THE EVENT HORIZON - DAY TWO

[inferis]

[Something during the night has activated the ship's gravity core. There seems to be no evidence as to what caused it. Everything within the ship remains stable, but the ship itself shakes violently, and deep in the bowels, a ominous rumbling sound can be heard]

[[OOC: Please wait for sections. THE GRAVITY CORE | AROUND THE SHIP | DAY TWO OOC POST | PLOT CHAT | PLOT HUB]]

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[ensorceler]

[ She whirls on him and snarls, then, advancing all of the sudden. ]

You. Because of you...!

[gottaknockhard]

[He visibly winces. Even half-crazed, she got the blame right.]

I'm sorry.

[ensorceler]

For what? What are you sorry for? Do you even know? We suffered! She set the dogs on me, the dogs, oh Mary was always one for poetry.

[ She storms right up to him and grabs his tie, yanking down. A weakling compared to him, obviously, but she sure tries. ]

You will kneel before me. Before my son! Pay your respects, if you feel true sorrow within your heart.

[gottaknockhard]

[Spike doesn't fall, but she brings him about halfway as he stands there doing little to pull back.]

Sorrow... [He looks her in the eye, searching for whatever trust is buried behind the trauma she's gone through.] For your loss?

[ensorceler]

[ She doesn't flinch away, but her gaze is clouded. There isn't hatred, and there is barely recognition. The fear never leaves, making her muscles tight and her breath always hitched, even when she smiles. But she isn't smiling now.

There's a flash of something, a gleam of wire as she reaches with her other hand up around his neck, and slowly releases his tie, just as she leans for a kiss, whispering with a shaky breath. ]

For your crimes. For your crimes...

[gottaknockhard]

[His eyes never leave hers, and he doesn't even have the decency to pull away from her kiss as he loses himself for a moment. She seems to know who he is now. And if she's looking for criminals, she couldn't have come up with a better example.

Back in reality, he finds the air to ask.]

Can you absolve those too?

[ensorceler]

No.

[ Her right hand lifts from his chest to touch his cheek, and then further up behind him. There's a metallic twang, and then something thin and cold begins to tease the nape of his neck. ]

But I can be sure that she doesn't make you suffer for them. If you have true sorrow in your heart... I can be merciful, for it was not all your fault. I was already Damned.

[gottaknockhard]

[The twang snaps him out of whatever trance he was in, but instead of throwing her off him, he smiles.]

Do you want to kill me?

[ensorceler]

[ She grips the wire tight, but doesn't pull it around yet. She stares at him for a long time, then slowly hangs her head. ]

It matters not what I want any longer...

You should have let me fall.

[gottaknockhard]

[She would have been in her rights to. It's hard to tell if he's allowing her by leaving his hands at his sides, or if he's simply calling a bluff.]

Maybe. I can be pretty selfish.

[ensorceler]

His Majesty would have you killed, anyway. After he burned me.

[ She looks away from him to the message on the wall, distracted for a moment. ]

[gottaknockhard]

[When she looks away, he brings his hand slowly up to reach hers.]

It's really a shame he's not here. He could have taken some pressure away from the doomed ship.

[ensorceler]

He would help her. He was always too fond of her.

[ She's shaking, but she doesn't pull away. There are no tears, even if her raspy voice seems suddenly wracked with sobs. ]

But he is above this. He is above it all, and always will be. I am only as high as he raises me. It is not as high as I thought. Somehow, somehow, I still landed in Hell.

[gottaknockhard]

At least you're not alone.

[The hand he was raising stops, suddenly feeling more bold, and he puts both hands on her shoulders.]

Come with me.

[ensorceler]

Where is it you think we can go? There is no escape. There is nowhere truly safe from her.

[gottaknockhard]

I don't know. [He's never been the best at planning that far.] Even if I could find a way to pilot the ship, I wouldn't know where to take it.

[ensorceler]

It already has it's set course, poor man. The destination is unavoidable. I have already been there. But I managed to help him escape, you see?

[ She looks over her shoulder, one hand against her belly again. ]

My son. My sweet son... Mary will not have him, at the least. I will make it quick.

[gottaknockhard]

[He's at a loss of what to say to her that's of any comfort. Who is Mary? He doesn't want to ask.]

I only knew about your daughter.

[ensorceler]

My daughter. My daughter...

[ She seems frozen as she gazes over her shoulder, then looks back to him, and Anne is smiling. ]

Where is she? We were seeking her. You...you ought to be with her. Where is my little princess?

[gottaknockhard]

[At least her mood swings back quickly enough. He attempts to keep her there.]

I don't think she's on this ship. She must have sailed somewhere safer.

[ensorceler]

No, she is here. My poor little girl, she must be so scared on her own. We will find her.

[ Pushing up onto her tip-toes, Anne presses one more chaste kiss to his cheek before her grip on the wire tightens once more, and she jerks back just as she twists it around, hands criss-crossing the thin wire over his throat. Her strength is pulled out of desperation and terror. ]

But you are in my way. I will not be fooled.

[gottaknockhard]

[The wire cuts like a knife. Almost instantly, he jams one of his hands up through the center before it tightens, but that only serves to slice into his fingers.

His other hand unfortunately shoots forward to grab at her arm, yanking it away with more force than he means to.

Apparently there's a limit to how much he'll indulge her.]

[ensorceler]

[ And her strength still can't compete with his, her grip on the wire failing as she's thrown to the ground with a yelp. She doesn't move to get back up, broken nails digging against the grated floor before, her breaths shuddered and pained. ]

I only wish to help you...

[gottaknockhard]

[He shakes his hand once the wire is loose, sending a few drips of blood into the air. Just one of those reminders that living in a dream doesn't always get rid of pain.

After debating, he kneels by her.]

It's alright. [It's harder to force a calm voice, but he is an expert at these things. As good as it's ever done anyone.] I've already had that favor done for me.

[ensorceler]

[ She remains still, head still bowed. ]

You are a liar. You are craven! And you are a fool. I offer you true death. She will only make you suffer.

[ Anne finally looks up, then, gaze piercing with venom. ]

As you should. Why ought I be the only one to suffer? To know true agony? You will feel it, you will know nothing else, and only then will you know sorrow for not allowing me to save you for the one moment I felt mercy.