WEE͠K ̸́4͝

[strangerpeople]

W҉͘E͜͠͝E̕K̡̛͡ ̡͟4̸

[The blight is all-consuming.

Within days dozens are confirmed infected, and you and your unexpected new scientist friend find yourselves trying to work on a cure. If not a cure, a stopgap of some kind. Anything to prevent this thing from destroying everything. It's hard work. It's not going very well. Really, it feels like with every step forward, you're taking ten steps back. Discouraging is an understatement, to say the least.

A week passes, and the death toll rises. It's really starting to look bleak. You constantly second-guess yourself, and even get into a fistfight with your new ally one night. It's getting to the point where you are working on fumes.

Then, unexpectedly, you get a phone call. It's been a long night, and the sun is beginning to rise above the mountains, when it happens.

You and the scientist are not the only ones looking for a cure. In fact, there are at least a dozen others-and they think they may be close to a breakthrough.

But-and you can't believe you're hearing this, after all of the failure you'd experienced throughout this blight-they need your help.]


---


[To say that the end of last week sucked would be an understatement. To say that no one knows what this week will bring is not even in question. Yet even as you wake, you feel a cloud lift from your mind, as one of the truths you've been living with since the beginning has suddenly changed.]




[But is it possible to abide by this new truth? The Hosts, and IT beyond, seem intent on making that impossible. And the rat...well. Obviously the rat's not an ally. Let's not kid ourselves.

There's only one way to find out if more deaths can truly be prevented-and that's to keep going, and hoping that the new floor that has opened up will offer something in the way of an opportunity.

In the meantime.


There are 11 strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[comesaround]

[ Karma just sighed and shook his head. ]

You realize noone gives a damn about your stupid schedules, right?

[mermaidkin]

If you want to join them on their big snow day, that can very easily be arranged. Though I don't see how superior that is to the indefinite residence we've offered you ourselves. Vita Clotilde-Morris is quite insistent on the similarities, actually.

[comesaround]

[ Something tense lined his expression right then, his smile just a little more razor sharp than it had been before. ]

My, Hiyori. I thought we were supposed to be friends, and here you're threatening me.

[ No he won't tell you to shut up as he did last time, but also you're ruining the mood of things here so uh.. There's That. ]

That's not very host-like of you, now is it?

[mermaidkin]

It's not. A threat. I'm just talking about the options you have. If you want to hang out with your precious dead friends, you can do that, I guess. If you want to accept the fate of living in a world where IT wreaks havoc left and right, you can do that!

Let me guess. You're thinking "fight" instead. Pray tell me how. Because they didn't bring any particularly effective tools with them. The situation has hardly changed.

[comesaround]

...I AM hanging out with them, or I was before you interrupted us. So why would I consider those options of yours?

[ He can't help but laugh a little, almost seeming at ease again, if not for the fire in his eyes right now. ]

There's no need to be so grim. I'm not accepting anything that has to do with IT... and besides.. [ A hum and he taps a finger against the pocket he's been keeping his knife in. ] Tell me, Hiyori. Do you remember what it was like to be a normal human who has real, honest friends that weren't given to you while being a brainwashed puppet?

[ In a way that's sort of implying they're not really friends, but hey. There's more to it, right? ]

Right. I'm sure if they want to fight, they'll get pretty creative in doing so. I wouldn't underestimate them, and i'm absolutely positive they don't fear you enough to hold back, either.

[mermaidkin]

I DON'T remember what it was like! There was only one time that anyone ever tried to save me, and I have every reason to believe that was a fluke! What is with you people assuming all worlds are the same? Normal humans are getting murdered, assassinated, eaten, contracted! That's what your precious freedom from IT gets you! Please enjoy!

[incendiarize]

.....And here I thought you were the the one doing the saving. The mermaid saves the prince, right?

[mermaidkin]

For the love of—we'll tell you what the mermaid does, she sells her stupid voice.

[Hiyori's face crumples, fiercely uncomfortable.]

Can we please talk about that literally any other time? We already have to deal with enough interruptions to the schedule and snooping in our rooms.

[poorlovefool]

[this is before Eric left to get the crossbow it's fine]

You don't look like you thought it was snooping.

[he got a picture from Link and everything!!]

[mermaidkin]

Then maybe you're judging my emotions by my outward appearance more than you should be.

[He shrugs a little shrug.]

...your gift was of such a high quality that the reactions balanced out. But it'd be nice to set a time in future. Let's leave it at that.

[poorlovefool]

As long as I follow the rules, you can't assassinate me or eat me, right? I think I'll keep doing things on my own terms.

[mermaidkin]

...if you don't want to prove that you're different from my leader, that's your prerogative.

[poorlovefool]

[does he enjoy how easy it is to wipe off a smug look and get a rise out of Eric]

What the hell are you talking about!? Which one?

[mermaidkin]

IT. Pardon the confusion. If anything, the term "IT" leads to even more confusion, you understand.

My point is... IT tells me what to do and when to do it. Aren't you trying to have me go back to making my own decisions? Though that's terribly overrated.

[comesaround]

[ Ah. Had he touched a nerve? That was new. ]

What if it wasn't a fluke, Hiyori? Ever considered that maybe IT just told you it was and you believed it?

[ A soft laugh sounded, and for a second he almost looked sympathetic as he looked at the taller teen. ]

Yeah. It does. Being human does mean you have the chance to be murdered, eaten or even assassinated, but that's a risk that comes with being alive. Accepting all the pain and suffering that comes with it too is never easy, and i'll take that over a lifetime of not being able to feel anything. It's called living, and if you ever decide you want any of that and not what IT is offering, i'll be right here...

[ Points to where he himself is standing a short ways from Hiyori, and the look on his face is not mocking, mean or antagonistic in any way. Surprisingly. ]

Ready to fight for the real Hiyori Tono.

[mermaidkin]

...

[This idea that IT lied to him... is clearly digging into some corner of his brain like a fishing line's hook. To tug it out with a smile on his face, is an action of battle not won easily.]

It will be a real shame if you get taken off the board by someone robbing a whole world of their freedom to wish and calling themselves nicer than my leader...

[He crosses his arms, anchors himself.]

I'm human. "Hiyori Tono" is me. And I assure you that I can feel pain, though IT protects me perfectly from the possibility at all times. My ability to at least vaguely recollect ideas pertinent to humanoid emotion is essential to the project - for example, intimidating survivors of a certain plane.

But I'll give you a little bit of hope, so it can most effectively collapse later. [His voice transitions into something delicate that you'd play piano behind.] "The real Hiyori Tono"... likes... coffee. In the information analysis "he's" been forced to perform, "he" found out you like it too. Have outright exceptional taste. If you achieve... your truly lofty goal... maybe one day "Akabane-kun" and "Tono-san" could have a cup together.

[A sharklike smile cuts open his face, lights up the electric eyes.]

I think it's much more likely you'll be boiled alive.

[comesaround]

[ Most people might have possibly backed down with something being said to them that could be construed as some kind of vague threat of sorts. Thankfully, Karma Akabane was NOT like most people and as such, just smiled sharply enough that a knife would be envious of it's edge.

Possibly fueled on by the fact that he was positive what he'd said about the possibility of IT lying had hit some kind of sensitive spot. Was that truly not something they'd considered, or was it just a part of something that came with some kind of absolute, unwavering forced loyalty? ]

A freedom to wish, huh? The kind of unnatural wishes that a disgusting white RAT is nothing any world needs... but hey. If someone feels like they can try and take me on, I'm not going to run away. Unlike something you're doing by not even acknowledging the fact that your precious IT probably lied to you about a number of things so you'd believe them and go along with whatever they want you to.

[ He's honestly tapping into his early, pre Koro-sensei self here, seeming almost a little bit unhinged as he took a step forwards to where Hiyori was standing. Yet it was brimming with confidence and an attitude that honestly lacked any real hesitation whatsoever.

Something that didn't even seem to remotely change by the time Hiyori finished speaking to him, instead just earning a soft hum as he drew out the knife he always kept with him at all times. Periodically twirling it around expertly by it's handle, tossing it into the air and catching it without even a second's thought or worry to if he'd drop it or hurt himself. ]

Look here. It's not really called living if you have some entity ready to shield you from the possibility of pain, like some kind of child. Are you really so scared to allow yourself to feel pain properly? I actually kind of see you more as a coward, unable to face the real world where people hurt emotionally AND physically, instead of living with a fake happiness that does everyone absolutely no good whatsoever.

[ Then his expression softens a touch and he stopped the periodic motions he'd been doing with his knife, catching it by the hilt and laughing a bit as a thought crossed his mind. He hadn't missed that one part about how certain things were used to 'intimidate survivors of a certain plane' but he wasn't gonna comment on that yet. ]

It's not a matter of 'if', but 'when' I will achieve my goal. So, I stand by what I said before. [ For emphasis and not even remotely for any sort of threatening reason, he pointed the blade of his knife toward Hiyori. ] I will be here to fight and stand tall. So that I can have my friends back where they belong, and for the possibility that "Hiyori" and me can sit down and have a tasteful cup of coffee. Maybe even go and... perhaps swim together, too.

[ Just like that, he then sheathed his blade back into his pocket and sighed. He's never been one to be all super optimistic but maybe other people were just kind of rubbing off on him so whatever. ]

If you're trying to intimidate me, you're going to have to work a LOT harder than that.

[beguiledcard]

I thought you assholes wanted happiness.

Or are you guys lacking in the actual definition of the word?

[mermaidkin]

I thought your version of happiness was being out there with your families again someday. So why are you so satisfied with being dead and briefly visiting your murdergame friends? That's all I wanted to talk about.

[beguiledcard]

[ He looks Hiyori right in the eyes, chin held high and his expression full of cool-headed defiance. His voice is calm, but carrying a certain strength to it that's impossible to miss. He's not responding to all of that... just one thing: ]

Simple: we can help remind them that there's still hope. That we're still here and that we can still fight.

[mermaidkin]

Oh, Akira Kurusu can still fight! What a huge comfort that is! Given his track record of... Defending himself and making the trial very easy!

[beguiledcard]

[ That just gets a smirk. ]

Maybe you should take notes from some of the people I've managed to defeat - their insults and goading were way better. Cute try though... Maybe... 4 out of 10? 5?

[comesaround]

[ That gets SUCH a snicker out of Karma. Looks like he didn't need his help at all. ]

[beguiledcard]

[ Ah, he can't help cracking a genuine smile at Karma for that snickering. ]

[mermaidkin]

Oh, wow, first time I've been called cute in my entire life! [He gestures "catch a blown kiss and put it in your pocket".] I'd be thrilled if I weren't married to my work.