15strangers | WEEK 4

WEEK 4

[It is late in the afternoon when the Titled finally wake up from their long, vivid sleep. What day is it? Maybe it doesn't matter.

They weren't awake when it happened, but the final set of doors have opened. The Intercessor hasn't emerged from their room. There is no sign of the grumpy old man. And, the Titled may notice that nothing has been cleaned up - including the remains of those who prompted the Investigation - since they went into the Debate Hall. No new food has been supplied in the Kitchen, either.

The only replenishing food supply is in the Conservatex - who knows when those'll get ripped out from the ground out of spite, though. Their captors certainly showed themselves to not be above petty revenge, unfortunately.

So many questions now swirl. Is the old man hiding? Is the Intercessor ok? What the hell happened with the dragon? What about that other group which the Titled have come to realize exist? What did their captors have planned? And...really, what the hell else is going to happen now?

Whatever it is, it's not going to be good.

So get ready, Titled.

There are nine (but perhaps only eight?...) strangers in this place.]

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[Nope. They're on one of the lower shelves.]

[Small he'll grab a couple, stick them in his pockets, and then climb up the ladder. His movements are quick and sure, lacking their childish awkwardness of before. At the top, he leans against the ladder to open one and hold it out.]

Here.

It takes a great deal of effort, but a hand does finally reach out and take it.]

Thank you.

[glug]

What about the wound?

I...will need a potion for health. I don't think I have those in my cabinet.

[Because of course they had used those last week...oops]

There's a recipe in that alchemy book, if you can tell me where to find everything, I can make it for you!

Wheat...wheat and mountain flower should do the trick. Its a simple recipe...it's all on the conservatex, at least.

Right. I'll be right back, hang on!

[Off he goes! Assuming nothing goes terribly wrong, he'll come back a bit later with his hands (now conspicuously lacking a bandage) a bit dirtier and climb the ladder to hold a vial out for the Intercessor.]

I hope I made enough.

It should be.

[glug. After a few moments, Jr. can probably hear movement.]

Ah...it's working.

[The Intercessor should be able to hear him let out a breath.]

You're feeling better?

I do.

[They definitely sound better.]

Rubedo...thank you.

Don't mention it. We're in this together, remember?

[He gives a warm smile, much more expressive than he's ever seemed so far outside of anger.]

[There is a pause, before the loft doors slide open, and the Intercessor slowly starts getting out.]

I...remembered something important, when I fell unconscious. Even though I don't understand what happened when you killed that dragon, still...it felt like something from the dragon was...

[They trail off, and shake their head.]

In any case. I dreamed.

[He adjusts his grip on the ladder so he can slide down, bending his knees slightly as he hits the ground. Once out of the Intercessor's way, he slips one hand into his jacket pocket.]

Yeah? What'd you remember?

One of my names.

Oh, good. I was gonna ask you your name, anyway. I didn't really get how important that sort of thing was before, 'cause I was so used to just being called by my number, but I don't wanna just keep calling you by your job title.

I...didn't even remember any of my names before this.

[They go to climb down.]

It's the name I had in that city. I remember that. I don't know if it's the name I've always had, but...I adopted it...

I adopted it as my regnal name.

Regnal...you mean you're some kind of monarch outside of this place?

[He sounds surprised, but not disbelieving. More curious than anything.]

I think so. The city...the city was where I ruled.

[They put a hand on their chest.]

Alexis, First of Your Name...there was...more...I know there was. But I cannot remember.

Alexis...it's a nice name. I'll be sure to call you that from now on.

I remembered something important, too. I plan to go into it a bit later with everyone, but after the disaster I remembered last week, I ended up taking a new name. I go by Gaignun Kukai Jr. now.

Gaignun, then? All right.

[They looks around.]

Are the others well, at least?

...Gaignun's what we call my brother. Everyone just calls me Jr.

I haven't talked to everyone else yet today, but...McBurn and Babette are dead. Everyone else should be fine, aside from whatever condition their memories might've left them in.

...Babette...another child. A vampire, and working for them, and yet...she was running towards me when she...

...I still don't know what exactly happened with the dragon. It's so strange, but I felt horror when it fell. An unknown horror. And...the way it called me 'friend'...

[The worrisome implications are...unspoken, but there.]

She was...in the same boat you are. They were holding someone's safety over her head.

But the dragon...now that I've got a bit more life experience, I think it was being controlled. Its movements just didn't seem right to me. It's possible that it was something from your missing memories...that it knew you before, and those bastards up top were forcing it to do their dirty work.

Controlled...

[Their fist comes to their chin.]

And their last memory of me was one where I was afraid of them. I...did I really know a dragon? And yet I feel...pain.

If they were someone I knew...I...now do not even have the chance to tell them I'm sorry.

(no subject)

carries_war - 2017-06-07 00:05 (UTC) - Expand

intercessing - 2017-06-07 00:34 (UTC) - Expand

carries_war - 2017-06-07 00:39 (UTC) - Expand