WEEK 3

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 3

[Once everyone has gotten out of the elevator, those who go to look for Akira and Kurama will find that they have been put into one of their rooms, together, safely tucked into bed with a glass of milk for each of them. And - aside from the bruises of being suctioned into a death cylinder and tranquilized with some very strong drugs - they are alive and unharmed.

Naturally, this means that Akira and Kurama are the first to experience the dreams, but everyone will experience them, once they finally fall asleep, for good and ill.

Despite everything, too, the survivors will find many other new things facing them as they wake up. A new evolution for their powers, a new wing...and a new rule, updated after the execution. The profiles have also been updated, to reflect the Titled's ever-dwindling numbers.

This is going to be a long week, that's for sure.


There are ten strangers left in this place.

((OOC: Don't forget to do Activity Check along with memory regains, everyone!))

Comments

[incrediblystressedout]

[Right.]

[Only some people get miracles.]

Helena...why'd you have to jump the g--why'd you have to rush things? We could've all made it. I know we could've...

[beguiledcard]

[ Sadly, he... kind of assumed she would be gone, and he'd been thinking in the heat of the moment. He could only think to prioritize the life of someone who... had more of a chance to help them all get out... who had more information... and yet...

It still hurts like hell...

There's a harsh exhale, but he moves over to take Helena from Ursula's arms. ]

[theirmagic]

[ Her grip is iron, and for a hot minute, she refuses to let go. But eventually, a look passes from one set of eyes to another, and she finally, if unwillingly, lets Helena go to Akira's arms. ]

... We have to... she deserves a wake...

[greatfascinations]

U-Uh...

[It's also kind of confusing being asked to arrange a funeral immediately after being zapped to hell by that same person, but she supposes she can't really hold it against Helena. She was definitely right that this was an occupational hazard.]

I think the best I could do is, like, get you on the roof again. But can I, like, have a second? She did totally just turn me into a lightning rod, ya know?

[She's still a little pissed off about it even so. Not more than Helena throwing her life away, but.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He gives her the most reassuring look he can manage, in spite of something incredibly cold filling his stomach.

This is a person... but she's getting colder and colder...

With a dim expression, he studies her face for a moment, and then quietly mutters. ]

... Thanks.

[ This girl who rebelled against her society? Fought for something? There's no way she did something without a reason... right? Even if not... he's not going to believe her death was in vain.

Isn't that what they all deserve to have as thoughts directed their way, even if they fall? ]

Let's give all of them one...

[greatfascinations]

[The Life Coach smiles mildly at that. Like she has no particular attachment to the idea of a funeral, but understands the sentimental reasons people do them and supports it.]

K. Well... how 'bout we do that instead of, like, a minigame tomorrow then? No one's super hard up on cash, right? And the Nasty totally hated those.

[beguiledcard]

No, she wasn't... and I don't think anyone will be up for one any time soon.

[ He'd be okay with never playing one of those ever again.

He nods, holding a blink. His expression's dim. ]

Thank you...

[ He shifts the form in his arms, gently and with care. ]

Where should I take her?

[greatfascinations]

Umm, like... would you mind letting Nyaf-ya take care of her for now? That's, like, what usually happens...

[She looks a bit sheepish that she can't tell him a better place, but. There really isn't a great place within their current boundaries for it.]

[theirmagic]

... I don't blame you for wanting a minute. But we should... do something eventually.

[ Exhale. Twisting her fingers together, now that Akira is holding Helena's body. ]

... I'm glad you're all right. I don't... know what she could have been thinking. Could she have been so set in not trusting anyone here anymore, that she felt attacking you would be the only way out?

[greatfascinations]

I totally have no clue. I didn't read her well enough, or like, maybe I could have avoided this too.

[The Life Coach sighs.]

Maybe she, like, left something behind that would tell you, though? Like a... a dying message. You can totally check.

[theirmagic]

... Her phone. Would she leave it there or in her room? Someone should... go check her room, if it's open. Is her phone here... w-with her?

[ Swallowing again. Her throat feels... like there's a lump in it. There's just been so much death. ]

And, Coach... maybe you should start having someone walk with you that you trust so this doesn't happen again. I don't want you to get hurt.

1/2

[greatfascinations]

Her phone was like, with her. She had to have it for her power to work on me, remember?

As for walking alone... I'll be totally fine now. I'm, like, sharing power with someone really strong, so that's basically the same as being with someone!

[That may also explain why she's stopped being such a neon mess, as well. But she doesn't seem to have noticed that happening.]

[greatfascinations]

[On the other hand.

A big bubble of protective barrier suddenly closes around her.]

- Huh?!

[With the mouse-like ears on her hoodie, she kind of looks like a hamster in a ball like this.]

[theirmagic]

[ Pausing... to stare. Uh... ]

... Did you always have that ability? And, wait--someone strong? Who?

[ Going to... poke at Helena's phone while she stares at Coach, don't mind her. Anything on it? ]

[greatfascinations]

She's, like... my roommate, actually.

[There's nothing on the phone except Helena's LIME chats, but it could be used to open her room.]

[theirmagic]

Your roommate... do you mean this Kana person?

[ She's just guessing, it was that name she overheard earlier. She'll pocket the phone for now. Doesn't seem to be anything useful on it. ]

... Did you make that bubble?

[greatfascinations]

Yep. That's Kana-chan.

[She does not seem ready to talk more about this person though, so she leaves it at that.]

No, I think the Boss, like, did that. I guess even she, like, wants to protect me? [She is actually surprised enough to say that outright. But then she pauses.] ...You're totally gonna try to squeeze me for info if I stay here, aren't ya?

[theirmagic]

[ She's trying to breathe right now. As relieved as she is... and as happy as she is the Life Coach is okay... Helena is still dead. Someone has to do the duty and take care of it. ]

... She shouldn't have attacked Coach like that. I feel like this is my fault, I goaded her during that trial...

[incrediblystressedout]

I just...no she shouldn't have, but...

[She took initiative, right? Did the friendleader thing?]

[Doesn't that make this her responsibility?]

[theirmagic]

[ Wringing her hands, now that they're empty, Ursula bites her lip for a long moment before answering. ]

... She shouldn't have period. No one should have to hurt anyone else here, not even Coach, to get out. What she did... was wrong. Coach could have died too. I don't... I don't know if this is "fair trade". It doesn't... feel fair. But what Helena did... isn't either.

... No one is in the right, in this situation...

[beguiledcard]

[ Something in his gut twists, but... he forces it out. ]

We can't blame ourselves for what another one of us chooses to do without seeking help.

[ He needs to tell himself that... over and over. ]

She had her reasons... and there's no going back to change it. All we can do is try to figure out what was going through her head...

[theirmagic]

How many times did we tell her we didn't hate her, though, despite it all? How many times did we say to come to us?

[ ... It hurts. It hurts, feeling like she didn't trust any of them. ]

[comesaround]

Some people simply can't be reasoned with. I'd bet she planned on doing this for a while.

[ Finally Karma speaks, his expression unreadable as he'd stood back and watched all this unfold. ]

[incrediblystressedout]

Worrying about it...worrying about it won't get us anywhere.

[Why does it feel like a betrayal to be glad LC is alive when Helena's dead? This is getting too complicated.]

Helena did what she thought she had to, I guess.

[comesaround]

That's right.

[ Karma nods at that, though he seems to just be absently responding as he doesn't quite know what to make of all this mess happening now. It was just the beginning of the week and he almost felt exhausted already. ]

She must have thought it would help us in the long run, and was completely willing to risk her life to do it. Nobody would have went into doing something like that without being aware of the consequences.