THE FIFTH INVESTIGATION

[airlockedmods]

[As usual, the day begins at seven a.m.

Good morning, Champions.]

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[serrata]

He's... sleeping...? Or getting some rest, at least. He hasn't woken up yet but Nari says he should recover just fine.

...

Physically, anyway.

[scourgingstars]

That's still considerably better than the alternative. As long as he's still alive, the rest can be seen to however we're able.

[...who is this vaguely sympathetic person and what has he done with ardyn izunia.]

[serrata]

[ It's Friday, no one is dead, and Ardyn Izunia is doing a reasonable impersonation of human-passing creature with empathy. Miracles are real and they happen on the Fantasy Sweet. ]

... I hope so. I just...

[ she sighs. rubs her face in that way she does when she's at a loss for something to do with her hands. ]

Rhys-san. Angel-chan, and now... Choromatsu-kun.

[ The third born. Very nearly their third lost. ]

[scourgingstars]

I'll be entirely straightforward with you--I have no ability to fault someone for making a choice like that. But this isn't like Rhys and Angel. He doesn't have some murderous voice in his head, and he actually has something to return to last I was aware.

This can't continue for much longer. If it does, even the best of us are likely to crack beneath the pressure.

[serrata]

... I know.

[ This week, she knows, is a miracle. After the pattern set so far, she'd be an idiot to think this was anything other than a reprieve even if she truly hopes that it means something different. ]

But it's... it's like you said. It's an interruption to...

[ she tilts her head, inclining it in the direction of the nearest camera, the most visible indication they have of PAL's eyes and ears everywhere. ]

Maybe we can... I don't know. Take advantage of it, somehow.

[scourgingstars]

I'm not all that optimistic regarding our chances. But if we're absurdly fortunate, there's some chance we can stop falling to utter pieces with a break in the routine and pull ourselves together.

[serrata]

I don't blame you. ... I'd like to be, though.

[ She thinks of Queenie's fortune: you are going to do wonderful things together. It's enough to make her crack just the slightest smile. ]

This is a one in a million chance in this place and I'd like to see if we can take it. Even if it's just giving ourselves some extra time to... I don't know. Heal. Come up with a plan of action.

[scourgingstars]

Someone has to be something resembling hopeful, at this point. Time is certainly something we could use a little more of without some terrible cataclysm interrupting things.

[serrata]

... Hm.

[ Now there's a thought. ]

Speaking of interruptions... don't you think that's strange? Apart from the morning announcement... we haven't heard from PAL at all.

[scourgingstars]

I hadn't noticed, but now that you mention I've not heard anything. It's possible he simply doesn't see any need to speak up, without an investigation to announce, but...on the other hand, it's odd he would say nothing at all.

[serrata]

Exactly. I would've thought he'd... I don't know. Tell us off for interfering or something like that. The fact that he's being so quiet has me a little worried.

[scourgingstars]

Maybe he thought another suicide would be boring and he chose not to object this time. A tale following a strict routine would get terribly dull, so he could merely be allowing some measure of suspense.

[serrata]

[ She pulls a face. ]

That wouldn't surprise me. He does so hate being bored.

[ An irritated huff. ]

I wonder what he'll have to say for himself, though. When he does eventually come crawling back.

[scourgingstars]

Who knows--if the usual holds he'll likely speak up in a few days at most.

[serrata]

So either way, we'll find out soon enough.

[ She finds her gaze drawn back to the camera, with the feeling that it's as close to looking PAL in the eye as she's going to get. ]

... How much of all this are they going to even broadcast, do you think? Maybe they'll make it the highlight of today's episode.

[ the most scornful italics. ]

[scourgingstars]

Enough to keep things interesting. [He glanced to the nearest camera, rolling his eyes disdainfully.] Likely presented as a sudden plot twist and break in routine. People love when things defy expectations for the sake of dramatics.

[serrata]

Dramatic music, lots of quick cuts and probably a cliffhanger cut to commercial just to keep the tension going. I can just imagine it.

I just-- I don't understand how people can watch something like this. Even if they just think it's a TV show, it's not real... how can it be fun to watch? Sitting back and seeing people hurt and dying and killing every week.

[ she says in a tone that implies she doesn't realize she's basically answered her own question. ]

[scourgingstars]

Because people adore the thrill of bloodshed, Yuuri--fictionalized or otherwise. They want heroes to cheer on, and monsters to celebrate the defeat of.

[serrata]

... You're right and I really, really hate it.

[ So fierce, Rii-san. ]

As long as they get a good story out of it... who cares who lives and who dies?

[scourgingstars]

I learned through experience. I don't like it any more than you.

[ardyn, jesus lucian christ.]

But that's the situation we're faced with right now.

[serrata]

... hm.

[ And suddenly -- she looks a little more pensive than she was before. As if something's just clicked. ]

... monsters to celebrate the defeat of. Or a common enemy for everyone to stand up against. That kind of thing?

[ It sounds like she's just had an inkling of a thought. ]

[scourgingstars]

That's the idea of it...why? What are you thinking?

[serrata]

... Do you remember what Kip-san said to us, back when this all started? I mean, he said a lot and he said it all very fast but just as he was leading us all inside, he called this an "experiment". The whole show was an experiment about how people form bonds in stressful environments. I'd forgotten all about it until now -- it honestly just sounded like something they'd fed him to get him to sign on.

... but... what better way to make people bond than giving them a common enemy? Something big, threatening, something so cruel we don't have any choice but to band together and stand up against it.