The Final Day

[airlockedmods]

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

>Investigate...?]

Comments

[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.

[playthedamncard]

If we're going to go out, we should be going out together.

[dejabrew]

What will dying show them? What will it do to stop them bringing in more people next time - our friends, our family? Hold what happened to us over their heads to make them submit until they get what they want?

[playthedamncard]

What will living here week after week until the last accident falls on someone, until we lose our fucking minds and waste away in this simulation show them? There's nothing stopping them from bringing in more people. The other side of the station looks exactly the same. They can bring more people. They can bring our friends and our families, but if there's a chance that we can end this here--

I ask you, what's the alternative?

[le_mat]

...then do what you have to do. If things go bad... someone has to get out. And remember what happened here.

[dejabrew]

...it shouldn't be us. I'm an adult, I should be able to-

[le_mat]

You love him, right?

[dejabrew]

...More than I've loved anyone in a long time.

[le_mat]

I think that's worth fighting for. Living for too.

[dejabrew]

I agree. I'm-

I'm sorry we all failed you.

[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]

Just. Take care of him, please. Let him take care of you. Please, just- let there be SOME happiness to come out of this- this hellacrap mess.