((Michael Robinson continued from ...And in Her Self-Loathing and Despair, She Found Wrath))
When Michael arrived at the casino, he nearly collapsed from exhaustion. He wasn't athletic at all, and fighting Dougie and running from the scene had given him more exercise than he would normally do within a year.
If someone, a player, came at this point, Michael would be dead, no questions asked.
But nobody came, and Michael used this time to eat and reflect.
He thought about Zoe, how he needed to rely on her to win. She was the brawn of this operation, and she was the one who could take people out easily. She was the one who could actually attack someone without gaining a sudden conscience and chickening out, running from the scene.
Michael grimaced at that last one. He could have ended Dougie right there and then with one swing, but he didn't, and he ran from the scene and left Zoe by herself. Dougie was a good person, who Michael had worked with from time to time, but that didn't mean that he doesn't have to die at some point. Michael was in SOTF-TV; if he wanted to win, he had to kill someone.
No, not had, needed.
So as Michael sat, bat in his hands as he ate a Slim Jim, he considered what he had to win, and how he needed Zoe to survive at the boardwalk for both their sakes.
Although, if another member came in, he would be able to stand up, and leave.
Blue Moon
Open!
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Wham Yubeesling
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((Zoe Walker continued from ...And in Her Self-Loathing and Despair, She Found Wrath))
Much didn't happen on the way back to the Casino, just a stop to get her bearings back and get rid of the bile in her throat, but otherwise the trip was uneventful. When she got there, she saw Michael sitting inside with the bat at his side; eating one of the slim jims they were given.
She felt a pang of anger at that, he nearly left her there with Dougie and Anzu, one of whom had just attempted to kill her, so why the hell was he sitting there eating? But she shook it away, he had helped her get the bat after all and he hasn't abandoned her yet unlike the others.
"There you are, don't run off like that next time."
She walked over and sat down opposite Michael, there were many things she could have asked him, suggestions for what to do, what it was like home, who his friends were and if they were still alive, but she had one specific thing on her mind.
"What happened back there? You had a clear shot on him, but you didn't take it. Why?"
Much didn't happen on the way back to the Casino, just a stop to get her bearings back and get rid of the bile in her throat, but otherwise the trip was uneventful. When she got there, she saw Michael sitting inside with the bat at his side; eating one of the slim jims they were given.
She felt a pang of anger at that, he nearly left her there with Dougie and Anzu, one of whom had just attempted to kill her, so why the hell was he sitting there eating? But she shook it away, he had helped her get the bat after all and he hasn't abandoned her yet unlike the others.
"There you are, don't run off like that next time."
She walked over and sat down opposite Michael, there were many things she could have asked him, suggestions for what to do, what it was like home, who his friends were and if they were still alive, but she had one specific thing on her mind.
"What happened back there? You had a clear shot on him, but you didn't take it. Why?"
(Adopted from Espional)
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Wham Yubeesling
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If you said that Michael was relieved when Zoe entered, that would be an understatement by a fair bit. He was thankful that she was able to get out of the situation that she was in, and was able to know where he went. They were now able to function as a team again, down to what could be the late stages of the game.
... Although he could tell that she was slightly pissed off at him, by the tone in her voice. Admittedly, he did leave her behind when she was fighting two people, one of whom was trying to kill her. While that matter was all done and dusted, and she seemed to be willing to work with him again, he decided to put the Slim Jim down for a bit, just to be on the safe side.
She proceeded to then sit down opposite him, and ask him why he chickened out when he had the perfect chance to take out Dougie. He replied.
“I'm not entirely sure, it's just that...”
He looked away, and took a breath. He then continued.
“When I had the bat above him, I saw him. I saw him doing stuff before this all happened; me and him working on a group project, me seeing him on the soccer field, me seeing him with Lily. I'm still not sure why, but I couldn't will myself to hit him after that, so I took the bat and left.”
After he said this, he handed her the bat.
“Here, take this. It's better in your hands than mine.”
... Although he could tell that she was slightly pissed off at him, by the tone in her voice. Admittedly, he did leave her behind when she was fighting two people, one of whom was trying to kill her. While that matter was all done and dusted, and she seemed to be willing to work with him again, he decided to put the Slim Jim down for a bit, just to be on the safe side.
She proceeded to then sit down opposite him, and ask him why he chickened out when he had the perfect chance to take out Dougie. He replied.
“I'm not entirely sure, it's just that...”
He looked away, and took a breath. He then continued.
“When I had the bat above him, I saw him. I saw him doing stuff before this all happened; me and him working on a group project, me seeing him on the soccer field, me seeing him with Lily. I'm still not sure why, but I couldn't will myself to hit him after that, so I took the bat and left.”
After he said this, he handed her the bat.
“Here, take this. It's better in your hands than mine.”
Zoe took the bat from Michael, she understood the problem, she would have had a problem taking out Forrest if he was still around, besides Dougie wasn't that bad a person, but how good a person you were didn't matter in SOTF, now it was live or die. "It’s best you forget about everything before this, friends, classmates, people that you’ve met here, all that doesn't matter anymore, what matters is you and your team." That came off as probably too cynical. but Zoe didn't care, If they were gonna go on, then Michael would have to accept it.
"I understand what you mean Michael, but how are you going to go on if you keep hesitating? We are gonna have to kill eventually, especially when we have people like Vahka and Jewel walking around." If they were gonna take people like Vahka down they would need more firepower, the bat alone won't do, what they needed was guns.
"I understand what you mean Michael, but how are you going to go on if you keep hesitating? We are gonna have to kill eventually, especially when we have people like Vahka and Jewel walking around." If they were gonna take people like Vahka down they would need more firepower, the bat alone won't do, what they needed was guns.
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Wham Yubeesling
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Upon hearing Zoe's response, Michael moved his head to the side again.
“I know that, it's just that...”
He paused.
“You know the faces of the people you pass in the hallway every day, the faces of the people that you call friends, the one to two people you hold dear to you? You're right. They aren't the same people anymore. For all we know, they're all backstabbing murderers who are personally out to kill us and everyone we care about.”
He paused again, took a breath.
“But to me, they're still those faces. They're still the people that I've spent the past few years interacting with. Even if they're trying to kill me, I'd probably be only able to do enough to them so that I could get away. I can't kill them, at least, not without serious moral consequences.”
He took another breath.
“Maybe if it was a person from the other school, or someone like Jewel or Vahka, I could kill them, but if it's someone I know? Forget about it.”
After he said this, Michael looked around. The corpses from his earlier visit were still there, and while the smell of them had been disconcerting when he came back in, he had gotten used to it again.
He had done a slight check of them during his earlier visit here, but it was surface level, and not detailed at all. To win, him and Zoe would need weapons, and while the bat was good, it wasn't a gun.
He supposed another check wouldn't harm him.
“Zoe, do you mind if you help me search these corpses? They might have something good on them.”
“I know that, it's just that...”
He paused.
“You know the faces of the people you pass in the hallway every day, the faces of the people that you call friends, the one to two people you hold dear to you? You're right. They aren't the same people anymore. For all we know, they're all backstabbing murderers who are personally out to kill us and everyone we care about.”
He paused again, took a breath.
“But to me, they're still those faces. They're still the people that I've spent the past few years interacting with. Even if they're trying to kill me, I'd probably be only able to do enough to them so that I could get away. I can't kill them, at least, not without serious moral consequences.”
He took another breath.
“Maybe if it was a person from the other school, or someone like Jewel or Vahka, I could kill them, but if it's someone I know? Forget about it.”
After he said this, Michael looked around. The corpses from his earlier visit were still there, and while the smell of them had been disconcerting when he came back in, he had gotten used to it again.
He had done a slight check of them during his earlier visit here, but it was surface level, and not detailed at all. To win, him and Zoe would need weapons, and while the bat was good, it wasn't a gun.
He supposed another check wouldn't harm him.
“Zoe, do you mind if you help me search these corpses? They might have something good on them.”
Didn't look it worked, Michael still wasn't willing to kill, frustrating, but you take what you get and you work with it. "Alright then, if that's how you feel about it, I'll take care of the killing." Maybe if he had a gun, one bullet to head and their dead, no suffering, no pain, probably the most humane option left.
He was suggesting they search the corpses for anything useful, Zoe felt a case 9f deja vu at that, hopefully nothing bad would happen this time. "Sure, I was gonna do that earlier, but Lukas leaving put a stop to it." she said as she stood up and started walking over to the corpses.
He was suggesting they search the corpses for anything useful, Zoe felt a case 9f deja vu at that, hopefully nothing bad would happen this time. "Sure, I was gonna do that earlier, but Lukas leaving put a stop to it." she said as she stood up and started walking over to the corpses.
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Wham Yubeesling
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((GMing approved))
They searched.
They found nothing. Not even something small like a knife. The scene was completely empty, aside from the corpses.
Defeated, they sat down where they were before, in complete silence. Michael didn't know how he should go through this conversation, since he didn't know much about Zoe in the first place. He saw her around school a lot, but he never talked to her much, and if it weren't for their partnership, he likely never would have. He considered what to say, and decided that maybe making her talk about her personal life was the best way of going around this.
"So what did you do back at home? I never really saw or talked to you at school so I don't really know."
They searched.
They found nothing. Not even something small like a knife. The scene was completely empty, aside from the corpses.
Defeated, they sat down where they were before, in complete silence. Michael didn't know how he should go through this conversation, since he didn't know much about Zoe in the first place. He saw her around school a lot, but he never talked to her much, and if it weren't for their partnership, he likely never would have. He considered what to say, and decided that maybe making her talk about her personal life was the best way of going around this.
"So what did you do back at home? I never really saw or talked to you at school so I don't really know."
Zoe had not really thought of home, being knocked out and put on SOTF had taken all of it out of her mind, it got her thinking of her brothers and whether they were watching or not, she hoped they weren't.
"Been doing hiking and kickboxing for a few years now, helped a bit at home whenever I could with my siblings, and I hung out with people like Pia and Forrest, you have probably heard them on the announcements. "
Zoe didn't like talking about home, all it would do was make what they were going to do harder, but if doing it would gain more of his trust, then she would have to do it. Someone out there were probably fast forwarding through this just to get to the next murder or fight scene, it’s what Zoe would have done back home.
“What about you, what did you do?”
"Been doing hiking and kickboxing for a few years now, helped a bit at home whenever I could with my siblings, and I hung out with people like Pia and Forrest, you have probably heard them on the announcements. "
Zoe didn't like talking about home, all it would do was make what they were going to do harder, but if doing it would gain more of his trust, then she would have to do it. Someone out there were probably fast forwarding through this just to get to the next murder or fight scene, it’s what Zoe would have done back home.
“What about you, what did you do?”
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Wham Yubeesling
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Michael listened to what Zoe had to say, and kept it in his mind. She was one of the more sporty types, never someone who he may have interacted with that much, and never someone he would have become close friends with if Casting Day had never happened. He laughed internally at that, considering that due to this game, he had gotten the ability to meet and befriend new people, and make them his allies.
It was a pity that they had to meet over this game, and over what they had to do in it.
Then Zoe asked what he did before the game happened, what his hobbies were. Admittedly, he hadn't really thought of that since he woke up on this resort with nothing but a fishing net, but her asking brought back memories of his home life, and what he did there. He shuddered a little at that; the fact that if he didn't kill somebody he could never experience his home life again.
But, she did ask a question, and it was his duty to answer it.
"I focused on my studies, for the most part, got A's in all of my subjects except for Physics. I was also in the drama club back at Whittree, although that was more of a passing hobby than a full on interest."
He took a breath.
"I used to also play video games, but then High school came and I didn't have much time for them."
It was a pity that they had to meet over this game, and over what they had to do in it.
Then Zoe asked what he did before the game happened, what his hobbies were. Admittedly, he hadn't really thought of that since he woke up on this resort with nothing but a fishing net, but her asking brought back memories of his home life, and what he did there. He shuddered a little at that; the fact that if he didn't kill somebody he could never experience his home life again.
But, she did ask a question, and it was his duty to answer it.
"I focused on my studies, for the most part, got A's in all of my subjects except for Physics. I was also in the drama club back at Whittree, although that was more of a passing hobby than a full on interest."
He took a breath.
"I used to also play video games, but then High school came and I didn't have much time for them."
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Spindarene
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((Lily Ashburg continued from Stuck in the Middle with You))
Lily started looking for shelter as soon as she left the spa, her search growing more urgent now. She nearly stumbled into the beauty parlor before remembering that it was a danger zone, and instead made for the next closest building, which was the casino. She doubted that there would be anywhere comfortable to sleep in there, but at this point any building with heat would do.
As she entered, a foul smell greeted her. Wrinkling her nose, she stepped across the threshold and saw that the source of the stench was two bodies sprawled out on the floor. She would have turned around and left immediately if it weren’t for the people sitting nearby. One of them was Zoe Walker, someone Lily recognized from school but didn’t know very well. The other person was Michael.
A mixture of emotions surfaced as she looked at him. She hadn’t expected to find him again, but had been alternately hoping and dreading doing so. Now that he was here, she had no idea what to say.
After a few seconds she stepped inside and closed the door.
“Um, hi.”
Lily started looking for shelter as soon as she left the spa, her search growing more urgent now. She nearly stumbled into the beauty parlor before remembering that it was a danger zone, and instead made for the next closest building, which was the casino. She doubted that there would be anywhere comfortable to sleep in there, but at this point any building with heat would do.
As she entered, a foul smell greeted her. Wrinkling her nose, she stepped across the threshold and saw that the source of the stench was two bodies sprawled out on the floor. She would have turned around and left immediately if it weren’t for the people sitting nearby. One of them was Zoe Walker, someone Lily recognized from school but didn’t know very well. The other person was Michael.
A mixture of emotions surfaced as she looked at him. She hadn’t expected to find him again, but had been alternately hoping and dreading doing so. Now that he was here, she had no idea what to say.
After a few seconds she stepped inside and closed the door.
“Um, hi.”
Turns out Michael had very different hobbies than Zoe, almost like they were polar opposites, if it wasn't for SOTF neither would have interacted at all, they wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation. Then something crossed Zoe's mind, something she's been wondering about for a while, but more important events had pushed it away, now it looked like the time to ask.
"When me and Lukas found you, you were with Valerie, why-"
Zoe stopped speaking when the door opened, she turned to see who had walked in, a girl from their school who's name Zoe didn't remember. That's good, she thought. It would make things easier in the future. She looked over at them and said hi.
"Hey."
Her grip on the bat tightened, the girl didn't look armed, but better safe than sorry.
"When me and Lukas found you, you were with Valerie, why-"
Zoe stopped speaking when the door opened, she turned to see who had walked in, a girl from their school who's name Zoe didn't remember. That's good, she thought. It would make things easier in the future. She looked over at them and said hi.
"Hey."
Her grip on the bat tightened, the girl didn't look armed, but better safe than sorry.
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Wham Yubeesling
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After Michael said what he said, silence filled the air for a few moments. It would seem that Zoe was in thought after what he said, and he understood that. She was probably thinking the same things he was thinking, about how they never would have talked to each other if it weren't for this game.
He then heard the door slam, something that wouldn't have happened due to the wind. He then heard a voice, a familiar voice.
He turned.
Lily Ashburg. His first ally on the island.
The first person he left on their own on the island.
Questions filled his mind, such as what happened since he left, whether she saw Valerie, why Dougie had her bat; but he couldn't mustle up the willpower to say any of that, so he responded with something simple.
"Oh, hi Lily."
He hoped this encounter won't turn into something violent.
He then heard the door slam, something that wouldn't have happened due to the wind. He then heard a voice, a familiar voice.
He turned.
Lily Ashburg. His first ally on the island.
The first person he left on their own on the island.
Questions filled his mind, such as what happened since he left, whether she saw Valerie, why Dougie had her bat; but he couldn't mustle up the willpower to say any of that, so he responded with something simple.
"Oh, hi Lily."
He hoped this encounter won't turn into something violent.
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Spindarene
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Since neither of them seemed hostile Lily moved closer, keeping an eye on Zoe. The fact that Zoe and Michael were on the same team made her uncomfortable, but right now Zoe didn’t seem like a threat.
Lily’s mind spun as she tried to think of what to say to Michael, how to put her relief and guilt into words. She thought about starting the conversation off with something else, but small talk had never been something that she was good at, and this wasn't the right place for it anyway. She decided to just start talking.
"Um, Michael I'm...I'm really sorry for what happened to Valerie. And for losing track of you too, um...I guess I was only thinking about myself and I know I should have been a better..." she faltered. What was the right word for this? Friend, ally, teammate? None of those seemed appropriate in this case. "I should have done better," she finished, feeling herself blush. She felt simultaneously like she'd said too much and not enough.
To distract herself from her embarrassment she looked around the room, trying to take in her surroundings while avoiding the dead bodies.
As she came back to the people in front of her, Lily noticed that Zoe was clutching a pink Hello Kitty themed bat.
Lily’s mind spun as she tried to think of what to say to Michael, how to put her relief and guilt into words. She thought about starting the conversation off with something else, but small talk had never been something that she was good at, and this wasn't the right place for it anyway. She decided to just start talking.
"Um, Michael I'm...I'm really sorry for what happened to Valerie. And for losing track of you too, um...I guess I was only thinking about myself and I know I should have been a better..." she faltered. What was the right word for this? Friend, ally, teammate? None of those seemed appropriate in this case. "I should have done better," she finished, feeling herself blush. She felt simultaneously like she'd said too much and not enough.
To distract herself from her embarrassment she looked around the room, trying to take in her surroundings while avoiding the dead bodies.
As she came back to the people in front of her, Lily noticed that Zoe was clutching a pink Hello Kitty themed bat.
The girl started walking towards them, keeping her eyes on Zoe, but for some reason not doing so with Michael, in fact it seemed like she knew him.
Just something I'll have to ask him about later then, she thought. As she started talking, Zoe started looking around the room, tuning it all out, whatever she was talking about, Zoe didn't care, it didn't have anything to do with her and she wasn't on their team anyway.
It was after she had stopped talking that Zoe noticed that she was looking at her bat.
"What?"
Just something I'll have to ask him about later then, she thought. As she started talking, Zoe started looking around the room, tuning it all out, whatever she was talking about, Zoe didn't care, it didn't have anything to do with her and she wasn't on their team anyway.
It was after she had stopped talking that Zoe noticed that she was looking at her bat.
"What?"
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Wham Yubeesling
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Lily, from what Michael could see, was also uncomfortable with this reunion, trying to come up with something to say after more of a day of being unable to. He understood this feeling, as he was in the same situation after he had split up to find Valerie.
She then apologized to him for what happened to Valerie, for ditching him. She said that she was being self centered at the time, and that she could have been a better partner. Michael understood what she was saying, and nodded. She was sorry for what happened, and Michael accepted it.
Now he needed to figure out how to reply to her, and doing that would be tough. She had shown up out of the blue, and that lead to the fact that this was a surprise, leading to him having nothing to say.
For a couple of seconds, he was in thought, figuring out how to formulate his response and deliver it in an easy manner, as soon as those seconds were up, he spoke.
"I found her, after she was killed. It... wasn't as gruesome as I expected it to be. Her neck was broken from being pushed down the stairs. Whoever killed her took her supplies as well, left the empty bag on the corpse."
He paused, took another breath. He was still exhausted from running from the boardwalk and he needed to catch his breath every once in a while. He was far from athletic, and if he did any more of what he just did it would likely kill him.
"At the very least, I found my team." He added, pointing at Zoe. "We ended up losing two of them when they suddenly ditched us, but at least we've been able to stay with each other."
She then apologized to him for what happened to Valerie, for ditching him. She said that she was being self centered at the time, and that she could have been a better partner. Michael understood what she was saying, and nodded. She was sorry for what happened, and Michael accepted it.
Now he needed to figure out how to reply to her, and doing that would be tough. She had shown up out of the blue, and that lead to the fact that this was a surprise, leading to him having nothing to say.
For a couple of seconds, he was in thought, figuring out how to formulate his response and deliver it in an easy manner, as soon as those seconds were up, he spoke.
"I found her, after she was killed. It... wasn't as gruesome as I expected it to be. Her neck was broken from being pushed down the stairs. Whoever killed her took her supplies as well, left the empty bag on the corpse."
He paused, took another breath. He was still exhausted from running from the boardwalk and he needed to catch his breath every once in a while. He was far from athletic, and if he did any more of what he just did it would likely kill him.
"At the very least, I found my team." He added, pointing at Zoe. "We ended up losing two of them when they suddenly ditched us, but at least we've been able to stay with each other."