15strangers | (no subject)

WEEK 2

[The unfortunate death, and subsequent execution, has no doubt weighed on everyone's minds since. The dam has burst, and now, the idea that someone may kill another in this place is not just a possibility anymore. It is reality, and a very terrifying reality at that.

Yet, there is a strange side effect to the murder's aftermath. When the Titled go to sleep on Saturday evening, they will dream, even if they don't normally do so. When they wake up, their dream stays with them, and a thought comes to everyone. A realization.

Their dream had been a memory they lost. Now, they have it back, as if they had never lost it.

Nor is that the only change. They also feel just a little more confident in their power. Confident enough that they find that their ability has evolved to become stronger. Whether that's a good or a bad thing, well...

Soon enough, too, the Titled's phones start pinging, and when they open up their LIME app, they receive a simple message:]

Your Mall Map has been updated!

[And indeed, those who go to check the Food Court will find an elevator on the eastern end which leads to a brand new wing that had previously been obscured by the barrier.

Dio and Wake's information is also slightly different from before on the LIME app, but...maybe it's best not to think about it. Last week had been...disheartening.

Hopefully, this week will be better, right? Surely, this week, temptation won't win out again....right?

Well.

There's only one way to find out.

Welcome to Week 2, Titled.

There are thirteen strangers in this place.

This week's crab is Dungeness.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's also a lot more work, and therefore money, to pump water up to the second floor. I wonder if the guys who caught us actually built this place, or if they took it from someone else. The first one would make it fit with their tendency to throw money around to show off...

[Wait.]

Do we know which floor here is the ground floor? I haven't poked around as much as other people.

...I'm not sure, actually. Do we know...?

[ Hm, she'll come sit by the poolside at least. ]

...This entire place is odd.

Have you tried messing around with any of the walls? I...

[She shakes her head.]

Hang on, I'm interrupting you. Sorry. I'm actually not used to being this many people around to talk to.

Mm, no. I haven't. ...I'm kind of scared of doing that, actually.

[ Who knows what they'll find or if they'll get in trouble. ]

Think they'll sic that big cat-looking thing on us?

[Joey's just...kind of been assuming that.]

Actually, yeah. That's exactly what I'm worried about. I don't want to deal with... Her apparently?

[ Croix will sigh and just shake her head. ]

That would definitely take some doing. I don't think shining a flashlight in her face and pirouetting away would work as well as it did on the monsters at home.

And I mean, you uh...look like you know what you're doing, but I guess you're like Ursula and would want a wand before you got in a fight, huh?

...I'm not sure it would matter. If we had magic, we could probably get out. So...

[ She'll just roll her shoulders. ]

Ursula is better equipped for physical fighting, though.

...really? She's got her bad arm and she's...

[Don't say frumpy. That's perfectly normal 20something attire in the 90's. More or less.]

More traditional witch-looking? I'd expect her to use potions and fireballs and stuff. I guess I haven't seen her do anything physical besides that video game dance, though...

...She's a bit deceptive like that. She's from a performing family. She just wanted to be a teacher. Doesn't mean she's not in shape, though.

[Joey knew Ursula had been fibbing with that whole "a friend" line, but she makes an attempt at a poker face to not like Croix know she just confirmed something for her.]

She is pretty good at that dancing game. Nice legs.

[It is a professional assessment.]

I guess she could kick at least as hard as I could, and I can do some damage with tap shoes if I have to. Actually, you both look tougher than I'd expect for teachers, once you get past the clothes.

[For the love of god, Phrasing.]

[ Croix laughs, a little. ]

I'm not actually nearly as fit. I just build things. I work with technology, so I do some of my own lifting to put things together. But that's it.

Generally principals are more on the old and frail side, in my experience...

[Hm.]

You work with technology at a magic school, though?