THE FIRST VICTIM

[monoguests]

[This morning, it seems like the world should have ended, but if anyone wakes up early enough or just (quite understandably) couldn’t sleep… well… they’ll see four giant Monobears catching the falling moon and pushing it back up into the sky.

That sure is a thing that happened, but it seems to have happened before touching the ground. That’s a good thing, right?

...Unfortunately, there might be something a little wrong. For one, there’s no music playing on the loudspeakers… which kind of leaves an unsettling stillness hanging in the air.

Maybe it’s best to check around the camp to make sure everyone’s alright.]

Comments

[tsungeonsanddragons]

[Though Clair didn't catch the conversation, she did notice the large number of students gathered outside the theater. Unfortunately it's also the last place she actually thought to look, so she's a bit out of breath when she gets there. Still, it's obvious something's going down, since most of the camp is here.

And, you know, Luigi's passed out.

She feels her heart sink into her stomach, but presses on, moving past everyone to see just what they're all starting at. Hope no one minds a bit of shoving.]

What is going on-

[And then she sees Mac, covered in...is that medicine? Paint? No, it can't be. Then maybe it's...blood? No, it can't be. Blood is red.]

-here...?

[Yet it definitely looks like blood.]

[theothersissel]

[Yomiel's not too far away, and he's just following the commotion, and...oh.]

Wait, somebody got murdered?

[A pause.]

Are you serious?

[tsungeonsanddragons]

[Wow Yomiel. You're a master of tact, aren't you?]

We don't know just yet, but...it doesn't look very good.

[theothersissel]

[He lets out a scoff, shaking his head.]

Wow. And here I though no one would be dumb enough to listen to that stupid bear.

[SO TACTFUL]

[tsungeonsanddragons]

[Is he serious right now CAN YOU NOT, YOMIEL.]

I'll admit the video was fishy, but Monobear knew that it'd look real enough to convince someone.

[theothersissel]

Yeah, and now someone is dead. I mean, good for them and all, but something tells me they're not going to see the precious hostage they saved.

[yay someone died. how amazing.]

So, who do you think would be naive and desperate enough to do something like this?

[tsungeonsanddragons]

[FIST...CLENCHING...]

...it's really starting to irk me how casual you're treating all this. Especially considering your little outburst on the day we saw that video. It's obvious you've cared about at least one person before.

[theothersissel]

Ha. Yeah, "cared"...

[His face becomes stoic - a moment passes before he speaks.]

I'm casual, huh? [His voice sounds a bit strained.] Maybe, in a way, I think the guy's lucky.

[tsungeonsanddragons]

You think Mac is lucky to be dead? Am I hearing this right?

[Because if so, she's going to be a whole new level of pissed off. It's a miracle she's managing to not slap him in the face. But that's probably because she can note the emotion in his voice.]

[theothersissel]

No, I'm not saying that. I'm not saying he should've died, I'm saying that he's...he's lucky that he could...

[He's gritting his teeth now. It's been easy to ignore this past week, but gods, he knows he hasn't really escaped all those years of that pitiful existence. Especially with that stupid picture, where in the world did that bear get it? The memories are still there, and it still hurts.]

I wish that I was in his-

[And now he's biting his tongue, his cheeks flushing hotly. He turns away, trying to hide his face by adjusting his shades.]

Forget about it! Forget about it. You wouldn't understand, okay?

[tsungeonsanddragons]

[No, she will not forget about it.

Mostly because she's a bossy know-it-all and also because she might be at least a little concerned. Of course once the realization hits her, she almost immediately calms down. Is he seriously suggesting...]

You wish you were dead.

[theothersissel]

I said, forget about it.

[He shakes his head, like momentarily trying to rid himself of a pesky bee.]

It's complicated.

[tsungeonsanddragons]

Why should I forget about it? It's not like it's going to go away!

[Stepping forward.]

Besides, how do you know what I will and will not understand?

[theothersissel]

Things are different now. Things have...changed.

[His voice is very, very cold.]

...Why do you even care? I'm just a stranger to you.

[tsungeonsanddragons]

You're right. You are just a stranger to me and everyone else, but you don't have to be. Don't you get it? If someone is capable of murder, someone we trusted, how much easier is it going to be if we're all after each other's throats? We need to work together.

For Mac's sake.

[theothersissel]

Oh, I'm not at anyone's throat. Don't worry. [He finally turns back to her, his smile thin.]

I mean, I never said I wouldn't investigate. Murder's pretty serious. If we don't catch the guy, who else will be on the chopping block?

[He shrugs.]

Let's go catch ourselves a killer.

[tsungeonsanddragons]

[He's a crafty one, that's for sure, but Clair knows he's right. They're wasting time with this when they should be investigating.]

...fine. I'll drop it for now. I think everyone's got the theater covered, so let's check the bonfire.

[theothersissel]

Sure, let's do that. Good a place to check as any.

[LET US NEVER SPEAK OF THIS AGAIN, thinks Yomiel. Onto investigating!]