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[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (13)

saturday (10) survivors Something is different. You can feel it in the air: an ominous presence that weighs down the ship like it's underwater. Try as you might, you can't escape the feeling that you're being watched, the sensation of someone just out of view tailing you. Tensions are high, and paranoia grows with it. You feel it more than see it, and that's what warps your perception of the ship. Is it darker? Are the lights dimming? Who is it that calls out to you? Why is it so cold? Who can you trust? The distinct sensation of not knowing who your back is to wraps around you. There is one thing you can trust in, however; though you feel exposed, you are not alone. Mother is here for you. taken list profiles private conversations setting rulebook ENTER COMMAND_

Comments

[erythristic]

[it hurts, it wants to break through, and she remembers it had hurt the first time - ah, if this was the price of this, then she wouldn't fight it, and she can only consider how much effort this must take for her to speak through. perhaps, with the destruction of her main body, it was so hard. it had been so simple before. but even through the pain, there is a comfort to hear that voice again.]

Always. [if they were to save them all, of course she was included.] What must we do?

[she'll listen, she's here, and she is also such a fool, grasping for the last lingering drops of what had been, wanting to believe them even as a part of her whispers caution...]

[al2955]

[ The water droplets are picking up speed quickly, turning into a full stream. Still formless and mindless the water begins to fill the room. It is at her ankles, cold and clinging.]

T̴h̴é ̶w̸o͢r̕st has̛ c͡om͜e͠ ͢t̸o̴ pàs͞s̵.

[The water is at her knees. It feel as if it is trying to claw its way up her body.]

I̷t is ͏tơo̷ l҉a̸t́e t͡o r͡ev͞er̢se҉ ̨th̡i͞s̸ c͘our͘s̴e̵,̧ Gr͏e͡ll͜. ͘We̢ ha̶v̧e͜ n̸o ̀h͡o͏p̵e ̡of surv́iva͞l̀.

[The water laps, insistent at her waist.]

̢There ̴i̡s ͝o͟n͝ly one̴ ̶o̧ption̶ ̡l̢e̕f͝t̷ ͏to ùs.́

[The weight of the water is heavy atop her shoulders, seeming to want to pull her down into it. The embrace of an old friend.]

Pl͟e͞as̵e.̨ Į ̴d͝o͘ ͘n̷o̷t w͘ish͡ t̢o be ͠a͡ĺóne.̷

[A caress at her cheek. It would be caring, almost kind, if it weren't so very cold.]
̀
It̡ ̵is͝ ͠e͜asie͢r if y͜ou s͜i͝mp҉ly ͟a̵cce̢p͜t̛.̸ ̧

[Under the water, it is silent, at least. It feels as if it would be so easy to drift off. To not fight it anymore.]

[tevinteriscoming]

[Okay! He's coming, Grell. He'll save you from your gay thoughts. He can't see what's going on, but he can see that she's struggling to break free.]

Grell! Don't listen to it! It's lying to you! You must fight it!

[erythristic]

[it would be simple. it would be quiet, calm, it would be peace. it would be cold, but once she accepts it wouldn't even matter. neither of them would be alone, and that matters more.

to Dorian, she looks as though she's going to fall asleep, swaying a little where she stands, like she might drop. whatever has her attention, she's seeing it elsewhere. but his voice cuts through the water, resonates as loud as it would on land.]

I...

[of course he can't hear her. she was inside. she had to explain to him...if there's time.]

Dorian, we can't leave her.

[either Alice comes with them or- there is no other option. not to her. she can't condemn her to the fate that was Grell's own fear.

extending a hand, she smiles, soft and tired and fully believing that her friend might want to be pulled into this.]

[tevinteriscoming]

[He misreads the hand, so he grips it, intending to try and help pull her away.]

That isn't her. She isn't here. The Queen is trying to deceive you.

[erythristic]

[it's probably for the best - in her mind, Dorian is keeping her from going underwater, pulling her up and even though there's air, she wants to reach out underwater and take someone else's hand.]

How do you know? I can hear her, she's in my head-

[that fragment she clutches onto so tightly and defends with her life. to keep as long as she was connected to here.]

[tevinteriscoming]

I know because all of us have been subjected to illusions. Things that can hurt us, manipulate us into giving up, or destroying the ship.

[He squeezes her hand tightly, keeping his strength in his grip.]

[erythristic]

[...giving up. was that what this was? was that what it was to take her hand and sink and never come up for air again? was it giving up? looking away from him, her eyes focus on the water she sees, and she looks almost pained for a moment before she finally squeezes Dorian's hand back, having come to some sort of decision swiftly in her head.

(she'll take her with her. if the piece still was within her, then as long as she lived, so did Alice. she'll ferry her to safety that way. until...until something changes and it's safe for her to come out. they won't be alone. they won't.)

blink and there is water. blink and there is not. blink and there is.]

...if you don't move, we will drown here.

[he can't see it, but she cannot shake off an illusion that swiftly.]

[tevinteriscoming]

You're safe. Don't let go.

[He pulls her towards him, and then, raising her a little, and once he has, he'll reach out to pull her towards him under her arm.]

[erythristic]

I won't.

[it's a simple command to follow, and she nods. and remember, remember how deeply the cradle had made things seem real. that moment in the bridge. what the hell is truth at this point in time, when reality keeps getting shattered? what's next to prove itself to be entirely false, even though all the senses say it exists?

at least thinking about that means she isn't resisting being pulled over or saying any more things about drowning. you're safe. she trusts Dorian, but not enough to think that's anywhere near a certainty.]

[tevinteriscoming]

[Once he's gotten her close, tugged her away, he stays still, allowing her a moment to catch her breath.]

Grell? Are you all right? Do you still see it?

[erythristic]

[her clothes are dry. the pain is not continuous, instead fading out into a dull ache. she'll take this being reality if it means the world stops for a moment from upending itself and twisting into pieces.]

It's all gone. She's gone.

[not entirely, she thinks, if there is still that piece nestled deep and protected. but she's not talking, not there in water to pull her down into silence.

forcing herself to breathe deep and push everything back to some form of composure. it's passed. at one point, she thinks quietly, she will have to explain. Dorian's earned that much.]

My apologies for worrying you.