WEEK 2

[bathymetric]

So far, good news! You've managed to avoid killing! A week has passed in the facility, but how many more are there to go until one of you tries out Rule Seven? I mean.... we know, but.

No new areas just yet, it remains you guys and yours here for now. Well, and Angel, but again - you don't exactly see her unless you want to. It's more than a little lonely... maybe someone ought to shake things up.



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to Week 2, your first case week! Remember to turn in regains here, your AC for last week here, and if you like, come visit Angel's office hours here!

Comments

[hardnosed]

So you're trying to get stronger. [ Which is, admittedly, pathetic, but humans don't seem to be locked into their forms quite as much as Gems. She's probably only come to this realization because Della tried to explain organic reproduction to her, so in a way that nightmare actually accomplished something! ] Because of rule seven?

[ If she were as small and weak as Mira, and two eight foot tall alien warriors were also here, she'd probably be trying to get swole too. ]

[philoxenia]

[ ... truthfully, it's something she probably should have done a while ago, but. She's not about to spill that to Jasper. So she nods, shifting from one foot to the other. Nervous, but... ]

... Yes, exactly. I'm fast enough, but that will only help so much. And I think a lot of people are much, much stronger than I am. [ She doesn't want to think anyone will attempt a murder, but... honestly? She knows she's an easy target if it comes to that. ] I really don't want to die here, of all places.

[hardnosed]

You'd be an easy target, [ she agrees, with no sympathy, but no overt hostility either. She's simply weak, and Jasper is acknowledging it — no more and no less than that.

If nothing else, she can understand the drive to survive in dire circumstances. She can't imagine not coming into existence equipped to do it, but she was still born, so to speak, into a war. She saw exactly what happened to the ones who came out of the ground to weak to really fight in it. ]

And someone's going to act sooner or later. I don't know how big humans can get with practice, or how long it takes, but you're going to have to work fast. [ hmm ] That machine dispenses weapons sometimes. If you're serious about this, you'd better learn how to use one.

[philoxenia]

[ It's a good thing she knows and accepts this! Honestly, she's not even bothered by Jasper's assessment. It's the truth.

But she looks a touch uncomfortable at the mention of weapons. ]

Well... there's not much else to do here. And I've received a few weapons from the machine. I didn't think to use those yet, since... if I end up hurting myself, it'll be even more difficult to get stronger. [ She pauses, though. ] ... But... it seems like you know a lot more than I would about this. Maybe it's worth trying now, anyway.

[hardnosed]

Work on your form first. [ This is, in its way, Jasper agreeing that Mira's thought on weapons was probably right! Tragically, she is incapable of phrasing anything in a positive manner. ] You can find something with roughly the same shape and mass if you want to get used to handling it without hurting yourself. But if we're all getting them, anyone who decides to kill won't pass up a clear advantage.

[ Well, she might not, but the vast majority here simply aren't on her level. Besides, Jasper is only honorable as long as she's winning. ]

Do you have any combat experience at all? Even a single fight.

[philoxenia]

[ It's probably best for both of them that she's not even offended. ]

Um... [ She's thinking for a moment, excuse her. Other than that time she stabbed a dude? In the end, she decides on-- ] No... combat isn't exactly commonplace where I'm from.

[hardnosed]

Figures. [ Even knowing humans are born with no inherent purpose, she still can't help but assign them privately, and Mira clearly wasn't intended for combat. ] You ever wanted to?

[philoxenia]

[ There's... a notable pause in which she doesn't say anything... but her expression? That sure does. It's pretty damn conflicted.

Eventually, though... ]

I can't say I have... Um, but there have been times where I wish I were stronger.

[ ... that's sure two conflicting answers, huh! ]

[hardnosed]

[ Jasper's eyes narrow as she watches Mira. Whatever she's looking for, and whether or not she finds it, remain undetermined. ]

Take that feeling. Use it. And don't forget what this is for. An opponent won't stay still, or wait for you to follow through.

[philoxenia]

[ Ah, she feels uncomfortable! But at least Jasper doesn't prod at it. ]

... I'll try. It sounds easier said than done-- for me, at the very least.

[hardnosed]

If it was easy, anyone could do it. It might as well be worthless. You can rise to the challenge, or you can die in a hole at the bottom of the ocean. Which one's it gonna be? [ Very abruptly, she says: ] Hit it again.

[ pretend it's her face!! ]

[philoxenia]

Oh-- [ that sure was a swerve!! ] R-right!

[ It's not Jasper's face she's imagining, but it's like. Pretty effective. There's actually quite a bit of force in her hit, especially compared to before. Seems like Jasper was actually helpful, how shocking!! ]

[hardnosed]

Better.

[ Despite the icon, it's not quite a smile that Jasper's wearing, but there's definitely something a little more pleased about the series of rounded-off rectangles that is her face. ]

How did that feel?