And everything I stir into my tea, comes back to conquer me

[decohere]

Who: Ava and whoever

When: Early June

Where: Various

Summary: More Cute! More Fun! Pre-camping ponderings. Possibly some thievery! 

Warnings: Currently none

i. NOT TOO BAD - (closed to Ed)
Ava narrows her eyes suspiciously as she reads over the changed details of the new yet shamelessly the same sign up sheet. Is it really that simple? Or is it just a false sense of security to lure more people in, fall for the same trick twice. It's got to be different, right? Somebody's been texting that annoying call for unity letter around, and she doubts they'd be given much a chance to attempt pulling it off.

She traces her finger over where she'd written her name before, now covered in a scribble, and ponders whether she ought to put her name back on the list.

"What do you think?" she asks, aware of the presence of somebody nearby, turning her glance and, oh, it's Blackbeard. She smiles.

ii. DOOM SCROLLING - (ota)
Since the new sign up sheet went out, Ava periodically checks back to see who else has added their name, how many more are willing to chance the excursion. If it's anyone she knows, what their plans might be to prepare.

"Are you worried?" she asks, either to somebody that's just signed up, or somebody that's instead turned away.

iii. INTO THE WOODS?
Back in the library, Ava is flipping through books that might take place in a forest, involves camping. Mostly she's going by covers, as much as she knows the old saying not to judge a book by one. A lot of them seem to be horror stories, but there's plenty of fairy tales that take place in the woods as well.

This really isn't getting her anywhere at all, and she gives a frustrated sigh at her growing pile, resigning herself to the fact they'll be eaten by bears or sacrificed in some weird ritual and there's nothing she can really do to prepare. The book in her hands gives her a confused pause though.

"You ever go on vacation?" she asks whoever else in the library.

iv. FINDERS KEEPERS? - (ota)
Other passengers seem to keep getting all sorts of neat stuff, and Ava has no idea why all she's gotten so far is some giant Hello Kitty. Is she doing something wrong? Is she supposed to want things a bit harder? Does whoever summon those gifts simply not like her? Is her player just too lazy?

Whatever, Ava knows one whole way to get what she wants. Stealing. She'll lurk about in common areas and the hallways, invisible, watching to see if anyone's got anything neat worth taking. Better not turn your attention, or she's going for it.

Alternatively, she might find another reason to spy on your character. Are they looking suspicious? Up to anything odd? Having a hushed conversation? (Feel free to even link to another thread that she's welcome to come spy on!)

v. KNOCK KNOCK - (open to cr or their roommates?)
It's the middle of the night, which is when Ava tends to be most active, most bored, and most likely to seek out somebody to talk to. She knocks quietly at a cabin door, dressed in pajamas and fuzzy slippers and holding a mug of tea.

vi. STEWING - (ota)
There's an uncomfortable awareness that the population of the ship is growing. Which has made the use of the hot tub a bit more competitive, and other areas of the ship far more busy as well. There's less and less place to simply be alone and undisturbed. But she catches the hot tub empty at some point and slips in, a piña colada in one hand and one of those Baby-Sitters Club books in another. Yes, the pages are a bit damp. No, she doesn't care.

If anyone choosing to join her is somebody she knows, Ava will give a small "hey" in welcome. If it's somebody she doesn't, she'll simply glare over the top of the book.

vii. WILDCARD - (ota) HIT ME UP!

Comments

[decohere]

"No, maybe not directly. But that's still important, isn't it? Your upbringing and your values and your whole... you know, cultural differences. But no, I was more worried about the... me being a killer thing. I think that matters especially here, doesn't it."

[light_mischief]

"I... wonder if it does," Skulduggery says, mulling it over for a moment. "Eventually, most of us will likely become killers through one machination or another. Even if that weren't the case... motive matters." It's not always enough to completely absolve a person's sins, but he knows that for him, it usually matters more than it should.

[decohere]

"It's the sort of thing that brings out the best and the worst in us, doesn't it. Some of us maybe know how to compromise on our morals, justify it as necessary within the bigger picture. But I'm not so sure everyone's quite willing to see killing as anything but outright murder. Yet he made excuses for me, though he barely watched at all. That I didn't have a choice."

It makes her worry, that people are straining to see good in her that isn't really there, simply because... what, she's pretty? Because she's always wearing the heavy weight of sadness and they feel sorry for her? And that one day they'll realize the truth and instead look at her with disgust.

[light_mischief]

"To be fair, we aren't talking about everyone." He elbows her gently, unwilling to let her be the one to bring down the room. That's his job, after all. He's already told her how he feels about her actions during the Battle Royale, however, so he refrains from that point for now.

"I don't know him, obviously," because she hasn't said his name, and he's not about to pry, "But I do know plenty of killers. Most of my friends, for example. Most of the sorcerers I arrest." He tilts his head, pausing for a moment before saying, "I'm a killer, too." He doubts she'll be surprised to hear it, but he also doubts she'll ever know the true depth of the statement.

"The difference is always motive. My friends often had to make difficult decisions during wartime. Or they might be caught up in a fight, and the only way to win is to kill. The ones I lock up... well. Killing comes easy to them. They enjoy the simple act of taking life. It's like gardening for them, or knitting. And I don't know about your mystery beau, but I generally don't mind associating with the former while avoiding the latter at all costs."

So, maybe her mysterious potential date to the dance shares a similar view? He's not sure. Morally gray is a hard color to pull off, sometimes.

"I am, obviously, making the wild assumption that you don't murder just for sport." Call it a hunch, but he thinks that's probably not the case.

[decohere]

"I hate sports," Ava answers sulkily.

"Just... back home, I was on track to start my life over and leave all that behind. Be normal for once, as much as somebody like me can be. And now we're going to be, what, pitted against a bunch of Trolley Problems and it's going to be increasingly obvious that I'm some sort of... psycho."

Ava glances down. "I know me. I'm going to fuck up in unforgivable ways, and the people I care for most are going to be the ones that suffer for it."

[light_mischief]

We all hate sports, Ava, it's okay.

Skulduggery looks out over the far railing of the deck. They're edging precariously close toward his own deep-seated fears. He knows that there may well come a time when he will be revealed for what he really is; all he can hope is that it will make Ava's worries seem insignificant in hindsight.

He could just tell her, he knows. Just like he could have told Darcy. But the people who deserve to know haven't learned the truth yet, and even the heaviest secrets have a time and a place to be unloaded.

"I know what you mean," he manages to say after a moment of silence that stretches just a touch longer than normal. "And there's no easy solution. Anyone who falls in love here will simply have to accept the risk involved."

[decohere]

Except Darcy who takes personal exception to it!

"It'd be easier to be some simple fool, I think. Than always caught up in my own what ifs and self-constructed fears." She sighs and props her chin up on Skulduggery's shoulder.

"If I'm being honest, it's all the exact same excuses I've refused to fall in love even before now. Trust issues, fear of betrayal or betraying. Opening myself up to the possibility of rejection, of loss, of having it all used against me. The idea that no matter how much I may allow myself to love, it will never be enough to overcome everything else. Being alone is awful, but it's easy and safe too. I know how to handle all that. But I have no idea how to... you know."

[light_mischief]

He folds his arm over her shoulder, giving her a gentle pat of reassurance. "Other people do tend to be a risky gamble," of that he is sure. He's not been personally in the dating game for... a very long time now, but it's a lesson you only need to learn once. "But, if I may be so cliche as to quote a Romantic, sometimes it's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."

It's a cliche for a reason, after all.

[decohere]

"Yuck," is all she has to say about that.

But give her a few weeks, she'll get herself sorted out.