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

[slobjection]

Not this time. Someone else.

I'm guessing yours would be along the same lines.

[hamaoned]

Oh.

[ this doesn't spark joy in ken's heart. ]

Probably. I might take a look at it later to see who they picked.

[slobjection]

If you want to look at it... why don't we look together?

[ so dad can comfort. ]

[hamaoned]

[ ken is a big boy!!! ]

We could. [ he's trying to save face, of course. ] I'm sure it's nothing, though.

[slobjection]

I believe you.

.... But maybe there's a clue we can find together. What about it?

/2

[hamaoned]

You think that there might be a clue?

[ ....

ken isn't sure about it but at the same time, if there's a clue then he's going to want to give it a try. ]

Okay.

[hamaoned]

[ time to put in the dvd, i guess. which proves to be as unpleasant as he thought it would be. his hostage barely gets any screen time before ken forcibly ejects the dvd from the player and takes a hold of it. wow this was great, dad!!

will phoenix get to stop ken in time before he snaps it in two? the next tag will tell because if he doesn't stop him, that's exactly what ken's about to do. ]

[slobjection]

[ phoenix will stop him, but he'll be gentle about it -- then he'll crouch down to hug him. ]

[ hilariously this was the same reaction akira did. ]

... It's not real, Ken. It's a trick.

[hamaoned]

[ well, they're the same age. ...as al reminds me.

but the hug is weird! he'll flinch at it at the start because, wow, no one has hugged ken since he has arrived here despite all of the stuff that he has seen and what has happened. it's only for a moment, though, as he relaxes.

and mutters. ]

I know. [ spitefully. ] It doesn't mean I want to see it.

[slobjection]

[ phoenix is patient, waiting him out until he relaxes...... ]

I know you know. You're smart.

[ he's not patronizing, he means it!! ] I'm just trying to find a way to get through to everyone else.

[hamaoned]

[ ken will. slowly...hug...back. and he can tell that phoenix isn't trying to patronize him, thus, the hug back. ]

Thank you.

[ for the hug, the compliment, and trying to make things right. ]

How many people have you convinced so far?

[slobjection]

[ dad will just hold him for a bit, then. ]

A couple. Others have it covered better than me, though.

[hamaoned]

[ thank you dad. ]

As long as no one tries to buy into what they see, then it should be fine.

[ should be unless monsters come out to play, of course. ]

[slobjection]

I am a little worried about that, though.

[ considering.... ayabe.... ]

[hamaoned]

Are you referring to Ayabe?

[ ken is no fool. ]

[slobjection]

Yes... and others who might not have made their distress as known.

[hamaoned]

You'd think that after that's happened so far, the last thing we should do is start killing each other.

[ not that he can blame those who are distrustful about what's going on. ]

[slobjection]

... You'd think.

But people here are under a lot of pressure, right now. Something's bound to give way.

[hamaoned]

I guess.

[ ... ]

I understand how people don't want more people to die or lose potential love ones, but going about it this way is hardly getting to where we need to be.

[slobjection]

I agree. Best not to give into the manipulations going around here.

[ tousles ken's hair a little... ]

The problem is how to get everyone else to realize this.

[hamaoned]

[ okay that gets him to fuss because excuse you!!

it's only minor fussing though. ]

I doubt just telling them won't solve anything, but I'm not sure how we can prove it to them with our actions.

[slobjection]

[ ken fuss fuss fuss ]

Maybe getting them to examine it a little more closely.... but that probably won't be easy.

[hamaoned]

[ he'll fight back against the fussing!!! staph >:c ]

If they didn't enjoy seeing it the first time, I doubt they'd want to look at it again.

[slobjection]

[ nah phoenix lets him go ]

It's not enjoyable, no... but the more we look at it, the more we can be convinced it's a clever lie.

[hamaoned]

[ ...

given how ken nearly snapped his in half— ]

...do you think that'd work? Not a lot of people would be able to take that kind of abuse.