RECORDING 7: THE THIRD WEEK.

[foundationmods]

A third week in this place begins, with less of your number among you. The final week completely covered by everyone's rations, though with proper meting out, you'll be able to make it stretch until after week 4. It seems as if everyone will have to go without a few meals here and there..

To make things worse, when you wake up - it's clear the Miasma has gotten thicker. Everyone, save those still protected either by their powers or items they brought with them, is now even more deeply affected by the curse. Arguments will be flaring up more, along with negative thoughts and feelings...and even more worrying Is that any magic that touches the house itself will corrode over time. If a barrier is put in place and touches the floor, walls, or ceiling, in half a day it will be completely consumed by the miasma and fizzle out. Spells or seals will also corrode, and even personal healing abilities have been halved.

The Temperature has dropped, just a bit - down to the mid to low 60's. Strange, isn't it? As before,the rooms have changed, so hopefully you kept anything essential in the static area.

25 of your number still remain.

...What new horrors await you this week?


WARNING: Some investigations of new areas will contain traps that may be harmful or even lethal.
MIASMA LEVEL: 2
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday
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Comments

[golden_dream]

...This gives me an idea. It... might backfire, but it's a idea. Do you know my nephew, Battler-kun? He's got this power where he doesn't 'see' ghosts... presumably they don't touch him either.

[She wasn't sure if she had that right, but Battler had basically run her over the other day.]

We could ask Battler to say it while we stand back and watch. Then if there really is a ghost that wants to pull us into the mirror, we can run away and Battler will be fine. And if there's a clue? Maybe we'll be able to read it.

[accessorytomurder]

That... Hm... You really might be onto something there.

[It's a decent idea, but...]

...I just... hope this isn't another piano incident.

[But before then—]

Let's give the mirror a look-over first; I'll feel silly if we put him to trouble over a vague hint to look in some discreet medicine cabinet.

[golden_dream]

...I hope so too.

[hahaha...]

All right. Yes, we should look inside, just to be sure. But, absolutely... no fooling around with things that are dangerous, yet. We're losing enough people because of the... unpleasantness that happens every week. It's impossible to say "we'll all make it out of here," but we need to make it out of here with as many of us as we possibly can... you understand, right, Hitoka-chan? --Here, promise Rosa-san.

[She'll offer her pinky. Pinky-swear?]

[accessorytomurder]

[Oh, a fellow pinkie-swear connoisseur. Hitoka links fingers with her, nodding firmly.]

Y-Yes, you're right. ...too many of us are hurt already, and it's only been a few days since we got these new rooms. I promise, Rosa-san.

[golden_dream]

[She gives a soft, gentle little shake. Good! Her reputation was secured, and she smiled.]

Thank you... All right. We'll put on our bravest faces and see what's in this spooky old bathroom.

I'm right behind you, okay? Change into whatever you need to do. I won't jump or anything.

[accessorytomurder]

Okay! I'll make sure to keep the door open, just in case.

[And so! Hitoka goes back into the bathroom, door open wide, and goes to the sink. A moment later and there's a porcelain doll standing in it, tugging gently at the mirror edge with her stiff, curled little hands.]

[foundationmods]

[ Nothing happens with mirror as the doll tugs on it. She can see her own little doll hands reflecting back normally. ]

[golden_dream]

[She's standing on the threshold of the bathroom and the exit... eyes fixated on that mirror, but also subtly making sure no one can disturb them from the outside.]

Nothing?

[accessorytomurder]

[Does she notice anything of note about the mirror itself, or the scene she sees reflected in it?

[foundationmods]

[ There's nothing of note about it. The scene reflects the bathroom scene normally. ]

[accessorytomurder]

...

[She hops down and totters out, returning to human form once she's outside.]

I couldn't find anything... we'll need your nephew after all, it looks like.

[golden_dream]

[She nods.] If he'll agree to help... Let's stay together and go to find him. Or... I can stand guard and make sure no one else comes and summons the ghost. I'll leave it up to you.

[She didn't want to mention Battler hated her guts right about now.]

[accessorytomurder]

Well, probably better not to go anywhere alone right now.

[You know, with so many ghosts afoot.]

Where would he be around now...

[Off they go! Time to see if Battler wants to find out who his future husband is and/or ward off a ghost!]

[golden_dream]

...I agree.

[It'd probably be better to meet with Battler again while there was a witness, too. --Or it could backfire spectacularly in her face again while he shouted her dirty laundry at her.

But... no choice, she'd thrown in her chips.]

Oh, uum.. I don't know if you know, but Battler's 'power' is sort of weird. So let's be careful how we phrase our request to him, all right?

[boardreversal]

[Hey what's going on in this thread???

Battler is, indeed, around - he's in the library, reading a book because he's a fucking nerd - though Yachi might be able to see he looks like he hasn't been sleeping very well the past few days. Still, he's definitely not busy, so have at it.]

[accessorytomurder]

[Oh no...]

Um... Battler! Would you, um, mind helping us with something?

[He looks so sleepy...]

[golden_dream]

[She's barely paying attention as she walks with her, rehearsing what she knows she has to say to herself, until... Shit, she has to go back in the library?? The place was already giving her nightmares, but she had no choice. She goes in next to Yachi.]

Battler-kun...

[She starts to say, tone extremely apologetic. This was hard when he had practically 'divorced' her like he had done to someone else.]

I'm sorry. --I respect you. If this was a normal situation, I'd do as you said... but it's not.

[She brought her hands together like she was begging.]

Please, give me another chance. I promise, I won't raise my voice or anything else. I need you... a lot more than you ever needed me.

[boardreversal]

...huh?

[He looks up - freezing for a moment at seeing Rosa, before he...just quietly listens to what Rosa has to say, still looking upset....before slowly nodding.]

...Aunt Rosa...it's okay. I...I shouldn't have snapped at you like that - It's not...It wasn't your fault, or even the 'you' I'm talking to that...did all of that. I just...no, I can't even make an excuse for it. I...we're family, right? So...I won't do that again.

[...]

I'm sorry, and...of course I'll help you. What do you need me to do?

[golden_dream]

...It's okay. I probably deserved it, whatever 'it' is... but, we can talk about it later, or not at all.

...Hitoka-chan, I think you should explain. We're just a couple of scared little girls... we need someone with us.

[accessorytomurder]

U-Uh.

[She blinks, her eyes slowly drifting between the two of them. Bewilderment is clearly painted across her face, because she sure didn't expect... any of what Rosa just said!]

Um.

[Th-this is... family business, so she's just going to do the proper Japanese thing and keep her nose out of it, best she can, and redirect.]

R-Right! We, um... there's a note in the bathroom that says "Bloody Mary" which is... kind of... a foreigner's version of "Hanako-san" if you've never heard of it before? You say the phrase a certain number of times in a dark room with a mirror and a candle. I'm thinking maybe doing that ritual will be like a... a "codeword" and unlock something in the bathroom. WE checked the mirror out before and there was nothing special about it, but...

[Well, maybe it's a wild goose chase. But maybe not!]

Worth a shot, right? And, I figured... the more people around the better. Just in case there's another trap and we have to get help.

[boardreversal]

...Oh, I've read about that.

[TURBO NERD!!! But he nods, quietly, already standing.]

Maybe something remotely activated...? Voice activated...? There is electricity here....

Ah, sorry, just thinking to myself...lead the way. Oh - do we have a candle or anything to use?

[golden_dream]

Um...

[She shrugs!] I don't.

[accessorytomurder]

There was one I took out of a candlestick holder in the fancy dining room a while back. We could grab that and put it in... a cup, or an old water bottle, maybe?

[She, uh. Cleaned the silver candlestick holder out and did a shot of whiskey from it with Dazai, before Truth and Dare...]

[boardreversal]

[Holy shit Yachi that's the coolest thing ever -

Anyway, he nods.]

If I remember right, it has to be in a dimly lit room, so the bathroom would work. The whole principle behind it pretty interesting - it's easy for people to imagine seeing something on the walls or their face distorting in the mirror in low light.

Ihihihi...it's odd, but I'm getting a little excited. I never tried the Hanako-san legend when I was in school, but I remember kids getting dared to do it all the time.

[He's even grinning.]

Alright, if you can go get the candles, cup, and a lighter, we can all do this together. I'll be waiting in the bathroom for you guys.

[golden_dream]

All right. We'll get those ready. Stay safe, okay? We're counting on you, Battler-kun.

[Was this what it was like? It was so strange to think about that all 'supernatural' stories had to be redone as being special effects... nevertheless, she shot Yachi a tiny little triumphant grin when they were out of Battler's immediate line of vision.]

Well... there we go. Thanks for that, Hitoka-chan.