WEEK 4

[strangerpeople]

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.]

Comments

[carries_war]

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

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

[intercessing]

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.

[carries_war]

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.

[intercessing]

Gaignun, then? All right.

[They looks around.]

Are the others well, at least?

[carries_war]

...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.

[intercessing]

...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.]

[carries_war]

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.

[intercessing]

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.

[carries_war]

I'm...sure they understand. The way they were, they were dangerous even to you, and they must have realized that. The fact that they don't have to hurt anyone anymore should at least be some comfort to them, wherever they are now.

[intercessing]

....I can only hope so.

[They wipe their eyes a little.]

That I may also remember them, and why they called me friend.

[carries_war]

We'll just add that on to the list of reasons to kick the asses of the guys behind this.

[Hey Alexis, ever gotten a hug before? Well, you're getting one now.]

And get us all out of here.