notasstrange | 15 STRANGERS ROUND 7 TEST DRIVE

15 STRANGERS ROUND 7
TEST DRIVE

There are 15 strangers (give or take a few, this time around) on the ship. Regardless, someone wants you all dead. Why? ~~And what is a funyarinpa?...~~
1. ARRIVAL
It's time to wake up in your berth on this not-so-fantastic voyage. Why are you here? What happened to your powers? Memories? Who are these other people that've also been abducted? And...what is that smell?...

2. POWER
It turns out you have been...'gifted' a power. It's not something you asked for, but you've got it now. It might be best to figure out how they work. Or don't. It's up to you. From chaos comes order, after all!

3. HOME
Well, may as well make yourself comfortable for the foreseeable future on this ship. It's not like Zero is letting you go anywhere they don't want you to go. But perhaps you can find something that can help you get out of this situation! Or...maybe you want to give up and just drink in the lounge. That's an option too! Either way, you and your fellow Strangers won't be bored, at least?

4. MINIGAME
Apparently Zero has decided you're not entertaining enough on your own, so now you're being tasked with playing in this game. And why not? You're technically on a cruise ship, so why not have some games? You could put some effort into the game, or maybe you're just done with this [BLEEP] by now-it's your choice on what to do.

5. MOTIVE
You knew this was coming. Zero has decided they've waited long enough to see some bloodshed, and have released a motive to incentivize you into killing someone else. How are you feeling about it? What motive has Zero come up with? And...are you thinking about doing it...?

6. DEATH
It's happened. One of your number has passed on-killed by another Stranger left in your group. There they lay, clear as day. It's officially time to investigate. How will you do so? Look over the body? Look around the room for evidence? Find a room that you believe is suspicious and search there? Or maybe you aren't up for investigating and would rather mourn your loss or pass out. It's up to you.

7. TRIAL
It's time to focus-either you solve this case, condemning someone to death for the murder they committed, or you vote incorrectly, executing an innocent person. You've got a limited time to figure out what happened, and if you get it wrong, everyone dies. Take a deep breath, look at the evidence, and do your best to nail down the guilty party before its too late!

8. GUILTY
...Oh. It turns out you were the one responsible for what happened-you are the murderer! Why did you do it? Was it the motive? Was it something else? Are you sorry? Or was everything that has happened between you and the survivors a means to an end? Now is the time to confess everything-you're not likely to get another chance before you're executed!

9. WILDCARD
Have an idea that wasn't mentioned above? Do it! Go crazy!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[No no no this is terrible, he doesn't want people to question him! He's just going to sit in this dark corner and... and... grow mushrooms or something.

It's not your fault, Roland. The only person Idia finds approachable and comforting is his little brother. There's a trembling, quiet mumble from within the Ball of Curled-Up Idia.]

G'way....

I'm afraid I simply can't leave you alone right now, my dear boy.

[ How could he leave someone who clearly was not doing well mentally after hearing what the motive for murder was?

Clearly something was on the young man's mind right at the moment and it wouldn't sit right with him to leave him be.

What if this one choice resulted in Idia going through with a murder or something? His expression softened and crossed his arms over his chest. ]

Please. I merely wish to help.

[Please, if Idia tried to kill anyone, they'd just get him first. He's a harmless noodle....

Sort of.]

D-- don't need your h-- help! L-- leave me alone!

[If he curls up any tighter he'll break bones.]

Idia...

[ Oh how his heart is breaking! Let it be said that he's never been one to leave people be when situations get grim. ~~Something Olivier and Vanitas both bemoaned greatly.~~ ]

Is it about the motive? If so... do you fear people may change their opinion of you if they go through with revealing your secrets?

[ It's just a guess, based on what he's seen thus far. He could be wrong. Either way he does not seem like he's going to simply go away so easily. ]

[He hates this guy so much. Why doesn't the idiot just stop drawing attention to him?! Idia can feel the eyes of everyone in the area on him and it makes him cringe harder, his spark-spitting hair starting to flicker with traces of green and yellow along with the occasional lick of orange. He raises his face just enough to glare at Roland with narrowed yellow eyes.]

I-- if you th-- think you know m-- me so well, then w-- why are y-- you asking?! [Despite the anxious stutter, Idia spits the words out with surprising venom.] Y-- you think I'm g-- gonna t-- tell you e-- everything s-- so they c-- can't use it a-- against me? G-- gonna save everybody th-- that way?

[ Let it be said that Roland had never been the most perceptive to when people are angry with him, but he's also dealt with very prickly people before so he's gotten a tiny bit better with reading them. Maybe it was also thanks in part to catching the tinges of other color in the young man's fiery hair that helped, or just the look he was given at that moment. ]

If you remove what they hold as a weapon against you, then doesn't the weapon become useless?

[ For a moment, gone was the cheery, positive nature and his voice seemed truly quite serious as he cast a glance to those who may have been listening nearby. He then drew a pen and some paper he had in his pocket, and wrote his room number on it neatly. ]

I'm not asking you to tell me everything now, but perhaps one on one without others around. [ Roland set this piece of paper down next to Idia quietly, then raised himself up to his full height once more. ] I know I cannot save everyone, but I wish to do what I can to prevent any unnecessary deaths.

[ Look at him even giving the young man some space, too. Though it was hard to resist his instincts to stay close to him. ]

I'll leave you be, but know that if you choose to speak with me? Nothing will change my opinion of you.

[The spikiness of his hair dies down, the sparks stopping as the flames dim noticeably. But while the orange flickers don't appear, the green and yellow spread to nearly half. It might be pretty if not for the body language hinting at what those colors could mean. Idia lowers his forehead back to his knees, his tone slipping into quiet misery again. It takes too much energy to be angry with these kind-to-a-fault types, and if there's anything Idia doesn't have right now, it's energy.]

... you can't guarantee that... everybody has a limit of what they can stomach, so m-- maybe I'll hit yours. I can't d-- die here, I have to get back. I... I have something important to do....

You won't. [ Roland speaks with absolute confidence with a note of something grim within his voice. He knows he can't be seen by Idia right now but that doesn't stop the distant look within his green eyes. ] I stand by what I said before.

[ A small exhale and his shoulders relax slightly. In his heart he knows the other might disregard what he's about to say but it doesn't deter him even a little. ]

To the best of my ability I will do what I can to see you returned home safely.

... even if it means sacrificing yourself for someone you don't know?

[Idia raises his head again, and those eyes look dead and empty now.]

Nobody's that selfless, especially not when their lives are on the line. I could be a... a horrible person... and you'd throw yourself away for me? What a fool.

In my line of work, I do it every day. To fight and protect innocent civilians from harm, which means putting one's life on the line to do so.

[ There's something of a wry smile that's fallen across Roland's face, a quiet acknowledgment that perhaps Idia is right about what he'd called him. ]

You truly don't strike me as a horrible person. I never once got that impression from you.

....

[Another sigh. How is someone as young as Idia so tired and jaded? Who knows?]

Well, you're wrong. I'm a monster... that's all.

[No stuttering, just spoken like a cold, hard fact. Those dead, empty eyes stare through the floor ahead of him.]

You don't need to know more than that. Should be all you need, and if you still think I'm worth your time and energy? It's not like I can stop you goody-two-shoes types. You're better off protecting Kalim, he's a cheerful guy, probably worth saving.

[ For just a second? All he can see before him is Vanitas. Someone so impossibly jaded and like they've really been through a lot of things in his young years, though there was also something he couldn't put his finger on. ]

Even so. I really don't think you're a monster until i've absolutely seen it for myself.

[ Roland shook his head. There was so many things he wanted to say but didn't wish to overwhelm him more than he likely had already. ]

Both of you are still young and have a lot to live for and I will do what I can to keep you safe. [ One hand pointed to the paper he'd set near Idia. ] Once again, if you wish to speak to me one on one about any matters? Don't hesitate to drop by my room and we can talk.

... fine. Don't hold your breath, though. I'll probably be dead before you can blink. I'm an easy target, can't really fight back.

[Even with his new power, Idia's still a scrawny nerd. If there are no machines around to manipulate, the ability is useless anyway.]

Don't forget to watch your own back. You're too nice, somebody's gonna take a shot at you, too.

15 STRANGERS ROUND 7 TEST DRIVE

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