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

[makesomedeals]

Actually yes. I feel much better now.

Continue on with the spears.

[He got it out of his system. Go ahead with your other fight. He's going to sit back down and contemplate what he's supposed to do with this lobster.]

[mooninthewater]

Sorry— ???

[ He doesn't even get the full sentence out before he's standing because HEY DON'T STAB THAT I NEED THAT??? His chair goes to the floor, goodbye, and he just darts between Max and Ebalon. Hey? Hey. Hi. Hello. Do not. Is Max unaware that people get hurt when they get stabbed, holy fucking shit??? ]

Max, you can't just fucking do that.

[ And he turns to Ebalon to fuss over him. He doesn't have anything to?? Stop the bleeding???? And he's totally forgotten that Ebalon can just heal himself apparently because he's taking off his blazer to put pressure on it.

It's been like two minutes and he's already freaking out, thanks guys. ]

[selenokinesis]

I'm glad you feel better— guh.

[When you don't have battle-high adrenaline coursing through your veins things actually hurt the first time they happen, huh.

Ebalon holds onto that wound and casts his healing magic. Been there, done that, something vital was hit but he'll be fine soon probably.]

I'll be fine, my dear.

[That is a very pointed and very purposeful "my dear".]

[ not really here ]

[neverleave]

[Just. Staring blankly at the whole thing from his seat. Wtf Mizuki why are you helping the Moon Fucker. Wtf Max why didn't go for the eyes.]

[ also not really here ]

[skaikru]

( and also staring. just no where near blankly. stabbing? sensational, makes perfect sense, fuck him up max.

but that my dear is completely uncalled for and suddenly mizuki's getting judged more than ebalon. )

[mooninthewater]

[ Please stop getting into fights, Mizuki already has anxiety. ]

We can- [ What? Go? Unlikely. ] I'll stay right here. Or we can get up and walk away for a minute? What do you need?

[ Fuss, fuss... ]

[selenokinesis]

I do quite fancy being away from the table [bobs his head toward where his government assigned seat is] at the moment, yes. I had thought to take out the Captain while he's simply sitting there, but I see that was ineffective.

[The pain lingers, but... he's at least closed the wound.]

[mooninthewater]

Works for me.

[ He sees you, La Pluma. And he hates it. You, too, Max? Don't do that again. He's going to pull his blazer away and hang it over his arm while he inspects Ebalon's wound. Which isn't there? Good good good. Okay, cool, he's gonna grab Ebalon's hands and attempt to go live somewhere where there's less people. At least until things settle a bit??

Ebalon's getting hugs after they move. ]

[selenokinesis]

[drags mizuki away]

[lightconductor]

Watson regrets, vaguely, being at this table. He might be disassociating a little.

Oh look, lobster.

[gummyhabits]

( you know who's good at stealth? ... this particular bear, because reasons. reasons is why. anyways. at some point watson will find a couple of friends beside his plate.

:( take care, mister clearly-disassociating person. )

[decohere]

"Hey, are you...?" she gestures to his plate, hand holding a fork that she then shoves into her mouth. Basically ignoring everything else going on.

[makesomedeals]

"Ah no, feel free." And he helpfully saves his plate of lobster from going sailing as La Pluma just climbs up onto the table to plop down, handing over the entire thing to Ava.

"Someone should enjoy it anyway."

[decohere]

See some people have manners. She takes the plate, brushes a hand over his shoulder, and gives Max a lil grateful smooch on his forehead. "What's the over/under on us all dying?" Because that's where this feels headed and there's obviously not a damn thing she can do about it.

[makesomedeals]

"Oh we're all going to die here, so you should eat as much lobster as you can." He doesn't even hesitate, he's known this was going to be a catastrophe from the moment of Friday's announcement.

"What remains to be seen is how we're going to die. Maybe it'll be something interesting. Assuming we don't kill each other first." Says the guy who just stabbed someone.

[decohere]

"I expected something more... you know, tentacles and unhinging jaws and maybe some spikes," a vague gesture toward the Captain and whoever he's taunting with his presence at the moment.

"But if he's magic, the one thing I've learned is that it's all about the diversion." She snatches another lonesome lobster off a plate to plop atop her other before the table unceremoniously gets upended.

"Anyway. You look quite dashing." And she saunters away back to her seat because these lobsters aren't going to eat themselves.