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

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[She should do this, shouldn't she? Can't ignore Therion once she spots him, but wow oh wow why did it have to be another thief?

Grumbling to herself after a heavily pregnant pause, your favorite failsafe approaches.]

Hey.

[nailing it]

[bolderfell]

Your password was Angel.

[Oh, did she think he was done bullying her?]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[And, just like that, any dignity Cass had left was wiped from the face of this planet.]

You- Wh-- Did you really have to go through all my stuff?!

[bolderfell]

Seems like it. Some of it proved useful in that last trial.

[He is so utterly not sorry. He is a five foot six singularity of Not Sorry.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[...]

Guess there's no need to apologize for anything. Feels like we're more than even.

[bolderfell]

Yeah, we're square. ...As long as you take good care of her this time.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

...Of course I will.

[...]

I'll promise that I won't let her fall into this sort of situation ever again.

[bolderfell]

Not just this. [He waves his hand generally at the lighthouse. This Whole Double-Barreled Semi-aquatic Bullshit.]

Others using her, betraying her trust in different ways... Maybe it's inevitable and we're fools for hoping it won't. People are what they are. I'd hazard a guess we've both seen enough of that by now to know.

[Now Therion's as serious as he's ever been with her, but he's a little quieter, too. He turns his head to look at some of the other test subjects talking with one another, reforging bonds, thanking and apologizing and embracing.]

But if she's got someone with her long enough that never, ever betrays her... maybe that'd be an even trade for all this.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Ah, yes. All of this. She casts a soft gaze at it all, letting it all soak in.]

I know I've head enough of people using me and betraying me. People are what they are, but they can be monsters too. I don't want to be that to her.

[Everyone's so happy, mostly anyway. Coming together again, enjoying their freedom. Cass wanted to give them a wide berth.]

Whatever comes our way next, she won't have to be alone. I'll be there.

[bolderfell]

...Good. Because I... consider her a friend.

[Up comes his scarf to hide half his face.]

And I don't know you all that well, but... since you know what it's like, I think you'll do a good job. Looking out for her, I mean. So, both of you... take care.