day three

[guestcontrol]

dreamland day three 34 players remaining. There are no clocks in your dorm room to help you mark the passing of time, but at a certain point, in the early hours of the morning, a cheerful chime tune plays over the loudspeaker. Whether you're awake or asleep, the door to your dorm room is now unlocked. You'll have about a forty five minutes, in which you can get ready or grab some breakfast, before the door that allows you into the park unlocks. By this time, you may or may not have noticed that one of your number is missing. The chimes play again, to announce that the park is open, and the rides and music begin to come back to life as a voice plays over the loudspeaker. "Rise and shine! Let's have a lot of fun and look for the bodies, too!" You will have until 4 PM to explore the park and talk amongst yourselves. Somewhere in the park, you'll find the bodies of Dipper Pines and Mahiru Koizumi. rulebook character statuses private conversations graveyard Voting will close at 10 PM EST on September 30. Though a special post for discussion will go up shortly before voting, you are encouraged to discuss who to vote for throughout the day. Voting

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[cheats]

[ Really, he should know better by this point. Nothing good will come of searching for the bodies, but he can't help but be drawn to look, since even though he'd be loathe to admit it, there were kind people here, and he was worried every morning now that they would be the ones to turn up.

He runs up to the teacups ride, and at first, he's ready to keep moving on, since it seems there no one there, but... A flash of red catches his eye. ]

Ah...

[ Ciel stops in his tracks, since the look of red hair is far too familiar to him, and it doesn't immediately occur to him that this is Mahiru. He's imagining someone else at first, someone more important to him, because that shade of red was more familiar than he'd ever realized before. His steps start again, and he walks to the edge of the cup until he sees Mahiru sitting inside. He stares down in shock, since she had been actually.... very kind to him. Kinder than he'd wanted to think about until now, since he only realizes it when he sees the red of her hair mixed with red blood.

He realizes, too late again, that he should have thanked her more. ]

[cheats]

[ It's not Mahiru herself that causes what happens next, as a result. It's something older than that, when he'd seen his caring, doting aunt so famous for wearing red with a chainsaw plunged into her chest. He hadn't wanted to dwell on it before, but the memory comes back viciously, and Ciel's knees give way until he crumples by the teacup Mahiru is in and then vomits.

This is too much for him. It's too familiar, and at the same time, not at all. ]

[harepiece]

[Oz also hasn't yet learned that looking for bodies is just a Bad Idea in general, as he's out and about in the morning, trying to find them regardless - especially when "Mahiru Koizumi" is announced. It's a shock to find her, even though he more or less knows what to expect by now.

...But Ciel is clearly having a rough time of it, too. He shakes himself from the temporary stupor that he'd tripped into and quickly heads over, but keeps his distance physically-speaking. He's seen this sort of thing before; he knows that being touched can only make a situation worse in some cases, and he's not willing to take the gamble to find out.]

Ciel? Can you hear me—? [His voice, too, is loud enough to be heard but not overly-loud so as not to be a shock. He fishes around in his pocket at the same time and withdraws a handkerchief, which he holds between his hands, waiting.]

[cheats]

[ He coughs, reaching up to wipe at his mouth with his hand at first, since this was a reaction of shock, and Ciel is a frail child, ultimately. At first, when he looks at Oz, his expression is near angry and defiant, as if he's saying how dare you pity me, but it's also quick to soften. He hesitates, but reaches out to grab the handkerchief before bringing it too his mouth with a muffled apology for doubtlessly ruining it.

He's also irritated, because as he remembers how Mahiru had gently scolded both Oz and Ciel yesterday for nearly burning down the kitchen, it mixes with childhood memories of Madame Red in a way that makes the corners of his eyes burn. ]

Dammit...

[ He still looks angry, though, partially out of embarrassment at showing this weak side of himself, but also, of course, at the injustice of what's happened. ]

How— How can this keep happening?

[harepiece]

[That is something that Oz doesn't have an answer to. While his walls of defense are built quite high, having to deal with this sort of thing for three days in a row, being faced with this same question over and over again, trying to sort through the "whys" to find reason in this pointless slaughter - it's definitely enough to start wearing them down. He simply sits in silence for a few seconds, still knelt next to Ciel, hands folding in his lap once the handkerchief is taken from them.

How can this keep happening? Because the killers choose to continue killing? Because none of the roles have been able to stop them from lynching innocents? Because they were all unfortunate enough to trip into this mess to begin with?]

...I don't— know. I don't know. [Which isn't very comforting, but. There's a body in a teacup.]

[cheats]

[ but there's a body in a teacup, quote of the day tbh ]

[ It takes Ciel a few moments more to compose himself, and he at least doesn't wipe at his face with the gross barf-y handkerchief, though he almost does. He reaches up to wipe at his eye, because even though it's no more than a few tears, that's still a lot for Ciel who hides his emotions so often. He murmurs another curse under his breath as he lifts his eyepatch to wipe at the other eye, which is closed, but doesn't seem to have anything wrong with it. ]

So... What? This is just supposed to keep happening until we're all dead? That's not—

[ Fair? He sighs, trying to compose himself again, though he coughs once more. ]

I will exterminate them myself, if I must. This cannot— This is cruel.

[harepiece]

[summary of day 3 tbh]

...No. We can't let this continue to that end.

[The end where they're all murdered by a bunch of people who apparently have no qualms with killing a child, that is. His gaze is still fixed on his hands in his lap, but he's trying to temper himself for Ciel's sake. He isn't the one who just got sick over the sight of Mahiru's corpse, so he has to be the one to hold it together.

At least if he keeps that in mind, it gives him a goal and a reason to hold it together.

He'll eventually stand after another second or two, holding his hand out to help Ciel up.]

...She should be buried as soon as possible. [Not immediately, though, since he knows some people will want to look for clues, and he's also not as close to Mahiru as he's sure her classmates are (EXCEPT THEN THERE WAS GUNDAM)] We can't let all of these deaths be in vain...

[cheats]

[ Ciel hesitates, seeming like he'll just stand on his own for a moment, but he takes the offered hand and stands, though he quickly turns to make sure he doesn't look at Mahiru again. He's afraid he'll get sick once more. He won't go looking for bodies again, certainly... He's learned that lesson. ]

She should.

[ He says rather simply, then frowns more. Ciel lets go of Oz's hand, then starts to walk away, since he can't stay here. ]

I won't be able to help though. I'd just get sick again.

[harepiece]

[While the smile on his face doesn't quite reach his eyes like it usually does, it's still soft and sympathetic.]

That's fine. [No one should have to bury their friends, but Ciel in particular... With a reaction like that, it'd be too cruel to force him to deal with this more than necessary.

He'll help where he needs to instead, because it's something he can build himself up to do, at least.]

Do you need some water or toast? I can come with you to the kitchen, if you want.

[cheats]

Water...

[ He says it rather feebly, but nods as he tries to compose himself. But it gives him direction, so he'll start heading back to the mess hall. ]

I don't understand it at all, Oz. Why her?

[harepiece]

[He'll walk along with Ciel, careful once more to keep walking alongside him so that Ciel won't have to glance backward and risk seeing the body a second time.]

...I can't say that I understand it, either. [He's got a few theories, but they're all pretty cruel and he doesn't want to upset Ciel any further by bringing something like that up.

He'll step ahead a little once they get to the mess hall to grab a bottle for him, quietly handing it over.]

[cheats]

[ Ciel takes the water bottle, but just looks at it in his hands before clutching it tightly. He doesn't take a drink, not yet, but he does feel the need to explain, at least in some part. ]

It didn't occur to me until... today, really.

[ He shakes his head ]

She looked like my Aunt Ann. They— They had a similar kind of personality too, I think. It's hard to say, since it's not as if I truly knew her, but— [ He breaks off there with a cough, shaking his head as if to say he's fine, but that should also explain the visceral reaction, at least partially. ]

[harepiece]

[It does seem like Oz understands what Ciel's getting at, at least, and he won't ask for further explanation - which probably isn't surprising to Ciel by now. It seems that's just the way Oz operates.

He wants to say something like "she was a good person" or thank her for being there to teach him how to make oatmeal, but honestly, everything comes up sounding like platitudes in his mind.]

...I'm sorry. I don't think that things are going to get any easier from this point on. [Not that they had been easy at the start, but he knows that this won't be the hardest hit they take.] But if there's anything that I can do, let me know, all right?

[Not much beyond that can really be offered. He can only help bury the dead and try to keep what he can safe from harm.]

[cheats]

Of course it wouldn't...

[ He shakes his head with a weary, tired sigh, and just like that, whatever emotion had been welling up is gone, and he's back to the distinguished, regal nobleman. He uncaps the bottled water and takes a sip, though he thinks to himself that it tastes incredibly bitter. ]

I've buried my whole family by now, so this should be no more than that.

[ Another sigh follows before he takes a sip of his water again, but then sits down and takes off his hat. ]

What do you think of all this, Oz? Is there a way for us to win?

[perfectstrike]

[For Peko, the red hair means something completely different. A similar memory, of a girl slumped over from a blow to the head -- but the face matches the body this time, and she stops moving, stops even breathing for a moment.

God, Peko, you're a shitty leader considering all your classmates keep getting picked off one after another.

And then there's the Kuzuryuu-like kid on his knees. She hadn't thought he and Koizumi were close, not at all, but she tears her gaze away from the body and crouches to get nearer to his level.]

Phantomhive?

[cheats]

[ waves hand vaguely at timelines tbh ]

[ When Peko approaches, Ciel is doubled over on his knees and forearms with his head bowed forward in a way that even his short hair covers his face, or most of it. He coughs, since it's just a reaction of shock to seeing Mahiru's body and having it so closely associated with someone he held dear and never properly grieved for in the first place. As such, what he coughs out hoarsely at first won't make much sense to Peko. ]

Aunt Ann...

[ He had never allowed himself this, so it was only natural that it would come all at once, and violently. He had gone to her funeral, but rather than truly let himself grieve, Ciel Phantomhive had wanted to be the elegant, graceful noble, even in mourning, so he had given her a picturesque send-off. But he had never shed a single tear, until now. The corners of his eyes feel hot, and he sits up with an expression of disgust as he wipes at his mouth, ashamed at his own weakness. Ciel had known Peko was there, so he glances at her, but then it's also quickly back away. ]

Sorry— [ It's ridiculous, he thinks. He'd only known the girl for a few days, so seeing him this upset had to look ridiculous to one of her classmates. Of course, Ciel isn't allowing himself the idea that this is a totally reasonable reaction for a young boy either. ]

[perfectstrike]

[She just hums quietly, not dismissing his apology, but not acknowledging it any further than that. It actually kind of hurts; not just seeing Koizumi like that, but seeing this boy again so similar to Kuzuryuu. It's a weakness, for her to see him like this. And immediately, her first instinct is to make sure that he doesn't have to expose this to anyone else.]

[There's a red scarf as part of her uniform. Maybe red isn't the best color to hand him, but she has no way of knowing that. She pulls the scarf off and wordlessly hands it to him, mimicking the gesture he'd given her just last night.]

[cheats]

[ He's looking away shamefully as she unties that ribbon, but when she offers it, Ciel stares no less than incredulously, as if he doesn't believe that the gesture would be offered at all. His face turns a little red, since he's humbled by this gesture. It gives the impression that Ciel almost isn't used to this level of kindness.

Ciel wipes at his mouth with his (thankfully gloved) hand first, since he doesn't want to ruin her necktie completely, but he takes it to brush away those hot, almost painful tears at the corners of his eyes. He lifts up his eyepatch, and Peko will be able to see the eye underneath, though there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it. It's closed, however, which implies there might be something about the eye itself. He's quick to cover it back up, though, and though he coughs again, since his throat is irritated now, he'll speak softly. ]

I'm sorry— She's your classmate, not mine, but...

[ It hit him pretty hard, and in a way that's difficult to explain. ]

[perfectstrike]

[That would put him in a bit of a different category from Kuzuryuu, then; yakuza heirs are generally rather spoiled. Not that Peko knows Ciel's backstory, nor does she really care to ask, unless he wants to tell her.

She misses the state of his eye entirely, since she's looking away, giving him time to compose himself, pretending as if she had not seen his tears or the vomit.]

There is no need to apologize or explain.

[When he speaks, it draws her attention back to him, and she reaches with one hand to lightly touch his shoulder in another small attempt at comfort. Her own voice is starting to shake a little, but it's actually not because of Koizumi. It's again, because she's remembering comforting Kuzuryuu. God damn.]

I will need to examine the body. Could you check the area for evidence?

[Perhaps giving him something to do, rather than stay here near Koizumi, will help? Peko please never have children. She's basically acting as if he's a tiny adult, just like her. Peko you're not even an adult yourself.]

[cheats]

[ The touch makes him flinch unconsciously, which makes his frown deepen momentarily as well. He hates this place. For many reasons, but the way it seems to dig at old wounds is particularly hateful. At least the way Peko chooses to approach the situation is a good one for Ciel. He takes a deep breath as he neatly folds her necktie, though it's just a nervously gesture more than anything. ]

Right...

[ Right, he says. This is beneath him, because he's the Earl of Phantomhive, and that's the mantra he's repeated to himself ever since he took the bloody ring. Ciel takes a deep breath as if to steady himself, then stands. His expression is composed and regal, but at the same time, he never so much as glances back towards the teacup. ]

Of course.

[perfectstrike]

[When he flinches, she withdraws her hand and just nods. She won't ask for the scarf back, either; she pushes herself to her feet and crosses her arms with a firm nod.]

Good. Let me know if you find anything.

[YOU CAN DO IT CIEL...]

[cheats]

[ It's at least something to do to get his mind mostly off the fact that Mahiru is there, so dutifully, he'll inspect the area , though of course, this isn't Craven Castle, so he's out of luck for finding anything, alas. But it does seem to calm Ciel down quite a bit, since it gives him something else to focus on. He likes your method of coping, Peko. It works for him. ]

I don't really see anything...

[ He sounds disappointed, since he was hoping to find a clue too. ]

[perfectstrike]

[Of course, there's nothing to be found with the body itself. Peko spends most of the time just kind of... standing there. It really doesn't even look like she's even paying attention to Koizumi here at all.

It takes a moment for Peko to register Ciel's voice, turning with a sharp jerk toward him and just nodding. It's a little more obvious now that she's exhausted; she hadn't slept for more than a few minutes the night before, but there's no time for it now. She jumps down from the teacup and moves to make sure he doesn't have to look anywhere near it to speak with her.]

I have not found anything, either. We should return to the others.

[And she'll ensure Koizumi is buried, too, but she doesn't want to mention that directly to Ciel here.]

[cheats]

[ Ciel nods, then starts to walk back to where the others nebulously are, though he still looks pale and out of sorts, rather unsurprisingly. And whether it's conscious on his part or not, he'll stay somewhat close to Peko, as if being nearer to her provides him some sort of comfort, or a pillar for him to keep up his regal image. Though it doesn't take long before he speaks up, because honestly...

With the comparison drawn in his mind now, he can't help but wonder. ]

...May I ask you something, Miss Pekoyama?

[perfectstrike]

Mm?

[She hums a quiet affirmative, glancing toward him. They're probably headed in the general direction of the mess hall, partially as Peko considers it a headquarters of sorts, mostly because after vomiting, Ciel could probably use something to eat, or at least some water.]