15strangers | WEEK 3

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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't think I gave you permission to take Miss Wiltshire on a day-trip, Mister Shiota. Kidnapping is a terrible parenting practice.

[ HE IS LOOKING VERY STERN AND UPSET. ]

So is allowing your child to be kidnapped. I wasn't mean to her.

[He just. Changed her clothes, and now he's bathing both eggs. He's helping!] Besides, she and Tamako-chan are really good friends.

[ A lengthy pause. ]

It is unfortunately very within her personality to wander off with strangers due to her friendliness. But I would never risk exposing her to harm in the kitchen at her age.

[ There's knives in there my dude. It's dangerous for a young egg. ]

You play to win, don't you, Mister Shiota?

That is wise...though maybe if you kept her close, you could protect her all the same. [And she wouldn't get kidnapped!]

...With this kind of game, I do. There's something I want to know, and it wouldn't be fair if I didn't give it my all.

And be the kind of overbearing parent that constantly forces his child to be in his line of sight? Listen, my girl can make her own decisions once in awhile.

[ His parenting is very hands-off half the time. Literally, considering he tends to be possessing somebody else to parent. ]

I would never do that. Looking after her is one thing, but dictating her life to her is another entirely.

[That strikes something in Nagisa, and one hand flies to the beaded braid behind his right ear. C has struck a nerve!]

....That's good. [Sorry, he...needs a moment.]

[ Oh he noticed that. ]

Is there a problem, Mister Shiota?

[ He's watching veeeeery closely, with curiosity. ]

...It's nothing.

[No, it's very much something. He sinks into the water a bit deeper.]

You just said something that reminded me of my mom.

[ ... He can't continue to be cruel to a kid. Even if Nagisa is probably going to win, he just... thinks he'll accept the memory loss. After all, he was having memory troubles before all of this. Even though some of them have returned, and others haven't yet, that's no one's fault.

Certainly not his. Perhaps it's the Observer in him, but he wants to help. He'll make sure his egg is comfortable and then sit by the water. ]

You know, it wouldn't be the first time I've seen that sort of reaction. I have helped raise at least one actual person. She looked a lot like this egg.

[ God, does he miss her. ]

... I'm guessing your mother left quite an impression on you?

[ It's not how he'd phrase it, for his own, really. "An impression". More like "baggage". ]

Yeah. ...She wanted a daughter.

[Four words that tell a whole story. Especially with what, exactly, it was that hit a nerve.]

She's getting better, but it had to get really bad first.

You... had a chance to get better? That's really fortunate. Mine never... really got past wanting a daughter. Wanting my sister, really.

[ He chuckles. ]

She refused to even call me by my real name.

She's trying, at least. I think the threat of leaving altogether made her reconsider. I don't remember the details super-well, I was still kind of drugged.

[Um???]

She kept trying to raise me as a girl and refused to let me make any decisions for myself - she wouldn't even let me get a haircut.

That's... pretty bad.

[ Jeez. ]

I don't think my mother meant ill. I suppose I was lucky. She was just... incapable of seeing anyone but Scarlett Eyler when she looked at me. My sister died. She never got over it. I was her caretaker because she was ill and my father left a long time ago. I... tried not to let it bother me, but...

[ He's quiet for a moment. ]

My "sister" haunted me for a long time. I was trying to become a doctor to take care of her. To help her. ... Really, she wasn't the problem. The problem was me. Ultimately, you're very fortunate. You're still mostly mentally together, aren't you?

[Grief....does things to people. Last week was proof enough of that. It sounds like C's family had it much worse than Nagisa's.]

I never had any siblings. My mom had a lot she wanted out of life that she didn't get, so she had an inferiority complex - she wanted a daughter to live her ideal life that she didn't get to have. Projecting.

Instead she got me.... I wouldn't ever be good enough, just for being a boy, but that didn't stop her from trying. She got worse after dad left her, and even worse after I dropped into Class E.

Mostly together, yeah.

I don't think I could say that.

[ He frowns. ]

This body isn't mine. I'm glad it's not. I have a lot of freedoms now I didn't used to have back when I was a normal human, before I died. I wasn't really... okay, back then. I couldn't look at most people normally. I had medication for my illness, but there wasn't exactly a cure, just treatment for some of the symptoms. My hallucinations were very serious.

... I guess they still are, at times. Akira... I couldn't... look at him.

[ He feels sick just thinking about it. ]

[There's that...vessel...business again. And he's dead? And an illness... And he had thoughts on cleanliness too, didn't he?

Akira. He's had such a profound impact on all of them....maybe that's what happens when someone dies? You start remembering, in sharper detail, everything you can of their life.]

It sounds like you've had it rough.... I'm sorry. ....Is there anything I can do to help?

[ He says it stoney-faced: ]

We find a way to get anyone here that dies a new vessel. We have to bring him and everyone else back. If he's anything like me... it'll be the same thing. When I died... well, I can't quite remember everything, but it was something like that. Surely he could live again.

...We'll find a way.

[It's with a quiet determination. Nagisa was trained to kill, to overcome obstacles, to continue bettering himself until he has the means to conquer.]

I'll do whatever I can..... Akira-senpai deserved better. We all do.

... Mister Shiota, you're a good child.

[ He smiles. ]

Regardless of what anyone else might tell you.

[ It's a rather warm, almost fatherly tone. He seems quite fond you, Nagisa. Even though you stole his egg. ]

You're very smart, and very skilled. I'm certain if anyone can figure something out, it would be you.

...I'm not that impressive, compared to my classmates. I still have a lot to learn.

[But he won't deny he has smarts and skills now - he's grown past that. They're just...different from skills that are useful in day-to-day life, skills his classmates have. But then, the base is hardly day-to-day life, and he still might get out of here.]

It won't stop me, though... I'm going to get as many people out of here as I possibly can. [Even if he has to break his promise to sensei to do it.]

WEEK 3

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