WEEK 2

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 2

[A week has passed. There's been no body, no investigation, no trial. No deaths. Congratulations!

Now the question is, will it last? At the moment, the Commander seems content with forcing people to do petty and mean-spirited errands in return for a mere shower. On the one hand, it's just for showers. On the other hand, what if the demands start to get more extreme? Would caving in encourage her? Is anyone willing to try and find out?

Honesty, with all the strange dates and information floating around from what's been uncovered, the only one in this place who's probably not worried as the time slips into its next movement is Sir Riprazor McRockfang. That's right, he's a sir. A grumpy sir, yes, but still a sir. No one's going to mess with him, regardless of what his true origins may be. And if they do, beware - he bites. Omnom. Good luck, everyone.


There are fifteen strangers - and one alligator - in this place.]

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

Comments

got some leftover character items here + some new ones!

[beguiledcard]

[ Yesterday sure did suck a lot, and that's why Akira had taken some time to himself after motive drop.

He can't say he expected the cooking thing to turn out how it did, but... oh well. It's later that night, he can be found working on a cup of coffee in the Mess Hall. He has a few things left from before - rose, wrist computer, embroidered tapestry, playing card, and baseball sitting on the table.

Alongside the old things, however, is an arrangement of new things - cell phone, model coffin, pack of 16 pink candles, and...

Uhhh... floating cards...???

... Yep. Akira is actually playing with some cards that are now flying through the air. He might look a bit like a magician, right now. Or perhaps some comic book character. Strange, perhaps, that... in spite of this? He doesn't look like he's having much fun with it. If anything, there's a sort of exhausted-to-the-point-of-emptiness thing going on with his expression...



Not long after he's given people time to notice and grab their items, if they want, he's going to go looking for two people, in particular. He's looking for Nagisa, first... who will be getting flagged down, as soon as he sees him; he'll be asking to meet somewhere private. And, not long after that, he'll be asking Naoya to meet him in their room. ]

Because I guess we don't have enough threads

[losergod]

[ He's deeply unnerved by the motive himself, but seeing Akira with all this junk has him curious. Still, it doesn't take him long to notice his expression.

So he comes in and... sets something down in front of him. It's a drawing of Akira. He actually... didn't make you a cute girl for no reason like he does to a lot of people here, he really observed and went out of his way to make it something decent. He's wearing a really stylish but badass suit in the picture, complete with gloves. ]

... You don't have to talk about it, but I'm... I'm here.

[ He's probably doing about as well as he is. C's been carrying that envelope around with him pretty much since the onset of the motive... ]

If you need some company.

I'll happily take all the threads with him <3

[beguiledcard]

[ He blinks at the sudden picture, and a small smile of appreciation immediately surfaces as he ghosts his fingers over it just a moment. ]

That's really amazing...

[ Though, the smile strains as he nods at C. ]

You're always more than welcome...

[ But, that sure is his voice sounding raspy and strained, even cracking a little towards the end there. ]

... The people in the mall.

[ Not that he intends to talk about it, really... He... doesn't want to. But, his hands are shaking as he stares down at the table. The cards roughly hit the surfacing, sliding a bit forward as he lowers his hands to his lap. ]

They're all dead. Even I'm--

[ His lips draw together tightly, and his eyes are starting to sting a little. He failed to hold back a couple of tears, but he's turning his head. ]

I failed them... [ unseen, wry smirk surfacing ] ... Just like I've failed my entire world, by being trapped here.

[losergod]

[ ... He can't hug him. His own mind prevents the gesture. He just doesn't trust Akira enough yet to do that. But he... gingerly places a hand on his shoulder, which in and of itself, really, is a show of faith enough. And offers a gentle smile. ]

Mister Kurusu... you haven't failed anyone. It's not your fault. And even I know for certain that death is hardly an ending.

[beguiledcard]

[ He blinks softly at the touch, but doesn't shy away. Instead, his expression relaxes just a touch as he looks to the table. ]

... You're welcome to call me Akira, you know.

[ After a moment, he holds a blinks and nods. ]

Maybe not? They did make it clear we just needed to die to be able to accomplish what needed to be done. But, even... then...

[ Look at the situation he's in now. Look at how... things are... If this isn't the same kind of game, who even knows what happens to them after they die, here. Would he really be put through the same kind of game twice...? Is that possible...? ]

[losergod]

... I...

[ He looks befuddled for a moment, taken aback by that askance. Call him just Akira? It's not a thing that C really, uh, does. He calls everyone "Miss" or "Mister". ]

... If that's what you really want.

[ A beat. ]

Look, either way, I do not believe for a second they would allow us out of here alive even if someone got away with murder. You would still have to escape, wouldn't you? And why would they let such valuable hostages go?

[beguiledcard]

[ His throat feels a bit dry as he listens to C.

With his lips tightening into a thin line, he nods. ]

So, you believe... we're all trapped here forever, unless we escape?

[losergod]

Or we die.

[ He's quiet for a moment. ]

I'm certain there's a way out of the situation. But killing just feeds into what they want from us.

[beguiledcard]

[ He... doesn't say anything in response to that, at first; there's a heavy pause... ]

I hope you're right.

[earietale]

Is anything in the future going to be normal at all?

[She noticed that tired look on Akira's face, and she figured that maybe starting with a joke would help. Maybe just poke fun at her time travel a bit. She walks over and sits across from him, concern written on her face but she somehow keeps a smile on.]

Are you doing okay?

[beguiledcard]

[ That question gets a small smile. ]

Probably not.

[ He lets the cards collapse into a stack in front of him, not bothering with keeping them aligned properly. ]

... I'll be okay.

[ So, basically, he's not okay, at all. He just doesn't want to admit that, right this second. He just wants to pretend, for a moment, that everything is normal. ]

[earietale]

Figures.

[The smile disappears at that response. That was not a good. Time to pry just ever so slightly.]

Are you sure? You don't really sound okay.

[beguiledcard]

[ His lips draw together a little more tightly, and then his smile softens into something gentle and warm, even if sad. And, well... Of course he's angry over this motive. There's no hiding that from his eyes, in spite of how it's obvious that he cares about her well-being and appreciates her concern... ]

... It's...

[ He hesitantly pulls out a few pages, but only shows her the black and white one on top. ]

They're using... people from the mall against me.

[earietale]

[She's not really surprised, per say, just saddened. The people he'd become friends with in that terrible place, now being used against him. It was terrible.]

If it makes you feel any better, I really think she might be lying. It just...doesn't sound possible that some of them could be dead.

[That second part seemed a bit more to herself than to Akira. Like she's trying to reassure herself.]

tw: suicide mention

[beguiledcard]

[ His smile appears, strained... and then it's gone. ]

Maybe... But, in my case, I watched this person die, just a foot away from me...

[ Kurama had made sure the executioner wouldn't have to do anything. He'd wanted to make it quick, too, Akira thinks. So, there was no room for doubt, with him, even if he couldn't even begin to know who some of the others were. Granted, if... he had to make guesses, he thinks he could make one at who the boy from the second trial was... and... ]

I was among the last people standing, in the mall...

[earietale]

[...okay, that's...definitely a thing. Barbara's eyes go wide, slowly going back to normal after a second. It's hard for her to make a response, but she does.]

I'm so, so sorry. I'm sure he was a great person that...that didn't deserve any of that. And the same thing goes for all the others that were there.

But...if there's one other thing I'm sure of, it's that she can't really be able to bring back the dead. It's got to be a lie. And if she tried it would probably be something horrible with them still having their wounds and-

Th-the point I'm trying to make is...don't let her get to you. She's just trying to make you angry. Get a reaction out of you that'll get you in trouble. The way I see it...it's just not worth it.

[beguiledcard]

[ The image of them coming back with wounds is... definitely one that has him going pale. He hadn't even imagined anything like that, and... it's... a good point.

For a moment, he stares at her quietly, his expression briefly unreadable. Then, he manages a smile. Right in time for his eyes to well up with some tears. And, just like that, he turns his head, his hand lifting to cover his eyes. ]

Y-yeah... That's probably exactly what she's doing.

[ His voice is tense as he fights the tears. And, as he does, he mutters: ]

Sorry... [ a humorless chuckle to an unspoken, dark-humored joke: ] I'm just... tired.

[earietale]

[Well, that gets her out of her seat and now sitting next to him, patting him on the back.]

It's fine! I know how you feel, really. But, as long as I keep that in mind, I just...I think I can keep going.

[beguiledcard]

[ There's a pause... ]

Heh... it's definitely hard, but... I know you're right. Focusing on whatever it takes to keep going - that's exactly how to get through this kind of place.

[ After a moment, he does relax, and he even shifts so he's able to properly look at her. It's clear he's tired; the dark circles perpetually forming under his eyes aren't just for show. ]

Still... I'm starting to think you'll never cease to amaze me. [ a small smile ] I'm really glad I got to meet someone like you.

[stealsyourduelist]

[....Well now. He's pausing to see these flying cards in action, but it looks quite familiar.]

Are you quite certain you're not a duelist?

[beguiledcard]

[ He blinks. ]

Ah... well...

[ There's a sheepish smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. ]

Positive. [ ... oh ] You, uh...

[ Sliding one of the cards out from under another of the items. He'd wanted to make sure it didn't get knocked off the table, or something. He holds it up, doing some overly flashy presentation of it, as though he's a magician.... ]

Is this your card?

[stealsyourduelist]

Parlor tricks...?

[He's just saying that like "seriously?" And he doesn't even answer because obviously it is. Well, okay, he'll nod. And then grow an arm to move the secret compartment book Angela made him from inside his suit to outside of it. Passing it to his actual arm, he takes out the Blue Eyes White Dragon and holds it up to the Shadow Spell. It makes a little dragony hmph! noise. Even though it's only foil....]

Hm... it seems it has no power. Then I shall have no need of it.

[also his third arm just kinda flops down so he catches it in his other hand... he's got good reflexes. Maybe he's been practicing?!]

[beguiledcard]

I'm but a humble magician just trying to make my way in this cold, cruel world.

[ SUCH DEADPAN... ]

Huh? [ slightly lifted eyebrows ] Well, maybe the... power will return later?

[vividsins]

[ Of course he looks over them. And at first, he just frowns. But then, after a bit, he takes up the model coffin and he holds it. ]

...This feels like some sick kind of joke.

[beguiledcard]

[ O-oh...

So the coffin was... his...? Maybe. Akira's pale as he stares at it for a moment. ]

That yours?