dormheads | (ROLE) CULT 6.0

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(ROLE) CULT 6.0

cult.

On Monday at 10 PM, Luxanna, Dimitri, Manwol, and Ichiro receive an encrypted e-mail.

d4rkness@Wiwaldi.edu

Come to classroom 1304; see attached map.

No one is in the halls as they creep to the abandoned classroom circled on the map. The normally locked door opens, revealing the room inside.

There are no windows and the lights are off, leaving the room cast in near darkness. Only a handful of candles, in what's probably a fire hazard, keep it illuminated; the fog being emitted from a personal fog machine doesn't help with visibility. What was once the teacher's desk has been pushed to the center of the room, with chairs seated around it. For some reason, there are cat decorations everywhere, mixed in with various (garish) occult items and patterns.

As of Week 3, a lamp has been added to the room to give it some light.

As of Week 5, the fog machine has been turned off.

As of Week 6, all of the junk has been shoved to a corner so that Manwol can put whatever she wants in the room. This is just Manwol's free room now, apparently.

There is a cat-shaped bulletin board hanging on the wall, which reads:

» This world is trying to assimilate all of you, who started this year, into its setting. If it succeeds, you'll remain trapped in this school, your souls drained until you cease to exist.

» Each week, this place will make active efforts on a few select students. Once the weekend hits, they'll all be beyond saving. However, if any one of them is killed before then, they'll all be freed from the link, at least for the remainder of the week.

» Death isn't necessarily permanent. Those who died can potentially be saved. However, no such option exists for the fully assimilated.

» At the start of the week you'll be informed if you may recruit one person to join the cult. Provide a list of 4-8 people you want to recruit and you'll be told which one of them is approved. If you extend an invitation and they accept, they will join the cult the following week.

» Preventing the assimilation aside, even the original cult was meant to be a secret, so it's important that word doesn't spread. If anyone else learns about your involvement in the cult or your task, whether from your mouth or another's, this world may enact consequences. No guarantee on who they might affect, so it's up to you to decide if risking harm upon another is worth it.

As of Week 3, more notes have been added.

A summary of what the others were told previously:

» This world is forced to act according to an internal logic. It isn't always aware of everything going on, and it can't break whatever rules it wishes. This would presumably be why you all arrived here with your minds intact, rather than already assimilated; it's possible that this defence mechanism has manifested in other ways as well, to try and correct things to how they should be.

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[ okay there's just a lot happening here. the room, the. cult. (the original cult? what?) the fact that someone's gonna have to be mcfuckin' murdered in order to keep them from dying for real, the. cats...., so bear with ichiro being quiet for a little bit, mouth pulled tight into a line. he's got hand shoved in his pocket because he can't fold his arms, though he did bring snacks as promised that are sitting on a desk. ]

... So the crystal ball wasn't about Molly, huh?

[ ...

after a while of silence. his thoughts are somewhere along the lines of i fucking hate this. the vibes are very angry and sad. ]

I think... Sakyou-san just went through having to go on that field trip, too. [ weird omega marriage hell? he glances a little at dima but ] ... so, not him, either.

...Malik, maybe. [ break our homophobic streak please ] I don't think it's worth killing somebody, either, but - he did talk a little to me about his, uh, "torture deck" today.

[ she at least considers what dimitri says, and nods ]

... Taichi is an option, but given that he is someone who will look away from our actions, I do not think it is wise. Also I do not want to, but I understand this does not carry any more or less weight than anyone else's attachments.

[ to ichiro, she hums. ]

On the marquee, you mean? I imagined it was conveying that Maya speaks to the dead.

At any rate, Malik is young, but I hold no attachment to him. Sakyou... At least could be given the dignity of fighting back.

Isn't he talking about some card game, though...?

[ he just assumed Malik is being a teenager. ]

In any case, I do not know him well either. Taichi... I think he would understand why we act, but I do not want to take advantage of his kindness. [ also lux does not want to kill him, which does count for something, even if dimitri has to address all the cards on their table. ] And while I would call him a friend, Sakyou is not especially injured anymore.

[Manwol is now looking at Ichiro's snacks and frowning, not because she hates rice balls, but because she's realizing what it now means to have Ichiro in this CAT CULT. She doesn't distrust him, and she doesn't think he won't be incapable or anything, but

he's like Luxanna and Dimitri, isn't he? They're all so honor-bound, and so quick to shoulder burdens. This is frustrating.]

That's exactly why we shouldn't pick him. He has the ability to fight back, and he's skilled. He has a sword that can speak to him, and it might warn him beforehand -- or tell him to strike first! You're both going to get hurt, and then you're both going to refuse to cover up or heal your wounds -- and then you'll get caught.

[BLONDES AND HYPNOSIS MICHAEL CAN YOU ALL LIGHTEN UP A LITTLE]

With Malik's thing - I thought so too, but, the way he was thinking about it was... bad vibes, man. Just really bad. [ bad terminology to use around a couple of ye oldes probably but whatever. ] Someone being kinda chuuni isn't a good reason to kill them, but - there's no good reason to kill anybody.

[ but manwol is correct, he is absolutely like lux and dimitri, yeah, so maybe you should all make better choices (no). ichiro listens to manwol and the rest of these points, too, and chews on his lip, jittering his leg against the desk he's sitting on. ]

...you guys keep... losing people, right? I don't - [ his thoughts project another sort of i hate this, i'm gonna be sick, but ] ... The more people that know about this, maybe, the fewer people that can get fucked up by the assimilation, right? The four of us probably won't get hit with it?

... so... If the four of us can stay together, and stay alive, and can recruit someone else, then that's... maybe one less person who could be assimilated in the grand scheme of things, too.

Caleb-san always said it's important to look at the bigger picture, when we can. And all of us - we all kind of knew you guys existed, and we had figured out that the pattern was adult males who could fight back. So...

[ even if it sucks. even if he hates it. even though if he was in the same situation, he'd probably also refuse to heal himself up, and he'd also probably refuse to cover anything up, if it was him, he can logically, at least, see the value in why they would have to. ]

...I think Manwol-san might be right.

It's true that Malik spoke easily of 'becoming a villain,' so this may cut that problem off early. And send it to someone less obvious.

[ she hears ichiro and manwol out, but frowns... ]

What's the purpose in establishing a pattern of choosing the least cruel of our terrible options only to break it in the end, when people have received the message? We did not do this just to manipulate people's thoughts in our favor. We did it because it was the kindest thing we could do.

I would rather remain kind to the end.

[ ... ]

... But the situation is what it is. I will go with what the rest of you decide without grudge or complaint.

[ it's not that they're wrong. it's a different perspective, one that chafes at him, but a reasonable one all the same. it is better if they survive, because then no one else will have to take on this burden. he hears that.

even so... ]

I agree with Luxanna. It is not about making ourselves look sympathetic.

[ ultimately, if they must be replaced, it means another person is drawn in and safe from assimilation, and a murderer is sentenced instead of someone innocent. ]

...It is not that I seek death. There is no guarantee that we will be executed if we are discovered. But I will not run from the consequences of my actions. What we are doing is a tragedy, not some act of heroism, because all our victims are guilty only of being targeted by this world. I want to be fair to them. If this place shows us no goodness or kindness, all we can do is attempt it ourselves.

[Manwol's expression is flat as she listens. Hearing Ichiro try to back her up feels even worse, for maybe the same reason as seeing the rest of this group, Otome included, struggle along.]

Fine. It's your turn this week, so I guess the both of you should get to decide.

[Kindness? she thinks, almost spitefully, then grabs a rice ball and just starts angrily cramming it into her mouth.]

[ ugh. ichiro's thoughts, for a moment, seem like they're repeating something. "as long as your kindness guides you, you'll never disappoint me." his expression goes from sort of vulnerable and almost hurt to something else - a mix of guilt and misery and anger, too. ]

...I don't think it's about looking sympathetic. I couldn't. Do either of you guys seriously think that's what I'm trying to say? I don't -

[ he pauses. a deep breath - and keeps going, words rising a little in emotion as he talks, as heartfelt as ever. ]

... I just want to solve this. All of it. That's all I've wanted since everything started going down. And I don't want you guys - or anyone, or me, to have to repeat this over and over until - whatever it is, until we're stuck here forever, because we can't find a way to beat this thing and get out. It is a fucking tragedy, this whole fucking place is! There's nothing fucking redeemable about taking people's lives, none of us are heroes, and I - trust me, I can see the logic in why you've picked who you've picked, I see why it feels like it's closer to being fair, I just -

...You told me on Saturday you're just buying time. How long can we buy time if we're not learning anything as a whole? If we can't solve the big problem, we're just gonna have to keep doing this, and how - how is more death just going to solve more death? Dying as a punishment for doing bad things is still dying! It's still one less person here who actually knows something. Over - the people outside of this room, they don't know shit about what's happening, and it's fucking terrifying, and frustrating. We've been desperately trying to learn anything we can. You guys know, that, too. I just...

...I don't want to convince you that you don't deserve it, cause - fuck, I haven't killed anyone, and just sitting here, I feel like I deserve it, there's no fucking way I'm gonna try and tell you otherwise, but...

[ ichiro deflates, finally, here. ]

... maybe cause it is me, you'll get it when I'm trying to say that you guys getting caught on purpose and having to restart at square one with someone new isn't any better.

[ but, maybe lux and dimitri have the way of it. maybe mozuku had the way of it. maybe ichiro was just meant to think like he was violent, instead of like he was kind. maybe he was just fooling himself.

he cuts himself off, finally, and looks away. ]

... but I'm new, here, and you guys won't let me go with you, anyway. So. Manwol-san's right, it's your choice.

[ it's thought-reading week so everyone can hear lux think: poor ichiro. ]

... I think that you are being pessimistic about the progress everyone is making with the time we've bought them, Ichiro. Please do not imply that we are not learning anything.

And it isn't as if we are trying to get caught. But I think we should be realistic. At this point most people know that I am carrying out these tasks, or involved with them. Trying to hide it is a waste of effort. Whether clear or unclear, I am a back-up vote that many are trying to avoid, and I am responsible for my actions, so this is fine. I am also the one person in this group who is already known, and as such there is no new risk in my being caught if it should happen.

I understand you want there to be more of us, but I truly do not think it any better for there to be one less from the numbers of the rest than for there to be one less from our numbers.

[ at the end of the day, it will always come down to voting for one person. getting caught doesn't change how many people die. and sure, this group is presumably safe from assimilation, but... it'll just move on to someone else. it'll just be someone else. ]

[ part of him is frustrated, guilty—and part of him is a little touched, that either of them would prioritize the people in this room, for any reason.

"it's a difficult conversation, but i'm grateful to have it." there is so much that they can only argue about with each other. ]

I am not chasing death, just accepting of the possibility. Perhaps we should have made this clear, but... we are not acting presuming that this will go on forever. Hugo conjectures that this world is likely to strike out against us all soon, with 'graduation' coming up. While we cannot be sure of that, it's not a matter of killing each other indefinitely, but making sure that we do not lose people to this world before we can save everyone in it.

People have already found out our motives, even if we cannot confirm them—they are clever, and making progress. I trust in everyone here to find the solutions we need, before the worst falls upon us.

[ but. someone has to die thursday. and someone has to die on sunday. if not them, it will be another—someone perhaps compelled by this place to act, who will be haunted because they never had a choice. or someone innocent, who they cannot speak to defend in trial.

there is no good option. but at least he chose to be here. ]

...I can bear whatever betrayal Sakyou feels if I were to strike him down. And all that may follow, whether it be death or life. But I could not explain to him that I chose to kill someone so young because they were the easier target.

["WHAT'S HAPPENING?" is the thought that everyone else in this room gets to hear from Manwol,

She looks towards Hugo, who i assume has been listening to all of this, then she looks at ichiro,]

I understand your feelings, Ichiro. And I appreciate that you spoke up -- even though you're new, that doesn't mean your words mean any less than ours. ...I think you're just unfortunate enough to have joined a group with people who are more or less just like you.

[except for her of course, she looks grimly at Luxanna and Dimitri.]

I know the both of you have accepted it -- the burdens you all so badly want to carry -- and I'll respect that. But we carry those too. With you. You're all so frustrating. [manwol?] And yes we're here to stop others from having to do what we have to do, but we're all responsible! Regardless of whether the others know the truth or not! We kill, and then they vote, and then we're expelled, and then they have to kill us. We've all stained our hands.

...I tried to save Tsuyukusa, and this place ended up forcing him to kill Otome. And I killed Leo, even though I knew that Tsuyukusa loved him and that I'm not allowed to harm humans at risk of being destroyed. So if you're all going to accept responsibility, then you have to let the rest of us do it too, or I'll beat you all up.

[what was her point again... she doesn't even know anymore, she's just beyond frustrated that these are all the choices they have to make, GOD!! SHE LOST THE THREAD OF THE CONVERSATION!!! SHE'S JUST WORRIED!!! she grips her arm, grimaces. she just made a protag? speech too and now she's drained. she's going to eat everyone's onigiri now, thanks.]

[honestly yea he's stuck here listening to y'all and his thoughts are probably somewhere along the lines of wishing that you all weren't dragged into this, damn.

except he's not into speeches and that's not a productive thought anyway so he just stays quiet. you can... continue...]

[ those thoughts make him look at lux at first - and there's something sort of wounded in it. "poor ichiro". he can't help it - can't help but feel frustrated, and almost a little betrayed at the thought. poor him? yeah. poor ichiro, floundering around in the darkness, two steps behind everyone else.

...he doesn't say anything back, though, just listening to everyone's points made, instead, and staring down at the ground, brows furrowed, mouth drawn in a thin, tight line. ]

...didn't mean to make it sound like I didn't think they weren't making progress. [ quietly, ashamed. he's just stressed. ] Can I be realistic and say I give a shit about you, too? About all of you. [ that i care? that i can't just watch you walk into death like it's nothing? ] I'm with Manwol. You don't have to shoulder it alone. I'm here now, too.

[ but, after everything they've said, his shoulders slump. ]

...just... try. Can I ask you to try not to get caught? Both of you. Especially if I'm staying behind, I just... [ his gaze shifts - specifically, it shifts to dimitri. ] ...Iris needs us to stay alive.

[ his thoughts are just - worried, and heartfelt. she can't take another loss. she needs us to come home. ] If you get caught, then... then you get caught, and that's that.

[ hm! you know what, lux has a lot of feelings about all of those things, but she's going to do what she always does when she is overwhelmed, and just smile brightly! and think: A shadow thrives beside the light. A shadow thrives beside the light. A shadow thrives beside the light. the repetition of it is probably distracting because it just keeps going while she talks over her own thoughts. ]

This is why it is best if I am the one caught instead of Dimitri. Rather, I have already been caught?

I do not mean this as any sort of slight because you are the newest of us, Ichiro, but as a matter of pragmatism for what those outside of this circle already know.

How many people are left who do not already know how many deaths I am responsible for? What, then, is the point in trying to confuse things? Whether the evidence leads them to it or not, they know that I am involved. I am a back-up vote, even should they not make sense of the pieces they are given. There are those who will avert their eyes, and those who will not.

I believe Manwol intends to help obscure the scene and I will not object to this. I find the compassion of it touching. But...

[ A shadow thrives beside the light, a shadow thrives beside the light, a shadow thrives beside the light. her smile is a little more strained. ]

I do not wish to die. But what is the point when I have been a dead woman walking for weeks?

[ whatever he was going to say is replaced by alarm. ]

Lux... [ he slips out of his formalities for a moment. ] It is as Manwol says. We are all responsible for these things—I will not speak of pragmatism in matters such as this. It is not better for you to be caught in my place. You do not deserve to see yourself that way.

[Manwol immediately narrows her eyes,]

You're the last person who should kill or get expelled, if we all truly wanted to be pragmatic about this. The marquee said to save you and Otome -- that means the people you killed made a decision different from your own.

Otome and Byleth were dead women walking too, and they both wanted to live. You have the right to want that too -- to fight for it.

[ she can also probably hear ichiro's thoughts just go BRRRZZT NO actually, because he almost jumps off of the desk, completely mindless of any of his injuries in a moment of outrage. ]

The point is that we don't want you to die, either! [ he doesn't quite shout it, but that comes with heat, anger, desperation and care, all at once. ] You're not a dead woman walking. You're a living person who got put into this shitty situation, Lux, and I'm not letting you sit there and condemn yourself before anyone's even cast a vote!

Fuck no. I told you, I'm in your corner, even if you aren't, and - If you're not fighting for you, then I sure as shit am!

[ hm! ]

... I do not mean to condemn myself, nor seek my own end, but only to say that the group at large will do what they will do. I think that we are only fussing over control that we do not have, and choices that will not matter. But I will do whatever puts the rest of you at ease.

At any rate, let us get back on track. Who is it that we are killing? Sakyou? Or Malik? [ and, after a pause, to be polite: ] Or Taichi.

[ this is not a comforting reaction. dimitri runs a hand through his hair, pulling at the roots with a sigh. ]

...I do not intend to obfuscate my crimes, but I will not fling myself at death's door, either. [ if someone tries to cover for him, though... well, it's probably fine. ] Nor will I stand by and allow you to take the fall for something all of us are responsible for.

By our metric thus far, Sakyou is the most able-bodied target, so that is my choice. We can put it to a vote.

[Her gaze darts from Ichiro and then to Luxanna, and then to Dimitri.

She has so many thoughts but for once she's able to keep all of them to herself. Her expression is neutral. The only emotion she's conveying is in the way she balls her hands up into fists, then forcibly relaxes them.]

Let's kill Sakyou.

[they're killing him to save his soul. Manwol knows this and yet she phrases it like this anyway. spiteful and mean as ever, even now]

I'm coming along too. If neither of you want to cover up your crimes, then I'll do it.

[ hate all of this. hate it. he just looks at lux for a while, and then tears his eyes away. today has been The Worst Day. ]

Fine. [ fuck. ]

[ she looks away! but a shadow thrives beside the light. ]

Sakyou it is.

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(ROLE) CULT 6.0

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