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]

Sparkles, yes. We were looking for them, or well, more we were musing about their location. [There was limited looking to be done while being in a closet.]

They might be.. [He looks at Fio's face and her eager hope and smoothly continues with:] I'm sure they're around somewhere, in one way or another.

It does seem like almost everyone made it through. That's unprecedented. But I'll take it.

[He gently nudges her.] Go look for them. I think I need a minute to come back up to full functionality. A few minutes actually.

[sabigoe]

[ The small nudge keeps her from standing in place, sinking into worry. She barely searched around the new realm since dropping down into it. And Fio won't stop until she has a proper reunion with Sparkles. Lifting her head slightly, she nods. ]

...'Kay. Sparkles has to be around. [ Beams. ] You rest up, Max! You deserve it. Take all the time you need. Until you're in top shape. Full... fun- functionality. [ Not that she had to say that word, but she wants to.

And she wanders off, on a mission scouring the area for the shadow. ]

[sailmods]

[a small dark figures sidles up to her, looking noticeably sullen.]

It was really hard, pretending to be mind controlled. When you kept being all brave. [it is the only victim here and no one understands its struggle.]

[sabigoe]

Oh, Sparkles? ...Sparkles! [ Fio's heart leaps for joy! It looks like she might start crying again out of happiness. Her smile falters a little. She's a little surprised too, with how easily she can see how glum it looks. ] Huh? You were... pretending? This whole time?

[ A long pause. ]

Oh, yeah? I had to be brave 'cause you were too good at pretending! [ Sniffle, voice cracking. ] It was hard... and scary... [ Pouting, accompanied with a little stamp of her foot. She's not really angry though. She throws herself at the shadow to pull it into a hug. ]

[sailmods]

[it nods] She thought she controlled me, because she thought I was him. But, I'm not. I'm me. She didn't control me at all.

[it returns the embrace almost immediately, hugging her so tightly it almost feels like it should leave behind burn marks.

its voice is hardly a whisper.] ... I am me.

[a pause]

I decided. I think. What I want to look like. What I want my form to be. [pause] Is that okay?

[sabigoe]

[ The grip feels like it could nearly burn her and yet, Fio squeezes back a little tighter as if it would have been a pain worth enduring. She peels back slightly to look down at the shadow. ]

Hm? [ A brief look of surprise, followed by a smile. ] Hehe. Of course it's okay. You can even pick a new name to go along with your new form, if you'd like. [ Ava had once told her that maybe Sparkles could someday make that decision. The conversation that took place on the cruise ship feels so long ago now. It seems like they've both grown up since then.

Leaning back in a little, she plants a quick peck on its shadowy forehead. ] No matter what you decide, I'll love you always!

[sailmods]

[it nods, takes a sharp breath, closes its eyes...

when it opens them again, they are human, quite like hers. a lot like hers, actually. actually...

yeah.

it's almost like an inverted image of Fio: dark of hair and of skin, even darker of eye, but unmistakable in its similarities.

it smiles, a bit strangely, as if still trying to figure out how facial features work.]

... Okay?

[sabigoe]

[ Another flicker surprise. She used to hate her own face, thinking it was one of the many reasons she was unloved. That was also very long ago. Living on the cruise ship made her feel very loved and cared for... ]

...'Kay! [ As it tries to smile, Fio flashes an encouraging smile right back. She reaches over to clasp its hands, giving a squeeze. If that's what it wants its form to be, then she fully supports it. Though honestly, she's curious about the reason for its choice. ] You look a bit like me! [ Tilts her head slightly. ] Sooo, why'd you pick that form?

[sailmods]

[it cocks its head.]

Um... Well, I want to be a good person. Because those are the ones that always win. And if you want to be something, you have to look like it first.

So. Now I look like a good person. So. [firm nod.] I am one.