( DEPARTURE )

[abhoth]

SURVIVORS: 42 At 6:00 PM on the dot, everyone who has died during the ritual will awaken in their respective beds. Whole and unscathed, it would be far too easy to say that everything has been nothing but a fever dream. But the truth, as always, is far different from what the heart yearns for. For the first time in five weeks, night falls over the City of Yuggoth. The sun no longer hangs over your heads, its presence dark and oppressing. Instead, a soft, blue light shines down from the sky. It's not quite the moon, no. The Unclean's avatar is still visible in the sky, after all. But it's comforting. It's the promise of new beginnings, of newly forged bonds, and pacts that neither heaven nor hell are capable of tearing down. Does this singular moment in time make everything they've been through worth it? No, probably not. But this is the end. Their journey is over. Now it's time for forty-one (41) individuals to choose their destination, while one (1) is left behind. The unmarked room between the Kitchen (still wrecked — thanks, Tsurugi) and Laundry room is now open. Faceless men will be giving away baseball caps, pens, keychains and all the splendor of Yuggoth, as well as glossy photos taken throughout the ritual... for most, it will be a photo of their dead body and the manner in which they died. Yikes. A toy machine has also been left here, with a sign that reads TELEGRAM FUND: DEPOSIT YOUR CLUE TOKENS SO EVERYONE CAN CONTACT THEIR FRIENDS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANDERSEN, SO DON'T ASK. - ABIGAIL. Manning the Curio Shop won't be the only duties the faceless men have been relegated to, however. They'll be hunting down everyone but the new facilitator in order to give them a bus ticket. The destination and time of departure will be blank upon initially receiving it, but as soon as one thinks of where they want to go? Both fields will be filled in, and will be adjusted accordingly if anyone has a last minute change of heart. It seems like, in the end, it's up to the residents to decide whether to return home or to catch a ride with one of their new friends. Starting from 6:00 AM on Tuesday morning (a fact only discernible thanks to the Grandfather clocks, as the sun refuses to rise again), double decker buses will roll by the motel to pick residents up. There will be several buses, each one remaining at the entrance for fifteen minutes and the next one arriving after an hour long interval. Bus tickets will refuse to change after the first bus has arrived, so try not to be too indecisive lest you wish to remain in this realm or strike a deal with the Unclean. On the bright side, there are at least two to four days before everyone has returned home. May as well get those final goodbyes over with, right? It's a wrap, everyone! Thank you for the wild ride, and don't forget to check out the Love Meme and TL;CR Meme. You can use this post to thread out those last goodbyes. ( quick navigation ) ic rulebook | locations | statuses | room assignments private conversations | ic profiles | graveyard | full navigation

Comments

[disinterested]

[Because he likes talking to Andersen, of course. :)

But he's raising an eyebrow at that.]

Well, someone's sensitive. Which word would you prefer I use instead?

[disinterested]

... Are you seriously trying to argue that I shouldn't say something because "it doesn't work with my personality"?

[disinterested]

[He's not sure whether to say that Andersen's reaction is more entertaining than he thought it'd be or just plain weirder.]

And how, pray tell, did it affect you?

[disinterested]

[Smiling, Girge taps Andersen on the head with the book.]

Oh, not solely. Besides, I'm just making the most out of our last conversation together.

[disinterested]

[...]

And what brought on this topic change?

[disinterested]

... Who said I was worried?

[Guess whose turn it is to quickly backpedal into denial.]

[disinterested]

[...]

Your point is?

[disinterested]

[Girge's quiet, before he looks away with an expression that indicates he feels rather awkward with what he says next—even if he tries to force his usual smirk.]

... Maybe so, but that doesn't mean I'm eager to replace you.

[It's hypocritical of him to say, when he always saw himself as replaceable, whether as a soldier or as a son. Still, Andersen's more than just a "footnote".]

[disinterested]

...

[It's strange to think about. After all, throughout his life, Girge has always been the one who was "gone".]

You really can't talk in anything but literary metaphors, huh? [...] And what about yours?

[disinterested]

Now, when you ramble at people, they might actually have to listen. Looking forward to that?

[disinterested]

Your future participants are going to hate your guts. [...] Constantly dealing with people sounds like torture to me, but I guess you'll fare better than I would. Plus, you'll probably meet plenty of interesting people, huh?

[Plenty of new stories to observe; to write. This month is, after all, only a footnote in Andersen's story as well.]

[disinterested]

[He just smiles, as if Andersen hadn't completely hit the mark on the head.]

That's pretty presumptuous of you, don't you think?

[disinterested]

... Say that sentence out loud again.

[And realize that it makes no sense.

But at heart, he knows what Andersen's trying to say. He doesn't know how to feel about it: one part of him is grateful, the other doubtful (and besides, it might be easier for Andersen, in the end, if people were so replaceable).]