week 0 - training facility

[murdergame]

blood match week zero



week zero

When you first wake up in your room, an announcement will play on the television.

You’ll be spending your first week before the game officially starts at a vast facility that has been completely submerged underwater. This facility consists of a central hub surrounded by four smaller spherical buildings. You can get to each subsection by either taking a shuttle or walking across a long glass tunnel.

Setting
Competitors
Private Conversations

Comments

[dramatist]

[And then, he hefts the axe up. He still can't lift it high, but it's clear he's not aiming for that this time. Instead, all he does is lift it enough to swing it off to the left, where a friendly sparring robot buddy is busy going through a display of offensive and defensive techniques, and it just so happens to sail that way directly when the robot kicks outward...! Wow, who could have had the freakish attention span to memorize an instructor's training pattern to this degree?? SURELY NOT JACK.

Either way, propelled outward by the kick, the axe lodges itself in a practice dummy. It's not anywhere lethal and not stuck in as well as it would obviously be if someone stronger actually swung it, but that sure is a thing Jack managed regardless...]

—I would have to do something like that, right?

[But despite that display, he still seems perfectly friendly and open, stepping over with a bounce to fetch the weapon.]

But that's a lot of work! And these are really heavy no matter how they're used... It's a little cruel too, I think. If even hunters don't use axes to get their next meal, I don't see why it's preferred in battle.

[If you're gonna kill someone, just behead them with a sword, gosh!! Only Mirandas use axes and nobody wants to be a Miranda right]

[existency]

[ Cole does watch as Jack moves, and finally, his hat tilts up enough to see his eyes and more of his face. They're big, blue eyes, and his face is gaunt and sad looking, but there's an intensity with how he watches Jack.

...But only for a moment, since his head dips down again, and he shakes his head. ]

It works. It hurts people. Overwhelms them. Big, strong, but not fast. That's the point.

[ A pause, then Cole asks, ]

You pay attention to things. You hit it really well. [ Well, it's not quite a question, but there's a question in his tone. ]

[dramatist]

[He sure is a weirdo, dang... The intensity is something Jack doesn't miss, and his face is a little different than he had been expecting. Still suiting in its own way, though.

His head cants to the side a little at the statement - the first one - and he hefts the axe back out of the dummy. It hits the floor with a sharp clang, though he's still holding it by the opposite end.]

It's still sad, isn't it?

[But he doesn't seem keen on lingering, for this reason or that. The observation-question will only be met with an upward rise of his shoulders, as if to say "YEP I SURE DO".]

There won't be any of those things out there though, probably. [A gesture over his shoulder toward the robot. And then, with a wave of his free hand:] —My name's Jack, by the way! What's yours?

[existency]

It's not sad. It just is.

[ Cole fidgets, like he's nervous, because it's still unsettling and strange to not hear people like he does. It's so quiet and not knowing what people are feeling, thinking, it's unnerving. He doesn't know how to continue a conversation well otherwise, so he's definitely a little grateful that Jack is so friendly.

The brim of his hat tips up again, and he looks at Jack with those big eyes. They're kinder this time rather than uncertain, and he nods. ]

I'm Cole. Are you all work or all play, Jack?

[dramatist]

[im just gonna pretend that phrase exists in phverse so jack can LAUGH LIKE A MORON, because of course he'd find something like that funny... This is why he's in the sociopathic gardening club with Sebastian "dad jokes" Michaelis.]

It's best to strike a balance! But it's nice to meet you, Cole.

[EXTENDING HIS HAND for a friendly handshake. The one without the axe in it.]

[existency]

I— Yes.

[ He looks at Jack's hand almost nervously, but then steps forward to take it. Cole's handshake isn't confident at all, which fits with his overall impression, but his hands are rough and calloused. Whatever Cole does, it's clear he uses his hands enough for them to get this rough.

He withdraws his hand a little after the appropriate amount of time, giving the impression that he doesn't shake hands often. There's an awkward pause, but it's follow by a more awkward, stilted question. ]

...Are you afraid?

[dramatist]

[Despite the slight delay, Jack doesn't seem bothered. His arm hangs by his side once the handshake is finished, but before he can say anything else along the lines of pleasantries, he's distracted by the question. THIS GUY SURE ISN'T DELICATE...]

Hm? Afraid of being here, you mean?

[A curious lilt picks its way into his tone and he's left cocking his head to the side a little.]

[existency]

Yes.

[ Cole takes a half step back, like the space between them for the handshake was too close for him. He's so used to standing back and observing that his personal bubble is pretty large as a result. ]

They want to hurt people. They want us to hurt people.

[dramatist]

[He doesn't seem particularly fussed one way or another about Cole reclaiming some space. The statement, though - that earns him a look of soft sympathy.]

I think they're trying to create fear. With the way they've set things up, that's probably exactly what their aim is. If they're looking for entertainment, scared people may make for a better show, right?

[existency]

[ That gets Cole's tone to shift quickly, much harder and more confident despite the way he had been presenting himself earlier. ]

No. Anyone that thinks that it's entertaining is a bad person. Trying to do something like that is wrong.

[ Which isn't exactly what Jack had been asking, but clearly it's something Cole feels the need to stress. ]

[dramatist]

[Jack doesn't seem too surprised, at least. That's the more common sentiment to hold, after all. The only thing he finds surprising is the difference of opinion and reaction between things that Cole thinks are "just the way things are", and things that he obviously disagrees with.

But it's not like Jack's about to say anything to the contrary of that popular view, so:]

You aren't wrong, but anyone who kidnap strangers from their homes like this probably aren't good people in general. It makes you wonder what kind of audience will be watching though, doesn't it?

[existency]

[ The moment of confidence passes, since Cole's head dips low again, hiding his face behind that big, awkward hat. His moments of confidence come and go quickly, but the subjects always remain the same, at least without the whispers of the Fade singing to him. ]

...Bad people.

[ He hesitates, but the words themselves are strong. ]

Watching people hurt... That's not better.

[dramatist]

[His eyes still remain fixed on Cole even when Cole's are no longer visible. It seems to be something he feels strongly about, one way or another... Nothing wrong with that, even if empathy in a place like this may not be the wisest of ideas.

After a brief pause, he decides to pose a question. Despite how heavy the topic itself is, he asks in a light way that sounds more curious than anything.]

Would you consider yourself a good person?

[existency]

[ Cole cants his head lightly, and there's a sense that he's considering the question, though really, he has difficulty really considering it. It's a hard question, because his purpose is good—How could it be anything but that? But sometimes to make sure that he accomplishes that, he has to kill people. It's not an easy question, so instead of answer directly, his answer addresses the underlying conflict instead. ]

I help the hurt. That is what I'm supposed to do.

[ But it's harder, here. He can't hear the songs that sing to him of hurt, so he can't see the furled knots so that he can untangle it. ]

[dramatist]

[Well, it's not really the answer that Jack had been looking for, but it's fair enough nonetheless.]

I see! Then it's not bad to have a person like you around at all, is it?

[Which he says lightly and amiably, like they're not all about to be spat out into the wilds to valiantly battle to the death. Maybe he isn't taking it seriously??]

[existency]

...I don't know.

[ It gets his head to bow slightly, and his voice turns soft and uncertain. ]

I don't know if I can help. But I'll try.

[dramatist]

[Since Jack is a touchy-feely person in general, he briefly invades Cole's large personal bubble to lay a hand on his shoulder. It's meant to be reassuring, but it's brief since he can at least tell that Cole prefers to keep his distance.]

Chin up! Just having someone around who will try is a lot, you know.

[existency]

[ It's a good thing that it's brief, since Cole flinches away, even taking a half step back like he might flee. He really isn't used to this yet at all. He'd much rather just watch and help from the shadows, but... He had to try. He knew that, but it was still frightening. ]

Would you try?

[dramatist]

Ah— sorry, sorry!

[First and foremost since it's clear Cole took to that even worse than expected. POOR SKITTISH GHOST NERD... The question gets a nod shortly after, at least, and an affirmative:]

Mmhm! But I think everyone I've met here so far would.

[existency]

[ u lyin lil shit ]

[ But luckily Cole doesn't know that at all, though he doesn't feel confident in the breadth of Jack's answer. He thinks people are good, but he also thinks that people get scared. He truly wishes he could hear like he normally could, since then he would know, but instead he just turns his attention downward as he fidgets a bit. ]

I hope so. If no one will play, then no one would have to be hurt.

[dramatist]

[jack "lyin shit" vessalius at ur service

But his expression becomes a little more curious at that, since really, Cole is a curious person in general. It's an interestingly soft way of thinking and reminds him a little of Oz, but there are enough differences for it to only be a vague similarity.]

It would be nice if things worked out that simply, right? But there are the collars to worry about too, so if a way out is needed, we're going to have to be more clever than just not playing.

[existency]

[ Cole nods, but there's that delay in his answer that seems to come rather often. He gives off the impression of someone that thinks very carefully about his words, but what he expresses is probably harsher than would be expected. ]

...Then you kill the ones that want the hurt. The ones that put the collars on.