a pawn,

Tugging at the collar behind his bowtie with another attempt at taking it off - sadly, Justin found it was as immovable as the last time he’d tried. Sigh. It wasn’t that he couldn’t cope without sleep - he barely got sleep as it was - but he was worried for the students, and feeling like a chained dog wasn’t a nice feeling.

Still…maybe there was something positive in that. A dog stood by and protected…if it meant he must be chained forever, he wanted to protect the students the same way. Though, the voice of a firm companion, Uta, diverted his focus, and he smiled in greeting.

Uta’s question made Justin’s smile falter to a more serious look, though. He…didn’t blame the other teacher for wanting to be in denial. He wished he didn’t remember it, but averting one’s eyes from truth would achieve nothing. So he told Uta everything - how the bear had ruined the vacation, of the first motive before this…of Noah and then Goro’s deaths.

As sad as the truth was…Justin was honest, and didn’t want to lie to Uta.

normally whenever this man carried a serious air around him uta knew he had no room for anything funny or laughable. he almost felt bad that he went missing for so long, unable to imagine the horror he went through by himself. he.. wasnt terribly sure why but he felt empathy almost for him. he’s known to pity people before, but he knew that wasn’t this feeling, it was something more.. caring.. he pushed it to the back of his mind and pushed his expression to something more caring and concerned.

“what happened?”

--and justin filled him in, he nodded then gasped his most believable gasp, pursing his lips and glanced off to the side curiously. a murder actually happened? peculiar.. and it was one of the students he rarely saw let alone spoke too, there’s no real attachment to his mind coming forth but he still felt bad. this was the pity he should’ve felt earlier when talking to the orangette but it wasn’t there, so he gently took justin’s hands into his and smiled as best as he could.

“i hate to say it but,”

--

---                                “seems i missed quite alot,”

matter of fact. he had no clue when or how that sneaky lil toy snapped some freaky bdsm collar around his neck(-- he knew what it actually was, purpose and all he just thought this was a lil spicy for dramatic flare is all --) to be fair this was a little annoying.

sure lack of sleep is one thing, it’s nothing new, this man runs off coffee and thrives off the constant late hours hes had to stay awake to make masks, paintings, ect. this thing around his neck however? stupid.

guess he’ll wonder around for the remainder of daylight, perhaps he’ll see someone and ask them, curiously,

With another day laid ahead of him: something other than reassuring the students was foremost on Justin’s mind, mainly due to the chat he’d had with Akihiko yesterday: he’d mentioned a possible other teacher to the student, that being the man Uta who had amnesia. 

He’d mused that this on the island had been the first time they’d ‘met properly’, but now that he thought about it: they’d been talking on the boat too, he remembered that much. Talking in a fairly friendly manner, so perhaps: the key to helping the other teacher regain his memory was to talk more to him? It seemed a bright idea! 

Though: if they were strangers…it did puzzle Justin a bit. He felt calm around the other, despite them not knowing one-another that well: happy. How strange. It wasn’t the only peculiar thing, either: he’d noticed that all this time, he’d had a ring on his left hand. It wasn’t the one his….gone beloved had given him, to be certain, this one was more of a sunflower shape.

Another mystery, but it didn’t shift his focus! He wanted to talk to the other! 

Tapping on his ID (as he was unclear as to where the other would be, so this should hopefully lead him to where the other was), he messaged him.

MESSAGE FROM “THYME AFTER THYME” (Justin)

hello hello! I suppose it’s a little strange to send a ID message: but I’m wandering around the hotel, so i’m not sure where you are, and this is a good way to find you! do you mind telling me where you are, so I can locate you? I’d like to have a little chat! I suppose you could say it’s a hope-tel, when it comes to me wishing to find you and have a talk! oho ho ho!

his bad jokes continue even through text, sigh. (This was because he knew Uta didn’t mind the jokes, of course, from their first chat on the beach.)

jesus christ this vibrated loud as hell. okay, well-- atleast he knows now that justin is either really excited to talk to him or he’s some kind’ve psychic.

maybe he’s a psychic? anyways, reading through the text rather quickly uta wasted no time in replying back to him. these fingers weren’t just for making intimidating threats back in the day and sewing all the time.

✉ FROM: uta!

📨 TO: THYME AFTER THYME

🎲 justin thyme

🎲 lol get it? just-in time??? im funny haha

🎲 anyways if ur over by the hotel ill b over soon then i think i might know where that is theres like.. this big ass map or maybe u could come find me

🎲 gimmie a sec mayb this area looks familiar?

and with that he snapped a picture of himself and sent it to him.

✉ PICT MSG FROM: uta!

alright.

truth be told he didn’t know how long he could keep this stupid ditsy routine up, actually it’s become so frequent that he himself has convinced himself that he’s just as air head as amnesia causes you to be. he has no clue though, that’s true, how the fuck he got on the boat.

if what that stupid bear was talking about was true then that means he found himself in an odd situation, he’s no stranger to murder and nowhere above it-- but this seemed like something he’d happily keep his hands out of for now.

anyways.

thoughts aside, the ghoul trudged out of his room to the main hall curiously to check out things a little more, nothings really open per-say but he’d happily explore what he could. not like he could really eat any of the stuff here but it’s not like anyone would chastise him or judge him for his eating habits( well-- eating body parts is kind’ve.. questionable but that’s something he’ll worry about at a later time ).

then it occurred to him. what the hell was on his finger?

“a ring?” he blinked, stumbling a little as he walked into a trash can. good job uta! he stumbled back some and blinked, laughing to himself.

“even when noone’s around i guess i’m still the ditsy idiot teacher, ne?” he said to noone, well, noone he could see really.

skimming through the id contacts he had on his id card, this was really technologically advanced but he wasn’t opposed to it. he thought it was neat.

“oh?”

      What the hell is this, a text from a teacher? Man, she thought teachers only bothered students during school hours! Peacock’s realizing now that the so-called “adults” of the trip will be able to contact her at any time.

      How annoying.

MESSAGES RECEIVED FROM: PEACOCK

> no im dead > sending this from the afterlife ✌️ > the devil said hi to me and gave me a hi five

✉ FROM: uta!

🎲 peacock!

🎲 really?? is there food there in hell? the devil sounds cool actually

🎲 never took u for a christian girl, do u even believe in god?

“Mess with your… Hm.” They pull out a notebook and scribble something down. “So you’re a teacher then? How long were you with the school?”

 “I don’t think so.” They don’t seem to bat an eye at the precarious position, instead leaning over themselves. Not in the same risky position, but leaning regardless, elbows on the rails. “I sure would like to, though.”

“well i guess we’re forcibly stuck here, might as well make the best of it- what do you like to do when you’re forced to do things that make you inexcusably exhausted? i like to paint,”

      “…”

      “No thanks, buddy, I’m good.”

“harsh,”

“ I’m trying to wrap my brain around this, but you’re not making it easy for me.

Are you saying it’s both plausible and implausible for all of us to be your children?

      Make up your mind. “

“i’m pretty sure i said what i meant, or-- did i say what i mean’t to say?”

“say as i wanted to mean what i say?”

“you’re my student! i’m responsible for you like a parent is for a child-- unless you want me to treat you as my own child, then i’d be your teacher and father,