gatonina | Audience: Belph

[a pause, there.]

Um... Which one? Yin Yu?

No. Someone else, who wasn't on the bus or on the profiles.

Looks like it isn't just the three of you here.

[a hum, and they finish putting stuff on their tray.]

Everyone who's here is accounted for, Belph. Were they nice?

Well, they were pretty skittish, making it hard to tell, to be honest.

So, who are they?

[they huff out a laugh.]

Well, what's your theory?

Well, if I wasn't convinced this was going to be a killing game before, I definitely would be now because you're doing the same cryptic answering-with-a-question our hosts liked to do.

They said they were stuck here like us.

We are literally begging you not to kill each other, you jerk.

[deadpan, followed by a sigh as they proceed to walk over to a table. they're hungry.]

Haven't you heard of teaching a man to fish?

[following...]

I'm lazy, remember? Also I don't think that when a camper reports suspicious beings on site, camp counselors are supposed to ask, "well, child, why do you think they're there?"

Good thing I'm not a counselor, then! That's some shitty counseling, if ever I heard one.

So, are you going to explain why someone else is stuck here?

Did you get amnesia in the, like, thirty seconds since I said everyone is accounted for?

Is there a reason you're being deliberately vague about the answer?

[their head turns in his direction, as if they were staring at him.

and for whatever reason, belph will feel like he's being... judged?

no words. just judging.]

[this has zero effect on him because he's always being judged!]

Thanks, I feel the love.

You've had people here before, right? Are they a remnant of one of those journeys?

...Is this what they call selective amnesia?

[a huff.]

We told you, we've never had guests before. It's always been the three of us here. Did you listen to what I said at all?

Ah, my apologies. I was thinking of our bus friend, since you all have the same penchant for vague answers.

Did they arrive around the same time as us, at least?

Maybe it's cultural. Ever considered that? [shrugs.] I don't think you need to be spoon fed answers, Belph.

[...]

We're just people who, according to all of you, were dragged here by some glitch. These tasks are just a way to kill time while you figure out what's up with the portal, etc. You want us gone as much as we want to be out of here, supposedly. The three of you are the ones who've tried to present this situation to be as innocent and simple as possible.

[he shakes his head.]

Listen, I don't have a problem with you, personally. But if I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're not being purposely unhelpful, then the primary reason to not just give a straightforward answer is because you have ulterior motives and/or are hiding something relevant to us. Why should it matter if you're spoonfeeding people answers?

[he taps his finger against the nearest surface, idly.]

It's Thursday. We're all on edge. I'm aware that we're going to be knocked out tonight, for reasons none of you have mentioned. Can you blame anyone for being sick of guessing games when they've never meant anything good?

[...hm. they silently poke at their food for a while, letting him go off. once a couple of seconds have passed and if's clear he's finished, they move their hands away from the table to rest them on their lap, faced turned to the floor.]

As long as none of you kill, there is nothing for you to worry about. [tonelessly, fussing with the hem of their skirt.] Do you think someone will go behind all our backs, and do the one thing we've begged you not to do?

[he smiles, though mirthlessly.]

Yes? Zero faith in people. Or, who knows, maybe we'll get one of the other places' schtick and there'll be possession involved or whatever.

[they slowly shake their head.]

No, that's not something you have to worry about. There are no demons, or houses, or corruptions.

Great, so we'll all be personally responsible for our own demise like before.

When you said that everyone here is accounted for, does every single being in the campsite this week has a profile on the bulletin board?

...The bunnies don't.

[a snort]

Touche.

But that means that Mask Guy, in some way or another, does? That, or it's the opposite and they're not "here" and therefore don't have a profile.

[a shrug.]

If you catch them around again, ask them.

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axilium - 2020-06-12 06:37 (UTC) - Expand

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gatonina - 2020-06-12 21:46 (UTC) - Expand