open; Tuesday evening; cafeteria

[tevinteriscoming]

[So you decided to come to this spontaneous gathering. Not Dorian's gathering, mind. He's not leading this, it was just a suggestion some people made and one of those people who made it was Dorian.

But nonetheless, you are here, in the cafeteria, at the time suggested by Dorian.]

Comments

[tevinteriscoming]

[After enough people have drifted in, Dorian, who has already finished his meal and is sitting at a table near the back, will speak up.]

Well, I'll start, I suppose. It seems, following last week's events, that we ought to talk about these murders and the motives, yes? I think it imperative to stress that, tempting as these motives almost certainly are to some of us, they are also almost certainly false promises.

Do we understand that? Whatever they offer, you cannot expect that you will live to enjoy the prize. That's the nature of making bargains with demons.

[bloodbiter]

I must wonder... If they know so much about us, our names, our abilities, even down to height and weight, how much they know about our personalities and experiences. Is it possible that they've crafted these motives to appeal to at least one of us very strongly?

[tevinteriscoming]

It would not surprise me one bit if true. There's little hope to be had in suggesting that this motive isn't good enough, not when it's likely tailored to someone.

Rather, this sort of magic never ends well.

[douchemag]

Yeah, that sounds nice and all, but do you actually have any ideas on how to get home? Because sooner or later, that's the only motive they're gonna need.

[tevinteriscoming]

I've no idea how to get home, no.

But I would suggest that I also doubt very much any motive where they would return us home, free to go. Surely you're familiar with demons.

[chiseler]

After what just happened to Alita it's pretty much a guarantee we're not gonna get to live long enough to enjoy whatever incentives they offer us. So we should work on finding a loophole if we plan on getting off of this ship.

I still stand by our best bet being maybe figuring out how to make a deal with the AI instead.

[tevinteriscoming]

Yes, perhaps so. I wonder what it is she wants.

[missmaladroite]

Exactly.

[Thank you, Dorian. Marinette couldn't agree more.]

I doubt these 'motives' are even real to begin with. It has to be a trick!

[tevinteriscoming]

It is almost certainly a trick. And to the extent any of them are real, I'm sure they come with unanticipated consequences. Would anyone want to evade all their enemies, or learn a truth they've been seeking, if it meant they would also return home with a demon bound to them?

These sorts of promises and deals are the manner in which malevolent spirits and creatures increase their power. They seldom end well for the humans who accept them.

[isodope]

Speaking of assholes being murderers - I think it might be a good idea to set up night patrols. Make sure people are staying in their rooms at night after a certain time maybe?

I hate curfews as much as the next guy, but I also hate people killing each other for shitty reasons.

[tacklefordwhimsy]

The people who have the AI's protection would be the best choice for that. Who were they, again? Dorian, Jessie and Jason?

[Hmmmm...]

Jessie won't do it. It'd be a waste of time to ask her.

[isodope]

Yeah, good thinking there. Those three aren't "allowed" to get hurt.

[And he has no idea how the hell that will be enforced, or how legitimate it is, but if those three are willing to go for it then by all means.]

What makes you think Jessie won't?

[tevinteriscoming]

That's a clever idea. I'd be happy to lend a hand.

[thanatosincarnate]

Interesting idea. I've thought about it before.

{ He discussed it even, at one point, with someone else. }

On one hand, even a patrol wouldn't be guaranteed to be perfect. An item on that tool list is a cloaking device, to start off with. Not to mention that all-access card.

On another, it could deter a murderer, but unlikely if they're desperate enough to try in the first place.

[isodope]

And that mystery box. Whatever the hell it does.

[Ugh, he hates secret surprises that he isn't in on.]

It may not be perfect, but it would give them trouble. Maybe help make alibis a little harder to fake.

[hatslinger]

I'm willing to help. I'm locked and loaded if anyone tries anything funny.

[ she'll leave out the fact that her gun isn't particularly powerful, but it could get the job done regardless. ]

[isodope]

Man, you're lucky. Wish I had my shotgun on me. [To...protect people...of course...] Just try not to aim for the vitals.

[bloodbiter]

I also think it might be wise to try to stay around at least one person you trust at times you aren't in your room, if I may make a suggestion to everyone here.

[isodope]

Rules do say three people can stay together in a single room, so long as that room belongs to one of them. Not very comfy, getting all cramped in together, but beats getting killed.

[douchemag]

You want someone out on patrol all night? Won't that just make them extra vulnerable to getting offed? Tired people don't fight back as well, especially if they're alone.

[unasking]

I, for one, find the tampering with the medical bay supplies to be irritating. What do you expect to be done if someone were truly injured and all the medical salves are gone?

[He's seen some hoarders, okay. There's a sigh.]

If none are opposed, I was going to propose a running inventory be taken of the supplies we have at hand.

[socloverit]

Well, they are communal supplies. I feel better having super-fast healing goop with me, anyway.

[oops she's a hoarder]

That doesn't mean I think it's a bad idea to keep track of it all, though.

[toprotecttheworld]

There's something I want to talk about.

[Prepare for conversation, and make it without accusation.]

Did you see that list of items? It's full of weapons, but don't be a fool about it. If anyone asks for a universal room access card, we'll have to consider a frame job every single time someone is murdered. It's something all of you inexperienced do-gooders need to remember! I'd certainly frame someone for a theft job if I had the chance.

[tacklefordwhimsy]

[Oooooh, Jessie is here. Shelley hopes she arrived fashionably late so certain badmouthing from Shelley went unnoticed]

Wouldn't the universal room access card be valid only for murdering purposes? More concretely, to murder Raleigh or Maria? That is how I interpreted it.

[antietam]

[ Now Adam has to speak up. ]

We could always, you know, get rid of the weapons.