(no subject)

[strangerpeople]

W̡͜E̶EK ̵̕2̕͠


[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.]

Comments

Library

[unwittingking]

[King tries to ignore the on schedule interruptions, but around the third time he's too annoyed to care about not being noticed.]

Are you going to actually do that every fifteen minutes? And are you doing it just to annoy me or something?

[mermaidkin]

Oh! Do you have sharp dog hearing? We're SO sorry! I had no idea people were going to eavesdrop on us!

[It's evident by contrast that Hiyori was using his indoors voice to chat to Link before.]

[unwittingking]

Yeah, it's kinda hard to turn that off most of the time. Since it's literally impossible.

And if you didn't want people hearing you, why aren't you bringing the books to your room or something?

[Assuming you have a room, anyway.]

[mermaidkin]

If you wanted to read in silence, why aren't you bringing the books to your room? They're even soundproof.

We're out here because we wanted to evaluate the variety available. It's not as if you'd be unreasonable to want the same thing, but you've had much more time and opportunity. This entire past seven days, where we haven't bothered you once.

[unwittingking]

Because I'm probably going to want to read more, but I'm not sure what I'll read, so I'm here to find a book once I've finished with this.

[Gesturing to the mystery book in his paws.]

And you can evaluate the books here in silence as well. This is technically a library, you know.

[Why yes, he is using Hiyori's own argument against him, at least a little bit. It's fun to insult people sometimes, okay?]

[mermaidkin]

......

[Isn't... appreciating the variety... and wanting to read more... basically the same thing? Hm...

Okay, Hiyori has an answer!]

I'll talk with the higher-ups about getting them to put in a "No Talking" sign.

[unwittingking]

Are actually you going to follow that rule?

[He doubts it, but he'd like to check.]

[mermaidkin]

If it became a rule, of course I would follow it.

[In his muted way, he practically seems offended by this question.]

[unwittingking]

…so you follow all the rules too?

[Why would they have to follow those rules? Wouldn't the hosts not have to follow different rules, if any??]

[mermaidkin]

[Hiyori looks like he's trying to remember something. Then, screw it, he puts down his book and gets up properly.]

This is exactly why we had to come out here and get a better idea of how much you people understand the overarching happiness project that's going on here. I'll admit that for an individual it must seem a little complicated.

[DOES THAT MEAN THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE A WHILE...? If King is actually willing to listen to this.]

[unwittingking]

…it's a yes or no question here. I didn't ask for a lecture.

[Not if he can prevent it!]

And I already understand. You're either blind to the fact that we don't want this and will never want this, or you know what's going on, and you just don't care about our feelings and are saying this is for our own good to pour more salt in the wounds.

[mermaidkin]

Look. I follow an ethos strictly. Yes, the ethos applies to hosts and strangers differently, with the "List of Rules" outlining distinct roles. But a sign in the library is a completely different matter that could apply directly to our mission of rendering everyone "happy and comfortable". I'm offering you valuable information here.

It could easily be used against me, if you cared about that and not chasing your own tail whenever this crisis situation gives you the chance.

[unwittingking]

[…so are you real in his world or fictional like Link is?

No...he'd get punched if he brought that up too soon...probably. Though it's very tempting to say it, just to see the guy's reaction.]

Because I'm sure you're actually going to tell me any of your weaknesses. I can totally believe you, someone possessed by the guys really behind this, are going to tell me ways I could actually fight against you. And that you won't just tell me lies in order to trick me. That's completely true.

I'm being sarcastic by the way.

[In case he couldn't tell.]

[mermaidkin]

[Hiyori claps a hand over his mouth to keep himself from laughing too hard; his teeth flash, his shoulders shake. Finally, his lungs settle down.]

I shouldn't be surprised, should I? Even though this situation is about accepting reality.

[He shrugs his hands down to his sides.]

I'll let you know one last thing, King Milton.

If you're so attached to your independence, so certain you'll never let it go under any circumstances no matter how dire? Watch the television at 9:04 AM tomorrow.

Heeding that command is going to violate your autonomy less than the alternative. Of course, you have every right to not believe me, or to consider that degree of coercion wrong. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

[unwittingking]

[That...that sounds way too specific for it to not be important. He doesn't fully trust it, despite what part of his brain is telling him. But why would they have him watch at such a specific time, rather than just 9 o'clock or something?]

And why should I think this will help me? You two just seem determined to make us 'happy' or whatever. Why would this be any different?

[mermaidkin]

You're not wrong. Obviously, this would help our leader, like literally everything we do.

But it's simple. There's three options.

[He puts up his fingers and everything.]

One, every single stranger submits to our leader entirely, despite their valiant resistance over the course of the past eight days.

Two, we introduce reality to your minds more directly.

Three... we make a broadcast on the television where you can find out what to make of the situation for yourself!

It'll be airing again at other times, if you're that concerned. Just don't put it off too long.

[unwittingking]

[A part of him is screaming that this is a trap. They're trying to mind control him, like with what happened to Jonathan and Kurama. Something like what happened at Perdurance to the other people there. He shouldn't trust it...

But something is telling him he should. It's a risk, but if it means getting information about the situation, he'll have to risk it, and hope for the best.]

Fine. If I have the time, I'll try to watch it. Maybe. Happy?

[mermaidkin]

Exquisitely.

[Wow, that was downright beatific after all the nastiness earlier. But in fact, Hiyori is so happy that he doesn't even have anything else to say to King, or books to read. He's just standing there, beaming.]

[unwittingking]

...tip about imitating normal people; they don’t usually put so much emotion into one word, especially for something so normal.

[Yeah, he’s still convinced they’re both possessed. By what? Who knows. He’s just sure that they are.]

[mermaidkin]

You must be so much fun at parties.

[unwittingking]

More fun than a guy possessed by a smarmy, over-acting, misleading, evil celestial being.

[And now he'll just go back to his book, ignoring whatever else Hiyori has to say. He's got his mind made up about those two, and no one is changing it.]