15strangers | WEEK 4

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.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well, now he's concerned greatly again, even jumping from his seat a little bit when she slams her fist on the bar. He can't help but stare at her wide-eyed for a second.]

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.

[Oddly enough, the sight of his teeth bared in rage is comforting. She knows how to handle anger. Sadness would have hurt a lot more... and that he's trying to keep things light, even as bleak as everything is... it does level her mood out a bit.]

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....

[It's nice that he's not getting called insensitive or anything for trying to keep from going too dark. He's not fully sure if it's her being drunk that keeps her from being angry or if she genuinely alright with it, though, so he might not try it again when she's sober.

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.

Yes. Please. Literally anything else, I... well, you hit it out of the park, really, there's so little between me and any feeling that comes along right now that it's like I just waltzed out into a hailstorm in a swimsuit....

[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.]

[Yeah...that drink is definitely getting poured down the drain. Note To Self: Find lock so you can lock up the alcohol later.]

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...]

[King is the official dad of the train now, locking up the booze and everything.]

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.]

[Well what do you expect when the person that actually has children ends up finding the drunk teenage girl? Not party planning, I'll tell you that much.]

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.]

WEEK 4

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