BATTLE ROYALE EVENT: ISLAND

[sailmods]

[Friday's cheerful voice comes over the morning announcements, requesting that everyone who signed up for the shore excursion gather in the atrium to board the tender. when they have assembled, she leads them over,

the door shuts. there is a noise, like air coming from a nozzle. they lose consciousness shortly after that.

they wake up on a cement floor; solid, with none of the sway they'd grown used to with weeks on the sea. there are quite a few things they could notice first. perhaps the fact that, whatever they were wearing before they got into the tender, they are now wearing school uniforms. perhaps they notice the collars around their neck first: metal, tight enough to be a nuisance but not enough to choke. they could notice that there are no windows, but that there is a door, sealed though it is.

and maybe they notice the TV set up in the front of the room, playing despite not seeming to be plugged into anything. but, they'll definitely notice the very familiar face on screen, even though she's not dressed as she usually is.]

Welcome, Serena Eterna passengers, to your first shore excursion! I'm Gal Friday, your friendly cruise director, and I'm here to explain the rules!

[her voice and manner are, somehow, even more artificial-sounding than they usually are.]

You are currently on a completely deserted tropical island, with no fresh water or sources of nutrition outside of what we're going to give you! Over the course of the next few days, you are all going to engage in a no-holds-barred battle to the death! Only one of you can come back to the ship alive, so do your best to make sure you're that person! I'll be there to pick up the winner in the morning!

Now, I'm sure some of you are going to be very upset that you'll have to kill people - but, that's okay! After all, we need people to die, too, right? That can be you! Of course, if all of you decide to not kill anybody, that's a bit of a problem... [her shoulders droop dramatically, but then she brightens up again.] That's what the collars are for! If nobody takes a life by midnight on the first day, the collars will activate, like...

[there is a noise like an airgun being fired. Friday's body jerks, but then returns to normal.]

That! The collar will also activate if you attempt to take it off, or if you attempt to leave the island! Not that you can, anyway; the barrier is very much still active!

You have all the weapons and powers you brought with you, and a special bonus: Along with some basic survival gear, and enough food and water rations for three days, you will also get a random weapon! It could be something very good, or very bad! It's just a matter of luck!

[Friday lifts a duffel bag up to the camera, visibly struggling to hoist it onto a nearby table. she unzips the bag, pulling out an AK-47.]

Oh, I guess I got lucky! I'm sure you guys will be, too! Now, be sure to do your best, but be mindful of the time! We only have three days until we leave port; if you guys haven't finished by then, the collars of everyone remaining will--

[a violent spasm sends her collapsing to the floor. she pulls herself up once more, but can't seem to vocalize anything beyond choking noises. eventually, she falls again, and the tape continues to run with little more than agonized yelps and desperate attempts to breathe. it will continue to play for another two hours before going silent, but they're not likely to stay for that. shortly after she falls, the door opens.

it is early morning on an unnaturally quiet tropical beach. when everyone exits what appears to be a sort of bunker, the door slams shut again. on the white sands before them are a series of duffel bags, branded with the Serena Eterna's logo and embroidered with everyone's name.

Welcome to Battle Royale.

I'd run.]

Comments

[neverleave]

[This far into the second day, Natsuno's state isn't much better. Clarke bled to death in his arms, every passenger he had more than a fleeting conversation with didn't make it through day 1... and somehow, he's still around. Again. What a fucking joke.

The entire island reeks of death and as the hours go by, Natsuno has no idea what to do. He doesn't want to play this sick game, but isn't he doing just that in every second he still lives? And isn't ending things himself playing as well? Remove the collar, and the captain wins another amusing, drawn-out death...

He's so distracted, he doesn't even noticed he wandered too close to someone else until the wind rises. There's no fear in his face as he looks at Lumine - no emotion at all.]

...me neither.

[The front of Natsuno's uniform is soaked in black blood, though none of it is his. He makes no effort to reach for the gun in his waistband or the flamethrower in his bag. He just stands there, hands at the side of his body, his voice as flat as his expression.]

I'm just passing through.

[luminessense]

[ You know, that's perfectly valid, Natsuno. At least Lumine didn't have to sit and watch Venti get slammed down on the moon while he looked like the boy he broke up with. Mmh. That's a loaded sentence, though, isn't it? Not that Lumine really knows Venti is dead or anything, but… at this point, she can assume. She swings her hand away from him now, though, and fires the burst of wind harmlessly into the trees, simply kicking up some dirt and leaves.

She can put aside her own depressive episode to fuss over someone else, though. Honestly? Kind of preferred to do so. Fuck dealing with her own problems. ]

Are you alright??? [ Is that blood or was Natsuno's weapon a bucket of paint? One can only hope. ] …Physically, I mean, obviously.

[neverleave]

[His gaze flicks to the trees for a moment. Is this enough to attract attackers?]

Physically? [Natsuno repeats, looking back at Lumine. She already knows the distinction.] Yeah. It's not mine.

[Doesn't look like it splattered when he was killing someone, though. More like holding them.]

[luminessense]

[ If anyone here said they were fine emotionally, she'd probably think them a sociopath. Lumine is well aware things are shitty. The only thing keeping her from falling apart at the seams is that spark of optimism in the back of her head telling her that she just needs to keep moving. Things are going to work out. Everyone is going to wake up back on the boat because their Captain is a sadistic prick that won't even be a little done with them after this. And that's a good and bad thing, simultaneously.

His words make her posture slump instantly, all that same. ]

… [ A moment of silent condolences, and then she tries to right herself again. ] If you don't mind, then… since we're both just… [ Floating around aimlessly? Trying to exist? Wallowing in their feelings? Unsure, but Lumine needs someone around right now, and she also wants to make sure this boy has someone there, too. No one should be in that kind of mental state. ]

Would you mind if I stuck with you?

[neverleave]

...do what you want.

[It's not a "no", though. Natsuno isn't particularly interested in company, but it's hard to muster enough energy to refuse.

He sits down on a rock.]

But if you're staying... you should know I'm not playing. I decided to wait until time's up.

[luminessense]

[ Oh, this poor boy seems so out of it. She doesn't blame him. He sort of looks how Lumine feels right about now. ]

I was trying to do that same. I'm not sure I'd want to do as poorly as Miss Friday, but I'm not entirely thrilled about my other options. [ And she's spiteful. She's not going to do anything else if it means there's a chance of some upset from her actions. She's not sure if there will be, but she can hope. ]

I've been fortunate enough to avoid any scuffles, so maybe if we stick together, we can just avoid them together?

[neverleave]

[The spite resonates with him. He already had supernatural forces toying with him back home and he would never do what they wanted him to.]

Okay. [Yes, they can do that. Make sure no one else gets to "play" with them.] Guess four eyes are better than two.