pleased to meet you

[sailmods]

CW: murder

[it is the morning of the 17th when the usual morning announcement is replaced with the sort of tentative, nervous tone that Friday takes on immediately before something insane happens.]

Good morning, passengers! It's, um... Well, I sure hope everyone had an interesting time on their shore excursion! The Captain sure did! In fact, he had such a good time, he's asked me to inform you all that, tonight, he's going to be hosting his usual captain's formal in the main dining room, but with a twist! This time, it's going to be a, um... victory party! For Natsuno! Because he won! [small laugh] And also to celebrate the opening of a new shop on the Promenade! Gosh, and that really is something to celebrate; I haven't seen that happen since he--

[LOUD STATIC NOISES]

-- Yes, well! The dress code will be cruise formal; everyone can find a new set of clothes in their cabin to celebrate the occasion! I-- Oh, right, we'll see you all tonight! 8PM sharp!

[the connection cuts off. today, for the first time that anyone can remember, Friday can't be found in the atrium. or any other room. smoke 'em if you got 'em.

at 8PM sharp, the door to the dining room swings open. it is mostly empty: the only tables left are a dozen or so under the main chandelier. there are name cards at each table setting, written in Friday's neat script; the seatings seem mostly random, except for everyone who was on the island, who will find themselves at a table with their killer and/or victim(s). except Natsuno, of course, whose name is displayed proudly at the head table, next to an unnamed place. once they are inside, all of them find themselves under the same sort of compulsion that they felt during the muster drill, and their legs will stop working until they have gone to their assigned seats.

Friday enters the room first, dressed up nicely, but with hunched shoulders and her hands clasped firmly in front of her. the door shuts behind her. she says nothing, and acknowledges no one, not even Natsuno, as she takes her spot behind the chair.

a few fashionable minutes pass. it starts as smoke pouring out from under the door, moving towards the table as it slowly solidifies into the form of... a rather normal-looking man. he sits, cross-legged, in the chair that Friday pulls out for him. he looks over the assembled crowd, visibly considering something... there is a flash of silver in the light, and the knife he'd had in his sleeve is across Friday's throat quicker than she can react, and she falls bonelessly to the ground, a spray of arterial blood across the table setting.]

There, perfect.

[he looks out at them again. and he smiles. the knife is placed back in his sleeve, and he holds his hands out, palms up.]

Well. Here's your chance. [he waves a hand lazily, and the compulsion keeping them seated fades like pins and needles.] Try not to embarrass yourselves.

Comments

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Looks like.

[he leans forward onto his elbows.]

I'm sure the reality is frightfully disappointing compared to whatever you had in mind.

[opheliac]

(she hums quietly while puckering her lips in thought.)

Well! — With how big and bad everyone been makin' you out to be, I figured, I dunno, you'd be more muscular? Bald. With tattoos. And maaaaaybe missin' a few teeth?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[beat]

Makes sense. I suppose you are still rather used to Zaun.

[opheliac]

(ah yes, that's right. along with friday, he does know everything about her. it still gives her such an unease feeling but she shoves that away for now.)

Yep, born and raised. Kinda hard to get that outta ya once you suck up smog on a daily basis. And lemme guess, I'm assumin' you're not gonna tell me what all of — (she makes a hand gesture to, well, the crewmates and the ship as a whole.) — "this" is about? What's your whole deal with wanting us to be here and be your lil' dolls? 'Cuz hate to break it to ya, not a fan. 'Less I get a say on things.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

You don't.

[he shrugs lightly]

Ask whatever you'd like. I might even tell the truth.

[opheliac]

Then how about we start with you tellin' me about you. It's only fair since you seem to know everythin' about me and everyone else here.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[a slight frown]

Easy enough. What would you like to know?

[opheliac]

This oughta be an easy one for ya! What's your goal? As you know, mine is to make Piltover pay sooooooo...—♪

(a more "cheery" smile as she rocks on her heels back and forth.)

You gotta have a goal with us stayin' here, right?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Apotheosis.

[smiles]

[opheliac]

(that smile of his is really getting underneath her skin. this time, it's her turn to frown with a slight quirk of her upper lip. )

Ha, funny. Care to fuckin' elaborate? Don't tell me you got cold feet already. We barely got started.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Your ignorance is hardly my fault.

[opheliac]

(she chuckles again as she bends forward to him; fingers still entwine behind her back.)

Eh heh heh, don't piss me off, tonight. I'm in no mood. — So how about you give me a lil' more in depth of your "apotheosis"? Surely with you always keepin' yourself behind closed doors, you gotta be lonely not havin' someone to talk to.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

I like talking to myself. It's pretty much the only time I get to speak to a peer.

And I've talked to other passengers. Only the interesting ones, of course.

[opheliac]

(jinx pulls back and makes a small face of disappointment.)

Sheesh! — Way to break a girl's heart. I thought I've been plenty interestin' durin' our time here. But I guess it's a small victory you're talkin' to me now? Is it 'cuz I'm not all magic-y and sparkly?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Children throwing tantrums doesn't make for riveting television, unfortunately.

[opheliac]

Hm, tantrums.

(she lets that word roll off her tongue for a moment -- a gaze up to their ceiling like as if she's in deep thought.)

That word's been buzzin' around me lately. It's almost as if people believe that's all there is to me.

(jinx glances back down over to the captain with a small smile.)

But you oughta know I'm more than that, right? Would a girl with a tantrum lure six people to their deaths inside a burnin' building thinking there's a lil' girl in there?

(with high-pitch tone, she makes a mockery impression of a child.)

"Help me, it's so hot. I'm burin' alive!"

(she chuckles a little at the memory then holds up her index finger.)

— OR how about killin' their own people when I should be bringin' their independence?

(jinx then turns on her heel to face the rest of the crew with her hands now on her hips.)

Now then! How many people here would even go that far? (a pause.) ...Hm. Not many, I think. A lotta of 'em seem pretty scared on that island. Unaaaablle to get the job done.

(walking backwards, she stands next to the captain with her hands still on her hips but not too close, of course. the man probably wants his space.)

So I gotta ask: if I'm only a girl that throws tantrums, why even bring me here?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[eyes glazed over like three seconds in]

Hm? Oh, there isn't a "why," really. Not specifically. [shrugs] Just got caught in my net, I suppose.

[opheliac]

Huh. Guess that's one way to do it. Close your eyes, throw the net, then reel in whatever you got. 'Least no one can't say you're not a true fishermen.

(she grabs her braid and fiddles with the tips of her split ends.)

They say your point to this is breakin' us down to the point we can't go home or even wanna go home. True or False?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[immediately] False. That's just a really fun coincidence.

[opheliac]

If you're a crazy nutjob then I guess I see it from that prospective! — OH! here's another one I heard, you "feed" off of us. True or False? I'mma think false 'cuz I'm this close to ya and no munch so far.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

True? [waves hand vaguely] For varying definitions of the word "feed." I'm certainly not as exciting as Madame Claudia is... But, I see your fear, and your anger, and your pain, as clearly as she hears the blood flow in your veins. And I do draw it from you. Even now.

[opheliac]

(well that's...weird.)

Sooooooo... what does a curse taste like?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Sweet.

[opheliac]

(she is quiet for a moment until then she comes up with probably the most dangerous and possibly stupidest question known to man. but for her, it's something still worth asking.)

... Can you... feed on it enough 'till it's gone?

(maybe he can get rid of this stupid omen she carries once and for all. and maybe then she can finally experience happiness.)

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Yes.

You'll be gone as well, of course. Everything worth calling "you," anyway.