cancry | new year, new you

new year, new you

It's been some time since the Executors made their way down to the Gula layer and while things have been quiet, that doesn't necessarily mean they haven't been busy. The snow that had been falling steadily for the past week or so has finally eased, even if a thick blanket of the stuff seems to remain in all the Layers you've travelled to. The ever present threat of an Authority has been mitigated somewhat by Gerda being... well, Gerda and though her intentions and the full scope of her motivations are still a mystery, she at least seems to be willing to assist the Executors so long as they do the same for her in turn.

All the errands they've been running have done a lot to help the Undercity – the kitchen is stocked, and the communal areas feel fuller and livelier. Music often rings out from the stage and all in all, things seem fuller and warmer here.

And yet, that quiet hunger continues to nip at you every moment you spend in Gula. Even if it weren't for the Gluttony Layer's effects, though, there would be answers aplenty to be hungering after – the mysterious butterfly accompanying Ariel, the question of Rei's lack of memories... and of course, the mystery girl who seems determined to see you all returned to mindless Specters once again.

Do you still believe you have what it takes to travel to the bottom of Purgatory and restore things to their natural order?

There's only one way to find out for sure.

[ ... And we're back! After our holiday break, the Gula chapter of Can Cry's metaplot is now continuing! Happy New Year, Executors - let's see what you make of it! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

We've been trying to figure out how to help your layer, and we have a theory we want to test!

[As always, Medic's enthusiasm for experimentation is boundless. This may work, it may do nothing, or it may go horribly wrong- but by God, whatever happens, she's gonna document the hell out of it. She has a notebook out already.]

If you're willing to volunteer, I mean.

[Sword just stands at the back of the group, arms crossed and watching. He's not intentionally putting out "I don't trust this" vibes, but...well. Resting bitch face and all.]

[Holding hands is good, and Veil clearly should do it more often.]

If it works, we believe it will benefit everyone.

[ You'd think this would be deeply ominous, but coming from the unthreatening trio of Medic, Veil and Mona (Sword is also there), Gerda doesn't seem too ruffled. ]

Oyo? Did you guys come up with some fancy Executor doodads to fix things?

[ ah, at least she isn't starting out on the defensive... Mona shakes her head. ]

We had a meeting and thought about how we could help... but the state that Gula is in is probably because of the Cogs, so the only way to fix it would be to reach them. Nothing we do would change this place right now.

And I... think it's unfair to tell you to just wait for us, when everyone here is suffering. But we can't run errands forever, either. So, what you need is a way to keep supplying food from previous Layers while we go down to the Cogs, right...?

[ she takes a steadying breath and squeezes Veil's hand before she asks: ]

What if... you became an Executor, Gerda?

We know that Executors who become Authorities can still travel between layers! [Case in point, herself and Veil right here.] So theoretically, an Authority who becomes an Executor might be able to do the same!

We can't be certain it's going to work, but it's worth testing, right?

[ Gerda looks very startled. It's pretty clear that was about the last thing she was expecting to hear from them. ]

You... can just do that? You can turn just anybody into an Executor? It can't be that easy, right?

Dame Rei was able to do so for all of us.

[ Mona nods. ] It's not like there's anything different about us. Rei made us Executors. It's not because we're special or anything like that, it's just because she offered.

To be honest, we don't know yet if it will work. The other Authorities we've met were against the idea of fixing the Cogs, so... Rei has never tried it before. But, if it does work, we hoped... that this would be exactly what you need. You could continue looking after Gula... and let us pass into the next Layer.

Rei can! The rest of us can't- I've been trying to figure out why, but I haven't found many promising leads so far...

And I could just... go anyplace I want? I wouldn't have to worry about getting all fuzzy or feeling hungry again?

[ She's considering it at least... ]

If it works.

[Three little words, so small and yet so significant.]

[If it works.]

[What would you be willing to risk on an "if"?]

We're optimistic, of course.

[Well. Some of them are, anyway.]

And... what'd happen if it doesn't work? I wouldn't turn into something else, right?

We have no idea! [Well that's reassuring...]

I'd assumed simply that nothing would happen, but now that you mention the possibility...

[w o r r y]

[Y'all.]

There's no reason to believe at all will happen, least of all something like that. This is just a shot in the dark.

[ Y'ALL ARE SO BAD AT THIS ]

W-we've never had anything bad happen with it before! A lot of our group have gained Authority from previous Layers, so we know for certain that you can be both at once, and that change has never affected anyone badly...

I know it's a risk. But it's also our best option.

... At least you guys are honest about it, I guess...

[ She looks... weirdly reassured, if only by their sincerity. ]

You promise this isn't some kind of sneaky plan, right? You promise?

I promise. I'd never try to trick you.

[As ahe demonstrated on day one. .]

I'm not very good at sneaky. All my plans are purely scientific!

If we wanted to be sneaky, we wouldn't have brought Veil or Medic.

[Or himself, but he's not saying that.]

[ Hidden just out of sight, Prehnite feels kind of bad now. Should he come out?

....Well, his presence isn't due to them trying to trick her. He'll stay put for the present. ]

Hmm, I guess not... those two are my favourite Executors, so I'm pretty sure they'd never try to trick me!

[ Maybe that's a little backwards... ]

But... if you guys really are sure about all this... I wanna try! I'll become an Executor!

[Felix nods and looks for Rei.]

This is Rei. She can do it.

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