week one afterparty ★ where is this warmth going? when it's tomorrow, it'll vanish

[excavated]

The day had ended on a rather solemn note, with not just one innocent dead, but two.

Both the Great Detective, Erika Furudo and the magical girl known as Cure Aqua, Karen Minazuki were killed in cold blood, and all that was left behind was a pool of blood that acknowledged their deaths. And yet, in spite of that, they had to move forward... 🗈

Of course, in spite of the lingering feeling that hung in the air, the possible suspicion that would probably stick through them for the rest of their stay here, if not for the rest of their lives.

Being used to death, he knew very well the sting of having blood on your own hands. He understood too well the consequences. But he didn't want people to simply just blame themselves for something that wasn't entirely their fault.

Which is why after a while, he goes on ahead to search people out to tell them that if they would prefer not to be alone, they can come to the dining room and that there will be food. For those who stay in their rooms, however, they'll find a neatly handwritten letter:

To the one who might read this:

We're dealing with a difficult time and I know that because of this turn of events, that people might start to distrust one another and even make the decision to not face the future. But I don't want to hide and run away from our present; I want all of us to face the reality and change the future so that it isn't a sad one. I'm certain that the two that we lost would not want that from us, either.

Feel free to meet me in the dining room if you wish to mourn, or if you'd wish to not face all of this alone. Nobody deserves to be alone on a day like this. Food will be provided. Don't force yourself to come, though.

- Syaoran

Set up in the dining area are a lot of various comfort foods - a lot of soup based dishes, kebabs, hot pots, you name it. Even if the times are difficult, especially with the results, at the very least there's a small glimmer hope, right...?

Comments

[literalidiotball]

Hm... Which bell though?

[He walks up and picks up two random bells. He rings one, then the other.]

Huh.

[goldenmaniac]

The steps after this one talk about the gallows too... so there might be more to it.

"On the fifth night, gather what remains and return to the gallows.
On the sixth night, let the sins ring loud and clear with the smoke."

Sins 'ringing'

[improbablenotimpossible]

And we're likely going to need to light the braiser during this. The bell with the cord is a ship's bell, and unlikely to be the one, two of them appear to be cowbells...

[literalidiotball]

[Wheatley rings the other two bells...]

What's a braiser again?

[improbablenotimpossible]

A container for hot coals.

[goldenmaniac]

The thing there on the table. You can light things on fire in it.

... The seventh and eighth nights are outside... so we should think of each night as a 'step' not a door. Night five says to 'gather what remains and return' so we have to leave this room to get 'what remains'.

Thinking the 'remains' are what we need to burn. Like an offering. Hell, the first one kinda looks like a bonsho

[improbablenotimpossible]

A bonsho...

[Damn it, and he without his internal reference library]

Would you mind explaining?

[goldenmaniac]

A brass bell you see in Japanese shrines, though I think they're originally from China? Or ours are based off Chinse bells, I don't know for sure. I've seen them during New Years. You ring them 108 times to purge 'earthly desires' before the new year.

They're usually way bigger than this though.

[improbablenotimpossible]

So it is most likely the bell we should 'hang'.

[goldenmaniac]

If I had to make a guess.

[literalidiotball]

Uh... Which bell are we talking about again?

[He's holding the cowbell and the bell with the cord loop.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He will take the ornate bell]

Step back.

[Ruler warns, only hanging the bell once Wheatley and Takumi aren't immediately next to him]

[goldenmaniac]

The old one. Come on.

[ He will protecc good robot]

[foundationmods]

[As he hangs it, it knocks against the bars, making a dull clonk sound.

From the door behind the table, a click can be heard.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He exhales softly, slowly pulling his hands away]

[literalidiotball]

...

Well. That could have been worse.

[He's gonna take that leftover bell here... So now he has all the bells that were not hung.]

[goldenmaniac]

Want a bag to put those in, Wheatley?

...and I hope you don't judge me if I'm a little nervous about opening this one...

[literalidiotball]

Oh, definitely.

[Hoping they all fit.]

After that last room I don't blame ya. Coulda died back there.

[goldenmaniac]

Yeah...

[He takes off one of his hip bags, transferring his knickknacks to the other one, and latches it around Wheatley's 'waist']

There we go!

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He steps back and follows after]

Let's see what else is in store for us.

[foundationmods]

[When they open the door...

An intense burning smell comes from it.

Stepping inside, it's clear to see why.

Everything in the room is burnt, from plastic slag to paper ashes. In the center of the room, there is a circular space that has been spared from the apparent blaze that took place in this room at one time.

It is a piece of cotton, some ether, a lighter, and a small wooden mallet.]

[literalidiotball]

. . . Ooooh.

We were supposed to gather those things in the center...

[He looks at his new bag. The bells are useless.]

[literalidiotball]

Thanks!

[He puts the bells on the table for a sec to fumble with the zipper.]

You know, I always kept telling the scientists, "this body should have pockets." And they all tell me that's a stupid idea. And it's not, I mean, I gotta have a place to put things in! So this is an improvement, clearly.

[He got it open, now to put the bells in and zip it up.]

.... There.

And- Obviously you probably need your bags, so maybe you could tell me what store you got these ones at? If we ever get out of here alive?

[goldenmaniac]

Oh, of course! We can get whatever color you like.

[literalidiotball]

Thanks! I'm gonna owe you one for this!

[All "smiles" until they get to the fire room.]