15strangers | (no subject)

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[The blight would not stop.

The world's leading experts have been trying to find a cure, to no avail. Th blight keeps changing, keeps foiling all attempts at being fully understood. It's almost sentient, or at least more sentient than any disease that's been encountered before. People fear the disease jumping from what's left of the grapes into other plants, into animals, or even humans.

You can only watch as entire economies and ecosystems collapse. You can only bury your head in your hands as your own business comes to its end. The destruction of the clusters of grapes has not simply destroyed the wine industry, either-other businesses are being destroyed by the plague. Food, transport, retail, nothing is untouched.

You look on your own vineyard, its yield almost entirely blackened and dead.

This can't keep going on.

-

A week has passed since everyone's arrival. No one has died, yet. But surely no one is holding their breath to see if they would survive this unscathed. They are veterans of the game, and they must know that whoever it is that is in charge demands their pound of flesh. The question is when it will happen.

It is the second week, after all-and when the second week of the game comes, death is not far behind. Not even when you wake up, feeling something different in your mind as you remember the truths you originally woke up with, deep in your mind. You feel...lighter, somehow, when you realize there is a change.

Even so, there are 15 strangers left in this place.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fun? While suffering still exists? With weapons no less?

[He finally gets a good timing to face Akira and smile brilliantly, eyes shut.]

Perish the thought!

Edited 2020-02-03 17:45 (UTC)

[ He just . . . smiles. ]

Some might consider sparring fun, though. Just saying.

Yeah, like Enforcer McBurn. [Hiyori isn't exactly not returning the smile!] I used to be a student athlete, as Jonathan Morris pointed out. It's not like I don't understand the concept.

[Leans back to dodge!!]

But... right now, I can't say I'm enjoying myself at all. You want to know why?

[ He tilts his head, and he actually seems a little hesitant to ask, but... ]

Why?

Because having to prepare for the possibility of actual combat is proof that our goals aren't yet realized.

[He looks right into Akira's eyes, with his own "eyes".]

We've been trying to use very indirect means, you know. But our corporation can only afford to do that so long.

Corporation, huh...? Is funding that bad?

[ Akira, please!!! ]

Do you have any idea how much fifteen single-person houses cost in this economy.

No clue, considering how little I know about this particular world's situation. Maybe you could enlighten me.

Hmmmmmm-mmmmm-mmmmmmmmm.

Well, you're not on the schedule, so a lot of information has to be classified from you.

Why don't we give you a little hint that ties back more to your original question? There are lots of people in similar circumstances to the ones you all are being expected to accept. And if that actually happened, then maybe I'd likewise be in calmer circumstances again, and not have to push myself so hard.

[ He takes a slow breath... ]

What does being on the schedule actually mean? [ look of consideration ] Can you give me an idea of how many people are involved? Maybe a range?

Hm, it is classified, but I'll give you a hint. We call this The City for a reason.

[He'll just let that sink in (for rhetorical effect, not seeming like he's outright ignoring the question about what the schedule means).]

[ He bites his bottom lip, brow tensing just a little, but he's quick to relax his expression as he nods. ]

Thank you for the hint. Your help is appreciated.

[ He can be polite! But now he's waiting to see if the other part will be addressed. ]

[Oooooh, polite boy. Just for that Hiyori will scoop on a little extra.]

You'll notice that it's a hint, not necessarily the range that you requested.

[But at that point any further really kills the mysterious vibe altogether...]

When you get onto the schedule, [and just the memory of this idea fills Hiyori's face with reverent satisfaction] you'll be precisely aware of what our leader would want you to be doing at any given time. This can take different forms depending on a region's attributes, the duties that our leader needs carried out, factors like that.

In your case, if you accepted the red fog into your mind, like stepping into a bath, that would be the most immediate.

This time around, we were opening with much less direct means, but... [He shrugs towards Link.] It seems you don't have enough information to work with, or are resisting outright. Either way, we may have to change our tack soon.

[ Ah... Yeah. That's definitely a little extra... he falls quiet for a moment. There's clearly a few things he wants to ask or comment on, but he'll quiet go with: ]

I see. Thank you for the information.

[ Being polite is working, so he'll stick to that. ]

Do you mean... a step up from just using red fog? Or will you be switching out to something entirely different?

The red fog will always be an option. [The extension of his weapon forces Link to squat down, exposing Akira right in front of Hiyori.] Always.

[So now that they're back to click-clash-clink again...]

I can't promise the level of red fog won't increase in the future, but that's not what we'll be doing first. If our leader hasn't gained all fifteen strangers' compliance by 9:04 AM tomorrow morning...

[Hiyori flashes a smile.]

Well, you'll have to turn the TV on and find out. But you know what day of the week that is.

[ The last part has his expression shifting the tiniest bit - some tension and frustration trying to slip through the cracks. ]

... Yeah. I know.

[ He takes a deep breath. ]

Will it be the same as last time, then? Motive, murder, investigation, trial...?

If you all submit, you'll never have to find out! The suspicion, the voting, none of it!

But... That's the fun of working in television. Building the anticipation to the broadcast.

[ He makes a face. ]

The broadcast...

[ It's said partially like a question. Like he's trying to nudge for more info on that particular subject, but without being forceful. ]

We've been trying to do things a relatively peaceful way where you get to see what the lifestyle here could be like. But if you don't collectively submit, we're going to air a broadcast on the televisions at 9:04 AM tomorrow morning. And that information is going to be very important to your circumstances here.

Don't miss it. If you've been avoiding the red fog, then you're not going to find the alternative means of acquiring the information pleasant.