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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
After a few bars, there's an even more familiar robot standing right behind King.]
Needed some fresh air?
no subject
…um?? UM?!?]
P-Proto? What-how...
What is going on?!
[He's seen dead people before, but this is not the same context at all?? What??!?IS!?? THIS!?!?!?]
no subject
...Sorry about the scare, by the way.
no subject
Sorry, I'm just...not at all used to this. Stuff I had to deal with was magical, fantasy insanity, not supernatural, sci-fi, murder mystery.
[Basically the entire situation is terrible to him. But at least he's mellowed out a bit!]
It...may have been going around, but I might not have been paying full attention. I've been staying on the train for most of the week, considering how this place...is.
[Just. General gesture to the creepiness that is this place.]
no subject
She's here too, by the way. So are Beatrice and Atsushi...
[And so are several other victims from a different murder game, but Proto won't burden King with that knowledge unless he needs to. Things out here are probably bad enough as it is.]
I really don't blame you. It's creepy for us, too.
no subject
[Even they sound like their murder game was more magical girl, murder mystery BS.]
Oh. Uh, good to hear you guys weren't separated or something.
[He has no idea what the protocol is for when people die in different universes. Also, he has no idea how victims would feel about being in an afterlife with their murderers, especially with the motives, but...he thinks they'd be on so-so terms? Hopes so, anyway.]
Anything you need to tell from the afterlife?
no subject
He's just been... avoiding Beatrice whenever he can. No big deal. He said he was fine. This is fine.]
Not really, aside from the fact that clowns are still creepy and apparently the food is all made of sand. Hunger isn't really a thing, though, so there's that. It's not bad, I guess. Beats nonexistence, at least.
...I still wouldn't want to see you there, though. Survive this, and find your family.
no subject
[Not necessarily good to hear that their situation beats nonexistence, but...yeah, it could be worse.
And then there's the other part, and he looks down at his feet, before sighing.]
Thanks. I will. I promise.
Um...do you want me to find your family too? Tell them...tell them what happened?
no subject
[He hesitates, reaching for a scarf that still isn't around his neck out of habit before nodding grimly.]
Doctor Thomas Light. My creator... my father. He'll be the older man with the fluffy white beard. Tell him... [He sighs with regret.] Tell him I'm sorry I never came home.
no subject
[HE'S PRETTY SURE THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN HELL BUT? THIS WORLD IS COMPLETELY FOREIGN TO HIM, SO?? IT'S POSSIBLE???
He notices that instinctual grab.]
Will do. Anything...anything you think should get to him? Like...a helmet or something?
[He wants to suggest a scarf, but that might be a little too...personal, right now.]
no subject
[Whatever deity is in charge here has a warped sense of humor, no doubt.
No, his helmet originally came from Wily, even if he ended up making it his own. But speaking of scarves...]
My scarf, if it ever turns up in baggage claim. It's a plain yellow, nothing fancy. ...Great for flapping dramatically, though. If you could return that to him, then...
no subject
[Well, now he's even more shocked than when Proto first popped up! But he quickly tries to hide that surprise away again, not wanting to freak him out.]
I've...I've actually got something like that, recently. From the baggage claim. I'll...I'll get it to him. I promise.