[Curse Observational Journal by Mei Mayonnaise]
[Subject #1 – “Mei-Mei”]
Of course, my own Curse is one I’m already familiar with but, for the purposes of this journal, I feel as though I need to include it anyway. There have been hazy gaps in my memory lately and it may be beneficial to have a very basic record of my research thus far.
After falling to an incurable illness at a young age, it was then that my Curse was first discovered. The body had, by all definition, ‘died’ and nearly all major organ functions had ceased. Except for, most notably, the brain. Today the brain continues to function and operate through unexplainable means. ‘Unexplainable’ being the core nature of Curses, it seems.
Though the body continues to deteriorate, it does so at a very slow rate. Fortunately, there won’t be any immediate need to deal with the deterioration but, should that need arrive, I theorize that simply transplanting my still-active brain into a separate, healthier body would be sufficient. As long as there is a pathway connected to the brain, the body will continue to operate also.
In conclusion, as long as my brain continues to function, anything with a direct connection should still be able to serve as my body. The body may be ‘dead’ but the brain lives on regardless.
[Subject #2 – “Gorilla” “Pepper”]
Very simply, Subject #2's Curse allows them to vomit objects from another world. According to the subject, the Curse can activate both voluntarily or involuntarily, and the objects in question are decided at complete random. The connection between this world and the 'other world' appears to run both ways, with the subject being able to send things 'back' into their original world through the same means as they arrived.
My main interest lies in the nature of this 'other world'. Most notably—the technology. It is far more advanced than anything available in our own world, save for the Surstrom Spire prison itself. I theorized that the Spire could potentially be from this 'other world' but it seems that, though a lot of the technology is similar, the Spire is on a far higher technological level. With the discovery of this 'other world', the idea of multiple 'other worlds' existing has become a real possibility. It's possible that the Spire is from another, even more advanced 'other world' entirely.
Subject #2 continues to provide research material regarding the ‘other world’ at a satisfactory pace. Unfortunately, some of the other research subjects have also taken an interest in my research materials. Using them for frivolous means such as ‘anime’ and ‘video games’. It seems I still have much to learn regarding this ‘other world’.
[WARNING: DO NOT READ ENTRY #3]
[Subject #3 – “Biscuit”]
Studying Subject #3’s Curse has been a difficult feat and, due to the nature of the Curse, makes it near-impossible to create a record of. The reason for this is, upon conducting a study about the function of #3's Curse, I immediately forget that I had even initiated a study to begin with. It is a Curse that seems to temporarily erase the memory of Subject #3's existence to those who are no longer immediately 'engaged' with them. Attempts were made to test the exact parameters of this 'engagement' but were ultimately fruitless due to forgetting I had even tried to test them in the first place. It's evident that Subject #3 is the reason behind all of my recent memory gaps.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Currently, Subject #3 is sitting with me in the room as I write in this journal. For obvious reasons, making a record of their Curse would be impossible otherwise. I had initially believed that I could circumvent their Curse by making physical notes about them. This was not the case. It seems even the direct mention of Subject #3 in written notes becomes immediately forgotten upon reading them. Further attempts were made to gauge the exact parameters of the level of detail required to trigger the effects of the Curse but only resulted in more headache.
An earlier attempt to record #3's Curse led me through an uncomfortable situation that resulted in being caught inside a 'memory loop' where I continued to read and forget the recorded passage over and over again until my attention was pulled away by something else. So far, attempting to create any form of record of Subject #3—written, visual or otherwise—has only resulted in wasted time and extreme discomfort so I believe it best not to continue trying to test the parameters of their Curse at this stage. I may try again at a later date.
I’ll have to make a note in this journal to never read this entry when not currently engaged with Subject #3. This entire entry is a fruitless act to begin with but I feel like I must do it nonetheless.
[END OF ENTRY #3]
[Subject #4 – “Tree”]
It’s just a tree.
There is no discernable evidence to even suggest that this was a person to begin with. The only notable discovery worth recording is an oddly high durability. After attempting to take a leaf and bark sample, I found that it was simply too hard. I asked Subject #2 for assistance and even they struggled to pluck a single leaf. Strange, but ultimately not worth looking into. It’s just a tree after all.
[Subject #5 – “Bran”]
The nature of #5’s Curse is still almost entirely unknown to me. In fact, I’m not entirely convinced they even possess a Curse and are instead suffering from some form of extreme paranoia. Studying the nature of #5's Curse is also a difficult task because it requires talking directly with the subject to understand the impact of the Curse on their mind. The reason for this being a difficult task is due to the fact that Subject #5 is just unpleasant to talk to in general.
Several interactions I had with Subject #5 may hold insight into their Curse in some way:
Upon finding #5 in the library room of the prison wing, I noticed them engaged in reading material previously ejected from Subject #2. Something from the ‘other world’. It seemed to be a black and white picture book of some sort. Upon seeing me enter the library, they looked up from their book and told me:
“I don’t think Eren actually did anything wrong, you know?”
I asked them what they meant but they refused to elaborate and continued with their reading material.
On another occasion, I found Subject #5 looking disgruntled with another one of Subject #2’s ‘other world’ items in their possession. It was a small box with buttons across the front that would display strange images on its flashing surface. I asked him why he was so disgruntled and he told me:
“FF7 is a sucky game meant for normies.”
I asked him what he meant by that and he again refused to elaborate, instead muttering under his breath about a “flower floozy” and “impure heroines”.
Most interactions with Subject #5 tend to follow this same pattern and are ultimately pointless. Aside from these meaningless and incomprehensible ramblings, the topic of wanting to 'be inside a rom-com’ seems to crop up quite often also.
In conclusion, trying to understand Subject #5 or their Curse is meaningless and serves nothing more than to waste my valuable time. Thus concludes my research on Subject #5.
[Journal End]
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“Keh-heh-heh...” I laugh quietly to myself as I close my journal.
I retrieve the lit cigarette from behind my ear and take a long drag. My lungs are already dead so I might as well feel free to indulge in any unhealthy habits without feeling guilty over it. It was something I had been making recently with all the bits and pieces Subject #2— Pepper had been vomiting out. Along with many other things I’ve been putting to good use. She might be an absolute brain-dead idiot, but at least she’s a useful idiot.
Not much longer and all my preparations will be complete. There’s just something I have to check first. The top floor. Floor one-hundred. Whatever is above us up there is something I definitely need to see for myself. Once I do...
“Keh-heh-heh...”
We’ll finally be able to make our escape.