END GAME: THE COUNTDOWN STARTS

[sailmods]

[the prisoners wake up on cold, hard floors.

the lights are bright, glaring, a sterile cell with sterile bars facing a sterile hall. the prisoners with you, across from you, and no one else. no rocking of a ship in waves, nothing. just the prisoner and their prison.

time passes, one assumes. the rhythmic click of Friday’s heels down the hall. it’s almost like the ticking of a clock.]

Comments

[not_the_last]

"I'll do what I can," she says, still low. "I don't know who will listen to me."

It's bitter, the awareness that her voice doesn't count for anything with some, for good or ill. She's grown used to it, somewhat.

"I hope she will, at least."

[neverleave]

[Jade looks wrong. Without his glasses, trapped behind bars - even the stupid prisoner uniform look worse than they do on everyone else. For some reason he thinks about his father, humming to himself in the kitchen, speaking to the phantom of an already-dead wife.

Jade will never no just how immense is the relief Natsuno feels when the first thing he hears is a terrible, tasteless joke. It grounds him, calms the itch of wrongness brought on by the set up and unpleasant memories (why that of all things? this will not be examined now, possible ever - ).]

Gross, [Is all Natsuno has to say about releasing others via eyesplosion, but isn't he just doing his part? The annoying adult makes inappropriate jokes, the rude youth is rolling his eyes, and both pretend circumstances aren't so dire.

Three day. How much time has passed? Natsuno can't tell, so he can't afford himself to worry about it. Time is of the essence regardless.]

We'll just have to succeed, then.

[If they don't, then Jade's eyes would be the least of their concerns anyway.]

We're going to help Jenny's brothers. But if I find out where our stuff is, I'll get your glasses.

[neverleave]

"Me too. She's the one who needs it the most."

Screw everyone else. Of course, he'd rather Cassandra succeeds in getting people to listen, but Clarke has to know she's not alone.

"If we find where our stuff is... is there anything of yours we can use? Or something we can bring back?"

[myagic]

[She nods, grateful and apprehensive at the same time. They're about to face a terrifying unknown: no clue what he'll find, what's going to happen, and unable to face it together, no idea when they'll be able to see each other again. But they have to if they want any chance at a future not spent rotting in a cell as someone's plaything.

He leans in and she does the same, as best as the bars will allow. And--his smile is everything at that moment. She manages a slightly strained one of her own--she believes in him; it doesn't matter how scared she is to see him go, she's going to have confidence that if anyone can do this, it's him.]

I love you, too. Go light that jerk's ego on fire.

[It's not a goodbye. It's not.

She moves a hand to try and brush a stray lock of hair out of his eyes, though mostly only succeeds in poking his forehead. It'll have to do.]

...I'll see you later, yeah?

[myagic]

[Emotion might be threatening to overwhelm Rita right now, but it's also not like they're bad emotions--there's very much a warm flame of love and appreciation shoving some of the worry out of the way.

It's all a little fuzzily remembered, but didn't their first meeting involve discussion of strong bonds formed in the oddest of circumstances? She's really feeling that sentiment right now. And if emotions and belief--all those things she called true magic, or magic-magic--can have any power here, then let this bond bring Fever safety and success...]

Heh. I think he'll pass with flying colours.

[Swallowing the lump in her throat, she locks eyes with Fever again and nods.]

Waiting's...hard. But I believe in my friend, too.

[neverleave]

[It doesn't matter if she pokes him in the forehead, he savors the brief contact nonetheless.]

Yeah.

[It's a promise. They will see each other again. Death refused him so many times - if it dares to try and claim him now, Natsuno Yuuki will drag himself back by his teeth if he has to.

He kisses Rita's knuckles gently. One last glance, and he's off without another word.]

[not_the_last]

"If you have time to bring anything back ... my armor. My daggers. I don't think I have -- wait." She does some quick mental math, then nods. "There's a ring that I can use to get smaller. I think enough so to get out through the bars. For using yourself, though -- look for a rusty iron ball, it turns into binding chains. Throw it at the target and say the word manners."

[myagic]

[She meets his glance, eyes shining with with love and confidence and worry all at once, and then she watches him go as far as she's able to from the cell, the warmth of his lips lingering on her fingers.

It's not a goodbye. It's not a goodbye.

He'll be okay. He will.]

[sabigoe]

[ This isn't the "home" she grew up in from the past two years anymore. Once her powers return to her, she won't hold back against the enemy. Even without her powers—she shouldn't hold back then either. She needs to remember to act smart and avoid reckless actions, however. ]

...You're right. This is a prison and we're locked away for terrible reasons. We've gotta do everything we can to break out.

[sabigoe]

[ Once they're away from danger, when they can have a peaceful moment again, she's looking forward to brainstorming all sorts of brand new sigils. She wants to continue developing different kinds of "magic for happiness" with Rita's help. (And she will make an effort to include "Flame Kitties" in every sigil. No one would hate seeing cute cats, right?) Especially once they're free, surely everyone's going to need some extra cheering up.

The little poke takes her by surprise for a moment, only to break out into a giggle shortly after. ]

'Kay, of course. I've got a pretty good team looking out for me. And when we see each other again, I gonna give you a really big hug!

[sabigoe]

...I didn't know either for a long time too. Not until I talked to Flan.

[ She wishes Ari had trusted her enough to disclose that secret to her earlier. But at least she knows now, to be able to track its location down. ]

I can try talking to it a bunch, just like how I did with Miss Friday. Just gotta remind it of all the things we used to do together. Like that race on the rainbow road...

[sabigoe]

[ One hand tightens around the prison bars. A lengthy pause, then finally, she makes a loud audible sigh before nodding quietly. ]

...If we gotta do that, I'll come back for you. For sure.

ventquest: 2024

[sailmods]

[he looks at the gathered escapees and makes an affirmative little kitty noise.]

Good. You are all small. You will fit.

[and, with that, he leaps

into the solid spot of wall between the upper bars of a cell and the ceiling

and vanishes.]

[abhorrently]

[...if it's been that simple this entire time, she's going to feel her eyes roll out of her head. nevertheless, she decides she's going to take the risk. crouch down, and jump up as high as she can go directly at that space, hands up to feel for any sort of ledge or anything else that'll allow her a handhold to pull up.

if she just smacks her head into the wall, she's going to outright scream.]

[sailmods]

[there is definitely empty space where there is visibly wall.]

[abhorrently]

It's really open...

[well, how about that.

she's going into the space. come on gang.]

[theweakhavepurpose]

Oh sweet that's good.. Uh wait... Tauva and Huraken? I kinda fed Ebalon to one of them so, you know, don't get eaten.

[He can take a lot of things in stride and roll with it, but there's a limit to that even for Pratt.]

Do you have her hair.

[theweakhavepurpose]

Speaking of avant-garde, I tried to explain cirque du soleil to Clarke and I'm pretty sure she doesn't believe me that's a real thing, so after we get out of here I need you to back me up. [Because he described it as a 'sex circus'.]

Is your extensive research just looking down the hallway?

[redlightgreenlight]

[Valdis takes a breath, watching first the cat and then Fever head into the vents. She's not keen on this, but she jumps up to follow Fever in.]

[inhairently]

( there's not much else to do so steve glances at natsuno, shrugs, and crawls into the vent. )

[sailmods]

[welcome inside The Air Duct: a long metal coffin just barely large enough for a grown man to crawl inside. this is, of course, plenty of space for a cat, and Guatauva has already scampered off into the darkness, only his pittering little steps resounding in the space.

oh, yeah, also completely pitch black in here. but, at least you vaguely know which way is forward. and that's the only way to go.]

[abhorrently]

[crawling in pitch darkness is so fun. so terribly fun and not making her feel like a large bug in a cave or something. whatever crawls around. anyway, if forward's the only way to go, forward it shall be.]

If anyone gets grabbed by anything, please make sure to scream so we're informed.

[it's not actually a joke, as she keeps shuffling forward on her hands and knees.]

[redlightgreenlight]

[She hates this. The darkness isn't the issue, but the tightness of the space. There is literally nowhere to go but forward.]

Yeah, us and everyone else who might be nearby.

[Not all of whom would be allies.]

[neverleave]

[Alright, so we're doing a die hard.

Is there something he can notice with night vision, by the way? Except for the butt in front of him.]

[sailmods]

[the metal is much smoother than an actual air duct would be, with none of the joinings you'd expect if the sections had actually been welded together. almost as if whoever made it didn't think that hard about specifics.

other than that? nope. just butt.]