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

[yourotherleft]

It's a fair question, Zoro even sobers a bit while he gets even more intent on tactical possibilities. "I've bisected people before," he says before deciding hmm that might require context. "Devil Fruit users, I mean. They may have an ability that means they don't die or even bleed, but it slows 'em down until they can put themselves back together." His brow furrows. "It may be worth it just to find out what happens when you hit a guy like that with a flying slash. If he doesn't even get cut, that's more than we knew before."

Dammit, Skully, you might have talked him into it.

[light_mischief]

It's true. Every attack against him now gives them more information later. Skulduggery's not sure it'll be any different than with Darcy or Ebalon, but that doesn't mean it's not worth thinking about.

"If you bisected him, I wonder if the top half would slide off." Sorry, Zoro, he's now fantasizing about the captain being sliced in half. "No... more likely he wouldn't even notice. Like cutting through butter -- it'd just reattach." Oh, "Not that I'm trying to stop you. It'd be interesting to see. Maybe even funny."

[yourotherleft]

Zoro's slight smirk is only because those fascinating visions are all possible. He's had all of them happen, maybe someday he'll tell you about the snow-woman who was so terrified she couldn't re-attach herself. "Funny, huh? All right, then."

He's going to go and do it, as it seems like a worthy experiment. He'll be back after it's done to touch base, assuming he gets away unscathed.

[light_mischief]

Skulduggery's attitude is very much one of, go get 'em, tiger; he's less worried that Zoro's going to wind up humiliated like Darcy was, at least.

Don't mind him, he's just going to watch from this safe distance over here!

[yourotherleft]

A wise choice, though it isn't long before Zoro's back, edging away from the confrontation to get back and find out one thing: "...did you hear what he said?"

[light_mischief]

Skulduggery shakes his head. "I could see you two talking, but there's a lot of cross-talk going on here. I did see you messed up his hair, though." That's good! He looks dumb now. "He didn't seem to notice it otherwise."

[yourotherleft]

It's fair, the room isn't exactly quiet. Zoro leans in, taking advantage of that fact. "I asked if he was made out of the same stuff as the doors, as a joke...and he said kinda yeah." Not word for word, but that's Zoro's takeaway. It seems really damn important.

[light_mischief]

"Either he's being facetious, because all matter is technically the same," which honestly, he's not putting past the captain. "Or, he very literally created the ship out of himself." Which... is also likely. "He built the ship from scratch, but I didn't ask from what..."

[yourotherleft]

Zoro is paying attention, for sure, but hastily scuffs a hand through his hair in frustration. "This is all getting a little too big for me to take in all at once. I'm gonna have to think about it a while. And get another drink."

[light_mischief]

"Understandable. If you can, have an extra one for me." As he gestures towards his, you know, lack of a digestive system. Boy, some days you really regret resurrecting yourself after your body has decayed down to the bone...

[yourotherleft]

"Oh, I'll gladly do that." Zoro gives him a broad smirk before sauntering off to find said drinks and two-fist them until the doors open and they're all free. It's all a cover for the uncomfortable feelings starting to rumble around in the back of his mind.