doublecrows | [Week 1, Monday: Sousei]

[Week 1, Monday: Sousei]

[we haven't finished our Sunday PC but fuck it this is Important]

[as Sosuei patrols the halls on Monday night, a familiar voice calls out to him from the shadows of a corner]

You certainly are a night owl, Sousei-san.

[it's Akechi! Sousei you poor soul. but he is keeping his distance and remains tucked underneath said shadows so it's kind of hard to make his figure out in the dim lighting. hm. sketch]

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Is that not for the better? It seemed as though that was the idea.

[Sousei knows exactly what Akechi is talking about, because the sign is a Little Too Obvious.

Which worries him?

He frowns, reaching out to tap at Akechi's new look.]

Are these permanent, then?

[SOUSEI??? Akechi starts once in surprise, before swatting at Sousei's hand, like?? that's rude?? but hey, his ~cool and mysterious~ demeanor is now being replaced with awkward fluster]

I--

. . . I have no idea.

[moment of triumph: ruined]

[Sorry, Akechi. He's good at deflating people.]

Something must be done about them. As of now, they are all-too-clearly connected to mine.

[Which makes them way too obvious.]

[Akechi needs to be deflated, his stupid DRAMATICS were stupid]

[a sigh, and Akechi lifts a hand to idly rub at the side of his face]

I doubt anyone but the other three Historians would understand the connection, but you are right. It's clear they're a product of a wish gone wrong; I only have to craft a convincing tale to match.

You do not know that for certain. There may well be other roles who know that there is a role out there with a connection to others.

[They know too little about the game to be sure.]

So long as they are not as obvious, I do not believe a connection will be drawn. Particularly if you are able to craft a convincing story.

Perhaps.

[Sousei's right, at least. at this juncture, they don't know nearly enough about this game and the other "additional titles" that exist beyond "Historian," if there are any. despite Akechi's attempts to weed info out of the Crafters]

But I believe I can If I tell everyone else I made a wish related to personal ambition, I can liken my new appearance to the tale of Icarus. That should tide them over, provided they don't look too close.

[Who...the fuck.... is Icarus.]

Indeed. It may not be amiss to also confuse the scars on you face, if nothing else, with bruising or another small injury of some sort.

[SORRY AKECHI.]

So that they do not look so similar at first glance.

Are. . .

[what the fuck, Sousei]

Are you suggesting you beat me up?

I am suggesting you find a way to cover up those scars at least slightly.

You may take that however you wish.

[uuuugh]

I hate that you're right about this. You were offering sparring lessons earlier; perhaps that's a good excuse?

Yes.

[A simple nod, and:]

That is a reasonable enough excuse. If you wish for me to do so, I can assist in covering up those scars with minimal pain.

[It will still hurt.

But Sousei is a precise fucker and good at what he does.]

[FAN. . . TASTIC]

All right. But before we get to that part, should we at least attempt to exchange information? We're supposed to be working together, after all.

[... Hm.]

Yes, I suppose. None of the information I have is of much use as of yet, but pooling our knowledge is only logical. You meet with the Dragon and the Tiger as well, correct?

Once a week. And I took thorough notes during our last Q&A session.

[present; parchment!! with lots of words!!]

Would you care to see?

[You...took notes...???]

... Hm, yes. [JUST HOLDING OUT HIS HAND THEN.]

[um yes??? you didn't??]

[he hands the parchment to Sousei, which contains the following information]

- HISTORIANS: Five (5) individuals who participated in a prior killing game in this castle have been brought to this one. Upon arrival, the Crafters stripped them of most of their memories of this prior game, including how it ended and how they arrived to the castle. A Historian's job is to encourage players to complete objectives, and to keep the game running smoothly. They may be asked to kill players, or even other Historians, who refuse to participate.

- The completion of objectives is an ideal. This is because it encourages balance, as well as personal stories fulfilled and engagement with those around them. The Crafters want as many objectives as possible to be fulfilled.

- One way to prevail in this game is to eliminate one faction. If the villains are killed, then "good" prevails as the heroes are victorious. This applies vice versa.

- Dragon-san prefers there be a "happy ending" to this game rather than it simply being a "battlefield." She is an advocate for balance.

- Tiger-san believes that balance will not achieve a happy ending. She wishes for one side to win, to put an end to the war completely. With victory, comes an ending.

- The civilians exist to tip the scale in favor of either heroes or villains. How they achieve this is still as of yet unknown.

- Titles were chosen for one of two reasons: (1) they were given to players that would be more suitable to achieve their arcs, and (2) it was funny. Tiger-san chose my title.

- There is a reason the tapestries leak ink. That reason will become clear with time. It does not mark individuals as victims, nor does it mark them as villains.

- The ink determines this game's ending. Gold ink is for heroes, black ink for civilians, and purple ink for villains. Each death brings us closer to the end.

- Tiger-san and Dragon-san never think the same about anything.

[he is a very thorough student]

[So he is... Sousei scans it over very slowly, and then nods to himself, offering the notes back to Akechi.]

This is very good.

[Honestly! And then he will get his thoughts in order so he can offer up:]

I will add to that. Though we have remembered much, they have confirmed that we have not yet remembered everything we've forgotten from the previous game. Dragon's version of a "happy ending" is one in which everyone has fulfilled their given tasks, for better or for worse.

The ability that was used to save myself and Jae-ha was that of a title, not a role. From here on out, they will be explicitly choosing people to commit murder each week. She simply stated that there would be "more". Those chosen may or may not be Historians as well; she stated that no role is protected from that possibility.

And Sharpay's objective was to "kill another with a shoe", which fits her role as Cinderella. [apparently?? He doesn't know that fairy tale, it was after his time.]

[very pleased at that compliment, yes praise him more, tell him he did good!!]

[he also jots what Sousei says down, before speaking up again]

You're right, it does. In a twisted, morbid way. But I suspect that everyone's objectives are related to their titles in some morbid fashion.

[comforting?]

Evans also mentioned to me that she was "chosen," presumably by the Crafters. I wonder. . . what incentives do they have in place to force those "picked" to commit murder?

[Nope, that's all you get right now.]

They refused to tell me. I already asked.

[...]

That said, I don't think it's very important. They clearly already know a great deal about us. It is no great stretch to think they'd be able to come up with a reward or punishment that we cannot refuse.

[hey come on dad he did good???]

[a small, tiny sigh]

Wishes in general can be powerful motivators. . . when there is the promise that they can be granted.

Are you motivated by yours?

[Just.

Bluntly going to put that out there!!]

[. . .]

I'm motivated by my sense of justice.

[hm]

I hope you do not expect me to buy that.

[Oh.]

I am not stupid.

It isn't a lie.

[he says pleasantly]

But you're free to interpret the meaning how you choose.

[it seems like he isn't too keen on giving a straight answer]

I suppose it does not matter for now. Your facade is strong enough that I do not believe others will doubt it for now.

[For... now...]

Cheesy as you occasionally come across.

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