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

'til we spring alive

[prince_of_beasts]

[ Dimitri scrambles through the bars the moment there's space for his head, twisting his shoulders and hips, bracing himself on his hands while he pulls his legs through -- awkward and ungainly, but it's worthy not to spend another moment caged. He offers Fio a hand out, checks on Bastion whose condition is solidly alarming, and then turns to face the hallway. ]

1. All those tremulous stars still glitter [Okie]

[ Something's wrong, that's clear enough - Dimitri's never seen Okie's weather like this. Worry clouds the joy of seeing him out at all. Dimitri rushes up to him; his hands flutter briefly before settling on Okie's arms. ] Okie! Bastion said you were free -- what's this? Is it -- did she hurt you?

2. When the final duel is near, I'll lift my spear and fly [Dedue]

Dedue -- ! [ Dimitri skids into view. Relief hits with a fresh wave of terror, and punches a small sob out of him. They had relayed messages, he'd heard Dedue's name called while taking stock, but seeing him fills a hole that terror had left in his heart. ] You're here -- are you hurt?

3. Never kneel! Never bend! Rend him to bits! [Ossie]

[ Dimitri's slower, approaching Ossie's cell. He sinks to his knees, hanging back from the bars, and softly calls out, ] Ossie?

2

[glassaxolotl]

“Dimitri,” Dedue exhales, looking both relieved and pained to see him like this. Dedue squeezes a hand between the bars and reaches for Dimitri’s hand. “I am unhurt. How did you escape?”

[prince_of_beasts]

Dimitri takes Dedue's hand, and presses his knuckles to his lips. It's not enough, but it helps. "Bastion was able to free themself, and some of the others. But -- " His expression holds steady, but his voice breaks. " -- it took a toll on their body. Freeing Fio and I nearly destroyed them. They can't manage another, and -- my Crest is being blocked."

[glassaxolotl]

Dedue’s thumb rubs circles on the back of Dimitri’s hand. It’s all he can do to assure Dimitri that he’s real and here.

“I had guessed something like that might be the case,” he sighs. There’s no way Dimitri could’ve been contained by these bars unless something has been blocking out his Crest.

“Bastion...” he frowns. “They have always been kind. I hope they escape safely.”

[prince_of_beasts]

"They have, and they will. We all will." In this, Dimitri is certain. He's grieved that he can't do more now, but at the end of this, they will be together, and they will be free. It is the only possible outcome.

He kisses Dedue's knuckles again, and rests his forehead on their joined hands for a breath before looking up. "I have to go. We need to find a way to release you all before that women realizes her trinkets have broken free. But I will return to you, I swear it."

[glassaxolotl]

He nods, accepting that vow.

Quietly, he adds just one thing.

“Destroy her.”

His eyes turn to steel, and his grip is strong in Dimitri’s hand.

[prince_of_beasts]

Dimitri grins without humor, baring teeth. His grip tightens on Dedue's hand. "She's going to regret this."

He doesn't want to pull away. However temporary, it aches to leave Dedue at all. But the sooner Dimitri goes, the sooner he'll be able to return, both of them free and safe.

"I'll come back to you," he repeats one last time.

3

[ossie_oswald]

Ossie looks up from where he's sitting, a small flickering smile across his face. Careful now- can't show his nerves, screw his courage to the sticking page and all that rot. So he scoots calmly to the bars, pressing his fingertips between them.

"Hullo poppet. Have you seen what she's put me in? Someone ought to tell her I don't look good in high contrasts."