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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.))
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[ So no need to fret anymore?? ]
Ah-- Sure, if you'd like to. I guess leaving it as it is would only raise more concerns ...
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Precisely. Besides, it'd be a shame to leave burn marks in an otherwise lovely head of hair.
[She pushes herself back to her feet, turning and offering a hand to help him up. Not that she thinks he needs it, but it's only polite.]
I am no expert beautician, but with the experience I have I should be able to do well enough, at least.
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Eh-heh. I don't know ... my hair is nowhere close to how lovely your hair is.
[ He'll take her hand since she offered it. He can't turn down Ris being polite can he? ]
Don't worry, I have full faith it'll look fine again once you're done.
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E-eh...? You think so?
[Oh, look, he's thrown her off enough that she kind of just. Forgets to let go once he's reached his feet.]
...I'll do my best, of course.
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Mhm! I certainly think so.
[ And oh... they're still holding hands okay. Does he let go or just ... keep them together until she notices yep ... ]
Of course. I trust that ... you will.
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...You're too kind.
[Watch as she just gets more and more flushed. Rude!
As for hands... she notices, after a moment, but although her initial response is to begin to let go, she just... stops herself.
What if they just. Held hands as she leads him back to the train? Is he going to stop her? This is now a game of pushing her luck.]
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... I could say the same to you.
[ Wow don't call him rude!! Not when he's busy getting more flushed too.
Nope there's ... no stopping her. So here they are... holding hands while Ris leads him back to the train yep ... ]
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That leaves us at an impasse, then, doesn't it? Because I think I'm being just kind enough~.
[So there! But yep, they sure are going to keep doing this all the way back to the armaments car, at which point Ris finally has to let go because she needs to get the first aid kit down.
On her tip-toes. Why is the world built for tall people, nothing is fair.
Still, eventually, she manages, balancing the kit in one hand and opening it with the other, then rooting through to find the scissors.]
All right, here we are~ we should probably head to the showers for this, just so we can easily dispose of whatever's left.
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Hahah, I guess it does! Maybe we have no choice but to accept them, then.
[ They sure did! And it's a little sad when Ris has to let go but gotta get those scissors down.
Mithos could've helped but really he's not much taller so he knows that pain. But he will take the first-aid kit to put it back for her once she has the scissors. She shouldn't try doing that while holding them! ]
Alright. Let's head towards the showers then.
[ Want to lead the way again Ris ]
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[She sighs like she's being put-upon, but... she's smiling, so she definitely doesn't mean it.]
Thank you. [She turns that smile toward him, before reaching back out to take his hand again. In the hand without scissors, naturally! Safety first!] Come along, then.
[Why, yes, she will lead them there! But hey, it was kind of sad for her to have to let go, too, so why not just pick up where they left off?]
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You're welcome. [ He'll let her take his hand again as he smiles back at her because yes, let's totally pick up where they left off! ] Eh-heh, coming!
[ To the showers they go! ]
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Once they're in, Ris lets go, only to put a hand on Mithos' shoulder to guide him over near a drain. She pats at his shoulder once he's in place.]
All right, there. Stay still, all right?
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Mithos lets her guide him over to near the drain. The only other movement he does before he stays still is a nod. ]
Alright.
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It takes some time, with Ris carefully snipping off the singed ends to begin with and then working to incorporate layers, so that she might keep most of the length in his hair.
By the time she's done, it might be a little shorter anyway, just because that's how haircuts work, but he's all cleaned up again!]
And~ there we go! ...You'll probably be finding stray hairs on your clothes for the next several days, but...
[Just gonna try to brush off what she can.]
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It feels a little different because of the layers, and he can tell it's a little bit shorter. But no more singed ends which is good! ]
Thank you, Ris! Don't worry about the stray hairs it's not a big deal.
[ Even though she's brushing what she can off and he's grateful for that as well. ]
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[She's not mad, just... don't give her reason to worry, okay? Minato is enough!]
It's unfortunate that the train bans mirrors so you can't actually see for yourself, but... hopefully my word is good enough to go on for now.
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I think I've been doing mostly a good job of that so far, don't you?
[ He hasn't made anyone worry nearly as much as Minato has! ]
Of course it is. There isn't anyone's word here I trust more than yours.
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But just because some of us have no sense of self-preservation whatsoever doesn't mean I can't expend a little bit of my worry on you.
[Minato is an outlier, and should not be counted.
Her expression softens at that last bit, though.]
...the feeling is very much mutual, I can assure you.