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

[saltwaterlungs]

"We were already trapped. All that's changed is the paint job. This version is at least honest."

Darcy leans against the bars, "the sooner you accept where you are, the sooner we can start doing something about it. Don't fight it, just accept it."

[hadnoright]

Before they've even finished the first sentence, "I know that. I know that better than fucking any of you— you—" It's hard to tell if she bites back her insult, or can't think of one. Either way, there's a growl in its place. "But this fucking cell—"

It's too tight. Too contained. The claustrophobia is eating her alive, and she can't do anything about it.

[saltwaterlungs]

"Take some deep breaths. I know, it sucks, but this is my third time being locked up in a little cell I couldn't escape from, so just... stop fighting it. It sucks. Let it suck. Let the suck pass through you. Serenity to accept what you can't change, ehn."

[hadnoright]

"I spent eight. Months. Buried alive." It comes out so sharply it's clear the words haven't passed through a filter, and the hiss of air that follows only strengthens the impression. Slowly, she forces herself to take a breath. "And believe me. After the first couple weeks? You stop fighting. And accept this is it."

Her head thunks back against the wall so hard it must hurt. She doesn't even flinch.

"Just. Give me a fucking minute."

Cw psychiatric abuse

[saltwaterlungs]

"Oh wow, sorry, let me just get my dick out, I didn't realise this was a pissing competition. Pssshhhhh I spent four months with nurses trying to shove tubes down my throat and drug me pschhhshsh I was in solitary confinement for most of it psshhhhhshshhhsh-"

And no that's not buried alive but it does also suck.

"We don't have a minute. Hurry it up. We need to get out before we get wherever she's taking us."

[hadnoright]

"I'm not—" Ugh. Even when she's not trying to have a pissing contest, everything about her makes it come across like she's trying to have a pissing contest. She's so fucking tired. "I'm not. Competing. I'm explaining. Why you trying to bully me out of this isn't fucking helping."

[saltwaterlungs]

...

"This isn't bullying you?"

If they weren't so similar they might be laughing at the irony of the situation.

"I'm literally just telling you what I'd be telling myself if I were freaking out."

[hadnoright]

Daisy has to drag her hands down her face to give herself a moment to process that. Jesus christ she should apologise to Jon if she ever sees him again...

"Feels a bit different when it's not coming from inside your own head. Christ. Would you like me telling you to— to just hurry it up? Or would you wanna bite my head off?"

Ironically that's the most put together she's sounded this whole time.

[saltwaterlungs]

Thinks about it for like a minute.

"I think I'd be a lot more appreciative of someone being practical at the moment."

[hadnoright]

Daisy gives them just... the most withering, doubtful look, but doesn't have it in her to directly argue the point.

"Then let me. Be practical. For a second. You keep telling me to get it together? I'll just keep getting more pissed off. Which'll just make me panic more. Let me— let me deal. With it. My way. It always— it always passes eventually."

[saltwaterlungs]

"Just don't bleed out."

Can't help those that don't want to be helped, and Darcy shuffles back to receive whatever message is being passed down presently.