WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[You now know why you're here, Titled. The question now is, is there a way to get out of here without invoking the rules? What will those who brought you here do to get you to kill?

Time will tell.

There are fifteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

[byanyother_name]

[A flicker of surprise passes over Kurama's face. His eyes go briefly downward to Akira's phone when it dings before he starts to laugh. It's not really loud but it's eyes-closed, genuine if startled laughter.

It actually makes him look more like the teenager he really isn't. And it takes him a moment to get his composure back. His eyes are still bright with it when he finally manages to say something.]

So it seems. You're welcome, I suppose.

[beguiledcard]

[ Ah... it's good to hear that laugh, and he can't help laughing as well. ]

Well, they do say having a sense of humor can pay off.

[ ... Who exactly says that, though? ]

[byanyother_name]

I don't think it's usually meant quite so literally.

[There's something a little warmer in Kurama's expression, something that's more than Shuuichi's soft, apparently universal friendliness.]

[beguiledcard]

[ That warmth draws out a softer smile for a moment, and he shifts his stance, hands loosely resting in his pockets. ]

Yet it paid off twice...

[ But is he going to jump into saying what this second thing is that he earned?

Nah.

One corner of his lips lifts just a little higher before he glances to the side. ]

Enjoying the game?

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama can take a guess. He's clever like that.]

I am. I'll admit I'm not as driven as some, but I'm making enough to keep myself fed and amusing myself along the way.

It's good to take advantage of this light-hearted moment while we have it.

[beguiledcard]

[ He nods, the smile lingering. ]

I think it's important for everyone to have this moment, since we need all the morale we can get right now.

[ Something in his expression dims, in spite of him clinging to the remnants of that smile. ]

Have any of your memories returned since we arrived?

[ He's just been... thinking about that today. Will they ever return? Is this simply part of how they're ensuring they have less of a chance to escape? ]

[byanyother_name]

Exactly what I was thinking, really.

[Kurama's expression goes a bit more serious, too, at the new topic.]

...No. Nothing, despite my best efforts.

[He's been trying not to think about it. Signs have shown some of the 'holes' can be larger than others and he doesn't like the idea that he may have forgotten a broad swath. (He wasn't wearing the clothes he last remembered.) But he couldn't help probing, like a child at a missing tooth.]

[beguiledcard]

[ A thoughtful look. ]

Same.

[ The fact that he's stronger, more agile, and with more muscle memory than he could recall...? It's telling enough. Just how far does his memory loss stretch? ]

I actually gave myself a headache last night with how much effort I was putting into remembering some things.

[ A somewhat dry chuckle. ]

I don't think it's just a matter of keeping us trapped here. There are some gaps too big for it to just be that.

[ He's tilting his head to the side a bit, eyes resting on the redhead's face. ]

It feels more like it's just leverage, period.

[byanyother_name]

[Unfortunately, Kurama can't use his own strength to judge anything. He is weaker here, without his demon ki. Only being as strong as a normal teenager of his training is difficult to adjust to.]

I agree. Memory is so inextricably intertwined with identity and one's sense of self that it makes a very effective lever and useful bait should one of their fish manage to slip the net.

[beguiledcard]

[ A quiet exhale. ]

Granted... [ jawline tightening ] ... if they're able to take real memories...

[ His brow tenses. ]

Who's to say they couldn't shove fake ones in?

[ How do they even know how far their control goes? If they can control this much of their minds, what... else could they do...? ]