WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[Well, this is...happening. This is a thing. This is your life now. The Commander is expecting you to just up and kill one another, and then try to get away with it. No big deal, right? You guys can handle this. You won't fall for what she has. She's clearly an idiot. A loud idiot, but still an idiot. She's not going to get one over you.

...Right?

In any case, the Commander's quarters are now open for anyone who decides they can actually stand to be in the same room as her, but beware - any favor you might ask of her is going to come at a price, and who knows what she'll ask you to do if you decide to gain a boon from her. Unless you're a suck-up like Baku - then she'll apparently be flattered. Maybe that's a good tactic to use?


Whatever you do, try not to murder the bread again. The Bread Did Nothing Wrong.


There are fifteen strangers in this place.]



MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | SATURDAY

Comments

[backuphero]

You think I don't know that? You think I just kept my eyes shut while they were smuggling us into Romania, you think I never turned on a radio or picked up a God-damned newspaper anytime in the past three years? Jesus Christ, of course they do! That's why people like me exist, to keep the ones that ain't catchable by laws or other men in check!

[This time, he does deliberately cut himself off, realizing that he started midway through that outburst to advance towards C like he was about to try and deck him. He steps back, forcing himself to lower his fists, shaking his head slowly.]

Least that's why we're supposed to exist. "Trouble", ha... there's an understatement. "Heir to the Belmont Legacy" is the emptiest title in the world....

[losergod]

[ He doesn't even flinch, like he was expecting to be hit and was going to take it. Curious, that.

He just smiles. ]

Titles are only worthless if you believe that. It is people that ascribe meaning to them. ... You must have experienced quite a bit of turbulence to be so very upset. I can't say that I blame you. Humans are quite awful. But those kinds of emotions can be useful, you know. If you're angry, I would suggest funneling that into something productive.

[backuphero]

"Productive?" Like what?

[That's not even sarcasm, now, he's just regular garden-variety desperate.]

[losergod]

Trying to help everyone get out of here.

[ Simple enough. ]

[backuphero]

It's something, at least.

[He sighs deeply, and stares down at the floor.]

I don't want to think everyone has something they'd take as a bribe to kill. Something they'd protect, sure, but....

[losergod]

Everyone has a price. Imagine someone you cared about held hostage. One life in exchange for another. Does that make your actions unjust?

[backuphero]

It... damn it, that's exactly what I'm afraid of. I don't know. Murder's murder no matter why, isn't it? But if it came down to that, I....

[beguiledcard]

[ His voice is quiet. ]

... The motive for the third week involved pictures of our loved ones in danger. It's better to prepare yourself for them possibly going all out in convincing us that there's at least one person here worth killing.

[backuphero]

And... there's no way of knowing if they're really in danger or not, with something like that. Damn it.

[Sure - she can fight, probably better than him if they're on an even footing, his partner can handle herself, but she's one person with the biggest cheapskate in Europe and a dead man with a stupid hat as her only allies now that he's gone. And his mother... God, she hadn't even wanted him learning how to fight....]

How in Hell do you brace yourself for that kind of thing?

[beguiledcard]

You can only do your best. Nothing more.

[ It's said with a bit of a wry smile. ]

As long as we all do that? And continue to stick together through everything? [ a bit more firmness to his nod, than what's in his voice (but he's trying his damn best here) ] We'll be able to overcome anything this place throws at us...

Okay?

[backuphero]

For everyone's sake, I hope you're right.

[He can manage a small smile in return. It might not be there long, but it stayed long enough to see, and that's the important part, right?]

I'll do my best. For as long as I can, anyway.

[beguiledcard]

[ There's a pause, and then he walks over and briefly, gently pats his shoulder. He finally manages what he hopes is a more reassuring smile. ]

For what it's worth, this stranger's got your back...

[backuphero]

Thanks, I... likewise.

[He smiles back, and while it's strained, this time it stays.]

Didn't mean to flip my lid, just... God, what the Hell! You know?

[beguiledcard]

[ That actually gets a soft chuckle out of him! ]

I think I do. "God, what the hell!" [ said with an attempt at matching any and all emphasis ] ... Is pretty much exactly how I feel about this entire situation.

[backuphero]

I can't imagine going through this twice.

[The way he brushes his hair back from his face just now - well, flicks his bangs up and back, not really getting them out of the way but for a moment - has the look of a nervous habit.]

Well, no, I can, but... that really does sum it up, then, doesn't it?

[beguiledcard]

[ His brow tenses considerably, and it looks like that's definitely a... thing he doesn't like to think about. ]

Hopefully, all you'll ever have to do is imagine.

[ The smile is weaker now, but still intact. It looks a bit practiced, at best. ]

If my friend was here, he'd be yelling a different version, probably. "What the eff!"

[ And that brief chuckle is a tad bit weak. But... boy is Akira trying right now. ]

But, I guess it's true. We've been resigned to yelling variations of "why" here.

[backuphero]

So... we just have to shoulder it all and keep moving, then?

[This is exhausting. They're both doing the "make-believe the sky is blue/although you know it's gray" routine, and Jonathan's pretty sure he's just as obvious as Akira is with it.]

It's easier to carry something so heavy when you've got other people helping, that's for sure.

[beguiledcard]

[ Yeeeeah... Honestly, it's easier to be convincing in this area when you actually get enough sleep at night, and aren't running on fumes at this point. ]

Exactly. If I'm being honest, I've gotten through worse. But, it was possible because I had people backing me up.

[backuphero]

Well, you've got at least a few of us here willing to do the same thing. It's a start, right?

[beguiledcard]

[ He chuckles softly. ]

You're right. And, as far as I'm concerned, it... means more than any of you could know.