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graveyard part five
 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. |
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[or HE WOULD BUT THEN HE'LL BE ENGAGING IN VERBAL FISTICUFFS WITH HIS MURDERER SRY CIEL]
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...
Also, have you seen Joshua?
[just wondering how casual the other member of their trio's holding up. #gives-no-fucks cakesquad lyfe]
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As for that, I suppose we just sit and wait and enjoy the last of the food. With luck we'll pop back into Mayfield after this. ...I never thought I'd say that.
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But I doubt it. Perhaps I'm simply of a more optimistic nature than the two of you, but I don't believe this game is quite over yet.
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Honestly? ...I'm not the kind of man to back out of a bet but with our time so limited, aren't there better things to do? [no he is trying to backpedal hardcore]
Unless your shining optimism comes through for us, that is.
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It just doesn't make sense. The clues had all been seemingly to make the hunters look more sympathetic, but the last one...it stands out, doesn't it? Don't make the wrong choice and let the hunters win. And we know that the man on the phone made a wrong choice somewhere down the line that lead to everyone dying. Unless they truly were nothing but distractions that had no value whatsoever...something doesn't add up.
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Anyway, I don't particularly want to spend more of my time trying to recite lessons learned back to a creature that thinks it's fun to treat us all like kindergarteners. I'll give you your stupid performance once the hunters start breathing again since I don't particularly feel like fending them off.
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Give it to me when it turns out this whole dying thing is a farce and we wind up back in Mayfield or this town or the next spinoff alive and kicking. Unless you'd like to wager on that outcome as well.
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I'm not wagering against you again while we're still in this town. Anyway, I also believe we'll be making it somewhere else, so you can expect me to fill my end of the bargain then. You had better give me a good send-off just in case we both turn out to be incorrect, though. [if he had enough hair for a dramatic hairflip one would be happening right now]
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I'll be holding you to that. And it'll be hard matching the send-off you gave me, but I'll do my best. Perhaps I can throw Holden or Sharon onto the funeral pyre with you. Though really, I'm getting quite tired of these towns. You can come visit my city once this is over and finally soak yourself in actual fashion and style rather than these eyesores.
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Throw them both if you can manage it. That little cretin tried to have me killed the night Elliot Nightray died. [BACK TO HOLDING A GRUDGE] But really, any farewell would be good enough. I trust your taste. I would very much like to visit your city if the chance were to present itself, though. I'm so tired of fifties decor and creepy cabins, you know? I promise I won't make a mess of things.
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[giggles at that] Ah yes, so I overheard. What an unlikely savior you had there. It seems like the nations hold a certain fondness for you even outside of Mayfield, hmm? I do hope Shibuya won't be disappointing, even if it's no England or Spain. And compared to certain other people who like to defile her with their terrible graffiti, you'll always be welcome there. [oh no is this genuine sentimentality coming through here...?]
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Isn't that an unusual stroke of luck? I'm still angry I wasted two nights protecting hunters, though. [IT'S A TRAGEDY] At least their affection is good for something.
[but oh, that does indeed sound like a peak of genuine sentimentality!! even he can (kind of) recognize it, socially inept as he is.] I can't say that my experiences in Japan have been stellar so far, but I'll visit when I can and treat your city well. Consider the offer extended in kind, of course. Hanoi is actually a lovely place to be, you know? I complain about it at times, but I'd host you well if you decided to visit.
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There there, don't beat yourself up too much over it. You still did far better than our other protective roles. I still want to meet the elusive Elliot Nightray and find out how exactly he messed it up so badly that his role got passed on to one of the least likely candidates who'd use it. [NO OFFENSE CHARLES...]
We'll simply have to create new experiences for you in that case, won't we? Of course, any time spent with me will be stellar. [flirtatious hair-flick this time yes he has many different types] And I may just take you up on that, though I admit that traveling is not going to be in my plans in the near future based off how well this little trip went.
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also he does not take offense to that at all since he is in complete agreement.] I'd like to think so, but beating them wouldn't have been too difficult considering one was America and the other was the convert. As for the Nightray child, I'm almost glad I wasn't given the opportunity to meet him. He put a lot on my shoulders by dying and leaving that miserable role to me, you know?
[oh boy he is just going through every hair flip and flick in the book this conversation...! but he smiles at that, and it's not quite as flippant as his usual ones.] I'll hold you to it, then - not that I have any doubt that you speak the truth. If you find yourself unwilling to travel in a way that might wind you up here again, just give me a bell and I'll send a helicopter for you. How's that? [#chevalierlyfe]
1/2
2/2
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I suppose we're meant to watch and reflect on our actions of not trusting our killers more. Though it seems like a waste of a lesson to me - some of us may have been targeted due to actively trying to hunt down the wolves, but others simply had bad luck when it came to roles or whatever else led them to make their decision. Still, it's strange...by all accounts, it seems like the hunters winning would have been the ideal ending, so why the last clue?
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Do you really think that might be the moral? I'm still having a little bit of trouble accepting that if the prey collective stayed passive, wolf victory would've brought everyone back to life - that is, after they've killed enough preys in gruesome ways to outnumber. Critter did say this is a game 'good for humans to play', but in the end, what's it trying to prove? That phonecall about the 'choice' is still an enigma, but Critter did just announce that the living prey may choose to simply walk away and leave this place in its entirety behind for good. A quiet and anticlimactic exit, while selfish, wouldn't warrant what we've heard on that line the other day - unless leaving here doesn't guarantee anyone's safety and something terrible is simply camping outside, I suppose, but that's really gloomy, isn't it?
[cups her chin...]
We're definitely at the cusp of this 'bonus level' you mentioned, but there has to be more to it still. That message on the blackboard spelled out 'the hunters must be stopped', correct? I'm reminded of Charles' question when it asked Critter just who the hunters are. They may be wolf, but at this point, they can't be JUST wolves, not if wolf victory would've assured everyone's survival.
[a beat.]
It's unlikely that message was cautioning against bringing the wolves back, is it? How feasible do you think it is, that the true 'hunters' are akin to a final boss we've yet to encounter?
[it's that or they're all hunters, in her opinion, but how do you stop 'everyone'? ...something definitely isn't adding up.]
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Hehe, the sentiment is mutual. Though I wouldn't mind stopping by your world first too, just to take a quick look. You're welcome to follow me back also, of course, even if either cases are rather unlikely!
[yeah let's just make post-hg plans across other places
SURELY THIS'LL END WELL??]
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What? No. No. You aren't allowed into my world and I certainly don't wish to visit yours from what I've heard of it.
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Oh, it's not so bad. You'll feel right at home! Unless you'd truly prefer another creepy down after this one with no breaks in-between?
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And that isn't much of a choice at all, is it? Why can't "return to your own world for a nice long break" be an option?
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That's because I won't be getting a break, silly. I'd just be going back to resume work and continue hunting. At least it would be a lot less convoluted than this game, and I'm sure you'll find it refreshing if you accompany me on a job someday!
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Unlike you, I would be getting a break, so I'd actually still like to leave all of these rubbish options behind. Not even helping you with your work is enough to tempt me.