Peace and Serenity

[strangerpeople]

[Dying hurts doesn't it? Feeling such horrible pain as you realize that you're breathing your last moments. It makes someone wonder about what would be waiting for them in the beyond. Some would say there is an afterlife and it would depend on how you acted that decides where you will stay for the rest of eternity. But is it fluffy clouds and wings or pitchforks and brimstone? Will you remember anything that was once missing?

Not in your case. There's no clouds or fire nor any of your missing memories restored. Ain't that a bitch.

When you come to, you will be lying on a futon and tucked in like you had fallen asleep there all long. You will also notice that your clothes have been replaced with simple cotton shirts and trousers (for both men and women, hey we feel the ladies can wear pants too!) for better movement. But in Vita's case, probably a blessing considering. But something will stick out about yourselves: any wounds you had on you are now gone and healed. The room itself is simple with a couple floor lamps, a floor length mirror, a window, and a dresser but there seems to be nothing out of the ordinary-wait, a window?

Yes, there is one and when you look out of it, it's sunny. Not only that but there are signs of trees and a river flowing around where you are at. So there are two big things that you will now realize: This is most definitely not near the Base

And...you're not alone.]





(OOC: Welcome to Deadland everyone! This is the overall mingle log for Round 3 and due to the nature of it, this will be a bit more relaxing than the game itself. And since the setting is different from the Base, here are the places where your characters will be able to go to:

EXTERIOR:

-The Temple: Your place of residence for the duration. Unlike the Base which is constantly in a strange futuristic setting, this has the feel of a much simpler time.

-Outhouse: Where you can go to the bathroom. There's only one but thankfully it's actually got plumbing. Just a toliet and sink to clean up once you're done with your business.

-Baths: Or rather one bath. Not many folks live here after all. However, the tub is large enough to fit several people and and there is a box where soap and shampoo is stored.

-River: This river seems to be where a lot of folks like to wash up on. It's really weird according to the one who is living here.

-Pink Pond: ...no seriously, there is some weird pond in the back of the temple with a pink colored something. Are you brave enough to take a dip or a taste?

-Vegetable Garden: A large plot of land behind the temple is reserved for growing various vegetables. You have the normal kinds such as eggplants and carrots and celery but then there's smaller trees that grow warm bread and al dente noodles. We are not joking. And they are delicious.


INTERIOR

-Strangers' Room: This is a large room where the Strangers will be sleeping in throughout their stay. There is a dresser large enough for storing things if they wish to do so but it's mainly for extra clothing. The beds here are not bunks but rather the futons they will wake up on. It's easily foldable and there's no set spaces where you are able to sleep. And yes, both men and women will be sharing this room so I hope you kids have some manners and try not to peep on the other like a bad harem anime trope.

-Kitchen: 'Rustic'...is one way to describe it. But hey, at least there's an ice box to keep things frozen, counters to chop things up, tools to do cooking in, a sink with plumbing, and a fire burning stove. Just clean up after your mess, no one wants to disappoint the person living here.

-Hallway Closet: A walk in closet where extra futons, blankets, and towels are stored. Nothing fancy.

-Locked Room: ???

-Pink Bedroom: Someone lives here and would appreciate it that no one snoops through her things.

-Main Hall: A large room that also works for meetings and gatherings. And for fighters, a good place for sparring. There's several wooden poles for training but that seems to be it.

Enjoy your stay, Strangers!)

Comments

[crouching_sin]

[After that whole... incident... Naoya peels off to try to avoid Rosenkreuz for a bit. He heads out to the garden, and then starts wandering around. He's restless, and all of this is... disturbing. There's too many implications, here.]

[He finally sits down at the bank of the river, checking that there's no one around him, before pulling his knees into his chest and letting out a few long, shaky breaths.]

[This isn't okay. He should be in another body, another life... he can handle this, but dealing with dying - if he even really did - is going to take some time.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He'd needed a moment, too... maybe.

Akira hasn't made a point of giving himself one, since he got here. Instead, he's stayed so busy with house chores and distracting himself, he probably avoided letting himself feel much at all over it.

In any case... he's eventually heading straight over to speak with Naoya. He doesn't say anything at first - he just... quietly sits down next to him, his own expression not quite readable. ]

[crouching_sin]

[Naoya isn't all that surprised to see Akira approach. He doesn't say anything, not for a bit - he just watches the water flow past. He lets out a long breath, closing his eyes.]

I did try to stay alive, you know.

[beguiledcard]

[ Silence is something he's gotten used to, especially these days. Back home, there had been plenty of times where silence was unspoken mandatory. Here? It's just something that naturally happens. Yet, in this specific moment... it just feels heavy. He doesn't even realize it, but his hands are curling into fists - fists that tremble a tiny bit, the second he hears Naoya speaking.

And, when his own voice finally breaks free, it's just the tiniest bit strained, a painful lump in his throat surfacing with the fourth word: ]

What was the motive?

[ It's asked before he has a chance to think much on the question. ]

[crouching_sin]

[He's silent for a long few moments, sighing.]

I did write you letters... I guess you couldn't see them from here.

... Invulnerability. Which would have been useful to go fight Yehowah with but... mm. It was more the promise of being able to leave. I need to get home and stop Kazuya.

[He chuckles softly, shaking his head.]

Though I suppose most won't find that a good answer.

[beguiledcard]

[ In all reality, it's not even about the motive itself... No, it's more about wanting to learn the full story. To have the bigger picture, and to be able to cushion some of the fact that Naoya killed someone. Not just someone Akira doesn't even know, but someone Akira had come to care about.

This... makes him such a hypocrite, too, doesn't it? He did the same fucking thing, technically. Yet, the whole thing somehow feels worse, with it having been someone he cares about committing the act. Someone who's... been through a kind of hell nobody else at the base could ever possibly imagine.

So, maybe that's why he does it. Maybe that's why he grits his teeth, turning somewhat sharply, and then aims to just... slug Naoya in the upper arm. This isn't the spot he had in mind, earlier, and the punch is nowhere near as hard as he could have thrown it.

Of course... the tears in his eyes probably tell the reason for the latter. ]

Most people... [ deflating the tiniest bit ] ... probably believe they have more room to judge.

[ That's all he has to say on it... He's shifting back, facing the river again. One hand is wiping at his eyes as he works to get his breaths back under control - he hadn't even realized they were unsteady, until just now... ]

You have something important to get back to. [ shaking his head ] So do I. We can't let this place stop us. I... told you I'd help you, right? That's a promise I intend to keep.

[crouching_sin]

[... He was expecting the face, frankly, but he's not surprised. He just takes it, letting Akira get it out and get some of his tears out, too.]

[He leans over slightly, resting his shoulder against the other's.]

At least this place is calmer than the last. You've... been all right?

[He'll address the 'getting back' part in a bit.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He releases a quiet sigh and leans a bit against Naoya, in return. ]

Well... I've been permanently declared a pervert, by Vita. [ wry smirk ] But we came to a truce. I haven't been able to sleep much, but I've been keeping myself busy.

[ After a slightly hesitant pause... ]

I guess, in the end, my real punishment was just one more piece of nightmare fuel...

[crouching_sin]

I'm not sure that's quite so possible in my case, but... we'll see.

[He closes his eyes, letting out a long breath.]

I was electrocuted. Never a fun way to go.

[beguiledcard]

[ He cringes a bit at hearing the latter part. ]

... I'm sorry. I think... that's similar to how one of the people in the mall went. I can't remember anything about the first week, but I remember some of my thoughts after. Combine them with me being incredibly uncomfortable whenever I was near a place called Crab-O-Licious... particularly whenever I looked at the tank...

[ Both hands curl into fists, and then uncurl a bit. ]

Well... you're here now. Even if I'm not happy about why I'm seeing you, I-... did miss you.

[crouching_sin]

It's... all right. I at least tried to take the robot out. I didn't succeed, obviously, but I made an attempt.

[His body untenses a little and he slumps slightly.]

... I haven't been able to sleep nearly as well without you around.

[And given how little he slept while Akira was around...]

[beguiledcard]

[ That first part earns a quiet chuckle. ]

But... you went down swinging. That, alone, is pretty badass.

[ But, then he's frowning a bit. ]

Well, you'll... have me around now, right?

[crouching_sin]

Heh. I do my best.

[He nods a little bit.]

Until we figure this out, at least... what have you been doing to pass the time?

[illusionarymelody]

[Well, Vita can understand him being restless. This place may be nicer than the base, but they are still technically trapped here until they can figure out a way home and she's not going to accept going home without freeing the others. She definitely prefers to be outside and does tend to walk along the river a lot because she's trying to figure out what link it may have to the base. If they arrived via the river, there must be a place they came from and even with fast currents, it can't be that far. Yet she's found little to explain where they entered the river.

Well, as she's walking trying to think about what she's missing here she sees Naoya. Well, at least he's one who is likely to care much about what she did beyond her choosing Akira as a target.]

I admit, I'm surprised to see you here.

[crouching_sin]

[He smiles a little bit as he sees her approach. He hadn't disliked Vita, which is more than he can say for some people. He leans back slightly, looking up at her.]

Well, I hadn't exactly planned on showing up. This isn't what usually happens when I die.

[illusionarymelody]

Actually, I'm more surprised that you would be swayed by those incentives. But truly, I'm more interested in knowing about anything the rest of you learned and how the others are holding up since we have no way of knowing what is going on there.

[She remembers their discussion. Naoya did have an enemy to fight, but he was also confident in his skills, but Rosenkreuz said it was a play for power. That doesn't make sense, but she's also not going to press if it's uncomfortable.]

[crouching_sin]

I wasn't, really. It was more the possibility of getting home. I need to stop Kazuya... I suppose many people might not think of my motives as 'good enough', but they're mine.

As for what we've learned... the base is made out of some sort of material that comes from a person. There were brain scans of someone who is likely pregnant, and some sort of talk about a virus, I believe. Rosenkreuz also took a look at the notes.

[illusionarymelody]

Is Kazuya the woman in the picture then? If so then that's not a terrible reason because your motive for killing her is a good one. What confuses me is why wait until now to act if that was the main reason. [Someone wasn't exactly told about what Marie said at the last trial.]

He did mention the virus, but I admit that's far from my area of expertise. He also mentioned the material could explain some of the oddities present, but those same things are also present here. What you both have said only makes it more clear which side we should be on in this war we appear to have been brought into against our wills and we won't be getting home until that's resolved.

[crouching_sin]

No, no. She's the one who turned him to her side. As for why wait... well. There's a transport coming for Marie, and the ones who will be allowed on are the ones who get away with murder.

... I wish I had more time. There should have been something I could have figured out. Some sort of way to get through the security system, some sort of formula I missed... there should be some sort of reasoning that draws all of this together.

[illusionarymelody]

But that was known from the start. Even the rules mentioned it. Is there some reason you needed to do it now when the past two weeks you could wait?

[crouching_sin]

Well... she did say that our worlds were in danger. So I assumed that the worlds that were spared would be the ones we choose to go to.

Or at least, that it had a better chance of that happening. I don't trust her to hold any sort of promise.

[illusionarymelody]

I don't either. As far as we've learned here, the only threat seems to be one they have caused and dealing with them will eliminate it. I definitely don't trust Marie to hold any sort of promise, but then I tried to kill only because of her threat, not her promise. Her kind usually will make good on threats if they are truly capable of it.

[crouching_sin]

Of course. I'm not entirely sure that she is, but I can understand the sentiment. Unfortunately for her threat there's not really anyone she could have threatened on my end... heh. In any case...

[Something slightly different.]

Have you been all right here?

[illusionarymelody]

Yes, it's a very pleasant place that is the exact opposite of the base. I'd say the only terrible thing is worrying about how everyone is doing and being stuck here with a pervert who humiliated me. At least we're not alone together and he is trying to behave.

[crouching_sin]

[He snorts a little.]

He did cover you up, apparently. And I changed in the women's bathroom after my kill.

... Though it helps that I've been women in previous lives.