coastal | [ kara & lili are romance, somehow ]

Not really. As long as I keep my arm out of it and there's no weight on my chest, I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me, Lili.

You're being stupid - I don't get concerned because I have to. It just happens.

[though kara is one of the few people that she'll admit to being worried over. she's less cold, but she'll move closer to him anyway. her fingers reach out to rest over his injured arm]

.... can you report?

[ he hesitates, but. he really has no reason to hold back. ]

...It was an office. There was a voice - to me, it sounded like Mikazuki - telling us what to do and just making commentary. It called itself the narrator.

We were allowed to look around for a bit, until I found three clocks. Each one had a different time limit, and there was a note that said we'd have an even shorter one if we didn't pick. As soon as I chose one, we were forced to close our eyes, and when we opened them, there were suddenly people there - people most of us knew, from our last game.

The narrator called the four of us detectives, and told us to find the one who murdered Mikazuki. It was... kind of like the trials we go through. We had to vote, and do an execution to leave.

[ . . . ]

Steph was the killer. She was forced, somehow.

[ . . . . :( steph.

lili frowns at that, a bit worried.]

... forced... So that's why she looked so startled when she left.

How did you get hurt...? Belph said that you took an injury to the chest.

Edited 2020-07-03 02:13 (UTC)

[ he nods. ]

She got a head start, when the narrator revealed it was her. So she hit in the chest with a bat before she ran.

...But she had a serrated sword, too. That's what she hit my arm with.

More importantly... [ he waves a hand toward his bunk, where a detective's hat currently sits on the pillow. ] That will tell us if a piece of evidence we find is real, or if it's been tampered with. But we only have one chance.

—don't act like your injuries aren't important.

[just!! throwing that out there!! she'll glance in the direction of the detective's hat, but also just. keeps sitting closer. at least she's on the side of his uninjured arm.]

What were the other items....? And - are you alright? After being attacked like that.

[there are so many things she wants to check on here]

A magnifying glass to make something bigger for an hour. A watch, to stop time for everyone but the wearer, but only for a short time. And an empty case that can record a minute of whatever location it's left in, after curfew.

[ . . . ]

I'm fine, Lili. It'll heal, and I can still fight, if I have to. We had to kill Steph to win, or die trying, so I'd be more worried about her, if I were you.

[she nods when he lists the items - and then pauses, when she hears how they had to get out.]

.... I can - be worried about both of you.

[ . . . that's infuriating in its own way though. even given what he said about the execution.

she's careful when she goes to lean on him, careful about where she puts her weight to, and reaches out to hold onto his hand.]

And you're the one with me now, so...

[ he'll give her hand a light squeeze. ]

I never said you couldn't be. That was the only fight we had to deal with, though. The only danger was from the execution, and we dealt with it.

[ that said. he does give a frustrated sigh. ]

We didn't learn anything useful, though. It's like it was all just a game.

[ . . . . she frowns.]

.... they're really being stubborn about their answers, aren't they? Black Shadows was especially adamant when I saw them this week that there might not be any other way other than the rules.

Akira was being annoying about it on Monday because he was getting all hopeless.

[which is why she was so pissed at him on tuesday,]

.... but we'll keep searching. There has to be something.

...That was true in the village, too. We tried to find another way, but there was none.

We just have to be prepared for it to be the same here, in case we don't find something else. But that doesn't mean we stop looking.

.... that's what Black Shadows said. That in other games... it was what we were told.

[ . . . she leans against him, letting her head rest on his shoulder. he's calm, and steady, even when he's the one who just got out of a break in. she thinks again about how much she needs him.]

.... Sanji said at the castle - it was two options. They had teams like us, and their blood was turned to ink. One was for one team to win against the other, and any leftover 'ink' - it could be used to grant the wishes of whoever was remaining. But the other option was for there to be an equal amount left of all teams - but it was a small number. So more people had to die, but the 'ink' they got could be used to revive everyone and write their wishes.

I don't know... which one we'd be on track for right now.

...The second one, I'd hope.

You saw the banner on the board, didn't you? I was thinking about it, and I wondered if it meant another "last man standing" scenario, like the village, in order to change the rules - but one on each team, instead of only one at all.

[ . . . . she sighs.]

Maybe. But who would have that information, and how did they get it? The directors are keeping quiet still, and the deceased haven't sent their messages.

I don't want to say it's not possible... and if that's necessary then... fine...

[if that's the only way to save everyone then - ... fine. even three remaining is better than their scenario of losing all but one.]

I don't know. All we can do is keep looking until we find them, or we may never get answers.

...If that is the case, though, we'll need a better way to keep track of who we know, and what teams they're on. Right now, all we know for sure is that Purple has lost the most. [ he kind of deflates. ] But we'd need to know the teams, for that.

[ . . . she sighs. again.]

But we can't reveal them to each other or else we'll break their rules.

I don't know if we can do that, Kara.

[and she can't figure out any way to test it without putting someone in danger]

I don't know, either. I know that doesn't help us right now, but it's the only way I can think of to keep track.

[ . . . . she'll lean up to kiss his cheek.]

Okay. Then we'll think of something, even if we can't come up with it right now.

Did you want to go over who we learned this week? No teams attached.

[ it's frustrating, being unable to do anything. but kara nods anyway. ]

Ash, Shinobu, and Taako.

So Ash exchanged with you after all, huh.

[she nods.]

Magnus, Belph, Asch.

Next week I think I'm going to get Dick's at least. He owes me.

Asch...?

[ fuckin. weird. but okay. ]

I was going to ask Minako next week, and Escha, since I already know her power. Maybe Yasusada or Zenitsu, after them.

The red-haired one, obviously. [names.] It was - odd. But he seems to be alright talking to me now?

[it's the fucking princess vibes. she does not realize this. i, dana, live in fear.]

I... have some I owe from this week... People keep telling me when I'm already out of tells... so I'll probably have to keep working on a backlog. So I'll just try to avoid your people, if I can.

I figured, but I wouldn't have expected him to do that. He doesn't seem to like anyone.

[ which is

familiar ]

If one of them tells you, then just let me know. If I haven't already talked to them, I'll find someone else.

The circumstances in which I found out were... strange. But I still think it'd be a stretch to say that he likes me. Still, he trusts me enough.

[so that's something.]

Mm, okay. That works. I'm not particularly familiar with anyone you named except Zenitsu and somewhat Yasusada. I'd like to share with Flayn soon, personally, but I haven't found time...

You don't think anyone likes you.

[ just sayin ]

...If you want me to talk to Flayn instead, I don't mind.

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