and it takes, and it takes, and it takes

[acherontiastyx]

[It... definitely takes a while for the weekly after-execution note to arrive, but it does --- kind of scrawly and on ripped paper rather than nice stationery.]

EY. YO. WE GOT EFFIGIES IN THE DINING ROOM AND WE'RE GONNA BURN EM.

FOOD TOO. THE USUAL AND HOT COCOA. GOOD FOR THE SOUL. GET SOME. MAYBE TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR ROOM IF YOU HAVE TO. JUST GET SOME.

[Anyway, in the dining room, there's plenty of mugs set out, with a janky looking arrow sign pointing into the kitchen to where you can get your hot cocoa. On the table, there's Vichyssoise, a pot of green tea, and some booze. There's also a cookie tray on the floor away from the table on which to burn the Wordsmith and Kimbley effigies, which are handily placed near the food on the table.

...also if you go in the kitchen without shoes on just. Watch the northern corner. There's no kidneys, but there's a lot of broken plates there for some reason...]

Comments

[acherontiastyx]

...I mean, define okay. I guess not currently melting down is something.

[firstaid]

[Okay, so that was a really dumb question given the state of things. It just happened to be a standard one to ask.]

I suppose so.

[She sighs.]

No one is 'okay' right now.

[acherontiastyx]

...yeah.

[He sighs.]

I mean, the whole thing last week was... easier, in the end. Like, someone decent still died and it was messed up, but you didn't have to feel bad voting for someone. Heck, I would've even liked to take him down myself, if I could.

[firstaid]

Last week was definitely easier, in that sense. This week, I really do feel that we sent a good person to his death.

[Just like with Alani. This place is driving good people to do awful things.]

I had hoped that we would stop this killing when we realized what was going on, but it seems that the Wordsmith has a way to affect someone greatly each week thus far.

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, pretty much. I mean, even if they say they were looking to kill someone, I'm pretty sure whey would've wimped out before we actually all died, even if we didn't figure them out. They couldn't even handle killing the guy who...

[...now that he's cooled down a bit, he's not sure if "deserved it" is the right word here. hmmm.]

...well, you know. But yeah. It's screwed up, man. I totally get why people wanna go for his rewards, even if I believe he was way more likely to deliver on last week's little carrot and stick than any of the "rewards."

[firstaid]

Yeah, it's clear that people really want them. They're... willing to do whatever it takes to achieve them, regardless of whether or not the Wordsmith will give them the reward or not.

[And it's awful. She never ever thought Gold and Silver would go for it.]

And there's no real way to make it stop. I'm... terrified what the Wordsmith will offer next as an incentive.

[acherontiastyx]

Well, if someone's desperate enough for something, they'll do whatever they can to get at it, no matter how stupid it is. I'm pretty sure one of my grunts was in the hospital for a month after he took a Hyper Beam to the chest for five bucks.

[firstaid]

That... is very true.

[She'd laugh at that story if it weren't for the severity of the situation right now.]

Every week, someone is willing to kill for the reasons given. We all wish we could be stronger than that, but every week, there's one person. Just one person-- [This week, technically two.] --and that's all it takes.

[acherontiastyx]

...I was hoping we could avoid it in the first week, even. It's just "go home or stay here." Like... it was all us versus him, right? And... even if we're a ragtag bunch of misfits, if we're on the same team, we can at least not kill each other all the time.

That's what I thought, anyway. I guess it sounds all cheesy and Pollyanna now, though, huh.

[firstaid]

Same here, but someone was willing to kill just to get back home.

[She pauses for a bit.] And... I do hope we are on the same time. Yet... every week... every week! So you're right. What we initially thought isn't... isn't working and won't happen.

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah. It just... keeps happening like friggin' clockwork, and the fact that the Wordsmith has people killed for the stupidest possible reasons doesn't help, either. This week sucked.

[firstaid]

It... it really did. I want to keep fighting, yet I keep thinking it may be fruitless.

[acherontiastyx]

...yeah. I can't say that I'm not, like, genuinely wondering if anyone will get outta this mess alive.

...but I mean, if we give up, it's guaranteed we'll all die. So I'll take "probably" over "definitely" any day when it comes to stuff like this.

[firstaid]

[Varric was telling her the same thing.]

Yes, that would be correct. 'Probably' dying is better than 'definitely' dying.

So... for that reason we should try to keep fighting, I suppose.

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah. I mean, there's gotta be something we're missing... but heck if I know what it is. I'm not cut out for this detective stuff.

[firstaid]

Perhaps someone will figure it out. I truly hope so. This can't just be a cruel game to... satisfy someone's desire.

[acherontiastyx]

...I mean, it probably can. Even if there's some deeper motivation going on here, it's not gonna stop me from punching the Wordsmith's face in whenever I get the chance.

[firstaid]

[That actually manages to get a giggle out of her.]

I'm sure you won't be the only one to wish to do that.

[acherontiastyx]

Oh, I know. We'll probably all need to queue up or something like we're waiting to get into the new hit blockbuster.

[firstaid]

I suppose I shouldn't lie, I do wish to get into that line.

[She's not a violent girl, but holy shit, when someone makes her upset...]

[acherontiastyx]

Well. Ladies first, I guess.

[firstaid]

I suppose I wouldn't mind taking the first punch.

[She actually smiles a bit...]

This sort of reminds me when you told me to punch you.

[She still won't punch him.]

[acherontiastyx]

Well, yeah. But I think there's a difference between a friendly punch to the shoulder and punching someone's face in, you know?

...

You still wouldn't do the former, though, would you.

[firstaid]

Well, even I don't think it would be a very friendly punch from me.

[She thinks...]

However, I still have no inclination to punch you.

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, alright, I figured. Just figure I'd ask.