residentflorist

You saw how many people were willing to volunteer to sacrifice themselves during that trial, didn't you? That's only going to amplify the longer we're here. That's what worries me most about introducing these kinds of things.

[people's desperation...bad.]

[ He sighs... rather heavily about the sacrificial volunteering. Yeah he remembers. You dumb bastards. ]

Hopefully, we won't be doing anything stupid like that for the sake of people who willingly went out of their way to kill.

And even then... considering the premises of what we know, putting a stop to the afflicted people would be better for both parties in the long run anyway. They stay possessed, and will keep killing, according to what the overseers said.

Yeah. [...] When I asked War about what would happen if someone were afflicted and someone else took care of them. They seemed to think we wouldn't have to perform the preparations for a ritual like we did a few days ago. So that's something people might keep in mind, too.

[it will not work that way because this is a murdergame, but still.]

Finding the afflicted should be a priority. The other thing is...if we don't find that person and they're still out there killing, what's going to stop the cult from interfering and giving us a second afflicted person?

To be honest... probably nothing. I don't know anything for certain, but maybe I'd consider it like this -- they can only summon one a week, and if we aren't vigilant, the amount of people acting up will also only increase over time.

They did also suggest to me that it's not impossible for the monsters to attempt to kill one another, or even their own matching affliction in the name of "competition", but worst case scenario...

[ Just a whooole lot of monsters if they don't stay sharp or they refuse to participate in the Saturdays. ]

...I had wondered about partners going after partners. [that was back for the sake of power and a wish, but now all of this makes it even more complicated.] No matter how you look at it, none of it sounds very good, does it?

[it's a little sad, and judging by the way she folds her arms over her chest she seems to be thinking on a way to maybe try to fix things.]

Have you told anyone your monster affiliation yet? [she assumes marina, but maybe not.]

...Not really. Only the people who've asked me directly.

[ Most people have kind of talked around it with him. ]

You?

Just Cloud and Yuffie on the first day we were allowed to. [i.e. literally left the npcs and turned around to share with each other.] I haven't wanted to ask anyone else yet, and I still don't think I want to find my partner. Maybe that'll change, but...I don't know.

That makes sense.

[ Tell your good friends. ]

...Marina and I actually haven't told each other. I think we both would rather just... not think about it, if we can.

[she turns from the ocean again to look at him this time.]

...who is she to you anyway? Can I ask that? [she will come back to the monster thing but it's occurred to her she doesn't exactly know their connection.]

...Miss Marina? Not... well, I don't want to say no one.

[ That'd be kind of mean, and make it sound like their relationship is more negative than it is. ]

We're nearly as strangers as you and me. I've only known her three days longer than the rest of you.

[honestly it'd be really funny if he just went "nothing." but she does seem a little surprised by the answer, given the way her eyes widen slightly.]

That's...a lot shorter than I thought. But you were together before this happened?

We were.

We just had the misfortune of being stuck in the same place together.

...

And again, just like here, just like you all...

["Having to do this all over again... with more than twice as many people isn't exactly what I was hoping for."

dislike.]

...it feels very unfair to think that you were pulled from one sacrificial ritual right into another, you know.

...It is what it is... although, don't really know if the last time was really "sacrifice" either...

...

Just kinda felt like bloodshed for the sake of it.

[marina had called it a sacrifice, but marina also hadn't really explained and aerith wasn't going to press it. but this still sounds. bad.]

Did you ever at least get to find out why you two...?

[ Tbf they were both extremely unprepared for it and Marina is more willing to lean into supernatural aspects than he is. Neither of them are wrong though. Because Per'kele, their host, is an absolute jackass. ]

Why...?

[ This almost makes him laugh, almost. Every single day he wishes he had a damn cigarette. ]

No. No rhyme nor reason for the "why". Just fourteen people who had the misfortune to be heading into Prehevil at the time.

That's literally it.

[she kind of just looks...mad. she looks a little mad? who the fuck just does this to people? who the fuck are these beings who decide life is expendable just for fun and profit? she doesn't think saying "that's not fair" is going to mean anything, nor does she think saying "i'm sorry" will help, even if these are both things she's thinking. so she's quiet, staring at him for a long moment.]

There has to be a way to stop the cycle. Doesn't there? [she would love to not think they're both going to go back just to maybe die anyway.]

[ Aerith... this game's good people.

He looks distracted and maybe a little hazed. ]

...Don't know... I don't know.

Moon was rising on the third evening. That would've been the end of it. I don't know what was going to happen to me.

I still... I'm not all that sure if any of this is really still happening.

I don't really know anything anymore. I can only move forward.

[she is kind of watching this man slowly disassociate in real time, so she's walking back up the sand to be closer to him again. it is affection week, so...she will try to grab his hand to get him to be a little more focused.]

Hey. [she's also not sure she likes hearing "i'm not sure if any of this is really happening" because, uh, hm. bad.] ...moving forward is all we can do, but one step at a time. Right? We're here together, so no matter what happens here we're going to find a way to make sure you get through everything.

[break the cycle here, and then figure out how to break it for daan and marina so neither of them die. that sounds like a plan.]

[ Normally the touch would get a bigger reaction from him, but affection week is making him more amenable to these sorts of things. It's not a pre-existing condition at least, he's not pulling a Ryuki here. Just that objectively, the fact that he went from one turbo death royale to another really is just kind of a lot for anyone's psyche.

Really, he's kind of just a guy. Everything is way too much, especially the last few months of his life. ]

...

Get through...

No choice, right?

[ I hope we get thoughtshare soon. ]

[everything about this tag is extremely concerning, thank you. but also yes. he sure does seem like just a guy, and that's half of what worries her, frankly.]

I wouldn't say there's no choice. There's always a choice in how we get through things, but...[she shakes her head.] We're not letting you die here.

[ I love that this is just half the meta for any game I'm in ever.

He stops himself from saying particularly downer, even for his own usually kind of grim standards. Sardonically, sure, but he has limits to what kind of dark-humoured sarcasm he's going to land Aerith of all people with. ]

...Thanks. I'd really like to not die, too.

[ So he goes with that. ]

And I'd like to see you survive as well. You and both of your friends.

[you really do just play some concerning little guys...

that nets a tiny smile from her because, well, that's better than nothing. she will take it. it's much easier than thinking about the fate of her and her two friends.]

We'll do the best we can with what we're given. [she means all of them. but this has been such a depressing segue, so she squeezes his hand gently before letting go.] And right now what we've been given is an island that seems nicer than the spooky town we've seen all week. Feeling up to continuing the tour?

[ Sometimes... it is accidental... ]

Mm.

Do you even know this island well enough to give me a tour? Although, think there might be a bit of fun in that too...

[ We can perhaps handwave a bunch of island exploring for the rest and open up room for this cursed weekend. ]

Guess we'll find out, won't we? [there's a laugh, but she waits for him to take her arm again so they can venture off! and we can handwave they explored to open up for this cursed weekend yeah. shakes.]

Daan

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