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

cw: abuse, dehumanization

[higanbana]

I will pretend as hard as I can.

[A little smile before a sigh.]

...Before I arrived here, that miserable man who calls himself a "doctor" was all I had in my life. And while there can be comfort in the routine, there is little with a man who will beat you bloody for the slightest provocation. For making any moves "unbecoming" of the perfect little porcelain doll he said you were supposed to be.

Arriving here granted me freedom. It granted me, on some level, a deliciously ironic revenge, given the cell in which that man now rots.

It granted me people I've grown to care very much for.

[And she's going to keep eye contact as she says that, because he might as well know.]

But it has taken them away, just as well. Those that remain are hurting, those that remain yearn for freedom. So even if I could live in this gilded cage forever and find comfort in it, in the end, it is the wishes of you all I'd rather devote myself to now.

Not because it is my place as a servant, but because I genuinely desire your happiness.

[otherworldlyking]

Can't say it's not the perfect end for someone like him.

[ McBurn does have some standards, even if he wouldn't visibly flinch at even the worst things in the universe. It's just not very obvious.

But, the implications held in those words are interesting, and so there's a rare moment of plain silence in conversation which doesn't mean he's left or checked out of it. He never thought someone would spare him any real thoughts of camaraderie, if at all. Even the kindest person would know that he wasn't really worth their time - in times of making some actual bonding with.

Mind you, it's not self-deprecation or anything. McBurn believes and honestly knows that he has little to nothing to offer people in any sort of relationship - friends or otherwise. So, he wasn't very aware of anyone even thinking of him seriously as a friend - an ally, at best. ]

...Being here wasn't just a complete pain in the ass, I guess. Even if I'm one of those who'd like their freedom since I can't and don't want to stay here longer than I already have. [ He'll actually kind of...laugh a little? It's about as rough around the edges as it is usually with him, but with some actual mirth. However, it's also neither condescending or mocking. ] And I don't think anyone's expressed before that they'd desire anything like my happiness since that usually wouldn't be anything good.

But, seeing as we're on the same side, I can't say there's anything wrong with it.

[ It looks like this place has changed Ris for the better and in the end, McBurn supposes that isn't so bad either. There seems to be more fight in her now, after all. ]

[higanbana]

Precisely. I could wish the pain he inflicted on me back at him, but... it is with him as it is with you. Boredom is the greatest pain I could ever truly wish on him, and he has much of that in his future.

[She listens to him, but quirks a smile when he laughs.] Oh, really? You desire freedom? I never would have guessed~. [And letting him continue further...]

We are on the same side. I can promise you that much.

[Ris does not make promises lightly.]

[otherworldlyking]

[ He'll give a lazy smirk at that, seeming to find something about that amusing—or rather a few of those things. ]

Yeah...as things as they are now, I haven't had much reason to think otherwise. [ ... ] So, it shouldn't be something impossible for us—seeing this through to the end, that is.

[ It'd take a lot more to deter him.

Hell, it's probably impossible for someone like him to truly be deterred from meeting a challenge head on. ]

[higanbana]

Even if things should change, were either of us to reach our full potential once again, I see no reason for either of us to turn against one another. Short of sparring for amusement's sake, but putting magic up against physical strength seems a little unfair.

[She offers what of a smile she can.]

We will see this through to the end, whatever that end may be. We have no other option.