Haunted Mansion: Game Over!

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i'm just at work atm and already multitasking too much; i'll read up & get ready before i engage
also egopost

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Finally beginning to feel herself again, Samantha picks herself up and looks around the room.

The last thing she remembered before fainting was a blood curdling scream from the direction of the kitchen. She had always been averse to loud frightful noises, and no doubt the liquor hadn't helped; moments after it pierced through the room, she had been out like a light. But things had... changed, since before. All these nice people, who were so earnest and friendly, looked distressed and aggressive. What on earth had happened here?

Being careful to keep a wide berth of the tension in the middle of the room, Samantha takes the long path to the bar. Taking scarcely a moment to select the best-looking bottle, she eventually decides on an

Armand de Brignac

, pouring slightly too much into the nearest champagne glass.

With her consciousness re-acquired and a beverage to calm her nerves, she carefully taps the arm of the nearest guest, her voice scarcely more than a whisper.

"Excuse me... What the hell is going on?"

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Realising there doesn't seem to be anyone particularly social present, Samantha takes a long moment to ponder the duo leaving the room. Finally, she tops up her glass from the bottle, and sets off after them.

"Wait for me!"

go to solarium

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Samantha tries not to stare during Mr. Dangerous' outburst, starting to contemplate her decision. Was he making some attempt at humour? Or could he seriously be mistaking the sentient teddy bear in the corner of the room for some kind of omnipotent being? Were the peculiar happenings of the evening starting to drive people mad?

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Samantha stays close to Mark as she re-enters the hallway, glancing around the room suspiciously.

SEARCH ROOM FOR WRITING IMPLEMENTS (paper and like, u know, anything I could use to write)

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"Someone here is a sharpshooter with a penchant for killing ladies."

"What are you talking about?"

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"Someone here is a sharpshooter with a penchant for killing ladies."

"What are you talking about?"

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Samantha carefully sits herself down, starting to draw on the piece of paper.

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i think i'm waiting for pooky to respond to something

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Samantha puts down the

pen

markers, looking up at the rest of the guests.

"Did, um, everyone else see... this?"

Spoiler:

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Samantha looks startled and then confused.

"Why would I... What?"

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"There was the body. Mr, uh,"

she pauses

"Grindwaer? I believe? And then the room went dark, and I saw this, and then he asked for his watch back."

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Samantha glances from Andy to Mark to Jim and then back, looking perplexed.

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"You... you don't remember the flickering lights?"

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"When we left, there was a voice. It told me to draw what we saw. You... Nobody else remembers this?"

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"But you heard a corpse talking. Surely you can tell that I really saw this, Father."

Samantha clutches to her masterpiece slightly, crumpling the paper.

"There's something really, really wrong with this house. I wish I hadn't stayed here at all."

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Samantha shivers, looking solemn and dejected.

"I know what I saw, and I know what I heard... If anything, maybe your mind is playing tricks on you. Or maybe whatever is behind this is playing tricks on you. I need a drink."

Still holding her drawing tightly, Samantha takes long strides towards the bar, waiting for Mark to make space so that she can get another class of tasty, tasty

Armand de Brignac

.

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Samantha stares at Mark for a long, confounded moment, as though her seconds of silence had been an hour of being lost in thought. She rubs her eyes again, looking around the room, and tries to speak.

"I..."

Her voice croaks. She looks up, then down, then reaches over and touches Mark's shoulder. Leaving her hand there, she starts crying, shaking.

"Why am I alive?"

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Samantha turns and stares at the door leading to the solarium for a long, sombre moment. Still speaking softly, fighting sobs, she says to Mark,

"I think I'll take that drink, please."

go to solarium

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Samantha considers Andy's proposal for a moment.

"Would you come with me to the Solarium...?"

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Samantha glances down sh, avoiding Andy's eye contact, managing to crack a small smile through her somber disposition. She sniffles slightly.

"Oh, sure, Andy. Maybe you're right. A bit of rest sounds nice."

Go to the bathroom.

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oops. bedroom *

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I'm not sure if that makes Sam's mind dirtier or cleaner? at least she's thinking about hygiene.

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"Excuse me, Andy?"

Samantha's disposition lifts slightly more, but she's still clearly shaken.

"How about we go to the lounge, instead? Seems like a plenty nice place to relax."

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"You're my only friend here, Andy,"

Samantha says, wiping tears from her eyes.

Whisper to Jessica

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"Really, though, I think the lounge may be more appropriate for our first...private conversation. Perhaps we could visit the bedroom later?"

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Samantha checks her dress for the object she showed, unambiguously marching to the bar for a drink.

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"Andy do you... Remember where you were, just before we left the bedroom?"

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"Do you remember walking back here?"

Samantha pours another glass of champagne.

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"The mirror in the bedroom was smashed as well."

Samantha takes a long gulp of champagne and fills up her glass, coughing a bit in an effort not to gag. When she speaks again her voice is cracked.

"I need to go to the solarium. Would anybody care to keep me company?"

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Go to Solarium

Samantha finishes her glass and pours another.

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Samantha holds onto Andy's arm and follows him.

"Andy.. how does your head feel? Any neck pain?"

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Samantha shakes her head.

"If you don't remember, it's fine. Don't worry."

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Samantha squeezes Andy's hand tightly.

whisper to Andy

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"Father Jim is... He's dead. Where is Mark?"

Samantha's voice sounds cracked, her eyes dart from guest to guest.

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Samantha draws closer to Andy, her gaze shooting back and forth between Jessica and Clines.

"Mr... Mr. Grindwaer de- decapitated him. He c- came back in th- this direction."

She chokes out.

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"Clines? What do you have to say for yourself?"

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"He... has been, yes."

Samantha glances at Andy, looking worried.

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"I did what they told me to.. They told me I could save everyone."

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"I.. think so. I'm sorry."

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[title card displays prominently on-screen]

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"I used Mr. Grindwaer's. Andy and I managed to outrun him by going through the bushes before he ran back this way."

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Whisper back to Alice.

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"Clines. Jessica. Can either of you prove you aren't a vampire?"

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Whisper back to Alice.

Whisper back

whisper back again.

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"The only mirror I've seen is in the bedroom. It was broken."

Samantha glances around the room.

"Could we use silverware or something?"

search for a reflective surface

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"Wait... Wasn't Mark investigating a killer? Weren't you talking about a shooter, Clines? Was that ever resolved?"

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"Daryl. Take off your scarf."

Samantha's voice is shaky

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ugh blonde moment

"sorry - show is your neck."

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"What's your deal with whipping out your scary poker every time you feel cornered? Why the hell should I trust you?"

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"I don't trust Daryl, and he is always the one who defaults to violence. If he isn't going to prove that he isn't a vampire, I'm supporting Clines."

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"Your neck, Daryl."

Samantha's voice is more firm.

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"I don't know what the hell is going on but I don't trust either of you one bit."

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"They still need to turn each other by biting... Right? If Clines was right about Jessica being the mastermind, Daryl should have been bitten."

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Should we... subdue them now...?

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"Quit changing the fucking subject! I cannot pretend to know what lying scumbags think. I just know how to catch them."

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"And it's Samantha to you, Daryl."

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"But Clines says

you

killed Mark in front of his eyes. How come you weren't this vocal when he was here to defend himself?"

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"You have no place to be attacking Andy's character, you thug."

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"Every time a topic gets heated, you wave your stick around or start screaming. What kind of man child are you? I didn't ask you to die. I asked you to prove it if you aren't a vampire. I have as little reason to trust you as I do to trust Clines. How would any rational person expect me to just take you at your word?"

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Samantha doesn't respond - she just turns away and wraps an arm around Andy.

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whisper to Andy

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whisper to Alice

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whispered back to Alice
also whispered back & forth with Andy

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"Animal?... Skulls? Is there anything in your book about what you saw? I think I'm pretty close to what I came here for."

Samantha squeezes Andy's hand gently.

"I think I can help Andy, too."

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Samantha watches the ghostly dancers from a distance, staying close to Andy and waiting for the others' reactions.

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"Don't worry, Clines. It's become pretty obvious who the vampires are here."

Samantha motions towards the mirror, ignoring the ghosts.

"I don't know where this came from, but should we just use it?"

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Samantha looks over to Alice and makes a stabbing motion in the air, then points to Jessica and Daryl, then shrugs.

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whisper to Alice.
whisper to Andy

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whisper to Alice

"Enchanting music? What kind of enchanting music? Clines, what did you make of Father Jim?"

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"I never really connected with him either. I'm curious why you haven't brought up his decapitated corpse."

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"Andy and I have been to the Solarium, and the attic. Apologies on his behalf; I think he may be developing a sleeping disorder."

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WHISPER TO ANDY

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"Clines saw her and Daryl kill Mark, but managed to escape. I distrust Daryl and Jessica more than I trust Clines, but both parties are insisting the other is a vampire. When Daryl got fired up earlier he also refused to show us his neck which makes me think Jessica likely bit him."

Samantha pauses and narrows her eyebrows slightly.

"Didn't you find your coke, Andy?"

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"Once again, Daryl avoids every part of the dialogue which he

can't

respond to with baseless rage."

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Samantha shrugs.

"Needless to say Alice, I have your back. If you want me armed, I'll gratefully accept. But I have no expectations of you putting such faith in me."

She turns to Daryl.

"Again. It's Samantha to you, Daryl."

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"Do my eyes deceive me, or is Daryl... posturing, while posturing?"

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Samantha glances at Alice, then to Clines, then back to Alice.

"Wise words, and wiser yet practice. What's this about stealing letters?"

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"What am I meant to take away from that...?"

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"Alice, my new friend, I think perhaps it's best if we adopt a policy of transparency here."

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"Frankly, I cannot bring myself to be bothered by your sticky fingers. Particularly if your victim is a literal demon. I suppose my deepest reservation is that I'm surprised so many of us are still here."

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"Interesting. I suspect we all have some ulterior motive for being here, but mine is nothing so sinister as that."

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Samantha raises an eyebrow.

"Good lord. A stake in the heart would kill me, for certain. What on earth are you?"

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"Humour me please, bedroom buddy. Why should I believe you that Clines is a vampire, and you are innocent? What makes you suspect something supernatural about Alice?"

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"Please don't deflect. If I'm wrong, I'd much rather see now than after I help Alice in her endeavours."

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"Fine, excuse my pedantry. As for the rest?"

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"At a party just the other month, I played a party game called... Werewolf, was it? Something along those lines. I digress; a correctly-accused party often finds it difficult to respond with adequate evidence against a suitable alternative. Instead, they resort to raising their voice and trying to deflect accusations to 'look good' in the eyes of onlookers."

Samantha pauses for effect.

"Simply, Jessica, I believe you are our wolf."

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"I'd rather forgotten about the pile of ashes. Hopefully our shooter is already dead."

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Samantha blushes heavily.

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"I had an inkling of where you might've gone last round; Andy and I made an effort to select a different location."

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Samantha lets out a deep sigh of relief.

"What... should we be waiting for? What happens to vampires when they die?"

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Samantha whispers to Andy, audibly,

"Thank you for trusting me."

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"Daryl... If you're telling the truth, Clines is a vampire... Why are you attacking Alice?"

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"We have more pressing issues, you fool. He'll just as soon feast on

you

. Jessica is still breathing. If you're not a lying bloodsucker yourself, calm down and work through this."

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"Alice...? Where are you going?"

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Samantha cautiously retrieves the carving fork from Jessica, keeping eye contact but a respeectable distance from where Daryl stands.

Also inspect Jessica to check how bad her wound is.

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"So again, Daryl, I implore you. If you aren't lying, show us your neck and try to actually solve the vampire problem rather than charging into your death and ENSURING Jessica will actually bleed out."

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"Please listen to Alice, Daryl. I know you must be angry and I'm sorry for doubting Jessica. But we have more pressing issues than attacking those of us who aren't monsters."

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"If anyone has the stake, I don't want it to be Clines and I don't really want it to be Daryl either. Nobody who was in the room at the time. You seem pretty handy with it, but Andy or I could also use it."

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"I don't think I want anything from you, directly. Frankly, I'd like to get the fuck out of here. Have you found any way to harm a demon?"

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"Alice...? Are you okay?"

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"The woman? Who is the woman, Alice?"

Samantha stands very still, her voice sounding thin.

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"What can we do about the demon, Alice?"

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Samantha takes a few careful steps towards the window, trying to keep half an eye on the other guests.

"Who is Agatha Templeton? Is she... is she down below?"

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"Don't step out of the window, Alice. Come back inside. There's a lot of creepy shit going on here, and we need you."

to that comment: "No. I've not heard of Agatha Templeton until a few minutes ago, and I haven't seen anyone like that."

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"I've been there and I do

not

recommend it."

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"The last time a ghost told me to trust them, I reanimated a corpse. Just... Please, don't listen to them."

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Samantha glares at Clines.

"I feel like I've already covered this plenty, Clines."

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@Andy,

"You've been with me the whole time since the Solarium. I haven't seen Grindwaer since he ran out."

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"Andy no, not you too."

Samantha stands between Andy and Alice, glancing back and forth at them and Clines and Daryl.

"What the hell is going on with you two?"

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"You know what I want, Andy,"

Samantha pauses and swallows.

"I want to kill a vampire and get the hell out of here."

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"I feel the same, Andy."

Samantha takes a few more slow steps towards Alice, reaching out her empty hand, the carving fork still pointed towards Daryl & Clines.

"Please, Alice. Come back inside. We need you, and we probably need your grimoire too."

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Not standing too close to the window, Samantha tries to carefully usher Alice back inside as she flicks through the pages.

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Samantha keeps her voice low as she tries to lure Alice back inside, trying her best to be calming.

"Jessica seemed to still be alive when I checked her wounds. Andy's right - I don't know whether a

wounded

vampire is meant to disappear the same way a dead one should. But we probably need to make a call about how much we trust Clines or Daryl, right now."

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"Unlike Daryl to be so quiet. I'm worried he's stalling until Jessica wakes up."

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Samantha backs up closer to Alice.

"Andy, please come over here."

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"Alice. Come back inside!"

Samantha is almost screaming, glancing back and forth between Alice and the stirring Jessica.

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"So Clines or Jessica is a vampire. Jessica is bleeding out. Daryl is mid tantrum but is suddenly eerily quiet. Clines is about as engaging as a fence post. Alice is on another planet. Andy what the hell are we meant to do?"

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"I still firmly trust you more than I trust Jessica or Daryl."

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whisper back to Andy

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"What... the fuck..."

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Samantha takes a step towards Clines, still maintaining a reasonable distance.

"What can you see?"

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"Why are you talking about escaping? Isn't that what we're all trying to do?"

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"She's talking to you? You seem a lot more lucid than Alice. If you start to give in, talk to me. Can you try asking her something? Or throwing something at her or something?"

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whisper to Clines.

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"Thank you, Clines. I was beginning to wonder what I was waiting for.",

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Respectfully, good bear, I feel like it's pretty easy to start by checking e.g. his neck for token signs of vampirism.

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use the blunt end of the carving fork to hammer the stake into Jessica's heart.

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"Nobody was falling for your act, Jessica."

assuming the knife was not retrieved on account of not being there

attack Jessica with carving fork

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fully intending lethal damage if that's pertinent given her spookiness

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"I'm sure that judging my lifestyle choice excuses you for being like, a literal vampire. Sure."

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"Did you find them? I am happy to make sure justice is delivered. But I can't get out of here with you at large."

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"Well, it wasn't me. Andy is just a real estate agent. If it wasn't Clines, I would like to observe that there is a non-zero chance your father's killer has already perished."

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"Eh. I'd be happy to help you, if I could, but I have limited empathy for a vampire. Any last words?"

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ok for early resolution

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(that is strictly on the proviso that Andy has stated which way he is siding in the combat though)

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I do not rate that

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who else would lose a scumgame because of piss poor luck like that other than me hahahahaahhahhhha ha h

me : (

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Woah woah careful with your language there. It's not like you were using your soul anyway.

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Honestly, I gave no idea what he was expecting when I said that "together forever" wasn't obliging enough.

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I kinda figured at that point you'd be too polite to turn me down ngl

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"Someone here is a sharpshooter with a penchant for killing ladies."

"What are you talking about?"

"Someone here is a sharpshooter with a penchant for killing ladies."

Oh I was too in-character to show this post appreciation at the time, but I appreciated the hell out of this post.

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While I was reading up I was sad you had disappeared, you seem like a great time

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i've been holding onto my owos for a moment like this but i think this is the right time to drop an owo

owo