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

[ Ah... to that, he just gives a dim kind of smile. ]

I already promised Karma I wouldn't be giving in to any motives of this game - just like I didn't with the last one. I don't willingly break promises.

Either way, if she's set on believing I'm that Akira, I doubt just talking things out with someone who's already loyal to me would do it. Besides... anyone could say they won't do something.

Only a history of actions prove the difference between the truths and the lies.

Alright, good to hear that. But...at least keep it in mind, okay? If your feeling desperate or anything, there are people you can talk to.

[He think he can trust that Akira won't do anything, but...he's still worried, nonetheless.]

That's...actually the thing? I talked with Jonathan and I think they know you're not the same Akira, or at least he realizes it. He might be able to get her to realize it too.

I'm hoping she'll listen to reason.

Yeah... I'll remember that.

[ He nods. ]

Jonathan's been the more reasonable one since we met. From the sounds of it, though, he was friends with the first version of Akira that they met. He at least sounded like he's trying pretty hard to believe I'm not the same one, but I'm not sure if it'll be enough.

Fear can do some crazy things to a person's perspective and willingness to even listen to loved ones.

[ Take it from the heart thief. ]

Yeah, you're...definitely not wrong.

[He's definitely not the person to deny that...]

But...we have to at least try, right? We can't just give up with knowing our odd. Heck, we may even be lucky and he'll convince her.

…but, if he can't...the only other thing I can think to suggest is getting away from her as soon as you see her, or vice versa. It's not the best solution-at all really-but it's guaranteed to keep either of you from fighting.

[He's got experience with this stuff, even if the situation was different.]