[catch all for nie huisang!!]

[survivaltricks]

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w1, friday

[survivaltricks]

[and after all of the chaos with Nia and Asch calms down, after Akira finally manages to meander his way back to his room and discover what is waiting for him. . . there is a knocking at Nie Huaisang's door!! hello it is visitor time]

[unanswering]

It's open...

[that's followed by a yawn, because he's both sloth afflicted at points of this week and just naturally not awake this early... the house's friday wake up calls are so rude?

he looks surprised to see akira, though, a startled little squeak escaping him as he wraps the blanket around himself. nhs is still fully clothed, thanks to fancy pjs, but that's still indecent to him!!]

I- I thought you were young master Jin or Kenzaki... ah, please forgive me, I really can't get up and dress properly right now-

[survivaltricks]

[it's okay, pajamas are a normal thing to wear!! Akira waves a hand to indicate that all is well, and then just--]

[holds up a human skull]

[unanswering]

Is that what it looks like-?

[he blinks over at it, paling slightly. why are there more skulls!!]

[survivaltricks]

[THERE ARE MORE SKULLS!!]

Did you find one of these in your room today? It's definitely what a human skull looks like.

[unanswering]

I did, but why are there more of them?! I'd almost think it was some form of threat...

[survivaltricks]

[lowers the skull]

I would too, if it weren't for the weird. . . feeling? I got when I touched mine.

[unanswering]

Well, yes, but why would it need to be a skull for that! It really must be-- is it meant to be a joke?

[he hates it, thanks.]

[survivaltricks]

Probably.

[also he's just stepping inside of Nie Huaisang's room. SORRY HE'S RUDE]

I think it might be better to not question it.

w4 posttrial i opened it to this image and died again

[unanswering]

[nie huaisang makes his way to the study, later-- he's probably looked over the notes already, but he wants to take a second look, maybe write some of it down for himself.

he pauses when he catches sight of akira, though, and gives him a little nod in greeting.]

...young master Akira. Have you read it over, already?

[let's just not talk about the trial off the bat it's a LOT]

DO IT FOR HIM

[survivaltricks]

[Akira is sitting at the desk, dutifully copying Nick's notes into his own notebook, just in case! he glances up at NHS, giving him a nod in greeting as well]

Mm. A few times by now.

. . . he really was working hard.

[unanswering]

...it seems so. It seems we had the same idea, too.

[a little nod at the notes, there, as he steps closer to the desk; nie huaisang's got his own paper and pen.]

It- really is unfortunate, though. Do you think he'll be replaced, or that... we'll simply be without that help?

[survivaltricks]

Yeah.

[and at that question? Akira hesitates]

I don't know. And I don't know if he was the only one, either. We could ask the sisters, but I don't know if they'll be able to answer.

[unanswering]

I'll try asking anyway-- or just ask the master, I suppose, if that's a possibility now. [very mild annoyance creeps in, there, but he tempers it quickly.] I won't be surprised if we've lost the assistance, considering how things are here, but... maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.

[he shakes his head there, though, exhales.]

Something to worry about tomorrow, though. For now, I-- wanted to speak with you, actually.

[survivaltricks]

[Akira's mouth twitches]

You should still try. I get the feeling Blue wouldn't say no to more visitors.

[so long as they're NICE visitors. but anyway. . . all that aside, Akira looks up at the notes and studies NHS curiously, a small smile on his features]

Yeah? What's up?

[unanswering]

If that's the case, they could have spoken to us when we tried that bell this week...

[huffs out a breath!! he's a little miffed it didn't work when they did it, okay.

it's still brief, though. he's got very good control over himself, so it's only momentary before he gets back to business.]

I've been-- trying, so far, to share a few theories, a few of the things I've learned. Like what happened with the room Thursday, and the letter. To work with others on what's happening here. I haven't had much luck with it, to be honest, outside one or two people.

[a brief pause, there.]

But you seem to be better connected, or at least informed. I really don't have any illusions about how safe I might be here-- we heard whose names were on young master Nakahara's list, nevermind what happened in the third week. If I might not make it, then at the very least I don't intend to die without having done something to get out of this place.

[therefore... things like the blood array and yoloing into the room of req. sometimes you just get desperate for something to work.]

[survivaltricks]

[sometimes yolo is the only answer--]

[Akira gives Nie Huaisang a slightly bewildered look at that, before he huffs a little, expression turning pensive]

I don't know about better connected, but I've been doing my best to be as informed as I can.

[he's honestly just. super nosy]

But the sisters made it clear that we all need to communicate with each other. Talk about what we've found. Share our information and pool it together to find our way out of this place. And I hope after today, you'll have better luck trying to compile information with others, too.

[a crooked smile]

I don't want you talking like you're not going to make it out of this alive, but. . . I'm willing to brainstorm ideas with you, anyway. If that's what you'd like.

w5, wednesday

[survivaltricks]

[Akira looks like death warmed over as he shuffles throughout the mansion in search of NIE HUAISANG today, his prosthetic leg kind of. . . dragging on the floor behind him instead of being lifted to actually walk]

[his ears are drooped and his tail is lifeless behind him and he looks like he just. wants to nap. ANYWAY HELLO NIE, WHERE ARE YOU TODAY AFTER THE MINI-EVENT]

[unanswering]

[he's in the conservatory! nie huaisang is literally just vibing here.

he blinks as akira shuffles in, though, glancing up with a furrowed brow- at least it looks like it. harder to tell when he's only semi-opaque.]

Young master Akira...? Are you all right?

[survivaltricks]

[MORE GHOSTS. . .]

Oh-- yeah, I'm fine.

[he looks EXHAUSTED]

And just call me Akira; "younger master" sounds weird.

[unanswering]

...Akira, then.

[so few people here appreciate him trying to be respectful IT'S STILL WEIRD TO HIM.

he's just... peering at him, though. HM.]

You look like you might fall asleep on your feet. I don't think I'd call that fine.

[survivaltricks]

[ha ha. . .]

Well.

We got to talk to the house. So that was. . . great.

You were exhausted after you escaped the heart room too, right?

[unanswering]

It drains you, yes-- and if you haven't been warned, I've been told doing something like that with it a second time is more dangerous. 'Long term consequences', though I have no idea what.

[he's not surprised at all that they went through with talking to the house, though...]

What did you get out of speaking with it?

[survivaltricks]

I've been warned, don't worry. I don't intend to use that room again.

[. . .]

Before I get into what the house said, I want to share a theory with you. Agni tried using the room as well, and his energy was also drained.

How likely do you think it is that every time we use that room we're really just. . . powering up the house even more?

[unanswering]

... it's a possibility.

[please he doesn't want to think about that when he and beau literally used it to get high. god. MISTAKES.]

If it's true, I think what we've gotten from it could be worth the trade-off-- I told Agni this as well, but I don't think everything from it should be dismissed. It's most effective to use partial truths, after all; it's just going to twist things to suit it.