[catch all for luna!]

[survivaltricks]

Comments

[brokethefirst]

W-what? Oh...

[She starts, like a child who was just about to be caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Um. Mmm.]

It's... It's okay. I, um... needed to take a look anyway.

Is everything okay?

[survivaltricks]

Yeah. Everything's fine.

[despite her protests, he is fetching a fresh roll of bandages as he approaches. let!! him!!! fuss!!!]

I wanted to see how you were doing, and also update you on some stuff I found out recently.

[as he speaks, his gaze flickers towards the necklace she is now wearing. the one he recalls from her memory]

[brokethefirst]

I'm... [Her eyes stay trained on her arm, the metal and circuits exposed and sticky with white.] ...I don't know. I have a lot to think about, I suppose. Um...

[Her free hand moves to fidget with the birdcage pendant at her collarbone, a motion of comfort.]

...What sort of things did you find out?

[survivaltricks]

[a lot to think about. . .? his smile fades a bit, concern flickering to life in his eyes]

Some things about Master Blue, and the nature of this "game" we're playing. But. . .

[he watches her fiddle with the necklace, fingers toying with the birdcage almost idly]

Did you remember what happened?

[brokethefirst]

[...]

In a manner of speaking, yes.

I don't think it's quite as important as Blue, though. So... please. Go ahead.

[survivaltricks]

[he never got the full story from Ayabe, did he. . . Akira's frown deepens as he leans his crutch against the wall (keeping himself upright by evenly distributing his weight between his good leg and his prosthetic) and reaches for Luna's arm. his fingers gently brush up against the "skin" on the other side of said arm, where there are no exposed circuits]

I want to hear your side of the story when I'm done talking about Master Blue, if you don't mind telling me.

[but. . . for now? he is gonna try to bandage her arm while he speaks]

Akechi met with Master Blue yesterday. In person.

[brokethefirst]

[Considering her limited motion, she'll stay compliant, eyes widening only when he mentions Akechi.]

W...what?

I thought Blue only communicated through the letters... Is... is he in his room upstairs??

[survivaltricks]

[Akira nods as he carefully begins to wrap the bandages around Luna's arm again]

They are.

[he keeps his gaze focused on his work, but he does look up to her from time to time as he speaks]

Akechi had a crystal ball that allowed him to see the future. When he used it, he received a date and a time. And at that date and time, he received a letter from Master Blue telling him to ring the second bell.

Akechi obliged, and was granted an audience with Blue themselves.

[an exhale]

I managed to meet with Blue face-to-face this morning, too.

[brokethefirst]

[She lets out a breathless sound, as though it's a little difficult to finally hear that the master of the house was actually real.]

Are... are they a person? The ghosts have all been so vague, and... and I've been assuming this whole time...

[survivaltricks]

They're-- something.

[god. how does he describe Master Blue. . .?]

They're definitely person-shaped. Akechi said they were a god, and I'd believe it, too.

[a pause]

And if they're a god, then this house is a god as well. Because the entire crux of this dispute is a battle between Master Blue-- who is on our side-- and the house.

The house that keeps trying to sabotage us.

[brokethefirst]

...It... it really is the house...

[hm.... HM.....]

B-but why is Blue here, then? By choice?

[survivaltricks]

No. I don't think so.

[he fastens the bandage around her wrist, running his fingers across the length of her arm one last time to make sure they're firmly affixed, before he pulls back]

Someone received one of Blue's memories, you know? The memory of when they first arrived at the house.

The house invited them here first. And I think. . . Master Blue is as much of a captive here as we are.

[brokethefirst]

[Her nod of thanks falls a little numb as she carefully pulls her arm back towards herelf.]

But... why involve all of us? If Blue is the one it lured, then why keep them alive? Why bring others in to play these... these horrible games,

[survivaltricks]

[. . . a breath out. Akira fetches his crutch and moves to sit on the edge of the infirmary bed]

Beau believes the house is feeding upon our misery, and. . . I think she might be right. And as long as Blue keeps inviting guests to the house, then the house won't invade our worlds. So these "games," these "dinner parties," those invitations we received. . .

It's to keep the house satisfied so it doesn't completely destroy the universe.

[well, that may be a bit of a jump, but if Blue inviting guests here keeps their home worlds from being invaded it seems like a logical one to Akira!]

Blue told me the house is trying to prove a point, but is doing so badly. I don't know what that point is, but what I do know is. . .

Blue wants all of this to stop. They want this vicious cycle to end.

[brokethefirst]

[...

She falls remarkably quiet, as though something in Akira's string of words has troubled her deeply.]

I... assume they have had many attempts at this before with varied success. It must be where the antidote and all of the ghosts came from...

[survivaltricks]

. . . yes. That's right.

[Akira's voice softens when Luna says that]

We're at least the tenth round of people Blue has invited to the mansion. The antidote. . . I know that was created by Blue, too. Peach has been trying to replicate it, but it's-- difficult.

Because the house keeps sabotaging Blue's attempts to help.

[brokethefirst]

It means that the house considers it a threat... which means that they might have been getting close enough to a solution to scare it.

I'll see if I can talk to Peach. And... Blue, but... I don't know if they will let me.

[survivaltricks]

[his mouth twitches, smile crooked]

I think you should try. I made sure to ask first, before I rang the bell on the fifth floor.

[another pause]

Blue told me how to stop the house. Not directly, but. . . they said if we can find the "source" for the house and everything that it does, then we can put an end to this.

[he closes his eyes and echoes what Blue told him]

"Access to the source is available for those who seek it out."

"The source is much closer than you may think."

"The heart of the matter is what's most important."

[brokethefirst]

[She'll nod, a muted motion.]

I... I wonder if they aren't allowed to say any more than that. If saying too much is why Peach got hurt...

I hope there's something we can do, and soon.

[survivaltricks]

Yeah. I think that whatever rules govern us govern them, too. And that's why the sisters-- why Blue-- can't be more helpful.

[for a moment. . . he looks sympathetic and thoughtful]

I guess even gods have "rules" they need to follow.

[brokethefirst]

Well.... they've shown they aren't against finding loopholes. So we just need to start thinking more creatively about exploiting them, perhaps.

[...]

Um... Akira... can I ask you something...?

[survivaltricks]

[at that, his brows quirk upwards curiously, but he nods]

Mmm. Of course. What is it?

[brokethefirst]

Where are you going to try to be tonight, when we all fall asleep?

[survivaltricks]

[blinks a few more times, before letting out a small, amused huff, mouth quirking into an understanding smile]

In Room 3, with Ken and Ayabe and Chuuya. [hhhhesitation, because-- Ayabe. but. . .] Would you like to join us?

[brokethefirst]

[There is a visible flinch.]

I...

I shouldn't. I'm sorry.

I... really, really don't think Reito will react well to me being around.