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

[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.]