week 1

[airlockedmods]

Week 1

[After the reveal of their handsome and well-dressed but stern-looking Overseer on Sunday, the Champions were left to their own devices in investigating the mall to their hearts' content. At around 10 pm every night the lights in all the shops will go down and the sturdy metal grates over the doors of the restaurants will go down. The stores will remain unlocked, though.

On Monday morning, a buzzing alarm chirps at them again from their PIPs at 7 am on the dot. There's also a pop-up message waiting for them: a notice announcing Xander will be holding office hours

Enjoy your week, Champions.]

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Comments

[everylittlesecret]

[See, that's the Ardyn she figured he was. Someone who didn't consciously want to help, but did so anyways, possibly drawn by some feeling that these are "his people" just like she's been. It was a hard feeling to kill. It made her do something she wouldn't have otherwise. Reckless is not what she was about anymore, not since college and settling down in a quiet town.

That admission makes her look down and stare at the water.]

........ before this place, there was only one person who was ever happy I was alive. Today and last night... Everyone here is weird. [Nari isn't mad. She just sounds tired now, yet there is a small smile.

It feels nice to have people happy that she survived.]

[burninglight]

[Flatly:] They're all idiots.

...But perhaps that isn't such a terrible thing.

[everylittlesecret]

You can say that again. I don't think I'd mind claiming some as "our idiots", but we'll see how time goes. If nothing like what Pecs and I pulled last night happens again.

[burninglight]

Hopefully, the rest of us can at least plan out our stupid ideas a bit less recklessly.

[everylittlesecret]

Hey, I gotta use my college education for something. Even if it's just bombs. Not good for much else other than maybe first aid.

[burninglight]

I never said 'don't build a bomb'. I meant 'don't build a bomb without planning things out with the rest of us'.

Especially me. I do so love building things to ruin someone's day.

[everylittlesecret]

... so if I had an idea for a bomb that wouldn't do damage but would definitely ruin Overdick's day, you'd be down for that?

[burninglight]

...I'm not saying 'no', but I am also not saying 'yes'just yet. I don't want to learn about human pain tolerance the hard way if I can avoid that.

[everylittlesecret]

All I'm saying is that there is nothing in the rules about vandalizing his office. I just need a lubricant of some kind, glitter, and maybe whipped cream for added insult.

[She's getting 2/3 of those things from the gacha when she can get out of bed.]

[burninglight]

...

[Ardyn pulled back his sleeve and glanced through the rules on his PIP.]

If I were him, I could find a loophole or two justifying retaliation for that. Are you sure you want to push your luck this soon?

[everylittlesecret]

You think he's going to be dumb enough to try and punish me a second time with this response?

[burninglight]

He doesn't strike me as a smart man, Nari.

So yes.

[everylittlesecret]

... after last night, I think he's far more intelligent than anyone is giving him credit for. Burning Church's tattoo was deliberate. Electrocuting me like that was not something a dumb man would do.

[Oh boy remembering last night was still rough...]

He's testing us. I think... I think this is an experiment as much as it might be for entertainment if those cameras lead out anywhere.

[burninglight]

[Ardyn's hand curled into a fist against the fabric ofhis coat at the mention of Church's tattoo, eyes narrowing in anger not directed at Nari.]

It's not impossible that I underestimated him. But with all respect, were I in his place the pair of you would be dead to send a message. The fact that he didn't...it shows a flaw in the persona he tries to represent, and showing that is foolishness.

What kind of experiment are you thinking, precisely?

[everylittlesecret]

[Was the tattoo really that important that Ardyn is getting mad over it?]

He wants us to kill each other, right? This is a message, I think, that we are meant to follow that path. Him killing us would be a waste, but it wouldn't if we did it to each other. So... maybe it's an experiment to test us. Push us until someone does. Give us reasons to, like last night. He tried to get Church and I to turn on each other. Tried and failed. That really pissed him off. I know he'll do worse, that's a guarantee. [She digs her nails into the ice in the bowl.] I don't think we can stop it. Someone is going to pull the trigger.

[burninglight]

[He had no idea, but the distinct feeling he probably needed to punch Xander's lights out for it.]

...Well, I'm glad someone else is acknowledging the inevitable. Putting aside the human tendency for betrayal and selfishness, something is bound to crack eventually.

[everylittlesecret]

Oh! [She holds up the PIP.] These. This fucking thing. He can make it weigh us down and turn our powers off. So we can't fight. That's how he got us on the ground. It was like an anchor.

[burninglight]

Ffffffantastic.

[so close, ardyn.]

So that's where all of mine went.

[everylittlesecret]

And why mine are nowhere as strong as before...

[burninglight]

It makes sense. Between myself or Noctis alone, that one sword would be no more defense than a toothpick. Still, I'd quite like to have at least some of what's mine returned to me.

[everylittlesecret]

I don't think he'll let you have any of it. Not unless you'll kill with it.

[burninglight]

And I doubt 'I promise to kill someone' will work if I'm talking about him. Shame, that.

[everylittlesecret]

Makes me wonder why he didn't just take all my powers. Even in this state I could easily take out each and every one of you without blinking... then again, I think that might kill me too since I feel like my stamina has been cut well over half.

[burninglight]

[Ardyn unfolded his arms, looking to one hand in thoughtful silence.]

...That isn't what he wants. If it was just about killing everyone here...there wouldn't be Rule Eight, and I wouldn't be human. I could have killed all of you with scarcely any effort were I my usual self.

[everylittlesecret]

True... So if I was ever desperate enough to kill, I'd have to do my homework on who and how to kill........ thing is, none of you have given me a reason to even want to play with the thought. I'm hoping that doesn't change. People being alive is preferable to a dead body.