dream blunt rotation

so what happens when you die? | ivan fanclub trio

A ticking time bomb.

A passage of sickening slow time.

And of course, a trio of close companions.

(Would friends be a better term?)

Regardless of the rogue thoughts, the dim light above them all was threatening to go out again. Every now and then, Tea would reach up and tap the lightbulb, trying to get it to go alight, but the repetitive nature of the room would soon come to an end. And so, they had already made a mutual agreement.

The next time that the light went out fully, they'd have made their decision.

For the bomb that was strapped beneath the floorboards couldn't be found, nor deactivated with their limited knowledge of demolition. They probably would've been better off taking their chances, but there was another factor to consider: one person could be garaunteed a leave.

But that was the issue.

There was a key left on the table between them all, able to unlock the door that kept them trapped. However, the host had confirmed that if anyone other than one person tried to go through, they would all be killed. Whether through the bomb or not.

For a band of unnatural beings, they definitely didn't want to die. That much they knew. And yet, even with seeing other comrades survive much more dire circumstances, that fear still lingered.

Was this a delusion after all? God, after seeing so many supernatural things occur, what really was real? Did it matter in the first place?

Maybe it was Tea's instinctual habit of feeling like she was completely immortal, that she was slightly apathetic towards the matter, but such an indifference didn't make Ember and Quinn unnotice her sly glance to the key.

Oh, but how Ember didn't say a word. How he just wanted everything to be over with. If he had died like how the higher-ups wanted him, then at least there was a tiny chance it could be Quinn to escape. Maybe she could watch over Petunia in his absence. A slow burning comfort, and desperate at that- but it kept his mouth shut for once in his life.

Though, who was to say that Quinn would have kept such a promise if she did survive? It only took one moment of eye-contact with Ember to know that he wasn't going to be as committed to surviving as she was. Nobody would hold her to it. And with a lean in her chair, she and Tea stared.

The final obstacle - this time, it would be each other.

"So I'm guessing that Ember doesn't really want to leave? I mean, you haven't really been talking at all." Tea had asked, but her tone had already carried the convinced edge.

Ember let out a sigh, fingers drumming along his left knuckle. He seemed nervous, but as observed, he had already made his decision. "Of course I do wanna leave, but.. I don't wanna fight you guys. You're my friends, and..."

The voice trailed off as he looked up. Perhaps he was distracting himself.

"And what?" Quinn coaxed a response.

"And if you guys want me to take the fall, I'm more than willing. All I ask is that Petunia be cared for."

Tea nodded, but Quinn couldn't meet his eyes.

Still, the shapeshifter was the one to put her hand out, "You've got yourself a deal." Quinn said.

Ember reached over to shake it, before doing the same with Tea. Who, in retrospect, likely felt threatened at the two's immediate agreement. She couldn't let herself be pushed to the side.

"So it's just us, then?" Again, there was that conviction in Tea's strong words, but still disguised as an inquiry. "I figured as much."

Quinn shrugged, "Guess so.. how do we figure out which one of us leaves, then? A coin flip?"

"I'd be okay with that. After all, I doubt we'd get far with actual arguing."

Tea watched Quinn expectantly, before the latter grinned.

"..I don't have a coin."

"Great." Tea rolled her eyes at the other. She reached down into her own pockets, fishing out an old penny that she always kept on her person. She hadn't ever premeditated this situation before, but her wife did somehow convince her that it'd be useful at some point. With the fond memory, Tea stood up straight again and showed it between two fingers. "Heads or tails?"

Quinn hummed, "Gotta pick... head." With that decision, the girl's face contorted into a copy of Abraham Lincoln's. Her portrayal of him did lack the correct beard length, but the intent was still obviously there.

And Tea got the message.

She rested the coin onto the gap between her index and thumb, and flicked it into the air with a quiet murmur. (Quinn could only assume it as a short prayer of some sort.)

The coin spun at Tea's eye-level- a second going by with complete silence- and then it landed onto her palm. She flipped it over onto her other hand's knuckles, covering it as they all stared.

"Go on. Show it." Quinn whispered. She didn't know why she did- maybe to keep the volume low at such a moment.

Without answering, Tea lifted her hand.

And...

"IT'S-"

The lights went out.

A pause passed again, everyone trying to process what had just happened, but before they all knew it; shuffles filled the air with hands bumping into each other on the table surface. As it was pitch black, they all had to slide their palms around, trying to feel for the key.

Quinn extended her arm length, but it was too late for that tactic: she couldn't find the key at all. It was gone.

"Fuck-" She murmured, dashing to the direction of where she recalled the door being, but she felt a tug on the back of her shirt.

Tea pulled her back, "Give me the key! It landed on tails, asshole-"

"You're making shit up-"

"AS IF!"

Tea didn't linger much on that thought, though. She easily threw Quinn off-balance.

"Tea, I don't have the key. You have to believe me-" Quinn hissed, trying to get up even as Tea began wrestling her for an absent item.

"Then who-"

They both froze.

And even in the dark, they could still see the terror on their faces when the sound of a shutting door echoed throughout.

5..

4...

3...

2...

The host called out, "Ember has won!"

1.