jackabeelounge | THE MURDERGAME MEME

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THE MURDERGAME MEME

You know the script. You wake up in a place you've never seen before, with a whole bunch of complete strangers and there's a mysterious voice or a mascot or what have you ready to let you know how things are going to work around here.

The rules are simple: You're trapped here, with no hope of release or rescue. You've been provided with all the basic necessities you need to live comfortably, and all you have to do is settle down and live out the rest of your days here in peace. But if you can't do that -- if you're really so desperate to escape that you'll do anything -- then there's one teeny tiny thing you have to do first.

All you have to do is kill somebody.

But it's not quite that simple. Every death will be followed by a period of investigation, followed by a trial in which the survivors will attempt to solve the mystery and out the culprit. If the survivors guess correctly and out the culprit, the killer is executed and life goes on. But if the survivors guess wrong, then the culprit is free as a bird and everyone else is executed.

Even with the promise of freedom, can you really bring yourself to kill so many other people?

tl;dr: it's a murdergame meme. TIME TO HAVE A BIG OL' MURDERGAME BLAST.

Settings

1. High School - A classic! Doesn't matter if you're too old or too young to be in high school -- you've been enrolled and the only way for you to graduate is to kill a fellow student. But hey, the faculties are nice!
2. Tropical Island - Weren't you just hankering for a nice tropical vacation? No? Too bad! You're going to have a nice sunny vacation at the beach and if you don't like it, just kill someone and go home. Simple!
3. Prison - It doesn't matter if you don't remember committing any crime; you've been tried and found guilty of something or other and now you can go ahead and rot away in jail. If you ever want to see the sunlight again, better put that criminal mind to good use and get rid of your inmates.
4. Mall - A huge mall stuffed full of stores, places to eat and all the regular amenities like deadbolted doors and the threat of death. It's like Black Friday but even worse because you can't leave and all the rest of the shoppers might actually kill you for real this time.
5. City - Holy shit, you've got the run of a whole city this time around! Maybe with all this room to keep out of each other's way, you'll be able to make sure no one starts killing people. But probably not.
6. Cruise Boat YOU'RE ON A BOAT, MOTHERFUCKER. The accommodation is all five star, even if there's no one around to act as wait staff. The only snag is that you still have this whole murder thing hanging over your head – but on the plus side, they have those little drinks with the umbrellas in, so...
7. Space Station - THE FINAL FRONTIER... Maybe you're familiar with space stations like this or maybe all this future tech is fascinating to you. Not like it matters either way, of course, because you won't be getting out of here unless you lay down a murder on someone.
8. Wildcard! - None of the above scratch your murder itch? Go wild and come up with your own setting!

Downtime

1. Excuse Me, Who Are You? - You've just woken up in this weird place and you have no idea what's going on. But hey -- maybe this stranger's more informed than you. Or maybe you can put your heads together and investigate what's going on.
2. Social Link Go! - Well, if you're going to be stuck in here for however long, you might as well get to know the people stuck in here with you. You've got plenty of rooms to explore together and there's enough to do to keep you occupied. How do you plan on passing time without killing each other?
3. Vending Machine Woes - Somewhere in this place there's a mysterious vending machine that spits out all manner of bizarre items and occasionally dispenses items that belong to you and the other people trapped here. You've got a fat stack of tokens and nothing to lose.
4. The Corners of My Mind - So as it turns out, your lovely hosts have been fiddling with your memories. Maybe you're just discovering this now or maybe you've had a particularly upsetting memory regain you're dealing with.
4. Wildcard! - GO WILD AND BE FREE (or as free as you can be here, anyways)

PUTTING THE MURDER IN MURDER GAME

1. Motive - Your mysterious overseer has decided there's not nearly enough murder going on and so they've ~helpfully~ given you a little push to do the deed. Maybe one of your loved ones is in danger, maybe they're offering more money than you could ever dream of or they're threatening to reveal your deepest darkest secrets. Whatever is it, would you kill for it?
2. Murder - WELL APPARENTLY, YES. Are you a killer or are you being killed? Either way, someone's not walking away from this alive.
3. Body Discovery - Rise and shine, murdergame! It's a brand new day and someone's dead. Better get investigating!
4. Trial - You know how this one goes. Line up all your evidence and sniff out the killer -- or sit there and sweat and hope no one works out you're the murderer. Will they go down with a confession or put up a fight?
5. Afterparty - You've survived another trial, but more of your friends have died. Even without the executions, trials are a stressful enough affair. It's time to destress and lick your wounds and support each other.
6. Mastermind - It's the end. It's time to uncover all the mysteries behind this murder game -- and find out just who trapped you here. Are they really an unconnected party, or is the mastermind someone among you...?
7. Freedom - Just as it says -- you're finally free, but at what cost? Have those you love been returned to you, or are you still reduced to just those who made it to the end? Are you on your own, or is anyone here to help you? And more importantly, how the hell are you going to get home?
8. Wildcard! - YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO

OPTIONAL FUN

Lots of murdergames have in-universe public profiles for other characters to get the skinny on yours. If you'd like to fill one out to post with your toplevel, peep at the code below!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Name: Cethleann | The Saint
Age: 1,000+ | Species: Nabatean | Occupation: War Cleric
Likes: Making friends, forget-me-nots, fish
Dislikes: Overprotective meddlers, lies, excessive sleeping
Traits: Kind, enthusiastic, eager to learn
Trivia: She currently goes by the alias "Flayn" and is the only bearer of the Major Crest of Cethleann.

A: Setting - Cruise Boat

This is magnificent! The view of the horizon is so clear!

[There's a smallish teenage girl marveling at the view from the upper deck - while you can't exactly climb over or through the railing to get to the ocean below (and really, there's no land in sight, where would you go?), the cool salty air still whips about, touseling your hair, the girl's hair - is that a flash of a pointed ear? No, must've imagined it. She's holding onto the railing and laughing with delight despite your dire circumstances.]

What a lovely portion of the sea...the waves are so calm...[She looks down, focusing for a moment.] Oh my! That shadow...it is swimming along with us! What kind of fish could it be?

[There is, indeed, a fishy shadow down there. It's probably nothing to worry about, but she seems enthralled.

If you'd rather not encounter Flayn on the decks, you'll find her all over the boat - enjoying a seafood cocktail as big as her head in the dining hall, swimming in the pool, curiously poking at the modern games in the "youth center"...you name it, she's all over it!]

B: Downtime - Social Link Go!

[Hey, so, Flayn's got an idea: actually, fuck this?

No seriously, fuck this, nothing about this situation is okay, least of all the unusual devices that casually reveal her secrets to everyone!! She'd made a fuss with your host about it when they appeared, cheeks puffed up indignantly and red in the face until they retreated, ignoring her words, and to say she's still mad would be putting it very lightly. So, a bit moodily, Flayn has sequestered herself in a corner of the common room, poking and prodding at her own device and trying to stubbornly not look at anyone.

You all do seem interesting, though...her bright green eyes can't help but flicker up if you approach or pass by, but...oh she's so vexed right now! Surely people will inquire after a girl who looks so young being...not human!!! Her brother would be furious if she said anything more...though, it would be nice not to have to lie...

As a sidenote, if you're from FE3H as well, and approach with intent to question, Flayn is going to flee immediately. You are welcome to give chase.]

C: Putting the Murder in Murdergame - Afterparty

[It's never easy to lose someone, much less two someones, in one day. Flayn has been surprisingly strong throughout the investigation and the trial, stronger than one might think from her appearance. It is as if death is not unfamiliar to someone who's been so jovial and sweet these past weeks.

While previous endeavors have banned her from the kitchen to make any comfort foods, she goes around to those of you who still live with blankets pilfered from the laundry. They're warm, and they smell nice - like they've just come out of the dryer.]

I am truly sorry. I know you were...close, to them.

[Close to the victim? The culprit? Someone who ran into the execution and tried to do something stupid but got killed for it? Either way, it seems like Flayn's offering her shoulder, if you would like to lean on it.]

[ He'll sigh but then smile softly and shake his head. It was definitely a loss via a deathly case of leeroy jenkins here mid-execution.

The worst thing about it? Arthur had considered doing something similar earlier on so he's not even sure how mad he's supposed to be here. Therefore he's just been respectfully quiet, to hide the feelings of frustration that were buried deep. ]

I don't think I knew him as well as I thought I did. [ ... ] And even now, we're strangers in all of this. Though we must really come together so we can solve this...I don't think you should burden yourself so. Not on my behalf.

But. The thought and care is very much appreciated.

[ He's not ungrateful at least. ]

Name: Cid Raines | The Unwitting Pawn
Age: 34 | Species: Human | Occupation: Primarch
Likes: fighting fate, Rygdea, Lightning, Cocoon, his soldiers
Dislikes: fal'Cie, blind obedience, puppets
Traits: Noble, Determined, Obstinate
Trivia: Cid is descended from a long line of military leaders in his family, and so it is no surprise he took to his initial role as Commander on Cocoon.

1. Settiing - Wildcard - Fantasy::Motive (Multiple prompts)

[ The motive had been released in front of them all, as they stood inside the room they had been called into in order to have an audience with the Mastermind, who referred to himself as the "Judge". There were knights standing in front of him, sectioning the man, who stood in dark robes before them. When the motive had been delivered, it was on the sixth week of this unfortunate farce.

And perhaps it was the most terrifying of all.

When the Judge spoke, when he spoke, his voice was distorted; not in the way that would give one nightmares, but it was in a way that seemed so impossibly deep.

The final motive given was thus:

If one does not take the life of another this week, I will end the game, and decide that the rest of your collective deaths will be a suitable conclusion.

There were words of protest, including angry shouts, because that was as always playing dirty. It was an outright threat, and the Judge smirked as his incorrigible self was wont to do, drawing away. One of the few who seemed to not be reacting obviously or outwardly like the rest was Cid Raines. Did a character find it questionable right then and there, as the Judge disappear into shadows?

Or perhaps were they more inclined to approach Cid later, after he had finished organizing an emergency meeting for the group? Or maybe the encounter was more circumstantial as Cid was putting away the portable white board he found in one of the rooms in the mansion they had been entrapped in. ]

Can I help you?

1. Setting - Wildcard - Fantasy::Afterparty (two prompts)

[ Cid had been one of those who had assisted in ensuring the afterparty was... something that could be called such in the first place. Though he was likely not the one who provided food, he made sure to distribute the letters that one was happening as thus:

We invite you to join us in the ballroom, where we're going to be holding a little get together where food and space to unwind in will be available. Remember that you're not in this alone.

- Cid Raines, [REDACTED], [REDACTED]

(Redacted being in place of other characters' names, including your own, possibly.)

Maybe you can catch him distributing the letters, sliding them underneath doors, and such things. Later on he can be found at the afterparty proper, before deciding to approach some people, trying to gauge morale. ]

I'm glad you could come. How are you handling the situation so far...?

Edited 2020-09-30 01:09 (UTC)

[Alfyn's been so busy staring holes into the backs of his tightly clasped hands, face set in uncharacteristically grim, hollow lines, that he doesn't even notice the girl and her gift until she's basically right under his nose. Inhaling, he looks up. When he sees the solemn kindness in her eyes, his own expression crumples a little. Swallowing, he takes the blanket she offers.]

Shucks, Flayn, I...

[The words die in his mouth. A moment passes of silence, and then Alfyn looks away, sniffing loudly and wetly, lifting an arm made for woodcutting to hide his eyes as he cries.]

I never--c-criminy, it's not as though I've never been wrong about someone--or haven't seen my share of foul things--but this...!

Name: Alfyn Greengrass | Succor Every Minute
Age: 21 | Species: Human | Occupation: Apothecary
Likes: Medicine, getting to know people, drinking contests
Dislikes: Asking for money, failing someone in need
Traits: Big-hearted, chummy, sincere
Trivia: In his youth, Alfyn once spent so long talking with a friend, he forgot to give her his best friend's letter before she departed for the other side of the continent, forever. RIP, Zeph's love life. Next time, deliver your own letters.

A. Setting: Space Station

Egads!

[The shout comes bright and early from the newly-opened area beyond Hatch C. Investigation turns up Alfyn, looking surprised but not horrified--so no body, probably--backing hurriedly out of a door labeled GARDEN.

When he turns and realizes he's not alone, he raises both his large hands and shakes his head.]

Whoa, now! None of us should go in there without gearing up right. [He sighs and puts his fists on his hips, glancing back glumly at the door.] Take my word for it. More than half the plants in there'll kill you if you're not careful.

[And for once in this sci-fi horror show among the stars, your resident apothecary sounds wholly sure of himself.]

B. Downtime: Social Link Go!

[Alfyn's not much use when it comes to investigating the station. He hadn't even heard of electrical power when they first arrived mere weeks ago. So instead of assisting the explorers, he seems to be making himself useful in the kitchen with a mortar and pestle, grinding away at various plant matter.]

...Say. Uh, mind keeping me company with a little conversation?

[He looks up sheepishly, but keeps at his work.]

I was just wondering what it was you miss most about home. Where you come from, I mean. Heh. [Alfyn shakes his head at himself.] Guess I'm more than a mite homesick myself.

C. Murder: Body Discovery

[Ding dong ding dong! A body has been discovered! Ashen, Alfyn pushes his way forward through the paralyzed onlookers, medicinal satchel at his side as always--even though it's far, far too late for one of them.

He looks down, swallows, and steels himself.]

Here, I'll... I'll help. Looks like you'll need an apothecary's eye for this one.

[Poison, after all, shows itself in a variety of horrible signs, each deathly discoloration its own glyph to interpret.]

Edited 2020-09-30 04:14 (UTC)

[ All of this is pretty dang new to Naminé, who's spent a lot of her existence tucked away in various white rooms. It's strange to be able to go where she wants when she wants, even if the space station is extremely... odd. At least she can stargaze whenever she wants. Silver linings, and all that.

She's also used to keeping to herself, to being little more than a ghost, so when Alfyn addresses her, she startles. ]

A little conversation? I don't mind, [ she says, more than a touch cautiously. Honestly, though, she isn't sure where to start.

So... it takes her a little while to decide on-- ] Well... the ice cream, I suppose?

Oho? What's that?

[Were he the type of man to keep score of things, he'd absolutely be chalking himself up some points. Got one of the shy kids to talk to him! All right!]

Not cream from ice, I'll wager. Heheh!

[ Another point for Alfyn: He manages to make her laugh. It's a brief and tiny thing, but, well, it's there. ]

No, not exactly. It's more like... frozen cream you can add flavors to.

Frozen cream...

[He can hardly imagine. He laughs, too, because she did and because it's good to hear laughter, even in--especially in--a place this grim.]

Wowzers, what'll they think of next? I'll have to try it myself sometime if I can. What kinds'a flavors are your favorites?

[Alfyn's always been such a sweet man. Really, he has. Neither of them understood a fair amount of the technology here, but they worked together to figure it out, and he - he's always so helpful. This is the least she can do in return, just make sure he tucks the blanket around himself like an Alfyn-rito.]

...It is simply too much. I understand.

[There's a solemness to her voice at that.]

But I do not think their actions lessens the place they held in our hearts. If we were all in a different situation...I would like to think they might act differently.

Please, it is not a burden at all. [The shellshocked, the weary, she has tended to them for a long time.] And even if that is the case, we still knew him for some time. A loss is still a loss.

...I just don't know. I really don't.

[Gritting his teeth against his own tears, he tries to take a deep, steadying breath and forces it out shortly.]

Sometimes the face folk show you isn't who they are at all on the inside. It's just what they think ya want to see. That was one of the hardest things I had to learn, leaving Clearbrook.

[His tiny, tight-knit, huge-hearted village home, where everyone knew everybody from cradle to grave. Snuffling, Alfyn wipes his eyes with the edge of the blanket and finally wraps it around his shoulders. After a moment, he opens a corner of it for Flayn to sit under it with him, just because.]

And I know that shouldn't stop me from helping and hoping, but... it's a sight harder the second time around. [Snrff.] If there's a third or a fourth, or even more... well, it's no wonder some quit holdin' onto faith.

[ While the resident duck raises her inexplicable duck eyebrows, Lena's gaze is directed well past Alfyn and into the garden itself! Or at least until the door closes. ]

All you can eat buffet? Got it, thanks.

[ And she immediately makes to walk inside, which is kind of exactly what one would expect to happen, given her established personality. These zoomers and their tide pod challenges... ]

Wha--!

[HE'S FROM THE FANTASY 1400s HE'S SO BEYOND EVEN A BOOMER OH GODS

He immediately shifts to block her path with his enormous human lumberjack body, crouching with his arms wide like a football player, even though football is just as foreign to him as Tide pods.]

Hey! Don't even joke! I could probably save you from some of 'em, but it won't be a pretty sight!

Wow, okay, that's a choice.

[ But there is absolutely no physically getting past this, so she crosses her arms and stands her ground, looking mildly annoyed. ]

Look, don't get your breeches all out of line, or whatever. I wasn't going to actually touch anything. Besides, where's the gear going to be if not in the dumb murder garden?

[Oh. Once it registers that Lena's not actually going to c o n s u m e deadly nightshade, Alfyn breathes gustily out and straightens.]

Shucks, I guess you're right about that. Sorry, Lena. Guess we oughta look for a shed of some kind, yeah? Or maybe they'll put the gloves and tools and all right on the wall...

[He rubs the back of his neck and turns towards the door so it hisses open again.]

How'd they even get everything to grow indoors?

[She accepts his invitation readily, sitting beside him and leaning on him slightly - moreso offering her warmth more than anything. Sometimes that helps.

She lets out a little sigh and nods.]

I cannot say I do not know what you mean by that. People often hide behind masks completely unlike who they are on the inside. [Flayn has never liked lying about who she is, but at the very least it was more of a thin eggshell of an identity, rather than something wholly new. But sometimes people encase themselves in steel and fire, bursting out only to cause harm.] And those who are skilled in deception can go their whole lives with no one figuring out just who they really are. It can be terrifying.

[A pause.]

But even in the face of pain...what choice do we have, but to hope? Giving in to that despair would only bring ruin. [She'll peek at him.] You are a dear friend to me, Alfyn, and to many others. If I can help it, I will not let you lose your hope.

[ He would hide his weariness until the end of the world came and went were it within his power to do so. He would not show such a thing in front of his people; could not, for that matter.

And here...but, well. The kindness of a saintly woman was to be expected, though he'd argue there could be others who'd surely need it more than someone like him, who is accustomed to weathering such things. Truthfully speaking, however, she's likely seen to the others hadn't she? ]

We're really lucky to have you, even if this situation isn't something I'd want to wish on anyone.

...You've been going around checking in on the others as well, haven't yoi?

[See, Claude at least -Or, well... he supposes there's no use now, he may as well use Khalid since he's been outed- has the sense not to approach her about unfortunate topics when she's actively thinking about them. For a moment he just hovers, watching her absolute glee. It's adorable and damn if it doesn't do a lot to raise his spirits given their... entire situation.

But eventually he does catch that flash of pointed ear and he finally approaches, coming up behind her quiet as can be to take the scarf he usually has tied around his own head and wrap it around hers instead, limiting the way her hair flies away and, more importantly, covering those delicately pointed ears.]

Is it really just a fish at that size? That thing looks like it'd be bigger than Kader!

[Ah if only his beautiful scaly daughter were here he could fly off and find them some help. Tragedy.]

Oh, I am just doing what anyone would do.

[Still, her cheeks go pink at the praise.]

Would it be a problem if I have?

-Oh!

[She jumps underneath the sudden touch, so enthralled with the view as she was, and whips around, likely causing that scarf to wind itself over her mouth, so Claude misses how her jaw has dropped. And - well, she's not going to flee over ther railing, she's not a fool, but-]

Um, well, the sea is - immense! Yes, it is very big, and thus, the things inside of it can grow to be quite large as well!

[She's turned to enunciating her words very specifically to hide just how much she wants to absolutely abscond in this situation, but, uh, scarf? Head? Claude? Wheremst can she even go right now?]

[ Aw, Flayn.

But maybe he's looking a little thoughtful now... ]

Still, not everyone here would do as you do. As for your other question, maybe it'll be a big problem.

[ He'll try to say with a poker face but he looked like he was about to laugh a bit and he knew it. Arthur still tried to make a dramatic pause anyway. ]

Well, I'm just kidding. Unless they were being inconsiderate about your efforts, that is.

Oh I know they can I'm just saying I think at that point it's not a fish anymore.

[He can't help laughing at her reaction, so obvious and adorable and it kills him sometimes how impossibly straightforward she is. There's an attempt to help situate the headscarf to protect her from the wind and he has to wonder, for the hundredth time: Why the hell did Seteth ever trust her to lie convincingly to anyone?]

Think maybe it's a whale?

[Under the guise of trying to get a better look he leans out over the railing but it's clear very quickly that he just misses the rush of the wind and the weightlessness of flying. He's fine just balancing on the rail like this. No problem. Please ignore that his feet are no longer touching the ground.]

[Flayn's glance reveals him staring off intently as he absorbs her words. Without warning, the arm he raised to let her in under the blanket tightens, transforming their comfortable side-by-side seat into a bona fide one-armed Alfyn hug.

His voice comes out low, wet, and all the more sincere for it.]

Long as you don't lose it, now, either. You hear?

[He sniffs and chuckles and the sound's still lost and aching, but he can't be lonesome on top of everything else, not with such a good friend so near.]

You look out for me, and I'll do the same for you. That's how we healers got to get by, right?

[She'd like to tell him that it shall take much more than murder to make her lose hope - it's something she's used to holding on to - but Flayn doesn't want to sound disengenuous. She nods and reaches over to one-arm hug him back.]

That is exactly how it is done. I...I promise I shall not lose my hope.

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THE MURDERGAME MEME

Flayn | Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Silver Snow Route)

C

Cid Raines | Final Fantasy XIII

C

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ugh do I really need to bump her paid back up to get the really apt icons

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The fifteen-icon-or-fewer life...

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A but with a dash of B?

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Absolutely, also, /muffled flayn screams in the distance

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