shipmaster | (no subject)

[ They COULD protest that, but they also like the sound as much as the physical compliments. Perhaps they are a vain creature, they muse, but they can't find it in themselves to care. ]

Me? I'm just a curious newcomer making sure everything is clear.

Of course. Not calculating in the slightest.

Shall we call you Curious, then?

[ They duck their head... a self, here where there was none. As far as definitions go... ]

That doesn't seem bad at all. [ The smile is quite genuine, at least. ]

Then it's settled. Flourish and Curious of Lacerta.

[ There's a good sound to that. Curious nods with a smile. ]

Well then, I will live up to my name. Should you lose, I want to know the first memory you get. A simple enough wager in return.

... All right, deal. I can handle that.

Good. I think I'm nearly as at ends to figure out who you are as I am about myself.

It seems rare that people arrive at the same time.

[ They seem about to go into that a bit more when the torches flicker noticably, the warning of the night cycle about to begin. ]

I'm much the same. Maybe we'll recognize each other.

[ Flourish lifts his head at the torches, though... ]

Aren't we supposed to be inside?

... I believe that was a warning we'd gotten. [ They get up, rather hurriedly. ]

I think we might wish to run.

[ He'll hurry, of course, but - ]

Or we were warned away because there's something they don't want us to have access to at night.

[They pause, midstep.]

... Do you think so?

[Be it information from these unknown Judges or other Blanks... The idea of self enriching treachery didn't seem that impossible in these black circumstances.]

I think it's possible. What's the worst that could happen?

[ He did tell himself to cheat, didn't he? ]

A night without the comfort of a bed. [ It's reasonably said, but there is that thrum of excitement again. ]

Exactly. Let's find out what it is we're all missing.

[ Instead of rushing back towards their dorm in the distance, Bel pulls one of the torches from the wall, and leans back against it. ]

Well, where to? The Arena, perhaps?

An excellent idea. I'd love to get on top of one of those thrones.

Will you declare yourself King?

[Curious leads the way, picking through the widening tunnels towards the great doors.]

Perhaps one a little less tall, to start out with ...

Well, there are plenty of names to pick from.

[The Arena is silent and deserted. Where the great structures of the feared Games usually stand, there is empty sand, crumbled structures and the scraggly brush reflecting in the flickering torchlight.

Ominously, above all of it, is a stone throne far larger than any human could sit on.]

Somehow, I was expecting... More.

[ Huh. Flourish also squints at the ... disappointing landscape. And then up at the throne. ]

Well, the throne itself is large enough. The rest ... not so much.

Well... Let's have a look around, just in case.

[And there is the last warning flicker.]

Right. Let's see here ...

[ He hardly gets to the base of the throne before the torches go out, plunging them into darkness. ]

[ In that total absence of all light, Flourish can hear Curious stumble and give a line of profanity whose breadth and creativity was impressive for the utter lack of memories behind it. ]

[ Flourish mutters something too before reaching back for their hand. Grabbing it firmly in the pitch blackness. ]

Did you drop the torch?

No! [ They let go of Flourish's hand and check the end... not only was there no afterglow of the fire extinguished, but it was cold, as if never lit at all.

After a moment, and a few wild swings in the dark, their hand brushes Miles' shoulder and quickly works back down to grasp his' again. ]

It just... stopped when all the rest did. It's cold.