EVENT: MELPOMENE ▒ HOME

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: Corridors in the belly of the Tranquility
WARNINGS: Creepiness, disturbing imagery, violence, etc.
SUMMARY: Characters discover slices of sanctuary deep in the maze.
NOTES: Open to all! Covers Stage Four of the plot & Escape.

You've been running and fighting for what feels like weeks now. Exhausted and desperate, you find another door, stumbling through into— You're home, finally, far away and safe from monsters or spaceships. You're not alone, someone here who's been waiting for you, and they're so happy to see you. Relief overcomes you; you just want to rest, and there's no reason to believe anything here isn't what it seems, is there?

Comments

[dissociable]

He's not mine.

[ that's quick, almost decisive. it isn't a lie, either, but buddy is as close to ward's as anything — only he belonged to garrett, first, and that ward loves him, loved him, that didn't matter in the end.

not true, it mattered, because it's a weakness.

fitz is right, of course. they should go. the thing is, ward doesn't want to.

but then what he wants hasn't really mattered in a long time, has it? maybe not ever, and yeah, garrett would call him fucking melodramatic and a victim for that line of thinking. ]

[technologist]

[ It isn't the response he's expecting, skepticism aside. It's too quick, too direct; almost defensive. Fitz hesitates another moment before carefully switching on the safety of his gun and sliding it into the pocket of his jacket, then he moves forward, approaching cautiously.

Cautious of the dog, of course. Not Ward. It occurs to him that he's being stupid, it's just a damn dog, but— ] We'll take him with us.

[ Maybe bargaining will get a better response. ]

[dissociable]

No.

[ they can't take buddy with them. buddy is dead, and buddy is a weakness — and right now, ward believes it, believes that he is weak because he wants so badly to just stay here, with buddy, and stop pretending. ]

He belongs here.

[ but ward knows he has to keep up appearances, be stronger than he is. so he forces himself to his feet. ]

[technologist]

[ Ward standing up is enough of an improvement for Fitz to gain some confidence, and he steps carefully around Buddy before reaching out to settle a hand on Ward's arm, intent on ushering him out.

... out where, being the question. There's a quick glance back towards the treeline. ] Um— do you remember which way I came in? [ Embarrassing questions. It all looks a bit the same, now. ]

[dissociable]

[ ward looks at fitz' hand on his arm as though it's an alien appendage — it's largely but not entirely by design. what is by design is the quick calculation that this is indeed something the ward fitz knows would do, and to let it happen.

his jaw clenches momentarily. ] That way. [ he points. his situational awareness is not, all appearances to the contrary, shot to hell. ]