CHAPTER 5

[faentasy]

CHAPTER 5

monday

tuesday

wednesday

thursday

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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Comments

[biyishuangfei]

[ He certainly does his best.

At the very least, when he concludes that's all he can do for the moment, he plops himself down, paying attention to the other as he speaks. ]

...I think not having enough money or warmth was not something I ever had to worry much about.

But, I know that's not the case with everyone.

[ Also he does recall McGillis stating that his own original circumstances weren't all that great. ]

[vogelfrei]

I was once used to this kind of thing.

[ All of it, really. Freezing outdoors, being mistreated and humiliated... It's all familiar. Having a parrot pour wine over him to raise public morale (??) is conceptually hilarious and McGillis resents that it hits him on a level that is any deeper than annoyance, but he can't quite escape it.

He washes himself off carefully and slowly, stalling for time before he has to go back outside. Though maybe he should wait until his hair dries from being washed out anyway, lest he risk it freezing. ]

This is a good wake-up call for how sensitive I have become.

[biyishuangfei]

McGillis, I don't think you being upset over that is a mark of you being sensitive.

[ He'll get up and brush off his hands, still stinging a bit from the rope. Maybe he should go out to the other cabins for more blankets; the blond can't wear any shirt back and it'll help dry him off if he had more. ]

It's upsetting and it's humiliating. And even if you got used to it...someone who has been through a thousand experiences like that would still be upset over it. If anyone says that you shouldn't be bothered by it, they're the ones who should be ashamed.

[ He remembers when Jin Guangyao had been Meng Yao and hid those things well. But it still bothered him. He'll put a finger up like to say 'one second', head off to another cabin, and come back with some more spare blankets. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ It's easier though, when you feel nothing at all. But Huaisang has a point, the shame is with everyone else to begin with. Not that the people they are with are necessarily ill-intentioned in any of this, they're just looking to blow off steam in a high intensity situation. It is very human, just like looking is very human, just like killing is very human.

Humans are exhausting.

And, as it turns out, so are birds.

When Huaisang returns this time, McGillis is done cleaning up and has put the water to the side. He accepts the new dry blankets gladly and wrapped in several of them he looks like a small disgruntled mountain now. ]

... thank you. You're a very kind person, Huaisang.

[ And that isn't enough on its own, that isn't enough to McGillis, not by a long shot - but right now he means it with as much gratitude as a man like himself can muster up. ]

[biyishuangfei]

[ I guess you can say he's now...Mount McGillis in honor of now being a small disgruntled mountain.

...Anyway, for a second he's trying to figure out how to process that because that's probably the first time someone has ever said that to him. He'll decide to just take it. It's been a long week, he's tired, and the other man is clearly distressed.

Sometimes words are meant to be taken at face value and there's nothing wrong with that. ]

It's no problem...and well, I'm doing my best. Even if it's hard to, considering everything, to be like that.

[ Kindness doesn't come naturally to him. It also won't defeat everything, but maybe it can make things more bearable, so he has to think trying's worth it. And...admittedly, he thinks sometimes he's a bit selfish in wanting to be kind towards the blond, but whatever. ]

[vogelfrei]

Funnily, I'd never thought of it as difficult before. Kindness was, to me, a matter of privilege. Of obliviousness.

[ The only reason you can be kind - not just, not considerate - but kind is because the world hasn't beaten it out of you yet. ]

I'm starting to understand.

[ And it is easier to do that with Huaisang than it would be with people like Suga, who is self-sacrificial, or like Adora, who was filled with an optimism for people as a whole that McGillis thinks is near delusional. ]

I'm grateful.

[biyishuangfei]

[ He's...a little surprised. There's a tiny smile that made its way onto his face.

The world is a cruel place. He knows this. Sometimes it will just take and take and take, until there isn't anything left of you to give to anyone. But it doesn't mean it's over; if someone like him can start to do these things, anyway. ]

Well good, I'll count that as a victory. It still doesn't come naturally to me, to be honest...and I used to barely understand why people bothered. But, here I am, wanting to do these things.

[ ...He's not as optimistic or truly altruistic as some people, and he acknowledges he can be rather selfish, but the fact that he can say something like this honestly is nice. There is also a spitefully good feeling to it all, as if he's saying a big 'fuck you' to the despair trying to wrap around them in all of this, but that's...not elegant to say... ]

Anyway, do you think you can brave the cold in your blanket state? Or do you still need some more time?

[vogelfrei]

[ Though McGillis can't say it out loud, it's exactly Huaisang's selfishness that makes these little acts of genuine care take their fragile little bit of hold on him. ]

I'll have to, won't I?

[ Mount McGillis rises from his seat! Just a big shapeless pile of fabric with McGillis' head. ]

I'm going to head back to the lodgings. If Jack thinks I haven't done my dues in chopping wood, he can take it up with me later.

[biyishuangfei]

I think you've done more than enough. He will just have to deal.

[ Huaisang goes to the door, opening it a bit. ]

I'm going to stick around a bit more to try and to make sure not too many people hang around for too long. I doubt I'll be able to get everyone, but...after that, maybe I'll do some reading.

[ That said, he's not going to really force people back, just...gently nudge them and then do some reading at the archives. Maybe try to find some history books. ]

Anyway, you have a good night, and well, be safe.

[vogelfrei]

You as well.

[ Goodbyes on Thursday always have an odd ring to it, but there is nothing that can really be done about that. They can only give each other a lignering look of intent, conveying 'be safe' a bit harder than would be normal.

McGillis doesn't allow himself to dwell on it, he has an annoying walk through the snow to deal with next. So he's off, and thankfully Friday will be kind to them. ]