WEEK 6

[umbralant]

WEEK 6

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Five weeks. It's been five weeks, and twenty-seven has now dwindled down to eleven. And while only two passed this week, this trial may have been the most devastating in its own way, as threads of patience frayed and fragments of trust fractured. Nevertheless, if The Lady is to be believed, that may very well have been the final set of sacrifices that she was waiting for, so perhaps the end is in sight.

Of course, the fact that everyone is still stuck in Krakow means that it's not over yet, and who even knows what's happening over in the Twilight?

And so, some more changes are in store for this week, even if it may not be the same ones that you've gotten used to. For one thing, the fog stays put and no new areas of the city are revealed under the light of the lampposts. Secondly, The Lady is nowhere to be found in the city, with her bookstore office vacated and abandoned with nary a trace as to where she went. And third, the clock tower will no longer operate, which-- well. Actually that's not new at all, but it certainly may make it difficult to keep up with the facade of passing days. At least the moon still serves as a reminder of that, gibbous phase waxing into something fuller over the course of the week even if the color looks a bit off.

It may not be a fresh new start, but it's not time to give up yet, is it? After all, you are all Survivors.

[[Welcome to Week 6! Note that there are no new locations this week, but feel free to make top levels at your discretion, and remember to note it in your header if you plan on investigating any locations. As alluded above, The Lady will be unavailable, while Rembrandt will still be around on Monday and Tuesday before disappearing for the rest of the week.]]

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Comments

[inordertobelieve]

It's really not.

[ He shakes his head lightly, though really, he doesn't sound particularly judgmental anymore. He's feeling it, he'll always be feeling it, but they both know as much and it's a waste of effort to act it out. ]

I suppose that's what I'll be there for from now on.

[drydrown]

[...Ah.

It's still an idea he's getting used to, honestly, though it isn't an unwelcome one; he just...takes a moment, that's all.]

Yes, well. The chance to do anything of the sort isn't something I offer most people. Be honored.

[inordertobelieve]

[ How haughty. ]

I certainly consider myself fortunate.

[ That is not the SAME as honored, but honored is. Not a word he wants to use. To honor him you'd have to have honor and the jury is just sort of out on this aspect.

Though this brings up the whole topic complex from yesterday that he has significantly calmed down about on some level and then really not on another (thanks Iago). ]

The way we spoke about this yesterday was... a bit disordered. [ Emotional. ] But I truly appreciate everything you said. I'm... looking forward to it, really. I suppose this all belatedly answered your question about what it is I want from you, too.

[drydrown]

It's as you said to me, admittedly - you're not going to get your way all the time, either. And I've told you multiple times that I'm going to disappoint you. As long as you know all of that, I don't foresee this going too poorly.

[Maybe that's short-sighted. He doesn't really care.]

As much as I love making all the decisions and telling people what to do, you're going to be expected to tell me what you want at least once in a while.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Mikami isn't sure how he foresees this going if he thinks about it realistically but it's definitely somewhere along the lines of 'better than any of the alternatives' and that's good enough. ]

I will. What I was lacking was perspective. Knowing there is a future at all makes it far easier to... be a person, as you would put it.

[ He's really regaining his stability here and it'd be kind of a shame if they all got killed by the Lady now for that reason alone already. ]

For the record, everything you outlined... I liked those ideas.

[drydrown]

Well. I would hope so.

[Seeing as it is what Mikami agreed to and all.]

[inordertobelieve]

......

[ Looking slightly annoyed: ] You want me to state desires, I have to start somewhere.

[ EVEN IF IT'S RE-INVENTING THE WHEEL. ]

[drydrown]

I know, I know.

[It's fine, probably.]

You're cute.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Well. That earns a facial journey that can only be described as '...!!'

And just like that the whole 'Iago said' issue is crashing down on him again and they were doing so well here, too!! ]

That's... not a descriptor I would have expected.

[drydrown]

Oh...?

[...you okay there, buddy]

[inordertobelieve]

[ Don't just stand there and prompt more conversation, that's his game plan and he doesn't have a second one! (Though maybe it is good that the route is taken because usually it goes poorly. Mikami is realizing he really may be having some lack of experience in the social area.)

Okay. Let's try for... ]

People do not tend to describe grown men as such.

[ No, this is besides the point, next attempt. ]

However, I'm also... [ Ugh, no. ] ... uncertain. On a few things.

[drydrown]

Are you...?

Well, you're welcome to ask, I suppose?

[inordertobelieve]

[ Cumore haven't you learned that this is how all the truly awful conversations start. ]

... I assume I am not the only one who Iago has been holding meddlesome conversations with.

[ LAYING THE GROUNDWORK. ]

[drydrown]

Oh, positively not-

[...wait.]

What did he say.

[inordertobelieve]

[ The utter indignation over Iago's actions is at least reletable, that's good. Laying out common ground!! ]

Do you want a list or...?

[drydrown]

...Start with whatever he said that inspired all of this and we'll see if I want a list after the fact.

[inordertobelieve]

[ He wants to ask if he wants the thing that was chronologically first or the thing that was the worst but that's stalling and he's not ridiculous enough for it. ]

He expressed his desire for us to be happy in your world in... certain wordings. Truthfully, he just acted very like he knows something we do not and it's... I feel like if there are implications they should be talked about.

[ This is not actually a good and concise statement but shh. ]

[drydrown]

...I see.

[He says, in a way that strongly indicates that he does not in fact see.]

Do you consider there to be implications, Teru Mikami?

[inordertobelieve]

[ He knows this face and the way that last time this did not lead to any kind of efficient conversation. He can also feel Iago laughing in the background of this scene like some creepy ghost and that's just making him kind of mad.

... which is oddly motivating. No making imaginary Iago laugh!]

It's not about whether or not I consider them to be there, it's about if they are. That's the first step I want to verify.

[drydrown]

Then ask me directly, if you want to know so badly.

[Come on, Mikami, aren't you into the whole unambiguous discussion thing?]

[inordertobelieve]

[ God, this sucks. He's basically pacing up and down between all the murder flowerbeds now. More movement, less eye contact, more... something. ]

Iago strongly implied, no, outright stated, that your interest in me from all the way back at that accursed first party game is in fact standing. If he was messing with me, I would like to know now, so I can put my mind at rest. If not, I would equally like to know.

[drydrown]

[Okay. First of all, he strongly doubts Iago said anything to the effect of HEY SO YOU KNOW HOW CUMORE WAS TOTALLY COOL WITH THE IDEA OF FUCKING YOU

...secondly oh my god what the fuck is this.]

Don't you think this is a bit much just to get someone into bed?

[inordertobelieve]

[ This is where he just kind of deflates and looks so embarrassed that it might equal him being in physical pain. ]

Nobody said just! This isn't--- This doesn't negate anything previously discussed, I just appreciate clarity and your friend is a horrible gossip!

[drydrown]

Yes, I'm aware!

[Ohhhh my god. He can't even do anything with his hands because he's handling plants full of poison, fuck his life.]

I'm not considering any possibilities too deeply right now. That includes whatever we're considering this. You want to know...what. If we're seeing each other now? I don't know. I haven't thought about it.

[inordertobelieve]

[ The option of simply already being in a state of seeing one another had yet to cross Mikami's mind and it's dropping him straight into what feels like a parallel universe. Yes, he did agree to basically spend his life with Cumore and accept considerable favors from him in exchange for counsel and company, but does that... oh god. What does that mean?

The idea of having unwittingly gotten into a relationship that neither of them knows is one is...... certainly present now. Do relationships even work that way? He didn't read the manual and he actually did read most manuals he encountered in his life simply because that's the kind of person he is. ]

That's-- That's... really all I wanted to know.

[ Because he hadn't known there were any options and he probably should have. ]

I don't know what to do with this either, just... I don't want to have discussed this, involuntarily, with a third party and not you.