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

[strangerpeople]

[There is a smattering of papers on the security table. They are all labeled “Incident Report”.]

[comesaround]

[ Oh? So what's in this so-called Incident Report?

Since he's going to look at those papers now. ]

[strangerpeople]

[There are three of them. The one on top reads as follows:

Date: 12/1/2017.

Incident Description: security guard claims male individuals involved in struggle after-hours in Un-Steak My Heart follow by fatal electrocution incident in Crab-O-Licious. Police called.

Result: Determined to be unsubstantiated despite level of detail after reviewing security footage. Employee not reprimanded despite being aggravated and “scared”, in his words.

Notes: This better not be another case of that bullshit “curse”. The turnover on the Thursday skeleton shift is starting to get more public attention we don’t need.]

[beguiledcard]

[ 2017...?

So many questions are immediately in his mind. He stares down at the incident report, frowning hard. ]

Eighteen days ago...

[ It... happened on that end, too? ]

What do they mean by "curse?"

[ Let's see another report then... ]

[comesaround]

...If this is what I think it is? This has to reference Wake's death.

[ Not that he likes saying it aloud. But Akira's question has him really thinking, a soft hum whispering out amidst his thoughts. ]

Yeah I was wondering that myself. Does the other one mention that curse, too?

[strangerpeople]

Date: 12/8/2017.

Incident Description: Security guard claims male individual assaulted and murdered two individuals, one male, one female,via throat-slashing in the food court and Yotsukoshi during shift. Police called. Items matching guard's story reported stolen or damaged by Yotsukoshi and Prime Time Care.

Result: Determined to be partly unsubstantiated despite level of detail after reviewing security footage. No evidence of any activity aside from possible burglary uncovered during investigation. Some damage to the staircase glass was also confirmed. Employee has been instructed to cooperate with the police on the stolen and damaged items.

Notes: Goddamnit. I was joking when I said the Swedish meatballs were laced with PCP!! (Seriously, I was. But I don't know anymore.)

Corporate is already on my back for the police call last week and they won't be happy when they receive news about Yotsukoshi's bridal items. One of our anchor stores, broken into with no camera evidence, with the guard on duty apparently hallucinating multiple murders. Insurance is only going to pay out so much and the kid's not budging from his story - or the shift no matter how much Corporate plans to offer him.

If this kind of crazy brain shit keeps repeating every couple of months with our security every time a Thursday evening hits, we're going to start losing customers - and stores!

[beguiledcard]

[ He forces himself to put as much emotional distance between himself and this report...........

But, it's just like he thought: it's happening on both sides to some extent. It seems only fragments are leaking through to them... except where it directly involves the mall.

The part about the emotions is standing out -- there was the wave of emotions that happened after Helena's attack, but... what do emotions have to do with anything?

He's pretty sure he knows what the next report will involve, but he's reading it anyway. What does the third one say? ]

[strangerpeople]

Date: 12/15/2017.

Incident Description: Security guard claims male individual smoking in the Barcade dropped dead early in the night. Police was not called, but guard left post for 4 hours in attempt to "find evidence" to "prove" he was telling the truth.

Result: Determined to be unsubstantiated despite level of detail after reviewing security footage. Police was alerted and employee is being put on a temporary hold for evaluation by police. Continued employment will be determined based on hold results.

Notes: I tried the meatballs. No hallucinating.

Corporate's having puppies over this and is now ordering everyone in security to have compulsory mental screenings. Newcomers will be required to get mental history on their background checks before we even consider interviewing them.

I get the feeling this involves the rumor I heard about a big-time reporter talking to the previous crazies we employed on the skeleton shift. Same with the blank check policy that surfaced yesterday to start paying some big money to people to keep things quiet. Just what I fucking needed for the holidays! Guess I'm not going home any time soon.

[beguiledcard]

[ he wants to sit this poor guard down with a cup of coffee and some curry and reassure him he isn't crazy.... because jesus christ

He's going to be... borrowing... these reports, by the way. Hope nobody minds?? It's for a pure and just cause.

With that done, he glances over to Karma. ]

One step closer to understanding the situation...

[ A smile and nod, and then he's going to be searching the desk area for anything else. Or is it time to move along to other things? ]

[comesaround]

Yeah. No kidding. Some people can see what's going on here and others just think they're crazy. Others being paid hush money to keep things quiet, too.

[ Wow that sounds familiar, too. He's going to crack a smile though at Akira taking those reports for now. ]

I almost feel bad for that poor guy.

[strangerpeople]

[There is a strange pin on the desk beneath the papers Akira picks up.]

[comesaround]

[ A pause. Going to reach out and grab that pin, looking at it closely before showing Akira. ]

Huh. Isn't this interesting? Take a look.

[beguiledcard]

[ Hmmmm...

He's reaching out to take it for a closer inspection. Anything special about it? ]

[strangerpeople]

[It doesn't seem special, on the outset.

However, it's at that moment that Karma, then Akira, respectively, take the pin, that their phones ping.]

[comesaround]

[ Blinking at that, Karma pulled his phone out to look at it.

Just what happened, exactly? ]

[strangerpeople]

KEYPIN LEVEL 1 PRIVILEGES UPLOADED. YOU MAY NOW OPEN AND CLOSE BARRIERS.

[beguiledcard]

... Huh.

[ His eyebrows lift at his phone, and then he looks up at Karma. ]

Well, Jack, it would seem we've been given a promotion.

[ akira plz ]

[comesaround]

Can't say I mind the sounds of that. Not one bit.

[ Karma grinned at that, putting his phone back into his pocket for the time being. ]

We should keep an eye out for more of pins like this one. Who knows what privileges are attached to them.

[beguiledcard]

[ That grin has a matching one surfacing, too. ]

Good thing Phantom Thieves are on the case then, huh? [ another glance at his phone ] We should test this barrier access out after we leave.

[ With that, he's giving one more thorough search of the area.

Any shiny red buttons he probably shouldn't press? Or maybe some more neat stuff lying around? ]

[strangerpeople]

[Sadly no. You're good, thieves!]

[beguiledcard]

[ All right, then. Time to move on to the next task at hand! Is he excited about that?

... Yes. ]

All right... let's go test the barrier controls.

[comesaround]

Works for me. Should be fun, I think.

[ He's still seeming pretty happy about that little comment from before. Fingers tap against his phone in his pocket idly amidst his thoughts. ]

The others probably have everything else handled, so a little experimentation on our part won't hurt.