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

top deck

[scouserer]

[Ah. Constantine stands there, a little caught off guard by Sylvando spinning around to turn him. He pauses.]

Er, yeah. You could say that.

[Ugh. He rubs the back of his neck, looking off to the side. He's not good at dealing with emotions, but it'd be weird not to at least acknowledge Sylvando's demeanor. He tilts his head to the side ever so slightly, coming closer to Sylvando.]

How you feelin', mate?

[Stupid question, he knows.]

[hypnowhip]

[Stupid or not, Sylvando appreciates Constantine asking anyway.]

Oh, I've been better... [He can see that Constantine must've noticed though, so he offers him an awkward smile.] I'm sorry you had to run into me like this, Johnny darling. I just...needed a moment, you know?

[Everyone needs a good cry now and then. After how horrific today was, apparently his body decided now was one of those times.]

Are you doing all right? I didn't get a chance to talk to you at the gathering.

[scouserer]

Ah, well. Don't stop on my account.

[He's trying to be lighthearted about it, in an attempt to at least improve the mood. Constantine hesitates a moment--just enough for Sylvando to notice, probably.]

Doing about as well as I can be after having two of our companions die. [He shrugs, trying to keep his body language relaxed and nonchalant as he gestures towards the railing.] Mind if I join you?

[hypnowhip]

[For what it's worth, it gets Sylvando joke a little back.]

Is that an offer for your shoulder to cry on, then?

[He does catch the hesitation, though. His smile softens, and he's quick to give the railing beside him a pat.]

Jokes aside, of course you can. I came up here to get away for a bit, but I think we could both use the company right now.

[scouserer]

Only if you promise to do my laundry after.

[He inclines his head, approaching the railing and leaning against it. For a few moments, he doesn't say anything. He stares quietly out at the dark, expansive ocean before them. Somewhere below that surface, the kraken dwells--following the ship on her own motivation, or chained to it just like Davy Jones?

Eventually, he breaks the silence. An unreadable expression is on his face.]

I feel like I should've gotten to know them better.

[hypnowhip]

[Sylvando’s content to join Constantine in the silence until it’s broken. He winces a little at the comment, but also nods before staring up at the still-unfamiliar night sky.]

I feel the same way. I never got the opportunity to speak with Carmen, and I only spoke with Shard in passing. Now I’ll never really know their stories...

I feel awful about it.

[scouserer]

[It’s times like these that Constantine really wishes he had a cigarette. Something familiar to at least take the edge off the horrors of this stupid ship. But instead, all they have is the occasional Malort and shitty Margarittaville food. Not even the booze goes down smoothly.]

S’ppose there’s no point in mourning what’s lost if you can’t get it back.

[Constantine taps his fingers against the railing, frowning. A thought occurs to him.]

Hey. If you went and died tomorrow, what would want to be remembered for? Y’know, to share with the rest of the ship.

[hypnowhip]

[Sylvando can't help but note that phrasing. Isn't mourning what you do when you can't get something back? Hm...

But he's taken away from his thoughts by what comes next. Ah... His kneejerk reaction is to tell Constantine not to even think about such things, but he knows that's not the point here. After today, who knows what could happen?

He lets out a sigh as if composing himself, then looks at Constantine with a smile of all things.]

I just want to be remembered as someone whose mission in life was to make people smile until he himself could smile no more.

[...]

Predictable, I know. But it really is that simple. What about you, Johnny darling?

[scouserer]

[hey you ever look at a previous tag you wrote while in a fugue state and go “why did i write that? that makes no sense?” yeah.

Constantine thinks for a few moments, eyebrows knitting together. Within seconds, however, he has an answer.]

I’d like to be known as the miserable wanker who conned God, Himself. [A pause.] And the bastard who had the last laugh.

[Ah. Well, then. That’s certainly not as elegant or as pleasant as Sylvando’s own ideas. He squints towards the sky, scratching the side of his head.]

Certainly lends itself to a particular impression, doesn’t it? The meaning's twofold, y'see. My magical bloodline is connected to the Laughing Magicians--legendary mages infamous for outsmarting gods, demons, spirits, and just about everything else.

[hypnowhip]

[IT'S ALL GOOD consider the response to that part in my tag retconned, then!

It may not be elegant or pleasant, but it's definitely true to how he's come to understand Constantine as a person. After listening to this, he can't help but laugh. It's subdued, and closer to something like disbelief rather than amusement.]

You are truly one of a kind, Johnny darling.

[That probably shouldn't be a compliment, but he does say it with a rather fond tone, so it...is?]

But you know I'm not just going to let you say that without having a question or two. Demons and spirits, I get why you'd end up butting heads with them. But gods? Why?

[Granted, Erdrea just has Yggdrasil and she's an incredibly good force, so he's really just hoping Constantine means he's conned a bad god.]

[scouserer]

[He shrugs, a light smirk on his face.]

Believe it or not, sometimes [most of the time, actually] I can't take on the baddies all by meself. Sometimes, it takes a little extra help. Gods, like anyone, have things they want and a price you have to pay. All that's different between them and demons is their position relative to Earth.

[A pause.]

And the fact that gods are usually less likely to backstab you. But you can't be too careful.

[hypnowhip]

So you...trick them into helping you? Honey, that sounds like a dangerous way to go about it.

[It seems like most other gods are definitely not like Yggdrasil.]

We did need the Goddess' help to defeat the one who was threatening Erdrea, but she specifically chose someone for the task.

[scouserer]

Perhaps. But I don't like going about things knowing that I might owe someone.

[You can't just ask people for help--you have to make them want to help. Give them some sort of incentive to make it seem like less of a favor on their part.]

Sounds like your goddess is a hell of a lot more generous than the ones I've encountered.

[hypnowhip]

[What a baffling concept...to Sylvando, at least.]

That's the impression that I was getting too, about Erdrea's goddess. What sort of things would a god think you owe them, anyway?