WEEK 8

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (8)

monday - thursday (23) 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_

Comments

[antietam]

[ Adam frowns and sets the walkie talkie down carefully after turning it off. It's good to know how that works. ]

I know. I'd... Well, when I talked to her earlier in the week, she seemed really depressed. I just thought it was about everything else, not the motive. But I really don't think anything we could have said would have stopped her. For a sibling... You'd feel worse if you did nothing at all.

[thanatosincarnate]

{ He moves to set the walkie talkie he's holding off. }

...

The relations between a human and their family are normally close, so I can understand that easily enough. She didn't know if she would have any other chance to be able to reach her sister, even if she were not to trust what the AI was offering.

{ ... }

Do you have any siblings, Adam?

[antietam]

Oh, no. Not biologically. [ But yes otherwise. ] Do you?

[thanatosincarnate]

No. I have no siblings.

Those related to me by DNA are likely dead as well.

[antietam]

[ Awkward. ] Likely? You don't know?

[thanatosincarnate]

We'd never met and many of those from my homeworld were brutally slaughtered by an alien race. Therefore, the chances they're alive are slim at best.

{ Sometimes that's how life is. Which is pretty shitty, but there's nothing that can be done about it. }

[antietam]

Oh. I'm sorry. [ He wonders how Arumat must feel about the aliens here, but he thinks it's too insensitive to ask. ]

Would you want to meet them if you had the chance?

[thanatosincarnate]

No need for apologies.

{ Adam should definitely ask to see Arumat fly into a rage. Or maybe not. }

... I don't know. I have never thought about it. I am used to being on my own for so long, I cannot fathom meeting with anyone even related.

Possibly.

[antietam]

No, I think that makes sense. Even if they're related, that doesn't really make them family.

Sometimes the best family isn't related. Do you have anyone like that at home?

[thanatosincarnate]

... No. Anyone I knew like that also died.

{ He falls into a brief silence. }

There is this group of people I did recently meet before coming here... but I wouldn't be surprised if they died too. Anyone who gets close to me shares that fate.

[antietam]

Do you really think it's your fault? [ Maybe he shouldn't go into this, but. He's curious. ]

[thanatosincarnate]

I know it isn't now, but... it feels that way.

{ He has a hard time believing it wasn't -- but it still came true so he couldn't explain it. Most people who got near him died and it even happened here too.

Some part of him believes it's only a matter of time for those who haven't. }

You've never believed something like that? That because you're not strong enough to prevent something--

{ He stops and he frowns. }

[antietam]

[ Adam nods slowly, understanding. ] Well, yeah. I think everyone feels that way at some point. And maybe sometimes it is your fault, sometimes it isn't.

But that sort of feeling only holds you back. The way I see it. If you blame yourself for everything... you're gonna want to give up.

[thanatosincarnate]

... Hmph, like I'd ever give up.

{ It's said gently, and he wondered if his response to Adam's inquiry would be different, if he hadn't spoken to Adelina much earlier right after Kazuma's execution had passed. }

Yet, I understand what you mean. It's embarrassing to admit it, but it took me nearly a decade to even realize that though I feel it may be my fault for situations like those, the reality paints a different picture.

[antietam]

[ He smiles at Arumat, glad that he seems to be relatively well-adjusted as opposed to many others on the ship. ]

It's good that you know that now, at least. We need more... mature attitudes here, I think. To keep everyone holding it together.

[thanatosincarnate]

{ He'll be tempted to smile somewhat too... and guess what? He actually does. He's actually probably not one of the most well-adjusted people originally, but he's been making an effort after speaking with some of the people here...

Someone's got to be the mature, responsible adult. }

Indeed. We cannot allow ourselves to be consumed by how the situation may bring us down. We must rise up and persevere.

Therefore, I believe as long as we keep looking ahead, we'll figure out the road that hasn't been artificially created. That is, our own path to victory.

[antietam]

I really hope you're right. [ It's hard for him to be that optimistic, but he's glad that some people can be. ]

It'd help if... there was something more concrete that we could do, you know? To stop feeling so hopeless.

[thanatosincarnate]

{ Arumat's been so pessimistic and fatalistic for so long that, well, he's tired of it. He wanted to look on the bright for once, and he wanted to start believing that there was a way. He's felt dead inside long enough, and well... people are moping around here or there.

Someone's got to be optimistic and surprisingly, Arumat will gladly take up that role. Even if he can be sulky about it, ironically enough. }

Even thinking about your most greatest moment of triumph can be less than helpful, if it doesn't even come close to ameliorating this damned situation we're in. Yet, there must be something...

{ ...Hmm. He thinks of something. }

Despite the situation individuals are in, some find that holding onto a belief of something serves as an anchor. So tell me, what is it you believe in the most? Yourself? Your friends? Or something else entirely?

[antietam]

[ Adam takes a moment to consider it even though he already knows the answer. ]

Maybe all of the above? I worked hard to stay alive to this point, it'd make it all worthless if I died here. I have so much left to do at home. There's people waiting for me.

... What about you?

[thanatosincarnate]

When Allen inquired the same of me back then, I said...

"I believe in my own capabilities -- and to an extent, some others."

{ Beat. }

Even now this is true. I believe in the abilities of myself and others.

Either way, that should be one thing that can help you and some of the others keep their heads up high. Conviction or belief in something else that can be tangible or appealing enough in some way to make sure you or anyone else would think twice before falling into despair.

Whether it works or not is up to the individual, of course.

[antietam]

You're right. With what we're given, I guess all we can do is keep from playing the game. [ He frowns. ]

Do you think that's why people have been killing? Because they believe so much in the motives as opposed to the people around them?

[thanatosincarnate]

For now.

{ ... }

Sometimes. It is not just the motive they believe, but it's also the belief they can attain freedom by slaughtering one innocent civilian besides their faith in the motive. Then there are the corrupted beasts to factor in now, and of course there's probably another factor.

[antietam]

It's stupid. We've found out everyone. The only problem was... with Frankenstein, but that was because we were dealing with something we hadn't expected.

Now that we know, it—no, it's even harder. Because we can't believe any alibis or anyone who seems genuine. [ A pause. ] What's the other factor?

[thanatosincarnate]

{ He'll shrug. }

That, I wouldn't know.

In the meantime... keep yourself observant. We know now we have a much more formidable enemy to contend with. Yet, I know I won't allow them to do whatever they desire easily.

{ ... }

I need to go. I will see you hopefully soon, Adam.

{ He'll give a salute and go off. }