WEEK 3

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 3

[As Marie said: so much for trust and resolve. Two people are dead, and there is very little anyone can do about it now, no matter how much they would have wanted to sacrifice themselves.

In particular, with Marie's words during the trial, it's clear that time is limited. Or is it? Marie is also capable of omitting the truth when it serves her needs, especially when it comes towards the Strangers and their still-missing memories. In any case, one can only hope they don't fall for her tricks again, even though getting away with murder would - apparently - save at least one life.

There is something else, as well. When everyone wakes up the morning, they will find that information on their wristwatches has been updated to reflect their new number - and something new about their powers. Not only that, but a new floor has opened up above Floor 1 for everyone to explore. Maybe more can be found on just what, exactly, is going on.

Is Marie telling the truth? Is the universe really ending? Or is it just another means of getting what she wants? Whatever is happening, people will need to be more careful around her - and one another. Who knows what Marie will offer next - or what your roommate or new friend is now capable of as a result. Especially since it's now known, thanks to Marie's actions during the trial, that everyone has definitely lost some memories. And unfortunately, no one seems to have regained any of them so far - or if anyone has, they haven't said a word.

If trust and resolve was ever needed, it feels like now is the time to try and find all that.

There are thirteen people in this place.]


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Comments

Meeting Time

[crouching_sin]

[Everyone will find a note on their door this morning. It's a drawing of Akira giving a thumbs up, with a note saying 'You can do it!'. Underneath, there's some more writing.]

Meeting in the mess hall at 2 PM. Snacks will be provided.

[And snacks are, indeed, provided. No alcohol - if you want that, you'll have to grab that yourselves. But there's ice cream, salads, toasted bread, and spaghetti.]

[... Look, he did what he could.]

[There's also a table with a note set up on it that says Is this yours? Please take it if it is., with a number of items on it.]

[Naoya himself is sitting at a table, drinking some soda.]

[tiefleaf]

...this motive was pretty stupid.

[ He's just. Laying that out there, as he grabs a super gaudy dragon tapestry. ]

[fashionfever]

Are you kidding me? What if someone's in a battle of demons and angels or whatever!

[SHE'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS?]

[vividsins]

While it might be tempting to some, I think there's a few we don't have to worry about. Most things aren't meant to be immortal or invincible.

[losergod]

[ Wow look at this sideglance he's giving Baku when he says that but he... doesn't... say anything.

HMMMMMM. ]

[fashionfever]

"Some" is too many! One person taking the bait is too many! It doesn't matter if eleven of us aren't tempted at all, one person deciding to commit a murder is bad! At least to me it is!

[crouching_sin]

... I mean, I am, but it's still a stupid motive. There's so many other ways to protect yourself.

[losergod]

[ Hi, he's here too! And looking really amused. ]

I couldn't agree more. It's incredibly foolish. If it were true invulnerability, how would we kill one another?

[fashionfever]

There will be plenty of us regular humans left over to stab, you don't have to worry about that.

[losergod]

I'm certain there probably will be, but it doesn't change the fact that after last week, this is rather... sad.

[ He's not sure why. He can't put his finger on it, but... something about the idea of being invulnerable feels really familiar to him. Hmmmm. ]

She's acting like she's the first person to have no fear of death, because she would have no issue with it, or something.

[ ... Who was it that did that? Why can't he remember...? ]

[tiefleaf]

I think she meant to give it to the murderer after they did the thing, but come on. There's better incentives out there.

[losergod]

Except even if she did, presume this: they get put on trial. They're found guilty. What's the point? They're likely going to be caught. It's a shallow promise at best. It's an "if you get away with it" empty promise.

[earietale]

Agreed. It's like she thinks none of us know about film editing or anything like that!

[It wasn't exactly her depart, but you can just figure it out when you have to have a stunt man switch out with an actor.]

[losergod]

Editing is one possibility. I think she could be telling the truth, but even if she was, there's no reliable way to prove it's actual invulnerability permanently. The technology could quickly become outdated, for all you know.

[earietale]

That works too. The point is, this motive is stupid.

[It's bad and Marie should feel bad.]

[tiefleaf]

About what now?

[ Guess who's from the medieval period and knows nothing about editing. ]

[earietale]

Film editing. It's basically editing a recording of something that's filmed to make it look like one thing is happening, but it's actually wires or split second costume changes. That last one is probably what she did.

Also, what year are you from? Just want make sure if any of that was stuff you couldn't understand.

[Not said insultingly, of course. She's just curious how far back he is if he doesn't recognize that term.]

[backuphero]

[Jonathan's just been sitting here looking more and more conflicted as everyone talks. He's really glad Naoya didn't bother dragging any alcohol down here, but at this point the soda he's been drinking doesn't seem to taste like anything anymore.]

Okay, I get it, everybody gets it, it's a stupid motive. And yeah, I agree, hell no that's not worth somebody's life, but... what if it wasn't a stunt, and what if we could get it away from her anyway? Even if it's just a temporary effect, if you can get the way to put it in place - there are times when something like that could -

[Without realizing, he's stood up, and raised his voice to just shy of a shout. He cuts himself off.]

Sorry. I just... it's not worth killing over, but if we could figure out how to do that, not being useless would be....

[earietale]

Jonathan...

[Okay, now to try and break it to him that the idea is ridiculous without breaking his spirit.]

While it's a good idea in theory, if we actually tried it...

[She shakes her head.]

I'm afraid of what would happen if we failed.

[She's already seen two people die at the hands of Marie's...metal people. She doesn't want to see him be the third.]

[toushiro]

I agree. And you'd need to consider whether or not sacrificing not just one, but two innocent people over this would be worth it.

[backuphero]

[Great, lectured by the old man kid.

But he deserved that, and he knows it, and he sits back down with a heavy sigh.]

Guess I didn't think it through far enough.

[backuphero]

[He's still standing, but wilts visibly when Barbara makes her point.]

Yeah, if she's made herself invulnerable... damn it, I just feel trapped, and I don't like thinking she might have that advantage over us too.

[earietale]

It...it stinks, yeah, but...we just need to find the right time to do something. We try to do something too soon, and...everything just...goes to Hell...

[That last part is said quieter than the beginning, like she's saddened to admit that.]

[losergod]

Everybody dies, Mister Morris.

[ He says it with a dark smile on his face. ]

It may not be by our hand that this occurs, is all. We may simply have to accept we need... alternatives to our situation.

[backuphero]

...I'm not sure I follow.

[He's really, really hoping "alternatives" don't include what that smile seems to be hinting at.]