ENDGAME ALL GROUPS: WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR

[grimgrinningghosts]

[An ominous door has appeared in the starry skies above The Other Side. It’s not at all what Group 3 expected to happen when touching the symbol - and yet, something about it doesn’t surprise you.

Should you leave with Rod and/or Walt and Mickey, you’ll find them here. All the facts will start coming together, and only one name comes to mind: Hades.

But..you have each other. You stand here, ready for any and all eventualities. Even in the face of the demise or everything.

Welcome to your final test, Foolish Mortals. Keep your head up.]

(ooc: Welcome to the end of the world! There’ll be no mod tag-ins/plot advancement for about an hour (12:05 EST), to allow everyone to reunite and regroup.)

Comments

[greatwidesomewhere]

Thalia! [Belle's here and she looks...utterly at a loss for words. But determined. Utterly determined.]

I want to help. I want to fight.

[sentree]

[ Thalia looks shocked. She hadn't thought, if given the chance to-- ]

B-Belle. I- [ have to tell you something, about kylo, ben, and i'm sorry, i'm so-- ] I don't want you to put yourself in danger...but we're all in danger now...aren't we?

[greatwidesomewhere]

[She's not sure what to make of the shock on Thalia's face, but—]

We are. And I'm going to help. I might be small, and not very strong, but I can hit hard.

[sentree]

[ She puts a hand on Belle's shoulder. ]

Then we'll get you something to fight with. And a flashlight. Do not venture off on your own, alright? We're all doing this together.

[greatwidesomewhere]

I won't. I promise, I'll stay close—

[Belle's eyes flicker over Thalia's face, certain that there's something more she isn't saying.]

Is—did something happen?

[sentree]

[ She hates this. She can't meet Belle's eyes. ]

We... Belle, we...lost some people. I- I don't know how to tell you this, but... Ben, he...

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Thalia says we lost some people and Belle instantly goes pale, her gaze scanning the surrounding area, looking for a glint of metal, a head full of black waves—

and then his name meets her ears. Belle feels her eyes fill with tears, hears her own voice like it's a thousand miles away, underwater.]

—No. He can't. He can't be, he can't—

[sentree]

[ This hurts. This hurts like the bodies of her fellow Hunters, splayed out on the ground while Orion laughs and laughs. It hurts like Luke, no longer the boy she once loved, begging her to join him, eyes crazed. It hurts like asking her mother where, just where her beloved baby brother went, and feeling the world crash all around her. ]

I'm so sorry. [ How hollow it all feels. ] I'm so, so sorry.

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Belle has to press her eyes shut; she feels dizzy, sick. Ben is gone, Ben is dead. No matter how complicated her feelings might have been for him, no matter the conflict he'd caused in her life, there was always a part of her that loved him.

Still loves him, even in death.

She doesn't even realize that she's crying hot, silent tears into Thalia's shoulder.]

[sentree]

[ She holds Belle tightly. There's nothing else she can do, but hold her against this loss. Soft murmuring apologies, quiet consolation. Just stroking Belle's hair as she cries. ]

[greatwidesomewhere]

[It's enough. It has to be enough. After a long moment, Belle pulls away, eyes swollen and red, sniffing.]

...Thank you, Thalia. You've b-been such a good friend to me, all this time. I...I wouldn't have wanted to hear it from anyone else.

[sentree]

I never wanted...to tell you something like this. [ A deep breath. ] But...I'm glad, if it's a comfort to you.