gurgles in plot

[unsaid]

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week 5, monday

[unsaid]

[hello everyone you have been called to the courtyard once again. today jiji is just going to be having tea, as always.

the tea service has been made to Work today, preparing tea for everyone as well as snacks. delicious.]

Let us begin.

[he hasn't told anyone what they're here for?]

[unsaid]

First, an update regarding flowers received last week. [a recap for futaba and also people without memories (me):] On Monday eve, my room received a bouquet with flowers meaning 'Falsehood' or 'Deceit', 'Danger' or 'Caution', one meaning 'I'll Still Be Waiting', one meaning 'Thoughts of Those Dearly Departed', and one final flower containing multiple meanings. After some inquiry, my dear crane also received a bouquet containing flowers meaning 'Gratitude' and 'Encouragement'. In addition, Estelle received a bouquet similarly containing messages of 'Good Luck', though one in particular meant 'Sweet Be Thy Dreams'. Given that meaning, I do believe one of my flowers to also mean 'Sweet Dreams'.

After discussion, we decided to place an arrangement of flowers upon the graves last Wednesday - and later that day, Estelle received another bouquet. Thus I believe it apt to believe that these are flowers from the departed, and they will be making further attempts to communicate with us. There may be some danger where they are, and there might be some reason to believe that dreams are very important to the fabric of this place.

Second, another update regarding the keys distributed. At present, I have been informed that as many as seven keys being used to access rooms - so I think it safe to assume that all eight from the housekeeping room were given out. These rooms lead to different rooms of the staff, but discussing the matter with the staff prompts them to be unsure why the keys were sent out to begin with.

Third, the notes being left behind. Shadows leave those they possess after trial. Do not steal from the deceased. Those affected by shadow may not recall Thursday night. I shall also add that now I can say with some confidence that we are dealing with two shadows each week, and should anticipate two more again to act this weekend.

Fourth, there is a theory that has been proposed. [from his sleeve, he will pull out some sheets of paper that are just an abbreviated version of this. it's addressed to tsuru at the top, so it's a written version that jiji did from memory. all vital information is intact but some parts are just 'notes of frustration' because he didn't care to recall the exact wording.] A copy of the journal entry recovered by Sheila and the others a few weeks ago - all staff are named in it aside from dear Aquarius, and when asked, Aquarius stated, 'well if everyone thinks I wrote it, it must be me'. An obvious answer.

But curious, isn't it? Given that in previous weeks, we were not given such obvious answers in regards to our hangman and chart. Thus prompting a question: should we lean on the obvious answer when it is the only one we have, when it does not otherwise match what we know of those involved?

[a thoughtful hum]

I do not believe I possess a fifth this week, though I would be curious to know what was found in your excursions, my dears. [a nod to shinobu and futaba]

[technocool]

[ and here she's been just angrily folding flowers with no particular thought in mind ]

I guess I switch from folding ofuda flowers, huh?. But we split the three we got! Mine was talking about how one of them and Aquarius got wasted and made that hot or not chart that popped up? And agreed that Orion is very hot. Which is stupid when they're all in veils and I can't get in on this...! [ futaba please focus, ]

[preowned]

Do you remember exactly what it said?

[technocool]

[ she digs through her butt pouch, please hold ]

Here it is...!

[ presents: note A ]

[wisterin]

Futaba-chan, I think it's better to show them the paper, if you still have it.

[overruns]

[ EXHAUSTED: ]

That journal is almost certainly Aquarius.

[philandery]

[ just. nods along with dimitri. what he said! ]

Sounds like Aquarius, all right...

[wisterin]

This all started with a dream, didn't it?

[ it's food for thought. ]

Okumura-kun does have a third sheet. I can try to recreate it from memory, if you would like me to, but...

[ she fishes out a piece of paper from her haori sleeve. ]

The handwriting is similar to the previous ones.

[preowned]

Please try to write out what you remember of his, if you can.

W5 / Thursday / Security Room (Pre-Curfew)

[philandery]

[ CURFEW IS APPROACHING!!!! sylvain's got a VHS tape on him (or a copy of it that was obtained from his latest excursion), and he'll lead everyone to the security room to play it before they get locked in: ]

The video is a little staticky at first. It wobbles and it wavers, but after a few moments the picture becomes slightly more clear, opening up to the cemetery. A lithe figure enters the area, shovel in one hand and a greasy paper bag in the other. They stop toward the back of the cemetery, setting the bag down before they begin to dig. A sizable hole is made, and they reach into the paper bag to pull out a cardboard box. The side of the box says “Filet O” but the rest is blocked by their hand as a sandwich is soon thrown into the hole. A carton of french fries is upended into the hole shortly after, and the figure pops the top of a cup of c*ke to douse the mess entirely. It’s a little unclear what’s happening, silver fog rolling in as they hold their hands out over the hole and seemingly appear to be talking to themselves…

…and soon a smaller figure appears at the edge of the hole. The first figure isn’t looking at them yet, closing their eyes as if to regain some of their strength.

“Hey,” they say, and you may recognize the voice as Aquarius’s. “You got summoned, so–” They open their eyes and soon take notice that something’s wrong. Namely, the small form is unconscious, and also tied up. There’s a startled noise as Aquarius’s concentration breaks briefly, and the figure nearly falls straight into the hole. They focus again, grabbing onto them before they turn and immediately run out of the cemetery.

The footage appears empty for a while. The hole of food looms ominously. Fast-forward, and soon the camera angle changes to a group of eight gathered around a mausoleum.

One of the tallest figures is… kneeling, actually, down by the one who was bound, hurriedly untying whatever’s holding them bound together. They immediately take that figure’s wrists and rub their thumbs into them, glancing briefly at the others, but their attention is mostly on the smaller figure. When they speak, their voice is recognizably Orion’s, and they sound relieved, at first, with a “Virgo,” and then, a little quieter, “You’re awake.”

One of the figures in the mid-range of heights is holding a knife, as though they expect a fight. When they speak, their voice is recognizable as Lepus’s. “What the fuck? Please tell me the dead just decided to go and lose it. That seems like the least worst possibility here compared to others.”

The second-shortest figure is standing near Lepus - well, leaning against Lepus, actually. They bring a hand up and it goes under their veil, as if they’re rubbing at their forehead. “It’s - what are they doing over there? Did they hurt you?” They pause, and then facepalm. “...they tied you up, that was a dumb question. Why on earth would they– What were they thinking?”

The tallest of the figures also moves to kneel down, their veil shifting to reveal a flash of pink just for a moment. If they say anything, the video feed doesn’t seem to pick up on it.

The figure recognizable as Aquarius stumbles a little, swaying on their feet before all-too-casually leaning up against the mausoleum as their hand scrubs at their face under their veil. “This is terrible. We can all agree this is really terrible, right?” They seem to notice something though and pause to slap at a tall figure’s arm before hissing. “That’s for Virgo, not you!”

One of the midrange figures seems to drop in height; a pair of wings fold into their back, recognizable as Aquila. They land beside Aquarius, immediately moving to support them towards their very casual lean onto the mausoleum, but stay standing, folding their arms and overlooking their downed comrade. Their voice seems a little smoother than usual, less gravelly, and they glance between the person stealing the fries briefly and Aquarius, and say, “It’s terrible. Eat after. What happened?”

One of the tallest figures hovers nearby for a moment, pausing in their movements to reach for some leftover fries. “Oh come on.” They relent though, and suddenly they drop like a stone, losing about five inches of their height. They immediately sit down in the dirt instead and lean back against the mausoleum, turning their attention to the smallest figure.

The smallest figure - Virgo, whose hands are being held by Orion’s - seems a little out of it. “...they - they said that someone was hurt, so I…” Slowly, they shake their head, then wince, drawing one of their hands out of Orion’s to rub at the back of their neck. “Once I got there… they knocked me out. I do not know what happened next.”

Something seems to occur to them, and they gasp, patting themselves down over their pockets… but they come up empty, and both their hands come up to cover their mouth.

“...they took the key. If they have set him loose, they will need help.” They look swiftly at Aquarius. “Please send me back. I have to do something.”

Orion sounds incredibly stressed, immediately, repeating, “Virgo.” and then looking at the others, voice grim. “... He is – a danger, yes, but…”

Lepus sounds calm, although almost deliberately so. “If they went as far as knocking you out, then frankly, it sounds like they might be able to handle things over there. I’d worry more if they were a bunch of soft-hearted idiots.”

“...wait, hold on, you’re telling me they thought it was a good idea to unlock a door that had a cannibal behind it?” Vulpecula, unlike Lepus, does not sound calm. They sound kind of disgusted, actually. “I’ll say it again - what were they thinking? And you want to go back and help them after they attacked you - what are you thinking? I don’t want to see them in trouble either, but this sounds reckless even by my standards! You’re lucky someone over here called for you when they did, or else you might be—”

Cetus presses a hand to their head, as though exasperated. It doesn’t sound as though they’re saying anything, as a momentary silence apparently ensues.

Gemini groans a little, half out of agitation and half out of uncertainty. “Okay, so…what do we even do? Can we even do something about it? A lot of them know how to fight, but…” They appear to be slightly worried about something they won’t say. “I kinda agree though. That was a bad idea.”

Aquarius seems to be sliding a little further down the side of the mausoleum, tipping slightly into Aquila. “I’m going to destroy all of them.” It’s hard to sound threatening when they mostly sound exhausted. “...I’m sorry. I don’t think I should send you back right now. They’ll have to be on their own for a little while.”

Virgo’s shoulders hunch, and they look down at their hands. “But it was my responsibility to keep them from opening that door, and I failed. If they get hurt…”

Aquila’s the one to cut that off before it gets any further, tone sharpening from where they’re supporting Aquarius. “There’s no point in mending the pen after the sheep have bolted. It was their choice, and they’re going to have to figure it out. It’s going to end up even worse if we attempt to suppress it ourselves. Lepus is correct.”

Before any of them can say another word though…all eight of them begin to hear the sound of bells being dinged and typewriters coming on. It’s recognizable as the sounds their bells at the front desk make and the ding of a typewriter as a message comes through. They share looks with one another…and in one fluid motion everything comes to life. Gemini stands, suddenly rising to be several inches taller. Cetus grows more proper in their stance, waiting for the others. Virgo mutters “fuck” under their breath, and Orion pulls away from them. All eight of them agree to regroup later as they disperse, leaving the mausoleum behind.

Guests await, after all.

[technocool]

Ooooooooooh no please don't be talking about the bad juju in Virgo's room.

[preowned]

[ after a long pause. ]

Well. I guess the 'there are other people here' theory is right.

[unsaid]

A cannibal in the closet...

[preowned]

Vore...

[preowned]

Oh! Also, did you all receive letters from the dead this week? I got some on Tuesday, and then again today.

[unsaid]

I received three on Tuesday.

Though they did not sign them... they are from Aikawa, Kazunaru Miyoshi, and one who might address me as 'Mikazuki Munechika-san'.

Ha ha, how nostalgic.... Perhaps I should encourage them to use '-dono' next time. [shitty old man]

[preowned]

Oh, I also received one like that... and the other one I got was from Clementine.

[technocool]

[ immediately slams her hand up ]

I did!!!! Kazu says hello!!!

[preowned]

Hi Kazu!

[wisterin]

I received one on Tuesday. It wasn't signed, but I believe it was from Sieghart-san.

[preowned]

Did he say anything?

[philandery]

I got an unsigned letter on Tuesday. Pretty sure it was Kaeya...

Did you guys have parts of your letters censored...?

[ goes back to zZz now ]

[wisterin]

[ she makes a face. ]

None of my letter was censored, but I was afraid of this.

[ COME BACK WITH YOUR CENSORSHIP. ]

Can you guess the context, or was it all blocked out?

[preowned]

... no.

Censoring isn't that uncommon though. It happened all the time when we sent letters from the camp.