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]

....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.]

[losergod]

Mister Shiota, in my opinion, if anyone thinks there's something wrong with you, they don't realize the real worthwhile person is standing across from the one they berate, and the garbage is the one speaking.

[ He doesn't... think Nagisa should have to conform to anyone's standards. Not anyone's, but his own. He smiles as he speaks, his tone soft, soothing. Gentle. Perhaps it's the Umbrella Man in him speaking. ]

You decide for yourself who you are. You cannot let other people bring pain into your life and dictate it to you. A girl I cared for very much suffered in the same way, and I would tell her the same thing: you are you, and that is good. Don't try to pretty yourself up for others.

[theserpentsmiles]

[He nods - and he certainly isn't feeling the threat of tears all of a sudden. Absolutely not.]

I know that now. You sound like sensei, he spent the last year teaching that to all of us.

...and not just that, but.... He taught us a lot.

[losergod]

I'm glad to hear that. Having a good person in your life, even if just one, is very important. It doesn't always have to be an adult. Were it my choice, though, you would have much more good things in your life. You clearly needed them.

[ Nagisa is a good boy. He wants to protect him. ]

If you ever need someone to talk to, I will be here, of course. I may not be the God of your world, but I am still a God, and it is my job to look after the people around me.

[theserpentsmiles]

We had Karasuma-sensei and Bitch-sensei too, but Korosensei really....really went out of his way. He only changed us in ways that let us grow - made us more of what we are.

[Stronger. Faster. Smarter. More capable. More confident. Gave them a spark which, carefully tended, they could use to take on the world.]

I...don't know much about gods or anything. But I'll remember that.