cradleproject | WEEK 6

WEEK 6

the pygmalion. . .

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CAPTAIN'S LOG:
WEEK (6)

monday - thursday

(31) 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
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ENTER COMMAND_

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Every kid thinks being a detective would be cool. [ Until you end up on a murder spaceship and start cutting open corpses.

He eyes the pink compact for a second, figuring that's the mirror he was talking about. At least he has no shame. ] You haven't shown me anything, which I think is an unfair secret to keep. I'm sleeping over in your room tonight. [ To root through his stuff. ]

…guess that's fair. Might've preferred that after a while. [The point of the heart compact is digging into his palm but he's not embarrassed in the slightest. Luke Castellan has run out of fucks to give when it comes to making sure he's still "normal." However, he rolls his eyes.]

It's sort of funny how you think there's actually room in my room for another person. [It's not a "no", but just sayin'. Also don't be nosy, Adam, that's Luke's job.]

Pretty sure each room has two beds. Or is that where your swords sleeps? [ He's not having it today, Luke. ] If you don't want my protection tonight, you can just say so.

[A grin. He's not confirming or denying that. However…] …fine, fine. I'd have to be an idiot to say no to that when we know what tomorrow is. Two of the people in my block have been killed already anyway.

You would be an idiot. Those are pretty bad odds. [ But that does make him feel better. He still isn't sure if Luke wants him around or not.

Once they get to the archives, he goes to where he last left off reading. ] What did you find in here? All I got were memes.

I mean one was the girl from the first week and then Kazuma, so...[A shrug. Those odds can't be too terrible.] Stick around however long you want, I guess.

[And into the archives, Luke's following and holding that pillowcase like he's Santa Claus and Backbiter's on his back.] Why is everybody finding memes? [A sigh.] I started reading about history if you really wanna know. Wars and stuff like that. They say that history repeats itself, so I'm hoping to maybe get an understanding of what might've inspired all of this.

[ Adam hums because that's an interesting point. He's read more about the politics, but he's neglected any wars. ] You think this could be a result of a war? Maybe a way to see if wars are obsolete, like if people can get along in harsh circumstances.

[ Now he's going to look for more history. After a moment, he glances over at Luke. ] You can put that down, you know.

I don't know about that, exactly, but it could be the result of what Alice and whoever thinks caused a war. I'd put more money on seeing if we can get along in the worst circumstances. Most wars start because two sides don't agree with something, right? The longer all of us are locked up on this ship together, the more we're gonna end up divided as things keep getting further and further ahead.

[He blinks, obediently putting down the pillowcase but keeping Backbiter with him. It's enough of a show of how exhausted he is that he actually listens to part of that request.] Marinette kept reminding me that this whole thing's an experiment, but I still feel like there's more to it.

[ It is very concerning when Luke doesn't argue with him. Adam is pretty used to not sleeping, so it hasn't been too terrible on him, but he does look a little worried. At least he's not totally blank anymore. ]

Do you think so? I feel like people have been getting closer the longer we're here. Sure, there are some people who will never get along, but it's human nature to seek out others. What makes you think there's more?

[For a while Luke was used to not sleeping. And then Luke died. And now Luke's back and sleeping was kind of okay and now this again so yeah, being tired and also by nature of his ADHD he's only partially paying attention even as he starts to wander to sort through some books.]

Past experience? Realistic thinking? Take your pick. [He makes a face as he picks up a book, thumbing through it without really reading.] No matter how close people are, there's always going to be something that will change their minds. And if it were an experiment...it means there's already a set pattern and we haven't figured it out yet. Doesn't it?

[ Adam is always willing to believe the most pessimistic view, so he thinks Luke has a point even if it's depressing. Definitely what they need right now, being more depressed. ]

Beyond the pattern of weekly murders? There's a pretty strict structure going on. We can only access certain rooms, we have rules, we have the same amount of time between murders and trials, similar incentives to kill every week. There might also be a control group, depending on what the third parties are. It isn't complete chaos.

[#friendship. He knows Adam has a point though.]

At least chaos was easier for me to deal with. In case you haven't noticed I'm not that great with analytical thinking. [Which is also a lie, seeing how he can be sort of useful during trials.] I know we keep talking about the third parties but...what does that really mean? Just somebody who might be running around telling people where other people are? Spies? Whoever's killing people who abstain from voting?

[Yeah, he's mostly spinning in circles with a bunch of thoughts. But it's better than dwelling on the motive.]

I haven't noticed, because you seem pretty good at coming up with ideas, Castellan. [ More exasperated like don't dumb yourself down because I'm onto you. ]

It's possible they're responsible for those deaths, but the AI seems pretty upset whenever it happens. I think there are at least a few different roles going around. Most likely spies... Ever since the first trial, I've been wondering if there's people who are trying to get us off track. [ He gives Luke a wry, tired smile. ]

Kazuma actually suspected you when I talked to him about it. It could be he was one of them.

[Adam needs to stop actually being right, it's very unnerving. Of course, the other unnerving thing is what he said after that.]

Kazuma thought I was actually part of this? [There's an irritated noise.] I'd like to hear his logic for that one. But you're right. When Dave, Roxy and I found Todd Alice didn't know that the doors to the cafeteria were blocked. Either she's a real good actor, or she really didn't know what was going on. [He pauses then, looking over his shoulder briefly even before lowering his voice.] ...and just so we're clear, if you did know something about a third party you'd tell me, right?

Wasn't that the whole point for creating a partner system? I would. I want to know what's going on as much as you do. [ He scowls. ] And I think the people who do know something and aren't making an effort to communicate it to us are traitors. So I'd like the same from you.

[ He puts a book back. ] The AI would handle the third parties, right? They wouldn't be controlled by someone else, who can maybe override the AI's access?

You should be expecting that question from me for the next week at least, by the way. [Luke Castellan and the plethora of trust issues...] But I know. I kinda agree with that. If people aren't answering questions it makes them look way more suspicious than if they just played along or even told the truth. It'll be easier to talk to people in the upcoming weeks. Maybe then we'll have a better lead.

[You know. When more people are dead.] But I don't know about that. ...when I was working with Kronos, I was sort of in charge of the third party we were using to spy on Camp. She was mostly just listening to me and didn't even get involved with him until the end. ["When Kronos and I were the same person."] So you tell me.

Edited 2016-07-15 07:00 (UTC)

Then expect the same answer. [ But he gets it. Maybe their trust issues will cancel out one day. ] What makes you think it'll be easier? They'll get more desperate?

[ There has to be a point where some people begin to break down. He's surprised it's taken this long, really. ] No, I think you're right. But somehow someone is committing murders without the AI's knowledge. I don't know if we should focus more on that or the third parties.

They'll get more desperate and we'll have less people to talk to. It's a bad combination but it's gonna be the way it turns out.

[He doesn't like it, but it's true. Eventually he settles down with a book that's apparently caught his interest enough that he's slowly turning through the pages.] If we could figure out who's killing people without the AI's knowledge, maybe the answer would buy us some leverage with the AI. The third party's gotta be somebody among us. Doesn't make sense otherwise...but what about this other person? [He looks up at the ceiling then.] You already knew there was more than one reason I wanted to map the vents.

[ Adam is going to settle next to him and look over at the book he has. He can't focus on reading while thinking about this and he prefers the conversation, so he'll just search for anything that stands out. ]

What, do you want to spy? The third parties probably would have access to at least some of the locked rooms. But if there's anyone in control of the ship, we'll never be allowed there. Maybe the vents are the only way to go.

[You'd think that Luke wouldn't be able to concentrate on the conversation while reading, but here they are. It's also easier so he doesn't have to look at Adam straight on as he's reading about the Salem witch trials. History is history.]

Yes and no. Third parties aren't the only people who can break into locked rooms, you know. And anyway the vents were where we found Todd's blood after we found him in the kitchen when he was put back into stasis. And Maria and Niles were found in the viewport...or most of them, at least. How else would somebody be able to be moving these bodies out of the pod room without people noticing?

[ Adam nods, half-glancing over the witch trial stuff. His lips twitch slightly into what might be a smirk any other time. ]

I think that's how they're doing it, yeah. Anyone can get into the vents, though, right? Less people who can access the pods, but—a vent map is something you can get for killing a vulnerable person. [ Please don't kill for the vent map Luke. ]

By the way, does your power include people's rooms?

[He's nodding along even while idly making mental notes.]

I'm not entirely convinced it's a normal person either. The pod Todd was in was pretty much destroyed. But figure if we make our own map we can at least have a heads up without having to use Alice's map. [It's okay, Adam, he'll just kill for other reasons.] For all we know, somebody who's already killed before used the map to make copies and pass it off to somebody who's still alive. [...that's not possible, wait.] Except for the part that everyone who's been a killer either didn't go after someone vulnerable, or they used another tool. Guess that rules that out.

[That's certainly a question though and he considers that. He has an answer, of course, but:] What kind of question is that?

Still, it exists. The third parties could have access to it, too, in order to sneak around. [ Distrust Everyone. ] Hopefully if people start getting partners, we can notice who sneaks off. [ A pause. ] Of course, the third parties might just choose each other.

[ He stops looking at the book in order to raise an eyebrow at Luke. ] A reasonable one. I thought lock-breaking meant you needed traditional locks, but now that I know it's a power, it seems possible.

Even if the third parties choose each other, as the numbers continue thinning out and people are partnering up, it'll be easier to pinpoint where they're going. [Or so he hopes, anyway.]

[There's another considerable pause. He knows he has no reason not to trust Adam at this point...but trust is still hard and explaining what powers he has and how they work on the ship seems to scream "instant leverage" to him, so he's debating.] I'm not breaking into people's rooms, so don't even go there. [A pause.] But I could if I wanted to, probably. [He seems to know this is the case even if he hasn't tried it yet. Call it instinct.] There are some locks that're limited but it's a small handful. The rooms Alice hasn't actually opened to us can't be busted. I've tried. Probably because I can't get a clear idea what's behind the door or how the lock works.

Probably. [ He repeats. If he were Luke, he would have tested ages ago. But maybe it's good he hasn't. Stay out of people's rooms. ] Guess I really do need something in front of my door at night.

I won't say anything. If you're a suspect again, you would be the easiest to blame. Just try not to get your fingerprints all over people's stuff.

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