graveyard part five

[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. (The graveyard so far)

Comments

[encored]

[cracks up at that last comment...]

Ah, truly. [and still in a jovial tone:] I'll skin him alive if he actually does manage to ruin this, though. Even the hamster child is speaking more intelligently. Let's put our faith in him, yes?

[speakveryclearly]

[Liberal drink taken.]

I didn't think I'd say this, but yes. Gundam's offer was a little more genuinely noble in nature rather than self-lionizing: The option of himself.

Didn't the Doctor say just yesterday to Ms. Carter that new, different, drastic action was necessary and demand she cooperate with the group plan? Turning oneself in for execution isn't even that innovative; the only difference is that he's herbivorous.

[encored]

It was, it was. Today he seems to be on his game as well. I only hope he can steer these idiots in a decent direction without interference from anyone else, you know? This option that the Doctor thinks is so grand is only going to deliver him into the hands of abooout- [HEADCOUNT] -goodness, thirty angry dead people? Not a place I'd like to be in.

[and then this happens and he literally, for the first time in the entire game, puts his face in his hands.]

1/2

[speakveryclearly]

[CREAKING THROAT NOISES]

[speakveryclearly]

I have never been more dishonored to share the label of alien with someone.

[encored]

I am honestly sorry for you, I truly am. Truly. [reassuring arm pat...] Just try to ignore him like the rest of the people in the trial.

[speakveryclearly]

[THIS ARM PAT IS EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS IN DEATH RIGHT NOW that and her glass of blood...]

Maybe he was lying about being an alien. [SHE CAN DREAM...] His circulatory system had a scent that seemed to corroborate his claim of possessing two hearts, but maybe it was misleading.

That is the good news - he can be ignored, and that his plan requires at least one other person's support, which it's entirely possible he won't receive. Even Beat could probably see the flaws in this endeavor.

[encored]

[it's all the consolation they have left...]

He isn't lying. I know that well, unfortunately. Mayfield, you know. [which has apparently become a good way to describe any bizarre occurrences.] I'll be crossing my fingers for the rest of these idiots. God, if they could just be even a little smarter than the Doctor in this situation we may be able to see just what a group abstention can do.

[speakveryclearly]

Oh................ oh, never mind then.

At least he's not - [being left-handed, she first reaches to tap the space where her left horn used to be, then flinches when she strikes the space instead of her left horn, and awkwardly reaches all the way over to her right horn instead] of my own people. His suicidal conduct makes that obvious enough. I'd like to think the Alternian race was represented well enough in Prayer's Pass. I have no shame about leading the wolf hunt nor the rabbits turned up in the process. All this was outside of our control... and to so thoroughly violate the very little autonomy we're granted here...

[Emphatically--] Does he really think we're alive?

[encored]

[another vaguely sympathetic look. seems like everyone here has been unfortunate enough to lose a piece of themselves, whether or not it was for a sacrifice.]

Indeed, indeed. You're both aliens but if you want to get quite technical, we're all aliens here. Different worlds, different universes. If it makes you feel any better I believe you've done an excellent job of representing your race as well. Better than any of your other friends that I knew, I'd say. [as far as that question goes, he glances at the screen briefly and then shrugs.]

Who can say? We aren't dead in the technical sense but he's in for a sooore disappointment if he believes we'll just be able to up and leave. [and now watching this exchange with a furrowed brow. wow he's gone from wanting to kick touko in the shins to rooting for her in less than 24 hours.]

[speakveryclearly]

That does make me feel a lot better, actually. [Imagines any of the other living trolls he mentioned knowing in this game and... oh god.] Both of those things. Your endorsement is encouraging. [Like if Naegi or someone said that it would be different but Charles is like this wonderful intermediate of Earth and rainbow drinker...]

Touko... I regret having made her uncomfortable in my life. I just wanted to help. With my attention to both herself and her counterpart. She really wasn't anywhere near half bad, and I relate to her most strongly out of anyone left alive.

[encored]

[he will use his rare status to help make things a little better... it's the least he can do when their own side is failing so badly even when they are literally handed every single clue on a silver platter.]

I'm glad I could at least do that much for you. I also understand what it's like to be surrounded by dunderheads, so I very much empathize. [#tragiclife]

She's a skittish girl and I don't at all like her, but she might actually get things done if she doesn't waste another day with whatever moronic plan the Doctor is trying to hatch.

[speakveryclearly]

[Tomorrow nothing happens but a bunch of silver platters appearing under every clue unlocked so far]

Touko doesn't seem to be entertaining his notions at least. Neither are Gundam and Sharon, or even his dear Clara. That leaves Madoka, Rikku, and Beat. [...wow jesus Christ is the list of the living short now]

There's a risk from all of them, but I think Madoka is principled enough to go forward with the group plan, Rikku can see through his obvious lie, and Beat can be convinced by the others. [.....YEAH HER FAITH IN BEAT ISN'T VERY HIGH TBH]

[encored]

[and they still don't get it]

That seems like potential cowing to me, actually. Clara doesn't seem entirely convinced either. [watching this and whistling quietly.] —Well, it seems not even he will be able to get off lightly. How arrogant, though! Believing himself to be so necessary to our escape that he needs to waste a day to get here. Stupid, stupid.

[he doesn't have any faith in any of them at this point tbh...]

[condescent]

[just laughing the laugh of somehow who has utterly given up on this town and is only watching for the entertainment at this point] And here I thought we had the monopoly on arrogance. It looks like we've been beaten in that regard.

[encored]

Joshua. Joshua. [JOSHUA HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND just when he thinks they've hit the bottom of the stupidity barrel it suddenly drops another twenty feet!!! he's only still invested because of his dumb competitive streak oh no this is like watching a hideously mismatched game of football for him.]

He's beaten us and I'll beat him soundly in turn if this godforsaken idiotic plan of his works, my god.

[condescent]

[pats his shoulder soothingly, although literally the only reason he isn't just as competitive about this is because he considers the game over once the other player has flipped over the chessboard as the prey have clearly done] There, there. I certainly don't consider reaping the benefits of other people's hard work while never being targeted because of how a complete lack of threat you are to be beating us.

Besides, I quite like this plan. If they're all going to abstain anyways, they may as well kill him now and spare us all his sanctimonious preaching. And think of his face when he realizes that all the clues have already been sent and that he's just as useless dead as he is alive.

[encored]

[teach him how to be that uninvested in things senpai, this is killing him a little...

granted his main motivator for finishing the game at all is because he doesn't want to be stuck in a cabin watching idiots bumble around for three more days but details.]

God no, not beating us in the game. In arrogance, though - he's got us in checkmate. [a huff and he cradles his forehead in his hands briefly, but casts Joshua a grateful look for the pats and reassurance. snobbros understand.] That would be quite nice, though. What does he even think he's going to do once he gets here? Someone should let him know his death will essentially secure the death of that girl he's trying so hard to protect as well, unless they actually aim for something new with his idiocy out of the way.

[condescent]

[as far as he's concerned, nailing the last hunters was the real victory here and everything afterwards is just white noise that he refuses to pay attention to]

True enough. I wonder what on earth he thinks he can possibly do that the rest of us haven't already tried? Convince us all to abstain from dying, perhaps? [giggles] Because all we need to come back from the dead is a rousing speech about how clever he is and how we simply have to try harder, of course. Why, I'm feeling less ghostly already.

[encored]

[okay that does do a bit to cheer him up. he brings his hands from his forehead and snickers into a palm instead before using it to prop his chin up.]

Goodness. Well, if we'll be allowed such a fine motivator, I don't see why we didn't kill him sooner. ...Outside of his inactivity and overall uselessness to both wolf and rabbit, I mean. [and then Kanaya's point makes him bring up one of his own.] You know, I don't think he even thinks that we're actually dead. We aren't in the traditional sense, but I wonder if he believes he can just... break out.

[condescent]

I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case. [massive eyeroll] And while you and I are simply innocent children inexperienced in the ways of the world, we do have several nations who've been around for thousands of years if they're to be believed. You'd think they would have been able to figure a way out if there was one, but perhaps our collective intelligence and strength of will just pales against his sense of importance.

[also props his chin up and ramen.gifs] For all their talk about solving the true mystery and deciphering the clues, I notice they haven't brought up the one I unlocked yet. You know, the one that says outright not to let the hunters win?

[encored]

[listening to this, his expression flattens into something caught between sour amusement and disbelief.] He really does think himself quite important, doesn't he? My! Well he better have one incredible plan once he lands his sorry ass here or he really will wind up wherever Lithuania was.

[laughing at that... but it's a really bitter laugh DAMMIT YOU GUYS.] Right? You'd think they would take it into consideration. It's the most straightforward clue they've been given yet and it's the one they're disregarding the fastest.

[condescent]

[manages to sound both impressed and disdainful at once] Good lord. I should hope that if that happens, none of us will be bothering to sacrifice something in order to bring him back. Does he really think of us as helpless little lambs waiting for the slaughter without his alleged skills? Were we at full power, I could crush both him and this town with a single thought. [He sniffs.] You'd think he was the one who caught the hunters from the way he carries on.

[equally bitter smirk god it's like never ending internal facepalming up in here] But of course, anything that suggests that they may have to take some action beyond passively abstaining and letting Critter kill them one by one must be some sort of trap. Critter must have been a good guy all along, it's simply misunderstood!

[encored]

I won't and I'll beat anyone who even considers it. Granted after this little performance, I doubt I'll have to worry about dirtying my hands. I'd really like to save my best for Carter or Caulfield, anyway. [WHY ARE THEY STILL PICKING ON HIM.] Hah, his arrogance... I've never been able to see it in full swing like this. Acting as though he hasn't spent the entire game not lifting a finger, honestly. [shaking his head] I wish you were at full power just to put him out of our misery.

You know, the worst part about that is the fact that the Doctor decoded it first and even said it might be a better idea to kill the wolves. Mayu told me that both he and Clara know of Sharon's identity as well. Isn't that just something else entirely? Everyone in that room except for Rikku and Gundam know of the last hunter's identity and this is still happening. Unimaginable!

[condescent]

I'd rather be up on that stake again than listening to this. [high pitched mocking voice] 'I can't do anything from here, but perhaps I can do something from there! [flicks a ramen noodle at the screen] Does he think we'd be grateful for his so-called sacrifice? Had we the choice, none of us would have died willingly. Throwing away your life for the sake of your own ego when the rest of us paid with ours for the sake of victory...that doesn't make you better or more noble, it just makes you selfish. One of us could be alive in his stead and actually accomplishing something, and instead we're stuck here watching him waste a chance we'd give anything to have.

I had hoped that Beat at least would have taken the picture on the phone as a sign that he should be doing whatever it takes to get back to our world. It looks like we're going to have to endure at least one more day of this tedium, unless Critter takes the merciful path for once and kills Sharon anyway.