THIRD TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ Once all the needed information has been pulled from the PARTY ZONE and nearby echelons, Davy Jones once again does his rounds to collect everyone and bring them to the theatre. ]

You are all familiar with this procedure by now, step quickly!

[ And with the blast of the organ, down the elevator starts to go, into the bowels of the ship below. Things darken and then, as before, you hear a song from the crew of the Dutchman drifting predatory below. ]

Take yer places, all of ye.

[ The circle of podiums remains, two more podiums rusted over and aged. Jones takes his place, meanwhile, looking out the window at the sea.

The shanty dies down, and the atmosphere darkens.

Welcome to your third trial. ]

Comments

[thisaroma]

I knew that much. That's why I always told everyone— you wouldn't have gone to those lengths to save me before if you hadn't cared, no matter what you said about me.

[ He always thought the day she actually returned his feelings would be the greatest day of his life, but now he just feels like he's going to be sick. This is all wrong. ]

But you already did save me.

[ His voice cracks, and he has to pause and take a breath to steady himself. ]

I was supposed to return the favor this time.

[ ...Huh. He'd just gotten his iron maiden back last night, too. He'd finally finished that 765th day.

If this was how it was going to happen... he never would have wished for this. ]

[conceivesfrenzy]

...

[ She jumps down from her podium and walks over to him and smacks him. ]

Stop. You weren't... supposed to do anything. I don't need you to save me.

[ Then, super quietly: ]

You already did.

[thisaroma]

[ He flinches a little more than usual at that, and rubs his cheek. He's never going to feel that again, is he...?

Honestly, all he wants right now is to grab his spears out of that hidden compartment and kill everyone in this room to stop them from voting, but he knows he'd never get that far.

... ]

You wouldn't forgive me if I tried to stop this now, would you?

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ That gets her to laugh. ]

I'd say you're welcome to try, but given how last week went, I don't think that's such a good idea.

[ Y'know. Data and all that. ]

Just don't do anything stupid after this is over. If I made a fool of myself for nothing, I'm going to come back and kill you myself.

[thisaroma]

[ There's a soft laugh from him too, though there's not really any mirth behind it. He wipes away the tears before they can carry out their threat to spill over, and forces a smile. ]

Right.

[ There's still so much he wishes he had time to say... but he guesses maybe he's always said too much anyway. She's certainly said as much enough times.

Instead, he just offers his hand to her one last time. ]

Maybe I say it enough that it doesn't sound like I mean it anymore, but... I really do love you.

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ She stares at his hand awkwardly for a moment. She's never been comfortable with showing much outside of her normal temperament, and even now, it's clear that it's still a little rough for her. But... as she gingerly puts her hand in his, she thinks she can at least do that much. ]

I know.

[ She can't look him in the eye anymore, or say probably wants what he would like to hear, but... it's gonna have to be good enough. ]