WEEK 1

[whimsicalism]

Well! That was some tea party, huh? You've finally seen the faces (or perhaps the singular is more proper here?) of your captors. A pair of creepy twins seem to fit the overall theme of the Castle at least. Why not have Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum, after all?

Regardless, it doesn't seem that they're changing their minds any time soon. The first floor of the Castle is still open up to you. The Audience Hall is still locked most of the time so perhaps you can meet the Alices there if you need to. There are plenty of things to occupy your time before the inevitable slow erosion of your memories. If this is a game, who will make the first move? You or the twins?

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday

((OOC: Welcome to peace week! There will be no case this week so just have fun and explore. If you want to investigate please put Investigation in your top level. Don't forget to put threads in for regains or go to the Audience Hall to meet the Alices.

Also, if you want to keep up to date on things we now have a discord server!))

Comments

[prescience]

That rules us a source of magic out, then. Unless, perhaps, that's the fate of those who lose the game.

[The prospect is a little terrifying, isn't it? Going by Manaka's words, that would mean hundreds our thousands of "losers" supplying their life force.]

Yes, that's the risk we must decide on, and it will trickle down to the rest of our actions. Personally, I believe it is always preferable to be free first and handle the rest later. What do you think?

[immaculacies]

...I don't know. I've never had to make that choice before.

[ Manaka breaths out a soft sigh, and for a moment, her expression looks tired. ]

Whatever happens doesn't make much difference to me. I'll leave that question for the rest of you, and follow whatever decision the group decides on.

[prescience]

[Manaka briefly looks as tired as Oriko remembers feeling sometimes.

Her brows draw together into a concerned expression. It's a huge change in energy from a significant portion of the meeting.]

Why is that, exactly?

[immaculacies]

Does it make a difference? It is what it is.

[prescience]

I suppose it makes a world of difference, given that you're so far the only one I've spoken to who has any idea what these forces are.

[There is, perhaps, the smallest of implied suspicions there in Oriko's voice: Does Manaka want them to begin to suspect some deeper involvement?]

You're helping us by providing this information. I should think we'd want to help you in turn.

[immaculacies]

There's nothing to help. [ Manaka doesn't sound like she's digging her heels in; it's a simple statement of face. ] I'm not hiding anything from you. They and I just didn't take part in the same Holy Grail War. Whatever happened in mine is irrelevant to what has happened here.

[prescience]

I see. That much doesn't surprise me.

[She never believed the implication; Oriko had just wondered if the power of suggestion might elicit something else.]

I'm surprised that it doesn't matter to you how we try to overcome the challenges of this game, though. There isn't anything you're worried about returning to?

[immaculacies]

It makes just as much sense for me to ask you the same sort of thing, you know. What is it that you're so concerned with, Mikuni-san?

[prescience]

[She gives her a little smile, as if agreeing that it does make sense.]

I would like to avoid the worst outcome for everyone here, and I believe that ending the "game" early through the best possible solution is how I want to achieve that.

Or are you asking about something else?

[immaculacies]

I'm saying that if you're going to ask about someone's personal circumstances, you should be prepared to answer about the same. What is it you want to go back to?

[ She means the question rhetorically, for the moment. ]

[prescience]

[Does she? Oriko has to doubt that intention, at least for a little bit.]

And if I told you that I have already achieved all I intended to?

[immaculacies]

Then I would say that I've done the same. There isn't anything I need to get back to, so however things turn out, it doesn't make much difference to me.

[prescience]

[Just a little, tiny, marginal widening of her smile. Perhaps they have an understanding?]

But for me, it is important to right things for everyone who is here now...and everyone who was here before us.

So, for the sake of that end, it would still matter to me.

[immaculacies]

That's why I'll leave the decisions on how to proceed to you.