CHAPTER 5

[faentasy]

CHAPTER 5

monday

tuesday

wednesday

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Almost half of the non-fairy population of Aira Niluc is gone.

Some may be feeling the absence of their fellow participants in this story. Others will stay focused on the wish they want to get. What never changes is that the story goes on, bringing you closer to the end -- and to another chapter. What will it bring this time?

Snow!

Snow as far as the eye can see, a cold blanket covering the new area. Some winter amenities are now available, ready for perusal! But that's not all there's to find: everyone also will find reminders of their homes, of people they know, of happier times.

Of their wishes.

Who will try to reach their wish this time?

[[Welcome to Week 5! Feel free to make top levels at your discretion, and remember to note it in your header if you plan on investigating any locations. However, please try to keep investigations to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday! You can also privately contact Hamelin at your leisure.

In addition, a reminder that any Murder Proposals for this week are due by Tuesday 3:00 PM EST/12:00 PM PST! However, please note that you have the option of submitting murder proposals for a later week as well.]]

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[biqe]

room 5

[ As has become part of his usual routine now, Phil intends to make a quick stop in the empty room to make sure there's nothing new happening with the mirror there — quick enough that he just leaves the door open behind him while he takes a look. There hasn't been anything of note in here since he was last able to see that shimmer that allowed him into the mirror over a week ago, so he isn't expecting much, but today... there's something different.

Ah...

He thought he'd seen them in the mirror in his own room yesterday, but then it had disappeared so quickly that he thought he must have just been imagining it. The image is staying there much longer this time, though; and hesitantly, he reaches out to touch the glass... just in case.

...Well, he wasn't really expecting that to do anything, but he's a little disappointed anyway. ]


snowy streets

[ Later on, once he's shaken himself out of that, he puts on a coat and a dark blue scarf and heads out to the new area to get a more in depth look at things for himself; he hadn't quite been prepared for the cold when he first went out there yesterday, and he's learned from his mistakes. He walks along the streets for a bit, taking in the sight of the bright red holly berries on the bushes against the backdrop of the snow and the colorful lights decorating the trees, smiling softly to himself. ]

It really does feel a little like Christmas.


church

[ He eventually heads in the direction of the church, where he first pauses outside, looking thoughtfully and maybe a little sadly at the stained glass window, where for just a second in the right light, you might catch sight of another figure in the reflection... but it's hard to quite make out the fractured image in that colorful kaleidoscope.

Eventually he wanders inside — a little warmth is much appreciated after that walk — where he takes in the general scenery before his attention is drawn in particular to a set of figurines that seems to be depicting a scene in which a couple put their baby into... some sort of... trough or something in a stable, while the animals look on.

He leans in, looking at it curiously. ]

Hm... I wonder who these are supposed to be.

room 5

[gemuinemanagement]

[The empty room isn't part of Suga's routine, but he happens to be passing by when he catches a glimpse of Phil's friends. This... feels like something he shouldn't have seen, but it wouldn't be fair not to let Phil know he saw.

He knocks lightly on the side of the doorway to alert Phil to his presence.]

[biqe]

[ As light as it is, that sound still manages to make him jump like he was caught in the middle of doing something wrong. ]

A-ah... Good morning. Did you need me for something?

[gemuinemanagement]

No
But it felt wrong to see that and not let you know
Are you OK

[biqe]

Oh, that was... You were able to see that image too, you mean? In the mirror?

room 5

[scythegun]

[Considering he's right next door, spotting Phil this morning isn't all that unusual. Yeager raises his voice and knocks on the doorframe to announce his presence.]

Good morning, Phillip! Have you noticed any changes in... here...

[Ah. Looks like the mirror's showing some familiar faces. It isn't the first time he's run across this, but that doesn't make it any less awkward. Hopefully these people aren't dead??]

[biqe]

[ He turns around with a start and instinctively moves to stand in front of the mirror to obscure it. ]

Ah... Good morning.

[ Clears his throat... and... steps back aside because he's not really sure what he was trying to accomplish by hiding this. ]

Nothing... nothing specific to this room, I don't believe.

[scythegun]

The... illusions do seem to be happening elsewhere, unfortunately.

[Look at those jrpg protags omg...]

They're... friends of yours, I'm guessing?

[or are they the protags you're supposed to be beating up—]

[biqe]

[ That's a much more complicated question than it should be, but he looks back to the image and nods. ]

...Yes, the ones named on my profile here. We grew up together.

Church

[mirrite]

[The church itself doesn't hold that much interest for Marcus-- he's really just here because Phil's here, although he's certainly not going to object to ducking inside to warm up a little before they continue on with their exploration.

He's about to suggest as much when he spots that image reflected in the stained glass window. The shift in the atmosphere is immediate and obvious; he comes to a halt, the crunching of his footsteps in the snow going silent as he just stands there looking at that figure with an expression that, while largely unreadable, clearly isn't a pleased one.]

Is that who I think it is?

[The tone isn't accusatory, but there's a certain frostiness to it that wasn't there just a few moments ago.]

[biqe]

[ The image disappears almost immediately, though it's another second or two before Phil turns away from the window. ]

...I don't think you really had to ask.

I've already seen Ix and Mileena's reflections elsewhere; it follows that I would have seen her somewhere too, eventually.

[ Though that "somewhere" being this particular window is... a little tasteless if intentional. ]

[mirrite]

Hmm.

[It's impassive, neutral. At this point he doesn't need to voice his feelings for that particular person out loud for them to be understood, not after everything that's happened.]

Wonder why I haven't seen anyone yet. I'm not sure if that makes me lucky or unfortunate, depending.

[Probably lucky, considering it means he gets to avoid this very sort of emotional turmoil, but...]

[biqe]

Who do you expect it would show you if you did? Kanonno, or...?

outside church

[amortristis]

[ The church catches Morgan's attention pretty easily, compared to a lot of the other things here. She looks up at the structure of the church as she approaches it, trying to look at see if the steeple or whatever kind of architecture it had contained anything of any note. Once she confirms there's nothing up there, only then does she notice Phil's line of sight. ]

I wouldn't look for too long.

[ She stands far back enough to where she can't see her own distorted reflection in the stained glass. No sense in getting riled up again. She's already hurt one hand in the process. ]

[biqe]

Ah-

[ Oh, he didn't realize anyone else was standing there... ]

Y-yes, I suppose you're right. I'm sure this was intended to make us more willing to play his game, after all.

[ He does manage to tear himself away from the window, at least... though it helps that the image is nearly gone already, seemingly lost among the cracks.

Anyway, he takes note of Morgan's apparent injury once he's facing her properly, though it looks like she kept whatever that was under control, thankfully. Oof... maybe that warning was coming from firsthand (no pun intended) experience. ]

You hurt yourself? Is that related?

[amortristis]

[ She nods, flexing her partly bandaged hand. ]

I was caught off guard by the apparitions and let my temper get the best of me. I... wouldn't particularly recommend it.

[ Especially since, like. Knowing Phil, he would punch the window and then he'd be the one to shatter. ]

I agree that it's just another way to try to encourage someone to make a move. It seems rather... heavy handed, this time around.

snowy streets

[incompletely]

It does, doesn't it.

[ Phil's not the only one enjoying it here. Tenn looks more at ease than he's been since the start; it really is a nice walk, even if it's bittersweet. ]

Is it your favorite holiday, Phillip-san?

[biqe]

Hm... I don't know if I've really given much thought to ranking them, but it's probably somewhere up there near the top... even if we didn't do much celebrating for a long time.

[ He holds out a hand to catch a stray falling snowflake. ]

We very rarely got snow in any of the places where I lived, so this is the closest I've gotten to the ideal picture on all the Christmas cards.

[incompletely]

I see.

[ He watches the snowflake fall onto Phil's hand. It's nice, seeing him in a good mood. ]

The gift giving tradition is nice. We also celebrate with Christmas cakes, where I'm from. Do you have anything like that back at home?

church, inside;

[ideismo]

[Alexei is in here ensuring the votive candles for the dead stay lit; it seems like something to do, something that can force his attention away from the damn mirrors, and so long as he doesn't pay attention to the stained glass in here he should be fine.

He glances over to see what Phil's looking at and...oh, it's whatever's going on with what could probably be read as an attempt at human sacrifice or something if the animals involved weren't cows.]

I admit that I'm not sure either; I was trying to sort that out yesterday.

[Results inconclusive.]

[biqe]

[ Oh... Phil pauses for a moment, watching Alexei with those candles.

...There really are a lot of them. ]

M-maybe this is part of this world's creation myth somehow...? It's a baby in something that at least passingly resembles a cradle, anyway, so the metaphor is there... and something like that wouldn't be unexpected in a place of worship.

[ideismo]

Maybe so. Either a creation myth or something to do with one of the gods, perhaps.

[Gods get interesting origin stories; he supposes this counts.]

Streets

[kowashi]

[ Koto's outside and only dressed in some mittens to nab some holly berries. It's fine she has her sweater, totally. ]

It's very pretty! It's the cute Christmas I get to see in books.

[ Mister branch, surrender your Holly. Any snow that falls on her as a result is ignored. ]

The lights aren't as bright or tacky. Just enough and light up the snow!

[biqe]

It's usually different where you're from?

[ He looks over to her with a smile, but then looks down at the berries she's gathering. ]

Y-you're not planning to eat those, are you?

[kowashi]

It's very focused on shopping for gifts and food, so the stores and streets around them go nuts with the decorations.

[ ...Commercialism!

Anyway, She looks down at her holly berries, back to Phil. ]

No, I'm using them for a Snow-Myoue. They don't look that tasty.