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]

... 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.

[scienceofmagic]

...I think I understand why... It chose you...

[ She's not going to move, but she is shaking. Why? Why can she be forgiven just like this? Surely Chariot suspects a lot of how bad that strike went was because of her? That so much has gone wrong? It hurts, and she's suddenly feeling all that weight of her actions bearing down on her. ]

...I was a fool.

[theirmagic]

... It... doesn't matter why it picked me anymore. I lost it. I... I ruined my chance. So in the end, we're in the same position. Don't... don't hold me up above you. [ She'll let go, but she will linger. There is some worry on her face--it's clear she's concerned about Croix's well-being right now. ] Whatever you think you did wrong, whatever happened back then, it's... it's fine. I forgive you. I know... you didn't mean any harm. You always were so hard on yourself... but look at how much you've already achieved. The advances you brought to Luna Nova, they're not something just any Witch would think of.

[scienceofmagic]

[ OH BOY DID YOU HAVE TO BRING THAT UP. ]

.............I didn't... Do that for the good of the academy.

[ SHE THOUGHT YOU SUSPECTED THINGS GREAT WITCHES WHY DON'T YOU SUSPECT THINGS??? ]

[theirmagic]

... W-what do you mean? ... I-I admit that, at first, I was concerned it was going to be something like the Dream Fuel Spirit, but... I admit that I was probably overly suspicious because I was... still angry.

[ ... She has no idea. She just... has no idea. Great Witches help them all. ]

[scienceofmagic]

...I came to build my own way to the Grand Triskellion. The Sorcery Solution System was... To make sure no one from Luna Nova, no one who could reach Arcturus... Could interfere. I could... Cut them off, if I needed to.

[ ...Oh boy Chariot is going to hate her so much because she did awful things. ]

...I also... Built a popular app while I began to sow discontent among the people outside of Luna Nova... In order to collect negative emotions. Anger, hatred... They had the strongest response... I could build the Noir Rod with it and... Force my way there with it...

[theirmagic]

... W-what?

[ These words. "Noir Rod". An app about sowing negativity--wasn't there enough dissent in the community?! ]

Then, the riots that had started... Croix, please... please tell me you didn't... cause that... I know you thought you could use the Dream Fuel Spirit for something more, bu-but... that's...

[scienceofmagic]

...I just... Encouraged the hostilities. So that people would vent their frustrations into the app and funnel it to me.

[ Chariot will never forgive her. She's done such horrible things. So many awful, awful things. She's hurt so many people. ]

[theirmagic]

... Then it's not too late to stop it. You could... turn the bad effects off, right?

[ She frowns. This is... deeply unsettling, to say the least. Honestly if they hadn't just had this entire conversation, yeah, she'd be really angry. But as it is, she's just worried. ]

[scienceofmagic]

Not from here. Until we can get back, it'll just keep building and building.

[ ...Ha. Haha... There's the possibility that it might build up too much, too. Oops. ]

[theirmagic]

... [ Well shit. ] H-how long do you think we'd have before it overloaded and caused a problem? Would... Luna Nova even be safe?