WEEK 3

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 3

[It has begun. With the death of the Spinner and the execution of the Indulgent, they remaining Titled will be plagued once more by vivid dreams. And just as last week, they are awoken by the sounds of doors creaking open.

Just like last week. But no one had died last week. Right? No one had been subjected to that...thing.

And yet the strange, cold feeling of foreboding remains. And it is certainly most worrisome to those living in rooms 3, 4, 6, and 15. Those who pass by room 7 and 8 will feel that same, worrisome feeling of foreboding as well.

What will they wake up to find? Who knows, now. If dragons are real, anything is possible.

There are thirteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

SUNDAY

[strangerpeople]

[The Intercessor is back in the Conservatex.

Their demeanor is thoughtful, but worried.]

CW: child soldiers, child death, survivor's guilt/suicide ideation, messed up stuff

[carries_war]

[Barracks...?]

[His dream doesn't quite pick up where his memory left off, but it's close. He can tell there's a time gap. Gaignun the cat is gone...and they're going for U-DO. It seemed so simple at first, just do what they'd been training for and they'd come home proud.

They were naive. They'd been told U-DO and their powers were waves, but they were really more like particles. Matter and antimatter. Yuriev had known that, and he'd sent them out to die, along with the entire rest of the planet. Maybe they should have. It would've been kinder...kinder than what had happened to the Standards, to Albedo. Why had he been the one to escape unharmed? He was the leader. He was the one who'd broke the link. If anyone should have suffered the full brunt of the consequences, it should have been him.

Fortunately for those in the rooms next to his, the stone walls block most sound. They don't have to hear the shouting, swearing and throwing of objects that comes after he wakes up, or the choked sobs that follow. They might, however, notice that he's a bit later than usual in leaving his room in search of food...]

[Kitchen]

[Even when he finally does head for the kitchen, he doesn't seem focused on food. Instead he's drawn his daggers and is viciously going to town on the biggest carcass he can reach, huffing angry swears through the exertion. He doesn't even seem to care that he's getting blood all over himself.]

That bastard...who the hell does he think he is...just because he made us...we're not his damn pawns!

[Conservatex]

[Once he's calmed down from his violent rage, Rubedo ends up at he place that's made him feel most comfortable. He notices the Intercessor, but doesn't greet them like usual. Instead, he finds himself sitting at the base of the large tree, legs pulled up against his chest and face buried in his knees. He's silent, but it's evident he's seen better days. Maybe a bit too evident, since his clothes are still heavily stained with blood from the poor animal carcass he vented his anger on earlier.]

Conservatex

[lightnen]

[ Considering the regular intervals that he came here, it shouldn't be surprised to find his friend in such a place like this. He had a lot on his mind after the odd dream he had; it was like last week but this time was different because it involved his dad being supportive of him having a friend and they talked about all this apparent 'time' he'd spent during the Hunter Exam.

Stuff he didn't remember at ALL, but the way he'd spoken with his dad had been so... happy and he was laughing as he told him those things. It left a strange pang in his heart that he couldn't describe, trying to get his mind off of that when he came into the Conservatex, blinking a bit when he approached and spotted the shock of red smattering Rubedo's clothes once he got close enough.

Blood. Huh. It didn't deter him any, hands in his pockets and head canted to the side rather curiously. ]

...Hey. Did you remember something really bad this time?

[ To which he easily just plops down next to him without hesitation. ]

I'll listen if you wanna tell me about it.

Kitchen

[defriendestration]

[This isn't...worrying or anything.]

M-MORNING, RUBEDO!

conservatex

[socialhacktivist]

[Futaba feels tired but she keeps herself going because that's what she feels like she has to do... for herself and the others. That meant being all over the place today. Literally. But she was glad she finally ran into Rubedo. She's needed to talk to him ever since getting his letter. Besides... she should probably give him his jacket back at some point too.

But as she got closer she saw red. Lots of it.

Eyes widening, she flashed back to finding Laslow and she panicked. The fact that she can't see his face doesn't help.] Rubedo!! Are you alright?!

[At the very least it absolutely doesn't sound like the reaction of someone who hates him. Quite the opposite. It sounds like she cares a whole lot.]

Kitchen

[kiddefender]

[She's just trying to make her breakfast. No meat, she's seen too much to eat that again anytime soon.

She doesn't say anything until some of the blood nearly hits her.]

...Who? The Intercessor? I don't think his motive had anything to do with this.

Kitchen

[zephyranthe]

[Fie's honestly just here to get breakfast because she knows she has to keep her energy up in this place, especially with all the stuff that went down in the past couple of days. Finding Rubedo freaking the fuck out was definitely not on her bucket list of things to deal with and she'll be keeping her distance because she doesn't really want all that blood sprayed on her. And in truth, it would probably be better if she just left him alone so he could finish up with venting all his rage.

Still. There's a question on her mind.]

...Are you gonna eat all that?

[Look, she's not well-equipped to deal with other peoples' personal issues because she has the emotional intelligence of a brick as is?? She's pretty sure she can't just ask him to chill out either, so apparently a non-sequitur is the best option.]

[kiddefender]

Barracks
[Her fur was on end again.

The dream wasn't all surprising, probably because it had happened. Like the fight and her seal being removed. It was almost uncanny, the timing. The smell of rotting flesh from the creature so much larger than her. No wonder people were getting ill from it being here. It's why they'd been sent to destroy the thing.

None of them expected the dragon that had been left dead and rotting from weeks to attack. It didn't have scales to protect it anymore, but nothing seemed to hurt it.

Then she saw a few feathers fall. And the scaled legs poking out from the dragons fangs.

When she wakes, her ears are still flat, and she buries into the hay covering the stone. Anything there?]

[strangerpeople]

[ She'll feel the corner of an object flexing as it pokes into her shoulder. Perhaps she should dig further and try to bring it out? ]

investigation... and shit

[zephyranthe]

Barracks

[That dream... well, it wasn't bad, that's for sure. It only really confirmed what McBurn told her earlier last week, and as crappy as yesterday was because of the trial and execution, she can't help but feel a sense of relief at what she remembered.

He'd found them again.

Fie's ready to get breakfast when she gets an ominous feeling that threatens to engulf her upon exiting her room. #7... was one of the locked rooms, right? Is it still locked?]

Library

[It's probably odd enough to see Fie anywhere near the library let alone sticking her head in some books. As a matter of fact, she actually has a large number of tomes stacked near her and if one was curious enough they would notice that they're all about botany.

Of course, there's probably something else that may distract from reading the book titles - namely, that Fie is very shamelessly putting blade to page and crudely cutting out some pictures. How many has she gone through already, anyways?]

[strangerpeople]

[ She may notice that something is on the floor of her own room while departing. However, the aforementioned Door #7 is definitely unlocked. ]

library

[kiddefender]

[Now that she can read, Raph is taking full advantage of having a library. Ignore that she mostly seems to be reading children's adventure books.

Her ears twitch at the noise of paper ripping.]

What are you doing to it?

[lightnen]

[ Barracks ]

[ This time, the dream took a completely different direction, and nowhere are the people who had come to 'save' him. His dad is with him and he's in a dark room, speaking with him of a time he doesn't remember? The hunter exam?! He'd been there to take it but hadn't gotten the chance to do so, but the words from his own mouth spoke of these amusing times where he watched this boy 'Gon' and traveled with him and those other two people.

It... sounded fun. Like he was friends with them. Honestly friends with them... and it made sense to why they'd come to see him then if that was the case.

Why these people would come to see him... and one thing stood out among the dream that he couldn't displace. 'Do you want to see your friends?' and a promise to not ever betray them. They were very significant words, only spoken as he made this promise to his dad, but beyond that was when he suddenly woke with his senses on edge and a cold sense of dread and foreboding that clutched at his heart.

Sitting up upright sharply in his bed, he's quick to take a look around his room, to see if anything is at all amiss or what was causing this feeling. ]


[ Conservatex ]

[ With everything that'd happened with him already so far, and the added dream had left a lot on his mind and he was feeling all worked up. So this meant taking a dagger into the conservatex, initially sitting against the base of the tree and tossing a dagger up into the air and catching it with ease for a few moments before abruptly digging it into the ground with a mildly frustrated groan. ]

Ugh... so bored...

[ Then there's the whole issue of just feeling really gross and it just bothers him because usually he can fix it but can't. So at one point, he just walks over to the little waterfall and sticks his head under the water without any hesitation.

Even bringing his hands up and meticulously running them through his hair. So he's not liable to hear it if anyone comes up behind him right now. ]

[bythewaves]

Killua?

[ as ever, Maglor makes no sound when he walks, but he looks up at where he sits in the tree ]

I know that look. Too much energy, hm?

Investigating

[strangerpeople]

[There is an open book on the alcove in his room that wasn't there before.]

Conservatex

[zephyranthe]

[Well if he can't hear her coming clearly she should just go and dump some beer down his shirt eeeeeeey

No, she's not Crow.

She's definitely tossed her socks, boots and goggles though, and she looks ready to take her coat off??]

You here to take a bath too?

Conservatex

[kiddefender]

[You'll probably see Raph, before you here her. Or rather the cow. She's forcing it of the barn. It's not nice to keep it locked up all day.

Or that was the plan, the cow doesn't really want to leave. And turns around nearly dragging her back.]

Fine stay in there! I don't care!

[She was just trying to be nice.]

Cw: mentions of witnessed suicide also burn injuries

[bythewaves]

Barracks

He dreams of Lothlann, of the breaking of the Seige (it is an old dream). He dreams of screams and dragonfire and Glaurung laughing. He dreams of air so hot that breathing hurts, that his armor is burning against his skin. His horse throws him, his faithful grey mare who has borne him for so long, unable to stand in the face of this terror. He dreams of his people dying.

Nelyo, Nelyo, forgive me, we could not hold the Gap!

The flames are so hot, so hot, but no, they are cold, merciless and pure. He holds Light in his hands and it is so beautiful it is everything they fought for, sacrificed for and it burns.

Nelyo it burns, brother what are we to do?

In that cold light Maedhros is beautiful, but his eyes are so, so empty, and there is nothing in them but fire.

No. Nelyo no, please!

Maedhros looks at him, but he doesn't seem to see him, looking down at the flame that is consuming him, that he cannot release, and then he turns and begins to walk.

Nelyo, please! Where are you going? Don't leave me!

Maedhros walks and Maglor follows, but it burns, it burns, and there is fire ahead of them, a crack in the earth, and Maedhros turns and when he smiles at him it is Maitimo, young and free, and then he simply....steps back. And falls.

Goodbye

"NELYO!"

Maglor wakes reaching for the brother long gone, weeping.

Conservatrex

The minute he sees the Intercessor he makes a beeline for him, grey eyes flashing and face set. There is nothing of the gentle bard in him now.

"A dragon." He hisses, furiously cold. "Your masters would send these children against a dragon!"

[intercessing]

[They turn, their own glowing eyes looking at Maglor. Their response is quiet. Sad. Almost disbelieving.]

...I swear by the--I knew nothing of that creature's existence.

I would not have believed it yesterday, that dragons had still existed, had it not happened in front of my own eyes.

[socialhacktivist]

Barracks > Kitchen

[The dream this time is... a good one. But it feels kind of sad even so, being able to see all of her friends... happy... unharmed... But that's not entirely true anymore. She's lost one of them. It still feels surreal. Just last week he'd come running after that terrible nightmare of a memory. This one doesn't make the last make any more sense either. It seems like she'll have to survive a little longer if she wants to figure it out. But she's out once she gets up.

And eventually she even goes down to the kitchen to eat something. she looks a little better but she's still quiet. But she's trying her best to do what Yusuke would have wanted her to.]

Workshop

[...Futaba has built computers, but this is totally different. Still... there's all kinds of shiny materials-- jems and metals... but if she wants to make anything, she's first going to have to do some reading.]

So you use this and then... like... that?

[She's looking at the information and then over at the forge and then back to the information.]

...this looks pretty hard. Still, it would be pretty cool to have something custom-made.

[Not like she knows what but.]

Boilery

[Pipes, pipes and more pipes... what a weird room. She wanted to investigate to keep her mind from wandering too much but... there's not really much in here, is there? Still. You might find her looking around, trying to figure out where all the pipes go or if there's anything weird in here.]

[bythewaves]

What were you thinking of?

[ Maglor asks her, and there is something wistful as he looks around the forge ]

Workshop

[defriendestration]

NYEH-HEH-HEH! THIS IS SO COOL!!

I. THE GREAT PAPYRUS, CAN NOW MAKE A SUPER BATTLE BODY! LIKE MY BATTLE BODY NOW, BUT SUPER!!

[He's gathering his own supplies for his awesome project!!]

Boilery

[strangerpeople]

[Let's do this, shall we?

Is there anything in particular you're looking for, Futaba?]

CW: Destruction and death due to fire

[almightyconflagration]

[Barracks]

[Well, that was definitely one not so fun nightmare, even with the worst of it being something he never will be capable of remembering. Still, what little he can remember of it was horrific enough. He can see the whole town reduced to ashes, the charred remains of what were people and on his hands he can see markings that look like fire and his hair changed colors.

While he didn't know what happened, he just knew it was all his fault. He was some horrible monster that destroyed everything and he cannot even remember how this happened or why it happened, much less how to never do it again. How could he understand? He was just a child who barely could even understand death, much less something horrific on this scale.

Yeah, so not a good nightmare to have after that trial and the feeling he's getting upon waking up also sucks. First thing he's going to do is turn on a light and check his traps to see if anything was set off.]

[Anywhere else]

[McBurn is just in a foul mood between the recent trial and the execution of someone who actually didn't think he was a horrific monster. Seriously, people like that were damn rare and didn't deserve to die. He'll explore the new locations and can be found about anywhere else besides the library and study room at some point. He just seems to be even more uncaring than usual, like he's actually making a conscious effort to just avoid anyone and everyone and just keep to himself.]

Kitchen

[carries_war]

[Beating up animal carcasses is all well and good, but doing so while shouting is a good way to run out of breath fast. He's taking a moment to catch his breath, when McBurn walks in. He's not exactly paying attention, so it would be far too easy to bump into him...]