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15strangers2019-08-11 10:55 am
strangerpeople) wrote in 15strangers2019-08-11 10:55 am
Entry tags:
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.]
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[He regrets it, not asking more.....but if he's supposed to keep himself alive, does he dare try to contact them again? He's clearly outlived his usefulness.]
Not sure if it's really hundreds, but...talked to the station master in Menahoven. Sounded like they've got a lot of routine. This has happened before, plenty of times. And he said we wouldn't be the last.
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[And he does not like being seen as expendable.
That latter part...he needs a minute to think. It's already happened plenty of times. They might not even be the last group that has to go through this. And with a bunch of different worlds to choose from, that means...
Nobody he knows is safe.
He takes in a shaky breath, covering an eye with a paw.]
So...we have a lot of people going through this kind of thing. And rather than trying to fight this Empress directly, the resistance tries to just upset her by blowing up her hostages.
I'm sorry, but if we get the chance, I'm thinking we have to put a stop to both of them.
[Both sides are clearly terrible, to the point where he's genuinely unsure of which side is worse, only that they both need to be taken down, ASAP.]
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[He....can't say he likes the idea of taking anyone down. He understands sometimes there's necessity, but he's killed one person and has barely been able to eat anything at all since.]
Sounds like fighting her directly is a good way to die, though...
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[He's not saying it directly, but the implications are probably clear, given how he glares out a window at nothing for a second. He's not letting someone get away with that.]
I know, and if we want to actually take her down, we may have to fight, but...I just think at this point, the woman can not stay on the throne. I mean-she's setting up multiple trains with people being forced to kill each other. That's not someone that should be left on in charge, don't you think?
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[But he just.....cannot hate even the Empress.]
...Like Ikutsuki all over again...
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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?
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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...
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But...it seems like the subject is going to change anyway.]
Should I ask, or...do you want to keep it to yourself?
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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?]
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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.
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Have to take responsibility. Should've realized. Should've questioned. Should've done something...
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[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?
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[It's hard to picture King making mistakes, he always seems so righteous and confident. Always knows the right thing to do. Well...he's a father, right? Minato wonders if his own was like that...
He nods.] If... If you want to tell it.
CW: PETA
A long time ago, I was part of a group, too. It was called PETA, and they wanted animals to be treated fairly. I joined them because I thought...if I could actually help some animals in some bad situations, maybe I could be a better person.
But...they weren't a good organization. A lot of people hated them, and even just saying I was with them would get me threats or even assaulted. I stayed with them, though, because I thought I could do something good with them.
Then...the day came when I was in Babylon Gardens, and my superior forced me to help him kidnap a random dog from the park. It was a terrible idea, and I knew it, but...I helped anyway. During the drive to "release him into the wild where he belonged," the dog kept shouting and making a point to say that he liked where he was. With his dad, in a house, not having to fight just to get a meal. All we were doing was just...hurting him.
We ended up getting pulled over by a cop. I nearly got arrested, but...when they saw what the other guy was doing, we ended up making a deal that I would rat him out and avoid jail time.
It's what happens when you try to smother a guy's dog right in front of him.
After that, I had to stay in Babylon Gardens for a while. I...actually ended up seeing that dog again, and we actually became good friends. We had issues, of course, but...he ended up becoming my first real friend.
I won't say what I did wasn't wrong-I know now more than ever that it was terrible, horrible thing to do, but...it was what I thought was right at the time. I thought it could be good, later down the line. It's only looking back that I can really see all the red flags and warning signs about how stupid it all was.
Do you...do you get what I'm trying to say here?
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But that.... That's a mistake you could come back from. Could leave the group, make friends with the other dog, be forgiven...that sort of thing. The Fall-- ....even if I could make up for it, there's no time...
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Wait a second. Their talk on the first day...]
Minato, what did you do with that group, exactly?
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....Choices ensured the end of my world. The end of everything.
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But. There is one way to make up for it, hopefully.]
Please tell me there's some way to reverse.
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The coming end can no longer be stopped...
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The fact that he's only responding with a frustrated sigh and dragging a paw over his face is...probably a big sign of restraint.]
So, not only will I have to help take down a corrupt monarchy as well as possibly an even more corrupt resistance, but I need to drag Kitsune and a bunch of other celestial beings into saving an entire universe.
[He misses his normal, average life, when he didn't have to worry about the fates of different universes, just so he could help out a kid that accidentally caused the end of his world.]
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[And hope has been so hard to maintain, despite Caleb's efforts. The last thing Minato wants is to drag anyone else into his mess.]
Besides....might already be too late.
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[Answer: A completely terrible, awful person, in his own opinion.
That second statement does get him a little worried, though.]
How...how would it be too late?
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[He isn't sure whether King means aliens or angels, but either way....anything that can die will. He sighs heavily.]
If time's passed without me... Was New Year's Eve. Were told, no matter what, we wouldn't live to see spring. But if even one day passed without me, then-- only a month.
And it's been seven since the Vespertine, now. Caleb's been trying to tell me it'll be alright, but....isn't even a sure way back.