IMPORTANT OOC NOTE: This week and it's investigations involve major Fallen London spoilers, in particular spoilers regarding Seeking Mr. Eaten's Name and one of it's endings. If you, as a player here, are playing Fallen London and do not wish to be spoiled, let us know, and we will make sure you are not given any ending spoilers to the best of our ability. We will also be marking spoiler-filled comments with tags, and we request that our players do likewise, in consideration for those who might look through this post in the future.
With that said, have fun, and remember-all shall be well.))
no subject
Then after a moment, Mithos may be able to take note of what looks to be a elegant, white tiger walking along on it's own as it emerges from seemingly nowhere. It's yellow eyes seeming to glow faintly as it looks at Mithos.
Approach? ]
no subject
1/2
It makes no move to attack but instead bows it's head, ears twitching a little. Soon enough, once Mithos gets close enough to it? The tiger seems to sit back on it's back hind legs and those eyes almost seem imploring, just before it opens it's jaws ever so slightly but there's no roar or anything too loud that sounds from it. ]
Mithos? It's really you, isn't it?
2/2
It's not the tiger there but instead is Atsushi in it's place, looking a little weary but there all the same. ]
How are you doing...?
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Atsushi...?
[ No ... it's not possible, is it? He's been through this before and last time ...
But when he blinks and sees Atsushi there something tells him that ... this might be real. At least ... the possibility of it being real is greater than when he heard his sister's voice in the chasm. ]
... I see. So that is what made you different than the other Humans. We spoke about how we were different from them, but you never told me what it was.
[ That doesn't answer Atsushi's question Mithos ...... ]
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I guess I was just reluctant at first to mention it. At least not until it came up during that one minigame, the one with two truths and a lie.
[ He hesitated a second or two after this. ]
What you saw was a side effect of whatever this place is and what allows me to speak to you. I can't actually take the tiger's form here, though. [ Shaking his head because um... yeah. He wishes he could do it but this new power of his isn't nearly as nice. ] You seem like you're doing okay... considering everything.
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I should've paid more attention, then.
[ It ... doesn't really matter now though, does it. Though that's not something Mithos is going to be saying out loud. ]
So it's this place that is allowing us to meet again. To be able to speak to the dead once more ....
[ He says the second part in no more than a whisper before speaking up to respond to Atsushi again. ]
Considering that both you and Eliza were two people who I opened my heart to only for it to end like it did? If I hadn't already lost everything before I would've felt far more betrayed. But all I feel now is ... nothing.
But it's better than what I was doing last week, and what others are doing this week. At least it's making me look like I'm doing okay, hm?
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At least for now. I have no idea how long I can talk to you, though.
[ O h. There's a proverbial nerve hit in seconds and guilt showed on his face, looking down for a moment. So it was true. He'd spent that last week doing what he could to motivate Mithos and Minato where he could, even if it was just in a couple conversations here and there but look what it did to his friend.
You're just a disappointment, aren't you?
He hears the voice of his Headmaster ringing in his ears and it's enough to almost disorient him. At least before remembering they may not have long so he couldn't waste time. ]
...I'm sorry. I didn't think things were going to go that way. I meant what I said when I talked to you, that I intended to be here to help you and you shouldn't close yourself off. [ He shook his head and looked back up towards Mithos once more. ] My death... and Eliza's really hit harder than I thought, didn't it? Not just with you, but...
[ With EVERYONE. Especially considering with how Mithos had worded that regarding what everyone else was doing this week. ]
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[ Even though he says he feels nothing there's a tone of sadness when he speaks there. His words after seem to carry the same tone ]
Of course they hit. Both you and Eliza were doing your best to help everyone here, and then both of you just ...
[ He stops with a sigh. He doesn't say anything for a few moments and when he does it's back to the neutral tone he had before. ]
It's ... fine. Not everything is lost, I've found out. There's ... still a small bit of hope for me to achieve. I just ... need to survive, and there's someone who needs to survive as well.
But besides those that I've already opened my heart to I don't plan on opening it up any further. Doing that will ... only cause more pain if something were to happen again. But unfortunately I'm not sure how many others here are capable of closing themselves off. Instead ... they're wearing it on their shoulders.
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[ Not going to voice it but he had caught that sadness in Mithos' tone when he'd spoken, though there was definitely good reason for it. What with the way those words cut him again like a knife and he has to force himself to not break down here. ]
Everything happened so quickly. I tried to tell her she didn't have to...
[ He practically whispers those last words, just enough to be heard.
Though Atsushi does listen to the rest of what Mithos has to say, and while not dissipating? What he's feeling doesn't get any worse, but those words gave him a small spark of hope to some extent. ]
I know you can do it. Be strong and survive, Mithos. So you can go home and fulfill your sister's last wish.
[ He has to remind himself over and over again to be strong. Stand tall and don't let the pain overwhelm you. It's a safe mindset for now, so maybe he can see why the other wants to not open himself up to any more pain but by the sounds of it? Everyone else was not doing great mentally, either. ]
Something tells me I know who those specific people are. [ Atsushi's breath hitched in his throat before he shook his head. ] Towa and Minato... Keep an eye on them for me if you can. Please... just promise me that you'll try and do that for me, okay?
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[ And in a way he understands that. Even though it doesn't make what she did right.
But ... that aside Mithos smiles lightly at Atsushi's words. ]
I'll do my best. I won't give up until her wishes are fulfilled and ... everything is back to the way they were.
[ There's ... something foreboding with Mithos saying that but it's totally fine, right? ]
... Close. There's another I meant, instead. [ He glances away for a moment when Atsushi asks him to promise. ] I'll keep an eye on them. On Towa, at least. I'm ... not sure if I'm the right person to be keeping an eye on Minato, when there are several here who are already doing so.