abhoth | ( THE TEACHER )

It is midnight on Tuesday when you find yourself suddenly awake. Your roommate, should they still be alive, is blissfully asleep as your body moves on its own and heads to the outdoor pool and dining area. The smell of cooked meat invades your senses as you approach, and once you are close enough, you'll find Craftly enjoying a beautifully prepared meal. Across from him, another identical plate sits, waiting for you to dig in.

Craftly raises his cup, filled to the brim with wine, and beckons you to sit down.

"Greetings, Teacher."

It seems like it is finally time for the two of you to have a conversation.

Welcome, Teacher! As you must know by now, your character has the chance to either protect one (1) character or hang them out to dry. This is an either/or situation, so you can only pick one no matter how much your character may want to do otherwise. To summarize the key aspects from this role's rulebook:

Your character must pick one person each week, though the effect will kick in during the following week.
They will not be counted as a culprit or accomplice if someone who is made vulnerable dies, but they will be rewarded with a Clue Token.
Similarly, they will receive one Clue Token if the person they protected that week is targeted by any other resident. Good job, Teacher!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He chews thoughtfully. ]

Yes? Have you already made a choice?

I have. Last week's development worked in my favor, as I had hoped it might. I've learned of many things that I wasn't aware of until recently.

[Filet mignon this time. How nice. A minute while Light cuts into it.]

So, then. You want a name, don't you? [Straight to business this time.] Girge Albatross. I choose to lower his GPA.

[He can't say that he isn't a bit... glad at this choice, either. He had found the man annoying.]

That's the [ TENTAFINGIE AIRQUOTE ] "thrill" of the game. Alliances, betrayals, surges of information that twists the very core of your strategy...

[ He sighs, as if recalling so fondly a personal experience. He sets his silverware down. ]

Mm. It seems as if Girge has not made many friends if he has earned your scorn. What happened, Mister Yagami, not satisfied with the protection route?

[Tentacles airquote....why]

It's only natural. I have to be malleable and adaptive if I hope to survive this game. That was obvious from day one.

[But to answer Craftly's question:]

The protection route will always be unsatisfactory. It's too... complacent, in a game where action is required to move it forward. [He chews for a moment, finishing before he continues.] But I'll do it for the sake of my alliances.

Girge-san earned my scorn for being a, ah, "Prophet", I believe the term was. I think it's more than obvious that he deserves to die.

[ Lazily, Craftly gets back to eating. He'd rather eat his food hot, okay. ]

And with that attitude, you may very well be one of the lucky few that calls themselves a victor of this type of ordeal. I can't say I'm impressed, but the amount of people refusing to go down without a fight is a welcomed change.

[ He discusses the protection route and his eyes don't flicker up to him. It's not until he mentions Prophet that his vision drags up to him. ]

Oh, I see. You've narrowed your field and truly live up to your own sense of justice. You know, this is not a guarantee of death.

Is it any different from previous situations? I find it hard to believe that those forced to participate in this game in the past eventually lost all drive to continue.

[He looks at Craftly in return.]

And I know that. But it makes the opportunity to hunt them down much... easier. If that's the role I have to play in a bout of cooperation with others, then so be it. I'm more than eager to.

Some do. Some were unfortunate to be brought here with siblings, with lovers — [ That word stings his lips when it leaves. ] Some are complacent accepting the end so long as their souls remain pure and they do no harm by their own method.

[ He takes a thoughtful chew. ]

Then you'll find Mr. Albatross feeling your sense of retribution, less curiosity and much more malice.

...Good. Just as planned.

[kill me]

And what about yourself, Craftly-san? You were a participant, weren't you? Were you brought along with a friend? With a sibling, or a lover? [Yes, he caught the prominence of that one word. He's too observant to have let it slip past him.]

[ There's a sharp high-pitched scratch of his knife against the plate. It's intentional, mostly as some kind of reprimand to Light. ]

I was. From a time I can't quite remember.

[ But, he's much more curious and soon, Craftly's eyes narrow. A heavy sigh. ]

...That "sewer goddess" that so many are keen on calling her. We weren't quite "brought" here together, so much as trapped within the initial ritual. Surprise, Mister Yagami, I was in the same shoes as you at one point. Well, not quite.

[The grip around his fork tightens at the sharp, screeching sound, and he grimaces just a little at it. Light will give Craftly a look that says Really?, before continuing.]

How was your situation different than mine, then? And how did you and the "sewer goddess" [if you want him to call her by her actual name, you'll have to share it with him] end up as you are... now?

[Eying those tentacles, bro.]

I was not blessed with a role like yours. They change - sometimes overlapping, but I was never the Teacher.

[ However, he mentions the sewer goddess. He smiles, as if fondly remembering. ]

Abigail. Please address her as Abigail.

[ Maybe he heard the name? Either way... ]

She was one of the original Prophets, fitting for her entire role in this mess but — we both made choices and these are our consequences.

[Abigail.]

And you? Were you a Prophet as well?

[Being trapped in this cycle -- are those the consequences that Craftly is speaking of?]

No. A mere sacrifice.

A victim?

[Why can't this just be more straightforward. Light is frowning now.]

How did you end up the way you are, Craftly-san?

In a sense, yes. But, no. I did not perish in my game.

[ He clears his throat. ]

I followed the rules. I was one of the remaining three. I was not so active as some of you - the thirst of blood was out of character, even in my mortal form.

[ He lifts his fork and points towards Light. ]

If you wish to find out how I am as I sit before you, I suggest you play it smart and whittle the numbers down.

[His eyes narrow, and his tone is still as questioning as ever. He is committing every single word here to memory.]

No offense, but I don't think any of the remaining three want to end up like you. Inhuman and trapped. I'm curious, but that certainly isn't my end goal.

My priority is ending all of this and returning home.

Mmm, you misunderstand me. Earning a slot with those final three participants isn't a product of what I am. The knowledge you seek — about my history and this city's? That is privileged information. Only a select few will learn of what became of me. Only to those three will my lips be free to speak the secrets of this city.

[ And he nods, cutting into his meal. ]

And home awaits for you if you choose to fight for it. You've done fairly so-so at this point.

[Ah. The final three, learning the truth of the matter. The city, of Craftly, perhaps even of Abigail? Of the entire reason behind this terribly annoying ritual, that which pulled him from home where he had much more important matters to attend to, thank you very much.

He takes a bite, indignantly.]

And why would we care at that point? Other than to sate our curiosities.

[The last bit prods at his pride, over-inflated thing that it is.]

I'm alive, aren't I? That's half the battle. Now that I can act with purpose, we'll see what you think of my performance when next week rolls around.

( THE TEACHER )

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