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

[theserpentsmiles]

I don't know. But it's not like they want us happy. [Seems like directly the opposite, really.]

[losergod]

I'm... no, you're right.

[ Sigh. ]

I... I don't deal well with... this sort of thing.

[theserpentsmiles]

That's understandable. Everyone has something like that, right?

[Skirts.]

[losergod]

I wouldn't know. I just... I don't deal well with parasites.

[ Exhale. ]

I've always had... some problems with that kind of thing.

[ In fact, it's shocking to him how normal everyone's face here is, really. ]

I hate how unclean they are. I hate how unclean the world is in general. Filthy...

[theserpentsmiles]

[Parasites....it sounds like he means more than just being grossed out or unnerved. That's worrying.]

Do you mean literally unclean, or figuratively? [One of those is easier dealt with than the other.]

[losergod]

... The world is a very unclean place, Mister Shiota.

[ It's said slowly.

Why does he feel like the only acceptable thing is for this world to be pure white? Like there's someone who'd agree with him? ]

It's better not to become sullied by it.

[theserpentsmiles]

[....Something is just..... What is going on with him, why does he feel like he's getting more than he's processing?

He's pretty sure this is figurative now, which means he has a thought. The corners of his moth curve upward, in a somewhat....different....sort of smile.]

So clean it. [And this is where the kanji would read 'clean' but the furigana would say 'kill'.]

[losergod]

[ ... He seems a bit saddened by those words. ]

That's not my job. I'm simply an Observer. No, someone else...

[ He's quiet for a moment. He can't remember their name or face, but... ]

... That is someone else's duty. ... I am starting to believe I may have forgotten them. But I do know that this is something they did quite a bit. "Cleaning up".

[theserpentsmiles]

Is that the way you want it to be?

[This is important - because if C is happy in his role, then that's that. But if he isn't...

It's time to learn. Time to kill. Time for both, because to Nagisa, they're the same.]

[losergod]

... I'm not some special protagonist, Mister Shiota. I'm not someone meant to be center-stage. Others are... better served doing that kind of thing than I am.

[ It's difficult to say he's happy in it, per se. More like he's... comfortable. There's a difference. Afraid of action, might be a better way to put it. ]

[theserpentsmiles]

Forget 'meant to' and 'better served' for right now. If you could do anything at all, no consequences, what would you do?

[Would it still be this? Whatever...'this'...is.]

[losergod]

[ That's... a loaded question. But to say he has regrets about what he's done in the past... maybe, not so much. He frowns, as if considering it for a moment. ]

... I... don't know. There are always consequences. I can't really say that I can fathom the idea of there being none. I suppose I'd want to return to my Heavenly Domain. Perhaps bring Miss Wiltshire with me, so she would be safe...

[ A pause. ]

But if we're speaking of right here, right now, I would just like everyone to go home where they belong.

[theserpentsmiles]

You want everyone to go home....and do you want to make that happen, or to wait for it to happen?

[Not fighting, knowing when a battle is beyond your means and wisely staying away, is a valid choice. But in Nagisa's experience, once the ability to change things is introduced, it's hard to be content with sitting back and doing nothing again.]

[losergod]

Being proactive is dangerous. But sometimes you don't have a choice.

[ This is getting into some, uh. Deep stuff here, Nagisa. He's got issues. ]

I... really would prefer not to be driven to have to do anything, though. Even when it came to education, I was never there. I'm sure you've heard of the concept of the "class ghost".

[theserpentsmiles]

....My class wasn't exactly normal. [A soft smile - he's certainly hiding things.]

If that's the life you want, then that's fine. But if you're not happy, you don't have to settle, you know?

[losergod]

[ He glances down. ]

... I'm no protagonist. It's not about what I want. Narratively-speaking, I'm the author. You don't see the author when you read a story, usually. You see the main players, heroes, villains, extras... whatever else. Someone interesting. Someone important.

[theserpentsmiles]

....But as the author, shouldn't you be writing what you want to write?

[It always comes out better if you do it for yourself, not just for other people.]

You talk like you're not interesting or important.

[losergod]

The story left my control quite some time ago.

[ He chuckles. ]

[theserpentsmiles]

Are you happy this way?

[That...honestly doesn't sound like a terrible way to live.]

[losergod]

... I'm not... sure.

[ It's an earnest answer. ]

Happiness is relative. There's... I was very unhappy when I ended up in this state to begin with. I'm... better than I was, I suppose. It's not... horrible. But Miss Wiltshire's school isn't exactly the place I wanted to be. None of the students like me.

I can't really say that I'm happy there. I would be much happier if she came with me to my Heavenly Domain instead of remaining in that static, awful place.

[theserpentsmiles]

You can't...make her choices for her, but you should do what will make you happy. You deserve to be.

[That whole...scenario, not all of it but a good portion, rings familiar. It tastes like Class E.]

I used to get bullied a lot, too.

[losergod]

... People really are horrible.

[ Said with a wry smile. ]

I'm sorry you had to suffer, but I'd be lying if I said I was surprised.

[theserpentsmiles]

It's kind of a thing with Class E. Though I got bullied a lot before, too... We've been working on changing that all year.

I look the part, huh...? [Small. Weak. Androgynous. Soft and mild-mannered. It's a tired kind of acceptance.]

[losergod]

I know the feeling. I was always a class ghost, myself. If I ever did anything out of line, the pack of hyenas would inevitably turn on me the moment they... knew I was... different.

[ The proper words are "mentally ill", but he doesn't want to say them. Perhaps it's fear holding him back. ]

Fit in. Don't stick out. Always smile, be a good girl.

[ He says it slowly. ]

[theserpentsmiles]

I...stuck to the sidelines a lot, most of the time. My school has a....system. Class 3-E is reserved for the worst of the worst, the "delinquents and dropouts" who have no future or chance of success, and the students and faculty alike systematically discriminate against the "E as in end" class. I'm in Class 3-E.

Even before, though, I....can't exactly hide my appearance. For a while Karma-kun protected me, but............

[Fitting in, sticking out, not terribly unfamiliar - and then he outright flinches at "good girl", once hand flying to one of his pigtails.]