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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
Well, he can't really do much about it at this point, other than try to keep her away from any other drinks, so he may as well talk with her.]
You could've just asked someone. I'm sure most of the adults here have gotten drunk, at least once.
[He says most because...well, RGB can't exactly drink in general, so he probably can't actually get drunk. Meanwhile, he's seen Caleb drunk, McBurn looks like the kind of guy that gets wasted on fancy wines (though he's sleepy drunk above all else), and Zack...if that kid didn't try to drink away at least a little bit of his stress, King would be surprised.
He gets onto a chair next to her as he continues.]
In my experiences, it only heightens other emotions. You're feeling happy? Enjoy cloud nine! Feeling sad? Have fun with the world caving in around you.
I think it can differ from person to person, though, since you seem to be in the middle emotionally. You can't really be sure until you try it, I guess.
no subject
[She pauses. Her thoughts are not collected, and indeed considering experimentation has sent what ragged few she could keep in line marching off in a different direction entirely. In all probability this is because... she's a rambling drunk, and any train of thought that isn't one involving her emotions is as good as another.]
Magic is a science where I'm from. Or we're trying to make it that, trying to pick up where the alchemists left off. It has rules, and it reflects mathematics and its laws, and it makes sense. And it's beautiful, you know? Being able to feel God's own power, drawing it into your own like spinning yarn from two kinds of roving and then watching as someone is healed, or something catches fire, or the world seems to slow down around you so you can dodge something coming towards you without even trying... nothing here is like that. Nothing here makes sense.
[King has been extremely kind, and she desperately wants him to understand what it is that this place cut her off from. He understands revenge, she knows that. She doesn't know if he understands wanting to avenge a lost part of one's very self.]
no subject
I feel like...you might be talking to the wrong person about magic here. I have some experience with it, but I've never really been a fan of it. Even if it is a science, I personally would like to deal with it any more than I'd have to.
But...I think if you're used to having it, I can see why you'd prefer to keep it around. For it to change so suddenly, while you're still dealing with your own problems...it must be a nightmare.
[He's not looking her in the eyes. Just staring down at the bar counter, not really paying attention so much as staring off into space. He almost sounds...experienced, with things like this.]
I guess what I'm trying to say is...I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted revenge on people for taking that away from you.
cw: comparing losing extrasensory perception to physical mutilation
[She hiccups, and looks mortified by it, and carefully, still slumped over, reaches to pick up her glass and takes a sip of the Decidedly Not Actually Orange drink as though that might help.]
I used to be able to tell what sort of people people were, just by being in the same room as them. Ill intent is... heavy. It's... it's oppressive, it's like someone shoving down on your shoulders and grabbing you around the neck all at once. Kind regard is light, it's warm, it's like having your mother tuck a scarf around your jacket collar... and I don't have that now, I can't tell and I just can't... if I did still, then maybe... if I'd been able to tell but then maybe it would've been me and I don't want to die! I have to stop this, I can't die yet, but I... I could have stopped it if I weren't like this!
[She pushes herself up from where she's leaning, roughly, slamming a glowing fist against the wooden bit of the bar. Somehow, most likely because the glow dies in the same instant, she doesn't scorch it. She stares wideyed at her own hand, and then at King.]
I... don't think I like this much after all.
no subject
I'm sorry, but...I think I need to cut you off.
[He leans over the bar to grab the not-orange-drink.]
I'm not saying you're wrong here. If I was near the people that did this to me...kidnapped me and a part of my world, drafted me into a war that I shouldn't even be a part of, and put my family in danger-
[He was getting angrier and angrier with each work said, his sharp teeth clearly visible at the last word. He stops, realizing how he's appearing, before continuing more calmly.]
It wouldn't be pretty. I know that much.
But until we get off this train, thinking about it like this isn't going to help anything. We still have to get away from The Eyesore running this train before we can really face The Worst Rebellion Ever.
[He's...trying to inject a little lightness into the situation.]
So, unless you can get sober in five seconds, I don't think we should talk about this right now.
no subject
We really shouldn't. Just... earlier, I... McBurn found something, and I went to look at it with him, and then we... we saw things, and this world is so much bigger than I thought, it's....
[She shakes her head hard enough to set her hair flying around her briefly.]
We can't talk about that either or I'm going to start crying. Same about the voices and the pieces of worlds and Uncle John's best friend....
no subject
Speaking of being sober...]
And this is why it might be best to wait until you're not drunk anymore to talk about some things. I have a feeling that what you're trying to tell me is important, but you're being kind of vague about it, and...well, emotions are coming at you harder now.
[His voice is taking on a more dad-like tone with this statement. He should probably be more angry at this, but she's learning some of the problems of alcohol, so she's probably learning her lesson.
His tone changes again, getting more comforting with this next comment. A bit more soothing.]
It may help if we just...talk about something else. Get your mind off of the bad things.
no subject
[Honestly, that simile barely made sense in her own head, but... it's like what someone who isn't here would have said. He'd have handled all this better, probably. He would have.
And somehow, even though she still doesn't know if he's dead or not, that brings a rueful smile to her face.]
no subject
Alright, then...how about we talk about my world? I'm sure it's pretty weird to you, with animals that talk and walk on only two legs...most of the time.
[It's probably weird, but he can't really think of anything else on the fly, so...]
no subject
I'd been wanting to ask, but I wasn't sure how to go about it without being rude... oh, right, the other question! You called Cerberus "she", but I... well, you were about where I am, I wasn't sure if you'd just stumbled or what.
[She's clinging to the distraction for dear life, so if the swift change seems affected... well, it kinda is.]
no subject
I actually did that on purpose. I think the myths did say Cerberus was a boy, but when I actually met them, it was a woman.
I didn't really question it, though, considering she helped me out and...well, it would be rude.
[You really should ask someone why they're a woman when you originally thought they were a man. Especially when that person is a celestial being. You may as well invite them to smite you.]