And we're all adrift together through the cold mist, 'til we're lifeless together

[dokkalfheimr]

[The preparations hit differently this time.

Last weekend was at least an attempt at being festive, even with the light supplies they have; at being joyous, at giving people at least one nice thing to look back upon before things inevitably took a turn for the worse. And now two people are dead, and instead of trying to figure out structure placement and how best to keep everyone entertained and occupied and well-fed, the preparations now are given to much more practical purposes.

Large amounts of bottled water from the machine. Bagels and bread and muffins, light starchy things to avoid forcing anyone to keep meat or seafood down after seeing a corpse. Fruit for the sake of providing energy. Avoiding including bananas for any reason. Quietly pulling aside one of the first people she sees with any experience in the matter and asking them to help her make tea.

Once she's got one of the tables at the party zone set up and the tea is on its way to being prepared, she'll set around letting people know; the invitations are simple, written in Freyja's broad, elegant handwriting:

I think another gathering tonight would be beneficial. Not to celebrate, but to remember; perhaps more importantly, to ensure that no one is alone if they don't want to be.

Tonight is hard. There is nothing further to do but get through it.]

Comments

[scouserer]

[Constantine makes himself scarce. He has a lot to think on after today's farce, and having people around just might make him pissed.

He's only human, however, and eventually, he realizes that he hasn't eaten a full meal since last night--just picking at things at the buffet, really. So he drags himself to the buffet, sullenly piling his plate up and making his way to a table near the side of the room. He nibbles at a chocolate chip muffin, brow furrowed deeply in thought.

Later on, Constantine can be seen on the top deck, a bottle of Malort in hand. Things have been cleaned up, the body has been removed to God-knows-where. He's brought up a pile of trash from the vending machine, chucking things as far as possible out into the ocean.

He only speaks when approached, though he doesn't turn to face the person.]

Help yourself. God knows there's going to be more of this shit coming out of the machine.

[He chucks the free trial Internet disc like a Frisbee, watching it disappear down into the waves below.]

top deck

[sivard]

Perfect night to chuck a bunch of crap out to who-knows-where.

[scouserer]

[Constantine glances back towards Zaveid, having picked up the globe from his pile of stuff. He takes a sip of the Malort, then holds out the globe for Zaveid.]

Here. See how many meters you can throw it.

[sivard]

[Zaveid takes it weighing it in both of his hands carefully.]

I could make a real show of this if my artes weren't sealed.

[After he's successfully weighed the globe to his satisfaction, he chucks it as far as he can.

It's not impossibly far or anything like that, but it's still a noticeable distance. Definitely proof his athleticism isn't all magic-based.

Too bad it doesn't skip or anything, it just plops in the water.]

[scouserer]

[Constantine watches as the globe spins through the air, following its trajectory until he can no longer see it. He lifts his hands and begins to clap, slowly and deliberately.]

Congratulations. At this rate, you might just make the Olympic team.

[But seriously, that is an impressive throw!]

Don’t tell me you made all that muscle just by working out.

top deck

[scythegun]

Do you think it'll get annoyed if we throw enough at it?

[Yeager inclines his head a bit at the junk before moving to join Constantine at the railing. The question is more of a joke than anything, and he props his elbows on the railing as he watches Constantine throw that disc out there.]

[scouserer]

[Hello, Yeager. Constantine lets out a snort, shaking his head.]

Doubt it. Probably used to the litter, if I'm being honest. And it's not like our goal is to piss it off.

[He sounds...more tired than mad, honestly. He wasn't particularly close to either of those killed, but death is still death.]

What'll he do now, you reckon?

[He's referring to the Captain.]

[scythegun]

[Death is still death, and there wasn't a damn thing anyone could do about it today.]

The Captain? Hmm.

[He considers that for a moment, tapping his fingers against the railing.]

If he's feeling merciful, he'll give us another week, just to see if that will get anyone else to snap. If he isn't - and I doubt he will be - then he'll come up with another nasty little threat for us. Even if we assume that no one was going to act on this one, there's no denying that it worked. More than a few people were openly bothered by it. If Carmen hadn't died today, would someone decide to kill soon?

[He lifts his shoulders a bit.]

It won't be any easier now that we know the stakes, unfortunately.

[scouserer]

[Constantine doesn't react at first, picking up another item and weighting it in his hand. It's a marionette, limbs tangled in its own strings.]

The Captain needed to get the ball rolling, and Shard was the unfortunate bastard who fit the role. It'll be hard to stop, now.

[After a moment, he winds up and chucks it as hard as he can, watching its wooden body disappear into the darkness. You can't even hear it hit the water--the sound of waves lapping up against the side of the ship is too loud.]

It's going to happen again. And there won't be a damn thing we can do about it. The Captain's going to keep pushing until he gets his way. It's not about the death--it's about seein' us suffer and despair as we get picked off one by one.

[At least, that's his current theory.]

I'm not about to let that happen to myself, though.

top deck

[paucipan]

[The fact of the matter is that Plumeria's still pissed about earlier. About...everything, really. Plumeria has been mostly keeping to herself, but even she has human weaknesses and just...needs to walk about.

That's about when she comes across Constantine on the top deck, pausing a bit at the invitation. Honestly, even after destroying that book and making cranes, it still isn't enough.]

...Why not? It's better than sitting and wallowing.

[So Plumeria's gonna grab something from the pile and yeet it out to sea.]

So. What's this all about?

[scouserer]

[He glances over towards Plumeria, picking up the bear plush and turning it over in his hand.]

It's whatever you want it to be, love. Personally, I'd like to think this is a little 'fuck you' letter towards the Captain's 'gifts'.

[Yes, it's petty and stupid and probably doesn't mean anything or hurt the Captain's feelings in any sort of way, but it's the thought, okay.

He pauses, not meeting her eyes. It'd be difficult not to acknowledge what happened during the trial, at least a little bit.]

You and Freyja have a close history, I see.

[paucipan]

[Snrk. Plumeria grabs another item, then, tossing it over the railing with a bit of a faint smirk.]

You know what? That works. I can always go for a bit of spite.

[Plumeria goes for another one, not even bothering to look at Constantine when he asks that question. Just mulling what to throw over next, really, but--]

Yes? I would hope so, considering that I'm her retainer. It's my job to ensure Lady Freyja's safety above all else.

[scouserer]

Ah.

[Her retainer. Constantine pauses, taking a moment to toss that stupid black-and-white bear as far as he can. He watches it fall, but it's too dark to really see where it lands.]

That explains a bit, actually. I figured you were familiar with each other, but....

[Well, he never thought to ask. It's not really all that polite to snoop when he has no reason to.]

You mind if I ask how long you've been in her acquaintance?

tables

[dokkalfheimr]

[While she has no real idea what John Constantine is thinking or doing at any given time, she does approach him at the buffet; not intending to corner him or shove him into a conversation if he doesn't want one, but...]

My apologies for Plumeria's behavior, and for anything that I may have said that offended you; it truly wasn't my intention to insult you.

[scouserer]

[He glances up towards Freyja, raising an eyebrow. He raps his fingers against the table surface, shrugging.]

No offense taken, mate. I've heard worse from my friends.

[A hollow smile makes its way onto his face.]

I wouldn't have made any accusations without any sort of firm evidence. Things are tense enough as is, and I'd be stupid to stir the pot.

[...]

So the Captain got his way in the end, I suppose.

[dokkalfheimr]

To be honest, I expected him to.

[She'll sit down across from him; she seems tired, perhaps, but not horrifically so.]

I never thought any displays of unity or solidarity would be anything but a stopgap measure. If anything, I merely wanted people to have something nice to look back on. It's just troubling that it happened so soon.

Top Deck

[cethflayn]

[She lets Constantine toss some items overboard in peace before approaching with a warm cup of tea.]

Would you like something warm to drink?

[She's got some sugar packets and cream things in her pocket if he wants.]

[scouserer]

[Constantine turns towards Flayn, eyebrow arching in mild surprise.]

Huh. That's quite kind of you.

[Constantine takes the cup, inclining his head towards Flayn. He drinks it without any sugar or milk--because he's a bitter bastard, much like the tea. He tests how hot it is before taking a careful sip. With his free hand, he gestures to the pile.]

You wanna throw anything? S'all free to take, y'know.

[cethflayn]

[Look, sometimes people don't want anything in their tea and that's valid.]

No thank you, I am fine. [But she will chill at the railing and take a look into the depths. She can't get that ship underneath them - and the maw of the Kracken - out of her mind.] Lady Freyja asked that I make tea, so I did. But I would have done so anyway. It is very common to have tea, where I am from.

top deck

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ Alice is more than happy to oblige with the offer, grabbing hold of something and chucking it as far as she can. Which... definitely doesn't go as far as the disc goes. She's just gonna chalk it up to whatever she threw not being as aerodynamic. Whatever. ]

You don't have anymore of those flat things, do you?

[scouserer]

[Lucky for Alice, Constantine does! He fishes his second--and only remaining CD from the pile. He holds it out for Alice to take, a smirk on his face.]

Bet you can't get it as far as I did.

[conceivesfrenzy]

Oh, you are so on.

[ She giggles, taking the CD case from him. Once she gets a good stance she takes it and........... sort of whiffs it. She kinds of stares as it tumble uselessly into the ocean. ]

... I wouldn't be able to convince you to go get it for me, could I? ♡

top deck, cw: drugs

[hellahighwater]

[ Oh, thank god.

Despite the...awkward few moments of the trial, Chloe's willing to remember that Constantine offered to share alcohol with her. Yeah, she's smoked up (and she definitely smells like it) but... Well. She is...very needing of alcohol. ]

Not interested in littering. Gimme the goods, old man.

[scouserer]

[Ah, Chloe. Constantine turns to look at her, tilting his head to the side. A thin smile appears on his face as he holds out the bottle for her.]

Here. Don't drink it all--we've still gotta save some for future shitshows, y'know.

[....]

Looking to get cross faded, then? I don't blame you.

[hellahighwater]

Saving up for the future now? Great.

[ She takes it quickly, not even caring about the burning of her tongue and throat. ]

...Seriously it's all that seems right after all that crap.