monday, week zero

[moraled]

[Having the Grand Reveal of this place sprung on them like that... well, it takes even Barnham some time to come to terms with it. The best use of his time, he thinks, is to analyze this place and try to find any clues for how to get out of here.

Hopefully without any murder.

Of course, when he hears the telltale approach of footprints as he pokes around the buildings, he lifts a hand in greeting; he doesn't want to give off the wrong impression here, with how on edge everyone is.]

Good day.

Comments

[expelliarmed]

[ Barnham's not the only one who would prefer to get out of here without any murder. So far, however, his search for clues has been pretty fruitless. There has to be a way, some flaw in the plan of their captors, and it has only been a couple of days.

Too soon to do anything drastic, he thinks, even with what they learned today.

He's approaching the church when he spots an unfamiliar man up ahead, and it takes Harry a moment to realize it's him that he's waving to. So after a moment of hesitation, he nods in acknowledgement. ]

Hello. Anyone here to save our souls yet?

[ Dark humor, the only way he's getting through this, honestly. ]

[moraled]

If there shall be anyone doing so, it will be ourselves.

[Sorry, Harry, he's a buzzkill in every possible way.]

May I inquire as to what you are doing here?

[It's not a very aggressive tone; he really is just curious.]

[expelliarmed]

[ Buzzkill though he may be, Harry's not about to argue with that. ]

Um...investigating. [ Might as well be forthcoming about it. Maybe this guy has learned something useful he could share. ] If there's any way to get out of here, I'm going to find it, before...

[ You know. The murder starts. ]

[moraled]

...Good. That is as it should be. It is good to see that some would still take initiative for such things, rather than arguing over the mundane and unnecessary.

[LIKE THE TOWN NAME.

MORONS.]

I am doing much the same. I have yet to find anything of use, unfortunately, aside from the odd number of boarded up shops.

[expelliarmed]

[ It's true, Harry didn't argue over the town name.

He unquestioningly supported Whole Ass. ]

I noticed those, too. Makes me wonder why they boarded up some of them but not others, when the whole place seems abandoned. [ Except for their robo-sheriff, but he's another story entirely.

He sighs. ] I'm not having much luck, either.

[moraled]

[Luck is treating them all poorly. Thanks for nothing, lady luck.]

I suspect there are items or objects within the boarded buildings that they would prefer we do not have access to--either as of yet, or permanently.

[expelliarmed]

So why don't we try breaking into one?

[ They'd only need to scrounge up some tools, and even without them, there might be other ways to break into the buildings. ]

[moraled]

Breaking and entering is an illegal action.

[BARNHAM...???]

We must exhaust our other options before taking that one.

[expelliarmed]

[ Harry makes a face very much saying "so????" ]

Somehow, I don't think the typical laws apply here.

[ like really are you worried about breaking and entering when they've been told to murder each other??? ]

[moraled]

Even so, I do not believe that breaking the law is the first step we should be taking here.

[He's stubborn and also a lawyer??]

Use your head, and come up with a method that does not rely on property damage.

[expelliarmed]

[ is this guy for real right now ]

I'd have plenty of methods if my wand were working. [ Yeah, he's kind of given up on keeping that secret, and bringing it up had led to some interesting theories. Maybe that'll be the case here. ]

[moraled]

[He's so for real.]

... Pardon? Your...wand?

[???]

[expelliarmed]

[ A self-conscious shrug. ]

Yeah, a wand. You know...for magic.

[ He knows most people associate wands with magicians who pull rabbits out of hats, but they are much more legitimate than that. ]

[moraled]

... But you are not female.

[Yes... Barnham...thanks for noticing.]

[expelliarmed]

[ ????? what ]

Yes, well spotted.

[moraled]

[...R-right. Whoops.]

... Pardon me. In my home, only women are able to cast magic.

I was taken off-guard. My...apologies. [BURN THE.........MALE WITCH]

[expelliarmed]

...Ah. [ Well, that's a little more understandable then. ] That's witches where I'm from, but I'm a wizard.

[ hedwig's theme intensifies ]

[moraled]

A...wizard.

[B( this is confusing]

I see.

I am familiar with witches, but this is very much the first I've heard of such a thing.

[expelliarmed]

[ He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. ]

Well, wizards are basically the male equivalent of witches, if that helps.

[moraled]

I do understand the concept.

[Now.]

Regardless... you are not able to use your...magic here, is that correct?

[expelliarmed]

[ A short sigh. ] No. It seems no one who had abilities before is able to use them here.

[moraled]

I see.

Take care, then, that you do not remain dependent on that skill set. To reach for it when it is not there, at a critical juncture... it could prove to be fatal.

[expelliarmed]

[ Yes thank you for tapping into his number one source of paranoia right now. ]

...Thanks. I'll be, um, sure to keep that in mind.