Where...?

"And again, she rises." Lotus ll Affiliated with A-ICE Risen ll Fallen

[shizukanashizumaru-blog]

Don't Trust Somebody Who Can't Trust You || Closed

[shsllotus-blog]

shizukanashizumaru‌:

There’s this annoying feeling again. Why is it that whenever he tries to help someone here, they resist it with all their might? Even when it’s clear that they’re troubled. Was he that unreliable? … It was something FATHER said. It had weighed on him tremendously. Snapped him awake after minutes of rest. The trials that had occured… those that’d been lost… he tried not to think of that as his fault. That it was due to the circumstances. But the pressure he was placing on himself wasn’t so easily moved. Even though he thought it’d be easier working with people to stop these things, nothing… really seemed to be changing. Just like footprints in thise white winter, his efforts would be gone with the next snowfall.

That’s why he had to change something up.

Even if it meant he was annoying and even if it made people think of him poorly. In a way, he had to wonder what it even mattered if they did. He had only made one friend here and that was Yukari. After the whole bridge incident, he hadn’t spoken to her. No doubt, that friendship was gone. He had rejected Ryoka’s kindness. Yelled at Lewis, yelled at Lotus. And… he’d poisoned Lotus himself. There was no hiding from that one. So maybe what he ‘seemed like’ didn’t matter; he’d never been good with social norms, anyway.

Shizumaru closes his eyes and reaches for the wooden sword he’s had on his person ever since he’d found it. In one quick motion he smashes it against one of the walls. Not towards Lotus, but she’d no doubt felt the fierce breeze from the movement.

“Overconfident. And naive.”

His eyes narrow.

“It won’t be so easy? I’ll be sure to tell your family killing you wasn’t easy when you die. Is your pride so high you’d rather risk your life than ask for help? I don’t particularly… care if you trust me. But trust someone. Walking around like that i dangerous. Even if… even if LISE was out of the equation… are you so confident you can live in these conditions like that? … If so… you’re a fool.“

Shizumaru eases his posture a little. He hadn’t realized how tense he’d become. Drawing the sword back close to him he glances away for a second before looking back her way.

“You actually have people to go back to. Don’t… ruin that with your selfishness. Don’t get yourself killed.“

The conversation seems done and satisfied so she turns and begins to make a retreat. Maybe it’s a little rude but that isn’t quite important to her right now; she could probably apologize to him later and sure he’d fuss as usual but it wouldn’t be a problem-

Breezy movement and a sharp crack behind her smashes that idea to pieces. She turns quickly and ready to be on the defensive-wincing a bit as her body protests against such quick movement-and is met with a sword against a wall and a threat leveled at her.

“...”

She hears him out. What else could she do, in this state? She doesn’t trust herself to be able to tactfully retreat like this and if he’s serious then she shouldn’t turn away from him either. Thankfully it’s not a threat, not a real one...more like a very aggressive plea. From someone like him, she wondered if she’d exhausted his patience. Perhaps she had. It wasn’t something she felt like thinking of. 

But as he finishes speaking his mind and seemingly waits for her to speak hers, she isn’t...sure how to proceed. You can’t tell someone that they don’t want to show weakness in front of anyone since that would be doing just that.

“I...Is this what you think I do? I did not think this such-ah, I meant not...”

She trails off. She didn’t mean to? She didn’t think so? But didn’t she? Trusting someone in this place...she’d thrown away that idea as soon as someone had died. Hesitation flickered across her face. What was there to say?

“Is it that easy? I cannot think it. Asking for help, that is just...”

A show of weakness. In here especially. If she asked for help and someone did that meant she would be at the mercy of that person. More to the point, it wasn’t good to help her, really. If what she’d seen so long ago was any indication, then she needed to handle herself.

“Ah, I don’t think I...mean what I mean to say. I do not deny what you say, though. I will try not to be like so, and I will not die. As you say, I have someone to see...as we all do.”

[shsllotus-blog]

Backstage Behavior ❃ OPEN

[shsllotus-blog]

shsl-koutsukino‌:

The question was very unexpected and it showed. Kou titled their head to one side, studying Lotus as she moved. They watched her closely and tried to take in every bit of her expression. Maybe if they studied harder they could get it.

But that wasn’t the case. No matter who hard they tried, they didn’t seem to become any closer to an answer for her.

“No. That’s why I ask,” they said calmly as they continued to try and watch her. They looked around the area for a bit before bringing their attention back to Lotus. “Should I be able to?” It was a fair enough question, but Kou just needed a straight forward answer, no more of this lingering in confusion because no one had volunteered to explain. Their talks with Matias and Asao had fueled them with confusion. Maybe Lotus would be able to say something meaningful that could help.

So they really couldn’t tell. They hear her crying, see her so unguarded and open and yet it doesn’t occur to them.

“I suppose that is fair. Maybe you think something else.”

Kou asks her if they ought to and she isn’t sure. Emotions are hard to grasp as it is. Kou must have less of a grasp, then. How to explain this, then?

“It is not about should you, I think. I think it is that...when one hears crying, and sees someone upset then maybe it would occur that a bad thing is going on. But I only speak from what I know. We are different here. I feel...it is hard to say what I feel.

What you can or cannot understand, I cannot understand at all. Because I am not you, ah, what is that phrasing. I am not in your shoes. I can try but I cannot think I was someone who knew how to help. I suppose to help you start...I am not okay. It is why I am like so now, why you see and hear me as I am.”

Well. She certainly hadn’t meant to tell them she wasn’t actually feeling fine but it was out there now, so there wasn’t any going back now. It was fine, it was an attempt to help Kou. Whether successful or not was not anything she felt overly strongly about.

[shizukanashizumaru-blog]

Don't Trust Somebody Who Can't Trust You || Closed

[shsllotus-blog]

shizukanashizumaru‌:

A casual gretting. That’s all it should’ve been. And yet… something about this wasn’t right. The way she was moving… seemed off. Lotus might’ve still been angry at him. Maybe he had no right to be concerned. But those things came second to genuine worry. He approached with cautious footsteps, hands tightened near his scarf as he tried to show he was no threat to her. Maybe it was him poking his nose into something personal but when she looked like that, he couldn’t leave it alone.

“L… Miss Lotus. May I have a moment?“

Shizumaru frowns, unsure of his words. He has no idea how to soften his tone, no idea how to speak to someone he’s clearly wronged. He clears his throat and continues on.

“T… those wounds. They look serious. Are you… I think…“ he closes his eyes before continuing on. “You need some help. I know I’m probably not someone you wish to receive help from, but, please. For now, just allow me to assist you. You’re in no state to be walking around like this. It’s dangerous. For a lot of reasons.“

After the huge fight he got into with Satoko, he wasn’t sure how to approach these things. But he wasn’t about to stop now. He couldn’t. It was… just… somehow, a part of him.

Barely a step later and he’s stopping her to talk. This defeats the purpose of sneaking off, doesn’t it? But she might as well get it over with. Soon, hopefully.

He continues despite her unspoken agreeance to hear him out. It’s not too surprising that someone who also had a wound would notice a wound on another. Especially when that someone tended to fuss over tiny things. He was like Lewis, in some regard. Worrying and fussing over everything, so sure it would someday be a problem. Though Shizumaru was a bit more proactive. Ah well.

“You think what, exactly? They are bad? You would be right. But I do not need help. Not because you are the one to ask it, but because I do not need it.”

Brave words, but she knew it barely bordered on truth, and if she didn’t sit down soon, it would fall into the realm of lies.

“I know. It is no good. I am aware of the danger here-after all we are four less. But as said, I do not need help. If someone tries to do me ill, it will not happen easy.”

She knew Shizumaru meant no harm but something told her she didn’t always know that. Taking something like that for granted was bad here. And from someone like him as well...it didn’t seem right to just let it happen so easily.

[shsllotus-blog]

Backstage Behavior ❃ OPEN

[shsllotus-blog]

lewiscoleys‌:

He hated being cooped up in his room, it just felt unproductive…but he was afraid of being the next victim. Writing to himself only did so much, and he was near close to filling up a third book. He dropped his pen to the side of the book and slammed it shut, putting both objects back where they belonged.

He needed to get some air.

As cold as it was outside (outside to him, anyway) there was something oddly refreshing about it…until he sunk into a large pile of snow. Chilly! Nevertheless, he trudged on, not exactly feeling up for food, so the cafe wasn’t the destination today. No, he found himself in the Guesthouse, the fireplace being a nice reward for the long walk.

Lewis sat down at one of the tables to take a breather, before hearing the sound of someone crying. He had to focus to hear it, but he could tell what it was. Unlike when he sat down, he tried to push his chair in much quieter and headed for the noise…

The hot spring? Why, he hadn’t been back there yet. He tread with caution in case of astray water, only to see…Lotus. Phew. Not great for her, but someone he felt comfortable approaching.

“Ah…L–ahem, Alya…what happened? You can talk to me and I’ll do my best to listen.” He wanted to offer a reassuring pat on the shoulder, but he decided against it.

Oh, it seems she’d attracted some unwanted attention. How bothersome.

Well thankfully it was Lewis of all people so it wasn’t as terrible an outcome as she’d thought. Even so, she didn’t like that he’d caught her in such a state. Nor did she wish to explain everything making her feel this way.

What happened, indeed. Where would she start and more importantly, how to say it where he wouldn’t freak out? He tended to worry over even small things so something so decidedly...not small might upset him further.

“[Mm. If you want to listen, I will speak. It’s not something you’d like to hear. Adik Okinose, Adik Tsukino, Bli Bai, Bli Sanchez, Gek Umehara and I. We went into the lab hoping to find anything to help.We ran into some trouble and, well...]”

There really wasn’t a way to put this delicately.

“[...Bli Sanchez and I almost died.]

There it was, out in the open. With how many people were involved she supposed the full story would spread eventually but this was all she wanted to speak of it in the moment.

[shsllotus-blog]

Backstage Behavior ❃ OPEN

[shsllotus-blog]

shsl-koutsukino‌:

Kou had no real rhyme or reason for being where they were. Now that they thought about it, they never really did. They always just let themself drift aimlessly around the various places that the group was held captive in. Nothing pulled them any certain way, nothing made them seem more human or less hollow than they felt. 

Or than they thought they felt. It was weird how aware of themself and their own reactions they were now. At some point they had to stop and wonder if they were even walking right or if anything was making sense to them. It hurt to think about, it hurt to be this uncertain.

Well, they thought it hurt but in reality it felt more confusing than anything. Maybe if they just labelled everything as hurt they would feel better. 

And that’s how they found themself facing a sight that didn’t make sense.

This was one of the many things that felt upsetting to witness. They didn’t get why Lotus was just sitting there fully dressed but there she was doing just that. 

“Are you okay?”

They didn’t make a move to really come any closer to her. It would be bad if they accidentally slipped in.

Was she?

Well...no, not really. But they didn’t need to know that. Especially not the one who stood looking over at them. They’d done enough damage to her and she wasn’t in the mood for any more. 

But simply telling them to leave probably would give way to more questions than the answer she wanted so she sat up, no longer looking like someone in slight distress and addressed them.

“Would you be able to tell if I was not?”

Harsh, but it was a fair question. She didn’t know how much Kou did or did not understand of people’s feelings, so she thought it was alright to ask. Besides that even, if they were able to tell, the question was more if they cared or not. Detecting distress and understanding distress were two different things. She didn’t know where Kou stood and she didn’t think they did either.

[shizukanashizumaru-blog]

Don't Trust Somebody Who Can't Trust You || Closed

[shsllotus-blog]

shizukanashizumaru‌:

The Therapy Centre seems almost unfamiliar to him now. Outside of the one time he first experienced and grabbed a sword, he hasn’t… really returned. Not on his own, anyway. The Ryoka matter was… something of an anomaly. The soft comfort this whole building emanated wasn’t for him… it was if, no matter what, he hadn’t earned it and being here made him feel out of place. A thought would always cross his mind ‘what did you do to be here?’. It was an exhausting back and forth, wanting something and debating one’s right to it. One he’d rather not have, if he could help it. That sort of thinking did no one any good.

So why go through all the trouble in that case?

There was certainly no Ryoka to find nor any stuffed animal he wished to get comfort from, it was more of a… curiosity. His room had a variety of books, mostly fairytales, folklore, that sort of thing. Given the nature of the island, was there a possibility something was hidden in one of those volumes? Some sort of code, some sort of hidden page or cut-out… some sense of himself or who he was. It was honestly a long shot. He’d read through them when he first arrived but maybe he missed something. Maybe it was just worth trying harder. At the very least, he figured he wouldn’t lose anything.

Yet, on his way there… he couldn’t help but notice someone else was already here. Lotus. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to get in her way. Things were still… a little weird between them. Understandably, considering what he’d done.

He was content to just nod at her in greeting and move on. Tha should be alright, right?

After all the mess that had happened, both in the lab and in the guesthouse, she was fairly eager to be away from people-just for a little while. And what better place to do so than in a room only she could access? Well...her guesthouse technically counted as well but something about the Therapy Centre steered people away from it, despite it’s actual intentions. 

Except Shizumaru, apparently. She’d only stopped a moment to steady herself when he’d shown up. He hadn’t said anything, nor did he say anything so maybe he hadn’t noticed her or the miserable state she was in-

Ah. A nod in her direction. So much for that. 

She hesitated, clearly wishing to limp to her room and lick her wounds as soon as possible but eventually gave a weak nod in return. Then, she wrapped his scarf-that she still wasn’t sure when he’d want back, thinking now of it-and focused on walking slowly towards her room. One step at a time, just ignore any stares and it’ll be fine. Show no weakness until the door closes.

[shsllotus-blog]

Backstage Behavior ❃ OPEN

A lot had happened in the span of a few hours and to process it all was not something she thought she could, or even wanted to handle.

The lab. Rushing into things. The ceiling falling down on her, enough to hurt but not enough to kill. Kou’s declaration. Yukari and Makoto’s relationship. Matias’ talent revealed.

It’s too much, too much to bear. She can’t handle people at the moment so as soon as she can, she makes her way best she can to the back of the guesthouse to the hot spring. Last she’d been here, everyone had been lost and alive. No less dangerous, but the threat of death was not so present. It was still as isolated as ever, which suited her.

Slowly but carefully she took off her socks and shoes, placing her bag next to it. Next was taking the contents of her top  out and putting that in her bag as well. And finally, she folded Shizumaru’s scarf neatly and placed that on top of the bag. All this, she put in a small pile near the spring’s edge.

Stepping into the spring itself, she slowly sat down and pulled her knees to her chest, simply sitting there and trying to collect her thoughts. Almost dying...it was awful. Is this what the others felt as they died? Who did they think of? Her thoughts...her mother (that must be who that woman in the video was, no other reason for feeling like such must exist), she had to speak to her. They had much to talk about, yes. And then...that person. From the memory flashes so long ago (was it really, though?), who were they? She knew them, had to help them, they were hurt because of her-

The near-death experience, combined with her pent up emotions about it finally hit her square in the gut and she lowered her head, feeling tears well up, even though she didn’t want them to. 

She hated it; the uncertainty of another tomorrow, the constant suspicion and having to pretend she was stronger than she really was, even the idea that she may not be even that...it was too much to keep inside, to herself. So she let it out, quietly but fully.

A noise from the entrance startled her. She must look a sight; fully dressed, bruised terribly and crying in a hot spring. Quickly, she scooped some water into her hands and splashed it on her face to give her time to recover, and if it covered the tears on her face, that was okay too.

“...”

She wasn’t in the mood to talk but something told her, the newcomer probably did.

[strange-world-of-ice]

Paperwork is confusing. She checks out the clothes, as it's the only thing she hasn't looked at properly. Whether or not she wears them is not the point.

Lotus rummages through the bundle of clothing…

The clothing seems very appropriate for the weather. Not only that, but the clothing seems very tough and resilient to boot. Thick vests that seem almost bullet-proof, a mixture of large and very shiny resistant leather gloves, coats, turtlenecks and scarves. Most of the clothing is either in dark shades of black and dark blues or bright shades of white that would surely blend well with the snow outside. Somehow there’s a very military-esque nature to the bundle.

[strange-world-of-ice]

Goodness, still so much paperwork. She then looks at the map underneath everything. Please be the forest depths map.

Lotus looks thoroughly through the papers and examines the map…

The map, at first, seems a little overwhelming. But the more you look at it, the more certain places begin to seem familiar and you realize this is a map of the island you’re on.

You can just about read certain parts but it’s more of a vague shape than a real map, having clearly been drawn by somebody. As such, you have no idea just how complete it is. There’s a ‘target’ spot drawn and written in red as well as dots on the map that ‘must be destroyed’. You can see the vague outlines of mountains and what you presume to be the Chalk Woods. As well as some other landmarks, some recognizable, others not so much, including a darkened part near some mountains and some long lines here and there.

You feel there might be something to this map, something useful, but the lack of clear facts and completion leave you feeling unsure…

[shsllotus-blog]

Crash and Burn ❃ OPEN

[shsllotus-blog]

shizukanashizumaru‌:

Alright… is it?

He has his doubts but she has a point of her own. Such an ugly affair warrants being checked out by many. In his eyes, in a sense, business should come first. It’s quite alright if they dislike each other but if they can at least stand each other enough to work things out as a team, things… things’ll be alright. They’ll go smoothly. But he couldn’t quite believe that.

“…You have a point. What happened here is… tragic. I can only pray it was quick. I wonder if it will forth any memories or answers… that is certainly reason enough to be thorough.”

Lotus seemed to already be rather thorough as she looked through some things near the back. He kept his distance and maintained a vague watch but did not move to interrupt not peer at what she was doing. That would be rude.

The silence was slightly tense; perhaps not quite unpleasant but something close. It left a scratchy sensation in his throat as if something was caught there. That is, until she spoke up once more. Ah, that question. It wasn’t like it slipped his mind but after the execution, after everything… it somehow seemed so pointless now.

“You’re correct. It… isn’t as grand a tale as some might think. Many seem to have assumed I found some way out. Everything honestly happened so quickly. But I will relay with you what happened…“

“There was a small break in the wall. I moved some of the rocks to see if I could make an entry-way and sure enough… I did just that. I would’ve gladly gotten everyone together to check it out but something… peculiar happened. I saw someone in the distance. I wasn’t sure who it was so I called out. They seemed… startled. When I asked who they were, they turned and ran. I wasn’t sure if it was one of us or some new ally or enemy… so, without thinking, I gave chase. As you can see, though, the area is quite misty and I had hard time finding them. When I lost sight of them for good, I came back and that’s when…“

It’s when he bumped into Ryoka and hear the bad news. He wasn’t sure what disappointed him more, that he let the person just flee like that or that he wasn’t even here to try and protect Giselle. That she had been lost for so long, then extinguished, just like that… it still made him feel sick.

“That person… seemed pretty feminine. And they had long dark hair. Black, I think. But other than that, I can’t say what or who they were… I’m sorry. I keep thinking ‘if only I was faster’ but I couldn’t keep track of them. Rather than having that chance run from us, I just wanted… to try. I guess. It’s no excuse, though. That… is what happened. I was in a rush, so I hardly even noticed these new buildings and sites.”

Shizumaru comments on the misfortune of the helicopter and its occupant but she doesn’t reply. Mostly because she has no real answer that wouldn’t just be talking to talk. Besides, who was to say the reason for coming here was good? Assumptions were well and good but the truth was, that helicopter could have been here to harm as much as it could have been to help.

She focuses more when Shizumaru recounts his tale. So there was another person with them. What with Kaizou having mentioned a dead body being found in the woods some time ago, that Renri girl seemingly having some knowledge of their reason here and the ever-occurring dreams of Chiya it would not be surprising.

That is, if the tale was to be believed. After all, with nobody to back up his story, who knows what he was doing over there. Perhaps if the feminine figure was ever found? She weighed her options for a while before deciding that the benefit of the doubt would service them both much better than anything else she believed right now.

“Hm. Another mystery person. There are too many as of late. That they ran...it is not good for them. I do not blame you for going after them, it is...ah, I don’t know how to say in Japanese. But I think we all see a new thing and wish to know of it, even if it may put us in danger. I worry more why the wall was broken. Gek LISE has done well to make sure this place stops us from leaving and seeing things we cannot yet, yet she has missed something like so. I do not understand...”

LISE was so calculated and methodical that having missed a human-shaped hole in the wall seemed impossible. Robots and such, they didn’t make such human mistakes as these. So why...well. It was unlikely asking her outright would help, nor would pursuing that train of thought.

Instead, she pulled out the papers in the box. Though she manged to get a very loose idea of what was on it, there was still a lot she did not understand. It would be better to ask someone who could read this without flaw. Even if she didn’t trust Shizumaru as she used to, he was, as she had thought before, not the worst person here. Again she turned to him, this time holding out the files.

“Bli Kiri-kubo. Ah, there were found. I cannot read them, not so well. I would ask if you would be kind to read them for me and tell me what it says. I am sorry I am asking you for this suddenly, when we aren’t...ah, feeling good about each other. You may say no, I would not be mad.”

[shsllotus-blog]

Crash and Burn ❃ OPEN

[shsllotus-blog]

shizukanashizumaru:

The fire had long since gone out but the embers left a hazy reminder of something awful. The helicopter was surely piloted by somebody, was it not? Perhaps they had come here to rescue them. But if the vehicle looked like this now, then… they likely died a very painful death. If he found a body, he would have to pay his respects later. With the blessing of the others, he might even try to bury it. If such a person fell… it was only right. That’s what he believed.

But these thoughts were all theoretical. The truth was, he hadn’t checked out the crash site yet, not really. Seeing it from a distance was one thing but it was hardly a complete image. While he wanted to check it out, to know, there was something deep inside of him screaming. The smell of faded smoke, the image of something being burnt away… it came close to unearthing some dormant memory but he just couldn’t remember why he felt such a deep discomfort. It, like most of his feelings, is something he opts to shelf in this situation. Knowing the reason won’t help him get over it, most likely. So the effort is pointless. And, more importantly, it won’t help the others either. They are the priority, more than anything. So many people have already been lost. Four… it’s such a small number but when you’re talking about lives, it’s considerable. Much too considerable.

Tsuneko. Giselle. Ji-hyun. Kaizou.

He would remember those names. To a boy with no past, this present, while grim, was important. And they deserved that much, even if he hated some of their actions.

As he approached the helicopter’s wreckage, he tensed as he felt movement. Thankfully he’d taken to keeping his shinai with him and while it would not kill, he was certain enough he could wound someone with it. Thankfully the person was just Lotus. While he was able to relax some, he still had some worries. Lotus… likely… would’ve been happier to never see him again, all things considered. Did that mean he should walk away? Perhaps. But not investigating felt wrong. He didn’t want to potentially miss out on anything that could help. He kept his distance from Lotus but did his best to peer in and look at anything that could be useful. Seeing the body he clenches his eyes shut and mumbles a prayer. How awful.

“If… I am in your way, I can leave.“

He finally speaks to Lotus. Since they’re this close, it feels weird not to say anything.

Of all the people to have encountered here, Shizumaru Kirikubo was not the worst person. He was neither outwardly aggressive, nor was he the type to needlessly chatter on with no regard to those around him. And yet, with his attempts to help only hurting, he was not the best person either. Tolerable. That’s about what he would be as of now. Hopefully this encounter would not tip the scale in either way; she was not of the mind to deal with it.

“It is alright. This is a sore sight. I would be a fool to think only I wish to see it more.”

Turning back to the item in her hand, she notes it’s a box. A broken one at that. Upon opening it, there is....certainly a lot of papers. The more alarming thing is the knife, and this she elects to ignore until her company leaves. Speaking of which, she had questions, ones she could not ask during the trial.

“Since you are here, tell me. You found a way here before it was okay. I would ask for a better story. We were...not in a good place to tell it, but now is better.”

Or as better as the charred remains of a helicopter was, anyway.

[strange-world-of-ice]

Oh shit, there's a note too! Lotus looks at that too.

Lotus peels the note off the floor before having a look at it…

Unfortunately for her, it’s all in Japanese. It doesn’t seem to be a stream of sentences, more just a list of names. And these names are very familiar indeed. They’re the names of people on this island… although it seems burned off towards the end… even if you try to read what seems like a last name, you can’t quite see it clearly…

Madoka Tanaka

Kaizou Anzai

Ayaka Tamura

Tori Jones

Tsuneko Shiga

Lewis Coley

Ryoka Umehara

Tatsuya Ryuuko

Ji-hyun Hwan

…

You can’t quite get any meaning from the list, but you imagine it means something.

[strange-world-of-ice]

After staring blankly at the knife, Lotus opts to read the files.

Lotus examines the files…

She flips the first one open and is greeted with a rather official looking personnel file, complete with a photograph paper clipped to it. It’s of a young woman with curly reddish hair, a blue hairband tied across it, and a smile across her face. It’s not a friendly smile though. If you had to put a word to it, dangerous is one that comes to mind. Her name is missing from the file, as is most of the information, other than height and eye colour. But down in the other notes section, there’s a small scrawl of handwriting. “Genkaku currently missing in action. Rumours have it she’s in Shiawase. Too difficult to launch a rescue party at this point in time.”

The second file folder is more ominous, if enigmatic. There’s a group photo with some students wearing the Hope’s peak uniform, and you can recognize a few of the faces including Satoko Ihara, whose been circled with a pen that’s dripped red ink all over the photo, obscuring a few of the nearby student’s faces. Behind the photo is a list of names, including all of yours, and even that of the body you found in the woods. Additional photographs are inside the folder, and wherever one of the people on the list appears, they’re circled with that same drippy red pen. There’s a single sticky note attached to the bottom of the name page with frantically written text on it. 

[strange-world-of-ice]

How curious. Since she doesn't need to fuss with a key she decides to open the box and see what's inside.

Lotus opens the locked box…

And discovers quite a number of things that are unharmed due to the box’s sturdy construction. It’s practically a treasure trove. The first things to catch her eye are a couple of unlabeled file folders. But that’s not all the box contains, there’s a map as well as a small folded pocket knife, a bundle of clothing, and a note.

[strange-world-of-ice]

Crash Site: Helicopter Cargo Hold

Lotus makes her way to the back of the Helicopter…

There’s a lot of damage inside the helicopter, many of the surfaces are covered with soot and burn damage, were broken on impact, or are covered in a dark rusty colour, likely dried blood. There are also papers scattered around the floor, that haven’t fared much better. 

As you make your way through to the back part of the helicopter, you stumble past the seats, and notice something sticking out of one of them. But still you continue on to the back of the helicopter. It’s there you can see a locked box. You can see a large crack in the side, rendering the lock part of the box useless, as it’s damaged enough you could pull the box open with ease. 

[shsllotus-blog]

Crash and Burn ❃ OPEN

There seemed a pattern in this place, one that she did not like. Be given a reason to kill. Find a corpse. Investigate. Sentence someone to death. Discover unpleasant things about the area. Repeat.

It was both routine and surprising in a way and she never seemed to be able to get a bearing long enough to try to look for a way out while also maintaining a peaceful living. At some point, she’d given up trying to take care of others as well as herself. What with everyone almost trying to break the peace, it seemed if she tried, she would fight a losing battle. So she’d kept quiet, let Kaizou confess and be killed. Let the new area open up. 

However she had not accounted for the horrors of her atonement room. She had simply assumed that it would be the same sort of contents as her therapy room. It was this assumption that was her downfall, and she had paid for it. The stench of antiseptic and alcohol followed her out of the room, filling her mind with hazy thoughts she didn’t know the reason to. Desperate to leave and do something, anything to clear her mind, her feet took her to the crash site. Standing in front of the helicopter, she wonders about that day. Had they come to help or hinder? Was there any merit to trying to find the pilot inside? And more importantly, what was that in the helicopter?

Without a word, she walks into the helicopter, clambering up a bit to get inside properly. Now that’s she actually inside as opposed to at a distance, it is easier to see that something is there. Cautiously, she walks to the back and picks it up. 

Her eyes wander from it, and meet with those of another. She nods at them, and if they come closer then she quietly greets them. She’s not sure if she wants to speak with anyone so soon-there’s a lot she needs to think about.

[strange-world-of-ice]

Despite having eaten shit, Lotus goes to another weird house and after a quick scan, settles to inspect the photos hoping for more clues.

Lotus picks up one of many framed photographs…

Many of the photographs tell a similar story. The locations change, the poses get switched up but the family of four are always together and seem relatively happy. The four of them have yellow eyes, a mother, a father and two daughters, one much younger than the other, though she grows in many of the photos. Their hair colours vary but always seem to be on the blueish green spectrum. And… then it hits you. Something, someone in this photograph is distinctly familiar to you.

The eldest daughter…

You’ve never met but you’ve heard her, seen her so often at this point it almost feels you have. No… maybe you have but you just forgot.

The girl in the photograph, smiling happily with her family is Chiya Sakuno.