changing and replacing this mask, show time;

[recrypt]

Comments

[recrypt]

[ she's hanging out with a pair of red foxes, is anyone surprised. ]

You don't see many of these where I come from, let alone a variety like we have here. And somehow I doubt that any of these are actually android animals...

[survivaltricks]

[is she a big fan of foxes, Akira didn't know this before]

No. . . they all seem pretty real. And I'm glad these ones are friendly.

[coming up next to her, also crouching before the foxes to give them all a good pat]

[recrypt]

Careful you don't jinx it. Maybe they're hiding the more dangerous ones somewhere else.

[ both of them instantly start brushing up against him to schmooze for more pats. yes, give them more attention. ]

[survivaltricks]

[okay okay you fluffy foxes. he knows what you're after]

I'm not jinxing anything, considering we all already know about the bear.

[recrypt]

[ devious little things they are, because they look both entirely innocent but also entirely too satisfied with the pettings. ]

You say that, but then in the middle of the week we'll find someone sprinting back to camp telling us to look out for ravenous wolves in the vegetable fields, or something.

[survivaltricks]

Yeah, and I wouldn't be surprised about that, either.

[but at least the petting zoo animals are docile u_u]

[recrypt]

Haha. Anyway, was this just a friendly visit, or did you need me for something?

[ she scritches one of the two under the chin, prompting it to make itself cozy in her lap. oh. guess she's trapped. ]

[survivaltricks]

Can't it be both?

[she is totally trapped, and Akira smiles a bit playfully]

[recrypt]

Well, you do have yourself a captive audience right now, and a Doll does have to listen to what humans have to say...

[ second fox bunts his hand. why did you stop ]

[survivaltricks]

. . .

You don't have to listen to me if you don't want to, 45.

[he will DIE ON THIS HILL]

[recrypt]

Relax. I'm teasing. Or, rather... I'm sort of a special case, I suppose.

[ strokes a hand through her fox's fur. ]

Things would be a lot different if I were operating under the exact same compliance protocols that most Dolls are under. But you're missing the point. What can I do for you, Akira?

[survivaltricks]

[he allows for no teasing about a Doll's lack of free will B( B( B(]

You were inspecting the items everyone turned out from their pockets at trial. Why. . .?

[recrypt]

[ ha ha,,, ha... sometimes you deal with your shitty situations by making light of it, okay ]

Hmm, call it curiosity, maybe. Let me ask you something, Akira.

All of the objects in the shop that are notably pink are of a certain persuasion, right?

[ they're weapons. they're all weapons. ]

[survivaltricks]

Yeah. They are.

Almost like a certain pink-shaded voice wants us to use them.

[yes. he has absolutely noticed]

[recrypt]

Right. And I'm aware that some of us might have received objects of the same color, presumably for 'winning' in a given week...

[ well, guy did say he received it 'last week' during trial. unless he went on a secret excursion somewhere... but hm, she might need to backtrack a little. ]

The reward vouchers for completing tasks each week show up in a plain paper bag for you, right? Unsigned note?

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

[he. actually has something to say about that, but--]

Yeah, that's correct. [. . .] Along with the weekly "prize."

[recrypt]

Hmm.

[ she hums. no visible reaction? ]

And, just to verify, the rewards the Directors gave us for our little extracurricular activity last week... that came with a signed note, correct?

[survivaltricks]

That's right. Something from the three of them specifically.

You're thinking that Pinkie is responsible for handing out weekly rewards and vouchers, aren't you?

[recrypt]

Possibly. Or rather, it's looking fairly probable at this point. Mind you, I'm only collecting data with no clear conclusion as of yet.

[ can't play the game without getting a shape of the board, but it's difficult getting pieces at all, let alone knowing what to do with them. ]

It's apparent Pinkie clearly wants us to play into this competition... But, I don't know, the reward items seem relatively harmless compared to the ones in the shop, unless there's a catch to them I'm not aware of.

[survivaltricks]

[hmmm. . .]

Well. . . I have a theory about the weekly rewards, but it's hard for me to confirm it when I don't know anyone from a-- ah, particular team.

[he digs in his pocket and pulls out a pink kazoo, placing same between his teeth sadly and giving it a light buzz]

But I think everyone receives the same series of items at the end of the week. The first week it was kazoos and harmonicas, and the second week it was. . . weird flutes and horns.

But only those on the winning team get versions of those items that actually do something.

[and aren't just. . . you know. useless kazoos and harmonicas]

[recrypt]

... Haha. So you think they're handing out consolation prizes to everyone, huh. I don't know enough people to confirm, so...

[ us desperately trying to rub two braincells together at trial and right now ]

... Surprisingly musical themed, though. ♪ Think we can convince them to quit with a soulful instrumental serenade?

[survivaltricks]

[hmm. . .]

I know they're giving out consolation pries to everyone who loses. But the "consolation prizes" given to the winners aren't consolation prizes at all. That's what I'm saying.

[it's like. everyoen got kazoos but some people's kazoos are cool and do badass things while everyone else's are just useless]

The musical theme surprises me, too. Do you think Pinkie is unexpectedly musically inclined?

[recrypt]

Right, I understood that part. But you're saying it's not just necessarily a runners-up situation, correct? It's both losing teams.

[ hmmmmm ]

Our friend the pink snake certainly is proving to be unexpected in multiple ways, I suppose...

[survivaltricks]

Yep. And I know that for a fact.

[sad kazoo noises]

. . . and they are. You know I asked one of the directors if I could speak to them, yeah?

[recrypt]

[ whomp whomp whomp but it's kazoo ]

... I did not. You told me about plans to see if you could contact not-pink indirectly, but not about any plans to try to contact pink.