week 4

[stagemanagers]

[Another week, and two more dead. King Richard and Red are both gone, and once again, it was through nothing more than an accident in the heat of the moment. Maybe if you all stay calm and collected, nothing bad will happen again?

Well, maybe not.

When you wake on Sunday, you'll find that you've recovered another one of those memories - or had another dream, if you still wanna be in denial about it. The grounds remain as they are, but this time, the door blocking the stairwell has been unsealed. You can now venture up to the second floor! This is the second time that's happened; it's almost as if you get more space every time someone dies. Or maybe the whole place just seems quieter.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday


(( Welcome to Week 4! Please remember to submit your AC and your memory regains, as well as your coins! You can also still contact the Phantom. ))

Comments

Room

[heathencall]

[Mephisto ducked out pretty quick once things had finished up, momentarily exhausted by... everything. It leaves plenty left unsaid, though, and though he knows that Christine and Jeremy will live, it doesn't say much else.

He hesitates outside Christine's door and... knocks once before taking a single step in.]

Permission to greet the Princess?

[madgiganticfeelings]

[Christine pulls herself up from her bed, poking her head out from under the wolf's cloak. She looks... exhausted, but there's the hint of a smile peeking out from the bundle of fur. She even offers a small mock bow.]

Permission granted.

[heathencall]

[He slips in as soon as she says the word, pausing only to push the door mostly closed. There are plenty of others worried about her, and he won't keep her from them entirely. But he's always been a private creature, especially with matters of vulnerability.]

You're looking better. [He crouches down beside her bed.] How are you feeling.

[madgiganticfeelings]

Like a complete mess? Like...

[She comes up with an analogy, but it's so dumb she actually has to laugh. Jeremy's rubbing off on her.]

So there's this one comic book character called the Hulk? He's usually just a mild-mannered scientist, but because of some experiment gone wrong or something, every time he gets angry, he grows like 8 feet tall and becomes this rampaging green monster?

I feel like I'm going to do that. But not just with anger. With literally everything I'm feeling. But I also feel way too exhausted and guilty to do that, so... hiding in bed works too.

[heathencall]

[What the fuck is human future media....]

You are... right to be feeling so much. You found a way to free your friend. He is free, for that matter. And in any other circumstance, you would have been doing the right thing.

The Phantom, however, seems to be allergic to the mere concept of "right thing" and is therefore standing against you at every turn.

[madgiganticfeelings]

I... I don't know if I did the right thing. I... think maybe I was hasty, and I jumped to attacking something I didn't understand.

[She bites down on her lip, hands clasped so hard in her lap that notices her knuckles are white.]

I shouldn't have been surprised that the SQUIP counted as a murder. And when I found out, I... shouldn't have kept thinking it deserved it.

[heathencall]

He took your friend from you. I can understand the anger.

[He's quiet for... a not insignificant amount of time. A thought has rolled through his head, and he... isn't particularly fond of it.

But since this has been a week of confessions, it comes out anyway.]

If the Phantom took you from me, I would do the same thing.

[madgiganticfeelings]

... Mephisto.

[Her voice is gentle, sympathetic, yet overwhelmingly worried. She knows exactly how he feels, but that doesn't mean she approves.]

You can't do that. You know that, I'm sure you know. But-

Would you have done that if I had managed to kill the SQUIP myself?

[heathencall]

[He hesitates to answer right away, even if the answer comes almost instantly.]

I would have.

[There's no point in not being honest. She's always seen right through him.]

[madgiganticfeelings]

[She gives him a long look before slowly cracking a smile.]

And here I thought Stephen was furious with me. You definitely would have gotten grounded for a move like that.

[She tries, but she can't really bring herself to laugh.]

Would you... still do it even if I just wanted you to stay safe?

[heathencall]

Stephen wishes he had that power over me.

[He says it a little snappily, scowling as he does. It's a sensitive spot! He's not ready to admit the actual power Stephen has.]

I... don't know. Red's wish for us to not get hurt on her behalf was enough. But She and I were not nearly as close as you and myself.

[madgiganticfeelings]

Maybe. You definitely seem to want to work together with him. And you made a good team, stopping what was going to happen.

[Christine sighs softly and brings her knees up to her chest to hug them.]

I feel a little guilty. I don't want you or anyone to get hurt because of me. Because of my stupid actions. And I worry, when you say stuff like that, that maybe I've gotten too close.

[heathencall]

I... find that I want to do a great deal of things with Stephen.

[Don't take that as an innuendo, Christine. Please, God.]

You're starting to sound like me, Christine. Worrying if you've gotten too close. [He shakes his head.] It's a good thing you have. If not for you, I might still be Ariel, plotting your demise along with everyone else.

[madgiganticfeelings]

Like...

[Sorry Mephisto, but no chance. Christine leans forward and brings her face close to Mephisto's, so he can see her wide grin as she whispers to him.]

Like cuddle?

[Oh, wait, serious conversation. Christine pulls herself back together... or at least enough to reach out for a hug.]

Maybe I shouldn't worry. I guess being close to everyone... means I want to protect them more.

[heathencall]

[Mephisto huffs, nostrils flaring and brows drawing downward as he glowers at Christine. She's lucky she goes in for the hug and he's... pretty much helpless to say no to her at this point. It'll save her from a proper scolding for now.]

That is exactly how I see it. And the more we care about and want to protect one another, the less likely we are to turn against each other.

We have to take every advantage we have.

[madgiganticfeelings]

[Success! Mephisto has become a slave to her cuteness! Christine smiles as she continues to hug him, and just shakes her head.]

I wouldn't do anything even if I didn't like people, but you're right. We need to stick together so we can get out.