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

CW: suicide

[beguiledcard]

... I wasn't like this until the third week of living in the mall. As far as I can remember, anyway.

[ His sleep-deprived mind can't help wondering if maybe just finally fucking saying it might help, even a little. ]

Every time I close my eyes... [ a strained, bitter smirk appearing ] ... I see someone I love taking their own life, during the third week's trial, over and over again.

[crouching_sin]

[He's quiet for a good long while before putting a hand on the other's shoulder if Akira doesn't move away.]

Someone taking their life is not your fault. It's not as if you had the opportunity to stop it, correct? There was nothing you could do.

... Which I know is the worst part, yes.

oh... that's cute????? unlike... this tag.........

[beguiledcard]

[ He doesn't move away, actually. In fact, he's momentarily frozen in place, staring at Naoya with just a bit of surprise... ...But quickly softens at the words. For a moment, he looks conflicted.

Not over the words, and not over the touch... ]

... He did it partially because of me.

[ Just like that, a quiet laugh escapes - a not-exactly-stable one that's immediately followed by him lifting a hand to the side of his head, gaze firmly resting to the side. The words are stupid, right? But... but it's the truth, isn't it??? ]

I was-... [ pausing to grit his teeth a moment, and then partially said through clenched teeth: ] I was the one to immediately suggest we save him-...

[ The smile isn't steady, but at least he's not laughing now. In fact, his teeth are clenching together super tightly. The next words are quiet. ]

We were all going to refuse to vote for him. He- killed someone, but he did it to... save his mother, and he worked for someone he thought could bring us all back to life.

[ One more laugh slips out, his head lowering a bit. ]

We would have all died, if we had refused to vote... So he took his life before we could stop him. He sacrificed himself to keep us alive, in the end...

[ Whispered: ]

... All I remember thinking at that point, is I was tired of watching people I love die. Yet, here I am, not even able to remember the people who died in the first week, or the culprit who died in the second week.

[crouching_sin]

... Familial bonds can be incredibly strong. I'm not surprised someone would kill to do that. It's not your fault that things turned out the way they did. Doing that was ultimately his decision, not yours.

You suggested a plan, and it didn't work out. It's not as if you did anything wrong. The fact that you can't remember things is no fault of your own.

[His tone is... tired. There's a faraway look in his eyes, before he closes them and shakes his head.]

You've been hurt quite a bit, haven't you? ... The world is unfair, and I imagine that place was even more so. No one can blame you for feeling that way - and if they do, they're a fool.

[beguiledcard]

[ He swallows thickly, making a point of keeping his head turned so his face can't quite be seen. Good thing for him, probably, that Naoya is taller.

There's a long stretch of silence after his words, and it's clear he's taking a moment to reel it all in as much as possible. He eventually releases a very tired-sounding "heh" before he shakes his head. ]

Yeah... I learned it's unfair when I was a kid - or so I thought.

[ Nothing he'd been through before remotely prepared him for that game. And he holds a blink, taking a deep breath before opening them back. His voice is quiet. ]

Thank you.

[crouching_sin]

That's either the best time or the worst time to learn it. One one hand it's better to not think everything is sunshine and rainbows before it hits you hard... but on the other hand being hurt that badly so young will affect you for the rest of your life.

[It's... interesting. The way this young man acts... it feels almost like... but it's not. He'd know if it was a shard of Abel. It's too much to hope for, and too serious to imagine it where it's not.]

[There's a long stretch of silence before he speaks again.]

You're welcome. ... Akira, if I tell you something, will you... promise to not spread it around? It would... be something that others would think automatically makes me suspicious, but I suspect it won't for you.

... Of course if I do find that you've spread it around, that will make you a target. That's not a threat, it's simply a fact.

[beguiledcard]

[ His expression softens considerably as he blinks at the older man. He's ready to agree to silence, but then... he hears that last bit. Quietly, he releases a puff of air, shifting his stance as a hint of defiance enters his gaze.

Not that he's planning to challenge him, but... ]

Being a Phantom Thief kind of required a knack for keeping secrets.

[ In any case, he's going to make sure their door is properly closed before nodding his head. ]

You have my word.