WEEK 8

[bathymetric]

Good morning, passengers. Happy Sunday. Happy New Year.

Your numbers have officially dropped to single digits. One of you managed to kill the first of the major living obstacles to your collective freedom. A ghost or demon or something nearly killed you. It was a weird week.

The cruise continues on, roller coaster back up and running as ever, arcade free and clear of coins. The last free floor of the ship is open, as well as part of the top deck with... well, something you might expect to see way more on a cruise ship than anything else here. One way or another, you get a feeling you can't shake - things are going to end soon.

No rain yet, but the clouds are closing in fast above you. A cold wind blows during the night, sending the ship gently rocking. Around midnight or so, if you head to the deck, you can hear thunder in the distance.



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to week 8, everyone! Remember to turn in AC here and coins for regains over here! If you wish to get in contact with the npcs, Davy Jones is over here, and "The Captain" is over here! And as requested, profiles are accessible here. ]

Comments

[ahelpingpaw]

At this point I really don't think anyone would be willing to do anything that'll hinder us. I mean, after everything that happened after the trial? That just can't happen anymore.

[It's not unreasonably optimistic, all things considered -- evil ghost took control of Jack's corpse, taunted people around and tried to incinerate everyone right away and what not, the only reason they're all alive is because Davy Jones came by. That kind of thing should make even the most reticents among them refuse to play along with the evil ghost.

Ah, one week too early to be saying these things, Filbo, there's one player case left]

[bathymetric]

[ Yeah, voodoo doll seems About Right, though maybe a little more accurate/with Attention To Detail than the average stereotypical Voodoo Doll? ]

[scythegun]

Agreed. I can't see how anyone would be willing to turn against the rest of us at this point. It's us against "the Captain" - as it has been from the very start.

[It just wasn't always easy to see that, and the Captain certainly didn't make it easy even when he wasn't being possessed by... something.

Of course, this is going to be hilarious once the motive happens, but for now they are clearly in the right here!!]

Let's see what all we can find and see if we can come up with a way to put a stop to this.

[scythegun]

[Huh... Well, you know what, he's going to do the totally sane thing and take it. Assuming this does not set off some sort of trap, are there the same magical runes in here?]

[bathymetric]

[ Well! Luckily for Jasper, at least, there's a guide to cameras available nearby, if he needs a handy tutorial on taking and developing pictures!

How is he planning on engaging with the cameras? Poking around them physically, going straight to Pointing Them Around? ]

[bathymetric]

[ There are! But they are, as a note, glowing slightly. ]

[scythegun]

[Oooh, spooky. The ones in his own coffin weren't, correct?

So... Just to make sure, he's going to go through and poke through the rest of the coffins. Any variation in any of them, or is it exactly as expected? The living people have empty coffins with unlit candles and the dead have fancy voodoo dolls?]

[guffawsungraciously]

[oh thank the goddess.

Anyway, since he reads dutifully before fucking around, he’s going to check out the film to make sure it’s in there!]

[cethflayn]

[It was kind of a goodbye. They both understood...there was probably no coming back.]

I gave him one of the ribbons from my dress. And promised I would find his cousin, Onni...and I told him my real name.

[That hand wrapped up in her own ribbon is clenched, but not tightly.]

buffet

[scouserer]

[Constantine is here, picking listlessly at a kebab. A slightly smoldering cigarette has been stubbed out in a nearby glass. He glances up when Flayn speaks, and...oh.]

Uh, a pub of some sort. Photo lab. A water park on the top deck and various other amusements.

[He falls silent for a moment, studying her carefully. The ship is much more quiet, now that their numbers are dwindling to the single digits.]

How are you feeling, Flayn?

[He feels he already knows the answer, but....]

[cethflayn]

...I am depressed.

[Looks at a pickle on her plate. Decides...yeah, let's cut it in half and hollow out the halves and put the tuna salad in there. Weird sad times.]

What is a water park?

[scouserer]

Who could blame you?

[She didn't have to tell him for him to know that, but he bites his tongue. Now's not the time to be a smart-ass, now's the time to support Flayn. He leans forward, resting his chin against his hand. The kebab is abandoned for now.]

It's like an amusement park, 'cept with water. Things like slides, lazy rivers, that kind of thing. Mostly a way for people to spend loads of money to swim in tepid water.

[He shrugs.]

Never went to any as a kid. S'not like I could.

[cethflayn]

[See, she doesn't think he's being sarcastic? She's just answering his question honestly.]

...It looks like it could begin raining, though. Why bother to give us such a place when the weather could turn?

[scouserer]

[Oh, Flayn.....]

Not sure. Maybe he's hoping that someone idiot'll get up on the slides and get themselves murdered.

[A pause.]

Also, s'not like weather ever stopped anyone from going to water parks. There's always those people who insist on going places despite thunderstorms and the like.

[cethflayn]

I think I will not go there to play in the water for now.

[If they suddenly get a sunny day, maybe. But...she's really not feeling it.]

And, what is a Photo Lab?

[ahelpingpaw]

[Nine people left. This ship is so empty nowadays. Filbo really misses the times when you could go anywhere on the ship and find a person around, but nowadays you can go to any room around and be alone for like twelve hours. It's not just because he's a social butterfly through and through, it's more because it's a reminder a lot of people have died. Filbo stares up at the clouds, unable to shake the feeling things are going to end soon, one way or another. Well, at least this time there's a warning, he should be glad about that.

Filbo is there in the crafting room, examining the sewing machines. Nothing that looks too different from those he has seen before, really. He's far more used to doing things by hand, though, these machines are a bit of a mystery to him]

Uh, do you know how to sew? I do, but, uh, I haven't ever made bags. Or backpacks. I dunno where to even get started with those.

[Planning ahead, yup.

Once he has gotten started with his project and goes to take a break at the pub, he's hanging out with the darts, throwing at the target. Aim is decent, technique is absolutely pitiful but at least the majority of the darts have reached the board -- whether they hit where Filbo wants is another matter, though. Still, he seems to be having fun just getting used to the darts, yup. Possibly will be decent enough competition against other average people]

Hey! Wanna give this a go? Darts aren't too difficult and taking a break from time to time is good for you. It'll be fun!

[ahelpingpaw]

[Oof, that's a heavy promise. Not only that, but also telling her real name--oh, real name? Goodness, looks like Flayn still has mysteries she hasn't told others about. That she told Lalli that...]

You really trusted Lalli. A lot. I hadn't realized you and him were so close.

[cethflayn]

[She's. Planning on telling everyone. There's just never a good time.]

...I had not, either. But, looking back...he went out of his way to comfort me when I was upset. And he did not think I was strange, or odd. Then again, I did not think that of him, either, even if he did not think like most others do. [What's a neurodivergent, can you eat it.] And when everything came to a head, I just...felt so hurt. More hurt than before.

[And that's really hard to top. Sara dying, and Lorna having to take the responsibility for the spirit posessing her, really wrecked Flayn on the inside. Even if she doesn't show it. Being able to take care of Emily probably helped a lot.]

We never even got to do...like. Dating things. Or hold hands. Maybe if I had realized sooner...but would that have pushed him away? I. I do not think I could be subtle.

[Translation: what if she came on too strong and scared him off? Goddess, that would hurt, too.]

pub

[scouserer]

[Constantine has mostly just been spacing out in the pub--just grabbing whatever drinks from Jimmy Buffett's bar and bringing them down there. He snaps back to attention when Filbo speaks up, and he looks towards him, a small smile on his face.]

Sure, why not? Been a few months since I've done this. Better than sitting around and feeling nothing but impending doom.

[He gets up from his seat, stretching and rolling his shoulders.]

Well, I mean, impending doom has kind of been the theme of the last few weeks, but it feels a lot...worse, for some reason.

[scouserer]

Oh--s'where you got to develop photographs and stuff. You know...uh...there's a lot of chemicals and stuff involved, so you gotta wear gloves, and it takes a bit of work, but you get some nice pictures in return.

[A pause.]

I mean, if you'd like, we can probably go and take a look. Better than sittin' around and being miserable.

[ahelpingpaw]

[Filbo looks happy to have someone to play with. Here, Constantine, have darts! Looks like Filbo wants you to go first so he can see in how much trouble he may or not be playing against John, hah]

I know, right? I was looking outside and things are getting kinda dicey. This isn't gonna last for much longer. I'm expecting the ship to start sinking or something in a day or two.

[Frankly once endgame comes he'll be surprised it took eleven days to get there]

At least we got a warning this is all gonna be over, right? Better that than getting caught unprepared!

[cethflayn]

Pictures...[Like portraits? She thinks about that for a second.] Yes, I would like to see it.

[Does Constantine mind Flayn's doll and cat entourage]

[scouserer]

[Constantine scoops up a handful of darts and aims towards the board. He takes three shots--most of them kind of scattered across the board. Nothing terrible, but nothing to write home about, either.]

If not from the storm, from whatever battle Davy and "the Captain" are waging below deck.

[He takes another shot--this one dings off the side and falls to the floor.]

The thing is, I don't know how to be prepared. I always have a plan in mind--or, well, I usually do--and now, face to face with what can only be described from a demon from hell....

[He trails off, running a hand through his hair.]

[scouserer]

[He's completely okay with this! This is just Constantine's life, now. He helps Flayn up from her seat and heads off towards the stairwell.]

Personally, never really all that interested in photography, but s'pretty interesting, from a scientific perspective. Also had to take a few photos for my work back in the eighties and nineties, so I have to know the process and all that.

[Once they reach the photo lab, Constantine pushes open the door and spreads his arms. Scattered across the tables, there's quite a lot of analog cameras and a few photo frames to display your treasured memories! He picks up a camera to show Flayn, pointing out the various parts of the machine as he speaks.]

See--you look through the viewfinder, point the lens towards whatever you want to take a picture of, and press this. Once you've filled up everything, you go and develop it, but that's a whole other process.

[ahelpingpaw]

[Filbo definitely is relieved he does have a chance after all! Great! He aims with the darts, taking his time before throwing them]

I dunno either, but I'm preparing stuff! You know, in case we need to get outta here in a hurry. Uh, I dunno if I'll have nine of them ready in time; I'll just try anyway. I know if we have to leave the ship it probably means we're...not gonna return home, but better that than dying, right?

[Something needs to be done and that's what matters here. May as well use the time all these forewarnings have given them]

I know running away won't stop that thing, but if it's after our lives, surviving should delay disaster for a while or...whatever it's trying to do.