shipmaster | (no subject)

[ 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.

That's impossible. It should - it should at least still be warm.

[ He grips Curious' hand tightly once it returns. Like a drowning man clinging to a raft. Hell, he wasn't expecting it to be so dark. ]

[ Even with their eyes adjusted there was nothing. No shadow, no movement, not even their own nose... they'd doubt even Flourish if they couldn't feel his hand, warm, in theirs. They hold on just as tightly. ]

It should... but it... None of that makes sense!

[ Somewhere, far off, is the deep, rumbling sound of something grinding. ]

[ Oh hell. Flourish goes absolutely still, every part of his body tuned towards that noise. ]

Did you hear that?

[ Curious' voice is low, nearly a whisper. It echoes, even so, in the large cavern of the Arena. ]

I did.

[ Silence follows, so deep the ears ring in their strain. ]

[ He's suddenly not liking his earlier bravery that much. Much scarier when you can't even see what you're dealing with. And yet ... ]

We should get closer.

To what? Surely you're not...

We're already here, right? May as well see it through.

You crazy bastard! There's nothing that could- [ The sound of rocks grinding against each other rumbles through the ground at their feet. ]

[ Shit. Flourish cries out as he stumbles, going to one knee as he clings to Curious for dear life. ]

What the hell is that--?