WEEK 2

[grimgrinningghosts]

[One week. One week spent in the Haunted Mansion, and nothing seems to have changed. The hinges still creak in doorless chambers, strange and frightening sounds still echo through and you still occasionally catch a flicker of candlelight out of the corner of your eye. You might be slowly becoming familiar with the mundanity of this communal life, and we've recognized that possibility.

Something has to give.]

[SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY]

{ooc: Don't forget to turn in your week 1/intro AC! As per murdergame tradition, this begins our new weekly schedule - Tuesday and onwards are locked for the motive. Everybody's just working for the weekend.

Additionally, a few people this week are going to get tagged by...something. If you'd like to opt out of this, please let us know.}

Comments

[pardonmylanguage]

Yeah, I guess we shouldn't grab too much stuff or it'll just get awkward.

[folkscallmewander]

[He picks up the bowl and slides it into his hat, which is then wears. No corn falls out of it. He scoops up Heihei and an apple in his arms.]

I'll make him a bed out of some blankets. Thanks again for lettin' me have him!

[folkscallmewander]

Hah, I should tell her than next times.

[There are a lot of compliments he can give Sylvia, but something he needs to mix it up. "Really goes all out" has such a spirited ring to it. And in a place like this, she could use the reassurance.]

It really is nice. Sure, we're both stuck, but when we're together, there's nothin' we can't face down.

[thetimebomb]

Don't encourage him. The last thing I want is to wake up one day and be drowning in random animals Wander found the previous night.

[But she does seem relieved by Ford's answer.]

Oh thank grop. I can at least handle it if it's not trying to kill me.

[She says in such a way that there's a very good chance Wander might have tried adopting an animal that would, in fact, attempt to kill her.]

[thetimebomb]

Not contagious enough to rub off on me, it seems.

[She laughs at her pathetic attempt at a joke.]

Right, I'll be better in a bit, it's just...

[She looks thoughtfully at the photo.]

I dunno, I guess I just I wonder how they get some of this stuff.

[kindaruledatit]

[.....]

The stairs? Have you tried walking up them?

[kindaruledatit]

[It's just an axe!! How bad could it be?]

I'm really hoping so. [She is INTENT] And if anything decides to get in the way- boom!

[She smacks her fist into her other hand.] They'll see just why you don't mess with a Corduroy.

Lounge

[kindaruledatit]

[Well who better to help her out of this unimpressed funk then Wendy? Who will just plop herself down next to Karolina.]

Reading, huh? How's that treating you?

[toogoodforhim]

...Uh...

[He takes a minute to assess "his" body language, to tell how much he should say, whether he'll set France up for mockery for being less progressive than wherever she's from.]

I never met a woman while I was serving, but France doesn't conscript people, either. Most women probably choose to stay home, you know, to uh, raise babies and take care of the town.

But hundreds of years ago, the stories say that all of France was saved by a woman who led the army.

[sentadaughter]

[Well that makes sense, Mulan can totally understand why most women wouldn't go fight if they didn't have to. Traditional gender roles have been instilled in her as well, she gets it.]

That sounds way more lenient than where I'm from. Women are banned from the military, even in times of war like this. And if a woman were to pretend to be a man to go fight, she would be executed if she were found out.

[She's getting dangerously close to the truth, but she wants Lefou to understand why she was asking.

Well. Without understanding why it's so important to her specifically. Speaking of which, she better assert that she is Totally A Man.]

I, uh. I was only wondering, because it seems silly, you know? If we're already fighting for our lives, then maybe banning women from serving doesn't help.

[toogoodforhim]

Yeah, I was lucky. Bet you couldn't tell, but I'm not... strong, or fast, or even a good shot. I probably would've died if Gaston hadn't looked out for me.

[He wipes his hands off and comes over to pour a cup of coffee, and then adds some of the recently-reacquired sugar before taking a sip.]

Thanks. I could use some coffee, but I had a hard enough time figuring out this stove.

[toogoodforhim]

Executed?

[Holy shit. He's pretty sure women aren't allowed in the military back home, but at worst they'd just get. Sent home, and their marriage prospects would, you know, be nonexistent.]

Yeah, that's... Excessive. You know, make allowances for like mothers with young children but I'm sure there's plenty of women who can fight just as hard as men can. Not just a big hero every few centuries.

[He thinks, specifically, of Belle, of the fire in her eyes and the rage flushing her cheeks, beautiful and righteous like a summer thunderstorm as she rode right through the castle doors in nothing but her chemise. She wasn't defending her country, but she was defending her friend. Her home.

And, you know, the prince, as it turned out.]

[toogoodforhim]

...Guess it'd be too much to ask for for there to only be one Gaston in the world, huh.

He didn't- sell out anyone in our village, he just... Couldn't stand not getting what he wanted.

[sentadaughter]

[Mulan nods in agreement.]

It's...been on my mind a bit, that's why I was wondering. I think you are the only other military person here besides me, so it seemed like the best idea to ask you.

I...I know a lot of women who could beat me in a fight. And if they would take me, then they should take them too, I think.

[Nevermind that Mulan is lying through her teeth about her gender. DETAILS]

[toogoodforhim]

[Lefou chuckles half-heartedly.]

So do I. Not that it's much of an achievement, beating me.

At the very least, they shouldn't kill them for trying. They just want to defend their homes.

...Actually, it feels good to talk about it with someone. Back in the village I'm from, there's not really much room for women with, uh, "manly" interests.

[Or for men with womanly ones.]

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander nods at that. Everyone has a good side to them, just as Sylvia is discussing now.]

See? Once they get to know you and you get to know them, it's easier to get along! Heck, even Maui has his own good points. He's strong, he's an important guy, he's got a cute tattoo, it'll just take a few more days.

[He pours a bit of batter into the pan.]

Star really is. We were playin' with the mirrors and the Floor is Lava last week, she's got the pep and cheer to brighten up a real star!

[sentadaughter]

[That gets a little laugh from Mulan as well.]

I understand completely. I don't exactly fit in back home either.

[From an entirely different angle than Lefou, but she doesn't even think to specify that.]

Right after I turned 16, I went to the matchmaker, just like every wo- everyone where I come from does. I made such a horrible mess of things that she threw me out in the middle of it. The first time in ages something like that has happened, even.

[It's not exactly a happy memory, that much is pretty clear, but it's easier to talk about with someone who understands.]

It's probably for the best anyway. I...probably wouldn't have been happy with whoever the matchmaker picked for me to marry.

[thetimebomb]

I'm still not sure what to think about Maui. He reminds me of Emperor Awesome way too much but he hasn't tried hitting on me yet so he is at least better than him.

[Although in her opinion, that's not much of an accomplishment.]

Oh right, that's why you were talking about playing Floor is Lava. [Even if Wander is from the past, she did think it was weird that Wander suggested playing that.] Maybe we could have a game night some day together.

[Stiiiiill no Floor is Lava though.]

[aboyandhiscar]

[Well dang. Now he feels bad for moping. He pauses in his tracks, frowns, and then instantly perks up.]

. . .

Well hey, you're a lion. Queen of the jungle! You'll probably be the first of us to find a way outta here. I wouldn't sweat it--besides, us humans are used to being in houses. But a lion? Jeeze, you deserve a prize for adapting!

[trashcubes]

[WALL-E nods. We love music, it helps fill silence, you know?

WALL-E even spins around in a circle here in time to the music playing.]

[trashcubes]

Wheee, whooo...

[WALL-E is going louder now and sure giving it our all here!!]

[trashcubes]

[It fits! But are you sure that you wanna test this? The noise that WALL-E's processors begin to make now sounds a bit louder than you'd expect of a simple drier, after all...]

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford chuckles and waves his hand, but he looks pleased that Mike seemed to enjoy his story.]

Only one of many. Of course, they never last, but I've had enough unhappy endings that the rare happy one is like a ray of sunshine.

[sixfingeredstan]

I'm sure he'll like that. [Ford sets his guide down in his lap and gives Wander a little smile.]

No, thank you for taking him off my hands. Have fun with him.

[sixfingeredstan]

It would kill itself out of stupidity before it tried to kill you, Sylvia, I assure you.

[Trust him. Ford saw the chicken try it a few times.]