cradleproject | WEEK 9

WEEK 9

the pygmalion. . .

ONLINE

CAPTAIN'S LOG:
WEEK (9)

monday - thursday

(21) survivors

Sunday's trial was only mere hours ago, but you find yourself faced with a new week on The Pygmalion. When you awaken, you will find the ship restored to its previous state, all areas interfered with during the murder looking mostly the same as they did before. Along with this, it appears there are new areas opened on the ship. It seems you have more exploring to do. The robot in the cafeteria has prepared another breakfast of various foods.

(OOC: Please submit your murder proposals by 9 PM EST Tuesday.)
taken list
profiles
private conversations
setting
rulebook
murder proposals

ENTER COMMAND_

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

monday - secrets revealed

[He was woken early, so he's out in public for the secret reveal, though looking a little worse the wear - he's still bothered to look presentable, just a little rumpled. He tries to do the polite thing and look away when others' secrets play; he doesn't need to know, though it's hard not to absorb some of it. For his own, he closes his eyes with a pinched expression on his face, and just listens to the sound. He thought he might feel more sympathy for his father now, but he feels even less. Whatever awful things he's done, at least he didn't do it to avoid being gossiped about at dinner parties.

The one that shakes him, though, isn't his. "Dorian didn't know the entire truth." He goes rigid as soon as it's announced, and then furious. He pushes the datapad away like it burns.]

Oh, whatever that means.

tuesday - thursday, around

[Since Sunday night, Dorian has been being kept under watch by Adrien or Marinette at all times. As such, you won't find him out of his room very often. He doesn't enjoy the feeling he's forcing the two of them to stay with him, or imposing himself on others who may not want to see him walking around, so he does his best to schedule any trips outside his room so he only needs to do it about every twelve hours or so. Still, throughout the week you can find him occasionally, gathering food or tea in the cafeteria to carry back to his room, stopping by the parlor to check out a new tablet, or taking a brief walk through the gardens. If another person happens to be in the same room as him, he responds awkwardly, not sure how to behave or how angry any given person might be with him.]

I didn't see you there.

[He'll leave if you respond with too much discomfort. If you try to attack him, however, Adrien and Marinette are nearby.]

tuesday - thursday, in his room

[Dorian spends most of the week inside his room, reading or writing or fiddling on a tablet, or trying to make Furry Passing work; he isn't very good at it, but he's starting to build up a sizable collection of outfits. It's incredibly depressing, locked in such small and spartan quarters with so little to occupy his mind. But the alternative, to go out around everyone else but force Adrien or Marinette to supervise him, is even more humiliating.

If you want to come keep him company, the company is welcome. Just knock on his door; again, Adrien or Marinette or someone else supervising is nearby, so no one with (obvious) intentions to hurt him will be let in. But if you've come to chat, or keep him company, or berate him, it's appreciated.]

That's not something a woman like me hears very often.

[She has a tendency to stand out, after all, with her hair and her...well, everything else. Despite the fact that Jessie was the one who escorted Clover back to her room, she doesn't seem to mind Dorian's presence too much. She's just minding her own business in the cafeteria, Arbok not far away while she plays Furry Crossing. She's good at it.]

You must really be out of it.

[Her tone is haughty and filled with confidence as usual, but it's normal for her to sound a little aggressive when she speaks.]

True, I've had better days.

[Though he looks good at least. After a brief slip in appearances Monday, he's back to old form, dressed elegantly and well groomed. If he must be a pariah he will be stunning while he does so; that's always been true. At her not quite rejection, his lips curl into a playful smile.]

I shall endeavor to pay better attention to my surroundings; it's a pity to be missing out on any lovely scenery. [Flirting seems easier right now than having a real conversation.]

[Jessie can relate completely to that. Flirting, snark, everything feels better than admitting that in the last few weeks she's been stabbed, she's lost Shelley, and every other low note.]

I'd hate to meet the person who'd consider these days the best of their lives. [A pause.] Oh, wait, that was probably Kazuma.

[He did laugh like a maniac when he discovered some bodies, and it's just like her to hold a grudge against the recently deceased. She has complicated feelings about Arumat dying, but picking a fight with Dorian seems about as pointless as anything else on this spaceship.]

I've heard that one before, but it feels good every time~. So, did the robots kick you out of your room? Or did your protection detail decide you should get something to eat?

[There's no accusing in her voice. Just questions, nothing more than that.]

If you got dragged out of your room, you certainly don't look it.

It's good for morale, to give them something nice to look at. On that count, I believe it may be up to you and I to keep up appearances around here.

[He appreciates it, really. He doesn't expect anyone to be all right with him, but it's nice to be treated normally.]

It seems I've been let out for good behavior. Likely a rare occasion.

Well, that's logic I certainly can't disagree with, though Todomatsu can pull together an outfit when the need arises.

[She sounds a little fond of him when she speaks. Look, she's even defending him when he's not here!]

Good luck with that. What's it like having those two children following you everywhere? The situation seems oddly familiar to me. I wonder why.

Better two children than a host of ill wishers, I suppose. Makes me feel rather silly, though. How juvenile must one be to have teenage babysitters.

I always have ill wishers. I'm very used to attention of all kinds, especially negative. It comes with being a master of theft and deception.

[Little does she know her reputation seems to be rising...it's a shame, she's so evil.]

I'd offer you Arbok as a babysitter, but he has his fangs full with Todomatsu at the moment. He's going to get himself hurt if no one keeps an eye on him.

[It's Adrien's turn on magesitting duties, and outside of a quick wave to anyone he sees passing by he hasn't spoken much. Still, it's kind of hard for him to stick to silence as he's shadowing Dorian, so after a bit he catches up to the man to walk next to him instead. He's clasping his hands behind his back, but that's the only hint in his body language that he's uncomfortable.]

It's funny... back home, I'm the one with the constant bodyguard and supervision.

[the circumstances are completely different and it's only meant to try to make conversation, but it's also the closest to an apology he can bring himself to give Dorian. He's not taking any of this back, but he knows it's not great.]

[That's all right. He actually hasn't known how much to speak to Adrien and Marinette either. He knows they aren't doing this because of affection for him but out of a sense of obligation; it seems to him the least he can do is not trouble them too much. But when Adrien speaks to him, and not even in a hostile tone, he's relieved. Being silent and withdrawn doesn't suit him. He's been hated or disdained most of his adult life, and he's learned how to deflect hostilities with a well timed witty comment, or brush off awkwardness and charm the room. It's not different here - he can handle the anger, but if he can't even talk to anyone he'll go mad.

He flashes Adrien a warm smile. A little kindness goes a long way right now.]

Oh? Prone to misbehaving, or overprotective parents? The former for me. Eventually they graduated me from supervision to armed guard.

[Adrien himself is a bit relieved that Dorian seems willing to go along with it. He's learned quiet and stillness at home but he's never liked it, so even if he's still not sure how to feel about Dorian (nor too willing to try to sort through that, if he's honest) he'll take any excuse not to be stuck in a grim jailer role. He shrugs in answer to his question at first, turning to look at the flowers.]

Hmmm... It's mostly Father being overprotective, but I can't say I hadn't been sneaking off a lot more than anyone realized before we got here. So... not both yet? [he turns to look back at Dorian half-sheepish] Were you particularly rebellious or...?

[Laughing at that a little; with genuine humor even. Progress.]

Was I particularly rebellious. Oh, dear. Yes, I was rather infamous for it. And the guard detail always only made me stubborn. But I promise I won't try to give you the slip.

It'd be a lot harder to give Marinette and I the slip, anyway. [it's said lightly, because it's meant as a joke... but it's not like it's a lie. He turns on his feet to start walking backwards, a bit ahead of Dorian.] How rebellious do you even have to be to be infamous for it?

[he sounds like he honestly can't imagine it]

I think you're right. You aren't as tall, but a lot more clever.

[Smirking a little. He doesn't actually like talking about his youth, and a lot of it is...not necessarily appropriate to talk with Adrien about. He's not proud of the person he was back then. But he's also not proud of the person he is now, so it's a little easier to talk about, when the worst he was getting up to was juvenile delinquency.]

The trick is it's not enough to simply misbehave. The real infamy comes when it's interesting misbehavior. You need them gossiping and living vicariously through your endeavors.

[he raises an eyebrow.]

"Interesting misbehavior"... That seems like the kind of thing where I definitely shouldn't ask for details. [he sounds more amused than anything, though.] But why was everyone so interested in what you were doing, anyway?

No, probably not. [Rather than responding with anything more, he just winks at him.] In Tevinter, at least among the noble houses, everything is political. So everything is interesting. The actions of one rebellious teenager may mean a shift in government tomorrow. Particularly as I was my father's only heir. Beyond that, I don't really see why anyone should have been so interested, but there you are.

... Now that sounds familiar. [it might not be politics, but he's been told enough that his actions reflect on his father's brand for the scenario to hit close to home.] But having every single one of your actions be considered some kind of political statement sounds awful. No wonder you kept rebelling.

Aha. That was part of it, yes. And the rest of it was simply the pressure of trying to live up to an impossible standard. I was a rather unhappy young man, but there are more constructive ways to deal with one's woes. As I think you well know.

[He's running out of steam talking about himself, so shifting the tone slightly.]

I wanted to thank you, for what you've done.

[he'd been looking maybe a little bit too empathetic at Dorian's exposition, but Dorian's gratitude is enough to wipe that expression off of his face and he turns around to finally start walking straight, exposing his back to Dorian.]

... Hmmm. It's funny. Back home, when people thank us, it's "no problem, just doing our job". Here, this is the most we've been able to do so far. [he doesn't sound like he finds it funny.]

You've done more than you think, and more than you ought to have had to.

[He can tell he's touched a nerve, and perhaps his opinion isn't welcome. He doesn't want to ruin the moment when a friendly chat now and then is precisely what he needs, but.]

None of us have found a way to fight this on our own so far. The two of you have done better than most. At any rate, I'm sure you don't want to hear this from me, but I appreciate it. That you were kind to Bull before he died, that you've helped me navigate this predicament though it is entirely of my own doing.

[he disagrees with Dorian's opinion, but it's not like he's the first to express it, so he just hums in acknowledgement. For the rest of it, though... kind. That word's been thrown at him a lot, lately. His feelings on that have been mixed, but that's nothing compared to his feelings on Bull and Dorian, which he was trying not to think about, though if you insist, Dorian. He sighs.]

I don't know about kind. I wanted answers, and... [Marinette was in no state to ask.] And the rest seemed like the right thing to do. I can't agree with what you've done or forgive either of you for it. Arumat was-- I'd like to think he was my friend. [he turns back to look at Dorian, and the smile on his face is pained] But I get it. His entire people for one life? That's the kind of moral questions people philosophise about. And that role... Alice had it in for him from the start. I can even get why you'd help him-- sometimes I think there isn't anything I wouldn't do for Marinette if she asked.

[He appreciates it, Adrien. He doesn't expect him to approve or even understand, but just the recognition that the game was rigged against Bull for the start is a relief. Still.]

I didn't do it out of loyalty to him. To be sure, I cared for him, but I also watched the video myself. It felt wrong, to act as though doing something about it was entirely his responsibility, just because it was his country. It was my country that would have been helping to destroy it.

...But I'm sure you don't want to discuss this. I'm sorry.

Nope. Not really. [he admits to that easily enough, shrugging at himself, but then he just stares at Dorian with a sincere, open expression] But it's fine. You probably want to talk to somebody about all of this, don't you?

[when the child bodyguard/jailer offers to also be your confidant is that sad, cute, horrifying or all of the above?]

(no subject)

tevinteriscoming - 2016-08-06 13:22 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

monsieurchatastrophe - 2016-08-06 15:30 (UTC) - Expand

[Judar's busy sucking terribly at Angry Birds, but he'll arch an eyebrow at that comment anyway. Given that literally nothing about his appearance is even remotely subtle, this is not the most believable statement.]

Gone blind from watching Blondie and MuriMari making googly eyes at each other? You're probably not the first.

[It's true though; he's been lost in thought, not paying much attention to his surroundings.]

They've been making rather less googly eyes at one another, and rather more attentive eyes on me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

WEEK 9

no subject

Thursday, Cafeteria

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Tuesday -- Gardens

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

wednesday, parlor

no subject