APRIL EVENT: YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME (EPILOGUE)

[sailmods]

[one by one, they are brought out of the dream, finding themselves in a brightly lit world of sand and broken glass, of familiar faces and audible relief.

as they pass through the crew quarters, they may notice that some tubes seem to be unoccupied, merely sand and empty air.

when they finally push open the heavy door, they find themselves on deck zero. the familiar terrain of the Serena Eterna. they never really left at all.

it is still and quiet; none of the usual ghostly presences can be found anywhere on the ship; in fact, it seems as if there’s barely enough of… whatever it is to keep the lights on, and they’ll find that all internal locations are dimly lit, making it difficult to search them. and they will be searching.

because Fio wasn’t in any of the tubes.

and neither was the Captain.

and Sparkles is somewhere to be found.]

Comments

[prince_of_beasts]

[ So, so tired. ]

What is that supposed to mean?

[sailmods]

All I have to do is kill him. Then this will all be over.

[prince_of_beasts]

[ Sighs. Rubs temples. ]

Why haven't you?

[not_the_last]

Cassandra slips between two or three other people to move next to Dimitri, and tries to catch his eye.

She's never wished so intensely that she knew enough magic to speak mind to mind.

[skaikru]

( this is also around the time clarke belatedly joins the bridge party. just in time to hear the threat and follow-up, and follow the path cass cuts through people. draws up maybe a foot behind her and folds her arms, silent but listening very intently. )

[takethatnature]

[ Wilson's not far behind. He wipes some crumbs off his face; he didn't come directly here from the crew quarters. ]

[prince_of_beasts]

[ Eye caught. If Cass wants to take up this conversation, she's more than welcome. ]

[not_the_last]

Taking up the conversation isn't what she had in mind, but --

"Perhaps he just doesn't feel like it yet." Said to Dimitri; intended for Sparkles.

She suspects the reason is either more complicated or simpler. Simpler: he can't yet, he needs more power or for some process to complete itself. More complicated: he doesn't want to end it, to a degree closely approaching the degree to which he does.

[sailmods]

[it, almost pointedly, does not respond.]

[prince_of_beasts]

[ Dimitri is so fucking tired, and not firing on all cylinders, and riding a knife's edge of sleep-deprived euphoria and anger and boar-headed stubbornness, and he feels like being really, really stupid. ]

Do it, then. End him, end it, end all of us. What's worth letting us stand around and shout at you? Why waste time?

[sailmods]

Maybe I'll start with your stupid boyfriend.

[saltwaterlungs]

[ A hand at Dimitri's back, ready to hold him by the collar. ]

Don't. Dimitri, that's bait. Don't bite.

[prince_of_beasts]

[ Oh, it's bait alright. ]

That's right, should I thank you for putting my name up first? Not that it was much better for him to watch me leave. [ Dimitri cocks his head, birdlike. ] You do like hurting us through the people we love. Why go to all the effort?

[sailmods]

No reason. I just wanted to have fun.

[prince_of_beasts]

[ A grin cracks across Dimitri's face. ]

It is fun, isn't it? To hurt others the way you've been hurt.

They [ he gestures at the group ] would claim it's not your fault. That you're scared. That you're a traumatized child. That none of this was really your choice. But it was, wasn't it? That's what they don't want to understand. You did it because it felt good.

[sailmods]

[its eyes glow.]

And I'll do it again.

[ossie_oswald]

Dimitri.

[ His tone sounds exhausted, and his face looks ashen. The simple fact is that often you cannot hate yourself without catching others you care about in the cross-fire. ]

I think that's enough.

[prince_of_beasts]

[ The pendulum's swung far into the red, Dimitri's mind hazy with ash and fumes, but he knows he doesn't like that look on his friend. Ossie had said he wasn't getting involved. Ossie's waded into the fray this close to the monster that rules them all.

Dimitri looks to Sparkles, then back to Ossie. His shoulders sag. ]

It's so damned patronizing.

[ring_for_giles]

[ Mr Ainsel winds between Ossie and Dimitri's feet, tail hugging each of their legs as it passes. Quiet comfort for the both of them, hopefully ]

[ossie_oswald]

I know.

[ He's still hurt, of course, but Dimitri doesn't need him hurt right now. ]

Please. There's nothing to be accomplished here but hurting yourself. Or worse, us. Leave well enough alone.

[prince_of_beasts]

I --

[ Dimitri has never learned when to quit, and he never will. Sometimes that's a strength. Sometimes he wants to hurl snow and steel against fire until everything shatters and it's over. ]

I --

[ He hadn't meant to be cruel. Not even to Sparkles, really. It's so rare he meets another of his own species. ]

I ...

[ His ears ring. His mouth floods with blood and smoke and acid bile, oh, that last one's new, that's fun. Ossie's right. Dimitri knows he's right. Escalating will only get people hurt. He's in no condition to fight. He's too tired to think straight. Let well enough alone.

But --

-- Mr. Ainsel winds around his ankles. Looking down breaks Dimitri's eye contact with the shadowy figure, breaks the spell on him. His frantic spiral slows.

He can't face this enemy alone. There's no point throwing his life away.

He takes a deep, shaky breath. ]

... I'm sorry.

[not_the_last]

Cassandra lets out a long breath as the tension of a movement unmade flows out of her, almost silently, almost imperceptibly.

It would have been harsh and unfair, what she was ready to say to him, possibly unforgivable. She's cravenly glad she didn't have to.

[ossie_oswald]

[ Ossie's mouth tightens into a thin line, and he gives Dimitri a short nod. He turns to retreat back to his table of safety, keeping an anxious ear out for any movement behind him.

But he needs a moment, all the same. An indirect hit is still a hit, and the last thing he wants is to snap at Dimitri. They can discuss it later, if he doesn't just choose to swallow it.

Being reminded of why he's kept the mask up for so long is never a pleasant experience. ]

[angrycrabnoises]

YEAH, NO, I GET IT.

[Karkat’s voice sounds drained and raw, and the bags under his eyes are much darker. He has been crying for a while.

He turns to Sparkles.]

IT’S A BUNCH OF ADULTS ACTING LIKE YOU COULDN’T HAVE POSSIBLY DONE ANYTHING ACTUALLY BAD, JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE A KID AND KIDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INNOCENT BABY GRUBS OR WHATEVER. EVEN THOUGH KIDS CAN BE CRUEL AS FUCK! ON ALTERNIA, THAT’S WHAT WE WERE ALL RAISED TO BE. AND WE HAD TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE, BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE WOULD DO IT FOR US.

YOU KNOW YOU’VE HURT PEOPLE, AND YOU WANT TO BE TALKED TO WITH SOME BASIC FUCKING RESPECT ABOUT IT. I’VE BEEN THERE TOO.

[prince_of_beasts]

[ At any other time Dimitri would appreciate the sympathy. He'll remember it, once all of this is over and he can think straight -- but for now it's a sharp reminder that they're out in the open; that anyone could, and everyone did, see him drop the pretense of being a person.

Karkat's attention pivots to Sparkles, and Dimitri seizes the opportunity to bolt. ]