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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[katzenpfote]

I don't know what a space suit is.

But you raise a fair point... though under her watch might be a very bad time to do it. Still, I have a few ideas... and a few additional ones some of you may be able to help me with.

[unwittingking]

[…right]

A space suit is basically something that a person can wear to go out into space. Without it, you'd probably die from suffocation or freezing out there.

[Probably freezing first, but King's not a scientist, so he's not fully sure.]

I'm all...for hearing these ideas, if it can help with this.

[He'd say he's all ears, but he learned his lesson after the last time he said that.]

[katzenpfote]

We seem to be in possession of quite a large quantity of alcohol. I know where the furnace is so we can find fire, or I'm sure we can find another means of finding that.

[unwittingking]

…I think I actually have a bottle of wine from the baggage claim. It...might smell like mushrooms, but it's better than nothing, right?

[This idea kind of sounds better, if only because it means they potentially destroy the train.]

[katzenpfote]

I have a few, including some very strong alcohol that Beatrice left me. I'm sure some of the others have some, too.

I can make the Conductor evacuate the crew before I do it.

[unwittingking]

Might be better if we told the crew ourselves to evacuate. Something tells me that if we tell her that we're going to try breaking the barrier the next time we land, things will not go well.

[He really doesn't want to experience space death.]

[katzenpfote]

True. I can still make her do what I want, if need be.

[He's. Not sure how to feel about that.]

[unwittingking]

…was I really not paying attention at the last trial? How could you make her do what you want?

[Is it blackmail? Until it's said otherwise he's convinced it's blackmail.]

[katzenpfote]

... I have her heart. Literally. In my pocket. I'm not risking one of the rats stealing it back for her.

[unwittingking]

…I suddenly regret asking.

[There are...many questions, that come with that info, but most of them he really doesn't want answered.]

So, how much leverage do you have with it? I'm assuming you can't just...make her stop all of this, right?

[katzenpfote]

Sadly, no. But all of that paperwork that appeared at the gathering after the trial... I told her to tell us what she was hiding. I believe that was part of it.

[unwittingking]

Figures.

[It can never be that easy.

He scratches the back of his head.]

You mind filling me in on what that stuff was? I think I passed out from stress and didn't see any of that stuff.

[katzenpfote]

A lot of records of trade for passage, some under assumed names and some not. ... And invitations.