There's always a lighthouse

[wheremst]

And just like that, you wake up in the basement of a lighthouse in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There's a circle of 25 pods in the middle of the room, and two more in a room off to the side, and you can imagine who is in which.

An elevator to the side of the room leads up to the ground floor (or to the first sub-basement, if you want to check out the machine that brought you here), where you can for the first time in weeks look out a window and see the sky. Its a beautiful sunny day, with a strong breeze on the grassy ground of the island where the lighthouse stands. Have you ever been this happy to hear seagulls?

You're free. Whatever comes next, you're free and you won. Take some time to relish your victory, won't you? Reunite with friends you thought you had lost, go forth and just... well, enjoy this.

Comments

[precognit]

Ding ding ding!

[she's in a RIDICULOUSLY good mood, even as she sets Jasper down—thud. Alice immediately dances around to Jasper's front, bouncing on her toes.]

Bet you weren't expecting that! I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.

[hardnosed]

[ She hits the sand with a loud and perfunctory sound of impact (or, you know, a thud), and starts furiously wheeling about just in time to see Alice... already well ahead of her, when it comes to getting face to face. Okay. ]

Looks like it.

[ There's no way for her not to think of their last longer conversation, before the second trial — when Jasper was acting smug about her capabilities, and she, hours from being doomed by her own, was happy to egg her on. ]

You never told me you were strong.

[precognit]

[Alice's expression is entirely delighted, the cat who got the cream. She preens a little bit, and then decides to throw in another quick display: she dances from foot to foot, zig-zagging in the sand in front of Jasper, and the movement is so swift and effortless that she turns into a black-and-white blur for a moment before she stops.]

You never asked. Teach you to judge a book by its cover!

[Alice's smile fades, and she heaves a big sigh.]

Glad you made it through okay.

[hardnosed]

[ Thankfully for Alice's patience, and also everyone else, her change in tone keeps Jasper from instantly pivoting to insistence that they fight! She makes a scoffing noise, but it lacks its usual edge. ]

I wasn't the only one here... judging books. Nobody was dumb enough to try their luck.

[ She also, somehow, never attempted to kill anyone?? But she's not going to talk about that! ]

... Sorry you didn't.

[precognit]

We all did, I think.

[She's so proud of you for not killing anyone, Jasper, because let's be honest she was a little worried.

She shrugs, her hands twisted together in front of her in restrained happiness and excitement.]

It's okay. It was...not great, but you guys fixed it. I can't thank you all enough for that. To get to see my family again...it's all I wanted.