FINAL WEEK

[strangerpeople]

FINAL WEEK

[Well. What else can be said? The Little Courtesy is over. You have all survived. You are now going to your final destination-with invitations to boot. And Charlotte will be getting that private audience, as promised.

But it's not over. Everyone knows it. Confrontation is inevitable. The question is what, exactly, will happen when that confrontation happens-or if anyone will in fact be able to go with Charlotte when it happens. But you've gone this far. There's no turning back. There has to be a way.

Nothing has been certain, or simple. Whatever happens will be no different from the horrors of the Little Courtesy. Perhaps the saying might still hold. Will all be well? Will it?

It must. God help everyone if it isn't.

Seven is the Number, but there are nine strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[charmingheroine]

There's no guarantees of... anything at all, if we just do nothing. That's all you need for evil to take root, isn't it, to give up and stand aside instead of at least trying - ?

[At this rate her tea will have gone as cold as it feels like her blood is - but it isn't as though she'll taste it anyway.]

How many people have told you what I just did, one way or another?

[unwittingking]

Well...no one said you had to be perfect in what you think, right?

Yeah, it would be nice if we were all perfect in what we thought, that we could all agree on the same things, and pretty much come up with the right ideas for any problem, but...it's just not possible. Not in the slightest.

[Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone. Charlotte is still a kid. She has plenty room for mistakes still, as far as King's concerned.

He nods a little bit at the question.]

Yeah. My world still has Alice and Dorothy and all that.

[unwittingking]

About as well as you might think.

[He closes the book and looks up at Caleb.]

Can we talk about something? It's...kind of important.

[unwittingking]

[…he sighs. He's showing his anger to the one person that really doesn't need it, isn't he?]

I'm sorry, I'm just...being the plaything of God-like beings more than once tends to make you have a shorter fuse. Especially when they have so little when it comes to morals.

[It's a terrifying pattern in his life, and he hates it. He hates it so, so much.

That whispered part does catch his attention, though, with his ears perking up slightly.]

I'm sorry, what was that?

[katzenpfote]

... Yes? What is it?

[unwittingking]

Okay, during the trial, did you hear me talking about the barrier with The Conductor? And what would've happened if that bomb went off near it?

[katzenpfote]

... I did. I’m not sure what to make of it. Abjuration magic is a skill of mine, but none of this makes sense from an arcane angle.

[biddentodance]

[If he's looking for honesty, it's there. Minato wasn't lying when he said he didn't know it was a bomb, either.

He takes the scarf gingerly.]

Thank you.... I'm sorry again.

[unwittingking]

Yeah, the thing is, this might not be the same kind of magic that you're used to.

But, as it turns out, you might be able to help with it, even without your typical magic.

Now, other question...at the last stop, did you see any...for lack of a better term, ghosts? When exploring the place?

[katzenpfote]

... Oh? Hm. And yes. I spoke to Beatrice.

[biddentodance]

I know.... [There's an unhappy almost-smile, and a sympathetic chuckle that could only come from someone who know, intimately, what being puppeted around by a god is like.

But we aren't talking about that right now, because he forgot a dog is bound to hear everything.]

...this...isn't the first time I've messed up sort of like this...

[unwittingking]

Awesome. Now I won't sound like a total crazy person...

[He clears his throat.]

I ended up talking with Eliza and one other kid, and the two of them said there was some sort of barrier around the train. It's hard to tell what it's doing, but it's doing something that's not helping us. It might be hiding something from us, it might be doing some weird time-manipulating thing, but whatever it is, it's not good.

The only way we can break it is by using elemental attacks, and as far as I know, you're the only one that has those.

[He'll pause, hoping Caleb is keeping up.]

[katzenpfote]

[His eyes widen. Vulnerable to elemental attacks... well, he did used to specialize in conjuration...]

I see. We’ll have to pick the right time... perhaps Minato or one of his contacts has an idea, if they’re still willing to talk to him...

[unwittingking]

[He...really wants to question that smile, and how apparently knows that feeling.

But...it seems like the subject is going to change anyway.]

Should I ask, or...do you want to keep it to yourself?

[unwittingking]

Maybe the next time we land. Just in case something goes wrong and we need to get off ASAP.

[He shakes his head at that idea.]

I wouldn't recommend it. They tried to bomb us. Something tells me we shouldn't try to contact them, even if they're still willing to talk.

[katzenpfote]

... True. I’d like to to speak with them if possible. I’m curious as to their true aims. They can’t all be in this just for ideals.

[biddentodance]

Ikutsuki-san was....the chairman. SEES is a school club on paper, he was the faculty supervision required, handled a lot of the beurocratic stuff.

But he was also....we thought we were doing a good thing. Were told we were helping, that what we were doing would fix things. But he'd- he used us. By the time he tipped his hand, it was too late.

[Ikutsuki is the closest Minato has come to hating someone, but how can he hate the man when it's his own fault for not realizing in time?]

[unwittingking]

Same here.

[But that's a subject for another time, as he shakes his head a little bit.]

Back on topic, the barrier. Thinking about it more...we are going to have to wait until we stop to try and break it down. It's surrounding the outside of the train. Unless you've got a space suit, the best idea I have is you using that freezing fire on it.

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos is silent for a while before he responds. Even if he doesn't respond the implication is there already, isn't it? And Caleb is the only one he's outright told he's an halfelf to...

So When he does his tone carries nothing but pain. ]

She was killed by Humans who wanted to control the mana for themselves.

[unwittingking]

[That's...infuriating, a little bit. Not only was the kid taken advantage of by this resistance, but it was after some other person took advantage of him back on his world. A part of him is telling him to find these people and hurt them.

But...not only can he not do that right now, but a bigger part of him is telling him to help Minato right now. So, he will do as much.]

Well, I don't think you're at fault for either of those times. You said it yourself-you thought you were helping, you thought you were doing something good. You just...happened to be lead by someone bad. Someone that wanted to take advantage of your good nature.

I won't lie and say it was a good thing, but...I don't think you can really be blamed, in all of this, when all you wanted to do was make things better.

[disregartist]

So many I've lost count.

[A quiet sip.]

But they run under the assumption that nothing whatsoever is being done to address the problem. They-and you-are mistaken.

As I've said. The Little Courtesy is not a game. There is a reason it is played, and why it is time we seek. It is, as I have said, for survival. And-not just ours. Not just London's.

[She places her saucer down.]

Ours is like a sieve. It goes one way, for now. Towards us. But it will not always be that way.

[otherworldlyking]

...Don't need to tell you that sorry will never be good enough.

[ He can't tell if he's bothered because of only just their situation or just Minato's actions - which weren't without reason - but right now he just doesn't care. More than six months of this nonsense has taken it's toll, even on him.

...Which will mean it's a good time to turn away from Minato and head right off. He's got nothing more (or good) to say. ]

[charmingheroine]

Why do you talk in spirals like this? No, don't answer that.

[She still loathes this woman, still doesn't believe for a hot minute that she isn't deliberately cruel. Still. But there are cracks in that belief too - places rats could get in, were her mind a house.]

Our... what flows one way, our time? The force pulling other worlds into this? If you can't answer that, don't, fine, but... what's the reason?

[biddentodance]

[He still has that man's laugh ringing in his ears... It hurts, hearing King say that. Minato knows the truth, and it isn't that kind.]

Have to take responsibility. Should've realized. Should've questioned. Should've done something...

[unwittingking]

I know, but...

[This is...he has an idea on how to help, but should he try it? What happens if they ask about it? Could he just tell the truth, or could he just lie more. He's already lied a bit, people would probably believe more from him. Would it be worth it to risk now?...

Oh, who cares anymore. This entire train is full people that are willing to share their stories, even when they're clearly painful. Why should he hold back his own anymore?

He sighs.]

Do you want to hear a story, Minato? About...a big mistake of mine?