Week 2

[airlockedmods]

[Other than the reappearance of the Overseer, there's no real change in the routine. PAL still makes the morning and night time announcements through the PIP on each Champion's arm, and still the Champion unitards are freshly laundered and re-hung each morning in their closets.

No other floors unlock, but Cece and Kip will still be appearing randomly to chit-chat.

All you know is... something has to change soon.]

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday



[ooc: Don't forget to to turn in your AC for week 1 and submit your threads for the Benefactors!]

Comments

[brokencode]

I have information on the mansion, Kip Larimer, what happened to us, and the show itself. [She gave him a moment to process it, then spoke once more.]

Starting from the top, you were right in assuming that this was, indeed, a set. However, according to Kip, we are in space. I know most of you would prefer not to trust him but... he gave me a bit of information that he didn't need to -- maybe even shouldn't have given. I think it is fair to at least trust in this one thing.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[He nods along as she speaks, making headers for the four topics and filling the information beneath in some kind of hybrid English-Japanese shorthand.]

I spoke with him more since our last discussion, too. Whatever else he is-- [And there are many things Junpei thinks Kip is.] --I don't think he means to be actively malicious towards us.

[He glances up at her, then returns to his note-taking.]

I'll accept that, at the very least, Larimer believes we're in space. And that there's evidence corroborated by the space-faring experts among us to suggest that we are. Sound reasonable?

[brokencode]

We are in agreement on that point then. [Angel squinted at this method of writing, more curious about it than anything, but said nothing of it.]

I think that is a fair thing to assume, though. From what Cece told me, they know only a fraction more than we do. Her attempts to reach those in charge of this production have been met with silence. Moreover, we... were not what they were expecting.

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Because we're not actors?

[brokencode]

[Ah, he'd picked up on it too.]

Exactly. [She hoped this wasn't common knowledge. She'd been in a bit of a panic during their first brush with the Overseers, and hadn't retained much of what they had revealed to their assembled group.]

There is more, though. It seems that the amnesia theory was correct. Kip told me as much.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Really? He did?

[Junpei's pencil lines darken as he scratches that down. If that's been confirmed, it's a fact they can hold onto. Facts are always better than theories.]

What did he say? Did he say--did he tell you how or why?

[brokencode]

No. [She supplemented this with a firm shake of her head.]

He was very subtle about the whole thing, it isn't information we are supposed to know, you see. I mentioned that it was a theory that we were bouncing around, and he said it would not a bad theory to have.

I know it isn't much, and perhaps he is leading us astray. But with so many people watching him... it isn't as if he can tell us the truth outright.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Junpei mulls this over for a moment, then pencils in a small question mark next to what he was writing.]

Okay. That leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but it's a start to have something confirmed both by someone running the show and our own observations. Scars, people coming from the same place...

[brokencode]

Indeed. [She shifted a bit, rubbing at her arm as she did. If this was true, and if amnesia played into the profile discrepancies... five years was a lot of time in which a lot could happen.

And then, there was what Rhys had told her.]

It sounds like Kip and possibly Cece have files on all of us -- where we came from and the like. Perhaps we can get our hands on those?

[misanthropicprinciple]

[That's the most proactive approach he's heard from anyone this entire time. Junpei blinks at the rashness of it, then laughs once in spite of himself.]

Now that's a plan I can get behind.

[He puts his chin in his hand and starts to twirl his pencil.]

Obviously, we have to find out exactly where they're holed up and how to get past any locked doors, but I'm sure someone will come up with something brilliant.

[brokencode]

[To be fair, she intended something more along the lines of asking nicely or doing a bit of convincing and/or manipulative. So far, Kip had at least been willing to talk about things. But how far that kindness would go would have to be determined.]

I believe the same. We have you after all. [She paused, remembering his reaction to a similar statement all too vividly.] I only mean to say that you are very intelligent, and have a good head on your shoulders. Between you and Roland, I think we are in good hands.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Yeah, no, he still doesn't like that, but he can at least keep it to a flinch instead of blowing up at her.]

...Right. Uh... you, too.

[Okay. Wow. That was one of the lamest things he's ever said, and he's said a lot. He sighs and rubs the inner corners of his eyes.]

What I mean to say is... well, first of all, I'm actually kind of a hothead, so you should probably revise your notes a little on that point. Second of all, I'm sorry for snapping at you before. I don't... like being put in that role.

[Obviously. It's even right there on his profile. Dislikes: Heroics.]

The truth is, I don't want anyone to be "in my hands." It's gonna take way more than I'm capable of on my own to get myself out of this, let alone everyone else. So... I just want to concentrate on that.

[brokencode]

I understand. I will... do my best to keep such thoughts to myself from now on. [Congrats though, Junpei, Angel still quietly thinks of you as heroic. Oops.] As for your outburst, it is... not a problem I was toeing a very clear line and pushed too far. I apologize for that.

[He did bring her back to an important thought -- a thought of Vault Hunters and working in groups. It seemed especially relevant, given what he had said.]

Do you remember what set you off, about heroes working in groups? I think it still holds true. [She quickly held her hands up, in an attempt to dissuade any protests he might have had. She at least wanted to finish what she was saying.] I assure you that this is not an attempt at convincing you of your own heroism. Rather, it is a reminder that you are not alone, and an agreement that we will not be successful by ourselves. It will take all of us to find a way out of this mess.

[misanthropicprinciple]

...We can both agree on that.

[Even Junpei "Assume Everyone You Meet Is a Thief" Tenmyouji sees the wisdom of what she's saying, in his own way.]

Numbers are important. There are twenty of us here for a reason. If the idea is to form bonds under pressure... and if rule seven is there to provide that pressure...

[He taps the pencil eraser against the table as he thinks out loud.]

The nature of rule seven is that it sows mistrust. Given that, it seems like the experiment must be designed to have us overcome that mistrust and work together. While we're looking for a solution, we should keep that in mind. [He huffs and shakes his head.] Makes for a good show, too.

[brokencode]

In that case... [A serious look crossed over her face, and she peered at the man rather intensely. After their last quarrel, she was a little wary of pursuing this particular line of questioning.

But if he was serious about what he was saying, then asking it was only necessary.]

Can I trust you, Junpei?

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Junpei goes quiet, as if he has to think about the answer. If Angel wanted an enthusiastic "Of course!" it's not coming, and that may be answer enough. But he doesn't break eye contact, either, and his gaze is steady.]

You can trust... that I'm who I say I am. That everything I've told you is the truth about me.

['I'm not sticking my neck out for any of you.' He's serious about that. And:]

You should trust that I want to get out of here more than anyone else here.

[Junpei sounds earnest when he says that, too, like he doesn't think it's hyperbole. He wants out more than anyone. And that might be enough of an answer, too, but he goes on with the same matter-of-fact honesty:]

And trust that I don't trust rule seven worth a damn. That's what you can trust about me, Angel. I'm bitter, selfish, and would sell my own soul to Satan for one corn chip, but I'm not stupid.

[brokencode]

[It wasn't the answer Angel was hoping for, and yet... it was far more genuine than anything she might have expected. With that in mind, Angel seemed unperturbed by the answer, nodding silently but looking no more uneasy than she had been.]

Then I will trust in that much. [Angel nodded once more.] Likewise, you can trust in the information I have given you, and that I do not trust in even the mere presence of rule seven.

[Shifting in the slightest, Angel extended her hand across the table.]

Assuming that we are both not lying through our teeth, then, I look forward to working with you.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Junpei's eyes crinkle a little, like he almost wants to smile, as he reaches across to shake her hand. Good.]

Yeah. Pleasure's mine.

[Business partnership secured.]

Anything else to share with the class? I'm afraid I don't have anything so, uh, organized in return.

[brokencode]

[That's the closest thing to good humor she's seen from the man. Aside from his panty raves, of course. That was something she was trying hard to forget, and she'd only observed it from the sidelines.]

Some more information about the show we are on, if you are interested.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Uh, yeah, of course I am.

[Flicks the pencil into his hand again.]

What about it?