bluesclues | WEEK TWO: MINGLE

WEEK TWO

OCCUPANCY: 31

Rise and shine, little monsters. A new week is waiting just for you. The events of yesterday may have been hard to stomach, but time heals all wounds, after all. The damages the house has incurred over the last week have been reverted and the staff is hard at work fulfilling their roles in this mansion. A piping hot breakfast is served in the dining room promptly at 7am, every square inch of floor and furniture has been cleaned spotless, and Pumpkin is...probably around tending to the animals outside. As you exit your rooms on this lovely morning, guests will find that the barrier leading upstairs has diminished, and a new floor has been opened to explore.

For anyone who ventures into the ballroom, a new change may become apparent. Should you choose to look at the plaques long enough, two images will flicker and change sporadically. While Nia's portrait remains the same, on occasion it will change to an image of a headless young lady. Likewise, Asch's portrait looks just like himself, though if you blink you may miss it changing into the image of a young man mid-transformation into something with claws and scales. Finally, Michiru's portrait reveals a picture of a beautiful young lady, but every now and then it will reveal an image of a shriveled up, dried out siren. There is no rhyme and reason for the change...though perhaps it serves as a reminder to those who remain.

Additionally, the house rules have been moved from the ballroom and back into the hallway, mounted in the entryway as they were.

It's been some time now. Surely you've made some friends and perhaps even some enemies. Though you may not fully understand each other, they do say the best way to know someone is to walk a mile in their shoes. Starting today you'll find that you've been bound to one other guest by an invisible sort of string. Everything you feel, they will feel. Everything they experience, you will experience. Though the threads may change from time to time, the connection is strongest with only one person. How will you handle this bond?

Some of you may find this easy. For others, this may be a little stressful! The pressure may grow stronger and weigh down on you, an anger so strong you find yourself...howling in the night to express your anguish. Others still may find that the silver cutlery will cause them to break into a painful rash, and others still will find that an increase of hair begins to take over your head, your arms, and even places hidden beneath your clothes. Perhaps it's time to invest in a razor and stick to plastic utensils.

Not to mention that the ailments you experienced last week are still in effect, though they're much less than before. Do try to keep track of your body parts this week...though you've been absolved of your sins.

You may experience only some of these events. Then again, maybe you're unlucky and you're experiencing all of these events at different points in time. Time is of the essence, however, and come Monday at noon a rustling crackle of static can be heard from overhead. Try as you might, you won't be able to find the speakers but a message will play loud and clear for all.

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[that startles him, and Akira recoils a slight bit, brow furrowing]

I-- did something happen?

It's not your concern.

[She looks over the mess with a stiff gaze.]

Either tell what you need or... or get out of the way, please.

[. . . excuse????]

[his expression hardens a bit, jaw setting tightly]

You threw a glass at the wall. That's not like you.

I think this is my concern.

Are you making this your problem out of a desire to be needed, or are you truly that untrustworthy of the people you decide to call friends?

[Not gonna let him answer that. She'll do a short bow to excuse herself, turning to head towards the basement.]

[opens his mouth]

[closes it again]

[his hands ball into fists, but he takes a deep breath to force himself not to snap back at her. something is. . . wrong, and he needs to be patient]

[Luna bows and attempts to escape, but Akira trots after her, because he refuses to let things end like this]

Neither. Luna-- what's wrong? This isn't. . .

[like you?]

I just told you that it's none of your concern.

[She's looking markedly more uncomfortable with him following along, but the guilty flicker across her face, at least, looks far more familiar.]

Please. Just stop.

[well. at the discomfort she wears on her features, at the guilt that flickers on her expression, at her request for him to stop. . . he obliges, ceasing in his tracks as his frustrated expression melts into something softer]

Are you-- are you sure it's nothing I can help you with?

...

[She hesitates as her hand curls against the basement door handle, a hand pressing to her face. What... what was wrong with her?

...

She inhales, exhales, brushing stray hair out of her eyes.]

I... don't know. I don't think so.

Please... just take care of one another. Just try a little harder. I'm... [A sigh.] I'm getting very tired of all of this.

[. . . well. it isn't like he can blame her. she's been taking care of the brunt of injured people in this place, hasn't she? maybe the stress is finally getting to her]

[Akira slumps, shoulders sagging]

I'm sorry.

[now, more than ever, he feels like he needs to make sure he takes care of himself]

You must be exhausted. You deserve some time to rest.

[Ah. There's a tired smile in his direction.]

I can't do that, Akira.

...

I'll be okay. I'm... sorry. I don't know what's come over me.

But the last thing I want is to stop helping those of you who are left. So... please don't feel bad.

Okay?

[. . .]

If you don't take care of yourself, if you don't rest, you won't be able to help them.

[it comes out a little harsher than intended, but it's true, isn't it?? he knows Luna is trying. he wants her to keep trying. but he doesn't want her to keep pushing herself past her limits until she breaks]

It's not a matter of rest. [It's an immediate push back, cold once more, her smile starting to dissipate.]

...Though I suppose it may not matter if I can help them or not if... if their execution happens regardless. But...

I know wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't try as hard as I could. I... I have to.

Luna. . .

[his expression crumbles again, and she can hear the concern in his voice. he understands where she's coming from-- he really does-- but. . .]

[how does he get her to sit down and think about herself for a change?? when him looking after her isn't enough?]

Then if you can't stop, can you at least let the rest of us help you shoulder that burden?

...I don't know if I understand.

[Her words come plainly, thinly laced with frustration.]

How would you plan to do that? Is what I already asked of you not enough?

. . . I don't know.

[he doesn't think so. he knows it'll help somewhat, but. . .]

But I think if you let us help you too, then it will be.

WEEK TWO: MINGLE

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