Week 4

[airlockedmods]

[After everything that this case was, you probably don't want to deal with anything else. But you wake up on Sunday, just like before, with some new memories, and some new stores to check out.

Let's see what this week brings.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Don't forget to check in, and check your memory regains! You can also stop by the gacha machine and Xander's office hours. ))

Comments

fountain

[burninglight]

[It was a long while before Ardyn sought out Church; maybe near evening, or whenever he was packing up to clear out. He didn't even know if he'd cooled off about the whole thing, or if that was something Ardyn knew how to do.]

[But he took a deep breath, speaking in tense but steady words.]

You're right that this is the stupidest possible risk to take. I don't know who is on the other end of these messages and I don't know what they seek to accomplish. You're right that they can't be easily trusted, and you're right that this motive isn't something easily dismissed.

[Another deep breath.]

I don't want anyone else to die. Not for this or any other incentive they come up with. So if the scale of risks we have to take is 'wait it out and trust that no one will take the bait' or 'accept the only potential help we're given', I am going to take the latter.

I promised you we wouldn't be trapped here forever, that we wouldn't all just die off never knowing the truth. I am trying to keep my word.

[motherfucking_ghost]

It's not about the bait.

[He doesn't look up or stop sharpening.]

Or, I dunno, maybe it is. The only reason I didn't do it last week is because if nobody did it, she'd still get brought back anyway and be alive, and then get to kick the ass of anyone who was stupid enough to think she'd be an experiment.

[burninglight]

Then if it's about the messages, I know it's reckless and might get us all killed anyway. I just don't see any other course of action.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Yeah. I know. And I'm the stupid bastard that thinks otherwise. I get it.

[burninglight]

Gods, you're not stupid, just-...

[Breathe, count to five.]

...What else are we to do? I'm asking you, honestly. If not this, then what?

[motherfucking_ghost]

It doesn't matter now. When things have settled down, I might as well veg out in front of the tv and flip through the channels.

[burninglight]

Of course it matters, and if this really is going to help somehow, we can't be careless about it.

...I don't want to argue anymore. Just talk to me, please. Tell me what would be a better course of action if you have one.

[motherfucking_ghost]

We can't be careless about it, huh? You believe that?

[burninglight]

....More careless than we already are. Is that better?

[motherfucking_ghost]

Lil bit, yeah.

You want me to stay away from the damn tv, fine, I'll do that.

[burninglight]

Church, I'm-

[Ardyn broke off, like the rest of the statement lodged in his throat and refused to come loose without a crowbar and an insane amount of effort.]

...







I'm sorry.

[motherfucking_ghost]

You called me Leonard before.

[burninglight]

...I did?

[motherfucking_ghost]

Yeah. I mean, I knew you were pissed, but man, you were definitely pissed if you resorted to that.

[burninglight]

I...didn't realize. I suppose I was a bit unreasonably furious, but it's not the first time I've been anything of the sort.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I don't think it was unreasonable. [Traits: Quick To Anger]

[burninglight]

[...right, he's the other anger ball of angry.]

In future, I'd like to ask we both at least try to wait until we're not out in the open before we start a screaming match.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Think that'd really make a difference?

[burninglight]

In that we'd still be screaming at each other, or that everyone would still hear it?

Honestly, you're right regardless, but we could at least make the token effort.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I can't promise anything. [quick to anger]

[burninglight]

I'm aware.

[pictured: the former personification of anger issues.]

I just...don't want all of us to fall apart. Not like this, at least.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Are you just like...not mad at me anymore?

[burninglight]

Oh, I'm still furious and I think we're both idiots.

But I'm more concerned with making sure we all live through this week.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[He finally pauses, hands stilling, and actually looks at Ardyn.]

What about another technicality or accident?

[burninglight]

...I don't know. We can't prevent those, but we can at least try to stop anyone from killing each other of their own volition.

[Ardyn was focused on Church with deeply tired gold eyes, and when he spoke it was sincere uncertainty instead of anger or defiance.]

As I said...'I don't see any other course of action'. I hold no illusion that all of us who remain will with certainty get out of this alive. But I want to escape with as many of us as can possibly remain safe to the end. And we can't do that if we all break apart now.