03 ▒ EVENT: STRELA OUTPOST ▒ ASSIMILATION

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: Strela Outpost.
WARNINGS: Mind horror, hivemindery, etc.
SUMMARY: Communal brainwashing.
NOTES: Divided by locations; players are free to indicate which day/stage, and to begin new subthreads wherever they'd like!

Looks like the authorities have apprehended you and have brought you in for processing. After being forced to wait in the waiting room, you're brought to the assimilation room - a terrible white cell, where you're trapped for hours, sentenced to be slowly stripped of your individuality.

Comments

[jurisimpudent]

So if you go, it's saving her from more violence and suffering. He gets slowly to his feet. If you go, you'll keep those lives from her conscience.

He wishes he had to ask what was wrong with Pinkman, but he already knows. He wonders if the boy will ever speak or act of his own volition again. He wishes he had the energy to ask why it is that those people suddenly are looking past them, but he can't really deal with the answer any longer.

Instead, he just steadies himself and nods once. He just needs to know, before they go, in case something happens and he loses the opportunity to ask of the green-eyed man -

"Who are you?"

[snaketrap]

He knew it, too. Such was why he told her to do so. Once everyone has been rallied and ready, it's simple. They walk out. Quiet and easy as anything. "Well deserved," is his answer to her claim over anyone in their way. "If necessary. Until then, we walk."

This magic is not going to last long enough to get them back to the ship and he knows it. Whatever it looks like out there, they'll have to fall back in line. At least this buys them some time. As for Edgeworths inquiry, he passes it over his shoulder with a serpentine smile.

"Loki."

[amethysts]

Libby falls in line neatly, and in a rare moment of sense she keeps her mouth shut. She's about as expressive as Jesse unless anything gets in her way. Well deserved? She thinks he can have no idea, but she doesn't care. She doesn't care about anything except getting everyone out of here.

She thinks she'll try to punch a hole in the station after they get on the shuttles. Let them all choke. Blow up a ship, maybe, and send fuel flaming through the air. There are so many ways to tear the world down and such a small span of time to do it in. She drops most of her metal but keeps two shards molded to her forearms, in wait.

She wants someone to get in their way, that's obvious. But it probably won't happen.

[jurisimpudent]

Loki. Edgeworth's eyes widen for just a moment; then, for just a breath, he looks over at Pinkman. This is him, then - the man who terrorizes Libby, of whom Pinkman is terrified, the man he calls a god -

Saving their lives.

Why? Has the man been slandered? Is he not the monster Pinkman said? Or is he playing some longer game?

Questions to be explored away from this slaughterhouse. Far away, once he's had time to...come to grips. To process the blood. To stop feeling like this.

"Please keep her safe. And hidden." It's a dangerous thing to say to Loki, who might be his enemy. It's giving knowledge of his feelings, and such knowledge is dangerous. But he must ask that of him, because...No more of this.

[snaketrap]

Loki just tips his head to the other man with a look as if he were puzzled. What would he be expending so much energy for? Well, truly it was a game a game far larger than anyone truly understands. It did not matter, though, what matters is that he is getting them out and he knows that will form questions that he can manipulate further.

"Of course," it's spoken with such emotion, "you'll have to hurry with us, now." Libby has already begun to walk. They just need to get out of this facility. He just needs to push a little longer and they'll be fine.

[amethysts]

"You--if you can. Take from me."

It's all she'll say. Still, it matters. Use her, if you can, to get them all out. She loves everything and anything more than herself. Libby is worthless. These two--they're a thousand, trillion times what she is. Easy, to sacrifice for them.

Libby shrugs.

"Miles, do what he fucking says. He's my friend."

[jurisimpudent]

"He's - "

He makes you suffer. That was clear from Pinkman's manner. A friend wouldn't make this boy who cares about you afraid. A friend wouldn't cause him to worry for your life and your safety. A friend wouldn't...

Wouldn't what, come along and potentially save her life? Save her from killing others? No matter his trepidation, the fact remains that Loki is doing them a kindness right now.

So Miles nods. He nods with reluctance, yes, but he nods, and he begins to walk as well. They just need to get back to the ship.

"I understand."