FINAL WEEK

[strangerpeople]

FINAL WEEK

[This round really has been different.

The beginning of the week brings memories once more, as everyone finally falls asleep, and soon enough it will become apparent that a new wing has opened up, laying bare the entire mall for the survivors. Still, it is no small comfort. Not when the residents have also been updated, bringing home the very sobering fact that over half of those who arrived here are dead.

There are so few left. The Fabricator has been exposed, and somehow that is hardly a victory. It's clear that whoever is running this intends to hold whatever cards they can until the bitter end. Theirs isn't the first time this Game has been played, after all. They can easily outlast their charges on their home turf.

Yet, there is a strange hope. Maybe there is a way out. The question now is finding it and going on the offensive, before those in charge make their next move. Because they will eventually. There is no doubt. Time is not a luxury the remaining Titled can waste anymore and everyone knows it.

So don't waste it - because the clock is ticking. Prepare yourselves.

There are seven strangers left in this place.]

Comments

SEVEN DAYS LEFT (SUNDAY)

[strangerpeople]

M-M-M-MEETING

[scienceofmagic]

[ At the edge of the world, anything can change. All it needs is a single, simple wish...

When Croix wakes up that day, it's with new determination. She throws on her clothes, gets up and walks out to the food court with purpose. She doesn't bother to wake Chariot, instead wanting to gather a large breakfast. She doesn't mind.

And then, she sends out a LIME. ]

I made breakfast. Let's all meet. We need a plan, and I have a few things to say.

I'm done letting other people direct my fate. It's time to make our own chances and reach for the stars.

TIME FOR A HERO SPEECH also LWA spoilers

[scienceofmagic]

[ Once everyone arrives to the breakfast meeting, Croix is waiting. She looks more determined than ever, and that's a feat. She's retrieved the plastic Shiny Rod, it seems, and is holding it. ]

...There are a few numbers that are sacred and powerful to witches. Three--for the Matron, the Mother and the Crone. Nine--for the Nine Olde Witches. And finally... Seven. This is the most powerful of all, as the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper are said to grant the strongest magic. And they do: the Claiomh Solais itself bears those stars. This is a replica, but I think everyone can see that sacred constellation.

[ And she'll smile now, before placing it on a table. ]

...This one is only plastic. But the sentiment is there. There are Seven Stars and seven of us. This alone leads me to believe that we can make miracles happen. But as well... I regained a precious memory last night. One where two girls stood at the edge of the world and made a simple wish for the future. A world where everyone could laugh as one...

[ Croix closes her eyes for a few moments, remembering the brilliant green of Yggdrasil blooming again as magic was restored to the world, perhaps even more powerful than ever before. And two girls carried the hopes and dreams of an entire planet, inspiring a new generation of witches. When she opens her eyes again... It's with a smile. ]

Believing in ourselves is everyone's magic. And it may seem simple, or even childish--I know I certainly thought so at one point--but it's true. With pure belief in ourselves, we can accomplish anything--especially together. We only have a week. But I believe in the seven us and our ability to not only end this game on our terms, but to save everyone else.

[ So she'll take a knife and pry out the marbles on the fake rod, before passing them around so everyone has one. ]

...Each and every one of us has the potential to become a hero hidden deep within, don't you think? So let's shine, as bright as the stars contained within the real Claiomh Solais, so that we can have a future where we feel the sun on our faces and the wind on our skin once more! And maybe... Just maybe, when this is over... We will find a world waiting for us where we can laugh as one.

[ And Croix hold out her hand, palm down. The gesture should be obvious what she's going for. ]

Deep down, we've already realized the path we must follow. ...So let's get started!

CODENAMES (spoilers where marked!!!)

[beguiledcard]

[ It's during a quiet moment, he speaks up: ]

Back home, the members of the Phantom Thieves were given their power after awakening to the spirit of rebellion...

It was thanks to having that power, we were able to accomplish everything we did...

[ A deep breath. His expression is dim.

( Spoilers from here.... ) ]

We managed to save our entire world. A powerful being chose to pick Goro Akechi and I for a game of seeing whether or not humanity deserved to continuing existing as it was. I was... picked to fight for humanity, while Goro was chosen to be my enemy.

We fought the being, head-on, and we won. We had all the odds stacked against us, but we didn't give up.

We'd been knocked down and were on the brinks of being wiped out, but friends we'd made cheered us all on and never stopped believing in us.

With their spirit and their strength being poured our way, we won.

[ ( ... to here. ) ]

So, there are times everything will look hopeless. Loved ones die, people suffer, and you'll wind up in a situation where you're completely blind to what the outcome could be. But, that's why we're going to fight, right? We're going to find all the clues and all the answers out there that we can.

[ He offers the best encouraging smile he can manage, and then-- ]

To become a Phantom Thief, one of the requirements is to have a code name. For me... it felt like more than just something for the sake of concealing identity... It felt like something that represented being part of a team.

[ A hint of sheepishness. Let him be nostalgic, okay. And now let's see how well he remembers what Goro told him... He did write it all down and work hard to memorize, after all... ]

Back home, I'm Joker. Then there's Crow, Skull, Mona, Panther, Fox, Queen, Oracle, and Noir...

[ SO... ]

Let's pick codenames.

A Gift

[ourmagic]

[ She takes the marble Croix gave her... and grasps it firmly as she can in her bad hand. And then, when everyone else has been convinced or at least taken their marbles, and said their peace, she looks at everyone in the room.

After everyone has chosen their codenames, after all is said and done, there remains one last thing to do. ]

Croix's right. We need to be a united front. So... to facilitate that... I want to give all of you a gift. The other day, I made a potion for Joey's dance routine, because we were discussing changing her outfit... I never ended up using it. But we're together in this. All of us.

... Even you two.

[ She flashes Britt and Loewe a warm smile. ]

If any of you have a problem with your clothes, go change into something casual and come back to me. I can wait.

[ ... And wait she will. But once everyone is either changed or back, she nods. ]

Is everyone good? ... All right. Metamorphie Vestesse!

[ She throws the potion on the ground, and it envelops all of them in a cloud of smoke, changing the clothes they'll be wearing permanently. Their clothes come out... different. Each marble is taken into account as a piece of jewelry and has been turned a color relating to them personally, and their clothes are all pale golds with red adornments, relating to what they might be wearing.

Chariot is now wearing her performance outfit, though instead of the usual whites and blues, it's in pale golds and reds, the marble attached to a gold necklace around her neck. The marble itself has become a bright shiny red as well.

There's one other thing the spell does for Chariot.

It changes her hair back to the way it should be: red, its natural color. She's not bothering to put it up anymore, either. ]

... You don't all have to keep the clothes, but... we both figured it might be a little intimidating, if our enemy saw us all properly looking like one unit, you know?

AND FINALLY PLAN TIME part one plus something else

[scienceofmagic]

All right! Now that we're as united as we're going to get, it's time to plan. First, we should divide into partnered units and begin scouring this place. I know you all missed things.

[ To make a point of this, she leads them to the cat cafe. And there she'll open a trap door in one of the trees, revealing a ladder down into a rectangular room. It has seven costumes on a rack and a dressing room and a trash can. It's very reminescent of the backstage area of a theater.

Welcome to where her base of operations as Fabricator was. ]

It'd be wise to get together with people who'd complement each other well. Then, we can gather information and meet up back here at the cat cafe. We'll keep in touch with the LIME chats, and from there we'll formulate a solid plan when we have a clearer picture. But we will make one. For now, it's time to come forward with any and all skills you may have that could be useful.

Before meeting

[theirmagic]

[ Ursula has a mission. She is heading to where those strange games the ghosts can play are kept. She has a lot on her mind, she's tired, she needs a shower (she'll bathe after this), but she's going to go find the toyshop with the strange ouija board in it. Inside TOYS-IS-YOU, she finds a board, calms herself, and calls out: ]

I don't know if this will work. But could one of you please find Dio for me, and let me speak to him?

[ She waits for a bit. ]

I... I want to talk to him, specifically. Well... I'd like to talk to all of you, but him first. Are you here, Dio?

[redgates]

[After her aforementioned waiting a bit, the coin makes a curt movement.] WHITE

pre-meeting!! super, heavy duty (i mean cause it's endgame shit and all) P5 spoilers in first prompt

[beguiledcard]

memories

[ It had been the absolute worst night of sleep since he arrived -- worse even, than what he'd experienced the night after watching Goro Akechi die.

He woke up feeling sick. One part was out of how overwhelmed the sudden slam of memories was, another part was some of the memories themselves...

Goro Akechi had tried to kill him, Goro Akechi had tried to kill his team... and... yet again, it had involved Masayoshi Shido. It had been different circumstances -- ones he'd been determined to stop, in spite of (at the time) not knowing just how bad said circumstances were...

Heh...

Maybe before all of this, some part would have felt "but the facts remain" apply here, to more of a degree than how he feels now. Anyone can feel at least tempted to murder. Even he has. He had actually considered it last week. So when it comes down to it, the world is even less black and white than it had been before he arrived. Yes, even before here, he does remember he'd wanted to save Goro from that path... but hadn't been sure what to do.

Nothing will erase the image of how Goro had smiled before pulling that trigger, but worse than that? Worse than anything? The image of that door slamming down between Goro and the Phantom Thieves. The final words. Then... gunshots. Not only had Akira not been able to save him here, in this place... he'd failed to save him back home, too...

Needless to say, he winds up spending a long time in the shower just staring down at the floor with hot water running over his head, as though it could possibly carry some of those unpleasant thoughts with him.

... They'd been used for a game back home, too.

Everything... is a goddamn GAME...

He's nobody's pawn, and the same goes for everyone else!

He shot the first one that thought people were a game; he'll be making sure these people get the message, too. ]

looking around

[ It's after the shower, people can catch him pausing by Foofylicious. He isn't sure why, but... he feels like the clothes in this store would make good Metaverse equipment. They aren't too different from some of the stuff he's shoved his team into, right...?

And he does remember how Goro thought he looked in some of the clothes from here... That thought just makes him kind of sad and unsure of things, right now, but... guess his mind is telling him he should focus on the happier things, right?

Yeah.

He'll be exploring the newer areas after... coffee, so it's after that, he can be found hanging around the food court, particularly around the cat cafe. There's a little time spent petting the text arrives to his phone. So, after deciding to wait until after the meeting to get coffee, he heads off... ]

also this feels ominous like The Ring (HEY GHOSTS, GOT A MINUTE?)

[beguiledcard]

Anyone around?

[quicheboard]

[There's a moment of pause.

The coin slowly, but deliberately shifts to white.]

MOD PING

[scienceofmagic]

[ Once the meeting disperses, Chariot and Croix head to Dynasties. The woman with the pipe in the photo fits the aesthetic here, so it's their first stop on scouring the first floor. So it's time to scour this place top to bottom! Croix will be digging through clothes racks and feeling the walls. ]

[ourmagic]

[ Chariot will be checking around and under the counters, in any kinds of back areas for anything not immediately obvious, and if there's drawers, you can bet she's in them. ]

SIX DAYS LEFT (MONDAY)`

[strangerpeople]

tool time / ghost chat / open

[beguiledcard]

teach me your ways of discreetly wrecking shit

[ He's going to be sending a text to Loewe today: ]

Hey.
Any chance you'd be free in about thirty minutes?


from one honest thief to another...

[ He took his time heading over to the board today... but, this is something he needs to do. One hand rests in his jacket pocket, the other reaching up to twist a part of his bangs. ]

I want to speak with Kurama. [ ... ] If he isn't around right this second, I'd appreciate if someone let him know. I'll wait just in case...

[ This is actually the point he sends Loewe the text, moving to lean against the wall nearest to the board game. He does, in fact, wait ten minutes.

... Not entirely on purpose, either; his mind ends up wandering, expression giving away it's not to the best of places.

He blinks out of thought, glances at the phone, and then straightens up to face the board. With that SWEATDROPPING INTENSIFIES moment passed, he quietly clears his throat. ]

... Is Kurama around?


parkour'n more

[ As for anyone else, they're welcome to catch him around the place for all things Fitnesse.

He'll be swimming! And also... parkouring?? No, seriously. Someone might catch him doing a flip off of a wall or random other solid objects.

There's also him trying to re-wrap his hand, though this is being done one-handed and isn't... going too well. He might look a little frustrated.

Aside from that, he'll be eating in the food court or quietly writing in something that looks suspiciously like a diary. ]

here for parkour. /o/

[comesaround]

[ A moment passes in which Karma lets off a whistle of appreciation, leaning against a nearby wall. He'd totally been watching Akira pull off some rather impressive feats of parkouring. ]

You're just full of surprises. I didn't even know you could do something like that.

[ There's a spark of interest in his eyes now. Consider him totally interested. ]

FIVE DAYS LEFT (TUESDAY)

[strangerpeople]

3W

[strangerpeople]

[In the very early morning of Tuesday, there is a sudden ping on everyone's phones.

When everyone looks, they find their maps have been updated, and those doors that had been locked are now unlocked...]

[comesaround]

[ For anyone that might be looking for Karma today?

He's feeling quite motivated today after that interesting bit of exploration in the new area so anyone can find him in a number of places. Starting off by going to Fitnesse, practicing punches and kicks against one of the punching bags but not looking like he's venting this time. More like really trying to see how hard he can still hit without actually using his power despite it being tempting.

A little bit later, around mid-afternoon?

Karma stops in to buy a set of pencil crayons, a pencil, eraser and a notebook from Colourmen & Sons but doesn't remain long as he soon heads down to Cafe M.Y.J.L where he took the time to buy a Latte of some sort before sitting down at one of the booths. Taking his time with the notebook, seeming to draw up a bunch of doodles that involve a strange looking being before starting more careful, elaborate drawings of a very distinct young boy around his age. There's a lot more care taken in these ones, one in particular managing to display a soft, kind smile with very relative ease while missing that there's something rather gentle and almost loving about Karma's own expression as he's drawing it.

Other than that, he'll be spotted wandering around while holding onto some odd-looking magazine that seems to have something about a Sonic Ninja movie on it's front cover. Not something you'd see around here, surely. ]

Motive: The Final Cut

[strangerpeople]

[On Tuesday, about the same time as normal, the unknown number shows up again. Another text, another message from 'the Boss', and another way to try and 'rebel' against them. Oh come on, we all know you're thinking it.]

Another week and you are still here. But have you noticed something missing as of late? The fact that you may have focused too much on your plans, you may have forgotten about those left behind. Of those whom lost their lives and those who ended them...their profiles are gone as if they never existed. And they won't after this, at least not to you who are left standing.

Every memory of them will be gone from your minds. This mall will be erased from you as well along with every memory you made within these walls. The hope you finally found and are willing to die for...gone in an instant. You know what I will ask by now to prevent this; insane as you are, you do not feel stupid enough to question it.

That is all.

[...this is from the Boss, right? Did they attempt to compliment the Titled?]

Post-motive ghost jam

[ourmagic]

[ Guess who's back in Toys-Is-You to talk to the dead? Chariot. She's worried the motive might have cut off their line of communication. ]

Can someone please let me talk to Goro Akechi?

[ She waits a bit, and then asks: ]

... Goro, are you here?

[incrediblystressedout]

[Right. Joey's getting down to business. While other people check out the newly opened doors in 3W, Joey is going to take her time in the older areas of the mall. Aside from trying the fingerprint scanner in Café MYJL during breakfast, she's going to look for anything hidden in Yotsukoshi, going so far as using her animate Mr. Mew to check high and low areas for her. Yotsukoshi is more or less where they're living, and you can learn a lot by searching your own house sometimes.]

[Later in the day, she's going to apply the same search-everything technique to 2E, checking out all six areas as well as stocking up on first-aid supplies from Prime Time Care and making a more concerted effort to search Pagemasters for books on ghosts and spirituality.]

[After a break to head over to 3W, she'll finish up the day working on her dancing at Fitnesse, including practicing her tap moves even if she hasn't gotten her shoes back.]

FOUR DAYS LEFT (WEDNESDAY)

[strangerpeople]

CLOSED THREAD

[strangerpeople]

[It's evening...]

Pre-Meeting toplevel (meeting will be a comment below this)

[beguiledcard]

[ Everyone will be getting this text around noon:

Meeting down in Cafe MYJL in the next hour.

And whenever the Phantom Rebels™ members get down there, there will be some cups of plain, dark coffee... and some tea, water, and soda at one table. He's tried to keep up with the whole who-likes-what thing... but he'll get something for someone, if there isn't a thing they like?

The pads of paper and pencils are for people to take notes this time around.

Until everyone gets there, he'll be some comics of a tiny, white creature in a cute hat. Look, he's dancing! He's rolling down a hill! And here's him with cat ears, holding a kitten!!!

Isn't he adorable. ]