AUDIENCE: ALPHINAUD

[retellers]

Comments

[arcsplainist]

Then that leaves... Swan and Rabbit?

[retellers]

Mmhm. Rabbit may be pushing it a bit, but it's better to check than not.

[arcsplainist]

Of course. 'Twould be amiss of me to not to be thorough with these matters. I shall make certain that I find who these memories belong to with haste.

[retellers]

Oh, and another thing--apparently if a team loses all of its members, then they won't be able to be revived. The Leader will lose their status of a Leader, which means they will no longer be on a team.

[arcsplainist]

[ —Hello??? ]

I... erm. Well, good [ ???? ] as that is to know... Do you bring this up because there is a team in danger of losing its members?

[retellers]

No, I bring it up since I just got the confirmation for it today.

[ ... ]

Well, I guess there are some teams who are closer to that count than others, but I really hope their luck isn't that bad?

[arcsplainist]

[ Welp! ]

I rather hope so, as well. From my understanding, there are those here who are relying on this idea of revival when all comes to an end.

[retellers]

Yeah. So everyone needs to make sure they get the two kills, and then that no one's count goes too low, since even if they manage the first thing, if a team dissolves then they're still screwed. You're only protected if you're on one.

[arcsplainist]

... Very well. 'Tis safe to assume you tell me of this so that it may be distributed among my fellow participants, as well.

[retellers]

Mmhm. You can tell them. I'll try to make sure the rest of the team knows, too.

[arcsplainist]

Then I shall see it done. I can only pray this reaches the ears of those who need to hear it most of all.

[retellers]

Well, word will spread around fast enough. People will tell those they trust the most, and then those people will tell others they trust the most, and then it turns out more people than you wanted know.

Which will work in this case.

[arcsplainist]

I suppose you do have a point. I believe I even know the proper person to begin with.

You have my thanks for informing me, Tiger, though it is a relief to know we are in no danger of this affecting us terribly. We have fulfilled our... kill count– [ ugh ] –and our numbers are not at risk—unless someone attempts to target us remaining five.

[ Not that he's worried about that. ]

[retellers]

Mm. Even if people do try to target us, there's not that many teams left who needs to do it. So we'd only really have to worry if someone decided to go full serial killer on us.

[ ... ]

And going by your personalities, kinda doubtful.

[arcsplainist]

I do wish to believe it, but some of these deaths have been unnecessarily brutal. 'Tis enough to have me think there may be some amongst us who enjoy the thrill of a kill.

[retellers]

Maybe... but I think we should also keep in mind that the brutality might just be a way to cover things. If it looks like someone suffered, then it'll be easier to hide that the actual way they died was more simpler, right?

[ ... ]

But that might be how I'd do it, if I were in their shoes. People will be so distracted by their outrage they might not realize that it's just meant to make it harder to catch who did it.

[arcsplainist]

[ sigh ]

Would that I could be surprised they desire to live at the expense of an innocent's life, as well.

[ The scapegoats... ]

... But there is no use debating it, I realize. I have had to come to terms with knowing we are trapped in a cruel, unjust system.

[cheerbleed]

This is probably a metaphor for how the justice and prison system actually works, if you think about it.

[ sometimes, even real trials, are terrible ]

But yeah. From what I saw, a lot of the people who were crying about how there must absolutely be another way weren't actually... looking? For another way? They just demanded that there had to be one without putting the work into it. And since the rest of us have seen no other alternatives and we're running out of time...

[arcsplainist]

... Indeed.

I apologize, Tiger—I had wanted to seek out another way, truly, yet I have failed, and it is one of my deepest regrets. The more I heard of others speak of their plans to follow through with their kills, the more your words rang true in my mind—that there is no other way this could have been done.

[cheerbleed]

[ ... ]

Sometimes, things are just shitty. I don't think there's anything wrong with morals, or hoping for a better way to do things, but I think people need to learn that sometimes there isn't a fluffier option. Life can just be cruel.

[arcsplainist]

... You are not wrong, but my heart still grows heavy hearing you say so. 'Tis as if you have only grown accustomed to such cruelty, and expected it.

[cheerbleed]

The memories I got back may suck a bit.

[ sometimes, you realize it was probably better to remain completely amnesiac? ]

[arcsplainist]

[ ah ]

That bad?

[cheerbleed]

Pretty bad. However, it did explain my personality to me better, so there's that. Silver linings.

[arcsplainist]

I am glad there was something worth getting back, at the very least.

... Mind you tell me more? Should you be willing, of course.