WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[Awaken.

Fifteen strangers have been gathered to the Depths.

When the strangers awaken, they will feel nauseous in their stomachs. No doubt confused. Maybe a little sick, Perhaps, even terrified. And certainly, there is a good reason for it - they are not where they were before. If they had powers back where they came from, they seem to be all gone. And it appears that someone has left...guidelines for them. All of them addressed to a specific Title.

Their Title. Somehow, each person knows, upon seeing this, this is their Title, even if it seems to make no sense whatsoever. And its clear that whoever wrote these things knew it as well. Who was it?

Its uncertain. So far, there seems to be no one else save for them, and those who dare to venture out of their rooms - save, for some reason, the individuals in rooms 1, 8 and 7 - in this hot and stuffy place. No...'intercessor' to be seen yet, certainly. No outward signs that there's anyone else aside from the people with 'Titles'.


So, Titled: welcome.

There are fifteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

[pursuitofbeauty]

Well, this is definitely not what Yusuke was expecting. A Shadow-- because that's literally all he can think of when looking at the Intercessor-- drinking a beer? It's ludicrous, and maybe he'd laugh if he wasn't concerned about the contents of the letter he read.

After listening to Eric's accusations, he has some things of his own to ask.

"I have some questions for you, if you don't mind." He keeps his voice calm and even, though he feels anything but at the moment. "Firstly, for what purpose did your superiors wish us to be brought here? Specifically, why are they interested in having us murder one another?"

[intercessing]

I will do my best to answer your questions, Indulgent.

[Slurp]

You are here because of the nature of your Titles, as those who oversee this place deemed it important you be kept here. As to why they wish you to murder, it it their prerogative to decide how you are able to leave. If at all.

No doubt you must find this harsh.

[pursuitofbeauty]

"That would be quite the understatement, yes."

Yusuke knows too well how it feels to be under the whim of another's command, for his life to be at the mercy of a thankless, cruel master. It's not something that sits well with him.

"And you? You must be getting something out of this unpleasant situation, otherwise you would be in the same unknowing darkness as the rest of us. Why would you ally with those who see fit to toy with our lives?"

[intercessing]

...

[They look at Yusuke, if only briefly.]

Ally is a bit of a strong word to use, Indulgent.

[pursuitofbeauty]

"Cooperate, then. Semantics are not the issue here, Intercessor. Our lives are. Whether by perpetual imprisonment or murder, they've no right to deny us our individual lives. I'm certain many of us have important matters to attend to back home."

Yusuke folds his arms across his chest, frowning but trying not to come across as petulant or arrogant. "So again, what is the purpose of all this?"

[intercessing]

[The Intercessor...definitely stiffens a bit. Even if there is no way to tell from the face, and it's subtle, it's not so subtle that an artist's eye can't detect it.

The reluctance doesn't come in their words either. They are practically whispered, everything they say is, obscuring what they are and what they feel. No, it comes from the way the Intercessor stares at him, then at their bottle.

The brief pause that follows.]

The purpose of this, Indulgent.

It is unknown to me.

bc I was linked

[poorlovefool]

Bullshit.

[Yeah he's just gonna call that out from over here, carry on Yusuke]

[pursuitofbeauty]

For the love of... Eric, if you piss this guy off and screw them all over, Yusuke won't wait for a motive to drown you in the cauldron.

Yusuke steps closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. If the Intercessor is trying to hide their reactions to certain types of questions, then he's not about to upset someone who could be an asset to escaping later.

"You don't like this any more than we do, I take it? Then why go along with it? Are you a prisoner just as we are?"

[intercessing]

[The Intercessor crosses their arms, Granted it is quite easy for someone who looks at body language at part of their day job, though to anyone else they look just as spooky and dark and mysterious as ever.

They stiffen further. The body language is that bordering worry.

Shame.]

I'm........not like you and the others, Indulgent. I am not Titled.

[Whatever that means to them, or whatever reason they have for being obtuse, that sure doesn't sound like a no to the question.]

[pursuitofbeauty]

And Yusuke won't call them out on it, because if the Intercessor doesn't know that he's good at reading body language, it's not an advantage he wants to reveal just yet.

More questions, then.

"The letters gave us these titles and spoke of powers to be used. I can certainly say the one detailed in my letter is not one I formerly possessed. How was this done to us, and why?"

[intercessing]

[Oh, good, a less uncomfortable question.]

That is something I know nothing about, Indulgent.

[pursuitofbeauty]

He's saving other uncomfortable questions once he can trust you a bit more, mysterious shadow man.

"Can you tell us what you do know? Perhaps about the identity of our captors?"

[intercessing]

[You just simmer down there]

It is the truth.