affliction mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
afflictionmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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
He wanted to hear it. He needs to hear every bit of it so he can finally crush the last utterly foolish hope that refuses to die. But the hurt still makes his throat tighten painfully and for a moment he can't speak. He swallows and wills his voice not to wobble when he reaches for Marcus and grabs him by the front of the jacket to continue.]
So I was the mistake. Not him choosing to build a world of lies and toy dolls to assuage Gefion's guilt. Not the act of creating me as a twisted copy so he could prove his theory. Me.
[It's meant to be accusatory, but there's no rising note to his sentences. The declaration is flat and factual. Finally, he lifts his face to meet Marcus's eyes again.]
no subject
But as the echoes of Phantom's pain flood through him, he tells himself that this isn't Phil, and it's only through that that he's able to hold himself steady to meet Phantom's eyes when that mismatched gaze finally rises to meet his own.]
I thought you knew that much already.
[He has to twist the knife, has to keep going, because if he allows himself to start feeling any sort of guilt over his words...]
no subject
It's a strange thing, this one-sided certainty. He knows Marcus the way he thinks only a mirrist could know their mirrite. But he wonders if Marcus has ever actually seen him in return. Phantom gives a small, shaky laugh at the absurdity of it.]
Hah. Of course. Of course I did. I just wondered if y-you would be... too much of a c-coward to finish things this time--
[The tightness in his throat is getting worse with each word, and when he tries to force another laugh again to cover it, it comes out as a harsh gasp instead. Hot tears flood his eyes and he ducks his head quickly to hide them, close enough that he's almost pressing his face to Marcus's chest as he does so. But for a moment he's too frozen to flee. It hurts. It hurts to hear it even if he'd already known it. It hurts more deeply still that there's nowhere else to turn to with that pain. Not even to himself, when he has no ability to deny a single thing Marcus has said.]
no subject
... sorry. I'm not gonna be dirtying my hands on you even if I wanted to.
[Not just because doing so would hurt Phil. Not just because he's almost certain that a part of Phantom wants it to be Marcus to be the one who kills him, should it come to that. Not just because of his steadfast determination not to give Phantom a single thing that he desires.
Maybe he really is nothing more than a coward in the end... a coward who can't bring himself to end the life of a being cut from the very same cloth as his master, a sad, pathetic imitation who despite wearing his master's face and sharing his master's memories doesn't seem to understand Phil at all.]
no subject
[It's possible Marcus doesn't know the outcome yet; he hadn't joined the others at the Kaleidoscope, after all. But he must surely expect it by now. It was everything Marcus had helped set in motion, even if he hadn't come to see the last act for himself. Phantom laughs softly, unforced this time, and his hands finally release their convulsive grip on Marcus's jacket.
Probably, letting Marcus see his tears would be the only thing Phantom could do that would hurt him. When has Marcus ever been able to stand by and watch Phil cry? But this isn't Phil's pain, this is his. Phantom scrubs the sleeve of his uninjured arm hard over his eyes to hide his face as he turns quickly away.]
I'm sure that was sufficient for your card. Go get whatever other points you need.
[He can't steady his voice when he can't seem to stop crying, but he doubts it matters. All Marcus needs is an excuse to leave.]
no subject
And it's ironic, because he'd been so sure that he'd wanted nothing more than he wanted this.
So he just stands there, not even aware that his hand is half-raised, fingers tensing and then flexing restlessly as though somehow by doing so he can work out some of the uncomfortable leaden feeling settling in the pit of his stomach like a rock.]
I'm gonna assume that means it was enough for yours too.
[He can go now, he knows this, and yet somehow his feet don't want to move.]
no subject
[Phantom makes no move to check. He didn't lose points from a refusal, after all, so it would have to be. But somehow, trying to force his mind onto a practical track isn't helping at all. His shoulders are still shaking with his ragged breaths as he tries to get his tears under control, but the more he tries to tell himself to stop, the harder they seem to fall.
He sniffs and rubs the sleeve angrily over his face again, dashing the tears away. If Phil had ever learned a method of dealing with this that wasn't running to Marcus, perhaps he wouldn't be in this position. But the attempt to kindle anger isn't helping either. He wraps his arms tightly around himself and finally glances back over his shoulder to make sure Marcus is gone.
He isn't gone. He's standing there, his hand raised as if he'd actually planned to reach out to Phantom. Pure, instinctive reflex from Phil? For a moment it almost doesn't matter. Phantom wants it desperately enough to hurt, and he takes a half step closer. As if he can actually look to Marcus for refuge.]
Why are you still here?
no subject
[Deep down, he knows the answer to that-- he just doesn't want to admit it, least of all to himself. There's none of the self-serving pleasure he'd expected to feel at causing Phantom to shed tears, even though there's no question that Phantom deserves that much at the very least. He knows the answer, but admitting it to Phantom - to himself - is a step he's not sure he's ready to take just yet, even as he shifts his weight like he too is about to step forward.
Phantom isn't Phil. No matter how much this may look like Phil in tears in front of his eyes, he knows it isn't... and at long last that knowledge galvanizes him into lowering his hand with a shrug, jamming it into his pocket before it can attempt to betray him again. He can't let his feelings on this waver. Not now, not at any point in the future.]
... you got me there. Guess that's my cue to leave, since you're so graciously letting me go and all.
[He realizes the moment those words leave his mouth how they could be construed in light of the situation back at home... and yet he makes no attempt to amend them. It really doesn't matter, after all.]
no subject
He doesn't know what to do with the look on Marcus' face. It's not really for him, and he's not delusional enough anymore to let himself believe it is. But he wishes he could.]
I am. I...
["I did?" Maybe on the very first day of their arrival his mind had still been half-broken enough to think "I never killed you, even though it would have been easier" was worthy of some kind of praise. But the more he began to mend, the less interest he has in offering any defense for what he did. And he knows Marcus has no true interest in understanding him.]
I'm not looking for forgiveness. From either of you.
[But the words are soft and hollow, an admission rather than an attack. He turns his back again and draws a deeper breath, still shaky, before he forces himself to take the first step away.]