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

[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.

[earietale]

[...ah ha ha blush please go away]

It-it's not really that hard! Just-just need to stay optimistic, really!

And...I'm really glad I got meet someone like you as well.

[beguiledcard]

[ There's a brief pause, and then he offers her a small smile. ]

Do I... make you nervous, Barbara?

[earietale]

...n-no. I-I'm completely fine near you.

[She's not looking him in the eye, and the blush is clearly coating her cheeks. She's just trying her best to not look too suspicious and she's failing miserably.]