I tried to get through to you

[archboxer]

[You know what that was? A fiasco. That was an utter fiasco. Three more people gone on a chance that may not happen! This is horrible. Even if some people dislike her, Rhea... is up to the challenge once more. This time she does it nearly herself: writing out the invitations, ordering the food and telling everyone to meet at the bar. In Ema's honor, of course.

She hands out the invitations herself and if she can't find you, she'll slide yours under your door.]

Comments

[hardnosed]

[ Honestly? In stark contrast to the last two Fridays, Jasper's pretty much okay. Yes, the trial was a disaster, but so was the one before, and the one before that, and okay you get the point they've all been fiascos. Nobody pushed her buttons specifically, the thing she'd suspected might have been the case wasn't, and something interesting happened during the execution. She's not happy about it all, but she has never been happy in her life. This is fine.

She stops by Shelley's room, and reads the message that's been left for the group. And it doesn't get to her, really... but it does make her pause, if only because it's so very much her, chipper and open and incredibly confusing, and it's the last thing she's ever going to say. In a low, gruff, voice, she mutters: ]

Octopussy?

[ Anyway! After that, she does show up at the bar, where she finds the biggest glass she can and just starts pouring whatever looks the most expensive and/or strong into it. Goldschlager? Sure, why not. Everclear? Don't mind if she does. Malort? Actually okay, no Malort, she has standards. She's not seeking out anyone, but she's also not going out of her way to be confrontational or rude. And if conversation starts up, there's really only one thing she's interested in discussing. ]

What do you make of what happened back there?

[archboxer]

[She's not drinking as strong of drinks, though she probably could, mainly because Rhea dislikes strong flavors. She's just sipping her wine and:]

Simply, he is losing control. Though... it seems Nova might have had help that we will not be able to count on.

[hardnosed]

The "ghost" he was yelling about. [ She wraps one huge hand around the glass and draws it closer, more for something to do with herself than any desire to actually drink whatever's in there. ] Something managed to infiltrate... whatever those executions actually are. Obviously Nova was really there, and that agent was too, but that's the only thing I'm sure of.

[archboxer]

It fits what Nova said near the end, as well. She was an unpleasant woman at the best of times but I must wonder if this experiment is coming to the end. [Ghostworth good?]

[hardnosed]

Maybe. But maybe that's not a good thing.

[ No comment on Nova, pleasantness-wise, which probably shouldn't come as a surprise. ]

You mean the thing she said about Ghostworth. [ It's such a stupid name... ] That wasn't the first time she's mentioned resurrection — she was talking about it weeks ago. Like it was actually possible.

[archboxer]

Perhaps... we will find out eventually.

[She dislikes it too but hey, whatever works.]

As you know, I am someone who has looked into such things and well. It is not impossible but... if I could not do it, I have little faith in anyone else managing to do so.

[hardnosed]

[ No comment, Rhea!! But honestly, she doesn't have much faith in someone who hasn't been alive for an untold number of centuries to have perfected any resurrection mechanic. Nova's belief is more a testament to Nova, and what she was willing to entertain in order to justify what she did. ]

What about ghosts?

[archboxer]

[Someone who would be willing to say that the dragons were dumb for not inventing time travel, was a blasphemer and just a jerk. In Rhea's not at all biased opinion.]

Of that I am unsure. Projections of the dead might be possible but... [Honestly?] I do not believe Ghostworth is a ghost. What exactly he is, I cannot tell, but he merely said 'sure' when asked if he was a ghost. That does not inspire confidence.

[hardnosed]

Of course it's too much to expect anyone to explain themselves. [ She pauses, reorienting herself to the pronoun she only ever uses once it becomes explicitly clear that's what everyone else is doing. ] He must be using magic or some kind of tech to move things remotely, then. This isn't the kind of base you can just get close to.

bar

[philoxenia]

[ .... hm. ]

I think things might start getting worse before they get better, if that's at all possible.

[hardnosed]

It's always possible. But how bad it gets probably depends on what the point of all this is, and how much it's been compromised.

[philoxenia]

... Quite a bit compromised, if what he said was any indication. And that woman... I doubt he ever intended to let us see her.

[hardnosed]

Like some secret weapon? [ She doesn't sound particularly convinced of this. ] Anyone can use a sword. But it's not just anyone who can get in the way of — whatever it is he actually does, to make those executions happen. We'll see just how angry he is tomorrow.

[ But then she remembers— ]

No. We'll see on Sunday.

[philoxenia]

[ Ugh, right, the missing day.... ]

... Maybe not a secret weapon, so to speak, but-- more that he never expected to have to reveal her. People who value control don't like to show their hand when that control slips.

[hardnosed]

[ She waits a beat, then gives a quick nod. YEAH, THIS TRACKS FOR HER AND ALSO THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF BEING HERSELF... ]

And maybe he's gonna take it out on us. Even though doing it is just admitting how weak he really is — he'll want to feel in control. Reassert dominance.

[ The Professor T-poses through all of week six. ]

You think we're getting another wing?

[philoxenia]

[ They both know a thing or two about all-powerful beings in control. Awful. Terrible. ]

I'd be surprised if we didn't. I just wonder what we'll get. I doubt we'll have another one of those rooms with all the... ah... "keepsakes" so soon.

[ But she almost wishes they do, as terrible as it is... It's good to get clues. ]

[hardnosed]

Right. He might stop being so relaxed about leaving all these clues out for us... unless that's always been the point.

[bogwife]

Something new? [She's still sober enough to hold a conversation but that doesn't mean she's not continuing to drink straight out of her wine bottle throughout.] The knight lady was definitely new and not good but I get the feeling maybe Ghostworth tried come through to help us.

[hardnosed]

You really think we can trust her?

[ She was kind of in and out on the seance, so this is actually supposed to be referring to Ghostworth, and not Cassandra. ]

It's definitely new for us. But it sounded like it wasn't that new, the way he reacted.

[bogwife]

What? No. She stabbed Nova. [In the event there was less stabbing maybe.] What was it he called her, "Agent Nite Owl"?

[hardnosed]

What? I wasn't talking about her, I was—

[ She cuts herself off and sort of recalibrates. ]

This is another one of those "he" things, isn't it.

[bogwife]

[She has probably, at some point in the last several weeks, heard the news that all Gems are shes. But a lot of things like that tend to just zoom past Zerinda's limited attention span.]

"He" things? [Then the penny drops.] Oh! Oh, you mean Ghostworth.

[hardnosed]

Obviously I mean Ghostworth. [ She pauses. ] Guess I didn't read everything he had to say. So, do you trust him?

[bogwife]

I want to. I think there's a chance he genuinely wants to help us and I want to believe he's in contact with the others. [The dead people.] But I think we need to talk to him more before I know for sure.

[hardnosed]

[ She ducks her chin in a bid, staring forward without any real focus. ]

We'll see how long those in charge let us keep that dumb board now that he's made himself obvious. If they weren't watching before, they are now.