vatheon | (no subject)

[If you've visited the island any time in the past week, then you would have had the briefest conversation with Station Master in the elevator, right before you stepped off onto the island, demeanor as polite as ever as he speaks--]

I'm trying out some new cookie recipes and wanted to know if you wanted to try some. Stop by, when you and your friends are able. I’m thinking of baking up a big batch on Saturday and pass them out where we met before. You really should come.

[--before the doors of the elevator will close, dissuading further conversation. He certainly looked far too serious to be talking about cookies.]

---

[For those who take Station Master up on his offer, he'll be waiting by the warehouse up on the island, distracted, before waving people inside. Inside are cookies, muffins, and cups of water, but those aren't the real reason he's summoned you here. When Station Master steps inside, he removes his hat, but his gaze is still distant, as if he has other thoughts preoccupying him.]

I’m sorry for calling everyone here on such short notice. I’m afraid I had little choice though and my message is not an enjoyable one.

[His expression is serious now, very serious.]

This morning I intercepted a message meant for the Head Nurse from the lead scientists who are behind this experiment. I was able to erase the message, leaving her unaware of its existence for now but I’m afraid I’ve only been able to buy us some time, nothing more.

[He’s reaching into his pocket now, drawing out a folded piece of paper. The message for those who’d rather read it black on white.]

It said they have gathered all the data needed and are shutting down this project. They’ve also given her the all clear on eradicating all left over assets. That is to say… you.

((Now with a summary))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He's practically like our third son anyway, he'll listen to us.

...boy it feels weird, saying it like that. 'our kids'.

It does. But that's exactly what they are.

[ She smiles up at him. ]

Thank you. Again. You know, for raising them when I couldn't.

[He smiles in return.]

Aaah, it's no big deal. They raised me as much as I raised them. I wouldn't be who I am now if I hadn't been their father.

Oh, is that what it was? I thought something was different about you!

[ She knew full well that raising them had changed him a little. She'd known how he was before becoming a father. ]

I swear, there's been more of a change in me than just my receding hairline!

Can I start calling you 'old man' yet? Because I'm going to whether I'm allowed to or not, I hope you know.

[ there's a smirk here as she says that. ]

Technically I'm fifty now, so you can call me old man.

[He'll let her, it's not like there's much time left for arguing.]

Might as well enjoy it now, I don't think we're going to end up in the same place back home.

No, I don't think so.

[ She heaves a heavy sigh, then looks away. ]

Still, it was fun. Being alive again for a little while ... getting to know the boys a little ...

[ She closes her eyes. ]

I don't want it to end.

Neither do I.

[It's the first heavy thing Shiro has said that night. He can joke about his death all he wants, but he doesn't actually want to die.]

Satan isn't going to make my afterlife easy, not after all the trouble I gave him in life.

Still...it's nice to have good memories. Maybe between all the fire and brimstone I can find solace in them.

[ She's quiet for a little while after that. It breaks her heart to know that she would inevitably be separated from the people she cares about again, and seeing Shiro like this doesn't help much either. ]

Do you think ...

[ A pause. ]

Shiro, do you think that fighting back this time will get us anywhere? Or do you think there isn't any chance at all, and that we'll just end up back where we started no matter what we do?

If there's a chance, I want to fight to keep what we have right now. And even if there isn't a chance, I think I would still fight.

I don't know. It might do nothing, it might end up worse for everyone. We don't have any real information to go on, so it's hard to tell.

But even if we don't know what will happen, it's still worth trying. We have a lot of futures to save, and I for one am not going to give up without trying.

Neither am I. I think the same can be said for a lot of us here right now.

[ At that point a smile returns to Yuri's face, though it's a very nervous one. ]

There will be a lot of opposition for them to take on, hm?

There already has been, this is nothing new. They just get one last bailout from their mom and dad, this time.

[ She laughs again. ]

I'm glad we have the opportunity to give them that bailout.