it must be that old evil spirit

[singmod]

SEPTEMBER 2024 EVENT

PROMPT ONE — PAINFUL REMINDERS: An Aurora briefly connects the Interlopers to their homeworlds, and with it are able to receive items from home — but these ones will bring no comfort to them.

PROMPT TWO — THE ENEMY WITHIN: Strange and familiar occurrences begin in Milton and Lakeside, growing in frequency and danger for the Interlopers. Who can truly be trusted among their numbers?

PROMPT THREE — BAD BLOOD: The Forest Fighters finally come to Milton, and with it: they bring the yawning grave.

PAINFUL REMINDERS

WHEN: 5th - 9th of September.
WHERE: Everywhere.
CONTENT WARNINGS: potentially upsetting themes; themes of loneliness/isolation.

For many, the sight of the Aurora is now one they have become used to. There have been plenty of them over the year that has passed since the Interlopers first came to the Northern Territories. Often, they have been a sign of great danger, with plenty of unsettling and unnatural things happening when the skies light up. Other times they have been the herald of aid — a link between Interlopers and Enola, gifting them with abilities to help them survive in this world. There is no real knowing what kind of force the Aurora is, truly. And there is a tension that holds amongst the Interlopers as the day turns to night and there is the soft sound that grows louder.

The ethereal, high-pitched chorus of sounds, is difficult to place. Perhaps it sounds like voices, or discordant strings. And with it, the low-drone of electrical buzz — punctuated with the echoing pops and sharp cracks. The sky is alive with sound, and with it comes the swirling streaking of colour against the inky black of night, growing brighter and brighter as time goes on — greens, blues, pinks and purples shifting and dancing across the night. And much like every Aurora before this one, the electricals of the world come to life too. Homes, streetlamps, cars long-stranded in the snow. Man’s world comes alive, buzzing and flickering precariously.

But there are no ghosts like there once was a year ago. No terrible weather, no poisonous fog. If one could call it a ‘normal’ Aurora, that’s what it appears to be. But there is something else in amongst all the light and noise. Snatches of things: whispers of conversations, names called, laughter and tears.

You realise you recognise these voices. They are the voices of home. Perhaps you hear your mother, your siblings or friends. Whoever they are, you can hear them. And although they might not be able to hear you — for one brief night, the Aurora has connected you, bridged the gap between your world and this one. You may sit for a while, simply listening to the voices, relishing in hearing those from back home. If others join you, you will find yourself compelled to speak of them: to share in stories about those from back home — the connections you share with them.

It’s strange, though. These voices do not fill you with comfort or joy. Instead you are left with feelings of sadness, anger, and isolation. The Aurora has connected Interlopers, but now you feel so cut off from home, cut off from friends and loved ones — reminded of everything left behind. Everything you long for. Everything you have lost.

Something strange skips through the sky, a warping of the sound. It’s unsettling. Something feels... wrong, somehow.

It’s not just the voices that will remind you of this. Something else comes through the Aurora after that night. A small token will be brought through. Whatever the item may be, when you go to sleep and next wake, you will find said item. It may be placed on your bedside, on your desk or dining room table.

The item, you will find, will bring you a reminder of pain. Of sadness. Of horror. Perhaps it’s something you haven’t thought of in some time. Maybe it is something that has lingered in the back of your mind. Perhaps it is a part of you, waiting to be uncovered. A sign of something to come. A painful reminder of your past, or an ominous omen of your future.

THE ENEMY WITHIN

WHEN: The month of September.
WHERE: Everywhere.
CONTENT WARNINGS: kidnapping/attempted kidnapping; attempted murder; murder; vandalism; arson; assault; animal mutilation; corpse mutilation/manipulation/desecration; themes of peril/terror; possible character/npc injuries; possible character/npc death.

It starts with strange happenings at night, things left to be found by the next morning. Those within Lakeside many find themselves unsurprised by it, given their location, but the scenes found in Milton are a foreboding sight.

Mutilated bodies of animals: rabbits, ptarmigans, even deer — mangled and strewn about the streets, blood upon the snow. Some may awaken in the middle of the night to the sounds of their windows breaking, with houses on the Outskirts being targeted more than those in the middle of town. There is… a kind of unrest in the world.

It escalates.

Some may leave their home for the day and return in the evening to find the place trashed: items broken, precious foodstuffs thrown about the place and destroyed. Those within the Outskirts are once again particularly vulnerable, as are those within Lakeside. Fires are started in some of the abandoned buildings of Milton. Something, someone is targeting the Interlopers.

It is hard to pin-point who exactly, and it only puts the Interlopers on high alert. Nothing like this has never happened before. This is new, especially in Milton.

As the month progresses, the acts become more serious. Fires may be started in the middle of the night in Interlopers’ homes while they sleep. Some are attacked in the night, others are taken from their beds. Some killed within their very homes. Of the Interlopers that go missing, their mutilated remains may be found days later out in the wilds.

In Milton, soon enough, someone is bold enough to come out from the darkness, out from the gloom of the night. Interlopers may be attacked in broad daylight — by those they may recognise as newer Interlopers of the community, who appeared from the wilds: lost and shivering, with nowhere else to go. Some of them have been within Milton for a few months now.

Those in Lakeside will face something similar: Forest Talkers are making a move, rogue and isolated incidents — done with sabotaging attempts at hunting and taking a more direct approach.

They have no qualms about being captured or killed, only determined to get rid of as many of the Interlopers as they can. They whisper, they scream: “You don’t belong here. You should never have come here. It wants you gone, it wants us all gone. The end is here, it’s too late for any of us. Nature must run its course. The yawning grave has been opened.”

The attack is on two fronts: the first of Forest Talkers in Lakeside amplifying their actions. The second in Milton, enemies within the ranks of the Interlopers, Forest Talkers hiding as Interlopers.

Within Milton, newer Interlopers will likely be met with suspicion as being some of the Forest Fighters as a result of these individual acts of violence. As the numbers of Milton have been infiltrated, and it’s easy to have mistrust amongst those newer to the community. In-fighting is likely, and the entire town is stuck in some terrible, tense state — unsure of who to trust within their own numbers. In the days and weeks that follow, it remains like this. Acts of violence and vandalism — chaos and disorder.

BAD BLOOD

WHEN: The night of 27th - 28th September.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: attempted murder; murder; vandalism; arson; assault; mentions of blood; themes of peril/terror; possible character/npc injuries; possible character death/npc death; actual NPC death.

Towards the end of the month, the moon is full. They call it the Harvest Moon, but colour seeps into it — oranges and reds: a blood moon, partially eclipsed. The night is calm and cloudless, but there’s an uneasy feeling in the night.

The earth groans, the rumble of another quake that’s plagued the Northern Territories since the beginning of August. It is the only warning Interlopers will get — if they may realise it as a warning. To some, when they look back, it’s a omen, a starting pistol.

They do not come through the Mines. Thanks to the efforts of Interlopers to guard the entrances of the Milton Mines, they know better. They come to town from the south, not the north.
The quakes of August and September have opened a new way from Lakeside to Milton. They are led by their Leader: a man dressed in white, a large deer skull upon his head. And while their numbers are small in comparison, they come armed and with the determination to get rid of the Interlopers once and for all. As they come into town, they launch their attack.

More fires will be set, Interlopers will be attacked with abandon. Shot at, stabbed, beaten. It is a mass execution. They will not stop until the Interlopers, or them, are dead.

Well, the majority of them. There are just under a dozen teenagers and younger people amongst their ranks who have shown hesitance toward violence in the past. Perhaps they can be reasoned with. Perhaps there may be a way to convince them to abandon their cause. There is fear in their eyes. Some of them do not want to die. They fear the yawning grave.

What will do you then, Interloper? Are you willing to fight for your life? Are you willing to take another’s to save your own, or a friends? Will you hide, or run? What choice will you make? The Forest Talkers have long since made their own choice. Now you must make yours.

It is another night of chaos on a town already scarred by the events of June. Interlopers will note two familiar faces in the fray: at some point during the night both Methuselah and Young Bill will arrive. While Methuselah will concentrate on aiding the wounded and trying to shelter Interlopers the best he can, Young Bill will help protect Interlopers from the Forest Talkers with his rifle in hand. But fortunately, it is just for one single night. Ammunition runs out, sides are switched, and people are killed. As dawn approaches, Forest Talker numbers dwindle. Either killed, incapacitated or defected. In the early morning light, bodies lie in the snow both Interloper and Forest Talker alike.

Those trying to hunt down the leader will see him slipping inside an empty cabin, heavily wounded. Following after him, they will find him settling himself down to kneel on the floor. The white of his tactical gear stained red with blood as it blooms from his wounds. Slowly, he removes the deer skull from his head to reveal a clean-shaven man in his late twenties with a shock of white-blond hair. His eyes are blue, calm.

He sets the skull down, panting and sweating. He is dying. He is not afraid.

“My name is Mallory, not that it matters now. We are dead, you and I.” he says softly. “We exist in a dying world.”

He is in much pain from his wounds. He moves again to sit cross-legged on the floor. A hand touches the bloodied fabric of his front and he laughs humourlessly.

“You don’t understand, do you? The end must come. That is the order of things. The end must come so the world can be reborn. That is how it’s always worked. When the world is swallowed, it will grow again from the earth.”

It is a story. The story of the Darkwalker. Some believe it to be the end of the world, but Young Bill had once said there is another telling of the tale. A creation myth. The Darkwalker swallows the world and returns to its slumber within the earth. Within it, everything its swallowed grows again and the world returns.

“We fought against man’s actions to ruin this place, not knowing our true purpose. The Devourer has shown me the truth, and I sought to put that into action.” His head tilts to one side. “The yawning grave is opened. Does new life not grow from the decay? It is a cycle. The grave and the cradle.”

He finds it difficult to breathe, but he presses on.

“You fight to live. You come here and you do not see what you are. You are only delaying the inevitable, perverting the true course. Prolonging the suffering. You are the Interlopers, you are not part of nature’s design. The Darkwalker does not want you here. And where it fails, we have tried to succeed.”

There’s another laugh, something catching in his throat. He coughs, blood bubbling from his lips.

“And failed. For now. The First Cursed cannot hold it forever. She, too, delays the inevitable." Even as he is dying, he still have the energy to sneer. He speaks of Enola. "A woman who plays at being a god. What right does she have? All must go into the Long Dark. ... As will I. Return me to the grave.”

Mallory’s head dips, his body sagging. He inhales once more and then stops.

FAQs

PAINFUL REMINDERS


1. Players must sign up for items. See the toplevel on the plotting post.

2. Items will face the same warps/nerfs as everything else that is brought into the game.

3. Items can be no bigger than something your character can reasonably carry.

4. While items do not have to belong to your character, there has to be a good reason why they’d receive such an item — ie. something related to your character.


THE ENEMY WITHIN

1. The Forest Talkers within Milton are a number of NPCs that have been pre-selected from NPCs who arrived in April and August. Not all of them will show their true intentions as the month goes on but will continue to stay hidden.

2. Two NPCs killed in the June Event were also Forest Talkers. … Good… job?

3. The following NPC Interlopers will out themselves as Forest Talkers at this stage: Devon Busswood; Rita Yee; Realm Lovejoy.


BAD BLOOD

1. Following the events of this prompt, Interlopers now have an additional way into Lakeside. It’s still rather dangerous: it’s through a partially collapsed cave system that ends into abandoned bunker on the Lakeside side. The game map will be marked accordingly in due course.

2. Some Interlopers may recognise a familiar face in the Forest Talker ranks: the man who was kidnapped by Interlopers previously in July has returned. Looks like he made good on his promise. He's come back to cause problems.

3. The following NPC Interlopers will out themselves as Forest Talkers during the attack: Jackie Blackmore; Ross Huguet; Jennifer Kitchen; Daniel Kresco.

4. As a reminder of numbers: around fifty Forest Talkers will show up for the attack.

5. There is an OOC vote on the fate of the remaining Forest Talkers, the link is here.

PLOTTING POST

Comments

[lieutenantsteward]

"Quite," he answers and he means it. There's nothing the matter at the moment, save for the mounting tensions. "But you are brave to venture this way. Have you heard of the Forest Talkers?"

He glances behind them, towards the woods, as if he might hear them lurking there.

[gildedlife]

It's strange, sometimes, how important bravery has been to James throughout his life--and in many ways it still is--yet how little he's thought about it lately. It hadn't crossed his mind that it would be considered brave to come out to Lakeside, even though he'd heard rumors things were somewhat worse out there, because that hadn't been what's important.

He's glad to hear Jopson is indeed well, and follows his gaze toward the treeline. "I've heard mention of the name, but nothing more." And by 'heard' he means 'overheard', but whatever. "Is this their doing?" The dead animals, the fires, the rest of it?

[lieutenantsteward]

"I believe so, yes," he says, gesturing to the side, trying to get the Captain to walk with him. "Crozier was here just a week or so ago, but nothing started until after he left, fortunately. The others are in Milton, as far as I know."

He lets out a breath. "But I do not trust Hickey to not take advantage of this situation."

[gildedlife]

James picks up on the hint easily enough, falling into step beside Jopson as he listens. Something stands out to him and it takes a moment for him to realize what it is, but it's that Jopson calls Francis by his name, without any title; there's nothing inherently wrong with that, necessarily, it's just strange.

But he's not about to comment on it, as Jopson and Francis had always had their own unique relationship, and between everything that happened before arriving in this place and being here in itself, the entire situation is more than complicated enough. Whatever works for them.

"They are, yes. As far as I'm aware, at least." The others being in Milton, he means. He's checked in on a few of them and intends to be keeping an eye on them all as much as possible with everything going on, save for a certain troublemaker.

"Has he made a habit of doing so?" James would absolutely believe it, but he's trying to gauge if this is a pattern that has some precedent in this place specifically, or Jopson's going off of Hickey's behavior during the expedition. Either is entirely warranted, but slightly different situations.

[lieutenantsteward]

"Of course he has. It is in his nature," he says with no small amount of bitterness behind his words. He's angry at Hickey and always will be, but that anger has only been fueled by his life and his time here. Everything that he's done has been just a testament to his rotten nature.

"He has been here longer than me. And he has made the same terrible decisions here."

[gildedlife]

Hickey making terrible decisions? Say it isn't so.

James does know about a conflict between Hickey and Francis which he's none too pleased about, but a different--presumably, anyway--incident suddenly comes to mind; he'd forgotten it in the haze of his first day here, but now he remembers--

"I'd heard there was an altercation between the two of you, some time ago." He says it neutrally, not judging, but surely there was some reason for it. Was it residual animosity from the expedition, or brought on by something new that had happened here?

[lieutenantsteward]

Thomas sucks in a breath. "Ah, yes. There was an altercation," he agrees, because there isn't really a polite way to explain what he did. Still, this is Fitzjames, and Thomas isn't going to hold back the truth from him.

"Mr. Hickey decided to reveal his atrocities to Miss Marsh," he explains. "A child. And she was distraught. I would not bear him spreading his cruelty outside of his circle."

[gildedlife]

Considering James had once provoked a superior officer into throwing a punch at him, and Jopson had been present to witness that little incident, there's really only so much he could possibly fuss about proper behavior. Besides, it's not as though Jopson is known for his poor judgement or impulsivity, so James is entirely willing to believe he has good reason for anything he might do.

And this does seem like good reason, though certainly not one James is expecting, and he furrows his eyebrows a little in confusion. "What was he intending to accomplish?" James doesn't know Hickey well--which he's fine with--but he does think that Hickey is also the type to act with intention. What could he have hoped to gain by upsetting Kate, other than attracting the ire of people who care about her? Perhaps retaliation for some perceived slight, or even a failed attempt at manipulation, but the explanation is the only part he's wondering about. That Hickey deserved whatever Jopson had done is not in question.

[lieutenantsteward]

"To hurt her. Shock her, perhaps." He shakes his head. "He is a cruel man, even here. Too clever and too ignorant all at once. He didn't think there would be any consequences to his actions because he believes himself to be right and true always. He escaped punishment here just a few months back. A vote was taken for whether he was at fault and he came through clean, though he killed a man and - desecrated his corpse."

Thomas shakes his head, slipping his hands in his pockets. "Do not believe him, Captain. He knows his way around a lie far too well."

[gildedlife]

That sense of invincibility, a lack of fear of any consequences, is certainly a problem and it's one James has already considered when it comes to Hickey. It's worse to know that he apparently has gotten away with murder again here, which surely must've emboldened him further, and although it seems both Jopson and Francis have made certain he hasn't gotten away with everything completely unopposed, it also doesn't seem he's been truly deterred. He's certainly been bold enough whenever James has spoken to him so far, though not to the point where, had it been anyone other than Hickey, James would've taken any particular note of it.

"I assure you, I am not so taken by Mr. Hickey as he'd likely prefer." And he never has been, considering his first real conversation with the man had been that tale he'd told about seeing the Tuunbaq's eyes. Of course, Hickey had also mostly ignored James that conversation, apparently too busy trying to win over Francis, which hadn't gone all that well.

Though now, here, there's something of a new layer to what little connection James and Hickey share. A few new layers, really, considering the entire issue of what had happened to Irving, as well as the incidents here, but there's one recent thing James had yet to mention to anyone. He probably should keep it to himself, but then again, for all he knows Jopson's already aware. And he has to tell someone.

He glances around them, mostly taking general stock of their surroundings considering the recent situation, but also being sure they're alone. His gaze stays on the treeline as he speaks.

"I encountered him recently, during the Aurora, and noticed that sometime before arriving here, he'd come into possession of my boots."

[lieutenantsteward]

Thomas didn't know that, and he didn't know Fitzjames' outfits well enough to notice his shoes. That wasn't his job, but he realizes how stupid that must have seemed.

Goddamn Hickey.

"It's a cruelty and an insult," he says bitterly, biting his tongue from what else he wants to say about it. "Did you confront him?"

[gildedlife]

Although James can't tell for sure from that response, at least it seems that Hickey may not have been bragging about the subject to the others, whether that's because it's not something he cares to do or because he might fear some consequences after all or some other reason. Ultimately it doesn't matter why, but if it's perhaps not knowledge that Hickey's jumping on the first opportunity to share, then all the better.

It's an unexpected comfort that Jopson sounds so scathing; James hadn't thought that Jopson would react any differently, but his own emotions in response are somewhat stronger than he'd anticipated. That isn't new--he's found himself far more temperamental as of late--but when he'd first found out about what had happened he'd been more annoyed by Hickey's audacity than anything else. It hadn't really been upsetting, but maybe that's just because he'd focused only on the practicalities, had justified the whole thing to himself as really not being important because he was dead, what did it matter what had happened afterward? But perhaps it does, or at the very least it's alright for the indignity of being graverobbed to be a little bit distressing after all.

He keeps his emotions under control enough to respond, although the struggle to do so certainly shows on his face. "I spoke to him about it, but it hardly warranted anything more." No need to get into a fight over boots he doesn't actually need, even if he were well enough to consider doing such a thing. "And I suppose it's good to know that should anything happen to mine, there's another pair available."

He can also console himself with the hope that Hickey might trip over the too-large shoes and break his neck falling down a hill or something. Wouldn't that save them all a lot of trouble.

[lieutenantsteward]

Jopson also wishes for this fate for Hickey. He does not say anything to that effect aloud, though.

He isn't the sort of man who wishes harm on people at random. Even those who have slighted him, have made him angry, he has forgiven. Even Little, he has been able to come to peace with.

But Hickey will never know peace as long as Thomas Jopson is around.

"Pardon my curiosity Captain, but - what was his excuse for his villainy? Was he simply trying to maintain his own survival?"

[gildedlife]

"Something like that, yes. He said that his own boots were worn out." Which James doesn't really disbelieve, and which only makes this all a bit more frustrating. "Considering the state our clothing had ended up in, even sharing and trading amongst each other, it would come as little surprise that he and his company may have been in need."

He remembers how Francis had left food and other supplies behind at Terror Camp for the mutineers, and James is trying to find that same grace when it comes to this, but although he can do so when it comes to the simple pragmatism--the boots themselves hardly matter--it's just... It's strange.

[lieutenantsteward]

"Forgive me, sir, but there are so few things that remain sacred in that place. So few things that can be. You - were gone," he says, unable to bring himself to say that he died. Even Thomas has his limits. "You were gone and so far from home. The disregard for life in the face of death, using survival as a means to a wicked end - well, I cannot understand the reasoning for it."

[gildedlife]

There are so few things that remain sacred in that place.

And that's truly what it comes down to, isn't it? That they had all lost so much, and they'd done so so slowly, aware of every little thing they had to give up just to have a hope of continuing on. And then, in the end, even that hope had eventually been lost as well.

When James had made his requests of Francis, he'd never expected to have to reconcile having done so. It was supposed to all be over, and he'd never have to face what any of it meant. He'd never have to know what happened afterward, and it wouldn't matter what happened to what remained of him, or just how many of the things James had asked of Francis would actually be fulfilled. He's quite certain now that at least one of them wasn't, at least not under Francis' orders, but James had been ready for it to be.

So what really does it matter if the grave he'd never really intended to have had been disturbed? What does it matter if the boots he'd no longer had any use for had been taken? What does it matter if the band of mutineers ended up being the ones who actually--

He doesn't follow the thought, at least not enough for it to truly take form, because there's no point. It won't help, and although James isn't completely sure what Francis might've told Jopson after James' death, he doubts he'd shared that particular request and James is not about to do so himself.

So instead he's silent for several seconds, once again struggling to hold back a myriad of emotions he isn't ready to deal with, although when he does find his voice once more he doesn't bother to fake being completely unaffected.

"I won't ask you to. If you'd like to add this to his extensive list of misdeeds, I'll put up no argument." James may be able to justify Hickey's choice in a practical sense but that's really more for his own benefit than anything else, and he's certainly not going to bother arguing if Jopson wants to hold this against Hickey. Able to justify it or not, James can't say he won't be holding a grudge about the subject either, even if it's a low priority when it comes to choosing his battles.

And unfortunately, with the way things have been going in this place as of late, they may have even more battles soon enough.

"But it seems we may have more pressing issues. What exactly has been happening here?"

It's a practical matter to focus on the recent events, but it's also a convenient distraction.

[lieutenantsteward]

He nods because it's true. Because the best thing to do right now is to leave Hickey behind in memories, where he belongs. If Thomas doesn't have to think about him, then he doesn't have to worry about it.

He glances back, towards the woods.

"Forest Talkers. They are - defenders of some sort. They consider us to be encroaching on their land. They scared away any chance of us hunting, they take shots at us if we venture too closely. They're aggressive and very - strange. They arrange these corpses in odd ways, obscene and - and - " He shakes his head. "Well, It isn't pleasant."

[gildedlife]

Alright, that's at least understandable. Sort of. Feeling threatened by the presence of those who found themselves in this place is a motivation that makes sense, although the last thing Jopson describes is somewhat less understandable, even if it's also familiar.

"The bodies of animals have been being... Left, in obvious places, and in a state that is unlikely to have occurred naturally." To put it mildly. He presumes it's the same thing Jopson is talking about, though the use of the word 'corpses' might indicate something more than animals.

[lieutenantsteward]

It does, but Jopson isn't inclined to actually define it any more than he already has. He can't bring himself to think about the body that he burned with Hickey there so close.

"Yes, sir."

It isn't a pleasant time to be here.

[gildedlife]

"And they claim to be defending the land?" Or something of that sort, from what Jopson said? It sounds like nonsense--or perhaps more accurately an excuse--if they're killing and leaving animals strewn about, instead of using them.

[lieutenantsteward]

"I believe so," he answers, but there's a clear question in his tone. He doesn't know if they are defending or if they are simply attacking. Warning.

He's never certain.

[gildedlife]

James refrains from sighing--not at Jopson's answer, really, but at the situation, because of course nothing about this would make sense--by chewing on the inside of his cheek for a moment. Whatever the motives, ultimately what they do know is that things have recently gotten worse, and that trend may continue.

"You're very far from the rest of us, out here." He says it neutrally, not wanting it to sound judgemental; he does think it's a little strange that Jopson's chosen to live in Lakeside when the rest of them are in Milton, but he surely has his reasons.

Besides, whatever they might be, they aren't the point of James bringing this up. "If the situation escalates, are you prepared?" Again, it's not judgemental; he knows Jopson can take care of himself, but there's a limit to what one person can handle, no matter how capable they are. He's not sure if Jopson has friends out here, or what the situation is in Lakeside in general, and he can't help but be concerned.

[lieutenantsteward]

"I left Milton for a reason," he says, because he knows what the question actually is. "I left it deliberately, to strike out on my own, in a way, but I am not alone. Not here. I have support and I am - more capable than I think you might believe me to be."

He doesn't mean it as an argument, but it's simply the truth. Most people don't think of a fighter when they see Jopson. And those who know he is more than what he seems still seem to underestimate him.

[gildedlife]

"I would have the same concerns were you anyone else." It's the only opposition James puts up to Jopson's last comment, just wanting to make that part clear, and it's true as well; although he might indeed be underestimating Jopson, were it any of them out here, away from the others, he would still be just as worried about them being vulnerable in their isolation.

But if Jopson says he's out here for a reason and alright with being so, and more importantly that he isn't alone, then James will accept the answer for now. With one last addendum, anyway.

"But should your situation change, or there is something that you do require assistance with, you need only ask."

[lieutenantsteward]

"Of course, Captain. Thank you, sir." He inclines his head. "I will say the same offer extends to you, should you find yourself in need of assistance. Miss Earp and I would be happy to have you, if you ever need it."

He tries to be polite, tries to not be nervous, but it's strange how Fitzjames, out of all the others, is the one that makes him go right back to his place on Terror.