come_sailaway | BATTLE ROYALE EVENT: SHIP

Entry tags:

BATTLE ROYALE EVENT: SHIP

[fortunately, not signing up for the shore excursion doesn't mean the passengers still on board don't get to have a little fun. on the contrary: they'll get to have some of the most fun of all!

about an hour after the tender leaves, at about 9AM, every screen on the ship, from the cabin TVs to the one above the pool, begins playing a live feed of the events on the island, starting with Friday's introduction video and transitioning to the passengers leaving the bunker. from then on, the camera (?) seems to always know where the action is, bringing close-up views of each fight, each death. when little action occurs, highlight reels play. there is no audio, however, outside of the droning, inane muzak of the stream and the kitschy sound effects of the reels; time to brush up on your lip-reading if you want the hot goss on scene!

in the atrium, near Friday's desk, is a large piece of construction paper, titled "PLACE YOUR BETS," showing a table with the names (some true, some not) of each competitor, with a space to write down your name next to who you think will win. the captain has already made his choice! what are you betting? don't worry about it.

the screens will play the game 24 hours a day. destroying the screens wholly will buy you only momentary respite. so, sit back, and enjoy.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Mizuki is tired. He hasn't been able to sleep the past few days due to some mix of curiosity, science-excitement, and worry. But he still wants to see Ebalon when he wakes up. He wants to be there for him because… fuck, dude, that sure was a lot, huh? He probably needs to apologize? Give him a hug? At the very least, let him know it's okay. He's here! Something. He has a feeling he's going to have a lot of people upset with him. (Rightfully so! But, also… Mizuki is absolutely blaming himself for this turn of events so…)

Unfortunately, Mizuki is unable to catch Friday taking Ebalon to his room. Just a bit too late for that. So, instead, he sits outside the door, right next to it, and waits. And waits. And waits… and… zzzzz…

When Ebalon finally emerges, he'll find one (1) jellyfish next to his door. He was probably sitting up at some point, but has since slid down the wall to lie on the floor. Not covered in bullet holes (huzzah!). What do moon jellyfish dream about? Is it the moon? Is that a loaded thing to dream about now? ]

[That sure is one (1) jellyfish sleeping on the floor. How precious. Suddenly Ebalon decides that he'll deal with the consequences of his actions later as he leans down and scoops Mizuki off of the floor. Zero effort required, which is funny for a man who looks like he can't carry anything heavier than a large cat.

Ebalon knees open his cabin door and, once inside, kicks it shut since his hands are occupied. He just sort of sets Mizuki down on his bed and then sits himself down on the edge of it.

Don't sleep on the floor, it's bad for your health. Or something.]

[ Good news, Ebalon. Mizuki weighs, like, nothing. Pros of being a jellyfish, probably. Instinctively, a few of his inky tendrils wrap themselves loosely around his arms and just hang there until he's settled in the bed. Only then do they tighten and pull on Ebalon's arms.

Don't go, don't go, don't go.

Truly, "clingy" is the only setting Mizuki has, even in his sleep. ]

[Even in his sleep indeed. He must be tired after all of that; a few days rest probably doesn't make up for being riddled with bullet holes.

...

Ebalon caves to the tugging and lies down. He's not sure how long he was out for, how long "respawning" takes, but he's assuming it was for less than a day considering Mizuki fell asleep in the hall. Unless he's... been doing that, and Ebalon has been out for several days? Inconclusive. He'll ask when Mizuki wakes.]

You must have been lonely. I shouldn't have let you out of my sight.

[Huff.]

[ The tendrils reposition as Ebalon does, curling around him fully instead of just holding his arms. There's only about three, and they're loose enough that if Ebalon moves around or gets up at all, they'll just slide right off. Akin to how a child might hold their stuffed toy at night. Worse case scenario being that Mizuki thinks that this is prey, but judging by the lack of hold, stinging, and general hostility, that's much less likely to be the case.

Mizuki stays this way for a good half hour, until he suddenly jolts awake, like something in his brain suddenly went, "HEY, weren't you supposed to be DOING something?" and then also realizing he's not where he was a while ago. This is a bed. Did he sleep walk? Or has he been dreaming this whole time? Oh, hi Ebalon.

…

Mizuki sits upright instantly. ]

Dantalion…!!!! [ Right! He was here for…! ] You're-…!!!

[ Fuck it, he's getting a hug. ]

Oh—

[Hello, hi, that sure is a hug! Ebalon is laying on his side when Mizuki flies at him, though he rolls over onto his back slightly at the contact and rubs circles into Mizuki's back.]

Good morning to you too. I found you slumped out in the hallway like a ragdoll some time ago, so I thought I would bring you in here with me.

[You know, where Mizuki is obviously safer, because Ebalon has only the purest of intentions clearly. No corruption here, nope, he doesn't want to make Mizuki worse. But really, if some asshole went unhinged on board the ship and murked Mizuki again...]

[ What? Oh! Right. Yes, he was in the hallway, wasn't he? He honestly remembers very little of what he was doing beyond trying to get to Ebalon. And maybe, just maybe, he's uncomfortable that he watched Ebalon get torched like that. He squeezes him at that thought. ]

I'm so sorry…! I-… I didn't mean to-… Are you mad at me?

[ About sleeping in the hallway? With how frantic Mizuki is right now, it's probably not that. ]

I should've been more careful, I… I didn't mean to leave you alone.

[Watching someone get burned to death is uncomfortable, in fact. Getting burnt to a crisp... more so? After a while the nerves just sort of... die. And it's fine. Uh... getting shot was also effective.

...

There's a lot to unpack there.]

Mad? Of course not. Worried, perhaps. I should apologise to you — I let you wander off by yourself.

[He's so angry still, but it doesn't show only because he's in the correct mental state to not allow it to filter through this time.]

[ Well, that's good, at least. While he didn't think Ebalon would exactly get upset with him about this or anything, he also didn't think he'd get pissed and go dropping moons on people, either. But this is still Ebalon! And Mizuki knows that visceral rage one feels when losing someone they care about. Mizuki had shown as much to La Pluma when she maimed Clarke. However, he has a lot of friends on this ship. There are a lot of people he wants to avoid getting hurt, and even if Mizuki firmly believes (misplaced) that Ebalon does care about the other passengers, he did also confess to Mizuki that he only really felt like he made a bond with him.

That probably hurt worse than any sting Mizuki could give.

He bites his lip in momentary thought. He doesn't know how to tell Ebalon about the TVs yet. It seems like a bad time to. He might not, just yet, and instead suggest that if he wants to walk about the ship, that maybe he should have Mizuki hang nearby? Just in case… ]

I'm glad you're here. That… won't happen again. I'll stay with you.

I should hope not. I have minimal interest in entertaining the Captain again.

[There's a disdainful click of his tongue punctuating the end of that statement. At the end of the day, a majority of that whole game was merely an annoyance, and he's trying (failing, horribly) not to be mad about certain other parts of it that don't need to be mentioned. He surely won't have a great reaction to finding out he's been recorded.

Anyway, he clearly doesn't grasp the entire meaning of Mizuki's statement.]

I'm not sure how long I was asleep for. I have no memories between my death and waking here, so I assume I must have been unconscious the entire time. I don't recall sleeping for the remaining days I spent on the island, either...

[Something something rampage adrenaline hunt people die.]

[ There's a hum as Mizuki attempts to find the easiest thing to say here. He just decided he didn't want to talk about the TVs. And yet, he thinks he might have to? ]

Dantalion. [ His words are slow and careful. ] You were… You woke up the next day, like we all did. But… [ Another hum. ] If you want to do things around the ship, maybe you should let me accompany you for a little while?

[ Not that he thinks Ebalon can't speak for himself, but rather he thinks people are going to be far less inclined to listen to him now. And that's not fair, especially when Mizuki feels like this is all his fault. ]

[Well. At least the timeline is as expected. No anomalies there... good, he supposes. Better to not wake up and find out a week has passed.

...]

Is that right? Is there an issue? [He pauses to think. There's no way that Mizuki would know about his... er, popping off as it were (lol), unless one of his other victims ratted him out, which is possible and likely. So—] The game isn't still happening aboard the ship, is it?

[A guess. A poor one, really.]

[ A small shake of his head. ]

No. But… hm. So… [ … ] There weren't any cameras on the island, but somehow, the televisions here were able to broadcast what was happening on the island for the people who were stuck here…

[ … ]

So, you know, um… [ How does one say "Everyone saw you're meltdown," without saying those words specifically? ] People here saw what happened to the island folk.

[ Haha… ]

[...

Ah.

Yes.

Oh boy.

Ebalon pinches the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger and breathes out a sigh.

This is... very bad. What to do, what to do, he could just magic it all away like he used to do, but who knows if people here are immune to mind magic, and who knows if anyone is going to let him near enough to even start the spells. He could kill everyone on board? ...no, they'd come back, that's pointless. He could trap their souls in objects, and that way they'll not cross him again? But that might freak Mizuki out, which is not what he wants.

...Did he already freak Mizuki out? Hold on a moment. Damage control step one: Check on jellyfish.]

...I see. [Clears his throat. Looks off to the side.] Pardon me. I... must have frightened you with my ire.

[Not gonna blow up the ship not gonna blow up the ship not gonna blow up the ship not g—]

I don't take kindly to having those who are mine ripped from my grasp. As I'm quite sure you saw. [urrrrrGHHhHhhhhhHhHh]

[ The moment Ebalon starts to look frustrated with this news is the same moment that Mizuki gets cuddlier. Securing his arms around him, little squeezes, nuzzles into his shoulder… Anything that is very standard affection from Mizuki. His own way of saying "It'll be okay". He doesn't know how well received it'll be when both he and Ebalon talk to everyone about this, but at the very least, it's worth a try. A lot of people did shit they didn't want to do on that island, after all. And Mizuki is still firmly in the "Ebalon's a good person" boat. So.

He goes to shake his head when he mentions that he "frightened" Mizuki, and he tries to explain that he understands. That he thinks he knows why Ebalon did what he did. That he technically even blames himself for it. That he's seen red like that before and he knows it doesn't define who you are, but- ]

[ … "Mine"? ]

[ ???????????????¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿?¿????¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿??????????

¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿???????????????¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ ]

[Obliviously:]

It's quite unlike me to lose my temper in such a way, so while I grasp your meaning, I do not want to deal with the fallout either. More than that, it's hardly your fault for my ire landing on everyone else — I recall only wanting to kill the person who killed you in vengeance, but by the time I located him he'd been killed by someone else, which only made me madder.

[On top of the doppelganger thing that Ebalon still has zero right to get angry about. You'd think this would teach him a lesson, but no.]

In the end, my temperament is my fault, as is your death— [realizing...] Mizuki?

[...oh. It must be— yes. Of course. He really isn't in the proper state of mind for anything as of late, it seems, considering he said that out loud without thinking about how much it might give Mizuki a conundrum. Erm... whoops? In his defense, he's not lying about that! He wants Mizuki by his side, he's thought about this, they could be a great team etc etc.

Mental note to tell Mizuki about Henir some time.]

[ Sorry, Ebalon, Mizuki is absorbing none of that. His brain is just a repeating various chirps of adoration, followed by a couple of incredulous "What does that mean?!" He can push aside his confusion in favor of his fluster, though. He hides his face against Ebalon's face and eventually letting out the usual giggles he gives when he's embarrassed. That probably didn't mean anything. They're just best friends, and he can rationalize that much!!

He can't help the little hearts in his shadow, though. ]

[He's pretty sure he has Mizuki's undying loyalty already, as they are now — no strings attached, not too many expectations (other than Ebalon's aforementioned need to have Everyone be loyal to him or die, honestly), and certainly no need to take this further. Buuuuut.

...out of... merely scientific curiosity... what would the reaction be if Ebalon were to, say, lean over and kiss Mizuki's temple? Because that's precisely what he does.]

My, and what are all of those giggles about? [He already knows, he's just being a dick. Or a tease. One of the two. Maybe both?]

[ Mizuki's heart stops on the spot and he DIES. Good job, Ebalon.

He does actually go rigid for a moment, everything just kind of stopping at the contact. There's nothing, at first. No more giggles or embarrassed nuzzles into Ebalon. No movement at all, actually. Mizuki, so incredibly easy to make lovesick, shoves aside his thoughts and worries and all the confusion he had carelessly. Those don't matter right now (they do). He's here. Ebalon's here, and he's okay despite being burned and shot, and ~~he's his~~ he adores this dumb jellyfish enough to return his affection.

Be still, Mizuki's heart. You're spilling everywhere again.

After a few years — or maybe they're seconds? It's hard to tell — Mizuki picks his head up, the brightest smile on his face accompanied with some rosy cheeks. ]

I'm just really glad you're here~. [ ~~I love you, too.~~ ] Despite everything, it'll be okay if we're together, right? [ ~~I love you, too!!~~ ] So there's nothing to worry about. [ ~~Love me, too.~~ ]

[First reaction: Oh he broke the jellyfish but like, officially. Hm. Not really what he expected, he guessed there would be more giggles involved? Ebalon just sort of... lets this happen. He doesn't make a move to poke or disturb Mizuki in any way, doesn't say anything, just lets him stew to see how long the apparent full-body paralysis will last.

—oh no wait he's fine. Relatively speaking? He looks fine, he looks thrilled, actually. Ebalon must've just surprised him?]

I would wager that's correct. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: I am rather fond of you. You and I would make a perfect team — between your skill and my magic, we would be nigh-unstoppable. Barring... extenuating circumstances such as whatever that excursion was. [Those collars...] Besides that, I do quite like you as a person. [So easy to win over.] What I wouldn't give to have you by my side for the rest of eternity... [So useful! So powerful!] I won't allow anything like that to happen to you again, if I can help it. [Mine, mine, mine.]

[ …

Once again, Mizuki finds himself singling out one word from all of that. Truly, the rest of it is elating in and of itself, of course! No red flags from Mizuki, because being the possessive piece of shit he is, those pretty words are charming to him instead of alarming. But… ]

"Eternity"…?

[ … Is Ebalon immortal, too? He hopes that was just a phrase. Like #Besties4Ever. Because… Why does he have to fall for the immortal fuckers? Is this going to become a thing? He doesn't want it to become a thing. He doesn't like this thing. Though, he knows immortality is absolutely achievable for him, but he's pretty sure he's not currently. (Jokes on him. Maybe in 1000 years he'll be like "Oh shit!", but now as a 19-year-old? Eh.) And he has no idea what it'll take to reach it, and he might be a little worried about it.

…

He may have also promised to spend said eternity with said other immortal fuck. (Though, they did break up, so maybe that's not on the table anymore? He doesn't want to assume anything…!)

…

This is a problem. ]

Edited 2022-05-12 21:17 (UTC)

[—haha wait shit he's not supposed to be immortal. Uh. Is that what Mizuki is being so weird about? Right, Ebalon's supposed to be Harque. He's supposed to be Not Dantalion and he's supposed to be Harque and maybe revealing his true name was actually a bad fucking idea because now he's letting the mask slip little by little.

Okay. No. Damage control. Obviously "spending eternity together" is just a turn of phrase — isn't that in marriage vows? Well, no, it's "'til death do us part", but then don't you spend forever in the afterlife? Like isn't that...

Ugh, he's never been married, and perhaps if he hadn't become a Master, the Ebalon Family would've tried to marry him off via suitors or whatever, but he has ?! no idea ?! what that entails?

—He's not even proposing marriage and he sounds like he just proposed marriage hold on a fucking second!!! Keep calm you fucking idiot, try not to let your very wibbly-wobbly disguise fall apart again—]

Is there a problem? Perhaps that might have been too forward of me. [How does he casually say "it's just a phrase" without letting onto the fact that he's absolutely fucking lying.] I don't necessarily believe in "'til death do us part", as it were. I much prefer to spend life, and everything after that, in the company of who I care for.

[NAILED IT??? No wait he really did just act like he was proposing how do you back yourself out of a corner this bad without murdering the guy or resetting his memories help he may be stupid.]

...I apologise. [the internal screaming gets worse.] I was trying to be cute and win you over, but I seem to have overstepped. Will you forgive me? I can try again.

[N...NAILED IT?????????? WORSE??? SOMEHOW?????]

wildcarrrdddd

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2

1/3

2/3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject