WEEK 6

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 6



[Fifteen X-Passes. You've finally done it. You can now go free. However, the price has been steep. Too steep.




True, you can leave. Anyone can, now. But simply leaving may be a bad idea. After all, who knows what else Zero has up its sleeve? Who knows what's outside of the HMHS Gigantic? How will they survive? How will they eat? And those are the easy questions that need to be answered. After all, the mystery of Zero, the mystery of Zack, the mystery of who is the cause of all of this and why-those things are also seemingly impossible to answer without some preparation. There's also the new area that's opened up that may yet yield more for the survivors to mull over.


Rushing is surely a bad idea. It's time to prepare. Take the time to get ready for whatever is outside. Stock up on supplies. Write what needs to be written. Say what needs to be said. Get ready for the possibility that whatever is out there, whatever the answers are-they will not be easy, and they will not be quick.


More than that, but-where are all these cuts coming from on your body? Hm. Maybe you keep bumping into things or scratching too hard. Did everyone save Roland get super clumsy or something all of a sudden?


Well. Maybe the answers to all that are just around the corner. So. Let's get ready. The end is near.


There are 8 9 strangers currently on this ship.



Wait. Nine?]

Comments

[exequte]

[She takes the paper and reads it.]

'Outside'? So you're saying it's safe to leave? That our dead friends won't be trapped here if we open the door?

[strangerpeople]

Hnnnnnnnnrgrrrg.

[At this, he takes out a small vial of what looks like...blood. He holds it up so Akane can see it first.]

[exequte]

[..... OH.

Well, that kind of thing is pretty common here, but still....]

Is that... blood?

[strangerpeople]

Grrrrgh. Nrrrrghhrrrr rrrrvrrrr ghngh Strrrrrghhh, rnrnnnngh prrrrrghrgnnnngh.

[Then, the vial goes into the shadows of Charon's face, and.


He drinks it.


Something about this feels incredibly significant.]

HERMES NO

[somuchshipping]

Oh! You want a blood payment to take us all outside?

Anyone here have a knife?

[strangerpeople]

Grrrgh nrggggh, rrrrvrrrr ghngh Strrrrrghhh.

[Charon now just tilting his head like. Hm?]

[yesorwoof]

Styx? Are you trying to say Styx? Raise your hand for Styx.

[exequte]

[She FOCUSES. she TRIES.]

Um... drink blood to gain strength? For you? For us? Am I close?

[strangerpeople]

[Well that's an easy hand raise.]

[strangerpeople]

[He shakes his head.]

Hrrngnggghhhhrrrrrh....

............


[He settles for making a motion on his chest that seems closest to a "cross my heart, hope to die" kind of promise.]

[exequte]

[Well, Makima guessed the Styx, which was her next guess, but... hm.]

Could you write it?

[somuchshipping]

Wait... Are you telling us that Delta was dying and coming back to life?

[strangerpeople]

[He decides to write it down.


Στύξ



ὑπῐσχνοῦμαι]

[exequte]

Styx.... and you agree?

Are you saying when we exit the door we'll need to cross the Styx? And that it's a good idea to do that?

[strangerpeople]

Hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrgh...

[Not quite. Scribble scribble.



ὅρκος]

[voidseeing]

[Good thing Gai has never been anything less than ambitious as hell. He's confident that he can master this no matter what it takes, so once again he isn't even going to try to dodge.

Let them try. He's going to be the one to survive once again.]

[exequte]

Oath?

So is what you're saying that you promise you won't let the dead be trapped here, if they are able to return?

[strangerpeople]

[A solemn nod. And combine with the Styx, well.

Assuming Akane knows mythology, she can probably guess that Charon will follow through on it.]

[godspiousjasper]

I believe if Lord Charon is agreeing, then I trust in him and what he can do.

That means we should be free to head out of here.

[exequte]

[It clicks.

"I swear on the river Styx." Something like that, anyway.

Charon may smell like garbage but honestly you kind of get used to it here anyway, and so he is fully getting a hug for this one.

When she steps back she has the fire of determination in her eyes.]

Everybody! It's time! We need to open the X-Door!

cw sacrifice by suicide

[yesorwoof]

So you aren't asking us for a price right now.

[She turns to the group.]

Brain-kun decided he was going to die before we received Moriarty-kun's letter. I think we should remember his bravery.

[strangerpeople]

Hrrghrrrgh!

[D'awwww, that's sweet of her!]

[exequte]

I'm not sure what the price is, or if Charon will charge one for this, especially if we're all still in the Underworld. But if he swore by the river Styx, he intends to keep his oath.

[yesorwoof]

That's right.

Yes... You're right.

Blood oaths work.

[She turns back to Kira, smiling radiantly in a muted shadowy Makima way, hand out in the universal gesture for "pick me up and put me on your semivisible motorcycle", which is not very universal.]

Neither of us need to be the ones to enter the codes. But it's time. Let's go.

[exequte]

If your wounds are healed enough I'd love to! But.... are you sure you're feeling all right for that?