inkwreaths | murdergame candidates!

[ if a murder isn't carried out by friday night, no more food will be provided and everyone will starve to death.

jax has been given a human form again. it feels strange, needing to eat. feeling hunger again. craving an apple one day, an orange another. it's friday afternoon and nobody's taken any chances, though; most are distressed. jax is unusually calm about this, munching idly on a piece of toast he'd made.

in fact, he doesn't seem concerned at all. ]

[Murmur, on the other hand, is blatantly unhappy. She's never been good at concealing her emotions and the recent declaration has made her moodiness all too apparent. She mopes on the ground, lying on her belly as if that'd help with the hunger pangs. Every now and then, she kicks her legs in a demonstration of irritation.]

Jax! What are we gonna do?

[ he'd thought about this, mulled it over a couple of times in his head. jax knows exactly what he wants to do, but he knows that his goals will go against what murmur wants from him--he's a little hesitant to bring it up. ]

Hm.

[ it's not a contemplative noise; just one to fill the silence. ]

Murmur. We're friends, right?

[What a weird question. Murmur rolls over onto her back to look at him, hands folded over her stomach.]

Mmm, of course we are.

[Nothing can ever change that for Murmur.]

Then it's okay if I can be selfish and ask you for a favor?

[ he's stopped eating. jax looks at murmur, expression blank, void of life. it's the only way he can ask her without hurting too much. ]

[Oblivious to his discomfort, Murmur instantly brightens up. She's been itching for something to do all day ever since the announcement. Doing something for someone else -- that'll help take both their minds off this murder business, right? Her smile splits her face.]

Of course! I'll do anything for Jax!

[ he's going to crush her and he knows it. ]

...

Then, Murmur. Will you do the honor of killing me?

[... did she hear that right? Murmur's smile disappears.]

I don't understand.

[ ah. now jax is going to smile to try to relieve some of the tension-- ]

Hey, hey. I already died once, right? I can die again. Then I'll just be me. I like being a ghost more than I like being human, anyway.

[Frantically, Murmur shakes her head. Even though Jax is speaking, she doesn't understand the words. It's true that he's already dead. It's true that, as a demon, she would know how to best kill humans. But she's not that creature anymore. Jax isn't dead anymore and he has the chance to finally talk and meet other people and she can't comprehend why he'd be okay with going back--]

No.

[She sits up, shoulders tensed like a dog raising its hackles.]

You don't like it at all, Jax! Everyone can't see you if you're a ghost. You were lonely for a really long time.

...I don't mind being lonely.

[ he's lying. it hurt. but around murmur, that loneliness went away. he became human again because of her. he'd experienced happiness, annoyance--love--because his best friend had allowed him to remember what it was like to be human one last time. it only took all of these weeks stuck here to realize that. ]

As long as you're alive.

[ ...do you understand now, murmur? ]

Edited 2017-06-27 23:54 (UTC)

No!

[She says it firmly, emphasized by another shake of her head.]

I'm not going to kill you! If, if they want someone dead so badly-- [Her hands clutch at her pants tightly, fingers digging into the fabric.] --someone else can go die!

We only have so much time left.

[ jax shakes his head. ] Nobody else wants to die. They're all afraid of death; I'm not. Logically, this is the best option, isn't it? To kill the only person willing to die...haha.

[ his smile turns the tiniest bit more grim, and he tries to hide it by turning his head away from her. ]

I'll have the other dead folks to talk to. I won't be alone, if it makes you feel better.

It doesn't.

[Sulking. Angry. Murmur pulls her legs close to her, curling up into a ball.]

Because then that means I have to leave you behind. We're friends. We're sticking together.

...It's not like I was alive before I got here. Remember?

[ what a stubborn girl.

he sits down next to her, back leaned up against the wall. he sighs. ]

What can I do to change your mind?

[When it comes to the things she loves -- and there's so few things in this world she truly loves -- Murmur refuses to budge. Having lost one important "thing" was bad enough. To lose another is unthinkable. She won't allow it to happen. She won't be the cause. It's a simple way of thinking but it's what gave her the motivation to integrate into a foreign world.

Jax's presence beside her soothes some of her anger. Without thinking about it, she reaches out for his hand.]

Someone has to die.

[She says it with the irritated tone of a child denied a treat.]

It shouldn't be you.

[ unlike murmur, Jax....he's never had anything to lose. Nothing except for her. He's never really placed value on anything since shortly after his death, existing effortlessly, detached from the world. He preferred it that way.

But Murmur gave him more purpose. He has a shop to help run, demons he chats with on occasion...it may not be much, but it's certainly a stepping stone for him into feeling alive again. It's why he'd trade anyone, including himself, for her happiness and well-being.

And if that means keeping him alive here... ]

Are you really fine with waiting on someone else?

[Her eyes go cold and dark. There's a hint of the demon she used to be in that gaze.]

We don't have to wait. I'll kill someone for you.

[She really would.]

[There are loads of things to consider when you've recently been kidnapped to another universe! Laphicet decides to first concern himself with gathering all the knowledge he possibly can about their situation. But when he spots a large book about insects in the library, he ends up getting distracted. There's one problem, though. The book's on the top shelf. Try as he might, he can't possibly reach it.

So when he hears approaching footsteps, he turns to face the other person, a nervous smile on his face.]

Oh, excuse me...! Could you possibly-

[And then he realizes that this kid isn't even much taller than him. Laphicet deflates a little, his smile now more apologetic.]

I'm sorry, just um... never mind.

[Despite having been kidnapped to a whole other dimension, Frisk seems at ease with the situation. There's so many new things to explore and see (and they're not going to think about the reason they're here because it won't come to it. it won't. they won't let it) and they've spent a lot of time just wandering. Which is how they come across another kid in the library.

Frisk shakes their head at the apology. You can't expect them to back down when help is needed!]

'sokay. What are you trying to do?

That book up there... I wanted to read it.

[Phi casts a longing glance up at the book before letting out a sigh.]

But I don't think either of us could reach it.

[Frisk looks up and lets out a low whistle.]

Why don't you just climb the bookcase?

[SOUND IDEA]

Oh, I didn't even think of that!

[Probably because it's the type of idea Velvet and Eleanor would immediately reject. But Laphicet clenches his fists, steeling himself for this very important adventure.]

Alright!

[Without anyone to stop him, he starts climbing. He's a bit clumsy, but very careful about everything he's doing. When the book's close, he reaches out and grabs it, only to accidentally step on his little dress thing. He slips, book in hand, and falls backwards off the bookcase.]

Ahhhh!

[That's him yelling.]

[Frisk is the sort to go for ideas that seem odd or out-of-place -- especially if said idea requires a test of bravery. They love living on the edge! Don't like your adoptive moms tell you what to do!

In fact, they're cheering their new friend on until-- oh no!]

Whoa!!

[Frisk dives to try and catch him but they're way too slow. All that results is them flopping belly-down beside the kid with an ouch!

They groan and push themselves up.]

Hey... are you okay?

[Laphicet gets up, hugging the book to his chest. He gives it a look over before answering them.]

Yeah! And the book's okay too!

[The book's health is very important, okay.]

Are... you okay? I'm really sorry to have troubled you...

[So the rules of this game have just been explained, to the appropriate shock and horror of most participants. Get away with murder and you'll be rewarded, get caught and you'll be executed. There doesn't seem to be much consideration for anyone who'd rather not do the murder thing to begin with.

However Frisk is reacting to this bit of news, they might be a little distracted by the weird, ugly cat that is choosing this of all times to rub up against their legs and purr in a very demanding manner.]

[Frisk, for the most part, has remained very quiet. Whatever their reaction was, it was understated enough to go unnoticed in comparison to everyone else. A few people had tried to usher them out of the room as if that'd keep them from becoming a participant. But curiosity is one of Frisk's best and worst traits. Regardless of how bad it gets, they want to see and hear everything.

... this cat is funny. They didn't expect an animal to be a "participant," but maybe this cat was a monster. With such a big mouth, Frisk wouldn't be surprised. To be polite, they squat down to pet him on the head.]

There, there.

[Said as if the cat's the one who needs comfort.]

[Pff, what? This cat's not a monster! Obviously he's a perfectly normal cat who just happens to have very big sharp teeth.]

While most highly appreciated, your attempts at consolation are entirely unnecessary. Besides, to be quite frank, if I were in need of reassurement, they would have not been especially efficient.

[A perfectly normal, if a little verbose, talking cat.]

[It's okay if this cat is ugly. Frisk thinks he's handsome as he is! But oh, that's a lot of words.]

... do you want me to stop petting you?

[That's their one question, yup.]

murdergame candidates!

murmur

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frisk!

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frisk!

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