WEEK 6

[bathymetric]

Another week, another three lost - and this time all to one murder case. And that's to say nothing of the execution, or whatever went on with that ouija board that still sits in the library... strange things are afoot in the facility, and some of them not even your captor seems fully equipped to explain.

The other of the two doors in the main living area finally opens after another lost Saturday, and what lies beyond is... strange, to say the least. Looks like there's no shortage of changes, even in the architecture. It certainly seems like you should have gotten something like this before the water park at the very least, don't you think?

Angel's still out and about at night, if you want to be found. And who knows what else you might find if you're out alone? Apparently, you might have a ghost on your hands.



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ooc: Welcome to Week 6! If you want Angel or to try your hand at the ouija, please make sure to note in your toplevel, same as an investigation! AC is over here, regains are here, and, well...

You've all got a new app on your devices! Use it wisely. ]

Comments

[philoxenia]

Fair enough.

Do you mind if I join you?

[bolderfell]

[He sits up properly, inclines his head, and offers a wide, sweeping wave at the whole chapel.]

Space enough for both of us. ...This week's offer didn't get to me the way it did others, if that's what you want to ask.

[philoxenia]

[ She'll slide right into the pew in front of him, then. ]

Oh-- [ ... Well, he's not wrong that she'd been somewhat concerned. ] That's good. The others-- I am worried about them.

Truthfully, I haven't even looked at mine.

[bolderfell]

Probably a good idea. Doesn't seem like anyone who looked at theirs was thrilled. You could toss it in the kiln.

[Since people around here apparently don't like it when he starts a good old-fashioned non-electric campfire, gosh.]

[philoxenia]

I thought about it. Nothing good can come of these. And besides... I have a feeling I know what's in mine, anyway.

[bolderfell]

...

Want to talk about it?

[philoxenia]

[ ... huh. She looks at him, surprised. ]

.... I would ask if you're sure, but if you weren't you wouldn't have asked, right?

[bolderfell]

I only say things I don't mean when there's money on the line. ...I promise, this time I won't bite your head off.

[philoxenia]

Mm, fair enough.

[ She pauses and fixes her gaze past his shoulder. She takes that worn, beaten journal out of her bag and clutches it tight. ]

... The short of it is that the man whose life I took--it wasn't the first time I did. I just hadn't remembered. [ And that makes the missing days that much more uncomfortable. ] It turns out this isn't the first--well, my brother called it a game of death I've been in. But it was always just two people. Champions, for the gods.

If I return to my world and things don't go just right, I'm not sure what will happen. But Noah wrote in here-- [ she holds up the journal ] --that the gods have "big plans" for the victor. Even he wasn't sure what they were.

But I can guess that, if I were to open this envelope, I'd know what those big plans are.

[bolderfell]

[It's a lot to take in, even when she says it so simply.]

...Don't think I could resist opening it, in your shoes. Wouldn't have made it even this long. You're... more afraid of knowing than not?

[philoxenia]

[ She has to really think about it, to find the words. ]

... I think it would make things more difficult. There's something I've resolved to do, and I don't know if opening it would break that.

[bolderfell]

[Resolved, huh?]

Something here? Or back in your world?

[philoxenia]

Back in my world.

[ She lets out a breath. ]

... Someone needs to teach the gods that they can't just do what they want and play with others' lives, after all.

[bolderfell]

...Heh!

[He turns his face away for a moment, but when he meets her gaze again, he seems genuinely pleased.]

Better teach you my dirtiest tricks sooner rather than later. You'll need 'em.

[philoxenia]

[ She meets that gaze, and... it's kind of hard to not smile, at least a little. ]

Your dirtiest tricks? I feel like I should be honored, then.

[bolderfell]

You should. I don't exactly take many students.

[philoxenia]

You're not too terrible of a teacher, you know... but I'll keep that a secret, just between us.

[bolderfell]

Appreciate it.

[After that, he gets a little wistful again and then sighs.]

Never thought I'd be doing it again, really. Sharing my techniques and everything.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh... This feels significant. ]

Really? I wouldn't mind hearing about it, if you felt like talking about it.

[bolderfell]

...Fair's fair.

[He actually retrieves the motive envelope from his clothes, opens both flaps, and brings out a photo taken from a low angle. Therion kneels in the foreground, bleeding in several places; in the background, a white tablecloth spills from its toppled table, two large, polished stones nestled in its folds, one green and one gold. Above it all, sporting a nasty scar across his nose and a nastier grin, is a man holding a stained sword, face twisted in victory.

Therion taps him with a finger.]

My old partner. Darius.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh.

Oh.

She hadn't expected him to show her, and when she sees it, when she registers what's going on, she inhales sharply. She almost can't tear her eyes away, but she eventually does, and looks to Therion. ]

... What happened? Between you two?

[bolderfell]

He threw me off a cliff five years ago. I've made a point of working alone since then.

[If he acts glib about it, that means it's fine, right?]

[philoxenia]

[ Holy shit, Therion. ]

... Well. I don't blame you at all for that. ... Does he know you're alive?

[bolderfell]

Looks like he'll find out sooner or later.

[He points to the jewels in the picture.]

I need those. If he's got them, it's pretty clear what I have to do.

[philoxenia]

.... It is.

[ She just... can't keep that worry out of her voice, hard as she tries. Still, she looks at the picture again, then nods and looks at him. There's something quietly determined about that look on her face. ]

I'm pretty sure you can take him, though.