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

[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.

[opheliac]

(a staggering breath leaves her as she quickly looks over to him with wide eyed. he...he can get rid of it.

'because you're a jinx!'

he can get rid of it.

'every time she comes, something goes wrong. she jinx us in every job!'

he can get rid of it.

'it was a mistake to kiss you.'

he can get rid of it.

her eyes are already watering with tears but also with a pleading yet hopeful spark in them. she will lose herself if she does this but she doesn't have anything to begin with. so who cares...right? would anyone on this ship would care if she's gone? most of them find her nuisance anyway.)

I...

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[INCREDIBLY LONG PAUSE]

Okay, you realize that means you die, right? Like. Forever.

[serialskiller]

[A hand settles on her shoulder heavily.]

Jinx, if you do let him do that, we won't get to see if Captain Arthur and his crew find the Grail. Also, the cabin would be lonely. And you promised speakers on my drones.

[A small pause, then softer.]

I'd miss you.

cw: death thoughts

[opheliac]

(so it will be permanent death? ...so what. her life back home is a misery, this place became a misery. everyone toys with her, taunts her, she gets no relief anywhere. maybe death would be the only way to get rid of it all. and maybe she can meet up with vi in the long run and they can be sisters again.

the hand on her shoulder snaps her out of her thoughts and when she looks over, she... didn't expect for it to belong to rin. did she...hear it right? it'll...miss her? how? why?

she's quivering just a little as she tries to settle her breathing. stammering in her words, she darts away her gaze from the two of them.)

I-I... I need some water.

(wrapping her arms around herself, she quickly walks off from the captain before her mind races more over that offer.)

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[just looks at mb with a shrug like. teenagers, amirite.]

[serialskiller]

[Murderbot glowers toward the Captain with teeth gritted.]

I know you're getting a kick out of this. But don't. Don't fuck with her head. She's got enough going on in there.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

I did literally nothing. Why would I even want to harvest her? She causes such amazing suffering though sheer inconsiderateness alone - I'd be a short-sighted fool.

[serialskiller]

She also causes delight. She threw a pretty amazing party. Better than this one.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Oh, no, that party caused way more harm than good. Just overall.

[serialskiller]

[It's not truly sure how to respond, but glares a moment longer before walking over to try to offer Jinx comfort.

Someone needs to.]

meanwhile...

[opheliac]

(jinx never really did make it to that water. instead she scurried off somewhere as far away as everyone as possible to a corner on her own. still hyperventilating, the whispers in her mind overlaps from one another so drastically that she grips onto her head. her fingers tugging on her locks with her eyes squeezing shut to try and shut them up.)

S-Stop talking...!! — I can't think if you're all talking.

(a wince as one sharp voice bites back before she glances off to the side of her. there's no one there but to jinx, there is.)

He said he can get rid of it! All of this can stop if I do it...

[serialskiller]

[Hi, Jinx. The next time she glances to the side, there is Murderbot. With a glass of water. She said she needed water and didn't get it, so clearly it is the therapy bot's job to fetch it.

Clearly.

It doesn't say anything immediately, just...waits to be acknowledged.]

[opheliac]

(she definitely gets startled by it beside her; cowering a little. jinx was so focus on the voices that she hadn't realize it was there. in fact, when did it get here? but she relaxes just a smidge as she hesitantly takes the glass. her hand is trembling pretty severely and it's a miracle she hasn't drop it on the floor.)

... Thanks.

[serialskiller]

Yeah.

[It nods, leaning on a wall beside her. It's not sure how to help--but it does want to. Fucking caring, sneaking up on it.]

Anything else you need right now?

[opheliac]

(her lips thinning for a moment. as she turns over to face the crowd; her eyes dart around in a light panic before scooting just a little closer to it. what she says is extremely low but enough for him to hear it and him alone.)

U-Um. Can you... tell me what's real and what isn't? I...can't tell the difference.

(to jinx, she sees everyone but she sees the enforcers, too mixed in the crowd. she thought she saw vander looming over at the beverage but he seems to be gone now. the pink hair of lucy's makes her thing it's her sister sitting at the table. breathing deeply, she takes a slow sip -- now realizing just how cooling it feels against her throat.)

[serialskiller]

[It isn't exactly surprised by what the request is, but it is surprised that she makes it.]

Yeah. I don't know what you're seeing, but you're real, and I'm real. This glass of water is real. There's no other people within three meters of us, right now. At the table over there is Maximilien and Dr. Watson, and some people I don't really know yet. César is standing over against that wall there.

[It continues to name or indicate who's where, even though it doesn't know everyone.]

[opheliac]

(she listens attentively while occasionally sipping her drink. with it listing who is where, it helps her take out the things that aren't. so no enforcers and no vi(damnit). a small nod as she holds the glass with both her hands now to keep it steady.)

Okay. ... Thanks.

[serialskiller]

Sure. You see things and people a lot, don't you?

[Not judging, just trying to get a sense of the scope of things.]

[opheliac]

(...)

(she doesn't answer it and simply takes another sip of her water. it's a thing she doesn't want to admit to anyone, really. the only person who truly knows is venti and... he use to be the one that calms her when these happen.

and they seem to happen more periodically now that he's absent. jinx had this way before arriving on the ship so she should know how to... somewhat deal with it, but she had gotten so spoiled with venti's calming presence that now she's just way more of a ball of mess.)

...