ENDGAME GROUP 1: The Other Box (Log 2)

[yourghosthost]

[Off-screen, the groups manage to reunite themselves once more. More notable than anything else is the little black floating box, though if any of you have any information you wish to exchange, now would be an excellent time to do so.]

I know this isn’t exactly on the docket, but I intend on heading in there. You’re welcome to join if you’d like.

(ooc: this is the second and final log for group 1 - if you weren’t here for the previous log, feel free to use this as a jumping-in point!)

Comments

[stenchus_rodentus]

Either you're trapped in your own hell or you were able to move about easily for quite some time, given your...toys.

[Which is it boyo.]

[not_over_yet]

Repeating: who is this?

[amadeusrockette]

Walt Disney.

[stenchus_rodentus]

He brought about those blasted artifacts we're "supposed" to "destroy"! He's as much of a Faustian soul as I!

[Uh oops.]

[not_over_yet]

...

.......

Ratigan, what. are you talking about?

[ THINK CAREFULLY ]

[stenchus_rodentus]

[...oh he's made so many mistakes today.]

Basil, he's the root of all our problems. I'm sure he practically sold his soul to those "friends from the Other Side"!

[not_over_yet]

I don't care about that part of your outburst. What did you do?!

[stenchus_rodentus]

[Ok Ratigan will answer your question, he just needs to...smoke the rest of this cigarette.]





Like I told you, I did what I had to do to escape that damnable pit.

[not_over_yet]

...You told me you conned a demon. [ ...finally catching up to the names and how that idiot is neither a demon nor in any position to help with what you claimed,, ]




What. Did. You. Do.

[stenchus_rodentus]

I did, but not in getting out. He's very gullible.

[He rolls his head, biting his lip.]

Hades...offered me an escape route. In return, I just had to give him one...small...insignificant thing. Nothing egregious, really!

That part of your body you may know as a soul?

[not_over_yet]

...

[ Sounds important. Did anything he's learned about magic address this. ...Yeah, actually. Via Randy. ]

Ratigan that's worse than simply being dead. You realize he's going to burn the damn thing as ritual fuel the instant he decides you're not useful enough.

[stenchus_rodentus]

[Ratigan was banking on more infuriated Basil but...

Oh...oh.

This is worse.]

...that sounds much worse than eternal torment.

...I was fine with going to hell...I mean...I was any...

[Sinking to the floor.

Oh my god.

Oh my GOD.]

[not_over_yet]

[ There's a lot running through Basil's mind, putting pieces together.

Seal. He helped activate. He knew Hades was... he hadn't cared enough at--Freddie. Freddie and her father are going to die, by the Friends, and. He hadn't cared because he let his damn hopes get up for the one thing he'd never expected to begin with, and now the Faciliers,, all because,

They can't leave the box. How the hell do they leave the box. They can't leave the box. Even if they could, he has no idea how to get Ratigan's soul back. He can't fix it. He can't fix anything. He can't fix it. He'd let himself break to keep up with the pace, for what, to do what, and when he actually had a chance to--he just stopped caring for the stupidest. Did he even say goodbye to Freddie. He can't fix it. He half-assed his investigation, he knew Hades was hiding something important, thought it was strange Hades hadn't bothered to check the other box and just. ignored. so many things...

He can't do anything. Not from in here, not now. He can't fix....

...maybe he can't fix anything, but one of the few people he cares about--deeply about--is. right here and distressed. Even if what Ratigan was invested in was the game rather than... it doesn't matter anyway. everything's getting destroyed by the Faciliers' "Friends" and both of them are on the goddamned front lines of it and. and.

Fuck it.



Latching onto Ratigan if the rat lets him, no plans to let go. ]

[stenchus_rodentus]

[Ratigan's mind has always been spinning, thinking of the next move, acting on impulse and id. He always followed what he simply wanted and the consequences always be damned. What happened to him? He'd just escape out of that too. Setting up the murder and lying at the trial? Nothing to him. Selling his immortal soul? No big deal if it meant it gave him the brief advantage, a little step ahead of everyone else. Why couldn't he fool the god of Death himself? The solution would present itself later! It always did!

But he couldn't. He couldn't beat Hades. He can't truly cheat death like he thought he would. Now, now...he wouldn't just die. His existence would be extinguished. Gone. Could be any moment, really.

And really who would mourn him? Marnie maybe. Perhaps Sally and Felicia if he remembered. But he lost the person who intellectually and emotionally challenged him. If the World's Greatest Criminal Mind couldn't win the affections of one mouse, how could he hope to beat a god?

Ratigan felt weighted, exhausted, beaten to accept his fate. He couldn't think of anything, not a witty thing to say, not a plan. If Basil was here...at least he could have that tidbit of company, he didn't even think of fighting off his affection. He sighed, realizing that perhaps smoking a whole human-sized cigarette was another stupid decision.]

...Basil.

It's not you, you know. I simply...don't know how to...be any other way.

[not_over_yet]

...What's "not me"? [ Just a question, a bit distracted at that. Basil isn't sure what Ratigan's talking about, but he is sure it doesn't matter anymore. Not by this point.

A single huff, faintly amused. ] I'm a horrible person, as I rather like how you are.

[ ...Yes, even if Ratigan's more attached to the game than him. He oughtn't to have expected anything else, it's how they've always worked. If Basil had held up better through his round, it wouldn't even be an issue.

Just. clings a little tighter. ...Risks a nuzzle. ]

[stenchus_rodentus]

No Basil. Don't martyr yourself for me.

[Basil and he, both of them seem to always circle each other don't they? Mostly because Ratigan just can't figure how to express those feelings.

You know, he never could imagine affection between the two of them. But each sign from the mouse detective he finds so disarming, he's not quite sure how to process it. He fumbles, trying to compensate with a strong one-armed embrace of his own.]

Even if I could not imagine my life without the chase...it's much harder imagining how my life fits without...

[Basil's name falters on his mouth, the emotion behind it is too hard to get out completely.]

[not_over_yet]

[ Ratigan embracing him in return is. not expected. And there's feeling behind it, automatic motions don't have strength behind them. That unsuccessful attempt to say something, that. Basil's had that issue enough to guess...

The thing he least expects is the wave of relief that hits him. He's never cried from relief of all things, but that's happening now, ok. ...Words need to happen from one of them though, confirmation of message received if nothing else. ]

I, I don't. think we've done anything right. A disaster of a couple, really.

[ If Ratigan wants to argue any of that, it's on him to use words. Only one "out", mister. ]

[stenchus_rodentus]

[It's just as unexpected for him. Not the emotions, he's long tangled with the feelings for some time since his time in round two but...

Ratigan is so strangely quiet in his head, focusing on the present rather than the future. Most likely because he has no future any more. But he can thank Basil for giving him a present when he missed it...

His laugh isn't sardonic or menacing, but melancholy.]

Goodness no. It's been quite a trajectory for us.

But at least can we end it here on amicable terms? I always wished to part with you whatever the case...

[not_over_yet]

[ Manages a sort of nod. ]

That, that just makes sense... ought to go together and all...

[ He's smiling and crying, and can't stop and doesn't want to. Still clinging, not letting go of the one good thing that's happened today. ]

[stenchus_rodentus]

[It's ironic how much he yearned for this happening and it happens in the least violent way, with him at his lowest point. He doesn't regret it for once.]

In that regard someone can have one good memory of me, eh Basil?

[not_over_yet]

[ ...Ow, that hits Basil hard. He knows where that's coming from. Being secure in the knowledge that your death might well make the papers (depending on the nature of demise), while anyone who actually knows you will, at best, feel a moment of relief. Finding someone who'd mourn him, realizing they would...

The mourning part's a bit inapplicable if he's dying with Ratigan, and there's that whole problem with the universe ending anyway. Basil doesn't know what to do with this. Can't ignore it though, that's out. ]

...More than one? I wouldn't want to lose any memories, I--they're all good memories. Of you.

[not_over_yet]

...The god who created and murdered people for no particular reason? [ That's the gist of things, right. ]

[amadeusrockette]

It's slightly more complicated than that. Don't listen to the angry rodent man.

[worldofcolor]

Hades trapped me down here. Same as the rest of you, I imagine.