guiltrip | WEEK ONE, SATURDAY

INVESTIGATION(?)

Exciting night, no? Were you able to get to sleep, or did you stay up into the wee hours, seeing that far-off shimmer near the gazebos and listening to the rising rumble of whatever-that-is and wondering when it would come for you?

At least, when dawn finally comes and the shimmer is overcome by the rising light of the sun, it seems that last night wasn't the end. For you.

Instead, once it's morning proper, there's a shift -- like the breeze and the smell after a bout of sudden summer thunderstorm without the storm: the pressure and the oppressive atmosphere of yesterday is gone, just like that. But also: accompanying it a few seconds later is a clean whipcrack of sound, like giant hands clapping together. And a moment after that, you'll feel something pass overhead -- you won't be able to see anything, but anyone outside at the time will find themselves staggered by what seems to be a small shockwave spreading throughout the island.

That's not the only change that awaits you this morning, however.

You might want to get out of bed, if you haven't already, and take a proper look around.

(( OOC: Welcome to our peace week Saturday event, islanders! Please note that this will be run similarly to a normal investigation, but will not be a full investigation. As such, everyone is welcome to explore for the first part of the event, and then we will take a limited amount of people for the second half, investigation-style. ))

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[His eyes are glowing as he approaches...]

It's just nonsense they threw in to make it better for them. Does anyone really think to take it seriously? "Perks for getting away with it"? Give me a break.

Regardless of whether the rewards are real, or even whether anyone acts on the assumption that they are, it seems that lives are also put at risk if we all simply look the other way.

If someone did not kill for the sake of a reward, they may do it for the sake of the majority of the people on this island, if they are of the mind that the lives of many outweigh the lives of two.

I wouldn't even go so far as to say for the sake of the majority. It's purely for themselves. If we do not act, it's likely that they will choose two at random, or perhaps whomever they feel like disposing of.

Exactly.

We need to kill the source. If we just buy into this and kill one another, that's just allowing us to be pawns to their game.

I do not disagree, but what is the source you intend to kill?

Those two idiots on the network.

They are not on this island. Our priority would have to be leaving this island, which might already solve our problem in itself.

Tch. Is that what they told you?

[He doesn't seem to believe it.]

I didn't ask so much as gleaned it from an off-hand statement. If that was manipulation, it was at least finely tuned.

And what was the statement, exactly?

We were talking about video games. Rapt0r said he'd prefer playing them with me to telling me about them, but 'that island you're on has nothing'.

He himself is playing, of course. We've heard him talk about it numerous times.

If this is true, their lives aren't even at stake here. This is literally to keep the island afloat.

[He sounds very, very annoyed.]

I assume there is something on this island or about this island that they still need, regardless of their physical location.

They are stuck here as well, after all. If not on this island, then in this world.

At least they're not the ones dealing with the immediate fallout of the island collapsing.

[ deadpan. ]

Unless that you're saying that Merlin's death was altruism on their part.

That would be a very cynical thing to say.

(no subject)

finalmix - 2023-05-21 14:58 (UTC) - Expand

When you say they're playing, does this mean they can also be targets?

... oh.

Oh no, my goodness! I meant video games! He has those available.

Oh.

[ugh]

He needs to spend less time playing games and more time taking things seriously. Typical NEET things.

[HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT NEET IT]

[ nods ]

Even if they were, we would need to know how to leave the island. It would not solve our problem if we were to kill them and remain stranded in a rapidly deteriorating land.

Wait, if that's true, then where are they?

I'd rather like to know myself, but I doubt we'd get a straight-forward answer.

If we want to find an alternate path, we have one week to set it in motion before we enter a state of emergency. Merlin has bought us that time, even if inadvertently.

And I am in agreement that we should focus our energies towards this. As soon as one of us bloodies their hands... Will we be able to stand united? Will we be able to continue working at the height of our power, when we will be stuck watching our backs?

It will be an incredible test of morale, that is certain. I wouldn't fault anyone for their doubt, should yet more blood be spilled.

However, if we are able to withstand it, we will learn more. There is an end to this.

I would put someone acting out of selfish fear in a similar category as the one doing it for a tangible reward, as their own survival is the killer's ultimate end goal in either.

I mean to say that there is also a potential moral argument to be made, if a killer were to confess and offer themselves as the second sacrifice.

As to whether that argument is truly valid, I do not think I am qualified to judge.

So that ropes in people who might kill just to make sure it's not their friends who get put on the chopping block?