[WEEK 1 GY POST: Bring out your dead]

[purrtagonist]

[he awakens with a start in his bed in the House of Hearts, long after the investigation has concluded. the first thing he does is bolt upright, hand flying to the side of his head where Croix's blow knocked him unconscious, then to his right eye which is. . . huh. completely whole again. his heart hammering madly in his chest is evidence enough that he isn't dead (he. . . thinks?), so after one or two steadying breaths to reorient himself, he slips out of his bed and through the front door]

[he meanders for a bit. everything in the Hare's Abode looks exactly the same, and there are people milling about everywhere, talking about the evidence they found, the bodies they found. it's probably a good thing he has yet to go to the market and see his own, uh. head, honestly. but no matter who he runs into, no matter how hard he shouts and waves his hands, no one seems to notice him, which is. . . well. disconcerting.]

[for the fellow dead? Akira can be found standing outside the Timeshare, staring at the bloody footprints as he twirls his cat mask around his finger. look ma, no mask!!]

[his expression is blank. unreadable. shoulders tense, posture stiff. let's dead person party guys!!]

Comments

[headingsouth]

[her expression darkens when Ursula tries to offer herself up]

That's very true.

[She knows the other woman can't hear her, but]

Don't be a fool, Chariot! Live!

[nonidentity]

... That woman means something to you, then.

[headingsouth]

[CROIX'S NOT GOING TO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THAT but her silence is enough to confirm]

[that she's super gay]

[after a beat]

She's a fool.

[yeah you said that loser]

[nonidentity]

[...]

Then, if you do not wish for her to rejoin you, may she avoid death.

[Since her death wouldn't serve any purpose to the rest of them either, probably?? Unless she also has a role.]

[headingsouth]

[she jerks her head over, why are you so weird Ferim]

You'd say that to the woman who murdered you?

[nonidentity]

[he's not weird?????? ur the weird one]

My existence has already ceased since before this place. What happens to me now is of no consequence.

[headingsouth]

Still......

[she actually looks like she feels bad, incredible]

What do you mean by that?

[nonidentity]

[??? Ferim doesn't get it but okay.]

I was created for a purpose. Having fulfilled it, I disappeared. My presence here was an anomaly from the beginning; this body I inhabit should have already faded.

[headingsouth]

So what is your reason to continue?

[nonidentity]

I do not have one. One way or another, when this is all over, I assume I will cease to exist once more.

[headingsouth]

You don't have anything you want to live for?

[nonidentity]

[?]

I have completed my duty.

[headingsouth]

What of your own desires and feelings? You don't have any of those?

[nonidentity]

I am not human. I was not meant to possess such things.

[headingsouth]

There are many things that happened that weren't "meant" to. You're here now. You can develop them.

[KIND OF IRONIC COMING FROM HER but she's... semi-trying to be helpful]

[nonidentity]

[croix you are the weirdest person to be telling him this]

I do not know how to do that.

[headingsouth]

[she's going through a redemption arc let her unlive]

You've observed us humans, haven't you? What have you picked up? Isn't there anything we have or do that interests you?-

[nonidentity]

Everything you do is intriguing. You are a contradictory species beyond my comprehension.

[headingsouth]

Surely there is some part of that you covet -- that you want to try, yourself.

[1/4]

[nonidentity]

[......................]

[nonidentity]

[Hold on, he needs to shovel some ice into his mouth.]

[nonidentity]

[......................]

[nonidentity]

I once felt a human's sense of determination—it was remarkable, and something I lack. And shortly before I ceased to exist, I experienced what humans might call "happiness".

Those are the emotions that give humans reason to live even though their existences are filled with struggle, are they not?

[headingsouth]

[why are you like this]

[stop eating ice]

Something like that. Determination is what allows humans to make dreams into reality -- or that's what Chariot would say.

[Croix doesn't offer any comment to whether she believes it, herself]

You could strive for your own happiness.

[nonidentity]

[ICE IS DELICIOUS, WHY DOES NO ONE UNDERSTAND THIS.]

How would I achieve something like that in this place?

[They're. Sort of dead.]