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

[37773972]

[...oh. Hey. That's an encouraging sign. At least, even if he's not making much progress in terms of making them shine...it's definitely not hurting Mephisto. He wonders what it does feel like, briefly, then refocuses.

There's enough feathers that have fallen out, after all. And if they continued at this rate, then Mephisto won't have many left.

...]

Do they regrow?

[heathencall]

Slowly. In time. [Slower than the other angels, certainly. But in his fall, he'd maintained some connection to the power he'd once held. It was how he was able to do half of the things he did.

It also would explain his susceptibilities to more mundane things. His stomach had ached for hours after the previous trial.

But. He doesn't want to think about any of that.]

I've lost more in one moment before, Stephen. Don't worry about what was shed tonight.

[37773972]

Doesn't mean I can be happy about it. [But if they regrow...he won't be Upset. Still, any others that fall join the small pile he's made, neatly stacked as he resumes the task at literal hand.] Imagine if you brought them out again and they were bare. That wouldn't be nearly as impressive.

[And he's not going to be responsible for that, alright?]

[heathencall]

[Mephisto huffs, pride wounded. There are few things he can take pleasure in any more, especially here. His glorious appearance is one of those.]

Never speak of such a thing again.

[With that, he relaxes back into a... semi-docile state. Though, after a moment a somewhat sly smile curls across his lips.]

Am I going to catch you squirreling them away to remember me by?

[37773972]

[Stephen chuckles softly, giving a careful pat to the wing he's finishing.] I won't even think about it. [He'd rather think of how he wanted these to get, but...it's pretty clear that's not going to happen. Still, he's doing his best, damn it.

As for the question?]

Considering our deal, I don't need to, do I?

[heathencall]

Perhaps not. Perhaps I was simply trying to establish just how much of a sentimental fool you are.

[He glances toward Stephen, and for a moment, there's a note of... affection in his expression. It's mixed with something close to gratitude as well, two very foreign feelings that make Mephisto almost uncomfortable.]

You know your soul isn't truly bound to mine. You can refute me at any time.

[37773972]

[Don't give him a reason to need to keep them, Mephisto, and he won't. As it stands, he may give them to the kids and tell them to play arts and crafts. Not that he'd admit that, because ooh boy.

Still. He pauses, meeting that gaze, and...smiling, wryly]

I probably wouldn't have made a deal with you if you'd tried to force me. The fact you gave me an option is part of why I made the offer I did. [And, may as well admit it;] I was also counting on you wanting to keep me around for a while.

[And he...looks away. Back to the wings, finishing up the last few plumes]

...you're good company, Mephisto. I know you're still trying to figure things out, but if it helps, so am I.

[heathencall]

[Figuring things out. That's putting it mildly. His faith, or lack thereof, had been shattered. His track record of spurning dependency has gone out of the window. Despite having fallen over the mere concept of taking care of humans, he's taken a number of them under his wings.

And he grieves. That's the hardest thing to come to terms with.]

If I were the type to admit it. [He shifts away as Stephen finishes up, if only to face the man directly.] I would say that you have helped me immensely in figuring that much out.

[37773972]

I don't think I'd mind following you until you've figured out as much as you need to. [Especially with the deal including 'waiting 70 years before taking any souls'.] Just don't be heading for a new country every other day?

[That's more a request than a requirement. He wouldn't mind seeing the world- but he also wants the chance to, you know. Be.]

I promise you, there's a lot of places where you can spend years and still not discover everything.

[heathencall]

Yes, I suppose the rigors of travel would not be as easy on you as they would be for me.

[Still, he considers it for a moment, moving city to city every night, no need to wait for Stephen to catch up. He could fall asleep under a different set of stars every night, indulge in any number of sins during the day. He could live freely, no longer dreaming of heaven.

But... That sweet tasting dream felt a little sour when he thought of seeing it all without Stephen.]

Together, then. A slow journey across the globe.

[37773972]

[...]

Could...we go by boat, instead of flying? Or trains, they're nice.

[please. do not. make him. fly.]

[heathencall]

I've told you before, my wings don't work. We would not be able to fly, even if I wanted to.

[37773972]

No, not by wings, I mean-

[oh god he has to explain it doesn't he]

Can I see the book you were reading for a minute? Maybe it covers the Wright Brothers.

[heathencall]

[Mephisto is already laughing. There's something about that exasperation that charms him.

He does hand the book over after awhile, though.]

[37773972]

[mephisto you ass but

Stephen flips around for a few seconds before he's able to narrow down the time period, and-]

Here. Things have improved since then, so they're pretty common now, and they're supposed to be safe, but...I don't like them.

[That sure is a picture of the Wright Brothers with their flying machine!]

[heathencall]

[Mephisto spends a long moment studying that flying machine.

And then promptly closes the book.]

I am inclined to agree. That looks awful.

[37773972]

[There's an undeniable sag of relief in Stephen's shoulders.] They are. I had to fly to get to Germany- I'm hoping it'll be the last time I'll ever need to be on one.

[heathencall]

Boats, then. Across the world.

[Together, he repeats to himself. It makes his chest feel... warm, when he thinks about it.]

[37773972]

[...]

I wonder if I sold everything, if I could afford a boat...

[heathencall]

Selling all your wordly possessions to sail around the world with me? Oh, Stephen, you must have it so bad.

[You know that... lacks the usual taunt.]

[37773972]

What else am I supposed to do with them if I'm going with you, huh?

[He's. Not arguing.]

[heathencall]

[He's quiet as he contemplates the thoughts rattling within his head, the warmth radiating through his chest. He thinks about everything that's changed, the things he finally feels. And for a moment, he considers giving it all up, casting it away and rejecting every single emotion that he's allowed himself to feel in the last four weeks. He thinks about it, just to see if he can.

When the thought fills him with dread, he knows he's too far gone for all of that.

Instead, he holds his hand out, palm up and outstretched. A moment more of thought, and his fingers curl until only the pinky remains. Christine has taught him about this solemn oath, and it feels far more meaningful than the kisses he'd taunted out of Stephen.]

I am ready to follow you even though I don't know where
I've been waiting the night until you decide to take me there.

[37773972]

[Stephen almost places his hand on top of Mephisto's - and then pauses, as he curls his fingers. Though his brow furrows at first with confusion, especially with the song. Wasn't he the one who pledged to follow, wherever Mephisto led?...

...and then it dawns on him. Perhaps Mephisto can't give him a word, but he can give him a sign. Stephen...hooks their pinkies, and slowly looks up]

'Cause I know I don't wanna stay here forever where it seems that everything's wrong
'Til then you're here and that's keeping me believin', and all I can do is hang on

[They're both in this bad, aren't they. It's not just him, and it's not just fascination or being enamored. Mephisto is a lifeline for him, in many ways; he couldn't possibly bear the weight of all these kids on his own. As it is, sometimes he feels like he's cracking.

But apparently? He's something for Mephisto, too.]

[heathencall]

[Panic grips him. He wonders, faintly, if this is how his victims felt before they signed their pacts. He tries to tell himself that it's nowhere near as binding, but he knows it's not true. He's tied himself here, not just to Stephen, but to the girls in the other rooms. He bears the weight of responsibility for their lives, and that's something he'll never be able to shake.

His voice... wobbles for a moment.]

I will be waiting for you on the other side of the frozen pines
We're gonna find a way through, there's another light beyond this lie

[And then he swallows the fear. He is Mephisto, the only demon allowed to terrorize the souls here. The Phantom, the Beetle man, they can all be damned. He'll give everything he has to keep them alive, even if it meant his very last breath.


Leveraging the grip he has on Stephen's finger, he tugs his hand forward far enough to catch hold of the other man's wrist. It's this that he uses to tug his body forward, so their foreheads are pressed together. He gives Stephen a moment to resist, to shy away, before he angles his head for a kiss.

Not a deal, a promise. Not a taunt, but a declaration.]

[37773972]

[Mephisto's voice may wobble, but Stephen's is steady- if soft. Mixing with his once again for the conclusion to their song, which, yes, still strikes him as odd- but more odd with how right it feels. As does to allow Mephisto to tug at him, if only to see where he's going, and-

-ah. It's clear enough. He doesn't need to be led in to this, and he moves forwards the rest of the distance, pressing their lips together with his other hand coming up to cup Mephisto's cheek.

He realizes, belatedly, it's still a bit damp.]