TEST DRIVE MEME #7

[sailmods]

1. before she hung up, she said she was a skeleton

[there is no note in your cabin. no forces stall your legs if you decide to walk anywhere but the atrium. in fact, for the first time in hundreds of years, newly arrived passengers on the Serena Eterna are waking up with absolutely no guidance. nothing but your fellow passengers in the halls - or maybe in your bed.

perhaps you end up in the atrium eventually anyway. it is where guest services is, and where Gal Friday… actually hasn’t been in a few days. until today. and she is visibly frazzled, her hair uncoiffed, her suit rumpled, something a bit like a bruise blossoming down from her hairline and over her smooth features. more papers than ever cover her desk, and when she turns to face you, her voice is as cheerful as ever, but audibly strained.]

Welcome aboard the Serene Eterna! [a pause] You know how to work a life vest, right? Everyone knows that! You don’t need me to teach you that!

[a light bulb burns out behind her head.]

… I’ll get right on that!

[freedom includes the freedom to not know what the fuck is happening. maybe you should reflect on that.]

2. grandma went and can't stop screaming

[it’s something about the lighting fixtures, this month. has the Bellona always had a massive chandelier? maybe. who knows. don’t ask questions. either way, in the stillness of the night, or day, or late afternoon, there is a noise like a cord being cut, and the chandelier plunges into the audience below.

it hits nothing, of course. no one is ever in the theater. and that, perhaps, is what the trouble is.

so, the chandelier starts to… travel, one could say. it starts to hang in various rooms: the dining halls, the bars, the clubs… sometimes, if you’re out on the pool deck and suddenly realized you’re under a shadow, you can glance up and see it suspended 20 feet above your head, securely fastened to nothing in particular and yet remaining perfectly in place.

until it isn’t. until it falls, crystal shattering on whatever surface it lands on: floor, table, person… and, wherever the chandelier goes, a lilting childish voice follows it, singing without any obvious source.]

Ring-a-ring of roses, a pocket full of posies… ashes, ashes, we all…

3. jeff bezos murdered the infinite tommy bahama

[the lights of the Infinite Tommy Bahama go out three days into October.

barely an hour after its closure, the lights go on again, and a new banner is unfurled.



physically, it is the same store. you can even see the old signs hidden behind the new ones. however, long gone are the tropical prints and khaki dress shorts. now, one can purchase any number of officially licensed or legally distinct Halloween costumes, decorations, and various other haunted accoutrements, leading back as far as the eye can see, and then farther still. is that a Gal Friday mask? spooky! well, at least you’ll be good and ready for the Halloween party at the end of the month, which is absolutely just a normal party and in no way whatsoever anything even remotely resembling a trick. there are only treats at The Infinite Spirit Halloween!

note: bahamanuel is still here! somewhere! it kinda looks like dan bongino.]

Comments

[saltwaterlungs]

"Yeah, that's absolutely on me for asking."

Past the Drunken Sailor, which is for some unknown reason riddled with bullet holes, on and onwards.

"People just... usually have questions. About all of this. A lot of 'why's and 'oh God why'."

Re: A Vassal's Duty Is Never Done

[glassaxolotl]

Dedue winces a bit at the antiseptic but remains still.
Its at Erin's explanation that he starts to panic.
"How... far is this from Faerghus?" His eyes glance around nervously.

Re: A Vassal's Duty Is Never Done

[crushed_pearls]

"So you HAVE been sounding familiar!" Erin's head comes up, excited, but she doesn't stop cleaning the wounds. Tendi can fix this lad better but a patch now can't hurt. "Damn, two nickels. You're the second Faerghan - actually is that the right word? - I've met here. Other kid's a noble, some kinda knight I - right you asked a question, my apologies."

Swab. Dab. For all that her casual attitude is at least a little prickly, her delicate fingers are so very gentle.

"...I'm not sure how to describe it. Why not say...as far as dreams are from reality?"

[glassaxolotl]

"I have seen enough in my life to know when not to ask questions," he says with a shake of his head.
"I have been uprooted in life once. As long as I know where His Highness is, I can find my footing again."

Re: A Vassal's Duty Is Never Done

[glassaxolotl]

Dedue blinks in confusion. Sylvain? Ingrid? Or someone else he is not familiar with.
As far as dreams are from reality. Dedue does NOT like the sound of that.
"I have to go back," he blurts out. "I cannot stay here."

Re: A Vassal's Duty Is Never Done

[crushed_pearls]

"You're not going anywhere until I'm done," Erin says firmly. "And I'm getting out a knife to cut bandages now, don't be alarmed."

Deed follows word; Erin takes out a sheathed knife and sets it down, measures the wounds with gentle touches to be sure, and then starts cutting lengths off the tightly-wound rolls.

"...This isn't a place you can leave, Dedue. You can jump into the ocean but the world just stops existing past a certain point. If you can fly you can go up but the sky just stops too. Teleportation won't work. Dream-walking probably won't even work and I've been rather too cautious to try it. You're stuck here. But if it's any consolation your home won't notice you've left. There's still a you there, handling your business, as if you never came here. That much we prisoners know for sure."

Don't tell him about the copy thing yet. It is so far from time for the copy thing.

"...Believe me, you're not the only one who was in the middle of something important."

[saltwaterlungs]

"Well, now is probably the time to ask-"

... Darcy wheels to a stop.

"Dedue."

It's not a question, because she knows of exactly one other person from Dimitri's world, and it's not a dumb guess that this is him.

TW: Talk of death

[glassaxolotl]

That might be true for others, but is it true for him? Dedue was on the brink of death before he woke up here. He's healed enough to be able to stand and move, but he remembers how he felt before. His Highness was gone, and he had been completely alone.

If what Erin says is true, that he has been taken from a point in time, then there is the possibility that he was taken moments before his death.

He had saved His Highness, but what of himself? And if he is not there... well, he saw the state of mind Dimitri was in. He can envision a future and it does not look bright.

And in truth, it is easier to focus on His Highness' fate in all that than it is to think about what this means for Dedue. He had spent so much time shrinking into the background, trying to become invisible. Would... would anyone have noticed?

He stays quiet. There is a deep sadness in his eyes.

[crushed_pearls]

Erin checks her work before scooping up the water bottle. When she stands she offers it to Dedue.

"Twist the cap to open it," she says in a gentle voice. "Pure water, nice and potable. You lost a lot of blood, buddy."

Mention Dimitri?

(Hold up Peters. The youngblood said Faerghus is full of civil strife. Don't go pointing a potential enemy at him.)

"From the looks of things someone was kicking your ass pretty hard, youngblood. Who were you, at home?"

[glassaxolotl]

"...So he is here," Dedue responds. He knows where she would've gotten the name from.

"Here is what I understand. We are on a giant ship. There are beasts here. We have been captured but at different points in time and place. We have rooms. Are these observations correct?"

[glassaxolotl]

"Youngblood?" he asks.

He opens the very oddly built canteen and drinks slowly, despite wanting more. He does not want to overwhelm his system. He closes the canteen. His bottom lip, which he now remembers has a cut on it, stings harshly.

"Yes. I am the sworn vassal of the prince of Faerghus. He was imprisoned on false charges for the murder of his uncle. I came to rescue him. I succeeded, but in the process, we were separated, and the guards attacked me. I woke up here."

[saltwaterlungs]

"All of that, and specifically we've been brought here by an evil necromancer to power his magic with our emotions. Also the Bahamanal isn't everywhere, it's just in- just in the Spirit Halloween. There's worse news, but that's for after you've eaten and had someone take a look at your leg."

Because it's not currently a Tommy Bahama. Still, she gives him a small smile, because even if this is their first meeting, well...

"Dimitri literally never shuts up about you, so it's nice to actually meet you in person."

[crushed_pearls]

Well that's simultaneously very honest and completely unhelpful. Still, Erin nods. "I've been told Faerghus has a bit of a civil war habit. Sounds about right."

The prince. Hrm. Dimitri had spoken of being a leader but was he, what, a landed knight? A duke? A baron? The fucking legally distinct Pope?

Oh right she skipped his first question again didn't she.

"It's just something I say - youngblood, that is. A person or professional who's younger or less experienced than you. You don't seem all that much older than my friend here, so, let me just lay it on the table and hope this 'honest person' impression I'm getting from you is right. Here's my worry: you're new, and you just came out of a bad place. I say his name, and he used to be your enemy? I don't want you going after him. There are no vassals here, and you'd be best served by letting old grudges die. But...if you were his friend, his comrade-in-arms, something like that, then I'd be deeply fucking wronging you to keep you from him a second longer than I have to."

"So. If you can trust that you're not my enemy even if you were his, think you can gimmie something to work with here?"

Erin stoops down to collect her supplies again and squirrel them away into her pockets.

[glassaxolotl]

"A civil war habit is an understatement."

Dedue quietly listens to her speech. Then, he says, "I do not have the luxury to act on personal grudges. I may have my own opinions. But, if things are as you have said, then those opinions are no longer relevant."

[glassaxolotl]

He snorts at that. "I am not surprised." There is a small smile on his face.

[crushed_pearls]

Erin stands. Sighs. Dusts her pants off to collect her thoughts.

Alright. We test this the hard way then. "Understanding that I will throw you back into the store to get eaten if you try to hurt my friend after the month he's been having - is a young lord by the name of Dimitri known to you?"

[glassaxolotl]

Dedue's eyes widen.
It's His Highness? But he is not known as a prince here? ...There may be good reason for that.
But he is *here.* This makes everything different.
Dedue tries to keep his expression level as he nods, but it is much harder to maintain a neutral face than it usually is for him. "Yes. He is."

[crushed_pearls]

"Cool, progress. Which side of that beat-down you came here with was he on? I can arrange for him to meet us where the food is and you can let him catch you up while you also get some food for all that blood loss, and then y'all can go find a doctor or something 'cause what I just did there is just to stop you from dying."

C'mon youngblood.

Erin's ears twitch in anticipation and faint worry.

[glassaxolotl]

"He was on my side. ...I would like to see him. Please."

[crushed_pearls]

Erin visibly considers those words for a moment before she nods. She makes a 'stay here' gesture with her hand before moving Some Distance away to have even the semblance of privacy while she whispers a speech-to-text message to Dimitri:

Dimitri. Please drop all non urgent activities less important than someone dying and proceed immediately to the buffet. Good news incoming I believe. Realize I am a giant fucking hypocrite to say this given that I never use one but please also bring your travel buddy just in case but repeat pretty sure this is good news.

This accomplished she waves for Dedue to follow her as she Leads The Way.

[nyktifanis]

Hehe, I'm glad you enjoy it. I'm sure if I was given the ability to bake them on a proper stove, they'd practically melt in your mouth!

( an ez bake oven only allows so much, but the praise makes her smile gently. her hands press against the surface of the table once her arms cross. it fills her with absolute joy to watch the young girl eat to her heart's content, even if they're just through ladylike bites. such patience rather than ferociously devouring them down is key, and awards her with pollux's willingness to stay as it shows no disrespect and highlights her manners. )

As they are now, I do hope the rest of them will suffice for just a little while. The shortages on this vessel are a bit... unfortunate, but a helpful wind passes through every so often.

( which happens to be the cookies. )

[prince_of_beasts]

Um.

to Erin:

I'll be there as soon as I'm able

to Darcy:

Erin just asked me to meet her at the buffet. She said it's likely good news, but told me to bring backup just in case. I know things are

Strained between you, but you're the person I trust most

I can meet you at the deck six elevators

[saltwaterlungs]

if theres a chance i get to punch erin im in

And she's there at the deck 6 elevators whenever he arrives.

[glassaxolotl]

Dedue observes Erin whisper into some tiny box, possibly also magic.
Then she seems ready for him to follow her, and so he does.

[prince_of_beasts]

Shortly after Darcy arrives, the elevator doors open again. Dimitri steps out, gaze darting uneasily, hand resting loose on his sword-hilt.

"I don't know what she wants," he tells Darcy as they head towards Windjammer. "She hasn't said anything more. I'm not terribly concerned, but ... " He trails off. After October, it's hard to trust that anyone's themself. The possessions seem to have stopped, but how certain can they be?

Suspicion along with every other thought flees his mind when they cross into the buffet. Even at a distance, at a bad angle, he knows that silhouette anywhere, as surely as his own shadow. Dimitri freezes in his tracks. His throat ties itself in a knot, but his voice escapes despite itself, small and strangled --

"Dedue?"