Endgame: This Broken Jaw of Our Lost Kingdoms; Part One

[animusmods]

Characters: open to those trapped in cells
Setting: the cells
Format: any
Summary: Those left abandoned in the Tower have some time to speak to each other. In the middle of the room, a clock counts down...
Warnings: general animus endgame warnings

Comments

[sageprincess]

Ruana will not simply let us sit here and watch as our time runs out. She will come and visit whatever manner of horrors upon us as she sees fit.

[She really should be saying that with more emotion, but it's just such a fact of life in the Tower that she can't summon the energy.]

But... wherever they might be, her eyes will not be upon them when that happens.

[Provided they aren't dead or restrained themselves, of course, but she's trying to stay hopeful. Anything less is too painful to contemplate.]

[hoasen]

Punishment for our actions, hmm? Or just a sadist.

[It sounded almost like they've suffered through this before. Not to this scale, but similar.]

But yes, from the short time that I have met them, I know they are clever. We will trust their actions.

[And it was best she kept talking like this, addressing them as survivors who managed to flee the clutches of Ruana. Still, with nothing else to do, Vietnam needed to grasp at options.]

If Ruana comes and visits us, I wonder if she will let us out of our cells before torture. [Too bad it would mean they won't be able to run, but hey, when you have nothing to lose.]

[sageprincess]

Both, I imagine. She said she had something to "show" us...

[Which certainly can't mean anything good, if it comes in the wake of Riki's death. Zelda nods in agreement about Aria and Zo - once she puts her faith in something, it's incredibly difficult to break it.

As for Ruana...]

I do not know. She is capable of simply immobilizing us-- [Also something she'd rather not think about.] --so one must wonder the reasoning behind placing us in these cells in the first place.

[hoasen]

[Vietnam sighs deeply; both, then again, someone who is capable of doing this would never be right of mind.]

We will have to steel ourselves for then. I am horribly curious at what this could be. [Though it was hard to disguise her tone of dread.]

But...really? [One of the things Vietnam could think of was how sadists like to taunt their prey slowly and painfully. It could be why they're in these cells, to watch the clock tick on and they cannot move or do anything about it. She was pretty sure no one will appreciate this being mentioned.]

Let us hope whatever she has in plan, her letting us move will be a fatal error. [It was best to still have hope, no matter how dark their options.]

[sageprincess]

Indeed.

[Hey, hope is pretty much her middle name right now. Anything less and she fears she might fall apart at the seams. Vietnam's theory as to Ruana's reasoning going unvoiced is indeed appreciated in that regard.]

If nothing else, I doubt anyone here is ready to simply lay down and accept her judgment at this point.

[Intentionally or not, she has forged each and every one of them into fighters.]

[hoasen]

[As they say, silence is golden. Or speak only what needs to be said. Vietnam managed a smile at the thought of everyone going to fight; humans, or mortals, anyway, have such great spirit. Sometimes she feels they have more bravery than nations such as herself (which is saying a lot).]

Fight for what matters and for our freedom. I am sure many of you have had enough.

[She looks around once more, eyes sweeping over what one would consider rebels. Although--]

Not everyone is here, are they? Perhaps they would sweep in to save us.