week 0, sunday

[alttitude]

[He survived!

... it feels good, and his energy from yesterday seems to have settled. Now that his own fate isn't hanging over his head, he's returned to the fact that he's just stuck in a murder castle with a bunch of near-strangers.

He exhales as he spends his time in the dining room during one of the meal hours, having conjured up a bottle of wine.

When Fitzgerald wanders in, Jae-ha waves in a friendly way:]

I'm not a fan of drinking alone - got some time to spare?

Comments

[spondulix]

There he is. The man, returned from the brink of death.

[He gives him a nod in return, moving up to sit next to the other man.]

I have plenty of time. I'm always a fan of a good drink. Why not?

[alttitude]

[And with that - Jae-ha will conjure up another glass and fill it, then offering it over to Fitz with a smile.]

It is rather impressive, isn't it? I wonder who I have to thank.

[Upon closer inspection - it's rather clear that his eyes have bags underneath them, even worse than Friday.

He hadn't slept a wink.]

[spondulix]

It's a bit of a mystery. Maybe a fellow resident, maybe what we did during the trial...

[He shrugs. It's a question for another time. He takes the wine glass, raising it in a toast.]

To being alive. [Heh. He takes a sip.] You know for escaping death, you look like you're the walking dead yourself.

[alttitude]

[Sure, he'll match that, even as his other hand comes up to his face in concern.]

Do I? And after I was so worried about my beauty sleep....

[He'll drink first before sighing.]

They don't make it easy to rest here, you know.

[spondulix]

At least you can get more sleep after you've been told you're not getting sentenced to death, can't you?

[He shakes his head.]

They certainly don't. Then again, this is war. [A pause.] A strange kind of war, but a war nonetheless.

[alttitude]

[He makes... a vague gesture....]

You're not wrong - and wars are messy, difficult places to let your guard down at any point.

It's a shame. I rather like everyone here.

[spondulix]

It's one thing to like everyone. It's quite another to trust anyone.

[He says, as he drinks more of the wine. His smile is thin.]

At this moment, it's hard to tell who's a wannbe murderer and who's a potential victim.

[alttitude]

[Jae-ha takes a moment to consider that - but he says nothing.

Sharpay managed to pull the wool over his eyes after all, didn't she? He paid for it dearly.]

Whoever has the most to gain from their offered rewards, I suppose.

[spondulix]

But that makes you wonder. What are these rewards?

[He tilts his head to the side.]

How much are they offering to turn us into ready killers?

[alttitude]

[Jae-ha considers that - and then like a sleight of hand, he opens his palm and reveals the token given to him from the dragon.]

We were given this for solving their puzzle, for correctly identifying the murderer - and it's to lead us to a wishing well, right?

Maybe it's just that... those wildest dreams granted.