snowtourn

Madeline and Albanes hurried over toward the dock. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

The boat was still tethered to the dock, swaying slightly in the water. "It's still here. Good." Albanes said. She nodded. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Looks to be in.. boaty condition.." Madeline said. "I don't know what else to do to inspect it, I've never been on the trips out of here.. too risky." Madeline and Albanes wouldn't get much time to think about that before the sound of two steps of footsteps rapidly approaching could be heard. Once Hannah and Mallon were close enough, Hannah grinded to a halt and grabbed Mallon's hand. "Shit there's guards here-!" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @em | enya + mallon

Albanes immediately turned to the two newcomers, her hands up in surrender. "We don't mean you any harm! We're not with him!" @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline @em | enya + mallon

Mallon skids to a halt—immediately they position themself in between Hannah and the two guards, eye narrowing as one of them speaks up. “And why should we believe that?” They challenge, shells rippling into existence on their arms. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Madeline stood in front of Albanes, holding her arm out in front of her. Hannah let Mallon stand in front of her, they were clearly more fit to have this fight than her. "Because I'm the one from the announcements with Ryunoske, and Albanes is my partner." Madeline said. "We are just trying to make sure the boat is ready for all of us to leave. Yeonaixho has hurt all of us, we wish to leave just as badly as you do." @em | enya + mallon @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Please, we don't want to fight you. We just want to leave, as much as you do." Albanes kept her hands up. "We won't be able to win unless we all work together. Please." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline @em | enya + mallon

Mallon does somewhat recognize the voice, but even the reasoning the two provide isn’t exactly enough for them. They frown, glancing back to Hannah. “What do you think?” @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

".. Tell us where the powers are at that you stole from everyone that lost." Hannah demanded. "If you tell us-.. That probably means you're on our side." ".. They are gone now, most likely. Yeonaixho was going to use them to revive his wife, and.. She has been revived. Your powers, my powers, all the powers of the losers.. They are most likely gone for good." Madeline sighed. "I'm sorry. We couldn't get them back." Hannah gripped tightly on to Mallon's hand. She leaned the top of her head against their back and looked down at the ground. "B-bonaparte.." @em | enya + mallon @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Albanes gave the two contestants a sad, guilty look. "I'm sorry. I know it doesn't mean much, but I am. I was complicit in all this, but it doesn't mean I can't make things right now. We need to get everyone off the island. That's the only way we'll all be safe." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline @em | enya + mallon

Fuck. Mallon’s face drops almost immediately at that as they make the exact same connection. They squeeze Hannah’s hand back as soon as she leans against them, turning around as shells spread across their back just in case. “I am so sorry,” they say quietly, pulling Hannah into an actual hug this time. Lifting their head slightly, they glare at the other two with a sudden intensity. “If the stolen powers are truly gone for good, then there is not a ‘making things right’. If this is our escape then the two of you should collect everyone. We will stay here with the boat.” @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Hannah hugged them back, digging her fingers in between the shells. "If-.. If that is what you wish for us to do. It will probably take a while to check all of the island over.. Albanes, do you remember all the guests..? We should keep a list to make sure that we don't forget anyone." @em | enya + mallon @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Albanes nodded. "I think I remember everyone. We'll be able to round them all up and bring them here." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline @em | enya + mallon

Still holding on to Hannah, Mallon nods shortly. “Good. Send them here when you find them and we will get everyone on.” They pause, then sigh before adding, just in case, “You have my word that we will not leave without the two of you. And also…” Their expression softens, ever so slightly. “If you.. If you find Ekmeros, he..may refuse. But please at least give him the option.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"We'll give everyone the choice." Madeline nodded and took Albanes' hand. She led them back toward Mallon and Hannah, towards the mainland. Hannah didn't let go of Mallon and stayed staring down at the ground. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @em | enya + mallon (edited)

Albanes nodded, and followed Madeline away. She hoped the other contestants would believe them. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

8:40 PM

( @em | enya + mallon u too lol)

Mallon shifts out of their way, but just barely. Only once the two have left completely do they allow the shells to fade away again. “How about we go sit down,” they suggest to Hannah carefully, loosening their hold ever so slightly so that they can see her face. They’re not quite sure of the word, so they nod over to the small dockhouse near the end in lieu of that. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Hannah's face was red and wet from tears. She sniffled and moved her arm up to cover her face as Mallon looked at her. In response to their suggestion, she just gives a small nod. @em | enya + mallon

Mallon eases them both down to sit on the dock, leaning against the wooden dockhouse wall behind them, but still keeping one arm around Hannah’s shoulders. There isn’t much they know to say that they feel could help—they simply stay like that for a good while to allow Hannah some quiet to grieve. But unfortunately, that quiet is soon shattered by the next echoing announcement. Mallon’s earfins press back against their head and they scan the dock as if expecting some sort of trap to be sprung, but there’s nothing. Now, at least. They glance back down to Hannah with a faint worried look. “Are you going to be okay to move?” They ask quietly. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Y-yeah I'll-.. I'll be fine.." Hannah sniffled and rubbed away her tears with her arm. Her face was pretty gross at this point- all wet and.. Snotty..... "W-we.. Should get on the boat.." Also Hannah totally had her bags and her surfboard at the docks and I didn't forget about it. @em | enya + mallon

Mallon scans the dock once more, then (slightly reluctantly) nods. “Okay.” They can’t carry everything, but they can take at least one of the bags and the surfboard for now as they lead the way up the ramp. They hesitate, just briefly, at the top. “Up or inside?” @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"I-inside.. I- I don't want to look at the water anymore.." Hannah mumbled and grabbed up her remaining bags. @em | enya + mallon

One of Mallon’s earfins flicks, though they nod again and move towards the inner deck. It’s more than reasonable, really, but a faint scattering of shells begins to appear nonetheless. Once inside they set the bags down and after a brief glance around the empty room, wave Hannah over to the seats. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline ( #boat-out thread?)

(Ye!)

Teya had gathered up her belongings, and set towards the dock. She hadn't been able to reason with Astrid, or Fio, or any of the rest, and the announcement had made it all clear. They were leaving. She had been able to pack all her meager belongings into a simple backpack- at least, anything she wanted to keep. She had some spare changes of clothes, her trident, a prayerbook- it'd felt wrong to go without it. She brought with her the most precious item she owned, the bead bracelets her mother once wore, that she'd never had the courage to put on herself. That, along with some necessary provisions and medical equipment was all she had to bring into her new life. She stopped before the boat, hesitating before she boarded it. She knew, once she stepped onboard, it would all be over. It was over already, she kept reminding herself. She couldn't stay. But the heart was not so easily persuaded. She hesitated, unwilling or unable to fully give up all she had once lived for. What would she do? Where would she go? @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Footsteps could be heard approaching Teya. Upon turning around, Teya would see that Zerada was standing before her with her backpack of her own upon her shoulders. The other girl's expression was difficult to read. "... I take it you didn't know about the truth behind this island, right?" Zerada asked in a steady voice. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Teya startled, but her expression softened as she saw the other woman. "Oh, Zerada. I'm so glad to see you're safe." She took in an uneasy breath. "I knew... parts, but not the whole. He'd convinced us we were doing it all to help people... but..." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Zerada was silent for a long moment, shifting from one foot to the other as she thought. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. At least, not for the first few seconds, not until she knew what she wanted to say. "I was- Really hoping that you would've been entirely clueless," Zerada admitted quietly. "I was hoping I'd be able to just- Excuse it all as ignorance, that it was something that you weren't aware of, but.." Zerada looked mildly stressed. Her hand reached up to fiddle with her necklace. Her expression displayed her uncertainty with how she wanted to proceed with the conversation. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I'm sorry. I really am." Teya looked away from Zerada, trying to hide her guilt. "I know there I'm complacent and all this. I know that there's not much I can do to make it better. I understand if you won't forgive me- I wouldn't forgive me, either. But I am sorry. I hurt... a lot of people, in my complacency." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"You did, you did hurt a lot of people by playing a role- My cousin being one of them. Kal's powers are gone for good." Her grasp tightened on her necklace. ".. But I don't want to be mad at you. I know your position here wasn't the highest, and I know you were brought in here at a young age.. It ultimately isn't your fault.." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Teya nodded. She could not- and would not- deny any of Zerada's claims. "I know. I'm sorry." At Zerada's change in tone, her expression slightly softened. "Thank you.... right now, all I want is to leave with the rest of everyone." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Zerada shifted on her feet slightly. “Where will you go?” She asked quietly. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I'm... not sure." Teya admitted. "There are... very few of us church members leaving the island. Petrai, I know, is leaving, so... I might go wherever she's going, if she'll let me." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Zerada made a quiet hum as she glanced around the dock. She remained silent for a few moments before she spoke up. “You could- Come with me, if you’d like,” Zerada offered quietly. “You don’t have to agree, or really give me an answer now, you can use the boat ride to think about it, but- That’s an option, if you’d like.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"You would... take me in?" Teya asked cautiously. "I don't want to encroach, but... I'll think about it." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Yeah, especially since- I’m kinda on my own, too, I’m just traveling,” Zerada cleared her throat somewhat awkwardly. “I know there’s plenty of sights you haven’t seen, so- I could introduce you to them. At least, the ones I’m familiar with. Or we can see entirely new things that I haven’t seen either. It’s- Just a thought. Like I said, just- Something to consider.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Thank you. I'd like to... think about it a bit more, but thank you." Teya smiled. "We should probably get on the boat..." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Yeah, I’d hate to get stuck here..” Zerada nodded. She made her way onto the boat, glancing back to ensure that Teya would follow. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Teya walked beside Zerada, not sparing the island a second glance back. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Onto the boat they go salute

docks confrontation

lightning gals