☆ WELCOME TO HELL, YE POOR SOULS.

[raisingproject]

Magical Girl Raising Project

Graveyard

The last thing you remember is dying. Whether it's by murder or execution, that's was all it. But surprisingly enough, you wake up in the hotel room that you were assigned in, as if you had never died to begin with. However, once you walk right outside, you'll start noticing that while this is the Town A you remember, there are some slight differences that you notice.

The first thing is the fact that while you can see those who are still alive, they simply cannot see you. In fact, they pass through you, as if you were a ghost. And spoilers: you kind of are one, now. The second thing is that sometimes, if you look at a building for too long or too closely, you'll notice that it fizzles a bit, almost glitchy.

But that's completely fine, isn't it? There is, however, one more thing to keep in mind: there are voices of other people, mumuring. Of course, these other people, unlike you, don't have a complete shape; they're just a silhouette of themselves, looking like static.

However: it wouldn't be Town A without an announcement, would it? Of course not. Hence why upon rearriving, there will be a message, typed out:

Welcome to the afterlife, everyone. This is a greeting message to introduce you to how exactly this works. You have the ability to send one message to the living a week, so choose your words wisely. Of course, there are limitations to what you can say! You cannot reveal the mastermind's true identity, even if you know it. You cannot reveal a culprit or a victim, even if you know it.

Also, all messages will be sent to all players during the trials. If there is no trial, the message shall be sent on Saturday. You may investigate as you wish. If you have any questions to ask of me, please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

---

Comments

Thursday

[breakingthrough]

[...well then. Edna wakes up in her room and at first it feels like everything's the same. Or more precisely that the last few hours were a dream. The Observatory is far behind her-- it's like she was never there. But she knew better. She'd fought for her life but it wasn't enough. The proof was in the way the view around her glitches every so often.

She wanders from her room and slowly begins to walk through the town. If she's honest, she's looking for the others... at least... the ones that she might be able to see now. The others...
she's not sure how much she can do for them now.

Eventually she also takes a look in the observatory.

...that sure is her own body. But all she says is--] They really smashed it good, didn't they?

[She's upset about the guitar more than herself. Although... she's frustrated.]

Even though I said I'd try to make it...

[crossingout]

It's too bad you didn't.

[Well, Zange didn't want to come here, but she's here anyway. Not like she has anything to do outside of the meetings and the whole border thing.]

I was honestly hoping that you'd help end this game for good.

[breakingthrough]

[Edna stiffens immediately, even though she knows there are people who should be able to see her. As far as she knew, none of them were this person.]

...who me? I'm just a supporting character.

[She says it so casually, shrugging, but she's still on guard. Call it a habit after the ugly mess of watching this week unfold and then meeting her untimely demise.]

So. Did they hack you up too?

[crossingout]

Sorry about that, I'm still alive.

[She says that with dripping sarcasm, arms folded around her chest.]

I'd rather not have the Magical Girl Hunter chop this body up into pieces, thank you very much.

[breakingthrough]

[She'd trusted Zange, and with her death, had hoped that Zange would be the one to help keep everyone together. They were such a mismatched bunch. That's why this is so irritating-- this sudden feeling like she can't trust the person who's looking at her from the other side of death's gate.]

...And why is that? Goddess or devil... A body or five shouldn't be any problem for you, right?

[crossingout]

Because I don't like dying again. Especially in a borrowed body. Just because I'm a goddess who can stand being next to dead bodies, decapitated or otherwise, doesn't mean I enjoy them.

[There is definitely genuine disgust that sits in her tone.]

[breakingthrough]

Why even bother with one? After all... you could say that beings like us were meant to be unseen by humans.

[Well that's something, for what it's worth.]

And even if they can, it doesn't mean something good will come of it.

[crossingout]

Because I was doing Hakua a favor.

[It was one of her duties as a goddess, after all; to listen to the people.]

[breakingthrough]

Even though theoretically she's just as likely to die as one of us?

[Assuming--]

Or maybe she likes this kind of thing.

[Her words aren't accusatory. They're rather light. At least until now.]

So. What exactly is your plan with us? What are you after?

[crossingout]

She's nothing like that. She just offered her body to me.

[She won't allow anybody talking shit about Hakua. Never.]

My plan? It's to end this game. That's what I was always after.

[breakingthrough]

[Edna won't argue that at this point... she knows there are humans like that, so there's no point in reaching.]

Really? Because I think someone on our side might have mentioned she still had some of her godly abilities intact. It might have been nice to know you were speaking with the people who died all along.

[She knows people well enough that right now she can't trust Zange.]

[crossingout]

I'm not allowed to speak about talking with the dead. It is one of the taboos that I cannot break, lest my nee-sama and the rest of Kannagi die. [A beat, and then:] Hakua has nothing to do with this. The blame all lies with me.

[breakingthrough]

Fine... but even if I believe that, it still doesn't tell me why you can do that. The rest of us had our abilities stolen... why weren't yours?

[crossingout]

Because technically I'm the mastermind. [She says this so smoothly, as if she's used to it.] Not that it changes my end goal.

[breakingthrough]

...you...

[The way she says it so smoothly just angers her more.]

All this was because of you?

[crossingout]

The short version? Yes and no.

[breakingthrough]

And what's the long version?

[Although she's being harsh towards her, Edna does understand the idea of having to do things that will turn others against you; even make them hate you. After all... it was the same for Sorey. But in a case like that-- a person should be prepared for some scrutiny.]

What is it you're looking to gain from all of this? I won't support someone who doesn't care about the lives of the people around them.

[Although she's certainly not saying it's impossible to redeem her opinion of the other girl. Her faith might have been shaken, but if you consider it... the reason her scrutiny is so intense was also in part due to the fact that she wanted to believe in her.]

cw: suicide mention

[crossingout]

"I've never once cared about the lives of the people around them"... is something that people would expect from me after this, wouldn't it? But nope, that's wrong. As someone who's been dead for a very, very, very long time, I know better than anyone just how precious life is.

[Her voice quiets, in the rather thoughtful way as she hums, her gaze shifting away.]

The story begins a long, long time ago. A magical girl named Cerise [no honorifics, she doesn't deserve it] created a duplicate of the original Fav and gave a part of her power to him. She then restarted the Magical Girl Raising Project to follow in Cranberry's footsteps. I was in the first game. It was different from all this. It was more and more senseless bloodshed.

Something that I had to protect Hakua from. I never killed. All I could do was watch. That's... all I've ever done, in the end. [Because she's so powerless.] When Cerise was killed, I was chained to Fav as his 'Master'. That's how the baton gets passed from one person to another. There is only an option to accept the offer. Otherwise, the world you're from will die, being sucked of all its mana.

That is why. I've been using the "traitor" role to find another way out for all these years, while searching for something that will set me free. Snow White has finally appeared. If the ritual completes itself and the final trial goes as planned, I can finally kill Fav with that weapon she has! I can finally go home and become a true goddess, with all the power that I've stored up!

[breakingthrough]

[Edna remains silent while Zange goes through, telling her side of the story. It doesn't sound like she's lying. She could have said anything-- blamed anyone-- yet her version of events sheds light on and compliments the information they'd uncovered so far. Although it's not something she'll just eat up as 'absolute', it does satisfy her on some level. Now all she can do is watch over Zange. If she is an ally, then she will use her power to assist her. If it becomes clear that she is a treat, then she will do whatever she needs to in order to stop her from hurting them further.]

If you were to use the power you've received to help protect these people and this place, I think that's the kind of result we would all be happy with.

[It's not like she wants to have doubts about anyone. The ideal ending is one where they can all help each other and prevent anyone from having to face anything like this ever again-- no one should have to be in Zange's or the other participant's place.]

Nonetheless, if you become a threat, I won't hesitate to stop you.

[Only fair Zange knows where she stands anyway.]

Still... if you are who you say you are, then I wouldn't mind offering my blessing as a Seraph in order to help you protect them. Once we deal with this mess first.

[ladiesfirst]

[Suddenly, Edna will hear footsteps approaching behind her, and upon turning to look she'll see... Eruna. Sans ribbon, so her hair is left long and flowing down.]

Edna-chan... why? Why are you here too?

[who was it, who does she need to beat up]

[breakingthrough]

[Waking up like this, remembering her death... she knew this meeting could happen at any time. Still... she's not any more certain how to act knowing it's coming.]

Eruna...

[But she hates letting herself be indecisive like this. Just... crying and going on would be worse. So she's pushing a lot of those feelings down by not looking at her just yet.]

Unfortunately, the same reason you're here. [She sighs and shakes her head.] This past week, someone has been trying to eliminate us all quickly. I don't know who or why, but we're all in serious trouble at this rate.

[ladiesfirst]

[There's a long pause, before Eruna walks up and envelops Edna in a tight hug.]

I'm sorry that I wasn't there to help you, Edna-chan.

[breakingthrough]

...

[Being hugged, it's even harder not to cry. Especially when she's apologizing...]

That's my line, isn't it?

[After all, she's the one who failed to protect Eruna when they were both still alive.]

[ladiesfirst]

[Oh noooo--]

Don't cry Edna-chan, it's okay! I mean... at least we're able to see each other again now?

[... She's trying so hard to find a bright side here.]

[raisingproject]

[Footsteps echo as if the person making them is living. A girl made of static and shadow steps into view. Long hair sways side to side, but the small details at the edges of her are obvious, a sword sheathe at her side and tunic.

She comes to stop a few feet from Edna and dips her head.]

...I had hoped you would make it. But we can't change that. Thank you for taking care of family's sword.