WEEK 13 - I can't lie to you about your chances, but you have my sympathies.

[al2955]

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

sunday (41) survivors Something in the air breaks, shattering from deep within space itself - and to accompany that sensation is a psychic scream. The ship shakes, coming to a screeching halt as a bright light explodes outside it. It pulses, not unlike a heartbeat, that crawls and crawls along at a slow, grueling pace. The last illusion has been broken, the last mental tie severed and crushed. You've done well up until now, and you can reap the benefits of Her labor; the dead walk among you, after all, and as Her scream rings out, a burst of energy shoots through the residents of the Pygmalion. It's clearly a desperate bid, but it doesn't root itself in place. Instead, you feel lighter than ever - Her attempt to claim you has only unraveled the string that kept you in place. The 40% limit has been lifted, and you are at full capacity. The chains have been broken. Go freely, heroes. taken list profiles private conversations setting rulebook ENTER COMMAND_

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[baptizer]

[ It's been a long 13 weeks for everyone and she gives Booker a sympathetic look. ]

I'll be fine. It's okay, Booker. I trust Yuno, she's saved me quite a few times.

[ There's a tighter squeeze with Yuno and she - well, she no doubt trusts the girl for her resilience and for her power. But, Dorian? He's proven to hold his own substantial power. There's a weak smile her end, mainly because she doesn't want to lie to herself. Things could go terribly wrong, but - no need to have them know that. ]

At least he's making nice with our captors - doing their dirty work by eliminating every last threat. [ Drone or not. ] Hey - you'll do marvelously. I don't doubt it.

[ BULL WILL BE BETTER MORAL SUPPORT, but here she goes, okay.

Elizabeth is tapping her foot on the ground nervously, but when Booker finally reaches out to her, she presses her hand to his - running the metal thimble against the back of his knuckles. ]

No, but let's just do this.

[bloodteller]

Mr. Booker, I know I look small and inexperienced. But you have to trust in me. [ there's a fist pressed to her chest, over her heart. there's a determination in her eyes and her grip on elizabeth's hand is like iron. not keeping elizabeth in one piece? that isn't acceptable. it's not an option. and her words are harsh, honest, said with a tone that she hopes conveys how serious she is. ] She's everything to me. I wouldn't let anything happen to her. Mr. Dorian is responsible, too. I trust him. I won't let him fall, either. The three of us, we'll be fine. I can promise that much. Elizabeth, if you need to use some of my life, feel free to.

[ because yuno will be transferring some of that to her anyway. without warning, there will be a pulse of electricity from yuno's fingers to elizabeth's hand, and it's a surge of energy that's meant to prove a point and keep her safe. ]

If you need more, Dorian, don't hesitate. I'll bring them. They're stupid, so it's easy to lure them in. Mr. Booker, you'll keep a sharp eye out if they get free, right? We're a team. For Elizabeth's sake, we can't tolerate failure.

[ ...but with that out of the way - ]

I'll amplify the tears. Half of me and half of you should be easy on both of us, I think. I am not letting you leave me, Elizabeth.

[tevinteriscoming]

[Laughs, though mainly because the mood in here is getting oppressive. He isn't certain he can do this, but at this point, there's little more he can do. No time to refine the spell, so he must simply have faith in his own brilliance.]

So serious! You'd think we'd never opened thirty planes of reality at once before. We'll hold up our end, never fear.

Ready when you are!

[herds]

[ he hates that he has to depend on the efforts of others to ensure Elizabeth's survival, but this situation provides no other alternative. Yuno's declaration was genuine enough for him to look at her, perking a brow and studying her as if to find any tells indicating otherwise. Booker doesn't know what kind of relationships Elizabeth may have developed in the past three months and change, but there's clearly some people out there that care for her. ]

Okay. Just... try to keep yourself safe in the process, I guess? Elizabeth seems to care about you, so. [ at least Yuno reminds him that there is something he can do. ] You don't have to worry about that.

[ he clears his throat and squeezes his hand around hers once she accepts it, hoping that she is as comfortable with this ludicrous plan as she can be. there's no doubt he is still trying to search for an excuse or alternative that gets her out of this. alas, nothing.

his attention is eventually diverted to the man whose responsibility was to keep Elizabeth charged like a battery. yes, you, Dorian. he hasn't given you far enough shit yet. Yuno has had to deal with his glares for the past hour. ]

'M afraid losing consciousness isn't an option, by the way. I need you to keep it together too. No pressure or anything.

[baptizer]

[ She made friends, Booker. Be happy.

Elizabeth nods, giving Dorian the go ahead. ]

We've all been serious, have we not? I know I've been serious since the moment I woke up on the ship. ...Minus the ballpit. ...And the phallic - no, okay, nevermind. Let's -

[ Elizabeth shuts her eyes, holding both Booker's hand tightly and and Yuno's. The sparks of electricity radiates through her, making her gasp out for air. It's invigorating, a feeling she never felt before and between half-lidded eyes, she looks to Dorian. ]

Go!

[ Elizabeth's form trembles just the slightest, the first few hundred tears were easy and outside of the small windows lining the bridge? They can see the displays of silver and static ripping through the darkness of space. Yuno's her amplifier, but she likes to think her and Booker are her lightning rods. They keep her centered.

Dave and Rose are able to go and get ready, starting their own adventure as the first few worlds appear. It was unlike Booker could ever imagine - or... well, anyway? Maybe Yuno, but it's a dazzling display that rivals the stars. She flinches every so often, her expression pained. ]

There's so many - they're... they're like codes waiting to be unlocked. I'm trying to shift through and - ghnnn.... narrowing them down...

[bloodteller]

It's at least thirty thousand, you know. [ solemnly, but she appreciates the light hearted banter, dorian.

but she's used to people glaring at her, booker. she wants to know your deal, so she doesn't bark back. not to mention she has a family to worry about, now, a reason to live. there's no need for her to bark back to a man who is fighting for his family, too. ]

Right behind you--!

[ so it begins.

elizabeth is right. yuno isn't a stranger to beautiful displays like this, but these aren't usually her style. yuno's magic, if you could call it that, is awkward. clumsy. she's learning, but she has tricks up her sleeve. when elizabeth sets off what looks like a firework to yuno's eyes, she gasps and pushes everything she has into elizabeth. it's hard, and she has to put a limit on herself, try to keep herself in check. the tears double in size, stretching wider and wider, the static ramping up into sparks that drip off the openings with growing fever the longer they're open. ]

We have to close them as soon as we know they're not the right ones -- don't be afraid to let go of more than one at once!

[tevinteriscoming]

[Raising an eyebrow at Booker. He's not much of a fan about being lectured over his magic use, but, well, he's pretty cute, so he gets a pass.]

Ah, well, I would so hate to be scolded. You'll have me on my best behavior.

[Any unfortunate attempt at flirting is cut short, however, when he sees what Elizabeth is doing, and his love of magic wins out. He's struck for a moment, fascinated, wanting to watch the display, to try to understand how it's done, to marvel at the sheer power of it. Yuno, too - it may lack finesse, but it's incredible and humbling to watch their power at work; like the first time he saw the Herald mend a hole in the shy, but thirty thousand times over.

But there isn't time to gawk; he's needed. His part is small, his power is nothing compared to theirs, but he isn't going to treat it as any less important. He'll send Bull off to signal that it's time to start slaughtering the drones, as he stands still, focused on drawing to him the power of whatever artificial Fade they've created here and weaving it into a new, untested form. Time manipulation, holding back the damage of the rifts from touching Elizabeth's body, and then, once he feels the energy of the dying nearby, using himself as a conduit to spool the life energy back into her.

He won't be speaking much; he's too focused on his task.]

[herds]

Ballpit? Phallic? Phallic what, Elizabeth? What the―

[ WHAT THE FUCK ELIZABETH. stop talking about dicks and balls, his heart literally cannot take this! he wants to scream out to stop the presses, abort the mission and get to the bottom of this scandal she makes mention of. too late. Yuno went and charged up Elizabeth, and it begins. here they go.

he almost forgets to breathe had it not been for the fact that Dorian had just made a slight pass at him out of left field, and he just... stares, as if trying to gauge the mage's level of seriousness. it's good that everyone knows how to get focused on the task at hand, because Booker doesn't. he felt confused and out-of-place, the image before him something even he couldn't have expected from the Lamb of Columbia. something to both be awed and frightened over. no one person should have this kind of power, and yet it was what was supposed to get them the hell out of dodge. ]

... I could really use a cigarette right about now.

[ he says to himself, half-expecting no answer. everyone was dedicated to their job at this point. Booker can't do much other than squeeze Elizabeth's hand harder, tight enough to make her eventually lose feeling. not that she should particularly care right about now. she's got bigger things to deal with. ]

[baptizer]

You're doing great, Dorian.

[ Tick tock, tick tock. Everything happens so fast. Dorian's magic was unlike what she's ever felt - it contrasts science and instead... it feels organic. Warm. Welcoming. Safe. Elizabeth's form convulses only briefly as the life slips away far too quickly for Dorian to compensate for but -

teamwork. He's successful and she gives him a gracious, pained nod.

She's tethered to Yuno, bound by her and what she offers. Yuno gives her something familiar - the essence of reality shifting power that she was learning to tap into. Elizabeth's strained only dividing her output based on the combination of "magical" or "time" sources. She can see in the distance how the tears pulsate and with Yuno's words - she closes the ones that don't quite "feel" right with a ceremonious closure. ]

Weeding them out - hah... more harder than I thought. Dave and Rose - they'll have to - nnn... do that job better. Make up for my mistakes -

[ She's stable for the most part, her nails digging into Booker's flesh as she looks to him and whispers something - I'll explain later - but... I'm glad you're here. Because she's pretty scared. Even Jason shouldn't see her like this. Booker's strong enough for it.

As Dave and Rose zip around, narrowing out tears, she catalogs them away. Mentally storing them until she can fully open them for their eventual departure. Booker's lucky that there's a robot crewmember making their way over with a tray of cigarettes, cigars, and a joint if you want?

Toke it up. ]

[bloodteller]

He--

[ as strained as she is, there's a fondness to yuno's voice when she speaks of dave. she looks to elizabeth with a smile. it's pained, and small, but sincere. ] He can do it. Faster than either of us. I trust him.

[ and it's true. yuno trusts dave and rose to do this, to pull it off, faster than they can identify the worlds as a no go.

so she holds onto elizabeth and with another surge, the tears grow several more inches. it's not to show off, but a quiet assertion that yuno is right behind her. elizabeth will notice that closing tears is easier, as if someone has their hands over her's as she does. as if someone is putting all their heart into supporting her. ]

[tevinteriscoming]

You're doing well. I've got you.

[He's tuned out most of what's being said, unless it's directed at him, but he adds his own encouragement. At this point, typically, his mana would be long drained, but the steady replenishment is preventing him from losing his grasp. Instead, he's feeling the exhaustion of overexertion, a problem he's rarely had in combat. But he can push through that feeling, too. It's safer here, in a way; the Fade doesn't feel the same, less alive and chaotic, and also less dangerous. He can push himself a little more than he ought to without worrying whose attention he'll draw.]

[herds]

[ consider the look of astonishment on his face when everyone is being pushed to their limits, and Booker is here... being offered a joint.

does he even know what a joint is? absolutely not. it looks deceptively similar to that of a cigarette, and out of instinct, reached to grab it first. one whiff at the contents inside and he gently placed it back down on the tray. this is his dilemma. everyone else is bringing themselves close to death, and he has to decide on if he wants to get high or not.

fuck him.

Booker will settle with normal tobacco, thank you kindly, giving a weird nod of sorts to the robot manservant so it would go away. he lights the cigarette and takes a harsh, long drag, ashes burning through at least a quarter of the stick immediately. he was like a father that was forced to sit in a waiting room because he had been too dramatic during his wife's pregnancy. one Look at Elizabeth reminds him that she's got plenty to answer for (marriages, ballpits, phallic-shaped somethings, etc), but he understands. she has a lot to deal with right now and doesn't need to be concerned over his judging. ]

Anyone want a drag? Dorian? ―Yuno?

[ he doesn't offer to Liz. accept it as punishment for getting hitched. 8( ]

[baptizer]

[ LOOK Booker?? Love yourself?? These robots are cute as fuck and are offering you your selection of choice smokes. Once Booker takes his choice, the robot beeps and boops in approval. I guess like Bastion from Overwatch because that's super cute?

The strain resonates from inside - centering right where her amputated pinky was before cracking through her body. She lets out pained scream as she feels the feeling in her limbs grow weak, knowing that she's opening far too many for her own good. She can't close them quick enough but it's Yuno that helps her. She loses feeling in her fingertips only for a few minutes before shutting her eyes tightly.

Dave and Rose are working their hardest and she can appreciate that - the closes are coming up more quickly and Elizabeth is more forceful with her squeeze to Yuno. ]

Don't - not too much. Don't overwork yourself.

[ She spits out between clattering teeth. She looks up to Dorian whether he takes Booker's drag or not - ]

If anything happens - get her taken care of. Just - nnn... damn it.

[bloodteller]

[ booker offers her a hit and earlier in the game, a straightforward no would have been her answer. instead, yuno looks to booker with a curious gaze. and she... considers it, actually, really stares down the cigarette. if she's a drinker now, why not a smoker? ultimately, though, she looks towards the tears and her expression softens because she thinks of dave; he probably wouldn't like it if she smoked, especially when her lungs weren't the way they used to be. with a shake of her head, she smiles. ]

No. I think my husband would rather I didn't, and I don't want to make him sad.

[ will she ever get over that? nope. she will take ever possibility to refer to dave as her hubby. she is glowing, and it's not just because of the light from the tears. ]

I should be telling you not to overwork yourself. [ she says it to elizabeth, and yuno's free hand comes up to brush hair away from elizabeth's face. gently, and then with that same soft touch, she touches her cheek. it's a smooth charge of energy, and yuno lets another burst of energy shoot through elizabeth. it's a large dose, but yuno doesn't care. as long as elizabeth's still alive through out all this, she'll pour as much life and energy into her that she can. even if she does die, she'll do something - anything. anything at all. ]

We're taking care of you, now. Family shoulders their burdens together, Elizabeth.

[tevinteriscoming]

[Oh my god, you guys. He can't listen to this anymore. Don't you know how to be classy about it when someone offers to die for you?]

Yes, well. I'm not going to attempt to keep straight the order of acceptable sacrifices in the midst of inventing new forms of magic over here, thanks. I suppose we'll all just have to survive!

[That's how it's done. As for you, Booker - raising an eyebrow when he's offered a smoke.]

Well, I wouldn't object, but unless you'd like to give it to me by hand, I'm a little busy at the moment.