No party like an pope party??

[archboxer]

[That... that was a thing for everyone. There should be no celebration for Lif but, well, even if Rhea has a very cynical view of such things it's probably for the best that everyone stays together. Her first stop is the cafeteria, after all nothing better to keep people in one spot than free food. There she bumps into Mira, leaving the snacks to her Rhea ends up writing notes to everyone to come to the cafeteria in a few hours.

Some she hands personally and if she can't find someone she slid it under their door. Rin's she slides into her room regardless.

Fortunately, you won't hear a sermon.]

Comments

[reallyhatesharks]

Yeah, well. Write it down for next time.

[Nova's eating funeral potatoes, instead of anything that was set out. It seemed appropriate and also she wants to eat her fucking feelings right now, thanks. Carbs are the only solution.]

[ladygeryon]

I'm rather hoping there's not going to be a next time, with the stakes fully explained.

[reallyhatesharks]

That's underestimating what people will do when they've been backed into a corner. Secrets was easy - you can try to keep them all you want, but they eventually get out and most people know that, deep down. Everyone has something that they'd do anything for, though.

[She shrugs. It just be like that.]

[ladygeryon]

[Nira sighs.] You may be right. But I'd rather not speculate, or act overly pessimistic, in case we give that man further ideas.

[reallyhatesharks]

Pessimism would be me telling you that we're all going to die. I'm not. I'm saying the situation has changed and accepting that means you can plan for it, but if you stick your head in the sand it's gonna bite you in the ass every time.

[ladygeryon]

[A light snort.] I suppose I'm just superstitious about talking about worst-case scenarios. I'm certainly not going to let my guard down, either way. [She reaches down to stroke Aria's fur some more.]

[reallyhatesharks]

It's not really a worst-case scenario here. [Some people thought a sharknado was a worst-case scenario. They're all dead now.] Professor Fuckwad is just going to keep saying things designed to goad us into repeating this. Someone will always think it's worth it, because I'd bet you anything the bastard has files on us.

That was probably always the plan.

[ladygeryon]

...he definitely does, considering all those profiles on the devices.

[reallyhatesharks]

Yeah. Did we ever figure out how he knows that stuff? Are we going with "magic"? Feels like a magic thing.

[ladygeryon]

He has some way to view our lives and pasts in detail, if he was able to write both those profiles and those secrets. I suppose he could use some kind of technology for that, but the method doesn't really matter right now, when we have no way to block it either way.

[reallyhatesharks]

Blocking it would be great, but I'm worried about what it means for his capabilities. See, technology has limits which is something that can be exploited. Magic is like one big question mark. Who the fuck knows how it works? All magic's different.

[ladygeryon]

[She was about to point out that most magic also has limits, but Nova makes a good point there.]

Right. He doesn't seem like the type to use magic, considering the aesthetic of this place, but that could always just be a face he's putting on. [A pause] After all, he's been vague so far about the actual details of his methods.

[reallyhatesharks]

That suits his purposes. Keep us in the dark, make us less likely to figure out how to fight back. [She takes a drink from her cup. It's soda. Murdergame calories don't count.] At the same time, all the weird things we've been finding make it seem like this is some kind of game. A sick one, but a game nonetheless.

[ladygeryon]

[Murdergame calories never count. Besides, we've got an exercise room already.]

...yeah, one of those adventure games where things are hidden in various weird places, right? Hopefully it's not one of those where if you use one item too early the whole game becomes unwinnable.

[reallyhatesharks]

That's a thing? [People who don't really play video games: Nova.] I don't think it's like that - a puzzle with only one solution doesn't tell you anything when people fail - but it might be worth taking a closer look at the things we've found.

[ladygeryon]

I don't really play, but my son Adam talks about those games a lot. But...yeah, we should try and have another meeting to put everything together, match up everything we've found so far.