week 4

[stagemanagers]

[Another week, and two more dead. King Richard and Red are both gone, and once again, it was through nothing more than an accident in the heat of the moment. Maybe if you all stay calm and collected, nothing bad will happen again?

Well, maybe not.

When you wake on Sunday, you'll find that you've recovered another one of those memories - or had another dream, if you still wanna be in denial about it. The grounds remain as they are, but this time, the door blocking the stairwell has been unsealed. You can now venture up to the second floor! This is the second time that's happened; it's almost as if you get more space every time someone dies. Or maybe the whole place just seems quieter.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday


(( Welcome to Week 4! Please remember to submit your AC and your memory regains, as well as your coins! You can also still contact the Phantom. ))

Comments

[heathencall]

[Irrational though it is, there's something that twists within Mephisto's gut. It's hot, knife-sharp and entirely unreasonable, but it sticks there even as he studies Stephen. He clutches the mug a touch tighter, a brief moment where his hands seem to strain against the ceramic, but stops just before the fragile cup tries to buckle beneath his grip.

He's silent for a long moment, composing himself. He smooths his brow -- when had it tightened, anyway?]

I would not put it past him.

[He speaks plainly, dryly even.]

[37773972]

[That look in Mephisto's eyes before he's able to compose himself - Stephen can't believe it's entirely false. He can't believe that all of this is part of the grand act and a master manipulation. Not after everything he's - they've - gone through.

It's less reassuring, right now, than one would think.]

Sigyn- [he hesitates, trying to think if this is breaking his promise to her. He decides it's not] -she wondered if there'd be more pushing. If he'd threaten us more directly. Mephisto, the only way we can beat him is getting out of here.

[Does he doubt his fellows? No, not at all. What he's doubting is their own humanity.

'A lot of people would go back and kill Hitler.']

[heathencall]

Then we keep working. [Yes, this is a much better topic. It's something he can channel that earlier feeling into, disguise it as anger. He manages to resist slamming his mug down to the point of shattering it, but the table still shakes all the same.]

Christine is helping me find more gold. If we can create more fulminate, I can use it on the wall the same way I did the train.

[He doesn't mention his doubts to Stephen -- that if they could slam instruments against the doors without a single scratch, there's no chance an explosion would do what he hoped. But it's actionable, and takes them further from the topic at hand.]

[37773972]

Can you make anything else?

[beat, and he looks down at the book]

...I think I need to put astronomy on hold for a while, come to think of it. [it's time to LEARN!! MORE!!! SCIENCE!!]

[heathencall]

Oh, Stephen. I thought I told you I'm no Ariel.

[Now more than ever --

And just like that, he's back to where he was. His expression sours, and he finds himself glancing to the side with a dark expression.]

I thought him a fool for caring so deeply, you know. [He glances back to Stephen now. He doesn't expect the other man to understand any of this, but perhaps if he says it, it will stop haunting him.]

Now I think he is a fool for not caring enough.

[37773972]

[Whups. To be fair, Mephisto has made it clear he's picked up a few things by watching humans- but now the mood's changed, and Stephen isn't sure he can direct it back.

After a moment, he reaches forwards, placing a hand on Mephisto's.]

Hey.

Humans are stupid. Take it from one.

[Because otherwise, he wouldn't have brought up a Deal in the first place.]

The most you can hope for is that we learn from our mistakes.

[heathencall]

[He hesitates a moment, but only just. His hand rotates within Stephen's, curling until he's secured his fingers around the other man's hand. It helps muffle the earlier sensation he'd felt burning in his chest as well.]

You are very stupid. [He sounds almost affectionate when he says it. It will bother him more later, but for right now.]

Funny, how I once banked on you creatures not learning from your mistakes.

[37773972]

[He'll take it, and smiles again as he wraps his fingers right back] Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we do. Depends on the human, really. And if they have someone to call them out if they're slipping in to some bad habits.

Thanks, by the way. [For stopping him last night.]

[heathencall]

It's.

[He thinks to make an excuse, to bury his moment of concern beneath logic. His answers die on his tongue before he can fully form them.]

You are my closest ally here. I do not enjoy seeing you so low.

[37773972]

It's still appreciated. I'll try not to need it again. [But he wouldn't be upset if...it did turn out he needed another hand, and if Mephisto gave it to him. The (fallen) angel's been there more than God's ever been, anyway.

He squeezes Meph's hand briefly, then eases his grip without pulling away]

In this place, or any other. I might see about staying dry for a year, after all this is over. [Just to make sure he's kicked it as a habit.]

[heathencall]

Know that I will be sure to make sure you heed that promise. [Thinking about all of his plans for when he gets out of here is... almost exhausting. Between Riley, Christine, and Stephen, he'll have his hands full.

A guardian angel in his own right.]

When you're backed against the wall
I could be the one who's always there to break your fall

have i told you lately you're a fucking monster

[37773972]

[At least he'll have Stephen following, as opposed to having to somehow split himself? And it's not like Stephen himself wouldn't be interested in helping. But as it is, he chuckles, finding the music more comforting than disturbing by now.]

I won't be alone
You're the sun, you're the day
The light that'll guide me through

the monster you made me?

[heathencall]

Never run, run away
I will save you.

[He's made countless promises over the last few hours -- many to Stephen, some more to Riley. He's tied himself to their fates, both here in the Opera House and in their lives abroad. A confession, a promise such as this... It almost doesn't phase him now.

Releasing Stephen's hand finally, he drinks the last of his coffee, in hopes of drowning out whatever other lyrics try to bubble their way up. ]

Just don't make it anymore difficult than it already will be.

i set myself up for that and i knew it

[37773972]

[There's a laugh, however soft- but real.]

You're the one who took what I offered. And said I could offer what I wanted. You've got nobody to blame but yourself, Mephisto.

[heathencall]

You are going to be the death of me, Stephen Browning.

[Maybe that's a little too real to say but... It's the truth, as far as he's concerned.]

[37773972]

I'd better not, because then I'd have to figure out how to get in to hell and figure out where you went. And until recently, I didn't even think it existed.

[heathencall]

You'd go to hell and back for me? [It's Mephisto's turn to laugh.] Perhaps you are not my Apollo at all, but my Orpheus.

[37773972]

You're not the only one planning on making sure this deal goes through, is all I'm saying. [Sure, Mephisto's half is a little less in-depth than his own, but...a thought occurs to him.] For all I know, it could take a lifetime to track down the people who start the FEC.

[heathencall]

Already planning on spending our lives together after one -- two kisses? How quaint.

[37773972]

Oh, were you planning on dumping me after you got your bearings, after all?

[He may have considered that an option once. Now...he could...deal with it, but. He finds himself Interested where Mephisto would go- and more, having a better idea of when Mephisto's just trying to get a reaction out of him versus actually meaning something.]

[heathencall]

[Mephisto is quiet for a long moment, tapping his chin as he pretends to really consider the question being asked.]

How would you stop me if I did make that decision?

[37773972]

[Oh, this is dangerous. This is easily in to secondary-deal territory, but he's not going to take the obvious bait. Instead, he'll throw the ball back in Mephisto's court;]

I'd see just how fascinating I could be.

[heathencall]

[It's clear that Mephisto is intrigued now. He places his hand against his chin, braces his elbow against the table and leans forward.]

And how, dear friend, would you do that?

[37773972]

What made you interested in me in the first place, huh? [Answer that first.]

[heathencall]

[He draws a slow breath in at that. He could counter with a question. They could go back and forth like this.]

Beyond the falsities? Your grief. I have always been -- I suppose the right term would be "put off" by the human condition, to live and love, create and die. But I've never known it so closely.

It was the first moment, however brief, that some of my convictions were tested. And I became very curious about those who could push those convictions to their breaking point.