WEEK 8.

[trustharder]

WEEK 8 Another two Survivors have died this week. Shirazu and Aiden both cared deeply for their families and ultimately, their lives were lost because of an incentive targeting their loved ones. Who will fall victim to an incentive this week? Who will survive? That's up to you all, isn't it? Saturday is given to regrouping and sleep; there aren't any bodies to be found on Sunday morning. But that doesn't mean the night was uneventful - it seems something else may have brought you some newfound clarity. Or perhaps not... If you venture up to the seventh floor, you'll find that there aren't another set of stairs leading upwards. It seems that this is as high as you can go. You're free to explore, of course, but you won't have any new rooms to discover. SURVIVORS REMAINING: 10

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
[OOC: Welcome to week eight of Trustfell! Save your threads for coins and the coming week's activity check; don't forget to check in to this week's activity check and submit your memory regains!

The text and calling posts are still active, for the sake of contacting the jerk who's keeping you here, to be used at your leisure!]

Comments

petting zoo!

[cherryblooded]

Hello, Magneton. Nice to meet you.

[He's gonna pet the shit out of that pile of magnets, right now.]

[pokexplorer]

[Aha! Colress was hoping to find Cherryblod most of all. Yes, come pet the magnets Cherryblod-

Startled by the sudden petting from a complete stranger, Magneton backs up a little bit in surprise.]

Oh! He means you no harm, Magneton. He simply wants to pet you.

[See, that's the confusing thing for Magneton, though. Why...petting?? It's not used to being pet that much.

Still...it slowly floats back over because it doesn't want to seem rude or anything.]

[cherryblooded]

Oh, I'm sorry, I should have asked first.

Is it alright if I pet you?

[Magneton's opinion is slightly more important than Colress' here, after all.]

[pokexplorer]

[Wow, thanks Cherryblod. It really is though.

Magneton bobs around thoughtfully before making a noise of acceptance and floating down to Cherryblod's level.

Go for it, strange dude with a tail.]

[cherryblooded]

[Success! Cherryblod gives Magneton some gentle petting.]

...You look like you've seen better days, Colress.

[pokexplorer]

[For what it's worth, once Magneton receives the petting, it looks hella content. This is pretty nice, actually! ...It's a good thing that its Trainer is also getting better about giving pets now too.

Colress tries to smile a little, but it's not like he can deny it or anything.]

And I have. I am allowing myself to worry a bit too much, I think.

[cherryblooded]

Can't exactly blame you. But running low on sleep won't make you any more useful or keep you any safer, you know.

Should I make you some tea before bed?

[...maybe not tonight. He might suspect it of being poisoned, or something like that...]

[pokexplorer]

[That gets him to pause for a good moment. He's seems rather conflicted.]

I...I realize that. It was not my intention to lose out on sleep.

[There's a difference between pulling all-nighters For Science and legitimately not being able to sleep, of course.]

Is tea supposed to be able to aid in getting me to sleep?

[cherryblooded]

Ones without caffeine can do that. Chamomile, especially. Think we have some in the kitchen.

[pokexplorer]

[He gives a small nod. He can't remember if he has any experience with Chamomile, but he's actually feeling a little desperate, so...]

I would be happy to try whatever you believe will work. I cannot say I am rather fond of sleeplessness that wasn't brought on by my own choice.

[His poor choices, that is.]

[cherryblooded]

Don't think anyone is. I'll stop in and make you some before the kitchen closes tonight, then.

[No need to break a rule.]

[pokexplorer]

[He smiles. It's a tired one, but a smile nevertheless.]

Thank you, Cherryblod. Though I do apologize for you having to step in like this. I really should not have allowed myself to get like this. It is...unlike myself, frankly.

[cherryblooded]

We're all having a rougher time than normal - natural you might let yourself go some. It's nothing to apologize for, relying on your friends a little.

[They are friends. It was unilaterally decided.]

[pokexplorer]

[There's no denying the bit of shock in Colress' expression there.]

Friends...

[He repeats it, his tone curious. It's still really strange to hear it used when it involves himself, but he seems to like it.]

Thank you. I know I already said it, but...it warrants repeating. I am grateful to have you as a friend.

[cherryblooded]

[Cherryblod's smile, meanwhile, is warm and genuine, and he reaches to gently set a hand on Colress' shoulder if he allows it.]

Likewise. I'm glad we were able to meet, circumstances aside.

[pokexplorer]

[He'll allow it! It's actually pretty comforting.

He'll give a small chuckle at that- one of those exhaling sort of chuckles.]

Oh, absolutely. Hopefully at some point we won't have to concern ourselves with the circumstances.

[It's hard to be optimistic right now with everything going on, but he at least likes to imagine what it would be like to have everyone over in Unova for a visit.

If they actually manage to get out of here...]

[cherryblooded]

Wouldn't that be nice? If one day in the future we can just enjoy each other's company and not worry about murder vaults at all. Put that all behind us.

I'd like to see your home someday. It sounds like a wonderful place.

[pokexplorer]

I certainly hope that this is something that we can put behind us.

[For him at least, it seems like something he will never be able to completely forget. Everyone here has lost far too much.

Still, he does manage a smile.]

I do really enjoy it there. And as you now know, it did manage to avoid becoming a frozen wasteland. So...if it is still standing, it should still be rather lovely. A good place for recovery, perhaps.

[cherryblooded]

If I wasn't going back with Sigrun, it might be a nice place to live, but I'd certainly like to visit. I'd have liked to show you my home, but as it is right now...

Well. I'll only be going back there briefly to get my family out. With the state it's in at the moment, it's not safe for anyone else to come.

[pokexplorer]

[Colress squints in mild confusion. HE HASN'T HEARD THE NEWS JUST YET...]

The state of your world... What are you saying, Cherryblod? Did something happen?

[cherryblooded]

Oh, I'm sorry. Should probably tell more people about it.

[If only so going back with Sigrun doesn't sound like a foolish choice in comparison.]

...The short version of the story is that there's something called the Sea of Death that took over my home. Escaped from where we trapped it, more accurately - it's more like an entity itself than a sea. It gets into people, the weak and the vulnerable, and hollows them out, corrupts them until there's nothing left of the people they used to be. Turns them into monsters.

My wife and daughter have been in the middle of that for... two months now.

[He doesn't know if they're still alive, or dead, or monsters.]

[pokexplorer]

[For what it's worth, when Colress hears the story, he completely understands why Cherryblod would want to keep it under wraps. What the ever-loving hell.

He doesn't even know what to say to that at first, his expression one of horror. After everything Cherryblod has told him about his home, his wonderful family...imagining it all in ruins is just...]

...Oh, Cherryblod...

[There's another pause of stunned silence. This is absolutely awful.]

Did...did your dreams reveal that to you? How long have you known...?

[cherryblooded]

Two weeks ago I had the dream - a week ago my dreams stopped coming on Saturday nights. I'm all caught up to when I came here.

[He could hope it was fixed when he first dreamed of that red sea, that he was simply remembering a past event that had already been dealt with. He couldn't hope that anymore.]

...All I can do is try to believe there's a chance they're still alive, and still themselves.

[pokexplorer]

[Colress frowns in concern. He feels pretty bad that so far, the ones he's been closest to here have had the absolute worst dreams.

...And just like he did with Tarrlok, he'll gently place a hand on Cherryblod's shoulder this time.]

I am so sorry.

You...you also have my support in this. I will hope for the best.

[It's all he really can do. Until they get out of here, there's no getting to Cherryblod's poor family.]

But I am sure that they will be able to hold out. From what you have told me, Mrs. Doloz and Lobco are remarkably strong, just like their husband and father.

[cherryblooded]

[Ah... The touch is a comfort - he's always been a tactile person. Cherryblod shuts his eyes.]

They're - they're the strongest people I know. If anyone has a chance there, it's them.

...Thank you, Colress. You and your support mean a great deal to me.

[So please don't die, either.]