Emporer Zeta

Amelie laughs behind her hand. At the very least, cleaning and the such is expected - glad they both could agree on that. 

“I suppose it is in the same way people who handle wild animals get too comfortable and assume they would not be attacked? I have learned better than to question the eccentricities of the rich too, too much. Could very well be any of the family members. Or even a disgruntled worker. Perhaps a jealous business rival. Maybe even some sort of thief? The possibilities are endless, Mr. Raveron but a detective I am not so I try not to dwell too much on the finer details of the case such as a culprit.”

She hummed a bit, a little lost in thought. This case was one of the few things known about her to others, after all. Even her last name was lost in its shadow.

“Oh you’re very much right. I do not understand them myself either and I had worked for the family far too long~! I am glad you have made that decision for yourself, Mr. Raveron. Had I known back then what I do know, I wonder if I would’ve made a similar decision.”

Another fun what-if was right in front of her. She didn’t dwell on that thought for too long, it would’ve been in bad taste to. 

Oh no.. Now it was Clyde’s turn to be interesting. His expression and words had her full attention.

“Really now? Are you not pursuing it? I’ve never met someone who had once felt that way be so content with just waiting for it to appear again. You should try to be more proactive in your life, Mr. Raveron.”

Amelie sighed, holding her cheek a bit. He was close but no dice.

“If I wanted to just be excited then a lot of this would have been enough for me… Oh! But I have met Mr. Tomo. I pretended to have been stabbed and at my last breath and the man tried to comfort me as if he were the grim reaper himself. It was rather fun but it wasn’t the reaction I had hoped for. He says the most peculiar of things that I was left wondering if he truly believed it or was just much more dedicated to this craft than I. Have you heard him talk of fairies? It’s very charming… Oh! He did say something like,”

Hm… What was it again?

“Unfortunately though, I will make sure I find my way to you during your last breath.”

“In response to my saying I hoped that if I were to be bleeding out that he wouldn’t be the one to find me. He even requested that I cry and was very excited when I was able to. What a funny request..”

She was just saying this as if describing a casual conversation not full of playing dead and talks of fairies or whatever. 

“As for the other… Well, I’d imagine that she also wouldn’t provide me with much reaction than proclaiming me a criminal of some sorts. Could you imagine that? Me, a criminal? Why I would never commit a crime in my life!”

She was very much pushing for that so much so that it could be easily taken as insincere. 

“So to answer you question… Nope~! You’re the perfect mix of grumpy, cautious, and playful.”

For now, Amelie was choosing to ignore his words about the different person. She does nod with his final question. Until rescue came, they were stuck along with everyone else.

“Lucky you that you have no need to worry about what happens so long as your name is in the clear.”  

But he could imagine that if hr story as true, that there were tons of people that would want other rich people dead.  Maybe it was an assassin, or a sibling, some business rival, or possibly even some weird knife fight accident?  Who’s he to judge?

“You’ve got the choice now don’t you?  Or are you saying that you’re stuck as a maid now and forever?  It’s not like... you can’t just be a normal maid, you’v gotta have some money saved up by now right?”

Another prodding question makes him turn his head towards the zipline.  At this point he might be willing to take such a daring escape if it meant getting away from Amelie. 

 “I can’t pursue my passions even if I want to.  Or... I guess I shouldn’t.  And I’m too much of a coward to go for something that might be exciting... no I think that I’ll just stay stagnant like this forever... hoping for something better is lost on me...”  

His words come out hollow as he kicks some rubble off the side.

Clyde shivers slightly upon Ami’s recount of her and Daichi’s interaction.  Couldn’t people here just be normal and not act like they were deaths ambassador?  

“Now you’re acting as though you’r getting killed?  First you threaten me and now that...?  I can’t take someone like you seriously anymore.” 

 As if he took her seriously to begin with.

“Ugh, you two sound perfect for on another, heck why don’t you two go and collab with Oiwa while you’re at it.  You seem pretty fond of kissing her ass anyway, might as well just make some little murder film here.”  

He pauses realizing his words probably aren’t h best int h current situation.  

“Don’t... don’t do that obviously.  At least not until we’re out of here.”

He rolls his eyes once more, who did this girl think she was... and did she have no self awareness?

“Honestly, you seem like the type of maid that would steal from her employer and act completely innocent when caught in the act so yeah, I can believe it.”  

He slumped over seems that she was locked onto him now for better or worse.  

“I’m going to have to start ignoring you then if I want any shot of a normal interaction with you then... ah well...”  

cw: continued talks of self dehumanization

Amelie held her face, again squishing her cheeks a bit as she titled her head. In her eyes, she had done no wrong so seeing him grumble was both surprising but somewhat entertaining.

His next words, however, truly did surprise her. She blinked a bit before responding.

“Well I suppose my household duties as well as my customer service skills are rather valuable. They are easy to market and sell, after all~!”

Somehow, Amelie didn’t feel like bringing it up his little slip. For now at least.

“Oh no, Mr. Raveron it was definitely a true murder! Unless my former employer managed to gain all of those stab wounds while tripping? What a fun theory to explore~ Truly one of the most original I have heard thus far. But yes, Mr. Raveron. To answer your question the tragedy I’m referring to would be my former employer’s untimely demise that the heartless public and police force suspected my involvement in. But, like the angel I truly am, I am the only proven innocent party in all of this.”

Though it was no wonder she was suspected. Even speaking of it now, Amelie made it sound like a minor inconvenience than the horror it had to be. She was ready to speak of her place as an entertainer when he, once again, seemed to surprise her. Well, maybe stump her was the proper word to use.

“Ah… I had assumed you might’ve understood but it seems to me that we are just too different after all. You are not the first have said this to and I can guarantee you shall not be the last: dignity and shame are luxuries I cannot afford. Pride, as the one you may be referring to, is not in my budget for the time being. Maybe if my situation had been different we would not be having this conversation but alas, I am but a simple maid, sir. Shaped and designed to fulfill any role needed of me. Be it of clown or cleaner.”

“Still~ I think this has all helped enriched me. I find that after the fourth time being stabbed, the pain begins to dull itself out!”

She laughed a little, easing whatever tension she herself was beginning to feel.

“Hm? Well… I suppose fear would be one way to get the heart racing. There are, however, other ways, correct…?”

“When you feel immense joy does your heart not beat tremendously? What about when you suffer great loss? Do you not curse the very blood which sustains your body with life? Or even if great rage washes over you! Does your heart still in anger or vibrate and tremble with a ferocity that cannot be matched by fleeting fits of fancy?”

“Hm… perhaps I am the bully in our budding dynamic? I hadn’t considered the possibility, truth be told. I just found your reactions endearing and delightful. Would it be so surprising to hear that I have not interacted with many who are so uncomfortable aware of me? I am but a decoration piece to ooh and sigh over or perhaps a dartboard to penetrate with insults, so for me to interact with someone who reacts back why… it does make me unbearably happy~!”

Even after her own concerning words, Amelie finds herself at a loss for a moment. It was just a flash of genuine surprise before she settled back to a smile–

“Mr. Raveron… h- had we met under different circumstances such as the own you just suggested, I imagine you’d be meeting a much, ah… different person, maybe? I am suspect of my own wording, ahaha…”

But she couldn’t meet his eye and awkwardly laughed. Amelie even took a step back from him. She seemed to snap out this as she waved her hand.

“No matter, these are the circumstances for which we met so I choose to enjoy your company. Whether you return the favor or not is purely up to you~!”

“Well... I’d hope that you were a good enough maid that your actual maid duties is hat got you hired.”  

Sometimes a maid just needs to be a maid to be useful right?

Jeez... that many stab wounds?  He doesn’t want to imagine the sort of pain and suffering that guy must’ve been through.  

“You know, you’d think the family fond of knife fights would’ve seen something like this coming.  Well... if you didn’t do it I’m glad that you didn’t get convicted. Doesn’t that mean that some other part of that family probably did it though?”

Probably right?  Then again, she probably doesn't care as long as assassins aren’t isn’t after her to silence her or something.  Then again she’d probably enjoy that, a fight to the death, or maybe near death if she’s so adept at staying alive.

“I don’t think that I’ll ever understand the super rich if they’r as crazy as you say they are.  And honestly, probably the best that don’t.  I really don’t think I’d be able to work somewhere that wouldn’t at least let me have dignity and respect.”  

And if Amelie wanted to be a clown or a cleaner then that’s up to her ain’t it?  Was she just desperate for money?  Wanted a fun eccentric life?

“Well whatever, it’s your life.  You can do whatever it is you want with it.”

He does raise an eyebrow at her explanation of how one’s heart dos end up racing.  And midway through he seems to put his hand onto his chest before looking somewhat resigned.  

“Well I haven’t had a feeling like that for years... maybe it’ll surprise me one day.  But it’s been a very steady low hum of a heartbeat for awhile.”  

He shrugs before turning back to Amelie.

“As for you, sounds like all you want to be is excited.  Really there are better people who could deliver what you’re asking for.  Daichi?  Total, creep that could scare you.  You want extreme joy?  I dunno, go pick on Alisa and have her chase you around like cops and robbers.  As for anger... I dunno, I don’t think I’ve seen you angry.”  

And chances are that he’d rather not ant to anger the knife wielding maid if he could help it.

“Jeez Amelie... I’m so happy that I get to be the person you go to for reactions.  I’m pretty sure that the way you act makes you stand out way more than you think... at least with normal people.  Ain’t there... ANYONE else that makes you feel that way?”  

He really does not want to get bullied and picked on by Amelie.

He crosses his arms over his chest and tilts his head somewhat at her final words.  “A different person huh?  Hopefully it’s an improvement over what you are now.”  Maybe she’d be kinder and not just... knife cat the person.  

cw: self dehumanization 

She laughed! Of course she did, she couldn’t help it when he showed that much of a response to her. 

“Well aren’t you positively flustered! And my, my, my how defensive you must be. If the sir protest too much, there must some semblance of truth you are trying to hide, Mr. Raveron. Come now, you must at least think me attractive? I’ve been told plenty a time that my physical features are perhaps the only endearing thing about me~!” 

Despite how it was still a technical dig at herself, Amelie seemed rather pleased with her words. Actually, she was downright proud of herself! 

“Well I was working for the White family but, ah, tragedy befell my former employer and while they were kind enough to leave me with a few gifts, I was let go. I suppose it was in my best interest but what a waste of a splendid job…”

“Though, Mr. Raveron… You have me rather surprised. I figured most adults were too horribly aware of the fact that laws do not apply to those of the upper crust. Human life means little to nothing to them especially to those of us desperate enough to try and survive in a society which values paper money over human lives~! However, I will say the family was never unkind to me. They just could afford their eccentric ways so I became the perfect eccentric maid. I have been passed around quite a bit as an entertainment piece among those in that sort of society. Though I must say, I’m quite an expensive and valuable toy, fufufu.” 

Amelie played with her hair a bit as she spoke, twirling a few strands. She kept her playful and cheery tone no matter the subject matter. None of it seemed to faze her.

But, again, his reaction got a smile from her. 

“Hmmm~! I do not consider it fair at all. You have made me absolutely bubble with delight but you have done nothing to get my heart racing, Mr. Raveron. Perhaps if you’ve returned the favor once in awhile, I’d leave you be.”

“As you should be, Mr. Raveron. I do not warm to strangers this quickly. Perhaps…”

“We were destined to meet~?”

Great now she was laughing at him, which had the effect of making him both embarrassed and humiliated as he grumbled under his breath.  

“That ain’t it, don’t try and twist my words and put some meaning behind it.  Anyone would get flustered if someone just started acting all love crazy and making weird assumptions like that!”

A deep breath, for a moment he looked like he had some pity for Amelie.  Sure he didn’t like Amelie’s smug and eccentric attitude, but that didn’t mean he saw her as subhuman.

“You shouldn’t talk about yourself like that y’know.  Really wouldn’t hope that your good looks aren’t the only thing that you’d value about yourself... or that other people value in ya.”  

Did he technically admit that she did have some attractive features without knowing it?  Technically, he did.

“You talking about the supposed murder that you are suspected for?”  

Well how kind of her former employer to leave her gifts.  

“What a shame... I can only imagine you had a real hard time trying to find new work.”  

No she didn’t, apparently she was a toy that was happily tossed around from family to family.  Now that does rub him the wrong way.

“You’re sounding more and more like just some circus clown used as amusement than a human being... or a maid for that matter.  Is that all worth it?  Don’t you think that you ought to have some dignity than just being forced to do... weird stuff like knife fights?”  

He was a dishwasher, the mundane was far more pleasurable than the eccentric.

“I thought the super rich were only like that in stories and movies...”

What the heck were these terms that Amelie was putting down!?

“Hold on, you telling me that I have to scare you to make you leave m alone!?  Now you’r sounding more like the bully that’s trying to get my attention than the other way around.”

A phrase that seems all the more clear when she insists that she doesn't warm up to strangers quickly.  Which just makes him shiver up with awkwardness again, does this girl ever stop!?

Amelie sighs, holding her face with both hands to squish her cheeks a bit. Is she really creepy and threatening? 

“Have you considered, Mr. Raveron, that I find it more comfortable to address people in a polite manner? Unless…”

Her expression quickly changes as she blushes up. She gasps and covers her mouth with her hand. 

“Mr. Raveron… have you perhaps fallen for my charm? Are you requesting that I call you by your first name to show a closeness between the two of us that I share with no other person present here? That’s why you make such assumptions about me, because you have already gotten to know me on such a level that you’re absolutely smitten with me… Oh how I wish to return your affections but I cannot at this time. I fear I am not the type to fall too quickly, but I will take into consideration your feelings for me and cherish them always~!” 

Thankfully his next question pulls her away from her talk of the matters of the heart. She considers it for a bit before smiling.

“Why, Mr Raveron… I’m afraid I cannot tell you too many trade secrets but I can at least satisfy your curiosity a bit.”

She thinks about what would be a good enough story. There were many to choose from but she only needed a few that proved her bravery.

“Oh! Window washing cannot be done unless you have no fear of heights. There was also the matter of the young Miss White’s knife collection. Keeping it pristine was of the utmost importance to her but with so many blades, one nervous move could severely harm you… There was also the issue of the knife fights the White family was fond of. I suppose if I was still the meek girl I had been when I was first hired I would not have lasted long. Oh! Cooking with the current Mrs. White was so very scary at times. She has no talent for it and is such a klutz that I had nearly gotten burned by her… I hope this eases your worry about my bravery.”

Ohoho? Was that a challenge? Amelie just smiles before breaking the silence.

“Ah, ah, ah.”

She wagged her finger at him.

“Mr. Raveron… If you are to attempt to win my affections I think it would be in your best interest not to underestimate me based on my appearances. While I will admit that I’m laughably physically weak, I do more than make up for that with quite a bit of experience and an annoying desire to survive. If you, or anyone for that matter, were to attempt to throw me–”

“I’d end you before my body hit the ground.”

She laughs, waving her hand as if to get rid of the tension she created.

“But you’re absolutely correct~! We’ll both do our best to be careful then. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve already become quite fond of you so if anyone were to die I’d at least hope it wouldn’t be you~!”

Was a first name really so much to get worked over about?  Or maybe it was some cultural thing?  Now that h thought about it, a lot of people here were referring to one another by their family name than their first.  It must be a language thing.  He was going to open his mouth and just let her call him Mr. Raveron but he flinches, nearly jumps up into the air as Amelie gets all blushes up.

“What the hell of course that’s not what I mean!  Closeness?  It’s just a name!  I’m not smitten with you!  No, no, there are no affections to return or share or whatever!  In fact let me make it as clear as possible, I do not like you romantically, platonically or any way that could be interpreted as such!”  

Now he’s blushing but clearly for different reasons than Amelie’s as he tries to rub his hands over his face and compose himself again.

The stories that she has to say about being a made and how they contribute to her bravery do seem to impress him a little as he raises an eyebrow.  

“Who the heck are you working for that you have to worry about knife fights and getting burned.  Ain’t there some laws and rules that keep them from just harassing you like that?”  

Still, Amelie had to have some bravery to say the things she was saying.  That or perhaps sh just had no sense of self preservation and just wanted to scare people away from her.

“...”

Wow Amelie you actually manage to make the six foot tall dishwasher step back, at least until he realizes that he’s close to the edge again.  

“I already told you I ain’t trying to win your affections... but let's just try and not scar on another. Ain’t that a fair enough deal?”

Oh great, she’s fond of him.  He’s not sure if that means she’ll annoy him more or just be less likely to threaten him... or maybe sh’ll just double down.

Disaster was just another word for “mess” and so far there hadn’t been a mess Amelie was scared of! But this… well this was quite a bit. She was just silently admiring the chaos around her until she heard someone speaking up. Her calm, almost tired expression changes to her usual peppy one. 

“Mr. Raveron, I feel we have not spoke enough for you to make unfair assumption like that about me.” 

What part of assuming that she wouldn’t do risky things was unfair? Though the use of the word brave was probably what made her comment on that. 

“In case you might’ve forgotten, a maid’s skill cannot be limited but such trivial things as fear. If I wasn’t brave, I would’ve never gotten to be so successful in my career.”

“Though I must admit a place like this would surely be the best place to murder someone. It’d be so easy to make it look like an accident and there’d be too many places to hide the evidence.”

“…”

Amelie is looking at you Clyde. 

“Mr. Raveron… You’re too close to that edge, don’t you think~? I’d be careful or you might just find yourself the victim of an accident..”

She sounded helpful, but given what she had said earlier, it wouldn’t be too surprising if someone chose to take that as a threat.

Great, she was already off to being creepy and threatening, in that annoying catty way.  She was like the stereotypical smug maid that probably had tons of gossip on people.

“First of all, just call me Clyde.  I’m not your boss so you don’t have to call me Mr. Raveron.  Second, I’ve seen enough to get at least a decent read of you.”

Is bravery really a feature of being a maid?  What dos a maid have to fare aside form like... stains or a mean employer?  

“Please, tell me of the features of bravery that you’ve done to gt yourself into such a good position as a maid.”

And now come the ‘threats’ which make Clyde just glare back at Amelie.  She had a point, but the problem was that the points could go both ways.  

“And you’re too short to be saying things like that to someone that could pick you up and toss you like a human javelin.” 

 He doesn’t make a move towards hr but does scoot further away from the edge.  

Imoo tilts his head at the new boy, who suddenly seems rather sheepish over something as simple as just laundry. They don’t really get it, but they suppose that it makes some modicum of sense. If you’re going to die, your clothes may as well be clean - that way, they’ll recognize your body when they dig you out of the rubble of the cave.

…That was probably a little too morbid, though, and probably not why this guy was doing it. Imoo shakes his head, not at anything Ryoma has said, but at his own thoughts. They keep their eyes on his hands as he scrubs his clothes against the washboard, the constant motion keeping them focused. Guess there was no need to watch a washing machine swirl around after all.

“You’re not?”

Imoo pokes at his cheek, his eyes wide. With their signature head tilt, they look more like an owl than a fish for once.

“Dunno. Maybe they’re so powerful that exploding one of them will take out the whole cave anyway, so they can’t do that. Caves are weird. Sometimes if you take out one part the whole thing’ll crumble.”

He plops down, legs criss-cross-applesauced. 

“Or they’re just bluffing because they think someone will definitely kill in three days. Dunno. It’s not gonna be me, though.”

“Course not!  That’s... that’s what they want.  If we think that we have to kill someone to survive then someone will do it.  Why have us play some murder game if you’re just going to kill us all in one go, that doesn't make any sense to me so it’s... it’s just a bluff.”  

He stops washing his clothes for a moment and closes his eyes, his eyebrow twitches slightly and then he goes back to washing.

He looks somewhat confused as to how Imoo knows so much about caves, or at least enough to make that kind of theory.  Though it’s not that far out there. 

“Well... I don’t know.  I’m not a demolitions expert, my mechas drill through caves they don’t blow them up... well that’s not true sometimes they blow them up.”  

But only if it was cool.

“It’s not gonna be me either!  And if anyone tries to do it I’ll beat them to... incapcitation but not death!” 

He sighs as he looks over to Imoo.  

Psalm’s eyes flick upward too, when his do, and she looks back at him with an expression that’s carefully neutral…but betraying concern. And, a moment later, mild confusion.

“Did you say think…and sleep? How are you going to do both at the same time? Isn’t that dreaming? I prefer nightmares, but if that’s what you want. Anyways, I don’t need sleep. I’ve never slept a day in my life.”

That last sentence, at least, at this moment seems likely. All the concealer she owns couldn’t cover the bags under her eyes, though it’s making a valiant effort. Psalm steps closer to Ryoma, only to immediately backtrack when he startles her by defending his hot blooded attitude and suddenly punching the air. All of which she regards with an unimpressed look, before shaking her head and moving towards him again.

“Yeah, you’re gonna die. I’ll miss you. Try to get the bat to leave your head intact, I’ll carry it around like how sailor’s wives keep a lock of their hair.”

She sounds awfully lighthearted. Emphasis on ‘awfully’. She does, however, playfully tug on the edge of his scarf with her free hand, and smile up at him as if to try to communicate that there’s no real malice intended. Psalm sits down on his air mattress near him and sets her own food on the bed as well before turning back to him with a belated scowl. 

“Hey, not everyone can be a slenderman like you tall weirdos. I’m just trying to keep up. Do you know how hard it is to strike fear into the hearts of mankind when you can’t reach the top shelves at the supermarket?”

She does look closely around her, inconspicuously. Then again, she looks closely at just about everything, Ryoma’s tent being no different. Not wanting to pry, though, she merely shrugs when he thanks her and gestures at the plates as if to say sure, go ahead. Underneath the napkins are sandwiches - specifically, sandwiches cut into squares and arranged into little robots, with scraps of cheese cut into arms. Still, though she was clearly trying to reach out to his interests instead of hers, it had a hint of her style coming through. She’d used red peppers to make the eyes, and made angry eyebrows out of olives, so they looked like evil terminator robots instead of Ryoma’s friendly mechas.

Well.

She’s trying.

“I’d think and then eventually fall asleep from thinking!  Thinking helps me sleep it’s like... sometimes I’ll just be laying in bed thinking about things and before I know it I’m dreaming.  So yeah it’s kind of the same thing.”  

He raises an eyebrow at Psalm and squints his eyes looking at her eyes.  Even though all the makeup and concealer he could see that she was fatigued.  

“You know unless you’re a robot or something you probably do need to sleep at least a little.  Plus I’m sure that you love your nightmares, I bet you’re playing the horror monster chasing around dumb kids that trespass on graveyards or something.”  

Considering how much she liked horror, she’d probably know every move those darn kids would make too.

Even though the subject matter is clearly horrifying, especially considering their situation he seems to be able to roll with her joke well enough.  

“If you do end up keeping my head can you promise to at least make sure it’s in good condition.  Id on’t think my mom would want to see my face decaying, my sister would probably get a good laugh out of it.  Maybe if I’m angry enough I’ll come back as a vengeful spirit and haunt someone, that’d be fun wouldn’t it?”

  Perhaps the morbidity of their conversation made their impending cave in a little more tolerable.  

“There are tons of small things that can be scary, like leprechauns, or evil puppets, they’re pretty short but they sure are determined.  You don’t have to be tall to be spooky.”  

It’s because they’re smaller that their horror aspect is more condensed and intensified.

Upon flipping the napkins up he stares wide eyed at the design.  It’s a robot sandwich! Which is somewhat funny considering an older conversation they had, but a wide smile grew on his face.  Even if it had more of a terminator look on it clearly Psalm was trying to win him over and it was working.  He almost doesn’t want to eat it since first of all it would ruin the design, and second it would be kinda weird to bite into one of his mechas.

“It’s so cool... wow!  I... I don’t even know hat to say, well I guess I do.  It’s just a sandwich but it’s a really cool designed sandwich!  Bringing mecha to food... now that’s a concept!”

Well it would be rude to not eat it at this point and decides to chomp at the head.  Sorry terminator-sandwhich.  

Psalm rolls her eyes good naturedly as she waits for Ryoma’s brain to catch up to his stomach.

“You can sleep with bombs everywhere? And here I thought you’d run away crying from scary stuff. I guess you’re more the type to punch it instead. Hopefully we’re in the kind of horror movie where that’s considered a useful trait and not a batshit insane one, or you’re not gonna last too long, and that would suck because I kind of like you.”

Without further ado, she gestures at his tent with the arm that’s now free of the plates, and shakes her bangs out of her eyes. 

“Can I, um, come in, or…sorry, I don’t know ‘tent’ protocol. We can go somewhere else, but…”

Psalm scuffs the toe of her platform sneakers on the cave floor, looking suddenly more tired than she did before. Yes, that’s right. Platform sneakers. God forbid she allow herself to be under 5′4″.

“Iyona is…I don’t know where, actually. But I’m not going to ask her to help me serve people for fun. She has to do that enough for work!”

Ryoma gets a look like, well, obviously. 

Ryoma seems mood sours when the bombs are mentioned and his eyes flick upward where the explosives are noticed.  

“Guh... well I just needed a little time to think things over and... well everyone needs sleep so.”  

He vigorously shakes his head.  Why was he explaining himself, sleep was natural!  What was more of a crime was Psalm insisting that he’d be some crybaby type!  

“What gave you that kind of idea!?  Me!?  Crying!  You’re damn right I’m the type to fight for it!”  

He begins to throw punches into the air in quick succession, with one hand because he’s still carrying some things in the other.  

“If it comes down to it, I’m going to beat down that plushie bat until cotton comes out it’s eyes!  Or... eye?  One of them is a button isn’t it?  If I’m going to go down, I’m at least going to go down with a bang... or uh... poor choice of words.  On my own terms I mean.”

If this really is a horror movie than what are his odds?  “Usual the big heroic type gets sniped off early doesn’t he?  Or he turns out to be some big coward in the face of adversity...?”  He grumbles and tucks his head into his scarf looking a little sick.  

“Heh, well if I need to defy the expectation than you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m not going to go down anytime soon!”  

Might as well play into the trope, maybe he’d luck out and actually able to defy expectations.

“The tent is fine, Nona isn’t in right now and as long as we don’t make a big mess or we just cleanup afterwards it should be fine.  Honestly, you look like you need a nap more than I do anyway.”  

A small break in the tent might lift their spirits, or at least prepare their spirits for what lies beyond.  

“Just be careful not to trip in those platform sneakers.”  

Yes he noticed.

“Right... right... well you could always offer to do her a favor or something in return if you don’t want to deal with the debt.  Or maybe I’m just over thinking it.”

He shrugs and as he walks into the tent he carefully putting the food and drink onto his air mattress before sliding on top of his sleeping bag, of course leaving enough room for Psalm.

If Psalm looked close enough she’d see that there were was also a stack of paper and a few ink pens with what looked to be a few sketches of some sort.  Probably mecha or something of that like.

“Okay let’s dig in!  Can I take the napkins off!?  Oh and thanks for the meal!”  

Bats were angry, bombs were placed, and some people were taking it better than others. 

Man, this field trip fucking sucked. 

Unfortunately, other than the impending explosions, there was little else of interest going on in this cave. Therefore, the aforementioned “some people” (Psalm) were taking it upon themselves to go annoy the hell out of “others” (pretty much everyone, but specifically Ryoma). It was for this reason, and certainly not because she liked and enjoyed his company and found him amusing, that the chef found herself at the entrance to his tent. It only just now occurred to her that maybe he’s not…uh, home.

“Knock knock, Blondie,” she called out in English, kicking the tent and making it sway precariously. “You’ve got company.”

Though he nearly fell out of his bed once he heard Psalm calling out to him in English, which took him a few seconds to parse out carefully what she said.  Though not much time, he is one of the few blondes here.

He raises his head up off his pillow and brushes his hands over his face to prepare himself.  

“Yo what’s-”  

Before he can respond the tent gets kicked again and he’s wondering if maybe the bombs are going off early.  Luckily it doesn’t seem so.

“I’m coming!  I’m coming!”  

He responds back rolling out of his bed and heading on outside to see Psalm in a different look.  Oh yeah, he should probably change into a new look himself one of these days.  

“Can’t a guy get a quick wink before getting called out?” 

He yawns as he rubs his eyes and gets a better look at Psalm.  She’s carrying two plates of something and some orange juice which makes his eyes light up.

“Ah... sweet!  Orange Juice!  Hold on did you carry all that by yourself from the kitchen?  You shoulda asked Iyona-chan for help with that.”  

Here we are at the laundry area again, Imoo-kun. Despite the motive announcement about their impending doom, Imoo was properly bored. The main area had worn out its mystique pretty quickly, and he was left to wander from area to area aimlessly. They swore that they had brought books along to Hope’s Peak, and wished that they had them at the moment - it would at least be something to do.

Even watching a laundry machine swirl around for an hour would be something to do, which is what had brought them here - before they remembered that there aren’t even any washing machines around. Just wash-basins and washboards and the like. 

There is another person, there, though. And that’s something. Imoo walks on over and stares him down - something he’s able to do because the other boy is sitting down. It’s rare that he’s taller than someone.

“…What are you doing?”

“Gah!”  

This was the second time that he had been startled by someone as he was doing his laundry.  He needed to stop being so carefree during this time of crises.  Though maybe it was Imoo’s large eyes that caught him off guard.

“I’m just... doing my clothes, gotta keep ‘em clean after all!  Even if that dumb bat says that the cave’s gonna crumble I’m not going to believe him.”  

He says as he more vigorously scrubs his clothes maybe trying to distract himself from impending doom.

“Doesn’t make much sense does it?  I mean, if she ants us to kill one another, then wouldn’t you want a more gradual motive.  Like collapse one part of the cave at a time, prove that you’re not bluffing...” 

Whenever you return to your tents you all find a simple tablet sitting on your sleeping bag. It doesn’t have many features on it- just the Komori Guidelines, public bios of your fellow classmates, a map of the cavern, and even a little messaging feature! Though it looks like you can only message one person at a time.

Opening up the Komori Guidelines you’re greeted with a set of rules.

Students are not to harm Komori in any way. Doing so will result in a punishment.

It is encouraged that students don’t go around breaking property willy nilly. They are the ones have to live here after all.

All lights will be turned off at 11PM and will be turned back on at 6AM. Students are not required to be in their tents at this time but it is encouraged- there may be a killer roaming these caves after all!

Students must sleep in their own assigned tent and in no one else’s.

Students are only allowed one tablet. If a student somehow lose their tablet or accidentally damages it then it will not be replaced.

Purposely breaking tablets outside of murders is not allowed.

If students wish to enter the labyrinth then only groups of five students max may enter at a time.

If any students gets injured while exploring the labyrinth at any point then they are to sit tight until Komori comes and fetches them.

NPsalm B., renowned chef and known terror of mankind, was currently standing in this makeshift, piss-poor excuse for a kitchen doing very little of value. In fact, the only thing she could be described as doing right now is “having a staring contest with a container of cinnamon”, glaring at the offending ingredient like it had personally taken measures to destroy her life. Which, you know, maybe it had. #CinnamonForMM

Needless to say, she clears up her scowl very quickly when Ryoma walks in - if only because his energy is infectious and she is a willing carrier of the sunshine plague.

“Hello, Mister Magical Mecha Master Hero!”

It’s unclear if she didn’t say his name because she doesn’t remember it, or intentionally. But all of that was in English. She has the plague of getting bored of not speaking in your native language. She has the good sense to repeat her ‘hello’ in Japanese, at least, and her friendly smile makes it clear it’s all in good fun.

“Not at the moment…why, are you hungry? Rather short on any ingredients worth their salt, I’m afraid. No cachete or maghaz to be made in this damned cave. Totally a shame. What do you like?”

Don’t ask her what those things are. Don’t ask me, either. She does, however, take about five seconds to find pineapple juice in the tiny kitchenette. Just think of her as a tiny cooking bloodhound! One who is now looking at Ryoma quite closely, as if trying to discern exactly what she knows about him, aware that it’s something but frustrated as to what. 

There were certainly a number of weirdos here in this cave, but Ryoma had considered Plasm “Jackass” B. to be somewhat normal, well that wasn’t true.  They were some kind of butcher chef scientist after all, but personality wise they at least seemed nice enough.  

But having a staring contest with a jar of cinnamon only made him question if he really was giving her too much benefit of the doubt, even if she did feel somewhat familiar to him.  

“...Thinking of cooking up some snickerdoodles?”  

That was a cookie made with tons of cinnamon right?

Her English catches her off guard, but it’s not as surprising as he thought it might be.  Maybe he knew that she had spoken English at some point?  Either way, he quickly snaps his fingers at her.  “That’s me, you’re meister to mechanical madness!”  Back in English, though clearly not quite as well spoken as Psalm could’ve made it sound.

He was a cool cat after all, he could enjoy some playful banter between the two of them. 

“Eh… not right now, but like I said, I’m not a good cook so I feel pretty comfortable knowing that people like you can cook up something good.  And I won’t just end up feasting on snack foods all day.  But uh.. What are maghaz or cachete? Sounds foreign, or just really technical.”  

Well chances are that whatever it was wasn’t in this cave?

He watches as she gets the delicious juice that he desires and lights up immediately.  

“Ah… perfect!  Thanks…”  

He pauses, maybe because it’s a mix of the fact that he doesn’t know Psalm’s full name or that she’s just staring at him.

It had only been a couple hours since you all woke up before your teacher Miss Bellerose gathered you all together once more. She sounded urgent but still calm

“Hello? Students? Can you please come over here for a short while? I have something to discuss with you all!”

Thanks to how wide open the cavern was it didn’t take you all long to gather next to the iron door where your teacher was standing by. Clasping her hands together Bellerose looked to you all with a reassuring smile.

“I’ve done a lot of looking and I can only presume that this door may be the way for us to escape… However I cannot seem to find the method to opening it. I’m still searching for other means of an exit but for now… I believe this is our only  way out. I don’t see a key hole or a control pad… So I’m assuming there must be another way to open it…”

Before Bellerose could continue any further however, you all heard a tiny shrill squeaking sound coming from behind the door. As you looked among yourself wondering what on Earth was that you hear the pitter patter of squeaks and someone in a panic.

“Oh no! I’m late I’m late I’m late! Uwaaaa-!”

Before you had the chance to look the iron door in front of you all suddenly ‘clicks’ before slamming open. There you all see a small plush looking bat standing in the entry way. The squeaks of her steps echoed throughout the cavern as she waddled over to you in concern.

“Phew… Oh thank goodness you’re all still here in one piece! I was so worried something might have happened to you all! I’m so vewy sowwy! I won’t ever leave you guys again!”

“…Oh! I’m sowwy, I didn’t even introduce myself yet! I’m Komori~! I’m going to be your personal caretaker during your stay here.”

As the bat spread out her wings enthusiastically at you her words suddenly hit you… Your stay here? What? Seeing the confused looks on your faces Komori continued on.

“Ah! Now now now… You may be asking yourselves, 'Oh no! What is our widdle sweet Komori-chan talking about?’ I know it’s a lot to take in, but, well… You’ll be staying down here with me, permanently.”

“I know a lot of you must be feeling homesick but you must understand…The world as you know it isn’t the same anymore. It’s so dangerous and scawy now, there is nothing left for you back up there but heartbreak and despair… But it’s okay! None of you have to worry because you’ll all be safe here with me! It might be hard but try to think of this place as your new home. If you need anything at all pwease don’t be afraid to ask! I’m here to ensure your well being after all~!”

You could feel the dread in the pits on your stomachs the more Komori spoke. What did she mean the world wasn’t the same anymore? Were you truly going to be forced to stay down here forever? Live the rest of your days in some dingy underground cave that was god knows where? Could this truly be happening to all of you? As you shared uneasy glances with the rest of your classmate your 'caretaker’ spoke up.

“…But, there is one exception. I realize some of you might not be as willing to stay down here fowever with me. If you truly want to go back home then all you gotta do is win a wittle game we’ll all be playing!”

A game? Just what was she talking about this time?

“It can get pwetty drab and boring spending all your time down here so I’ve prepared a little game for everyone to play! This game isn’t optional either- you all gotta play or else it won’t be any fun, okay? The rules are vewy simple…!”

“If you want to leave the cavern and return to the outside world then you must kill one of your fellow classmates and get away with it. Failing to do so will result in your own death as well. Simple enough, yes? You all must participate in our mutual killing game if you ever wish to leave this place. Breaking any rules or attempting to harm me will also result in your death as well.”

Despite Komori’s cheery smile you could only feel your blood run cold. Mutual killing game…? There was no way any of this could be real- This was all so twisted and absurd. Surely there has to be another way out of here. You weren’t actually going to have to go through something so sick and terrible down here, were you?

“…Though I’ve found that you kids don’t tend to believe me when I explain the nature of this game, fyuuu… And there is one other issue we need to take care of before we can begin. Hmm… Oh! I got it! I think a demonstration is in order!”

Just what was she going to do? Before you could inquire further Komori looked out into the crowd of you all and pointed at someone.

Now it was never Ophelias intention to make Ryoma bad it just was part of her odd… charm. She tended to make people feel bad for doing foolish things without even realizing it. A bad habit of hers, truly.

“Well that’s good to hear that you have a great immune system…That’s something to pride yourself in for sure.”

She smiles softly as she finishes rolling her leggings up to wade in the water. As she stands back up she glances at Ryoma.

“Ophelia. Ophelia Athanasiou. I presume your name is Ryoma Hayato? That is what you called yourself a moment ago…Correct?”

The rocks beneath her feet felt rather uncomfortable to stand on…So she likely wasn’t going to stand in the water for very long. However, the water temperature was cold enough to be relaxing.

Phew, saved!  Now he didn’t have to worry about looking like an idiot, or at least too much of an idiot.  

He thinks this while still sopping wet in a cold cave.

“Athanasiou Hmm... that’s, why do I feel like I know that name?  It’s certainly a unique one.  If I heard it before I’d definitely know but.... I can’t just figure it out.”  

He frowns as he puts a finger to his forehead trying to force memories to flood back into his mind.  But pushes it away as he realizes that she’s asking him for some clarification.

“You’d be right, I am he, the one and only!  Ryoma Hayato... at least the only one that specializes in mechas and mecha models!  The radiant super star himself has arrived!”  

He poses, but it doesn’t look as cool as it might if he had maybe normal clothes on.

“Achoo!”  

“I suppose you do have a point there, all of us were handpicked for our abilities, correct? I do remember that much, however I do not recall ever being informed of a trip down a mysteriously shiny and chilly cave… As a matter of fact, there’s even all these facilities for us to do laundry and eat food at… You don’t think whoever set this up for us is intending for us to stay here, do you? The idea is just preposterous…”

Halfway through that it seems like he stopped talking to the Mecha Model Maker. A gloved hand rests on his chin, thumb and pointer finger framing his chin as his eyes drift to the side, pondering about the situation. Just what was going on here? He’s not sure… It seems he’s also muttering to himself! Something about potential Hope’s Peak Academy enemies? Infiltrators? Kidnapping? Amnesia? My Little Pony?

 It’s difficult to to figure out! Especially when his index finger is also tapping against his chin as he thinks and murmurs to himself. Eventually though he snaps out of his trance and stares at his partner, offering him an apologetic smile. He really shouldn’t have zoned out for so long! Apologetically, he bows down for a few seconds before Ryōma and then straightens up again.

“Yes, it is quite tragic, but I do believe we have enough rations to last us a while if we make sure to spread it evenly and in minor portions between us all. I agree with you though, having some technology right about now would certainly be incredibly beneficial… Quite shameful really… I have always loved nature, but I find myself at odds with my adoration for it at this current moment, to be entirely honest with you.”

“I mean... from the looks of it whoever brought us here probably wants us to at least live a little comfortably.  Food, water, sleeping arrangements, and bathrooms.  You don’t make that for someone staying for just a few hours, that’s overkill.  If you’re a little chilly down here though, I might have a scarf I can spare.  just don’t get it dirty, or if you do just wash it out!”  

That’d be easy enough, this guy looked like he could clean a whole house in under a minute, maybe five minutes for a cave this size.

When he starts to mutter he can’t help but raise an eyebrow at all the things he’s saying... or what he thinks he’s saying.  

“Dude you alright?  Don’t end up frying your brain trying to think of too many things.  It’s probably way more simple than we’re giving it credit for.”  

Like maybe they all just fell down a convenient hole onto some comfortable tents and suffered amnesia.

The thought of having to ration out food and spread it out made him groan.  

“Aww man... do we really have to?  I’m still growing, I gotta eat if I’m gonna be as tall as you or taller!  If I don’t eat not Ii’ll mess with my development.”  

Seems he as awfully cranky over something as simple as food.

She crosses her arms across her chest as she looks across the water and then back at Ryoma. He looked absolutely drenched.

“Did you bring a towel at the very least to dry off with?”

She questions, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Well I am glad that you are feeling fine it would be a shame if you caught some unknown bacteria while swimming in the lake while we are stuck in this situation.”

A smile cracks upon her face however.

“Though I guess a little fun wouldn’t hurt…”

She proceeds to unlace her boots and rolls her leggings up to her knees as she sticks her feet in the cool water.

“I do admit, it is refreshing…”

The more this girl talked the more foolish he felt.

“...No.  In hindsight that would’ve been a good idea, wait do we even have towels around here!?”

He didn’t really check that thoroughly but he probably should’ve.

“I-It’s okay!  My immune systems as strong as it’s ever been, no alien super bug is going to take me out of commission!  Ryoma Hayato wouldn’t fall to something so... simple!”

Though the nervous look on his face might’ve told a different story.  But with the girl giving the water a chance he felt a bit more reassured that he hadn’t gotten himself into a sickly situation.  

“Yeah, it’s just water!  As long as you don’t like drink it or breath it in you’ll be fine!”

His clothes still sopping wet with cold water he did feel a bit of chill all over his body.  This cave sadly as not temperature controlled with a thermostat.