Round 2 Test Drive Meme

[strangerpeople]

15 STRANGERS ROUND 2 TEST DRIVE There are 15 strangers in this place. Someone knows why. And its clear the odds are stacked against you. 1. ARRIVAL You're here, in the Mall. Wherever the Mall might be, right? And what happened to your powers? Your memories? Who else has been so unlucky as to be brought in with you? Also, why are the rules littered with emojis!? 2. POWER You have been, er, "blessed" with a power. Its not a power you want or care for, but its yours now. You might want to try an control it, lest you hurt someone else. That is...unless you want to. Just don't blow up any public property while you're at it! 3. HOME So now you live in a mall! All right! Modern conveniences galore! And hey, there's a cat cafe and a bar! Maybe living here forever won't be so bad. Unless you're looking for a way out, but surely, you wouldn't do that, right? 4. MINIGAME The Life Coach has decided to do 'games'. Those who win the games will get prizes, the Life Coach has promised. The Test Drive Meme's minigame: a costume contest! The best costume made in five hours wins! Work alone, or in teams - the Life Coach is ok with either~! 5. MOTIVE The Life Coach has announced the motive for the week. Clearly someone really wants to give you a reason to kill someone. How will you react? Will you stand against such an insult and help others to fight the temptation? Or perhaps, you yourself are tempted...? 6. DEATH One of your own has died - no, been killed. The Inquisition has started. The body lies before you, and now you must discern the truth from the clues before you. But can you when you mourn? Or, perhaps you don't mourn the dead. Perhaps you're only playing along because you know more than you let on. 7. TRIAL Well, it looks like the Life Coach wasn't kidding when they said there would be a trial. So now you're here, looking to condemn the responsible killer. If you do, they die. If you don't, you die. Whatever happens, you have to figure out what happened. Can you? 8. WILDCARD Anything not mentioned above. Go wild!

Comments

[theirmagic]

[ ... She can't be serious. Can she really... say something like that? ... Sure, them not knowing how to use these abilities well might be similar to the old days, a little bit, but... ]

... Do you really think that?

They need to address things

[scienceofmagic]

...Mm, it is a bit different. You're not as energetic as you used to be.

[ She always admired that, how she never let anything stop her from smiling. ]

...But it's almost like the cafeteria back then. The food's just different.

this is gonna be painful

[theirmagic]

[ ... Shit, she noticed.

... Uh... ]

W-well--

[ She also never used to have this stutter, really... or just, in general, be such an anxious wreck. ]

Of course, I would definitely say the food at Luna Nova was very different...! H-ha ha ha! And besides, we're both teachers now. We can't be expected to run around like we used to... it'd set a bad example for the students...

[scienceofmagic]

...You've changed a lot, Chariot. I guess we both have.

[ Listen, being in a life or death situation tends to bring up a lot of feelings. Including reminding her how she felt watching you so long ago, when you put on shows. She was your biggest fan. ]

...Don't worry. Nothing will happen to you.

[ "Not while I'm around." ]

[theirmagic]

... I haven't changed... I was... always like this...

[ She looks down. She's definitely messing with her skirts now. ]

... Croix... is that true? ... Or would you want to get rid of me?

[scienceofmagic]

[ ...Does she... Really think that...? Something about that... Hurts... ]

...Chariot... Do you remember you last show? And what happened afterwards?

[ How she erased memories... Of that horrible last show... ]

[theirmagic]

[ ... Yeah, she's definitely not looking happy now. ]

How could I possibly have forgotten it?!

[scienceofmagic]

...I erased people's memories of that show.

[ Did... Chariot ever know? Did she fail to mention it. ]

[theirmagic]

[ ... ]

...

[ She just covers her face with her hands. Takes a breath. Then looks at Croix, with a very stern expression. ]

Of course you did. It would be a problem if it came back to you, wouldn't it, if people found out you used me to steal their magic.

[scienceofmagic]

...I did it for you.

[ She... Won't look up at Chariot, though. Just hold her drink, clinking the melting ice idly. ]

It had nothing to do with me.

[theirmagic]

... Are you... are you honestly going to pretend it had nothing to do with you? What you said to me... Croix, if you really cared about me, you wouldn't have lied to me and made me hurt people!

[ Her fists are clenched. She's not... she's not really going to do anything but she's... obviously upset. And she might be trying to hide some of that behind her hat a little bit. ]

To say it was for me... that was the last show I ever did. In no small part... because of what happened. No, it wasn't entirely your fault, I needed to be glamorous, I needed to be... more than I could be, but--

[ ... She just... she doesn't know what to believe or feel right now. She's quiet for a long moment, and then she finally just says: ]

One of my brightest, strongest students... can't fly... because of me.

[scienceofmagic]

[ Croix goes silent for a bit. It's weird. She'd never thought this would affect Chariot as much as it did. Chariot was always boisterous, bouncing back from everything. Always wearing a smile. She thought that breakdown was a one-time thing, but seeing Chariot like this... So upset at herself instead of moving full steam ahead...

When she finally answers, she's quiet. ]

...You never needed to be more.

[ ...Maybe she did hesitate because of Chariot. Because to get away with this crime, she'd have to... ]

...No matter what anyone said, you never had to be more. I... I went to all of your shows. I won't lie, I was jealous--

[ Was? ]

--but I keep remembering this time, when we were still at school. When you used the Claiomh Solais to transform and you made me laugh. That memory... Is precious to me. So when that last show went wrong, all I could think was... That I needed to protect you.

[theirmagic]

... It was... never enough, for the people. They demanded bigger and better. ... I just... wanted to make them smile, but my own power... it's funny. I was just too weak. So I needed your spell... to do the only thing I ever wanted to do... and even then, I couldn't manage. I ruined... almost everything. And so many lives... [ ... She's smiling, but it's not a happy smile. It's... wry. ] ... I'm surprised you remember that. It reminds me--that's... something the Fountain of Polaris showed to Miss Kagari...

[scienceofmagic]

...You always seemed so strong. Like nothing could ever stop you. ...I guess I thought you couldn't be. [ There's a bitter laugh. ...This is... All her fault, isn't it? She caused Chariot to second-guess herself that day, didn't she? ]

[theirmagic]

It was... my fault. More than anyone else's. [ ... She doesn't blame her. Not for that, at least. In her mind, it's her fault. ] ... If we must speak of back then, there is something I'd like to ask you. Do you remember what I'd say, in all of my shows? At the end?

[scienceofmagic]

..."Believe in yourself. That is your magic." Right?

[ ...Of course Croix doesn't remember saying that herself. It was so long ago. She was just trying to cheer Chariot up, because she kept trying. ]

[theirmagic]

... Yeah. That phrase... do you even remember where it came from?

[ Blatant look. And maybe a small smile. ]

[scienceofmagic]

...I thought you came up with that. It seemed like you.

[ So much has happened, really. Especially for Croix. Ten years... Is a long time. Fifteen or so is longer. ]

[theirmagic]

... No, silly. It was... you told me that. And... the way it helped me... it was my hope that it would help other people, too. They were powerful words, Croix. Your words. [ She... wanted to incorporate them into her act, because it just felt right. ]

[scienceofmagic]

[ "You told me that." It feels like a punch in the gut. A single, off-hand comment that Chariot held dear. A single comment that became Chariot's entire motivation. And Croix forgot, because it wasn't a big deal to her. Just an off-hand comment that was meant to help the kid obviously trying as hard as she could to keep going. Croix brings a hand to her face. ] ...I... Had no idea.

[theirmagic]

I... I honestly thought it was obvious, I hadn't considered you didn't remember saying it... [ She gives a nervous sort of half-chuckle. ] I wanted a way for you to be a part of all of my shows, and it just seemed like the right thing to do. I could inspire people the same way you inspired me, I felt.

[scienceofmagic]

It was... An off-hand comment. I saw you losing hope, so I... I just wanted to help you.

[ ...She feels so stupid, how could she forget that? So much seems so trivial as she sits here, compared to how much fun they had. And hearing that puts so much in perspective--how much Chariot was inspired by her. Her, Croix. The quiet and reserved girl who was shy and really didn't want the spotlight, just doing her duty as a Meridies witch because she was expected to be the best.

...Why...? ]

I was... Inspiring...?

[theirmagic]

[ ... She'll fiddle with her fingers a bit. Does she feel awkward? Yes she does. She thought... Croix knew this... ] ... You believed in me when no one else did. When even I didn't believe in myself. You pushed me to work harder... you were my first real fan! [ ... Fuck it, she's coming over to you. To stand by you. To gingerly place a hand on your shoulder. ] Croix, you were a big part of why I wanted to do those shows so badly... I wanted to help make people smile, the same way I was able to help you. I didn't want fame or fortune... I mean, you see how people think about Chariot nowadays... she's not exactly looked upon well. "Flashy magic with no substance..."

[scienceofmagic]

[ ...She feels like a fool. Croix really was her first fan. Ha. How funny. Now, just a little bit, she can see why the Claiomh Solais chose her. Something so small... ]

...You're a better friend than I deserve, Chariot du Nord.

[ She's not sure what she wants anymore, suddenly. But the motive has, in one conversation, become about as appealing as eating pickled slugs. ]

[theirmagic]

... Croix... [ ... She considers the situation. Honestly...? What it seems like Croix needs most right now? Is a hug. And... she can't really stay angry. It's... it's hard to, in light of seeing her like this. Hearing what she says. Croix had always meant well, hadn't she...? She could be a bit extreme, but... maybe she simply got lost in her own mind. So she will bend over and give her a hug. ] ... I'm sorry. That you suffered so much because of me. I never deserved the Shiny Rod. But I promise... it's in good hands now. Miss Kagari... she'll do wonderful things with it. I think she can actually do it. Without even trying, she's already awakened a few of the Words... and all this, with the handicap I placed on her. She has the dedication and confidence I lacked. I think she'll be able to change things for the better, just like you wanted.