bluesclues | WEEK FOUR: MINGLE

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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[and Akira nods, because. . . he knows exactly how that feels]

It is lonely. I've been there. I've been there, and I hated it.

[a small sigh]

So that's why I got so angry. Even though logically, I know he's way too tough to get himself captured like this.

[The green flickers with a darker blue, muddled together in a mix that's hard to read on her face, bittersweet and empathetic. But she doesn't say anything else, only lowering her gaze to her hands.]

So the announcements were telling the truth, then... at least, from the perspective of these discs. They... really want us to think that important people are in danger.

[...

She looks at the disc he holds in his own grip, then back up to him.]

You're positive it was him?

[well. at that, Akira shakes his head vigorously, eyes flashing again]

They want us to think it, but I believe that these DVDs are a lie.

[and he says that so firmly, almost like he's trying to convince both her and himself that it's true]

. . . I'm positive that it was his likeness on the DVD, yeah. But I don't believe they really have him captured.

Another ruse, then... [Her eyes flicker back down to the DVD. Does... she really even want to take it back? There's a definite conflict, worry occasionally pinching her features together.]

...

Okay. I... imagine it was realistic enough to upset you, given what happened with the popcorn, but...

If you really don't think it was him... then I'll believe you.

Mmm.

[it isn't as though Akira is denying the reality of the DVD just because he doesn't want to believe the contents are real]

Do you remember what Lio said? About someone planting illusions in the mansion to trick us?

I just. . . I just think these DVDs are another layer of that.

That's all.

[he watches Luna carefully, studying the conflict on her features. if she decided to watch hers, he wouldn't blame her. after all, he gave into temptation himself. even if. . . in the end. . . he refuses to let it control him]

[She'll give another nod, though it's weak.]

Illusion or not... if they are tailored to us, then I know who will be on mine.

I...

[She swallows, before shaking her head.]

I really don't think it would be wise.

[his mouth twitches, almost apologetic even though he knows the DVDs aren't his fault. and carefully. . . he places his hand on top of hers; the one resting on his knee]

Do you want me to break it? Or. . .

[or would she rather he didn't? just in case she changes her mind later on?]

[Would she? Would she bother, for a chance to see his face again, even if it was just to watch in horror the whole time? It's a gaping hole in her heart, one of the only people she feels she's ever come close to knowing in a friendly way... but...

...]

I... I don't know.

I miss him. I miss him so much, I can hardly think. But... I...

[Her voice cracks a little, despite herself. The deep blues of her mask darken, her hand curling to a fist underneath his palm.]

I-I don't think I could bear to see him in pain.

Hey.

[his grip on her hand tightens just a little bit, a comforting amount of pressure]

There has to be another way for you to see him again. A better way.

[one that doesn't hurt her heart, or make her cry. a way for her to see him again in a good light, with nothing but positivity surrounding the interaction]

Not in this lifetime. I... I made my choices.

[...

There's a delicate turn of her lips, though it's more heartbreaking than happy, a longing for something that she knows she can't have anymore.]

Maybe another me, in another time... maybe that Luna might be a little luckier.

But the doctor I knew... there's nothing else I can do for him now.

[Akira's expression twists a little bit at that, frown etched deeply on his features, and eyes a little sad even from behind his mask]

Luna. . .

[she sounds so. . . resigned. it hurts to see her like that, but. . .]

[while he knows her background, where she came from, and why she exists, he doesn't know enough about her circumstances to insist that there has to be a way]

[so for now? he just gives her hand another squeeze]

[She'll let out a long breath, letting the color of her mask settle. Only when her composure is regained does she bother to relax the white-knuckled grip under Akira's palm.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make that so, um... melancholy.

If it isn't real, then seeing it would only make me upset for no reason. And... I don't think we could do with someone else knocking over the popcorn machine.

[. . . well. that gets an amused huff from Akira]

If you knock it over while it's already knocked over, does that mean you'd technically be uprighting it again?

[HE TEASES]

I'd rather not test that. I'm a doctor, not a, um... thief-shaped wrecking ball. [note to self: akira can wreck shit up if he wants to

She'll fall silent for a second, her smile fond, before she nods in the direction of said popcorn disaster.]

You seem like you've calmed down a bit. I left the broom back by the machine.

I can hold the dustpan for you, if you'd like.

[THIEF-SHAPED WRECKING BALL]

[he can't help it. he lifts a hand to his mouth and laughs, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he does so. BE PROUD, LUNA. YOUR JOKES ARE GOOD]

Oh-- yeah. I'm. . . okay now.

["okay." either way, he moves to stand]

I'll grab the broom and you can be on dustpan duty.

The power of teamwork.

[You are the only one on god's green earth that likes them, Akira, so maybe consider that you have horrible taste

She seems surprised to hear him actually laugh, though it's not a bad feeling at all - it's warm and pleasant, to hear him like this.]

Right. You can go back to doing what you need to on your own when you can use both of your hands without risk to your well being, okay? For now... I'm more than happy to lend you mine.

[and considering what happens literally the day after this thread: hahahahahahahahahahahahah]

WEEK FOUR: MINGLE

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