WEEK 6

[whimsicalism]

Only one of your group died last week but the castle feels empty somehow. Whatever your thoughts on Alice were she did seem to curb the Cat's--no, the Storyteller's--impulses somewhat. Even if the Storyteller gave an end date for the game there seems to be a sinister air around the castle now. There's an area for the adventurous, at least?

Still, it likely won't help heal the wounds from last week... though, apparently, the Storyteller has decided to refill the library.

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

[Hello to week six, the last normal week before endgame! Don't forget to lose a memory. There's no AC this week! You can find the Storyteller at the audience chamber if you really want. As always you can turn in your threads for fabulous prizes!]

Comments

[whimsicalism]

Like hell you didn't do anything! You're the Storyteller, aren'tcha? You--you made me forget Erika! I mean, Oriko! Gah--! Just hold still you stupid brat!

[There are clanging noises as something keeps striking the teacup. Something sharp judging by the new scratches.]

Stop! I'm not the Storyteller! I'm not, I'm not!

[Kirika suddenly lets out a grunt of pain. A combat knife falls to the bottom of the teacup and then is picked up again.]

J-just, leave me alone! We don't have to do anything right now--!

[The other voice snarls as Kirika yells:]

Like hell!

[There's a sick wet noise as blood begins to drip down on the floor as Kirika's voice stutters. Alice is crying.] You damn doll--! You... I'm not going to let you get away!

[xxxx_me]

[...Well, at least she fought back. He'll continue to observe.]

[whimsicalism]

[There seems to be a good reason that Oriko killed her unawares even without the Cat. The teacup door opens as Alice struggles to leave. She screams as there's a thud.]

Not so fast, Alice!

[She struggles away from the dying Kirika but there's a sickening thud as the door slams. A sickening crunch and white dust puffs out from the teacup door.]

Just--I'm takin' you with me!

[Alice's sobs continue as the door slams again and again and again. There's no more voices as both girls drift into unconsciousness and die.

The fate of the previous round has been found.]

[xxxx_me]

[...

Well, he now has some good guesses as to why Alice didn't remember all that.

Anything else worth poking at, or are we clear?]

[whimsicalism]

[You're clear.]

[imozon]

[Because of course it bleeds.

Monkey can't grab her if its ARMS HAVE BEEN AMPUTATED! Let's cut off some limbs!]

[whimsicalism]

[The monkey is defeated! And you've established dominance. While the other animals might attack someone else they're really scared of you now.

You've cleared this area. Er? Passed this challenge?]

[imozon]

[Ha! That's right, weird murder plushies. There's a new top monkey in town.

...

Is the old top monkey still bleeding? She feels like it might be a good idea to bring its head to the next meeting or something and she'd like it if it wasn't still bleeding.]

[whimsicalism]

[It's not! And maybe 'bleeding' isn't the right word...

It doesn't seem to be actual blood. It looks more like... jam? Weird monster blood. It might actually taste like jam, too.]

[strictura]

[ Does it seem like it's connected to the pirate level somehow, or...? ]

[strictura]

[ He does not at all understand the logistics of that... it's probably metaphorical, right? Like, you pick someone to sacrifice and then the rest can wake up from the Dream, maybe? ]

Was it like the trials here where you'd vote for someone?

[whimsicalism]

[It does! There were barrels on the deck of the Unicorn, actually.]

[xxxx_me]

[He takes the tape, but he actually... relaxes a little?]

That's it?

Re: MOTIVE

[seventhlittlemonster]

[He had come out of his room for the first time all week just to hear this.

He knew he couldn't ignore the motive this time like he could with last week's.

...Silently, he turned and left.]

[whimsicalism]

Watch it first.

[xxxx_me]

[He just smiles a little, sad.]

I don't think it matters if anyone can remember me anymore.

[strictura]

[ ...If he throws a mushroom cookie in there and then goes to look in those barrels on the ship later, will there be a cookie in one of them? ]

[whimsicalism]

I wonder if everyone will think like that. I don't think they will.

[xxxx_me]

Probably not.

[strictura]

[ Nagisa picks up his tape with a frown -- there's probably not any doubt who it's going to show him this time -- wondering how she even got these. How far can you really stretch "magic" as an explanation? ]

You don't think she'd be disappointed in you for acting like this?

[octopups]

[For the first time in two weeks, Amdi does not appear to have any particularly strong reaction to this motive. He calmly trots up and takes his tape in one mouth, then carries it back to the main volume of kids.]

[Then, with coordinated, patient jaws, he cracks off the movable flap at the front of the cassette and methodically begins pulling out the reeled tape itself, meter by meter.]

[xxxx_me]

[He shakes his head.]

No. I think the only ones who can pick are me or Teacher. The others are... [... I don't think they can do anything anymore.

I'm the one with the key, though.

potential ai spoilers in replies

[ballooncaged]

[Mizuki takes the tape to the media room along with a big meaty plate of sushi she's snacking on. Her video is about a man driving around, talking to himself, narrating an exploration of a dream world, letting off terrible puns, and having apparent memory issues.]

What an idiot. He couldn't remember how to write my name if he tried. Look, now he's gonna stare at something until it gives him clues again.

Re: MOTIVE

[imozon]

[...

Dark Dream puts her tape back on the table.]

Do you have to do it like this?

"investigation" and also not

[imozon]

open

[So that sure was a motive.

Dark Dream wanders off, not really paying attention to where she's going, and she might end up pretty much anywhere. If and when she runs into anyone, she just has one question for them:]

Hey. Do you think you'll remember me later?

[Well, never accuse her of being too private about her feelings.]

investigation-ish

[Eventually she ends up in the hall of mirrors, where she stares at her own reflection and, after a moment, presses her hand against the glass. She's not expecting anything to happen, but it still feels like it should, even after all this time.]