Week 0

[productions]

Who: Designated Killers and Mastermind
What: Assignments
When: Early Morning, Sunday

[Early this morning, several guests will be awoken before 6 AM by a loud alarm ringing in their room. Lying on their desk will be a telegram, signed The Producer, instructing them to go immediately to the billiards room.

Once they arrive at the billiards room, they will find the door in the back open. They will then be able to proceed into the smoking room, where others await.]

Comments

[aozaki]

Aah, so that's what this room was for!

[Touko's been moseying around outside the smoking room yesterday wondering what was inside, ok.

...

now scanning it for actual tobacco or something she can legitimately smoke, because reasons.]

Is this an early preview? We're certainly getting into the spirit of things, haha.

[souredsweet]

[another familiar face!! Kaoru approaches with some amount of hesitance, but manages to retain the elegant air possessed the day prior.]

Good morning, Aozaki-san. [pleasantries first, apparently...] ...Did you also receive that notification?

[aozaki]

Good morning to you too, Nagumo-san!

[She'll even give a cheerful wave... wow nothing gets to this woman huh

...oh, but before we move on--]

'San' is okay, right?

[because lmao, those info cards from yesterday THAT I STILL NEED TO TAG IN....]

I did. Quite mysterious, but we were told as much yesterday. What did your telegram say?

[souredsweet]

[that distinct impression is starting to become hard to ignore, it's true... AOZAKI THE UNTOUCHABLE, apparently. since she's already asked that question once, though, it doesn't take a genius to figure what prompted it a second time.]

If it's what you would prefer, I have no trouble with it. I apologize for any confusion the mistake on my information sheet may have caused. [complete with a polite bow, though that may be to cover the vaguely embarrassed look. Kaoru's had to deal with this question and things relating to it a lot lately okay...]

Mine simply said to come to the billiards room immediately.

[aozaki]

Not at all! Someone I'm quite fond of at home is a young girl who carries herself like a man and uses aggressive male pronouns. I'm starting to miss her, looking at you now. What would you prefer?

[touko....... making One Male Exception to her bishoujo hunt...

that is

at least she's probably taking this better than most others kaoru might've come across??]

[souredsweet]

[whether Kaoru would be grateful for that or not will be entirely up in the air...]

Ah... [oh no now the embarrassed look is like 2x combo TOUKO NO.] I apologize, but miss is fine, since that is what should have been in the book. I meant to speak with our hostess last night about it, but... she seemed a little preoccupied, and then I was a little preoccupied given the information we received. It's a very small detail to get incorrect anyway, in the grand scheme of things.

[aozaki]

[LMAO QT...]

If you say so, Nagumo-san! [she doesn't sound convinced, does she...

then again, she doesn't sound like she cares either, does she...]

Hopefully the Producer would be kind to hear your plea, but if this is truly reality TV, they're highly likely to keep it for flavor's sake. I'm sorry that you must be distressed by this on top of our already hectic circumstances, but that may very well be something you must put up with for the duration of this 'game'.

[souredsweet]

[GOOD ENOUGH TBH, as long as a big fuss isn't made.]

Do you think they may have done it just for the entertainment factor? [said like "WOW IS KIDNAPPING NOT ENOUGH??" Kaoru doesn't even know what reality tv is but there's already all kinds of offended happening right now, even if it's displayed in a very quiet way.]

I suppose I could give it another try later then, though I have to wonder how much trouble it's worth. [a quick glance about the room.] We may have much bigger problems on our hands very soon.

[aozaki]

It's hard to tell. Who knows what someone with the power to take others from different time periods and realities into a place like would do to kill boredom. It's human nature to seek entertainment, and the more power the seeker has, the more perverse and depraved their pleasures tend to become.

[shrugs]

"Expect the unexpected", hm? Haha, try to relax as you wait. It shouldn't be much longer now, although the day's just started.

[souredsweet]

I'm not certain if that was meant to be reassuring or not, Aozaki-san.

[seriously was that like "don't worry" or like "don't worry everyone's probably going to be dead before the day is over"]

[aozaki]

What would you prefer, Nagumo-san?

[no but really

100% column A

it'd be a shitty show if B happened, lbr]

[souredsweet]

I'm uncertain, to be honest. The truth in most cases is appreciated, but the truth here can't be very reassuring, can it?

[LIFE IS HARD etc]

[aozaki]

[She lets out a hollow 'hah'.]

Is anything reassuring, about a game where contestants are supposedly randomly picked to murder each other?

[teenspirit]

H-huh... there's not a lot of us here, is there...

[aozaki]

A fifth of our total, I believe, miss Nevermind. But good morning! It's good to see you well. Have you managed to sleep alright, last night?

[despite the pep, there is something more sober in her eyes. not too unusual, now that they're given their "context" and "purpose"...

...or have they? hm.]

[teenspirit]

Ah... Not exactly... I hoped that maybe yesterday's news was a bad dream, and today would be a lovely breakfast...

[aozaki]

It already started with our arrival. Have you tried some herbal tea? That should help soothe the nerves. It's unfortunate, but with how clearly everything was announced yesterday, one should adapt to their situation as soon as possible.

[teenspirit]

P...please... don't talk as though this is a survival situation... I know that may be the truth, but it's so terrible spoken aloud...

[aozaki]

...Take your time and mull it over in your head, then. Perhaps we'll find out more about our circumstances soon, [a quick glance around the room...] this is a peculiar selection.

[teenspirit]

M-maybe they will send us home... [ She doesn't seem to have much hope in that, though. ]

[aozaki]

You should sit down, miss Nevermind. Let's see if they have anything to drink here, I'll try to find you something...

[and Touko'll proceed to do just that, after a final glance that almost looked sympathetic. The girl's cute and it's unfortunate she's stuck like this, but if this is their current reality, then that's what they need to roll with. Adapt or die, to put it simply: she'll keep a passive eye out, but if this princess can't muster up the resolve to help herself, then no one else can in her stead.]

[teenspirit]

[ She sits, but looks a little concerned. ] You needn't be so kind.

[aozaki]

It's fine, really. [She'll calmly respond as she goes over a cabinet. There's alcohol, but hmm, looking for anything like water, juice, or maybe apple cider...] Game or not, this is the sort of thing only adults who are prepared to die and kill should've been picked for. You should take as much leisure time as you can still afford, try sorting your thoughts out as best as you can.

[teenspirit]

I... I know. I should really be stronger. The truth is, I am expected to be something of a soldier, not just a princess. I must become the sort of queen who is able to lead her people into battle, not just lead from the throne. And yet... Maybe I will not be able to endure this... But I must.

[aozaki]

It has nothing to do with strength, don't get confused. You've been kidnapped and caged into a mink-coated prison, then told the second day you're forced to kill people for the entertainment of a faceless mass or risk losing very important things to you. Prizes or not, no one with a normal upstanding life, especially not with the sound of yours, would consider any of this acceptable. You've been forced, that's a plain fact.

[...

there's something heavier in her tone now, but it's subtle.]

Try to keep your head low and avoid being alone. You'll be fine, with any luck.