15!s au post alt case deadland, cw: murder-suicide

[pegasinister]

[Things had preceded quickly after Roland's execution. Everyone piling into the lobby as usual. Hubert, looking tired and exhausted as expected started cooking right away. This was not abnormal.

No one questioned it. After all, there was no motives. And mass killing was stated outright to not lead to freedom under the rules. If anything, the 'afterparty' was when people should have been safest.

It didn't take long.

There were a few clean ups. Those that didn't eat, either through lack of need or choice. But he was ready. Only Hermes gave him much trouble, and with a sneak attack and the violence of a madman he managed. By then Delta had realized what he was doing but it was too late- he had dosed himself along with the others, just at a lower amount. It look longer but the end was the same. At this dosing it was... painful and slow. But unstoppable.

... it didn't matter.

Waking up was not expected, and his first thought was 'again. we start again'

But he wasn't in the pod. He wasn't in his bed. He was somewhere new. Laying on the ground he groans... and then screams in frustration and quickly escalating madness.]

Comments

[exequte]

[First it had been her, then Roland. And she'd kind of expected that would be the end of it, at least for another week.

But then another had come. And another. And another. Bodies fading in like drifting smoke, coalescing into solid forms.

And then then scream started. And she... recognized...?]

Hubert?

[pegasinister]

[He gives a gasping breath when he hears her voice, eyes wide. How...?]

Akane...

[exequte]

[It takes a moment to find him in this sudden rush of bodies, especially when he falls silent, but she manages it after several long moments and rushes over towards him, falling down on her knees and making useless little fluttering gestures, unsure if he was injured.]

What's wrong? Are you in pain? What happened to everyone??

[pegasinister]

[He sits up... and instantly embraces her- it's perhaps a startling gesture from him, but this close he can whisper]

...I decided this loop was a wash and that there was no point dragging it out.

[exequte]

[It is startling, and for a moment she freezes up, just a little, simply because it was so far from what she would have expected.

But not for long. A moment later, fragments of a second, she instead leans into the embrace, her arms coming up to encircle him in return and hold on tight.]

You might still have survived, dummy.

[But she's clinging, hard, and doesn't let go, or sound too upset.]

[pegasinister]

Surviving was never the point.

[He sighs]

Things will become... complicated soon if the loop does not happen right away. There are those who certainly knew it was me.

[exequte]

[It makes her sigh a little.]

I know.

Are you sure there will be another one? I... I was the one who made my own, you see. But....

One way or another I don't think we're done here. Just don't drink of the Lethe if we need to try to escape.

[pegasinister]

I think so, yes. Or more specifically I don't think what will stop it has has happened yet. Though after this I would not be surprised if Delta keeps me from remembering.

[he gives a shark grin]

[exequte]

Maybe. But I don't really think so. After all, if you only remembered up until now... there wouldn't be anything to stop you from trying this again later, right? I'm worried you'll be punished for it, though.

[pegasinister]

Most likely. But I have no regrets.

[exequte]

[She gives him a mildly reproachful look]

I care, even if you don't.

[pegasinister]

Ah. Well, once again my plans did not have much consideration for any 'after', I must admit.

[He likely didn't tell her about his 'case' last time, tbh]

[exequte]

Hubert....

I wish you'd take better care of yourself.

[pegasinister]

Ah. Well... it may surprise you but the last time we met my habits were much worse.

[He actually eats sometimes now]

[exequte]

[She stares for a moment, then looks even more concerned... and then, finally, begins to giggle softly.]

Well, I'm glad I've had some kind of positive effect on you, then....

[pegasinister]

Everyone on the ship seemed very concerned about my weight for some reason....

[exequte]

[This only makes her giggle harder]

[pegasinister]

[That makes him smile. He's glad that she still seems to have her humor, even if they are laughing about people he just killed]

Well, shall we explore this place some? At least until it ends?

[exequte]

[If a little violent death made her lose that she'd be in trouble. As it is... she doesn't seem very upset, despite their circumstances. In fact, she seems perfectly happy as she leans against him, wrapped still in his arms. But, at those words, she finally stirs enough to begin pulling back, though not too far.]

I've looked around a little. There's not very much other than, well, what looks like roots of that tree. They seem like they're blocking the ways out. I haven't tried attacking them yet, though.

[pegasinister]

... well, I am certainly eager for more violence if you have no reservations?

[exequte]

[The question makes her laugh again.]

After all that, I'd have thought you'd be tired of it, at least for a little while.

[But she's clearly teasing him, does not seem to believe what she is saying herself as she says it.]

I don't have any reservations, exactly. Mostly I was worried about if there would be some kind of retaliation.

I'm not sure how much it matters anymore, of course.

[pegasinister]

My dear, I am never tired of it.

[He's being hyperbolic, of course. But only a little]

[exequte]

Then I see no reason to dissuade you. Just be careful, okay? And I can help, maybe. What's your plan?

[pegasinister]

... sadly I do not have a current plan. But I am not above improvising.

[He heads towards the tangled roots, chin in hand as he thinks]

[exequte]

[She pushes herself up after he stands and begins moving, hurrying after him, her boots clacking softly against the slate tiles of the floor as she trotted back up next to him.]

Well then, unless you have any better ideas....

[Akane focused for a moment and then breathed chill, and took a few steps past him as ice began to spread from her feet in a slow motion wave like an avalanche, then began to twist around the roots.]

[pegasinister]

[He smirks as the ice begins to form]

Well well, certainly more useful than my own power.

[exequte]

[She shoots him a mischievous smile over her shoulder as the temperature slowly falls around the ice, breathing clouds of steam in the chill. But then, as the ice grows thicker, in her and like a sudden backlash the heat rises. Akane makes a soft surprised sound and crumples, burning up as she feels the fires come. She can't breathe. She's flushed and radiating fever.]

[pegasinister]

Akane!

[He's there in a moment, pulling her up against him with shocked eyes. He's seen her faint of course, but not like this. She's baking.

He knows why. Her being 'dead' here is making her 'dead' all those years ago- this timeline, like he assumed when before his massacre, was doomed. He strokes her hair in an attempt to soothe]

It... will be over soon.

[exequte]

[He has felt her radiating heat before, fever raging through her, but nothing like this. She's barely even responsive, and after a soft sound of pain she stops moving entirely, and then a moment later is gone entirely.]

[Akane had been on the Gigantic a few moments before waking up... still there?

It was disorientating. She didn't know what was going on, and it scared her. There had been... something, right?]

[pegasinister]

[The familiar pain in his head, feeling dizzy and achy as he too 'wakes' up, sitting up with a curse. He ignores Power once again yelling and stalks back into the ship, stumbling into the wall a few times due to getting up much too fast]

[exequte]

[And there she is again, looking feverish but alive, alarmed at this stranger's distress.

Her eyes always seemed kind, compassionate (except, of course, when they didn't) and they did now, though of course there was none of the light of recognition in them. Why should there be? This loop she didn't remember.

Still she rushed over to try and steady him.]

Oh my gosh. Are you okay?

[pegasinister]

[He recognizes that blank look, and his chest tightens. Despair rises and rises and he wants to scream. WILL scream if he doesn't bite it off.

He does. He's well trained]

Ah. Forgive me. Waking up in a strange place has put me off my footing.

[exequte]

There's nothing to forgive. I'm pretty sure that everybody's been thrown off by waking up somewhere unfamiliar like this. Do you need to sit down, though?

[She looks around herself, trying to find a chair somewhere. This place, like and unlike-

A moment later she bites her lip, not sure what or how to offer... well, anything.]