thefoundation | WEEK 5 MINGLE

WEEK 5

They said it was a break week, but two of your number were lost anyway last week. While you're all tired and still recovering, the speakers crackle to life with the voice of The Lady.

"Attention, Guests. The game is back on. Break week is now over. Happy Holidays."

The Staff are still like they were last week - only this time, the orders almost always go wrong, if they even manage to go through - the Staff are vanishing constantly. Meals are also getting affected - they're still perfectly edible, but they're not as delicious as they once were, with seasoning and other things occasionally being off. The Sign warning people to not take knives is still on the kitchen door, but The Chef seems incredibly tired, often resting on a chair in the corner.

The Resort is still furnished with Holiday items - but after Medic's christmas protest, there are more items related to other holidays up, and it's much more balanced - objects and colors of multiple holidays side by side in harmony, with the mistletoe still up for any needed smooching. There are, however, more wriggling...things, and there's even an entire 'tree' made of eldritch tentacles with glowing balls of light on them that wink in an oddly hypnotic fashion.

The weather is still nothing, but the courtyard seems to have switched to a much warmer clime, which while still a little cool is pleasant enough to sit outside in. Finally, the music this week seems... almost ominous...?

On Monday morning, another memory is returned to everyone, one more traumatic this time instead of gentle like the others have been. Yet, you feel as if you know a little more about your time in this world, now. Not everything, but...enough.

Enough to see this game through to the end, at least.

PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS | MURDER PROPOSALS/VOLUNTEERING | LOCATIONS | APPRENTICE PC POST | OUTSIDER PC POST

MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If he feels anything from seeing her wariness at him, it doesn't show on his face beyond looking tired, which is probably the norm for all of them at this point. He silently pockets the device again and doesn't move from his spot. His arm is also conspicuously... well, not missing now too, so there's that too.]

Yeah, thanks to the Medic and Akira. [...] It's... pretty tough to not be able to use one of your arms, and I was even lucky that it was my non-dominant one. I can't imagine how it must be if it happened to my right.

[There's a flicker of the eyes to the hand she's writing with.]

How sad you couldn't use your arm for a whole day.

[Man, she didn't even comment about the arm, 'cus that would mean acknowledging...you know. She grunts, glancing down at her left hand, conspicuously smudged with graphite. She sighs deeply, resting her head on her hand. Only now is she realizing how much her left hand hurts after writing so much. Jesus Christ. Maybe she should stop for now.]

I'll be fine. [Said in a brusque manner. Ripley received help from Medic, but as for the others...] Muscles don't heal overnight, you know.

[Another pause as she eyes Rean carefully, trying to keep her expression as flat as possible.]

You know, you could've stayed hidden for weeks without us noticing, and you suddenly decide to reveal yourself when you're in danger. What game do you think you're playing, here?

[He opens his mouth a little like he wants to say something about the arm, but he shuts it almost immediately when he seems to think twice about whatever he was about to say. And when the moment passes, he averts his eyes slightly, only turning back when Ripley asks him the question. He lets out a small exhale.]

I didn't exactly have that many options in the heat of the moment. If it was a choice between getting torn apart right then and there and dealing with the consequences of revealing myself, I figured I'd have a better chance with the latter. That's pretty much it.

[Ripley frowns. At least he's being reasonable and answering her questions, and as far as she knows, he has no reason to lie.

...Who is she kidding, he has all the reason to lie.]

Couldn't you have just taken on a new host, then? No one would be the wiser. You'd be absolved of whatever evidence pointed to Rean, and then you'd take another innocent as your stupid meat puppet.

[There's a small, thoughtful frown of his own in response. He can't deny that she has a point, and if he were looking to survive... hm. His words come out slowly and hesitantly.]

I... guess I could've, yeah. [...] I'm pretty used to this one at this point though, so it didn't really occur to me.

[A pause. She looks away from Rean for a moment, mulling this information over.]

It would be an exercise in futility to ask you if you felt any guilt. [She snorts.] Not that it would matter--guilt doesn't bring back the dead.

[She hesitates again, looking back towards Rean. Her expression remains flat.]

I guess my only question is whether or not you had to do it.

...Yeah. You're right about that.

[Although there's some consolation that the dead aren't completely gone here, but he knows that's besides the point.]

Participating in this game was a request from the resort, but no, I didn't have to do it. Besides wanting to find the Outsider, I got to feed on the people that were killed in the game, so that was another incentive.

...Hmph.

[Ripley's expression hardens as she crosses her arms and stares at Rean. This is exactly what she suspected--well, more or less. She can't help but feel somewhat vindicated in her suspicion towards the monsters of this resort.]

If that's the case, it makes me wonder why so many people are willing to forgive you for knowingly committing murder. Don't get me wrong--justify it as much as you want, say that you had to feed or whatever, but it was still murder.

[...As if he would have the answer to that.]

[He falls silent for a bit as he considers what he wants to say.]

Can I ask you something? ...Was it murder when the Barghest was killed, or was that 'exterminating a monster'?

[It's quiet, and he doesn't say it accusingly, but his eyes don't leave hers when he asks.]

[...

Ripley breaks eye contact with Rean.]

I'm not saying it wasn't murder. [A pause.] But if we've managed to save some people by killing it, good fucking riddance.

[She spits her words like venom.]

I think it's best if you leave.

[He blinks in surprise at the admission, despite the tone. It's why he also doesn't respond immediately, although he eventually nods and turns towards the door.]

Alright. And I know it won't mean much coming from me, but I hope your arm gets better soon.

[Then he's out.]

WEEK 5 MINGLE

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