graveyard part 4

[gamehead]

hunter's game the graveyard You wake up in an unfamiliar cabin. At first, it almost seems like you're in an entirely different place and that everything had been just a dream. The interior of the cabin looks nothing like the run-down, old-timey shacks that you had been living in before. Everything in here is sleek and modern, from the enormous flat-screen TV mounted on the wall to the fridge and mini-bars stocked with all your favorite foods. There aren't any individual rooms in here, just a common area large enough to house everyone comfortably, no matter how many more people join you...and there will be plenty more people joining you before the week is over. Because if you look outside the window, it quickly becomes clear that not only are you still in Prayer's Pass, but that you are no longer among the realm of the living. Judging from the tombstones directly outside, you're now in what had been the abandoned broken-down cabin in the graveyard. The cabin's not all that changed; the world outside has gone completely grey and everything you see appears to be faded and blurry. The only things that remain sharp and in color are what's inside the cabin, including your fellow ghosts. Occasionally, people who are still alive may enter, but it's clear that what they're seeing is completely different from what you're seeing. The door's unlocked; however, a mysterious force prevents you from stepping beyond the threshold, no matter how hard you may try. After all, this cabin is a cage for the dead - a gilded one, perhaps, but a cage nonetheless. On the flat-screen TV plays everything that is currently happening in the town. It will shut off once night starts...and something else will appear instead.

Comments

[axeforasong]

Sorry about the mess, Critter wouldn't let them just kill him... did anyone kick Holden by the way?

[expiatrice]

Just 'Ciel' is fine. [she's.... perfectly well aware of how NOT a paragon of christianity she's been in prayer's pass.

...well can you blame her...]

It's fine, we all know how capricious that thing is with its own set of special rules. And yes, many times even! He was greeted by Spain's fist upon arrival. Miki-san hit him too, but Kurashiki-san only scolded him. Joshua took pictures yesterday, though! You could ask him, if you'd like to see a few?

[axeforasong]

[eh]

Will kick him myself anyway.

Liet isn't here, yes?

1/2

[expiatrice]

Please do your best!

2/2

[expiatrice]

[she quietens at that, and shakes her head.]

Critter stayed vague about his whereabouts, however. At the insistence of other nations, it gave us a choice: unlock three clues last night, or take Lithuania here. ...The votes were obvious, as you may imagine.

[axeforasong]

Three?


...Ah, is one in School?

Is a shame, could have had same bargain with me...

[she'd been so sure Critter would react to them trying to hang it... or at least Mayu's blatant vote fixing. Because come on]

[expiatrice]

Yes, which will get unlocked tonight I'm sure.

[She shakes her head there.]

I say it as an observation, but I doubt others here would react as strongly to your disappearance as other nations have towards Lithuania's. It may be shallow, but if this opportunity was granted to us as a result of their fussing, then we should be grateful that it happened.

[axeforasong]

Must really thank Liet; most of work was him. I didn't remember anything.

Fair enough. I hope he isn't lonely. Still, at least I know what Hunters fought for now.

[expiatrice]

Mm, a strange case of amnesia just like Hanekoma.

I'm a little envious about that... [the hunters' objective, naturally. which prey isn't?] Frankly, I would've liked to see one of you two executed today based on odds and numbers alone. One wolf left is easier to keep track of than two just in case anything changes, you know? But you're definitely much more proactive in collecting clues and trying to solve things than miss Carter, so she should've been the one to end here instead, ideally.

...

Is it a 'for the greater good' sort of thing, if you're allowed to answer that much?

[axeforasong]

If you knew it, everyone here would join in a heartbeat!

[expiatrice]

...My, that's certainly a lofty claim. I suppose we'll see, won't we?

[axeforasong]

Makes sense though, yes? If it's not universal, risks defection, yes?

[expiatrice]

To a certain degree. I figured from the start they must either have precious things threatened to them, like Hanekoma's notes suggested, or promised something irresistible they can attain even after death, such as miss Vessalius has testified prior to her death. [chinhanding!]

Are you confirming that the cause you fight for is universal, not individualistic?

[axeforasong]

Am not sure what I can say... are supposed say 'forced' or 'coerced' if asked.

Can state this: there is only one Lone Wolf.

[expiatrice]

[after a beat, she nods.]

That's good, thank you. Will you continue reviewing the clues and try solving the 'real' game on this side, miss Mayu?

[axeforasong]

Of course. There... may be a way for Wolves to forfeit from here, but is risky. Might work and save Prey, might anger Critter into killing everyone. Is hard to say.

Wolf victory is impossible anyway.

[expiatrice]

I don't think that's a point of concern, either way. This game has been played before, right? The hints so far all support this. I'm sure wolf and prey victory have both been achieved in the past, neither are the likely solutions. Frankly, we're not so different regardless of what side we're on, and I think people are forgetting that the more we fret over what side means what. That's why unless we're missing something crucial within the context of the present situation, I think the real dilemma will crop up after one side wins the current setup. ...It's conjecture, but does that make sense, at least?

[axeforasong]

...That would mean it most likely happens here, yes?

[expiatrice]

I won't deny the chance... Why are we kept alive to sacrifice clues anyway, right? The very possibility would be closed to us, if we weren't supposed to at least be conductive in driving this to a certain point in the first place.

[axeforasong]

So clues form alternate path. Is true it has no relevance to Wolf and Rabbit game; actually harms it, yes? Look at Liet.

[expiatrice]

That's right. He was 'punished' by Critter for breaking the rules, but it's not opposed to bringing Lithuania back either as long as enough sacrifices are provided. [yes can we just assume more happened] There's nothing personal in it, and I highly doubt it cares what happens to any of us. We're not special, this whole setup has happened before, and it will likely happen again if we meet the same fate as those who came before us. 'Not playing' isn't an option before as much as it may be now: we've come too far, and it would be entirely pessimistic to think we might've lost the moment the first death occurred. So there's got to be more 'after', if it can't have been 'before' and we've already found all that we could during the 'middle'. Unless you think we're missing something from this 'middle' segment that the game is still in, right now?

[axeforasong]

Well, should at least try 'all abstain', yes? Was it clear on voting record? Most abstainers voted Critter; we totally had majority. [sob, this is still before Rikku...]

Should try as much as possible in middle before relying after, yes?

[expiatrice]

I suppose it's worth trying, but I admit I'm not expecting any results. Remember Ema Skye and Akane Kurashiki? They tied, and miss Skye ended up on the wrong side of the coin flip. There are good odds something similar might happen, but if everyone is willing to risk their lives and see how total abstention may play out, they could certainly try it out.

[She nods.]

I can agree to that: the most important thing is to keep an open mind at this point, I think.