15strangers | (no subject)

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Caleb casually walks by and attempts to put his own glaring hat on top of King's, smushing them.]

What, no, hey!

Quiet, you two.

Wha-get him off of me! This is demeaning!

No.

[This is why having a friend like Caleb is nice. They get to share moments like this.]

[Caleb just produces a flame in his hand directly where the two hats can see him, and enjoys the silence for a few moments.]

I think this is yours.

[He holds out a distinctly greyish scarf.]

[Behind him, a dog pads up and looks at King, followed by Frumpkin.]

Apparently they like giving you my things.

Thanks.

[Taking the scarf, before gesturing to all the stuff.]

You want anything from here?

Last time it was Mithos with mine.

[He looks over at it and shakes his head.]

Nothing here is mine, it seems. I mostly just wanted to get your scarf back to you... I know how important it is to have your familiar clothes.

[He tugs on his jacket, and shrugs.]

It's been a bit since I've gotten to have these clothes back... they didn't show up last time.

Then I guess they are doing it on purpose.

Are you sure? I still have to get you that tea I told you about. I wouldn’t mind giving...I don’t know, the wine? I think it’s the same from the train, the mushroom kind.

[Not that he could taste it...]

And it’s good to hear you got them back finally. Wonder why they didn’t show up on the train.

[~~because too many people were getting your popcorn King~~ It’s a mystery!~]

Too stinky for the fancy train, perhaps.

[He smiles, but then his face falls slightly.]

I... you know what, bring the tea and the wine over in... say... an hour? I would like to speak to you privately.

Too big of snobs for it, apparently.

[Said the dog that is currently trying his best to ignore the stench.

He seems a bit concerned about that, but nods.]

Alright, see you in an hour.

Do you want the hat back, or should we let them have alone time?

HE'S GETTING HIM OFF MY HEAD!

No, leave them to it.

[Maybe someone will feed them to the void.]

Sounds good to me.

WELL IT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD TO ME!

No one cares in the slightest.