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

[makesomedeals]

[ Maximilien glances around at the darkness surrounding them.]

Where are we exactly? And is this place somewhere she wouldn't think to look? I'm trying to ascertain if it's better to stay here and plot our escape, or to break out of here first and plan later. Much as I'm delighted by this touching reunion.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Generally, or specifically? We've not yet left my realm... Specifically, well... She told me to go lock myself away somewhere, out of the way. So I suppose I just ended up going here.

[light_mischief]

She's as uncreative as I thought. [It feels good to be smugly correct about something again, after what feels like months of being awash in uncertainty. Even if Malin's noticed something amiss, she's not likely to wind up here. Not unless the Captain wants here to find him.] Seems like a bad thing to be when trying to boss around a jinn as brilliant as you. And to do it in your own realm...

[He's honestly a little baffled. Her shock and awe tactics are formidable, but she's lacking the will to follow through.]

Does that mean that Friday is still yours? And that you know where everyone is right now? [ooooh boy the gears are turning, there is a Plan coming into fruition here]

[makesomedeals]

Overconfidence is so predictable. [As if he doesn't fall prey to that as well.]

So as of right now she still believes herself fully in control? We can use that. Best if she doesn't see any of this coming.

Is there a reason why we haven't left your realm? Can you leave it? [Unconsciously thinking back to Ava's wish idea - a safe place to go...]

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[shakes head] All that I am belongs to my master. That includes everything I've ever made.

[pause]

Though, considering the quality of my work, perhaps that's a benefit for us, rather than a detriment.

[light_mischief]

[Every word the Captain says makes it harder for Skulduggery to separate what needs to be done from what he wants to do. There's no visible reaction (because, y'know), but he does let out a short, guttural huh, that somehow manages to convey his disgust towards Malin better than any longwinded speech about freedom of choice and doing good could manage.]

Maximilien raises a good point. We have... an idea about escaping, but it won't work if you can't leave. [Because Skulduggery won't be able to join in the unanimous wish-making.]

[makesomedeals]

[Friday as a double agent would have been too much to hope for; but it would have been nice. And he'll just skip right over the existential horror of asking if all the passengers count as being "made" by the Captain as well.]

There's going to be major hurdle in this plan if you can't leave. [Skulduggery.] And a secondary one if Friday can't. [Siffleur.]

But if you have any ideas in the meantime, I'm fully open to them. We ought to use this clandestine meeting location to it's fullest.

[If he has to be trapped in a literal closet with two lovebirds it might as well be worth his while.]

[sictransitgloriamundi]

I'm sure whatever plan you had is better than anything I'd ever come up with.

[light_mischief]

[Defeat is an ugly color on his beloved, but no motivational speech manifesst. Instead, Skulduggery nods, tracing the shadowy curve of the Captain's jaw with one hand.]

Don't fret, darling. There's one thing that belongs to you that will never belong to Malin. All I need to know first is if you can tell where the others are. Ava, Valdis, Friday and Sparkles, specifically. Can you tell if they've found Malin?

[makesomedeals]

Considering my plan involves wishing on hopes and dreams, I can assure you your plan will be better.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

I've no idea where the first two are, and Friday seems to wander lost... But, the child hasn't left Malin's side for a minute. Like a cossetted little pet.

[light_mischief]

Unfortunately, wishes are a valid form of magic. Sorry to say, but at this point, you and your plans are as magical as we are.

[Sorry Max, you're magic now :(]

For the first time in her existence, Friday is being underutilized, likely ignored until Malin has time to pick her apart. She already displays some free will; this time on her own may push her further in that direction. If Malin survives past today, she'll probably live to regret discarding Friday.

He'll get to her in a second. First:]

Do you know what Malin's been saying to it?

[makesomedeals]

[If this place still runs on emotions the surge of utter disdain emanating from Maximilien is going to send the boat into hyperdrive. He does manage to not explode into seething annoyance (or punch Skulduggery) but his silence probably speaks volumes.

Until he finally manages to grind out.]

I'd rather she die regretting everything.

[Regretting discarding Friday. Enslaving the Captain. Imprisoning the passengers in tiny cells. And most of all making Max use magical powers to save them.]

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Nothing interesting. Getting it to perform tricks, to throw small obstacles in the path of...

[a pause]

She does appear to... know. I'm just not particularly sure she cares.

[light_mischief]

Well, if that's the case, we'll just have to go for a front attack. All we need is one person to get close enough to wring her neck -- no bullets or powers required for that.

[makesomedeals]

Impressive overconfidence.

I'll leave the throttling to you, at least at first, but afterwards we're going to need to leave, we have to go somewhere as I'm assuming she isn't the only one who is aware of the distress beacon. Somewhere safe, and free, with everyone. [The other passengers had been overthinking the wording of that to the point he's not even sure it's the right thing to try and use his power source for. He's also hoping that if everyone wishes at once that it doesn't negatively impact their local Jinn. That'll be Skulduggery's problem if it happens.] That seems vague enough for everyone to agree on but specific enough to not put us at the bottom of a lake.

2/?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[he goes stiff in his arms.]

Yes, Master.

4/?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[he slips a hand free of the embrace.

and snaps his fingers.]