81st ♫ | the gift of life is magical, not just mathmatical

[sakurabeam]

The Murder Game 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!

<center><b>Name:</b> NAME | <b>TITLE (Super High School Level, Ultimate, Champion, etc)</b> <b>Age:</b> AGE | <b>Species:</b> SPECIES | <b>Occupation:</b> OCCUPATION <b>Likes:</b> LIKES <b>Dislikes:</b> DISLIKES <b>Traits:</b> A HANDFUL OF NOTABLE TRAITS <b>Trivia:</b> A PIECE OF TRIVIA</ul>

Comments

[schoollifecub]

[ There's so much to unpack here that she could turn into more swears but – okay, answers now, beating up a shitty old man later, (ruu he's like thirtysomething) ]

My sake? So, kidnapping me, putting me in the middle of your tripped out death game, that was all for me? Wow, thanks! I feel so valid! Just one question – what the hell was I suffering from at home that risking getting me killed was worth it?!

[therealideal]

You were luckier than most, thanks to your sister and the other Champions saving you.

Not all of the people here were so lucky. Your sister wasn't so lucky either.

[schoollifecub]

Don't–

[ Ruu's hands slam into her podium and for a split second, it looks like she might be considering just lunging over the thing at him and taking her chances. But she just barely manages to restrain herself, even if she has to hold her podium in a death grip to do it. ]

... Don't you dare talk about her. You don't know anything about her! You don't know anything about either of us! So how can you talk about how lucky you think we were?!

[therealideal]

I know more than you think. I know how your world was destroyed by zombies. How millions died. I know how you sometimes can hear her waking up in a panic at night because of it... and what happened to her on this show too. You told me some of it yourself.

[Some told him more than others, but anything he wasn't told outright, Azatoth whispered in his ear.]

That's why I brought you here- so I could help heal those wounds.

[And from the sidelines:]



Watch out. Guy thinks just because he can do some magic tricks that he can save the universe or some bullshit like that.

[Markui glares at his 'Overseer' but otherwise ignores him for now, much more interested in Ruu. His tone at least does seem very earnest]

[schoollifecub]

[ Ruu blanches at his words, her knuckles bone white as she grips her podium. Heating him say that – it makes her feel greasy inside somehow like she's been turned inside out and examined. Like he's just announced he'll be reading excerpts from her diary to the group.

She really, really wants to take a swing at him. ]

So... that was your genius idea? You know what being in here did to her, so you went "oh, genius idea! I'll do it to her little sister, too!".

[ She scoffs in disgust. ]

You really are braindead. Whatever help you think you could give, we don't want it.

[therealideal]

Please, at least listen to what I have to offer first. I'm not here to force you, after all. I'm a doctor- that goes against everything I believe in.

Let's start from the beginning. The world I come from is the same as someone you know. Or, well, I think they might be two different but closely related worlds. The name Akira Kurusu means something to you, does it? It's due to him, or the version of him that I know, that I was able to do what I'm doing now.

[First her sister, now one of her various 'uncles'- this dude is pulling out all the tricks]

[schoollifecub]

[ Even though all she wants to do is pick up her podium and start beating him with it, Ruu makes herself take in and hold a shaky breath to... well, not calm herself down because she's too mad for that, but at least to keep her from flying off the handle until it's completely necessary. ]

What? Did you put him in murder therapy too?

[ ... that doesn't mean she's going to stop sassing him, of course. ]

[therealideal]

Wh-what, no!

[He seems horrified by the idea]

I wouldn't- we fought, but I... Kurusu-kun is a very dear friend of mine.

[All Jokers just out here being Jokers, even in alternate realities]

I'm not just a practicing therapist, but also a researcher. My theories all have to do with trauma. We have so many treatments for physical ailments in the modern age, but when it comes to the mind. The heart... we are sorely lacking, don't you say?

No matter how much we heal the body, the wounds on our minds can at best be hidden with medication, soothed with kind worlds.... and left to either heal or fester with time. Being a doctor and not being able to more directly help, it was maddening.

It may have seemed like I was using your sister was a weapon, but I really wasn't- she's just a good example of what I mean. She's safe, healthy and happy now. Right? But those old wounds still flair up and cause her suffering. Even here in space with all the technology and knowledge they have, no one can really help her.

But because of the things I've discovered, I can.

[schoollifecub]

[ akira really is gonna keep on being akira till the end of time, huh ]

What are you even talking about? How is any of this helping?!

[ She lifts her hands, gesturing to – well, everything. All the nonsense they've been put through these past few weeks. Ruu's holding it together mostly through spite and determination at this point. She knows some of the others aren't faring as well. ]

And even if it was – none of us asked for your help! And I sure as hell know Nee-san would never go to a creep like you even if she did need some sort of help!

[therealideal]

[He frowns more at being called a creep more than anything. Wow, he's a treat! He is a delight!]

Why would she ask? Until now something like this has been impossible. And I couldn't blame anyone for not trusting me after all this- I tried once to do this peacefully and... things didn't work out.

As for how this works... with my power I can change cognition- in layman's terms I can alter reality. Making events happen, or unhappen. That was how I was able to help Nina-san.

[Maruki do you really think letting the naughty tree free is gonna help your case?]

[schoollifecub]

... Wait. Wait just a second. Back up.

[ Ruu's staring at him, absolutely gobsmacked. ]

So... you did some weird magic stuff to get the crazy lady who tortured everyone out of jail... and that's supposed to convince me you're not super evil?

Keep talking, I wanna hear you dig your own grave more.

[therealideal]

H-hey now-! Normally I wouldn't do something like that. What she did was pretty unforgivable. But I needed her help.

...plus I found her story a bit heartbreaking. If her true wishes were met, then she never would have done the things she did- I can't help pitying her too.

[schoollifecub]

[ D E A D E Y E S. ]

So heartbreaking you decided Airlocked 2 was a super good idea? Wow.

[therealideal]

[he huffs]

Restarting the show is just an unfortunate side effect- the only way I can change things on a massive scale was making it something humanity, and the universe at large, will accept. That's what caused it to fall apart for me before...

... humans can't accept something without strings. It's natural for us to suspect anything free. It's why a lot of gods are portrayed as needing sacrifice before they can give blessings. It's why, I think, Kurusu-kun could never accept the happiness I offered him.

So I thought... if I MAKE it something that has to be fought for... if people who suffer are given happiness as their reward... then those that watch- their cognition will be more easily changed. They've seen it can work, and will want it too!

[He spreads his arms]

If you all accept the happiness I want to give you, then you'll be saving not just yourselves, but the entire reach of Airlocked and beyond!

[schoollifecub]

[ She listens in silence, looking steadily more incredulous the more he talks. He really can't hear himself, can he? ]

There... is seriously something wrong with you. You know that, right? You take us away from our homes, you put us through the wringer and make us hurt and kill each other because– because what?! Because you think you can wave a magic wand and make it all better in the end?!

[ She's so angry she's shaking. ]

You're so sick in the head you can't even see what you're doing anymore, can you?

[therealideal]

[He looks so upset it's a little pathetic]

It's the truth- can you really say it matters when in the end it will be completely erased? All of this will just be a bad dream you had once.

If you need proof of what I can do, I can do anything you ask. Right here and now.

[schoollifecub]

I don't need proof, because I don't want it!

[ She slams her hand down on her podium so hard that it has to have hurt, but she doesn't flinch. ]

You don't get it, do you?! I don't want to forget any of this! I don't want to just press a magic button and have my life be perfect, forever! Can you imagine how boring that would be?! The things that hurt matter because they hurt! When I cry, it matters because I cried!

How am I supposed to care about being happy if I don't understand what it's like to be sad?

[therealideal]

[He jerks like she hit him, his eyes wide and... damp?]

You can't really mean that... surely the suffering you've endured outweighs any of that-! Especially since you didn't deserve it, since it was all just bad luck-!

[schoollifecub]

Of course I mean it!

[ She stares up at him, her gaze sharp and steady. ]

Since you think you're so smart, here's a question – what would've happened to me and Nee-san if none of that awful stuff had happened? Not just– not just Airlocked and everything else. If there'd been no outbreak, if things had just gone on like normal...

We never would've met any of the people we love. Our lives would be totally different! And maybe we would've been happy in those different lives, but it doesn't matter. Because this is the life I want to live! This is the place where I want to be! And if we had to do it all again to make sure things stayed the same, if we had to go through all that hurt and pain just to stay with everybody...

[ It's not even a choice, is it? ]

I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. And I know she would too.