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theafflicted2022-06-11 05:38 am
afflictionmods) wrote in theafflicted2022-06-11 05:38 am
03.50 - week three, saturday
W3 SATURDAY
Another Saturday rolls around. Some of you had an… interesting night, perhaps, but that’s still no excuse to sit out on your lessons. There’s another announcement, another time to meet before your lessons start today. This time is just a bit different, though. This time you’re not meeting up at campus. You’re told to meet up at the park in the Museum District - and, as always, you’re expected to show up. How you get there is irrelevant, but you better try to be on time.
Florence is waiting at the park, and behind them is another dark, ominous orb. Even as far away as you are, you can hear its whispers. It’s calling to you with promises it can show you a new life, a better life, it can make you someone better… But then Florence is speaking, as if they cannot feel the hear the whispers.
“I will be accompanying you on this lesson, as I said in the brochure I handed out on Thursday. I will do my best to assist you.” There is a pause, though their face voice remains emotionless. “It is hard to say what it will be like inside - however, your goal for this lesson is to close this place for good. I may be unable to assist with that personally, so we are relying on you.”
They take a step back, turning towards the orb.
“I would advise you to do what is asked of you while you are in there - and a word of warning. Through our observations, we have noticed something strange. This seems capable of creating replications of those who enter it.” They let that information hang for a moment, before continuing. “We are unsure what these replications are truly capable of, but please be careful.”
Then Florence gestures for you to follow, and they’re stepping into the orb.
Florence is waiting at the park, and behind them is another dark, ominous orb. Even as far away as you are, you can hear its whispers. It’s calling to you with promises it can show you a new life, a better life, it can make you someone better… But then Florence is speaking, as if they cannot feel the hear the whispers.
“I will be accompanying you on this lesson, as I said in the brochure I handed out on Thursday. I will do my best to assist you.” There is a pause, though their face voice remains emotionless. “It is hard to say what it will be like inside - however, your goal for this lesson is to close this place for good. I may be unable to assist with that personally, so we are relying on you.”
They take a step back, turning towards the orb.
“I would advise you to do what is asked of you while you are in there - and a word of warning. Through our observations, we have noticed something strange. This seems capable of creating replications of those who enter it.” They let that information hang for a moment, before continuing. “We are unsure what these replications are truly capable of, but please be careful.”
Then Florence gestures for you to follow, and they’re stepping into the orb.
THE RINGMASTER
The inside is still the same park, but it has been transformed into a carnival. There are booths with games and food set up everywhere, a large ferris wheel, a tent. It will be a familiar carnival, to some of you, but all the lights are off and there are no people there. There’s a tug, a pull, that draws you towards the main tent - to center stage. Stepping inside you will be greeted by someone dressed as a ringmaster, whose voice is lively and energetic despite how hollow they seem on the outside:
“Hello and welcome! It’s time for your performance! And every good performer wants to do what the people want, don’t they? There’s a list on those little tablets of yours, and you need to do whatever’s asked of you!”
The ringmaster laughs brightly, and it echoes throughout the tent. “The more you do, the more we’ll all enjoy it, and the better chance you will get to stay you! But if you refuse… Well, that won’t be any good, right?”
The ringmaster makes a wide, sweeping gesture with their cane.
“We’re very generous here, though, and realize some things are easier to do with others! That’s why one refusal won’t be an instant loss. We’re assigning task cards, you see. Kinda like bingo cards! Each time you do a task for someone or someone does one for you, you get 50 points! The more you do, the higher the score, and once you reach 200 points, you're capped! But every time you refuse to do something people ask you to do, even if you're at 200 points… you lose 100 points ! And if you don’t do anything, well, you get no points and you lose automatically! You also can’t just sit around doing the same thing with the same person over and over again! Gotta spice it up! The same thing over and over again is just boring.”
There’s a click, and noise starts up outside of the tent. It sounds like the carnival’s come alive.
“Your little tablets will track your points. I really do recommend playing along, because if you fail… You’ll lose something. Something that makes you you! A memory, a precious item, something that makes you who you are and can’t be replaced so easily… Who knows what’s at risk, here! Though who am I kidding, it might be more fun to see what you'll lose. Don't ya think? Maybe you should just give up now and we can all laugh about it!
Anyways, all you gotta do is live until the timer runs out. The timer, by the way, is gonna be at the top of your tablet thingamajigs.”
There’s a tip of the ringmaster’s hat. The timer reads 90 minutes.
“That’s all for now! Go find that pesky little robot who’s been snooping around if you want more answers, because I am very busy.”
“Hello and welcome! It’s time for your performance! And every good performer wants to do what the people want, don’t they? There’s a list on those little tablets of yours, and you need to do whatever’s asked of you!”
The ringmaster laughs brightly, and it echoes throughout the tent. “The more you do, the more we’ll all enjoy it, and the better chance you will get to stay you! But if you refuse… Well, that won’t be any good, right?”
The ringmaster makes a wide, sweeping gesture with their cane.
“We’re very generous here, though, and realize some things are easier to do with others! That’s why one refusal won’t be an instant loss. We’re assigning task cards, you see. Kinda like bingo cards! Each time you do a task for someone or someone does one for you, you get 50 points! The more you do, the higher the score, and once you reach 200 points, you're capped! But every time you refuse to do something people ask you to do, even if you're at 200 points… you lose 100 points ! And if you don’t do anything, well, you get no points and you lose automatically! You also can’t just sit around doing the same thing with the same person over and over again! Gotta spice it up! The same thing over and over again is just boring.”
There’s a click, and noise starts up outside of the tent. It sounds like the carnival’s come alive.
“Your little tablets will track your points. I really do recommend playing along, because if you fail… You’ll lose something. Something that makes you you! A memory, a precious item, something that makes you who you are and can’t be replaced so easily… Who knows what’s at risk, here! Though who am I kidding, it might be more fun to see what you'll lose. Don't ya think? Maybe you should just give up now and we can all laugh about it!
Anyways, all you gotta do is live until the timer runs out. The timer, by the way, is gonna be at the top of your tablet thingamajigs.”
There’s a tip of the ringmaster’s hat. The timer reads 90 minutes.
“That’s all for now! Go find that pesky little robot who’s been snooping around if you want more answers, because I am very busy.”
THE AUDIENCE
Once the ringmaster’s done with their speech, you’re free to travel around the carnival and explore it. It’s an eerie, quiet place, but… you’re not alone, and it won’t take you long to realize that. Those of you who had seen this carnival before - Miach, Shinei, Herlock, and Xingqiu - probably won’t be surprised when the doubles show up. They’re near perfect recreations of you - but near perfect doesn’t mean perfect. Their mannerisms might be odd, or their movements might be jerky and uncanny… but at a glance, it’s impossible to tell who is the real one and who isn’t.
And this is something that makes these doubles very, very angry.
They want you to fail, and they’ll do anything they can to ensure that happens. They’ll sabotage you - or your partner - all in an effort to make you lose points. They'll taunt you if it seems like you're ready to open up, they'll tell you about all the reasons why being honest is a bad idea. For physical prompts, they'll taunt you, call you a monster... They also seem to believe that if you fail, they’ll get to replace you. They will get a chance to get out of here and be the real one. They’re not always convincing, but they are dangerous, and there’s just as many of them as there are of you.
And this is something that makes these doubles very, very angry.
They want you to fail, and they’ll do anything they can to ensure that happens. They’ll sabotage you - or your partner - all in an effort to make you lose points. They'll taunt you if it seems like you're ready to open up, they'll tell you about all the reasons why being honest is a bad idea. For physical prompts, they'll taunt you, call you a monster... They also seem to believe that if you fail, they’ll get to replace you. They will get a chance to get out of here and be the real one. They’re not always convincing, but they are dangerous, and there’s just as many of them as there are of you.
OOC NOTES
OOC: Here are some important things to note for today’s event:
- A simple breakdown of the rules is as follows:
- The cards know, meaning that they'll know if something is not answered earnestly. Prompts that are answered falsely will not go away on your tablets. They will only go away if they are answered truthfully.
- Failure is NOT a bad end! In fact, we have some plans in the instance where not enough people pass the exercise. If 5 or more people fail the exercise, that is considered a group failure. Those who failed individually will face the consequences of losing the important memory/item/etc.
- We are asking people to make their own task cards. Here is a list of prompts:
You may also add one custom prompt tailored to your character, if you wish.
Please toss the prompts into the textbox at the top of this site. Under "Configuration Options", the card size should be 3x3 and the center space should have Normal selected. All characters will get a total of 9 prompts on their cards. It is okay to have prompts that your character would not do; it would just increase their chances of failure.
- A simple breakdown of the rules is as follows:
You cap at 200 points, but you must maintain those 200 points until the timer runs out.
Mutual agreement on completing a task nets each person 50 points.
Getting turned down or refusing to do one makes you lose 100 points.
You cannot use the same person to complete all your tasks. You must have only one prompt per character that you cooperate with.
- The cards know, meaning that they'll know if something is not answered earnestly. Prompts that are answered falsely will not go away on your tablets. They will only go away if they are answered truthfully.
- Failure is NOT a bad end! In fact, we have some plans in the instance where not enough people pass the exercise. If 5 or more people fail the exercise, that is considered a group failure. Those who failed individually will face the consequences of losing the important memory/item/etc.
- We are asking people to make their own task cards. Here is a list of prompts:
You may also add one custom prompt tailored to your character, if you wish.
Please toss the prompts into the textbox at the top of this site. Under "Configuration Options", the card size should be 3x3 and the center space should have Normal selected. All characters will get a total of 9 prompts on their cards. It is okay to have prompts that your character would not do; it would just increase their chances of failure.
no subject
[Of course, there'd be something like this, next. This all felt like it was meant to be some sick game for the organizers of whoever brought them to this world, so it only made sense that they'd be given twisted assignments like this, next.
And Florence had the nerve to act like completing them would be doing everyone a favor.
But the stakes were way too high to just... leave it, so, with a deep breath, Cater sets out to thinking about how to accomplish enough of his tasks to at least pass.]
Taken Squares!
[Mutsu]
[Idia]
[Madara]
[Sabo]
[Mae]
[Shizuku]
[Hien]
[Owen]
Also on Others' Cards:
For Mutsu: tell someone what you like about them
For Hien: cause someone an injury that leaves a long-lasting mark
For Madara: tell someone what you think is your worst attribute
For Shizuku: tell someone what you think is their worst attribute
Feel free to hit me up for any blanks on either of our cards, or just wildcard me!
OWEN
And all it really requires him to do is walk on his own, by "himself" to somewhere decently out of the way and secluded.]
"Hey, where are we going, me? You've gotta be terrible to someone else over there, yanno~?"
[The double's movements are jerky. Unrefined. He thinks that others probably find them uncanny, and their taunts... depressing. Hurtful.]
Eeeh, you're totally not a good copy, though? And you're just in the way, ri~ight~?
no subject
So when he sees Cater and the other Cater - and he hopes the doubles he makes are more convincing, less uncanny - wandering off, he follows. He's almost tempted to see what happens, but, well.
Owen wouldn't be Owen if he didn't make things worse.]
Already trying to kill him, Caycay?
[Don't mind the peanut gallery.]
no subject
At least it's only annoying.]
"No way, no way, you really think the other me here has the backbone to be able to do that? Especially to someone so cute~?
[...And here Real Cater only manages to look exasperated.]
You wouldn't happen to have, like, a weapon?
no subject
I think our cute little Caycay is capable of all sorts of things he doesn't want people to think he can do.
[He rocks back on his heels, sticking his hands in his pocket.]
No, but there's plenty of ways to kill something without one.
no subject
And you're just gonna watch, like some kind of way messed up voyeur, aren't you?
[At least he seems to have accepted that fact... pretty easily, even.
To the point even his double looks a little concerned. Not enough to run away and stop bothering them - it doesn't seem to be in it's nature - but. Concern that doesn't quite sit right on it's face seems to be the dominant expression.]
"H-hey. There's no way you'll learn anything messed up from him if you watch, yanno? He gets totally weird about himself."
no subject
If you ask nicely, I might help.
[Otherwise, yes, he is going to watch Cater go to town on this double.]
I think I could learn quite a few interesting things sitting back here and watching, though.
no subject
Eeeh, then can you, like... get me something to make this go faster? Since you def don't seem like you can hold him down.
[Become the accomplice, Owen, get a front row seat.]
no subject
Fine, fine. But only because I want to see this happen.
[Hope Cater is into metal poles, because that's what's holding up these tents! Which means that's the easiest thing Owen can find and bring over to Cater.]
This should be good enough.
cw: Double Murder
[Is he thankful, though? Is he, really? He's super not into the idea of using a big metal pole, either, but. Well. It's heavy! It'll definitely do the job!]
Stand back.
"H-hey, wait, hold on, you're not really-"
[And there's a sharp, sickening crack as the pole meets the side of the double's head with way less hesitation than there should have been.
And then another several for good measure, after he falls down limply, Original Cater not even really seeming to care that he ends up splattered in dark, sticky doppelganger ichor... at least until it stops twitching and he drops the pole.]
Eugh... totally gross, isn't it?
cw time to talk about corpses and blood
He's almost surprised by what he sees. He was expecting at least a fraction more hesitation, considering how Cater reacted when Owen suggested he wasn't the original in their first conversation.
The young wizard just gets more and more interesting each time they run into each other.]
I've never seen anything with blood like this before.
[He steps closer once Cater's done swinging, nudging the corpse of the double with a foot. It's well and truly dead.
Huh.]
Is this what you've been holding back from me all this time?
[If he's allowed to he'll reach out to wipe blood off of Cater, looking curious over how strange it is. His hands are cold and he's kind of weird, so there won't be any hard feeling if he ducks away.]
no subject
Sure, he wouldn't usually kill someone for his pride, that would be insane, but. This wasn't 'someone'. This was just another Cater-copy, and a bad one at that.
(Worse than the useless little mandrakes he'd discarded that one time.)]
...I have. But there's no way these are like that, it's gotta be a coincidence.
[These aren't Overblot creatures, they're just... odd constructs meant to elicit painful emotions and threaten to replace them if they failed.]
Something about sticky black blood being extra spooky, right?
[And he... actually doesn't duck away from Owen wiping some of the blood off him. If anything he kind of appreciates the help. He's sure he doesn't look at all respectable right now.]
And this isn't what I've been hiding, either. You'll have to work harder for that~~
no subject
[Owen will remember that.
He observes the blood for another moment, before wiping it off on his shirt. What's more destroyed clothing?]
I'm impressed, though.
[Because that's clearly what Cater wants to hear right now!]
(no subject)
(no subject)
MAE
Which is what has Cater peeking at Mae's card early on in the ordeal.
And that has him making a few connections that could be... useful.]
Hey, hey, Maeyan, sorry for peeking, but do you mind if I ask what's up with that middle square? It's totes more specific than any of mine.
[What do you mean not everyone had the possibility of having to kill their own double? That couldn't possibly have been targeted, nope.]
no subject
Anyway.
She jumps a little when he speaks to her, and swivels around to glare at him, although it isn't a particularly intimidating expression.]
I don't know what's up with it! I don't know how they even know about it!
[Oops. Shit. Maybe she should have gone for plausible deniability first. Too late now, though.]
Ugh. It's... nothing. Ah, wait, will I lose points if I say that?
[Crap.]
no subject
Anyway, he'll take that glare, and even put his hands up in some sort of (hopefully) placating gesture.]
Eeh... not if you keep talking about it, right? Sorry to pry, but, like, you shouldn't lose points if you say why you're so upset about them knowing...
[He's not sorry to pry at all, since it'll knock out a square for each of them, but he does feel a little bad about bringing it up in the first place... he'll have to bring her a cupcake or something from the bakery next time he goes to the mall...]
no subject
[In her town everyone already knows what happened to Andy Cullen so she doesn't usually have to go back to the beginning and explain it - usually they just want to know why she did it, if they haven't already decided why on their own. So this sucks. Although starting with the what is a little easier than the why, in some ways.]
If I tell you about Andy Cullen, don't spread it around, okay? Everyone will think I'm crazy. Well, crazier.
no subject
I can totally keep a secret. No one will know if I can help it.
[Gotta... account for further weirdness, but. You know. The thought and the effort will be there.]
cw for mentions of assault
[She doesn't want to lose points, so here goes. Even though this sucks.]
I put Andy Cullen in the hospital. With a bat. When we were in middle school.
[Maybe the middle school part makes it better? Oh who is she kidding, it's bad all around.]
i meant. wildcard here. kfdgs
Yo Caycay, will you cry if I slap you hard enough? Can I hit you once anyway?
<3 bless
Luci...! Eeh Cay might, if you slap him in the right place...! You can try...
[Saying no? In this event? Perish the thought.
Anyway, pointing out some spots he's definitely gotten some more substantial ouchies that have yet to be determined, but we can wing it.]
Here might work...!
no subject
Whether tears have come or not-- ]
How about your nose? Humans usually hate that.
no subject
And he definitely blinks rapidly to get them to actually fall. Who can you exploit loopholes with if not a little devil cat, anyway?]
E-eh... only if this doesn't count...!
no subject
Then again, he's also unsure if that next part would constitute one of them refusing so... he moves away like he's done, but abruptly! ... aims to bop Caycay on the nose on the way. It's not actually gentle, but there is little to no strength or momentum behind it, not really meant to hurt. It's been a long circus. ]
Gotcha. Nice tears, chump.