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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

[chiseler]

Because I would never let that happen. [It's bullheaded and stupid, but he's desperate to have something to believe in.] She wouldn't risk sending more of her kids to our ship after we killed the last of them. Doesn't that sound reckless to you?

[antietam]

[ He's quiet. It doesn't look right and if this is an illusion, then maybe what Luke's saying is an illusion too. How is he supposed to believe anything? He rubs at his eyes but it's still the same thing. ]

I don't know. [ He really doesn't. But what's the point in fighting anymore? He'd rather die than be possessed so he'll take his chances. He walks closer to Luke, legs shaky and slow. When he finally gets close, he just sets his head on his shoulder. Kill him if you must, but Luke is all he has left to believe in. ]

[chiseler]

[He doesn't move. The moment he sees Adam walking he stops moving at all together and forces himself to stand still. He keeps his hands at his sides until Adam's head is on his shoulder and he turns to look at the top of his head for a moment.

He has no idea how to make him believe he's not possessed, especially now that he's not even sure himself. But here they are and he has Backbiter strapped to him and Adam's head is on his shoulder and he waits.]

...you have to stay with me, Parrish. We're not done yet. [A beat.] Please.

[antietam]

I'm here. [ It's insistent. He's not dead or gone yet and maybe the queen is making him go crazy, but he's still around. That's good for something, right?

He takes in a deep breath. ] They're using you against me. She is. Because you're all I have left. [ Sorry, he kind of doubts they're getting to the Nuwa or going back home ever. ]

[chiseler]

[There we go. Now they're finally making progress and a hand tentatively comes up to the back of Adam's head to pet at his hair a bit. An alien would probably pull his hair? This is clearly the better option.]

Of course she is. Sunny warned us that it'd be psychological warfare. I didn't know how it was gonna be though. [There's a frown.] And shut up, we're getting back to the Nuwa. We have to or this whole thing is pointless. Don't you remember? That's the goal. That's what we're fighting for. Remember Henrietta? We're getting to the Nuwa and we're getting Ronan and we're going back. You promised me, Adam.

[antietam]

[ If an alien is going to pet him, whatever. Who cares anymore. At least it's a nice alien. ]

Sunny said— [ that Henrietta is gone. That the world is gone and if Adam wants to bring Luke back to a slightly different Henrietta then he has to kill another Adam. But in the end he can't try to crush Luke's hope too. He's promised him so much. ] I didn't think this it would be this hard. [ He feels awful but he finally grabs onto Luke's shirt to steady himself. ]

But you won't let me break a promise, right? I have to give you a good life.

[chiseler]

Well I never thought fighting for a fake life on a spaceship after spending three months in a murder game would be easy. [It's an awful joke, but he lets Adam grab his shirt as he usually does and continues petting his hair while talking him through it.]

You've already given me a good life here, remember? Now we just have to try harder to get a better one. I think you know better than most people here that I don't like settling when I can still do better. And it's not worth it unless we earn it ourselves, right?

[antietam]

[ He doesn't laugh. It seemed like it would be easier. Kill the aliens, Sunny is so grateful she sends everyone home... ]

... No, it's not. [ Can an alien know him that well? That the way Adam likes to do everything is the hard way just to prove that he earned it? He's going to say no. It starts to bring him back to who he really is, not the sniveling mess the ship has made him into. He pulls back slightly to look at Luke again. ]

You're not possessed. I know it. I'm sorry that I... [ Just a lot of things. Mostly making Luke worry about the possibility of possession again. ]

[chiseler]

[There's a deep exhale of relief and an uneasy grin when Adam pulls back enough that he can look him in the eye, but he doesn't let him move too far away.]

...welcome back. [He tilts his head a little, doing his best to remain calm for Adam's sake.] This is why we practiced with the cradles, isn't it? This would have been way worse if we didn't know how to pull each other out. [His free hand does come up to rub at his eyes cautiously, blinking like he's hoping to get rid of whatever Adam thought he was seeing.] Believe me now?

[antietam]

[ No, he's not moving away fully. Try separating them ever again, ship. He watches Luke rub at his eyes and smiles. ]

I believed that no alien would give me such dumb arguments. [ Kidding. That probably means he's decent again. But just to be sure, he looks Luke over and then sighs, nodding. ] You're you. Your eyes are just as blue as ever. [ That part's for Luke. Sorry again friend. ]

[chiseler]

[He rolls his eyes, this time lightly pulling Adam's hair again but he's grinning anyway. Okay...they're fine. This is fine again.]

Ha ha. I'm glad that's the thing that could convince you. [But his expression softens enough as he blinks again.] That's all I needed to hear. You really don't think I'd let myself get possessed just like that, do you? I told you that wouldn't happen. I'm not going to let her. [A pause.] Nothing else happened?

[antietam]

[ He glares when Luke starts pulling at his hair, but he reaches down to grab Luke's free hand and hold it. ]

No, I just... thought I let you down. Seeing you possessed is worse than being possessed. [ At least Adam being possessed wouldn't be quite so dangerous. He shakes his head. ]

It was all Adrien not being the last one and needing a new host and then you went into the vents just like one of them. [ He's glancing around nervously. ] Can we go somewhere without one of those?

[chiseler]

[He doesn't seem to object to that either, keeping a grip on Adam's hand to keep him focused.]

Guess it's a good thing you're never gonna have to see me possessed, isn't it? You're okay. We're going to figure out how to wear her down and over to Nuwa without either of us losing our minds.

[He can't help but make a face though because that's...] Creepy. That's really kinda creepy. [He glances up at the ceiling.] I don't know many rooms that don't have a vent though. Isn't that the point of the ventilation system? The lounge might be safe but...we need to keep moving and make sure the others are okay, too.

[antietam]

[ He's still not sure that's possible, but he doesn't seem like he's going to give up yet. ]

Hold on. [ He squeezes Luke's hand and looks at him seriously. ] How are you doing? Has anything been happening? We need to focus on ourselves first.

[chiseler]

[For once he doesn't argue about self-preservation and he lets Adam stop him from wandering off to another part of the ship. He's silent, shaking his head after a short time.]

I've been okay, but I don't think you're the only one experiencing weird hallucinations like that. And a lot of our friends are back. Have you seen them yet?

[antietam]

In passing. [ Pun not intended. Mostly he was stumbling around the halls due to illusions—seeing the dead wasn't so weird. ]

I lost track of everything once we separated. I don't reckon anyone should be alone here—think it's too late for another buddy system?

[chiseler]

It might be too late but if we go around finding the others and directing them toward other people, they'll congregate on their own. That's the important part. That shouldn't be too hard right?