FINAL WEEK

[bathymetric]

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

The storm has reached you.

That's the first thing to note when you wake on Sunday morning. The ship steers onward, but wind and waves are picking up outside. No rain yet, but it's only a matter of time. There's only the one last addition this week, out on the end of the topdeck.

The end approaches. You can feel it hanging palpable in the air, in the rocking of the ship, in the lightning that crashes above.

You can also see it in the island in the distance, growing closer.

For better or for worse, your captain seems to have made it through the Triangle. For better or for worse, this ritual is nearing its final purpose.

You won't have long to wait before your opportune moment.



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to your final week, everyone! Remember that Wednesday (oocly) is your last chance to redeem 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. ]

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SUNDAY

[bathymetric]

MONDAY

[bathymetric]

TUESDAY

[bathymetric]

????

[bathymetric]

[ The really notable thing about Tuesday? There’s no announcement from the Captain. No mocking, no incentive. The ship just keeps moving, the island growing ever larger on the horizon.

It’s a familiar sight, if you’ve checked out the underwater replica in the mini-golf room. A dense jungle, with a lighthouse raised up from a peak. A lighthouse that is, for now, unlit.

Instead of The Captain, though, you do get a note, left folded in each of your rooms.

Tomorrow. Make ready and pack your effects by sunrise. Do not expect this ship to survive the day, once you leave for the ritual.

You shall only have so much free reign of the ship, once The Captain leaves to prepare. Use it wisely.

- Davy Jones

Landfall approaches. Time to get ready for the end. ]

[ahelpingpaw]

[That island in the distance brought a sense of dread. This really is over. Two months later, many deaths later, seven trials later...the end was at sight. Ever since he woke up today he kept feeling an intense feeling that his days are numbered -- they probably are if they don't manage to survive whatever's coming. Do or die!

The official golden mayoral sash is back. After a month of not having any on, it's back. It feels odd to be wearing it again, but somehow he feels it's fitting -- facing potential death with something that used to mean the world to him.

Time to meet you in the hallways!]

Uh, I dunno how useful this is gonna be? But there's this island coming in the distance, so I made this for you in case you wanna be able to carry stuff or something. I-It's not like we may have to live in an island for a while or something, but...better safe than sorry?

[Here you go! A pawmade bag. Done with the collaborative efforts of Filbo, Data and Lelouch. It's not really too big, one single strap, half-full with stuff such as water bottles, fabric, stuff from the normal vending machines...he tried, really.

Curiously enough, the strap is made of a different color. It definitely says MAYOR and has a pawprint. Yeah, it's made of Filbo's old sashes from his time at Snaxburg. Had to do what he could to hurry up, really.

The rest of the day -- and the rest of the time until the end, really -- he spends all his time hanging out at the purple morgue voodoo room. Constantine's note said he'd try to reach out. He...has no idea how that'd be like? Or if it's possible? And really, anyone who comes do magic shenanigans at the morgue will receive no objection from the grumpus, he just wants to spend the majority of his time here, in case something happens. There he is, finishing a backpack for himself, attaching two of his old sashes to it for the straps.

Anyone who comes and doesn't seem to be getting into occultism gets a question, yup:]

Are you ready for whatever's gonna happen out there? It's fine if you're not, of course.

[Who can be ready, really]

[cethflayn]

[An island in the distance.

That truly is an island, isn't it? Flayn peers out while holding tightly onto the railing of the deck this morning, feeling anticipation trembling her very center. It certainly cannot be much longer now.

She has one place she wants to investigate the most, and that? Is the wave pool. Considering it's covered and the water is warm, she doesn't feel too weird getting into her special fish bathing suit and taking a dip. Once it becomes apparent that there's nothing to find here, Flayn takes to the water much like a fish, giggling as the waves push and pull her about. It's nice to take a refreshing morning swim, and now no one can say she didn't give the new location a good once-over. After all, she even went under the water.

You can see her later in the Jimmy Buffet, giving the ready-made food a critical eye for anything that could be boxed and transported. Doesn't seem like much would last very long if they had to be on the run for a while...eh, well, might as well enjoy the spread while it's here, then, right? She'll have Kissa with her as she makes a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon and chives, humming in approval at the combination, and then...assembling some more of those. Assembling isn't cooking, it's fine! So now there's lox bagel sandwiches out on the buffet. You're welcome.

Flayn sets up all her stuffed animal friends (and the extras) for one more time in the movie theater, and most of them will be left behind to sit there - she can't bring them all home, after all. Just Emily, Jimmy Bear, and Kissa will leave the theater with her, so I hope you like several bootleg Monokumas chilling in the audience. She's going through a stack of animated movies, bless her - Beauty and the Beast, The Last Unicorn, and...a bunch of versions of something called Titanic?

Sothis Almighty what is this shit. This can't be historically accurate. And...okay, these are all fever dreams. At least Flayn doesn't seem too impressed by either of these three.]

I think I finally understand how a movie can be bad.

[Then why are you still watching it.]

Movie Theater

[ahelpingpaw]

[Well there sure are a lot of plushies here? Filbo of course makes noise so Flayn notices his arrival during one of the times he's not at the morgue, and sits in the back just out of curiosity for the things Flayn likes in terms of media.

It's...hum. He's too far to notice Flayn doesn't seem tremendously impressed, instead thinking Flayn liked it. To be frank, Filbo has been thinking these shipwreck movies are incredibly terrible, but he's not going to shatter Flayn's dreams by telling her that. Thank goodness when Flayn says that aloud]

I know, right? I'm not gonna pretend in my world all movies are great? But, uh...there sure isn't anything like this.

[Thank goodness these aren't universal constants]

[cethflayn]

I can definitely say the same.

[PARTY TIME, PARTY TIME, EVERYBODY'S FEELIN' FINE BECAUSE IT'S PARTY TIME]

But...while I have seen many incredible things in my years, never have I seen a bipedal singing dog.

[ahelpingpaw]

...maybe someday you'll meet one! I mean, you met Magica and me, and I'm sure you had never thought we existed. Someday you may encounter a bipedal singing dog and think back to this movie.

[You should be glad you won't meet this particular dog, Flayn]

[cethflayn]

This is true, but...would a singing dog want to meet me?

[ahelpingpaw]

Probably? At least this one would make a party near you just because he can. That's a sociable as one can get!

[Doesn't seem he would kick you out before starting the song!]

[cethflayn]

I suppose so.

[Still...gosh, it's horrible but she can't not watch it. What is this phenomenon?]

[ahelpingpaw]

[Even though Filbo is talking he hasn't stopped watching. It really is like watching a trainwreck in slow motion -- you want to look away but you can't]

...you think the rest will be like this? I mean...I dunno you, but I sure am not looking forward to more of him!

[cethflayn]

Hm...it is hard to say. There is...the tone of the story shifts so quickly, I cannot tell what I am supposed to feel.

[ahelpingpaw]

Maybe this is like one of those music videos -- very symbolic and meant to be artistic. Decus and I had watched one like those and it was so strange.

[What's symbolic about this movie, though, is way beyond Filbo]

[cethflayn]

[Tilts head a little.]

You mean, like when something in a story represents something else?

[ahelpingpaw]

Exactly! I just...have no idea what it could be.

[The...hopelessness of ships sinking? The idea of something going wrong and people being unaware of it? The...weirdness of life since there are seven million characters and nobody seems to have anything to do with the plot or anything, really?

Maybe it's something to disconnect your brain and just let an hour and half pass by without thinking. No thoughts, head empty]

movie theater

[jibunwo]

Is that....supposed to be an octopus?

[bruh what]

MEETING

[jibunwo]

[I'm sure you all feel as I do that we may be out of time. Whether you have anything of relevance to share or not, I still ask that we meet in the lounge today at noon. For the sake of routine, if nothing else.]

[...He had to write a lot fewer copies now than he had that first week.]

[jibunwo]

...I have something I want to say. It's not immediately relevant to our goals or investigation, so just let me get it out and then we'll set to work.

['Do not let go of the bombastic melodrama, no matter what anyone tells you.']

[Okay, Jasper. He hadn't had any plans to do otherwise, but Lelouch had the feeling it was needed now more than ever.]

I meant what I said back at the trial. We trusted John, just as we trusted most of our number that we've lost up to now. Whether or not that trust was ever misplaced or not is for each of us to decide for ourselves, and accept it as we choose to. But misplaced or not, we have to acknowledge that from the moment we arrived, every last one of us has harbored secrets we would not or could not divulge. I do not ask of you to reveal those that remain, only to acknowledge this as true.

And I will not make any platitudes or pretend otherwise--there's a real chance we might not win this. But it is only a chance, and so too is there an equal chance we claim victory. So I want to see no hint of giving in, no matter how much darker the situation may become from here on. All secrets and the like aside, I...would vastly prefer it were those of us left to survive. Maybe I've grown to care far more than I planned to.

I am Zero--the man who works miracles. But here and now, with all masks and aliases discarded, I...will be myself. Until whatever end, I will be Lelouch vi Britannia, with you for every step until the end for whatever that may be worth.

[cethflayn]

[Oh he's so brave, he really is. But he's right to take off the metaphorical mask. If not now, when?

Flayn will step forward, offer him a hand.]

Cethleann, youngest of the Four Saints of Fodlan, daughter of Saint Cichol. It is an honor to know you, Lelouch vi Britannia.

[cethflayn]

[No thoughts head empty (except for fish) is how Flayn lives at least one third of her life.]

Hm...it is a shame I do not think I care for this movie in particular. It feels as if one must view it many times before its meaning becomes clear.

[cethflayn]

Apparently, yes. But I know they do not have little puppy noses in real life.

[Thank goodness for that, at least.]

This one is at least a little more coherant than the last one concerning a similar plot, but much more fanciful.

[jibunwo]

[Lelouch chuckled softly, shaking her hand.]

I can’t say I’ve ever met a saint before.

[jibunwo]

I get the feeling movies in other worlds are...immeasurably strange.