come_sailaway | Reacting to that excursion announcement

Who: Number 6 & some closed, some open
What: He needs to talk to some people about that new sign-up sheet
When: November
Where: Various places
Warnings: General discussion of tortures that were done to him by the village

[Open]
He is at Friday's desk and he is scowling at that sign-up sheet so hard it looks like he's trying to develop laser vision so he can burn it through. That wording... "Hope to be seeing you!" He does not like that one bit. He's been here far too long to believe it could just be a coincidence. But now he has to sign up for it, doesn't he?

[Closed To Ava]
Later that evening, he is pacing their cabin, hands fidgeting at his sides so rapidly it's a shock he doesn't develop a cramp. He hasn't been this agitated in quite some time.

"I don't like that sign-up, Ava. I don't trust it."

[Closed to Ari]
A short text will come through to her the day after that sign-up sheet is posted:

Lieutenant, There is something I need to speak to you about in private. Would you be willing to meet me in my cabin? -P. Starr

[Closed to Erin]
A text will arrive for her the day after the sign up sheet is posted:

Have you seen the new excursion sheet? Has it been read to you yet? -P. Starr

[Wildcard]
Hit me!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She reread the suspiciously innocent wording several times and doubts it's a simple nice vacation, given the nature of these things. The purpose. But. It's not a lot to go off of. She knows from her own experience that paranoia can create an entire conspiracy out of a single phrase. But she trusts her husband's instincts as much as her own. If he feels off about it, then there's something probably off.

And she knows the only thing that gets him so worked up is the Village. He doesn't have to say it for her to know.

She breathes out slowly, carefully catching at one of his hands as he paces by. "Alright. So say that it is what we think," she wants to reinforce that she thinks his worries are credible. "We have time to plan, right? What do we do about it."

His fingers close around her and he finally comes to a stop. "What do we do? I... I want to tell them all not to go. That's what I want to do."

"We could do that," Ava agrees softly. "If that's what you rather do. Not go. Not have anyone go."

She's quiet for a moment, considering. "Or. We could burn it to the ground?"

"I'd rather no one be subjected to the kinds of things they would do there." But when suffering is the point of these, The village would do a very good job of filling up the ship's batteries. He hates himself for even having that thought.

"I threatened a Number 2 with that, once," he admits to her. "I said I would escape. Escape and come back to wipe the place off the map. Perhaps... I could fulfil that vow..."

"There's two things that make it different, that we should consider before making any decisions. We know it won't be prolonged. It won't be like last time you were there, we get to leave at the end. And it's Number 2 that will be trapped within that realm. The real prisoner," she reminds him.

"But also, this time you won't go into it alone." She squeezes his hand reassuringly. "If that's what you want to do, I will be by your side. And if you rather not give them the satisfaction, then we stay back. The choice is ours, we're the ones ultimately in control."

"In a way, it does seem fitting that, whichever Number 2 this one might be, they're trapped in a hell of their own making. They must know that." They must.

"If anyone goes then I have to go. They will all undoubtedly discover my connection to it, and I want to be there when they do. But I... don't want to put you through that, Ava."

"I'm hesitant to say anyone deserves an eternity of that... but." Considering the realm has to be somehow earned and everything she knows about the torturous practices of the Village. She's not going to lose any sleep over such a person being held hostage within their own miserable fate. Or maybe that is exactly the type of person that would delight in it. But she remembers the blubbering king that mistook her for his long dead love... no, she really doesn't think the human mind is capable of withstanding any of this for any prolonged period. Even with the delusion of control.

Whatever version of Number 2 it is, Ava imagines they'll be far worse than Peter experienced. She caresses the side of his face, smooths a thumb over his brow. "Are you afraid they'll think you a coward, for not facing your past?" Ava asks gently. "Do you prefer I stay here and worry as you confront it?"

"A little," he concedes. "I think myself a coward for it." He said he would go back and wipe this place off the map. He meant it then. Why does the idea of going there now fill him with such dread?

"And I would do anything to keep you safe from what those monsters would do but... I couldn't ask you to stay behind when I wouldn't be willing to, were our places reversed."

"You're the bravest man I know," she firmly disagrees. "And you don't have to prove that by putting yourself through harm. These excursions are by choice, and nobody gets to make that for you." She stands, circling around behind him to give his shoulders a rub.

"I rather be with you," Ava expresses. "I did see a glimpse of that place in your memories. But. If you rather me stay behind, I will." She'd hate it, but she'd sit it out if it made him more comfortable.

"Mmmm," his wings sag slightly as his shoulders relax under her. "You're right, of course. But. I still feel I need to go. If it is what I fear then... there will be questions afterward. I'd rather be there to see what they saw, know what they know so I can explain."

He turns to look at her over his shoulder, "At least this time, I will know you for who you are. I won't ask you to stay behind. I may... need you. To face this."

"If it's what you fear. Maybe this is the closure you need?" Ava suggests.

"We're a team," she agrees resolutely, pressing a kiss to the side of his face as he turns it toward her. She's relieved that he does want her with, after all. She'd have respected it either way, but being left behind as he faces down his past... seems more difficult than all the times she's had to watch him die.

"Maybe it is..." Maybe it will help just knowing he had the courage to face it again. He isn't running from his past any longer.

"We are." He leans his head into her, there's a resolute acceptance in his tone. "We belong together, no matter where we go. Even there."

She places a soft kiss to his knuckles in devotion. "If we met there. They never would have been able to stop us," she tells him confidently.

Despite his worry, that soft kiss tugs the corners of his mouth into a smile. "You're right. Nothing would have kept you from me."

Reacting to that excursion announcement

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