[LP CYOA] Spiral

[Nevill]

Edit: as to your question of whether or not having the charm was good: one charm saved our life and you yourself implied that Uehara might have survived the first night because of the charm she ran off with. They are clearly valuable and useful.

Oh yes, but they are useful when you know what to do with them.

The one that saved our life was Amanozaki's, and its goal was to ward off evil (evil thoughts, perhaps?). We guessed its purpose correctly and made a gamble that was somewhat of a success, as we survived.

Uehara's family charms clearly have a much bigger role in the plot, and we have no idea what it is. The thing is, Uehara isn't hostile to us... not yet, anyway. She isn't the one who tried to carve us (or anyone else, really) or shoot us in the head. If you don't want to call her a potential ally, that is fine, but she is still a knowledgeable person that can be talked to. The other one who knows a bit of what is up, Taketasu, or even Mori, are not in the mood to talk to us.

I hoped we could build a working relationship with her, if not much else. I don't want to close that door.

Anyway, look, disegenuously smiling (a smile that doesn't reach her eyes") and lying to us by saying she doesn't suspect us, when she clearly does, is manipulative.

Whom is she manipulating?

You are reaching, dude. How can she say she suspects us? Of what? What can she say that would not sound like an insane rambling of a certain psychic?

She knows you saw something, and yet you are lying to her face. Why are you doing that? Why would she insist on trying to learn the truth if you are unwilling to come out and say it? You can only smile, say 'ok' and watch the steps of the one who is deceiving you for whatever nefarious reason they have.

After all, she does not know we don't have one.

Wanting to wait outside ALONE so she can ask us about the charm is suspicious.

No it isn't. It is indicative of that the person does not want to make it public, whatever it is.

It very well might be because it is a deeply private issue, which we know it is.

only an apology that implies she has harmed us in the taking of it

Seriously? That's what an apology means to you?

"I am sorry, I have to do this myself." "I am sorry to leave you in such a danderous place, but this is really important." "I am sorry for not telling you everything, but trust me, there is a good reason." "I am sorry for making you worry."

It could have meant all and any of these things. It is rude to run off and make the others wonder whether you are even alive while they search for you fruitlessly, high and low. But no, it has to be something harmful.

Even the idiot Maeda picked up that pressing us and asking if we found something else over and over was odd.

Maybe she was hoping that we would come to our senses and tell her, since as far as she knows, we don't have a reason to hide it.

Or do we? DUN-DUN-DUN!

Anyway, I find it hilarious that a dude who has no memories of the past and who is hearing voices with homicidal inclinations in his head thinks it's odd and suspicious when the others do not fully trust them. Why won't they trussst usss, my preciousss, why indeed?

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

A disingenuous smile, wanting to wait outside for us alone, the fact that she knew there was something else that we saw at all and doesn't want to reveal it openly even though we are in a hospital full of zombies and nothing would sound too crazy at this point, the fact that she wanted to run off with the other charm as soon as she saw it and didn't provide so much as an explanation, the fact that she apologized - alone all of these things could be explained away (as you are trying to do), but together the are very suspicious.

I know you want a romance option here, bro, but do keep in mind that we know next to nothing about this girl - except that she has some pretty hazel eyes that also happened to be the last thing we saw on the first night, before our head was ripped off.

 

[Nevill]

Yeah, I wouldn't go as far as lambchop but there's no reason thus far to just open up to Uehara and basically say 'here, have the charm if you need it, i'm sure you know better than me about what's going on, you know, the last time you ran off and doomed us all, as well.'

We don't know if she doomed us or saved us instead. That night we came closer to survival than the night before that.

It is about trust. The option didn't have us giving the charm to Uehara. We could have revealed we have it, and choose not to give it away, not without being told what she knows, at least. That would have been fair.

Now we are playing mind games when she knows you know she knows, and our chances to get an honest answer our of her about anything are quickly diminishing.

At least, we have now learnt more about Uehara - either she remembers previous nights and has found out about the necessity of charms, or she knows about them from before this timewarp and her mission is to find them.

Uh. She says they belong to her family. Of course she knows about them.

I don't see why she would lie to us about that, it's not like it influences anything. Furthermore, it is consistent with her having that particular charm despite her disdain for everything supernatural.

I know you want a romance option here, bro, but do keep in mind that we know next to nothing about this girl - except that she has some pretty hazel eyes that also happened to be the last thing we saw on the first night, before our head was ripped off.

That was sooo romantic.

No, really, I want to do right by her, romance or not. The Kaimei already took away someone from her family. I don't want us to cause her death, too.

I want to befriend her and to establish a sort of an alliance. I have said before that I would have no problems telling her we have no memories. That she happens to work against our common enemy only cements my determination to make it happen.

Edit. Also, Uehara have become distrustful of us after she had seen us talking with Maeda. If you remember, Maeda family was trusted with the disposal of the pool ghost's body. I thought we would be able to talk to her and ensure there is no misunderstanding here, and that it's not like Shinoharas and Maedas are planning something infamous yet again, but I feel this may not be so easy now.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Look, bro, Tbh I didn't even want to tell her anything at all. B was not my first choice because I knew that this situation would be possible. Of course, I prefered taking the chance to A, but not saying anything would have been preferable. Yes, we lied to her. We have withheld vital info. But she has been holding back on us too. We haven't commited any unforgivable sin here in being cautious. And I suspect we will have another opportunity to give her the charm - though I also suspect she will try to take it from us with violence next.

btw, another theory as to the source of the voice is that it is a result of being bitten by the zombie. Taketasu was consumed by some black stuff. There were black tentrdils in our body when our head was pulled off due to having been touched by a ghost. Theory: "the touch of the dead rots away both body and mind", I think that murderous madness - perhaps even a madness with a will to serve the ritual, is the eventual result of being touched by the dead. Edit: though how would that explain our smiling on the first night. Bah. Maybe not then.

 

[Nevill]

And I suspect we will have another opportunity to give her the charm - though I also suspect she will try to take it from us with violence next. Go on. Say that I am wrong so I can laugh at you when it happens later.

No, I will not say that you are wrong.

She wants the charm badly, and she knows we are hiding something. I would still expect her to try and confirm it before resorting to drastic action.

I only hope we can clear this up before it happens. Otherwise, yes, she will take it by force if she can. She made it abundantly clear it is important to her. Though I doubt she would harm us.

btw, another theory as to the source of the voice is that it is a result of being bitten by the zombie. Taketasu was consumed by some black stuff. There were black tentrdils in our body when our head was pulled off due to having been touched by a ghost. Theory: "the touch of the dead rots away both body and mind", I think that murderous madness - perhaps even a madness with a will to serve the ritual, is the eventual result of being touched by the dead.

Yes, that was the first thing I thought about, and it might be confirmation bias in the works, but I think it became worse since we picked up that bottle.

Still, I can't deny something was talking to us in the previous nights as well, and whatever it was, it wasn't good:

What else can I do?

A quiet voice whispers in your head, slyly, confidently:

You do nothing. Once he has satisfied himself with her, he will move on and leave you unmolested.

 

[Grimgravy]

I'm glad we didn't tell her about the charm because even IF she didn't steal it like the last one, Codex would just give it to her if she asked because TITS.

 

[Nevill]

even IF she didn't steal it like the last one

What is this thing you call love logic?

“Well… if you insist…” You decide to hand the omamori over to Uehara. After all, she claims that it belongs to her family – it is only right to let her have it.

“Really?” She seems surprised that you would return it to her. “Are you really going to give it back?” You nod shyly, just as surprised as she is. Does she really think so little of me?

Goldfish memory will yet be the death of us.

 

[Jester]

C for me

 

[Grimgravy]

Again, TITS. Codex got no sense when TITS. And I consider it theft since she ran off without explanation.


A>C

 

[Nevill]

And I consider it theft since she ran off without explanation.

Redefining words to suit your agenda, huh?

We gave it to her willingly without asking to tell us anything in return. You can't steal what is yours, explanation or no explanation.

Again, TITS. Codex got no sense when TITS.

Codex also got no sense when DICKS. Mori-senpai is a living testament to that.

When will we come to terms with the fact that the 'Dex got no sense at all and embrace TITS and DICKS, rather than shun them?

 

[Grimgravy]

We gave it to her willingly without asking to tell us anything in return.

Which was dumb. We seem to love giving things / info away while getting nothing in return.
I'd say we're a tertiary concern for all the other characters at best. They don't care about us at all. Certain nights, we won over the psychic or the little girl, but by and large they just don't care about the creepy quiet guy. They're out to save themselves or their interests.

Codex also got no sense when DICKS. Mori-senpai is a clear testament to that.

When will we come to terms with the fac that the 'Dex got no sense at all and embace TITS and DICKS, rather than shun them?

Can't argue with you there.

 

[Nevill]

I'd say we're a tertiary concern for all the other characters at best. They don't care about us at all. Certain nights, we won over the psychic or the little girl, but by and large they just don't care about the creepy quiet guy. They're out to save themselves or their interests.

I agree.

It's not like Amanozki ran into the hall full of undead and risked her life to get us out of there for no profit whatsoever. It's not like she freely gave us a charm that save our life earlier. It's not like Sakimura pulled us out of the pool when we got stuck. It's not like Tokigawa defended us when they wanted to leave us or tie us up, because he was grateful to us even after we tried to cast suspicion on him.

No, they are all a bunch of assholes and we should let them rot. See how they will care about us then! What, they wouldn't? What did I tell you?

It is a bad case of self-fulfilling prophecy.

They are people. Give them a reason to care, and they will. Some of them more than others.

 

[Grimgravy]

It's not like Amanozki ran into the hall full of undead and risked her life to get us out of there for no profit whatsoever. It's not like she freely gave us a charm that save our life earlier. It's not like Sakimura pulled us out of the pool when we got stuck. It's not like Tokigawa defended us when they wanted to leave us or tie us up, because he was grateful to us even after we tried to cast suspicion on him.

We had been through a lot together by then (unless my memory fails me, quite possible) in your first example. We tried saving his friend in the second example. I don't remember well enough to dispute your third example, but I doubt Tokigawa's motives were entirely altruistic.

I'm all for giving people a reason to care. I just don't think you can BUY it. Give these people whatever they want while getting nothing in return wont make them care about us. They'll think we're a sucker and rightly so.

 

[Nevill]

I don't remember well enough to dispute your third example, but I doubt Tokigawa's motives were entirely altruistic.

Wait, you think you have disputed my previous two? They are kind of built on giving people what they 'want' (like, helping them stay alive) while asking for little or nothing in return.

What exactly did we get when we rushed to Mitsuki's aid, or to Shiba's? Or by playing bait for the pool ghost? Did we BUY people's trust by helping against a zombie doctor?

Human relationships, how do you do it?

Not everything is a business transaction. I gave Uehara the amulet because I felt it was the right thing to do - at least then, - and I wanted to tell her about it for the exact same reason. How being honest would be BUYing anything, I have no idea.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

They are people. Give them a reason to care, and they will. Some of them more than others.

Unless they have another motive that supersedes their inclination to have care about you - wanting to complete the ritual in the old man's case, wanting to survive in Takaetsu's case, true love in Theseus/Naim's case, who knows what in Uehara's case, but whatever it was, it was clearly enough for her to ditch us as soon as she got her hands on the charm. Maybe there was an altruistic motive in her doing it. Maybe not. Maybe she is just refusing to believe what is going on around her when she insists that the supernatural doesn't exist. Or maybe she doesn't want us to find out the truth about what is going on. The point is, we don't know yet, so why not wait to find out?

The point is not to blindly put trust into others (especially those who act VERY suspiciously) when we don't know them or their motivations yet. We also don't know the value of these "family charms" yet.

Amanozaki laughs. “So you say, but…” She pauses, peering more closely at Uehara’s charm. “Wait, that pattern... Is it? It can’t be from that shrine? How did you-“

What if we are going further toward a bad end every time she gets one? Do you know? Nope. Not for certain. So, until we learn more about them - and the people we are dealing with - it would be wiser to play our cards closer to our vest and not run around trying to make friends at any cost.

 

[Grimgravy]

I'm saying they were inclined to help us because we helped them, yes. We got quite a bit from helping Mitsuki. We had the trust and acceptance of a cute little girl. That went a long way toward countering our quiet creepy vibe.

I have the feeling that Uehara is doing the same to us. She has been consistently kind to us from the start. Something the others. who are neutral of standoffish, don't seem to do. It costs her nothing but we like her because of it. So when we do GIVE her something of REAL value, she runs off without explanation. That doesn't build trust.

The she says we had to check something in the garden. Just before we got lost/trapped at the tree. A conversation we DON'T remember. We should at least consider that Uehara did something that caused us to find the tree. Given her running off on a prior night and this mystery conversations we don't remember before finding the tree, we should be wary of her. Maybe she's honey potting us. Maybe she can't get the charms herself for some reason. If all she has to do is be nice to the quiet guy and point him in the charms direction and he'll give them to her, why wouldn't she.

We gave her something of concrete value in the charm. We should get something of concrete value from her before we go giving her more.

 

[Nevill]

The point is not to blindly put trust into others (especially those who act VERY suspiciously) when we don't know them or their motivations yet.

And yet you won't go far without trusting them with at least something so that they would share anything back with you.

How would you know them or learn about their motivations if there is a mutual distrust between you?

I have the feeling that Uehara is doing the same to us. She has been consistently kind to us from the start.

Maybe. That was the case during the first night, but she was fairly distant during the third, and kind of wary during this one. She isn't exactly behaving naturally, and is not revealing everything about herself right away, but neither do Amanozaki or Maeda. Or Mori. Or Tokigawa. The only things that make her more strange than everyone else is the nature of her connection to this place and the fact that she may have come here willingly, knowing what to expect.

So when we do GIVE her something of REAL value, she runs off without explanation. That doesn't build trust.

No. But she felt guilty enough about not telling us to apologize. She didn't go all 'Muahaha Sucka' on us, though she could do so with ease if everything she has done up to this point was an act. Not to mention she didn't even know we would find the amulet to play a game to win us over. How could she? That's some conspirasy theory.

The she says we had to check something in the garden. Just before we got lost/trapped at the tree. A conversation we DON'T remember.

We do not remember a lot of things. Like how we got lost. Or how we spent 21 hour out of 24 during the third night.

We are nitpicking about others when there are fucking MURDEROUS VOICES IN OUR HEAD.

Pah. It's useless. I don't care. She is Shulgi-Theseus, and actually a man. She is out to get us. Whatever. We should extort her for the knowledge. Maybe even threaten her to cut open the amulet if she doesn't talk. Yeah, that'll do it.

Bunch of , all of you.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Of course we have to try to establish some mutual trust - with SOME people. It's all about who and how much you trust them with, bro. Especially when they are acting funny and ditch out on us when we give them what they want. I don't know. Maybe we made a mistake there. Maybe we should have trusted her. But the way she tried to be all manipulative with the smiling, the friendliness, the staring at us with her big hazel eyes - all of it kind of went toward confirming what grimgravy just suggested. That she is just using us to get what she wants. I'm sure she has a good reason for wanting it, but as you just said, trust is a two was street. The last time we reached our hand out, she ditched us with no explanation.

Now, does she KNOW we are going to find something? Maybe. Maybe we are the only one who can. Or maybe we just stand the highest chance of doing it out of everyone. Maybe she knows that somehow. Or maybe we are jut a tool to her. A useful idiot the same way Takaetsu is to the old man. Perhaps she isn't rationalizing it as coldly as he is, but she doesn't seem to be a psyco the way he is either. Like you said, she has a strong motive to get the charm. Strong enough to use us? Probably. Strong enough to put her interest before our well being? Probably? So shouldn't we step lightly and weigh how much we should trust her?

I'm not saying that hiding the charm is 100% right. I'm just saying the reason for doing it is wise as we have little reason to trust her.

BTW isn't it interesting how all(?) our memory loss involves Uehara somehow?

No. But she felt guilty enough about not telling us to apologize.

"You're always sorry, Naim."

 

[oscar]

We're definitely beginning to pay the price for some of the skillsets.

A

 

[Tigranes]

C>A.

I suspect the 'this won't take too much time' in A might turn out to be a fateful statement, and given the leads we have obtained this day through Maeda, C should be interesting. The Uehara stuff is relevant, but we should take this day as an opportunity to maximise our newfound 'acquaintance' with a previous unknown.

Nevill/Lambchop let's not go overboard into extremes. We have little reason to witchhunt Uehara or to give her our heart. I'm surprised that she even suspects we are holding something back. Either we are truly a terrible liar, or she was already expecting something. In any case, what is done is done; if we get another chance to tell Uehara something we can spin this to try and get at least some info out of her, and if all goes to hell and Uehara dies for not having the charm, that's another kind of information.

We should also keep in mind the maid's tip to arm ourselves. We don't have much now after using the thermometer, we should at least keep close to Mori and his gun.

 

[oscar]

I'm remembering the advice that we find a weapon to use tonight what would imply things are going to get ugly. Not sure every door in the building opening then would be a great idea.

 

[treave]

Final tally:

A - 2
C - 5
D - 1
E - 2

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Flopping to C>B

 

[Kipeci]

E>A for me.

 

[Nevill]

Not sure every door in the building opening then would be a great idea.

I am reconsidering E.

C would probably be wiser.

Do we think we will split our group again? Maeda will go to the office, and Sakimura will search the building as per his suggestion along with Uehara? Or did we learn our lesson about splitting up?