Welp We're Here and That's What Matters

[ahelpingpaw]

[Perhaps it's tradition by now, he doesn't know. Still, he does send a note to everyone some time after the trial. Simple and to the point:]

Because everything on this ship is awful, I think a drink is needed. Come get some at the bar, it'll do you some good as long as you don't drink too much

Filbo (pawprint)

[Indeed, if you come to the bar you'll find there's one of everything. Filbo seems to have asked literally every drink he knows or has at least heard about, and lined them up from the most mellow to the strongest. There's one of each, so it's limited, take yours before it's gone! Or...ask Jimmy Buffett for more, he's right there.

Should he be encouraging drinking? He's not completely certain, but he had to do something! And this is as good as anything -- not festive because this is no time to be festive, but also social enough to encourage coming.

This will do.]

Comments

[ahelpingpaw]

[Of course Filbo, as the impromptu host of this alcoholic party, is there. How couldn't he be?

Contrary to what one may expect, he looks pretty cheerful right now. He waves at anyone who comes, inviting them to take a drink and join him if they want. Hi!]

I'm not gonna say something sappy because that's not how some of us work? But it's us against the Captain and that's not gonna change, so if there's anything I can do to help carry on until the time to strike at him comes, just tell me. I'll do what I can.

[Still no blood pacts, though, that's not great, Magica.

Still...judging by the glass of hard whisky he set aside for himself, he's hurting, that's for certain. Obviously. But in the end he wants to be here for everyone because he means what he said to Freyja, that they all had everybody else to rely on, so he's going to do what he can to get some unity even if it is to form a mob against Jack to tear the stupid mask off his face one day. At this point he can't care less what happens to him. Thanks, Jack, he really has sunken low in some morale standards, you're so not a pal.

But hey, Filbo won't end facedown in aggressive banana pose in the lazy river from drinking the whisky unlike someone he won't mention, so at least there's that!]

[scythegun]

[He's definitely seen the hard whisky... But honestly, that's entirely understandable, Filbo. Anyway, Yeager takes a seat nearby with a nod.]

I know you will. And thank you for hosting tonight; I think we all could use something like this right now.

[The reminder that they're not alone, sure, but mostly just the alcohol.]

[silentscout]

[Filbo has standards, and that's what matters!

Lalli doesn't talk at first, but he does slip into a seat near Filbo and sits there for a bit, contemplating all the drinks. He listens to Filbo too, and eventually lets out a 'mmm' in response.He trusts Filbo to do everything he can. Filbo has always been reliable like that.]

Why are you smiling?

[He's not saying it in a mean way, which is a good indication that he's not trying to be hurtful or anything. It's just Lalli being bad at expressing his thoughts again.]

[leaveittomother]

Mm, I was thinking of something, actually.

[She tilts her head at Filbo.]

Maybe we should have a party of sorts this week. Not like a meeting but something to cool heads and strengthen bonds. I'm not really a social person myself, though...

[jibunwo]

[While there was--at first--someone missing from the gathering, there was also a song coming from the piano lounge. Within it was the Miracle Worker sitting at the piano, gloved hands moving over the keys in motions practiced long ago and yet still remembered. Despite the stiffness of his shoulders and the harsh insistence to his movements...ultimately, the melody was a hopeful one.]

[Propped up where sheet music would have been was instead his own device, the photo from his own motive left open.]

[But he wasn't there forever. After some time to collect himself, the teenager in the purple suit came to the bar a good deal calmer--still wearing the eyepatch embroidered with the symbol of the Black Knights, but otherwise lacking something of the cold indifference of Zero.]

[Just for now, maybe he really could try being no more or less than what was behind however many masks he chose to wear.]

piano lounge

[scouserer]

[The sound of music draws Constantine to the piano lounge, and it's here that he comes into contact with Zero. He stops, leaning against the doorway and just observing.]

Huh. Where'd you learn to play like that?

[He shifts his stance, crossing his arms.]

You take requests?

piano lounge

[silentscout]

[Music is a rarity for someone like Lalli, who grew up without regular electricity or most forms of entertainment. As such, it's not something he's particularly attached to. Music can be loud, and that makes it distracting and sometimes painful.

But Lalli will stop and listen today. He doesn't interrupt, but he does stand relatively close the piano as he listens to the music and watches Zero play.

Music isn't something he would normally seek out, but he can listen when someone else is playing.]

Bar

[cethflayn]

[Flayn finished her one (1) alcoholic drink and has now moved to just refilling her glass with orange juice, so that's what she brings over when she comes to meet...Zero?

Would he still want to be called Zero now?]

...What you did in that room was very brave.

[scythegun]

[That was a lot. If he's being perfectly honest with himself, he's not sure how he feels - or if he's even feeling anything at all, at this point. But there's something he wants to see to first, so he heads to room 9. You can find him in there sitting on the floor and reading the letter Freyja left for him, or you can find him cleaning up the room - tidying up the beds and making sure everything's neat and presentable, just as Freyja requested in her journal (which he definitely read). He's going to go through Freyja's things as well, mostly just to make sure there's nothing personal left out but also... well, also just because it gives him something to do, and maybe he'll leave out anything that seems fitting to remember her by.

After all, the dead don't have to live with the consequences of their passing. Like it or not, she doesn't get a say in whether she's going to be remembered, so that's exactly what he'll do.

At some point when Magica isn't in, he'll swing by and grab Plumeria's letter as well, but otherwise you can find him in the bar. He's not cheerful today, but he's not openly upset either. Instead, he seems to be working on notes of some sort, with that purple key sitting out next to him. If you happen to come on in, he'll wave you over.]

I'm trying to make sure we have everything we've found written down so we don't forget anything. What have you found here that could be useful?

[He's assuming you've been investigating, anyway!!]

bar

[scouserer]

[To Constantine's credit, he hasn't consumed a single drop of alcohol since leaving the trial. When he walks into the bar, Yeager waves him over, and Constantine blinks.]

Nothing terribly exciting. Had a chat with Jack. Gained some...insight as to why our dear captain the way he is.

[He glances down towards the purple key on the counter top, then back towards Yeager.]

What did you find with that blue key the other day, anyways?

[leaveittomother]

[She stops to see him before she leaves with some drinks. She takes one of the pieces of paper from her pocket and scrawls something:

C likely was behind Chloe finding Jack's office]

[cethflayn]

[Seteth would never allow Flayn to touch a drop of hard liquor. Doesn't mean she's ignorant of what it is, though. And, like...really. Today...has been garbage. Just utter garbage.

She goes to the ice cream parlor first, grabbing the biggest bowl she can find and just. Filling that sucker up with the fancy ice creams. She brings it down to the party with her and...gives it to Filbo.]

This is for you, if you have need of it. I did not put any of the "froyo" inside.

[Is it a thank you for making the afterparty? An acknowledgement of Filbo's internal pain now that Freyja is gone? Why not both!

After that, Flayn gets a pitcher of orange juice from the Jimmy Buffet to add some to a half-full glass of white wine to sip, responsibly, with a plate of breakfast food. Hey, if she's going to be the baby-faced nonhuman who drinks while contemplating death, she's going to do it while preventing a massive hangover. You're welcome to join her, but do note that Flayn will only have one glass of the wine and juice mix. After that's gone, it's just juice for her.

At some point she will slip away from the party, though - to go to the top deck gazebo and watch the sky change from day to night. She's got Emily and Jimmy Bear with her, and it seems she found Emily's brush and other outfit in Sara's room, because she's taking the time to braid the doll's hair, and is...talking to her?]

- Will not ever know why she felt so certain that mortals would treat her cruelly. But perhaps she was changing her mind, if she was willing to take such a risk to make her perfect future come to pass, and it truly had all of us...

[Emily is a good listener.]

top deck gazebo

[scouserer]

[It seems as though Flayn isn't the only one who decided to slip away from the bar and head to the top deck for some fresh air. Constantine hears her voice before he sees her, and as he cranes his neck, he can catch a glimpse of the doll.

He approaches quietly, careful not to startle Flayn. After getting within a few yards, he clears his throat to announce his presence.]

How's Emily doing?

[Because right now, it's easier for him to acknowledge the doll than it is to acknowledge...well, anything else.]

Ice Cream

[ahelpingpaw]

Oh...! Wow, thanks! You didn't have to do this, but thank you!

[He seems so touched Flayn went out of her way to get him such fancy ice cream]

Something other than hard liquor will do me good, I suppose.

gaaaaasp Flayn is drinking

[silentscout]

[Lalli is also avoiding the alcohol, though he has some soda in a cup. Andhe's going to sit quietly with Flayn while they both enjoy their respective beverages. Lalli will even be good and not contemplate swiping Flayn's food or anything.]

...it's half now.

[Though he's still terrible at coming up with good topics of conversation.

[ltcommandroid]

[Well, some of us can't actually get drunk, so...there's that.

Data will put in an appearance regardless, but not immediately. His first stop is the buffet, to give Spot and Parker their dinners. It's an unpleasant necessity, locking them in his room all day when there's trials, but he can't really see a way around it. No good could possibly come of bringing them into the courtroom. The sight of him doling out pieces of chopped-up seafood while yelling cats swarm his ankles is pretty standard by now - jail for Data, jail for one thousand years.

After the children have been sated, he'll bring them both into the bar along with him. He and Filbo have spoken about how animals can be therapeutic, after all. Feel free to partake in therapy cats if you'd like - Parker doubtless knows most of you well enough by now to partake in petting, and Spot is curled up mostly asleep in Data's lap, so what's she gonna do about it. Data's just kind of sitting here being a cat bed; not like he can drink, after all, and he doesn't seem inclined to seek out conversation.

Later in the night, when Data would typically be patrolling, he will instead be standing on the top deck, by the railing, looking out over the ocean.]

therapy cats

[silentscout]

[Lalli is obligated to bring Kissa to cat playtime. Kissa is a playful cat, after all, and is quick to chase after Parker and bat at him a bit. Lalli, meanwhile, will sit with Data.]

Does she always sleep like that?

Therapy Cats

[cethflayn]

[caaaaaaaaaaaats]

...Oh, is that Spot?

[Flayn somehow missed the memo that Spot Is Here! And as much as she'd like to befriend Spot, she does remember Data said she's picky about people, so she sits with Parker first, and gives him some careful scritches behind that Vaporeon frill.]

[queceracera]

[Scott's sitting in the bar with a bowl of strawberry slices and eating them, occasionally drinking a margarita. He's not really looking to get drunk, just pleasantly not aware of how much everything sucks. Occasionally, he holds a strawberry slice up for Gideon.]

We're wasting away in Margaritaville, huh? [He laughs at his own joke.] Where is that salt shaker?

[Later on, he can be found on the top deck, by the pool. He's just looking up at the sky and helpfully? Narrating various constellations to Gideon, who seems to be ignoring Scott in favor of taking a nap on his chest.]

bar

[scouserer]

[Constantine is staring dully at the wallpaper when Scott speaks. He snaps back to attention, glancing over to Scott and giving him a look.]

Maybe you oughta ask Mr. Buffett about it, huh?

[He inclines his head towards Animatronic Jimmy Buffett.]

[scouserer]

[Constantine is at the bar, of course--but for once, he's not here to drink. The lack of any sort of glass in his hand is perhaps more startling than if he had one to begin with. He can be found sitting at one of the stools, staring at the peeling wallpaper behind the bar.

He raps his fingers against the bar counter, eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. His chin rests on his other hand, and between his fingers, he holds a lit cigarette--though, judging from the amount of ash currently accumulated on the end, he hasn't been focused on it. Perhaps it's not a particularly good idea to smoke in such a confined room, but Constantine doesn't seem to care.

Eventually, the cigarette burns down to the filter, and Constantine seems to realize that he's wasted it. With a sharp grumble, he stubs it out in an empty glass and rubs his face.]

M'not in the mood to drink. Not tonight.

[After loitering in the bar for a few hours, watching people pass in and out, he makes his way to his usual perch out on the top deck. He can be found leaning against the railing, staring down at the ship's wake. He's jotting notes down into a small handheld journal of some sort, occasionally pausing and glancing back up.

It's difficult to tell what he's writing--his handwriting is absolute shit, and most of it seems to be disjointed words in an effort to get his thoughts down, instead of any attempt to make it readable. If approached, he'll stop, shutting the journal and tucking it into his jacket.]

We've got thirteen people left. Judging from the amount of people who've been dying each week, that means, at best, we have six more weeks before Jack runs out of people to pit against each other. At worst, someone gets trigger-happy and half of us get killed in the process, leaving only a few days.

[He pauses, eyes flitting to the dark storm clouds on the horizon.]

Either way, we're running out of time.

top deck

[silentscout]

[Lalli is quiet as he listens to Constantine talk. He's not leaning over the railing- as usual, Lalli's fear of the water keeps him from going too close- but he's still close enough to hear Constantine's description of the situation.]

Someone will come.

[Why does he sound so sure of that? Maybe the dream he had made him feel secure in that knowledge. Or maybe it's something else entirely. But regardless, Lalli doesn't seem to be hopeless yet.]

Someone's already coming. We just have to wait for them.

[sivard]

[Zaveid doesn't show up right away. He actually first goes to Freyja's room, finds her letter, and... deals with that. He says a prayer in private, but a god just died in front of all of them...

It's a while before he re-emerges to join the rest of the group, but when he does there's a gun at in the holster of his pants. Considering he's doing nothing to hide it, it appears it's not meant to be a threat of any kind.

He can be found at the buffet for a while, drinking. No eating this time, just a lot of alcohol, like last week. The Captain and his damn games...]

How many more weeks are we going to go through this crap before he gets bored and offs all of us at once?

[And as they learned with Chloe, he seems to consider himself off-limits when it comes to killing.

Later, he can be found at the bar where he's... apparently not all that interested in talking, looking serious and forlorn.]

buffet

[jibunwo]

...I don't know. But I'm planning on outlasting him as long as I can. Maybe we win, and maybe we don't--that's kind of a new perspective for me to take, actually. But even if we lose, we can hardly just take defeat as a foregone conclusion now.

[silentscout]

[Lalli can be found at the bar, but he's not drinking alcohol. He's sipping on soda while he looks at his motive image. His attention seems to keep going back to the woman at the left side of the picture in particular, the one who looks kind of like him.]

...I'll get home. I won't let you down.

[He can also be found later that night, approaching your character's room. He's carrying a pillow, a blanket, and a fluffy calico cat in his arms. How did he knock on the door? It is a mystery. But he is standing there with his things, waiting for a response.]

room 3

[leaveittomother]

[Okay? What are you doing, bloodhound boy?]

Yes?

there's ducktales spoilers in the link! honestly just skip the garden bit entirely, probably

[magycks]

[ The first order of business, of course, is getting B.B. the hell out of room 5. While Magica's rifling through things (read: throwing everything on the bottom half of the room around) in search of the poor strawberry monster, it's only natural that she come across what Plumeria's left for the living. She stares down at the papers underneath the pillow and, well before even reading her own, heaves a disgusted sigh. ]

Ugh, of course.

[ If you want to swing by to yoink your letter while the duck witch isn't looking, feel free! If not, she will eventually show up at the afterparty with the remains, and she will say, with overwhelming sarcasm and no evident interest: ]

Happy New Year.

[ Take your dead letters, you sentimental fools! If you're Filbo, also take this strabby! She washes her hands of this! She doesn't spend terribly long in the buffet — this is another one of those post-trial periods where she's restless and annoying as opposed to chatty and annoying — but she eats before leaving.

At about 11:00, she reappears in the garden. Aconite from a regular, non duck-sized universe absolutely dwarfs Magica, and she sits in the shade it technically isn't casting right now, a small, huddled figure, her hood up for once. It's extremely easy to look over her shoulder at any given time, but slightly harder to see what exactly she's gazing at on the screen of her device — almost certainly the motive, but that you can just work out with context clues. First off, the content of the picture is just straight-up not good! Everything is on fire, the sun is blacked out, there are multiple dead bodies just lying out there... but those are small, non-technicolor details. What's probably easier to spot is this godforsaken twink, on account of the color palette and all, and the fact that he's holding the hand of the only other bright green anthropomorphic duck you guys are likely to be familiar with. ]

garden

[leaveittomother]

[She's just exploring the top deck again, idly looking over all the things they've been given for. Of course Magica is near the aconite. Of course. She doesn't really say anything for a while. Then in the actually most flat voice Reika's ever used:]

Don't you ever get tired of it?

[leaveittomother]

[Reika barely shows up to the bar. She takes some drinks with her and is just wandering the ship. Out of all the places she ends up is... McDonalds. She stands near the play place, with her device. She's not even looking at her motive picture she's looking at her own profile. She's looking at it with... an odd smile, to say the least.]

How long has it been, I wonder...? I doubt I could even rightfully claim to be her anymore. I'm just Jack's mother, now.

[Idly, she drifts across the ship stopping at various places. The spa looking at the manicure supplies again, the craft room rummaging around the buttons and stickers... Quite a lot of places, actually. There's something flat about her expression and tone of voice, though. Maybe this trial was hard on her?]

[guffawsungraciously]

[Well. That sure was a thing, huh? It's probably better, theoretically, to be killed with the intent that... you know... someone would bring you back as a fairy or something. Maybe that's... nice? Better than he was expecting from Freyja, anyway.

...

In a way.

...

Like, it's better than being murdered for other reasons, like being an inconvenience, he guesses.

...

Oh, look, an excuse to get wasted. The last morose drinking experience was honestly miserable enough that he's going to uh... bring a meal to the bar, at least, so he's not drinking on an empty stomach. Are pancakes good for this? Well, fuck it, he's going to eat pancakes while sipping some fruity-ass drink, staring wistfully at his pendant and... you know... the obligatory motive photo on his device, which is him and two people (the middle dude who looks like Dr. Gero) sitting at a table together and looking absolutely STOKED for the giant-ass strawberry cake some big dude is bringing them.

...

It can't just be the cake, right.]

[ahelpingpaw]

[Oh god Jasper is drinking again. Filbo hovers nearby, keeping an eye on the drinks he gets]

Good to see you're taking some measures this time.

[Better this than hoping for the inevitable time loop to help you, really. Filbo glances at the device, not daring to peek at the motive photo uninvited]