CHAPTER 5 ; MINGLE

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 526 Narrators Remain ; Now, what are the odds that this week will be as quiet as the last one? … look, we have to at least humor the idea, don’t we? The rumbling that awakens Narrators on this lovely Monday morning is – larger. It’s louder, it’s more intense, and it lasts longer, like one final shove. Once it concludes, the castle is quiet, almost tired in its stillness. Should anyone wander into the dining hall this week, they will find that none of the tapestries burn up in true testament that no ink had been spilt and no Narrators have left us. Should you choose to explore the grounds and find the new additions to the castle – you’ll likely be surprised to say the very least. In the interest of recreation, the pumpkin patch has been opened – and you’re more than welcome to see if you fare better in a pumpkin carriage better than our Cinderella did. What’s the harm in giving it a try? Or if you’re more interested in paying your respects, the shrines of the Tiger and the Dragon are both open. Shall you see what happens if you try to leave an offering? You know what they say – nothing ventured, nothing gained. Or maybe you’ll find your friends. Your dearly departed, delightfully preserved friends in the morgue. Reunions always bring a tear to the eye, don’t they? As if the sky mourns with you, Narrators will find that on Tuesday afternoon, it will begin to rain. It pours and it pours and it pours… and it will show no sign of stopping until Friday evening. Plan accordingly. Stay dry. Finally, partners had best get comfortable with the idea of touching into the spirit of generosity. They'll feel compelled to be kind to their partner, including possibly making or giving them a present. Isn't that just the sweetest? This feeling will dwell until the beginning of Thursday night's curfew. Welcome to Week 5, everyone! Hopefully you all enjoyed your break week and are ready for your regularly scheduled murder! We would also like to remind players to submit all of their Chapter 4 PCs and new PCs at the Private Conversations page and review the weekly ooc notes for important details in the castle. Something exciting will be arriving on Wednesday, July 11th so keep your eyes peeled for that as well. full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

Comments

[disclosures]

[Oh. Hm. Privately she'll think that mm, no. None of her friends have been killed for real just yet. They're still living and breathing, at least for now.

But she winces hard, flinching away from the door.]

God. Gross. Why are they in there? I thought they got buried? Didn't Natsuo get buried?

[selfinserting]

I think Natsuo is kind of a special case...?

[In any case.]

It's, um, definitely gross, though. I don't know... why they would, would do that.

[disclosures]

He's a very special case. I'd rather not think about the way he died and came back. I'd prefer to think he's been alive this whole time and he just, I don't know, decided to nap for a while.

I have no idea. I think Snow White has a glass case, but she wasn't actually dead, you know? Anyway, I'd rather not see a bunch of dead bodies.

You know what's also on this floor? Alcohol. Let's get drunk and forget this is here- how old are you?

[Because Rebecca tends to either severely underestimate or overestimate when it comes to teenagers. It's a terrible problem-- then again under these circumstances she doesn't want to be the responsible adult.]

[selfinserting]

[There's a good deal to respond to there, but the last part throws him off enough that he just blinks and gives a reflexive answer.]

Um, I'm seventeen, but are, are you sure we should...?

[disclosures]

[She squints at him for a moment before nodding.] It's legal somewhere as long as you have adult supervision.

I'm one of the oldest people left in this place. Besides, what's the magic castle going to do? Card you?

[selfinserting]

[He gives another pause, and... As disastrously as it went the last time he did something similar, he doesn't want to just leave her alone if that's what she's intending to do.]

I-I probably won't, um, won't have anything, but - I can, can come with you, at least? If, if that's okay.

[disclosures]

Works for me.

[She'll start heading into the lounge, ordering a gin and tonic as well as some cheese crackers to go right along with it.]

I really hate this place, but at least this is convenient.

[selfinserting]

[He takes a seat next to her after they both wander in, not ordering anything himself.]

Do you, um, come here a lot?

[disclosures]

I would've if I knew it was here. It just popped up today.

[She takes a cracker, spreads it with cheese and munches away at it.]

I've mostly been getting drunk in the kitchen. This is way nicer.

[selfinserting]

Is that... a good idea? S-Sorry, I don't mean to pry or meddle or anything, just...

[He looks pretty concerned all the same.]

I know it can be, um, really tough here.

[disclosures]

Getting drunk when you're stressed? No, it usually develops into a pattern of alcoholism, but also we're stuck in this castle until Dragon and Tiger decide to let us out. I can attend AA meetings. Of all the vices lawyers have, that's pretty damn tame.

It's not like breaking a window will make me feel better. The last time that happened I was a mess.

[That just seems like a complete topic switch, but she's already halfway done with her drink.]

[selfinserting]

[He glances down at her drink, then back to her, taking in a breath.]

But maybe you could, um, find something that isn't going to make you go to those kind of meetings, and—

[Oh.]

When, when did you break a window?

[disclosures]

At home. Months ago. Anyway it ruined everything so I try not to repeat the same behavior that caused catastrophe on my social life.

[This kind of sounds like 1 + ?? = 100, but she's not giving the missing piece to that equation just yet.]

Anyway, what would I do? Drown myself in books? Just because it doesn't have any formal meetings doesn't mean it's any less dangerous. Deciding that, like, your life is supposed to be a fairy tale? Zero out of ten, I wouldn't recommend.

[selfinserting]

[He looks surprised at her first statement, but as she continues...]

Well, no, I didn't mean... Wait, a-are you saying there should be support groups for, for reading books? [...] Sorry, it doesn't matter. I just meant... maybe instead of drinking, you could, um, talk to people? About, um, whatever you're going through.

[disclosures]

For people who think fiction matches reality one to one. Terrible. Awful. Wouldn't recommend it.

I'm stuck in a murder castle with literally all of you. People my partner cares about have been dying left and right. It sucks. It really sucks, okay! And I'm not equipped for it. At all!

[selfinserting]

I-I know it sucks! I know, just...

[He sighs.]

I-If it helps, I don't think it's just, um, just you who isn't equipped for it. Nobody's really... doing that great, even if, if they pretend.

[disclosures]

[Here she is, yelling at a teenager... She sighs, running her hands through her hair.]

Nobody's doing that well. Maybe Akechi, but he's a weird case.

[selfinserting]

Yeah. So... At least we've got that in common, r-right?

[A pause.]

Except, um, except maybe Akechi.

[disclosures]

I really wish we didn't. I don't want to be in murder castle, I don't want to deal with this stuff.

I just... I want to go home. But we're stuck here. Going into the woods is dangerous as hell too.

[selfinserting]

But... I-It means that there are other people who can relate to, to how you're feeling, you know?

[A sigh.]

...This can't, can't last too much longer, right?

[disclosures]

Most of the people here? Yeah. Do I want to talk about it with them though? Mmm... probably not. I can't believe this is the one time I actually want to see my therapist and she's not even here for me to walk out on a session.

[Rebecca?!]

God, I hope it doesn't. What did we start with, 38 people? We've gone all the way down to 26. It would be awful if we had to go until half...

[selfinserting]

[A pause, and when he speaks, he sounds incredulous.]

You, you've just... walked out on your therapist? My, my mom would kill me if I ever walked out on Dr. Sherman. [...] Although I guess it's different if, if you're, um, an adult.

[Anyways.]

...Yeah. There's, there's no way that's going to happen.

[disclosures]

[That's probably the exact right tone to take, but Rebecca just kind of shrugs.]

I still pay her. I think she's using my payments to buy a canoe.

Are you sure? I don't know where the end of... this is supposed to do.

[selfinserting]

If, um, if you don't ask me... Why do you, you pay her if you know you're just going to walk out?

[A shrug.]

I'm not sure, but... It can't go that long.

[disclosures]

Oh, she blackmailed me into going. I tried to break into her house while I really needed drugs and her prescription pad was right next to the window.

You don't? Why?