[...okay, she'll step closer and take the piece of paper to look it over. Unlike her sisters she's a little more receptive to things like this so after a moment of assessment she grins.]
That's...really nice of you, sir. [And unexpected, but she's not going to complain.] Thank you. [There's a pause.] But an apology isn't necessary. We're just the staff.
[ ... oh! well, it's nice to see her smile. isaac will tentatively smile back. ]
Heh, well, all that matters is if you like it. [ he scratches his cheek. ] ... besides, I think it is. Plum keeps saying that too, but ... you guys are still people, not just staff! And Plum is my friend, so ... people, and friends, they deserve real apologies.
There's someone who, um, made me realize I wasn't really being fair, so ... I wanted to try and make it up to you. Even a little bit.
Of course I do. [It's not lip service, she actually looks pretty pleased. She'll gently fold it up to put in her pocket, but she's facing him again.]
You're friends with Plum? [That surprises her, but she doesn't seem to mind. Like. Please befriend her sister(s), that makes her so happy...] I won't disagree again, but you'll have to forgive us for thinking that way is all.
[...she kind of thinks she knows who Isaac's talking about, but she won't say anything about it yet.] But I appreciate it anyway, y'know? We really do want to try to help here as much as we're able to. [..."we" is a stretch, but. You know.]
... you guys keep saying you want to help, and ... and I believe you. But ... I dunno, it's hard not to have questions. Especially all the stuff that happened with Haruka... it felt like something you guys had done a hundred times before.
[There's a light laugh.] No, I get it. Plum's waaay harder to impress, but I wish more people would get to know her. Pumpkin, too! They could both use some more friends. [Older sister here to embarrass her younger sisters, it's fine, it's fine.
But hm. Yes. About that...]
...another part of our job is to be prepared for any possibility. What happened to Miss Tenoh was horrible and something we were hoping to avoid. But we had to proceed with the contingency plan we had.
Oh yeah! That reminds me. Uh, do you know who Pumpkin's favorite video game character is...? [ pumpkin's sketch gift gon' be DIFFERENT
annnnyway hm. ]
So ... I mean, let me know if I'm wrong, but if I had to guess people have probably died during Master Blue's parties before, right? Like, everything that's happening now--it's not new, right?
Are you drawing fanart for her? [That doesn't answer but the answer is she knows but I have to ask Andie because shit if I know. Instead, she's gonna focus on the other question.]
Well no, not exactly. We've never had people turn into were-creatures before. That's definitely new to you and to us.
yeah isaac is genuinely super surprised by this, the dummy. ]
R-Really? This stuff is new to you guys too?? That's ... that's insane, though! Haven't you guys done this like, a lot? What used to happen at past parties, Peach?
[SHE'LL TELL HIM AT THE END BUT LIKE. HM. MORE IMPORTANT SUBJECT!]
We've worked for Master Blue for a long time, yes. And while the parties have been happening for even longer than that, it hasn't been anything quite like this. All of the guests have their own temperaments, and...well. You're in school, aren't you? Do you get along with all of your classmates?
Sometimes people butt heads. Sometimes people find themselves doing things that others would find unacceptable. The guests in this house are responsible for themselves and have an impact on what happens here even if they're meant to work together. An environment can be as relaxed or as tense as the guests make it...even if there are people like a teacher or leaders interfering. Does that make sense?
So you're saying that... the strange stuff about this situation, it's because of us? What we're like as a group? How can we be that much different from past groups, though...?
I think that may be part of the reason Master Blue invited this particular group. [What's different about past groups? Time will tell.] But strange things have happened in this house before, Mr. O'Connor. It's just that it varies from group to group what, exactly, occurs. Some groups may get along perfectly fine and others...might take matters into their own hands.
... does this mean that the way the rules changed was specifically to fit us, too? Like, the rules responded to us, the type of group we are, instead of the other way around?
[ ... ] There was a lot of fighting when we all got here... did that really impact things so much that it's like this now?
I don't think it really helped, if you want me to be honest. The rules were settled on when Haruka was killed, but Nikki's transformation...we're still not sure what triggered the change in her subconscious. Could've been anything, but there's something about this group of guests that change how things happen.
On the other hand, nothing says this group of guests can't change things back either.
So like... okay. If the rules settled when Haruka was killed, then did all the stuff about people transforming into monsters also have an impact on the rules?
And you guys don't even know what caused it... that's crazy. Is-- ...
[ he practically swallows his tongue, and then he's quiet for a second. ]
... what do you mean? Change things back. Back to ... what? A, like, non-supernatural murder version of things?
The rules came into being because people began transforming. People began transforming, likely, because of the situation here with other people. It's a balance!
[But hm!] It's really up to you what it changes back into. A non-supernatural murder version of things, or even a non-murder version if things if you're really ambitious. If the rules were no longer a benefit to the house, they could be removed.
The house as a concept, Mr. O'Connor. You know, like the people in it? If the rules weren't necessary because people weren't murdering one another and the deaths stopped, the rules would be lifted.
[She tilts her head.] The wording isn't always clear in the rules, I'm afraid. [Hence her argument with everyone during trial about the usage of the word "will."]
[ he's quiet again for a second. he's ... never been the best sleuth--well. in fact, he has always been the worst sleuth. it's frustrating, because he wants to break apart all of these mysteries so bad. ]
... weren't necessary ... that makes sense. But the monster transformations are involuntary, right? At least, Nikki didn't seem to know what happened, and we all know she wasn't in control of herself... So doesn't it really come down to figuring out how to stop the transformations?
Seems so! [Oddly cheerful about that, Peach.] If you could find a way to stop the transformations and even stop the murders, well, why would the rule be needed at all?
Okay, like, I'm pretty sure I get all of this, but is there any way to give me a clue, because I have literally no idea where to start when it comes to stopping the transformations.
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That's...really nice of you, sir. [And unexpected, but she's not going to complain.] Thank you. [There's a pause.] But an apology isn't necessary. We're just the staff.
[The customer is always right, etc.]
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Heh, well, all that matters is if you like it. [ he scratches his cheek. ] ... besides, I think it is. Plum keeps saying that too, but ... you guys are still people, not just staff! And Plum is my friend, so ... people, and friends, they deserve real apologies.
There's someone who, um, made me realize I wasn't really being fair, so ... I wanted to try and make it up to you. Even a little bit.
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You're friends with Plum? [That surprises her, but she doesn't seem to mind. Like. Please befriend her sister(s), that makes her so happy...] I won't disagree again, but you'll have to forgive us for thinking that way is all.
[...she kind of thinks she knows who Isaac's talking about, but she won't say anything about it yet.] But I appreciate it anyway, y'know? We really do want to try to help here as much as we're able to. [..."we" is a stretch, but. You know.]
1/2
He'll nod, bobbing his head eagerly. ] Yeah! She teased me about it, but ... I was pretty happy. She's cool. N-not that you and Pumpkin aren't!
[ shove that foot in your mouth harder, Isaac. really chew on it. ]
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But hm. Yes. About that...]
...another part of our job is to be prepared for any possibility. What happened to Miss Tenoh was horrible and something we were hoping to avoid. But we had to proceed with the contingency plan we had.
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annnnyway hm. ]
So ... I mean, let me know if I'm wrong, but if I had to guess people have probably died during Master Blue's parties before, right? Like, everything that's happening now--it's not new, right?
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Well no, not exactly. We've never had people turn into were-creatures before. That's definitely new to you and to us.
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[ OH, UH. OH??????????/
yeah isaac is genuinely super surprised by this, the dummy. ]
R-Really? This stuff is new to you guys too?? That's ... that's insane, though! Haven't you guys done this like, a lot? What used to happen at past parties, Peach?
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We've worked for Master Blue for a long time, yes. And while the parties have been happening for even longer than that, it hasn't been anything quite like this. All of the guests have their own temperaments, and...well. You're in school, aren't you? Do you get along with all of your classmates?
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Kinda? Sometimes, not really, but...
[ whatchu getting at gurl ]
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Sometimes people butt heads. Sometimes people find themselves doing things that others would find unacceptable. The guests in this house are responsible for themselves and have an impact on what happens here even if they're meant to work together. An environment can be as relaxed or as tense as the guests make it...even if there are people like a teacher or leaders interfering. Does that make sense?
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[ ... ] There was a lot of fighting when we all got here... did that really impact things so much that it's like this now?
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On the other hand, nothing says this group of guests can't change things back either.
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And you guys don't even know what caused it... that's crazy. Is-- ...
[ he practically swallows his tongue, and then he's quiet for a second. ]
... what do you mean? Change things back. Back to ... what? A, like, non-supernatural murder version of things?
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[But hm!] It's really up to you what it changes back into. A non-supernatural murder version of things, or even a non-murder version if things if you're really ambitious. If the rules were no longer a benefit to the house, they could be removed.
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No longer ... a benefit to the house? Wait, what does that mean? What benefit does the house get from all of this in the first place?
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[She tilts her head.] The wording isn't always clear in the rules, I'm afraid. [Hence her argument with everyone during trial about the usage of the word "will."]
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... weren't necessary ... that makes sense. But the monster transformations are involuntary, right? At least, Nikki didn't seem to know what happened, and we all know she wasn't in control of herself... So doesn't it really come down to figuring out how to stop the transformations?
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Seems so! [Oddly cheerful about that, Peach.] If you could find a way to stop the transformations and even stop the murders, well, why would the rule be needed at all?
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Okay, like, I'm pretty sure I get all of this, but is there any way to give me a clue, because I have literally no idea where to start when it comes to stopping the transformations.
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[ he's doing his best.
as am I. ]
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