WEEK FOUR: MINGLE

[cluedin]

WEEK FOUR

OCCUPANCY: 25

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, three images will flicker and change sporadically. While Subete's portrait remains the same, on occasion it will change to an image of a disembodied head, expression frozen in shock. Likewise, Dazai's portrait looks just like himself, though if you blink you may miss it changing into a hulking, dark nine-tailed fox with blood glistening in its teeth. Finally, Anya's portrait reveals a picture of the young girl, but every now and then a blossom of red appears on her pristine outfit as the light fades from her eyes. 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.

After weeks of getting to know each other, you may believe you have learned the most important things about them. You've seen their memories, you've felt their emotions, and you've shared their pain. But even so, some of you continue to hide your true intentions. Starting today, from the moment you wake, a mask will appear and cover half of your face. Each mask is different and though you may not understand what it means yet, each design implies something about you. Those who have experience within the supernatural world might have a white feather pattern across their mask while those who have powers associated with a certain element may find their mask changing color and temperature. Some masks may reflect bloody handprints to reflect the sins of a killer while others will appear black and cracking for someone who has died before. Those holding back a big secret will find their mask slowly covering their whole face and others still will find their masks reflecting anything from acts of betrayal to hidden romantic feelings. Though all are unique to each guest, all will find they are unable to remove these masks.

Some of you may wear your mask proudly as you have nothing left to hide, while others of you may become desperate in your attempt to remove it. Feelings of anger and aggression may bubble up to the surface this week over the smallest problems even for the most calm of people. As the sun sets, you may find that you don't feel quite like yourself, opposite personality trades coming to light. Luckily for you, you may not have to worry. Every now and then you may find a gap in your memory, temporary amnesia removing an embarrassing incident or two.

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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Comments

[infire]

Were they the ones who made it? They seemed rather insistent that there was no such antidote, before we found it ourselves.

[ so either they lied outright, or they really know nothing. ]

...One person means very little in the face of the whole. I thought you wanted to save everyone here, Luna.

[brokethefirst]

Until proven otherwise, I'm going to have to believe that. Given that they seem to have severe restrictions of what they can and cannot talk about without punishment, they may have been forced to lie, and we would never know. The alternative would mean that the antidote materialized out of thin air, or that it had been hiding in that room, with or without their knowledge, when they have the unnatural ability to take care of this entire house overnight.

...

I do, Brilith. Wanting to save everyone doesn't mean sacrificing the dignity of the few. Otherwise... I don't know if there would be a point to it all.

It's not something I could bear to live with, anyway.

[infire]

I wouldn't say it appeared out of thin air. It does seem that there is someone deliberately trying to mislead us, though. We should keep that in mind as we move forward, and not place our trust in others blindly.

One person's life isn't worth failing the rest.

...But it's good to hear that he's agreed. So when do you plan to start?

[brokethefirst]

I can't say I disagree with that entirely. I do think we're being misled. But by what, or who, I don't want to point fingers towards just yet. I have a feeling that might be exactly what someone would want us to be doing to each other, anyway.

...

...You say that like I would ever mean to harm him over something like this. What would I have to gain for that? He's a person, not... not a puppet.

[You're not getting your answer for that last question, because excuse you?????]

[infire]

We have been told that working together would be the key to solve this...but I was under the impression that it meant the guests working among themselves, not with the staff.

[ she doesn't want to work them! the furries can go get wrecked. ]

...I never said he was. [ she tilts her head, as if wondering how luna could have gotten to that conclusion. ] Just that one person isn't worth leaving the rest vulnerable.

[brokethefirst]

If it were a matter of favoritism, then yes, of course, but... this is just human decency.

We... w-we are both talking about the thing right now, aren't we? [THIS IS STILL ABOUT HUNTER YES??]

[infire]

About a potential cure, yes.

You never answered my other question. When do you plan to start working on it?

[brokethefirst]

Right, but... I would prefer not to consider the need for a... a "necessary evil" in the form of discussing an individual's worrh outside the whole, positive or negative. I understand it has an importance in a larger picture, but right now... I think that's far too drastic.

[SIGHS...]

Immediately, of course. I had intended to find Hunter on Tuesday, but... um... [Looks at her left arm. Hahahaha.]

[infire]

[ sometimes you just think in extremes. it's fine. nothing to worry about.

her eyes drop to luna's arm. ]

...Right. Are you well enough to try today, then, or should it wait a bit longer?

[brokethefirst]

I don't think we have the time to waste, regardless of my state. Almost a third of our number has died. [she's in pain but it's FINE] I'll need some assistance, though. I... I can only do so much with one hand.

[infire]

Varian said we do have time, actually. I'll be able to help, though. I've worked in medical fields many times before. It shouldn't be that difficult.

[ she's not explaining any of that right now but



sure ]

[brokethefirst]

Varian... oh, do you mean one of the ghosts?

[she hasn't been in the museum yet, apparently]

How... how did he know something like that, though?

[infire]

A ghost, yes. But all he said when we asked him to clarify was that we've lasted longer than any other group.

[brokethefirst]

I remember someone saying that they were only in a group of ten or twelve. Maybe the only reason this is the case is because there... were thirty-six of us... [She doesn't sound particularly happy about that.]

[infire]

It's possible. But then, we weren't promised anything in exchange for killing each other like some of the others were. Lacking that sort of incentive, we've had no reason to kill senselessly. Too many factors have changed to know for certain what the reason is.