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

[strangerpeople]

Yeah! Absolutely! Getting drunk! I'll drink to that!

[And thus, the old man suddenly sitting across from Futaba does so!











wait what]

[socialhacktivist]

[Getting drunk with the old man yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!






...wait what???]

...huuuuuh? I haven't seen you before...

[She sure is squinting hard-- oh yeah, her glasses are on the table.]

Who are you anyway?

[For such a shock she's pretty calm about it right now though.]

[strangerpeople]

Oh, of course you haven't! You haven't called me before.

[He seems utterly bemused.]

Until today! Apparently you really wanted a drinking buddy! Though you're a bit of a lightweight in comparison to some of my...colleagues.

[The bottle in his hand pops, turning into a different bottle.]

Rather ironic you're drinking after your friend's death! Hilarious even!

[socialhacktivist]

Called you? I don't even know you...

[Why would she call a stranger? ...wait. What kind of shady old guy shows up to drink with a young girl?






Though she forgets that when he talks about Yusuke. She scowls and tries to kick him--
but he's sitting on the opposite side of her legs so it's just a comical failure.]

...shut up. You don't know anything about me...

[It's pretty weak though. But what the heck did he just do to that bottle...?]

[strangerpeople]

Oh, but I do know you! Right? Futaba? Oracle? Computers? Computers! Whatever those are! You do those! And, you're upset your friend died so you're here now. Such a shame, too, even if I still find the circumstances comical. I am particularly fond of artists, myself!

Just as my colleague was fond of the bottle. And goat tipping.

[Glub. You are so cute. Not like that, though.]

I have been hanging around here the whole time, after all. Even if you couldn't see me before, I have seen you this entire time, dear.

[socialhacktivist]

[............okay this was kind of weird. But you know, the alcohol is making it easier to accept the fact that apparently some old guy has been listening in and following her around this whole time without ever introducing himself.]

So... you've been listening to me this whole time? Why didn't you say anything?

[Let's get this straight first.]

Do you have a name?

[strangerpeople]

Oh, of course! And everyone else, too. And everyone else that you can't see, either. It doesn't mean they aren't there.

[The man whirls his bottle a little bit, watching the liquid slosh around.]

As for why I didn't say anything before? Let's just say...the pointy-ears running this whole set up are looking for me. They just so happened to catch, well...

[Shrug.]

Long story short, I can talk to you somewhat! Just not all the time. Though "Balanced"? Really? They couldn't come up with a better name?

[socialhacktivist]

Hoooooold on.

[What the.]

...wait. The reason I can talk to you is because I'm The Balanced, or whatever?

[strangerpeople]

Yup!

Though...if it were me being naming you, and it's a pity it wasn't me because I'm far more creative than pretty much everyone still here...I'd say the more proper "Title" for you would be The Ordered.

But! Neither here nor there! Now you know.

[socialhacktivist]

Right. I'll remember that.

[Maybe.]

Hey uh...can other people see you, ooooooor does it just look like I'm talking to myself?

[Because the last thing she needs is everyone thinking she's gone crazy now that Yusuke's gone.]

Are you some kind of ghost?

[strangerpeople]

You look like you're talking to yourself. Pretty neat, right? Haha!

Oh, but I'm not a ghost. I'm something much better than a ghost!

[socialhacktivist]

[...yeah they're going to think she's nuts. That's super neat.]






Uhhh... Vampire? Alien? Shape-shifter? Wizard?

[strangerpeople]

Nope! I'm insane!



I bet you weren't expecting that, were you?

[socialhacktivist]

...nope.

[Not even close.]

Now I know I'm going crazy.