RECORDING 10: THE FOURTH WEEK.

[foundationmods]

A fourth week in this place begins, with less of your number among you. The last trial took it's toll, along with the death of an innocent person - executed at behest of the rules of this game.

When you wake up - it's clear the Miasma has yet again gotten thicker. Everyone, including those who were divinely protected until this week, are now even more deeply affected by the curse - though those who possess nullification powers are still safe. Arguments will be flaring up more, along with negative thoughts and feelings...and even more worrying is now that occasional flashes of bad memories will come to the forefront.

Any magic that touches the house itself will corrode over time, just like last week. 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 now healing has been drastically reduced to even the most powerful of spells only healing minor injuries.

You will not be able to save a grievously injured person from death through spells anymore.

The Temperature still remains in about the 60's, thankfully - though it is staying on the 'lower' end of the scale. As before, the rooms have changed, so hopefully you kept anything essential in the static area.

21 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: 3
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[cw_suicide]

That is the logic to which I was speaking of earlier.

[finalring]

We spoke earlier about having to consider the idea of voting for innocent people, correct? We all had to do it.

[ he does shoot dazai a glare, but it doesn't have any energy to it. ]

If you want to hate me, then that's... probably--no, definitely-- what I deserve. Rin was an important person to me, but it was what I believed to be the most logical option.

[accessorytomurder]

...

[Hitoka isn't mad. But her expression is very blank.]

"What do you have to gain from this?" That's... what you asked, earlier.

[Her voice is very quiet. There's an unsettling, miserable composure to it.]

But it... it was about what you had to lose, wasn't it, Doctor?

[finalring]

[ he has nothing to say to this. he glances away, clearly hurt.

she's right. ]

[accessorytomurder]

[She continues, and it's not cutting. It's soft and terribly, terribly steady.]

Dr, Romani... you know that you're indispensable, because of your skills and the danger we risk each week. So, I know it's not something you refused to admit out of fear for your life. And... like Osamu said, there was reasoning behind it. There... was never going to be a kind or fair outcome, because somebody who hadn't done anything was always going to have had to be hurt. If it's a choice you don't regret, then you shouldn't shy away from admitting and explaining it. It's just... you realize how bad it looks, that it had to be dragged out?

[She fiddles with the cuff of a sleeve, exhaling softly.]

This place... tries to make us make mistakes, or cruel choices. And that day, there wasn't any good choice. There couldn't be. ...I just wish you had made a better one today.

[finalring]

....I didn't want to hurt anyone.

[ that was it. for the want of a nail, he had kept it all to himself because he simply didn't want to hurt someone else's feelings. ]

I stand by my vote still, however. If you're disappointed in me, then that's fair. I'll accept it, because it's what I deserve.

[cw_suicide]

Sensei, with all due respect--it's not about what you deserve.

[Battler deserved better in this]

[finalring]

[ he's right about that too.

no arguments. ]

[accessorytomurder]

And what were you going to do this week, if Rin-chan felt like airing her grievances? Did you... not make your vote with that expectation?

[She didn't, but none of the others before her would have merited less than unanimous votes with a clear conviction.]

...if you comforted him after doing that, without telling him, then he deserves more than just an explanation.

[finalring]

I voted with the expectation that we had to vote for an innocent person. That was all.

[ he won't argue about the second part, though, because...she's right. ]

[accessorytomurder]

And you stand by that decision. And that's... that's not the bad part, Doctor.

[She shakes her head, slowly.]

You made your choice. The.. the best one you think you could have made. But it has consequences, and you—you knew he would be one of them. And you still... went to him. Like that.

[finalring]

Because I--!!!

[ romani has to stop himself from saying anything more. he doesn't want to make a case for himself. not when battler is right there suffering more than he would ever be.

he gulps, balling his hands up into fists. ]

I'm sorry. I have to go. [ he's literally going to leave if no one stops him. he's done. ]

[accessorytomurder]

Choking back your explanations was the entire problem. Please just... please just say it.

[sageking]

[ You know what, he believed that it was up to someone to take on situations and handle them on their own. But - ]

Haven't you had enough?! He already explained himself!

[accessorytomurder]

About his vote! Not about hiding it and then, a-and then comforting her lover! Who... there's...

[She had a moment of terror, when Subete started his bullshit, that day, and it bubbles up now.]

Would you want that, from so-somebody who had a hand in the death of someone important to you...?

[sageking]

Was he supposed to admit it to the man when he was breaking down, then? Does voting for someone automatically make him stop caring about the people he's bonded with?

[ But, no the other question she presented deserved merit, and so he'll face that as well. ]

You'd be right in assuming I'd hardly be interested in the same, if I were in Battler's position. But in that moment the only other option he had would be to just abandon him there. Would you say that was the right choice either?

[accessorytomurder]

He should have stayed away. Battler has his aunt, and other people who care about him.

[So... yes.]

Or at the very least, he should've told him on his own, when he was... more stable.

[sageking]

In the heat of the moment, he needed someone. Waiting for someone else to come along and do so isn't acceptable in this situation.

[ He only didn't agree because of the unique circumstances they were in. Sometimes ignorance could be bliss for awhile. ]

...And tell me when would that be? When he had just lost the one he loved?

After someone loses their most beloved person, it could be difficult to pick up the pieces. There may never be a time where they're truly 'stable'.

[ He remembered how Seteth acted, and wasn't able to forget anytime soon. ]

[accessorytomurder]

When you do something that hurts someone, there's no way to—to make things better until you both acknowledge that.

...what do you think would have happened, if... if the D-Doctor had died before telling Battler the truth?

[sageking]

In a normal situation, we could easily say bringing out the truth would make it possible.

But, this isn't a situation where we could treat like any other. And I'm not about to assume what could've happened in that scenario, as that's leading down a dangerous rabbit hole I've no intention of entertaining.

Honestly, look at Battler now. I expect you and the rest of those capable to pick up the pieces. It's in your hands now.

[ He sincerely doubted there was anything anyone who voted Rin could do, so hopefully the others could do that much. He'll leave to catch up with Romani. ]

[accessorytomurder]

...I don't know that he'll trust anyone trying to comfort him, now...

[But of course, she'll try. This time, there's no Dazai shuffling her out.]

[finalring]

[ damn it yachi, he was just at the door frame when she calls out to him.

she drives a good point, but... ]

Because I do care about Battler and Rin. I never wanted her to die in the first place, and much less like that. But it was the logical decision and that's why I still stand by it despite how guilty I feel.

[ he gives yachi a pained smile as he grips the door frame to the point that his knuckles are white. ] You see? It's not that good of an explanation.

[ he will be leaving now. see ya. ]

[accessorytomurder]

That's—

[...aaand he's gone.]

That's... not what I wanted you to explain...

[cw_suicide]

A person like that's not going to explain the inner workings of his heart for everyone to examine, Hitoka...

[boardreversal]

..........

So that's.....all it meant to you.

[....Yeah.

Romani's not the only one who's done.]