#minimaleffortmulti

[audaciiaearchive]

@minimaleffortmulti

"So...Sannikov land. I don't think I've ever seen that on a map? At least, not that I can recall. I suppose that checks for the Spiral, though, ahah-" Michael clears his throat, looking to Gertrude and then back up to the imposing silhouette of Peter Lukas' ship. Every statement he's read of the Lukas' always leads back to the Lonely, so part of him wonders why he's even offering his help...

He scrunches his nose up. It doesn't really matter. All his years of Spiral research has led up to this moment, although he's unsure if he'll come out on the other side. Or if either of them will. Michael Shelley is not as naïve as he acts, after all, but he does worry.

"How long is the trip again? Are you sure you're going to be warm enough in that? I think it's going to be really cold, erm, so..yeah."

[audaciiaearchive]

"Ah--right. Sorry." Michael clears his throat, an uncomfortable silence falling between them as he follows her to the ship. He doesn't like the feeling it gives off, the sense of something so incredibly lonely...which makes sense, when he really thinks about it. It'll just be him, Gertrude, Peter, and what little crew Peter may or may not have with him for the next two weeks. Michael isn't sure he really likes the idea of sharing such close quarters with a Lukas, but they really don't have many options.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, I've got everything I need in my backpack, so no worries there. What was the plan for stopping the ritual again?" Gertrude was extremely vague in her explanation for it. Probably for a reason that sets him on edge. He's glad that he at least got to tell Casper goodbye before they left. He just failed to mention that he might not ever see him again. "It's not, uh, too complicated or...deadly...I hope?"

Gertrude Robinson does not often feel guilt for her actions. This is not the first time that she will sacrifice someone to prevent the end of the world, and she doubts that it will be the last; perhaps not even the last time that she sacrifices someone she knows. But it is difficult, with Michael Shelley believing so earnestly as he does that he is accompanying a frail old lady through harsh conditions and worrying accordingly, not to feel a swift pang of discomfort at the idea of offering him to the Spiral.

It is a pang that she sharply pushes down, of course. She cannot afford to allow her judgement to be clouded by sentiment, not when the Great Twisting is already so close to fruition. Michael Shelley is the most suitable candidate to prevent it.

"I am perfectly capable of deciding if I am cold, thank you, Mr Shelley." It comes out perhaps a touch more sharply than strictly necessary, and Gertrude relents a little as they make their way to the ship. "Mr Lukas believes that the crossing should take no more than two weeks, and then once we reach land I hope to be at our destination within the week. I trust you brought some comfortable boots?"