The Final Day

[airlockedmods]

[Friday comes with the usual morning announcement. There's no blood or anything anywhere, and nothing visibly disturbed.

>Investigate...?]

Comments

Surprise meeting time

[le_mat]

[Akira is standing in front of the holodeck- he went to his room and got his hoodie to replace his coat, but otherwise he is still decked out in his thief outfit- and the reason for the hoodie (and his school bag) is quickly clear. He's loaded for bear. Anything he could find that looked usable to kill a man is with him, especially a shit load of kitchen knives. His face is grim, but set]

So, has Penny told you all what happened?

[playthedamncard]

...An accident. [It's almost worse than something premeditated and deliberate.]

[le_mat]

Roxy... she saved my life. Penny dealt the blow, but it was... my fault.

I'm not letting them execute Penny. And I need to know who's with me.

[playthedamncard]

They're going to want a trial. They're going to want a vote.

[le_mat]

I know. And I'm not voting.

[And of all people, Seto probably knows best that he is utterly set on this.]

[playthedamncard]

So we hunker down, where they can't throw us out an airlock. We fight?

[And they are at the holodeck, after all.] Use our surroundings to our advantage.

[lovecolored]

You're seriously doin' this?

[ eyeing the knives ]

[le_mat]

Yeah. I'm all in.

[lovecolored]

You know you're gonna die, right? Like, you know that, right?

[ just making sure ]

[le_mat]

Heh, yep. Probably.

[lovecolored]

Then you're gonna need a lot more than a few knives. Know how to make homemade bombs?

[dejabrew]

[Also eyeing the shit load of kitchen knives with trepidation.]

I'll cut off my own arm before I vote for Penny, but...You don't really think they're not watching us right now? That they're not gonna counter you before you can even draw a weapon?

[le_mat]

Yeah, I guessed they probably will.

[And his tone makes it clear he doesn't care. This is a young man set to die]

[in4apounding]

There's- this isn't a situation where we'll ever get an advantage by waiting. If they weren't already expecting this since day one, they have to be by now anyway.

[dejabrew]

[Bolton's expression is hard.]

And where does that leave Jamie? Either they make him first against the wall, or- or he's the only one who makes it out.

[le_mat]

...if any of us that can make it out does, Jamie is probably the best. Doncha think?

[dejabrew]

He can't- watch us all die... He won't make it with that grief, Akira, it would kill him.

[in4apounding]

Mister Bolton-

[They're right, she knows. There's always the slimmest of chances, but. They're probably all going to die here. Their one shot at this was a surprise attack, and that's long since been out the window.]

[She could take herself out, now, give the others another week to try. But she can't not go out fighting. Not after everything she's promised. And Akira's not going to let her try alone, and most of the others don't seem inclined to either.]

[But this can't be it for all of them.]

...Someone will need to protect Mister Jamie. He's not a fighter, he can't be involved in this more than he has to be.

[dejabrew]

I'm- Damn it, I'm an adult. I'm not going to let a bunch of kids kill themselves while I just... stand on the sidelines.

[His voice cracks and he pulls Penny into a hug.]

I'm sorry, Pumpkin.

[in4apounding]

I'm sorry Mister Bolton.

[Yeah, okay. Hugs. Hugs are good now.]

[She's trying very hard not to think of it as a LAST hug.]

We might be fine.

[She tries, but doesn't quite manage, to stop the hiccup that follows.]

[dejabrew]

...Maybe.

[If she's just saying it to comfort him then he can return the favor.]

[in4apounding]

I'm sorry.

[It's almost worse, the way no one's blamed her.]

I'm not making anyone vote for me. But- if you want to, I don't blame you.

[lovecolored]

[ IMMEDIATELY HUGS HER ]

Hey. Don't think for a second we ain't standin' with ya.

[in4apounding]

[IMMEDIATELY HUGS BACK but can't say anything for a little bit cause she feels like she's gonna cry even through that's not possible.]

I never thought I'd have friends like all of you-

[lovecolored]

But ya do, and you're stuck with us forever, now. Got it?