fullthottle | WEEK 6: THIS ISN'T A STANDING OVATION IT'S RIGOR MORTIS

Hello again, Izuminokami-san. I think you'll find this visit much more productive than the last. [ he gestures to his throat. ] Let's get started without any further preparation, shall we?

[ just in case kanesan forgot who he was dealing with! ]

Do you have any information on how to perform the ritual?

[ kanesan looks significantly less happy to be here than last time, but that's. fine. sure. this is still a good opportunity, and he doesn't plan to waste it. ]

I have more than that to give you.

[ he takes half a second to look relieved that his voice actually works, god. ]

To start - the time loops we thought were happening, the past groups - they weren’t real. They were all just part of a story crafted by the demons, and we’re the live entertainment based off of it.

[ he’ll give that a moment to sink in, before continuing with: ]

As for the ritual itself, they’ve told us that there may be three potential outcomes, based on what you all do.

[ okay, so,

nikkari knew going into this meeting that kanesan would have a lot of shit to tell him.

he did not, however, anticipate this level of Bullshit. ]

Not real... so everything—the files, the recordings, the evidence—they were all fabricated? Even the previous hosts? I realize time is of the essence, but—Izuminokami-san, please, explain as much as you are able to. Including the ritual outcomes.

All of it, yes. We were able to read the whole thing.

[ shaking his head... it's frustrating, but if this is what he can do to help, then he will do it. ]

Remember that this comes directly from the demons, so we don't know how trustworthy the information may be. But in the interest of giving us all a better chance at escaping this game of theirs...

The first option is to refrain from doing the ritual at all. That will result in all of us being trapped here forever.

The second is to do the ritual on day 50, and we'll all go home, alive or dead. However, the demons will gain access to each of our worlds, and will be able to do whatever they want there - and they will follow us no matter where we go.

Third, you do the ritual on day 50, and only those who have remained alive will return home. Theoretically, that means the demons won’t have access to those worlds… but those of us who have died will be trapped here, and eventually become demons ourselves.

To do the ritual, you must bring the seven items together around the circle in the ballroom. Then you have to stab someone - it didn’t say kill, but I assume that is the intent.

For the second option, you can stab anyone who isn’t possessed. For the third - you must find all of the ones who have been possessed, do not use the gun to exorcise the demon, and stab them while the demon is in their human bodies. If you don’t find all of the possessed and stab them, they will remain at the demons’ mercy.

[ he takes a breath. it’s tough providing the exposition! ]

We’re looking for another option, and we have a plan, but there is no way of knowing whether it will work until we get there. We should have letters for all of you if we get any other information, but you won’t be able to get them until Saturday.

[ honestly? even though he listens to kanesan's demon game walkthrough with all his attention, carefully committing each word to memory so that he can pass on the message to the group at large . . .

in the end,

nikkari aoe can only laugh. ]

[ hey, what the fuck? ]

Did I miss a joke, Nikkari Aoe?

[ he is not in the mood for your shit right now! this is important! ]

It... hahaha. Sorry, Izuminokami-san. This... is not directed toward you, I promise.

[ this is. just how he deals. indeed, even when he laughs, there is no mirth in his voice. if anything, he's... incredulous? like he can't believe this is where they've ended up, even though he knows kanesan wouldn't lie to him. it's why he chose to summon him again, after all; they only have so much time left and he couldn't afford to waste the opportunity.

... he shakes his head to clear the last of his sardonic chuckling, though his expression remains enigmatic. ]

This whole time, with everything we've believed in and worked toward... have we truly just been their pawns? Were we doomed from the start, do you think? Haha...

[ heatedly, he says: ]

I refuse to believe that those are our only options. Would you take an enemy's information at face value, Nikkari Aoe? Is that not the best way to lose the battle ahead of you?

[ perhaps nikkari doesn't deserve the sharpness of his words, but kanesan is angry, and not bothering to hide it or hold back. and maybe... maybe he's trying to convince himself of this, too. ]

We have one last plan to try - you will see, when the letters come. Until then, we cannot afford to give up. That is exactly what they want us to do. No plan, no matter how well-crafted it may be, is completely infallible. There is undoubtedly a way for us to escape without giving them what they want. We only have to find it.

[ honestly, nikkari is thankful for kanesan's anger. it helps to ground him, to remind him of what their duty as sword spirits is. he'd said as much to higekiri not too long ago in an attempt to keep his focus; perhaps he needed to hear it from someone else, too. ]

. . . Mm.

[ a couple of breaths later and he's sobered up a little now, his eyes refocused on kanesan rather than avoiding his gaze. ]

Do you at least know when, on Saturday, that we would receive the letters? That will be the fiftieth day, after all. And you must also realize that I must tell the others this information. While I, of course, have faith in your ability to find another option, others among us are more pragmatic. They will want to ensure that we at least have a contingency plan lined up, should your efforts fall flat.

I can't give an exact time, but they will arrive during the trial.

[ at the next part, kanesan hesitates, but... they don't have a lot of time here. he can't afford to hold anything back, can he? ]

We've discussed that, yes. [ he takes a breath, and meets nikkari's eyes, refusing to falter. ] If our plan doesn't work, the majority of us would prefer that you all return, and leave us behind. We do not want to hand our worlds over to these demons, under any circumstances.

So we will be having a trial... hahaha. They really are determined to work and milk us for all we're worth, aren't they? I wonder if we'd even be able to focus on whatever happens Thursday night, with all this to consider as well.

[ but before he gets too preoccupied with the gallows humor again, kanesan continues with That, and, well, ]

. . . Izuminokami-san. I understand that would be the most noble option, but we don't know how we all came to be here in the first place, do we? If we let those of you on the other side become demons, who's to say you won't find your way back to our worlds anyway? [ ... and as he says that, something occurs to him. ] Perhaps that's why the ruins of the citadel appeared when you made the transition over—and the same for the rest of the deceased, as well.

[ he pauses, heavily considering something... ]

That first option—where all of us end up trapped here. Will we become demons in that scenario, as well?

[ the mention of the citadel sees kanesan's shoulders tense, grip tightening on the sword at his side as he averts his eyes for a moment. it's not important now - not enough to waste time on, so he refuses to think about it, and when he looks back, his gaze is as determined as ever. ]

There is no guarantee... and the note said nothing about the rest of you if you stay, but given how things have gone up to now, it would make sense that we would all become one of them, given enough time.

[ he shakes his head, frustrated. ]

But is it worth risking our worlds to take us back with you, or to remain here with us? If it's likely that they can get back to our worlds even if we're left behind, then the same risk applies if all of you stay as well.

[ it really does sound like they're doomed no matter what, huh... ]

. . . That is something that I alone cannot answer.

[ well, he can, but he doesn't feel like it's his place to do so. ]

Though... if there is one thing I feel I can say with certainty regarding all this, I highly doubt Higekiri-san will accept any option that separates him and Hizamaru-san. The very suggestion may drive him to take extreme measures...

[ basically "hige will fucking tpk to stay with hiza"... but again, something suddenly occurs to him. ]

... Wait. You said "all the ones who have been possessed." How many demons are among us now?

That is something we've discussed, yes. Hizamaru told me that he plans to ask Chuuya for a special sageo embued with magic, one he hopes will keep Higekiri from causing further damage for his sake. We don't know if it will work, but we've decided to explore every option we have.

And if that fails... [ there's a small smile. ] I'm sure Hizamaru will write to him, one final time, to ask for his brother's cooperation.

As for that... we don't know any more than you. There have been more than one demon in a week before, right? It can just as easily happen again.

... It frustrates me to say "I suppose we'll wait and see," but... after I bring the discussion to the other survivors, it's not as if we have much choice in the matter until Saturday, then.

[ he sighs, but once again shakes his head to offer him a smile. it's a more genuine one this time, the type he's used to seeing from nikkari. ]

Regardless, thank you once again for your help, Izuminokami-san. I, Nikkari Aoe, will make sure your hard work does not go to waste.

Ah—one last thing, if you have no other information for me. Have you noticed anything strange about Carlos-san and Polly-boo? Junpei mentioned someting about them being... off, when he last spoke with them. Well, Carlos-san, at least.

I trust that you will, Nikkari Aoe. We will be relying on you, on the other side.

[ the next question brings a frown to his face, and kanesan crosses his arms. ]

If it started this week, it's probably because of the information they found - what I just told you. Obviously neither of them were happy about any of it, and there have been a few... extreme reactions to it on our side that haven't helped.

WEEK 6: THIS ISN'T A STANDING OVATION IT'S RIGOR MORTIS

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