Week 9.

[trustharder]

WEEK 9 For the first time since your stay in the Vault began, no one died this week. That doesn't mean there weren't casualties among you, however – namely, trust, interpersonal relationships, and comfort in the group dynamic as a whole. Hopefully no one else pays the price for it. Saturday is given to regrouping and sleep; there aren't any bodies to be found on Sunday morning. You're safe for now – unless your dreams have told you otherwise... SURVIVORS REMAINING: 10

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY
[OOC: Welcome to week nine of Trustfell! Save your threads for coins; don't forget to submit your memory regains! There is no activity check this week!

THE FINAL INVESTIGATION BEGINS ON THURSDAY!
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO REDEEM COINS!
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

[cherryblooded]

[Is it a better Sunday than most? On the one hand, no one died this weekend. On the other...

Cherryblod makes breakfast in the kitchen as usual, and as usual there's enough for more than just him - there's crepes enough for the ten remaining survivors and then some. Take your fill.

There's no new floor, which he expected, so he spends the morning going through the library. He's looking for something in particular, and judging by his frown he's not finding it.

Around lunchtime he puts up a sign near the profiles:
Under the circumstances, Captain Sigrun thought it might be vest to re-vote for acting leader.

Please sign your vote. You may choose more than one.

[There are columns set up for all ten of the remaining survivors - even you, Black - and they're alphabetical so there's no favoritism.

Cherryblod himself has signed under Sigrun's name.

He'll be checking that sign every so often in the afternoon, and the rest of the time he can be found flitting around the lower floors. It would be a patrol if he didn't look so restless and it wasn't the middle of the afternoon.

He's not icing his shoulder as much as he should be.]

...vote

[penduli]

[ Black's name joins Cherryblod's under Sigrun; he... doesn't know how much weight his vote really should carry, but.

Sigrun's a good leader, no matter what happens. She never tried to steer them wrong, even if her heart gets the better of her at times. ]

[cherryblooded]

[At least someone still agrees with him.]

[sleepingkogoro]

[Mouri has voted. Looks like Cherryblod got one vote now]

[cherryblooded]

[He's genuinely surprised to see that vote up there.

Thanks, though.]

vote or rather a not vote

[amygdalae]

[...wait all you want, but Bruce doesn't sign his name anywhere on the voting list throughout this entire day.

Somebody clearly isn't up for this at the moment.]

[cherryblooded]

[...Bruce, are you going to be okay...]

vote?

[garudynamic]

[In Yosuke's sloppy writing]

I abstain

[He has a lot of thoughts on this whole 'leader' thing. But that's for talking to people face to face later. When he's feeling more emotionally capable.]

vote, sort of

[notjustawriter]

[Gabriel notices the vote, but his handwriting will be absent from the vote throughout the day.

It looks like he doesn't really want to get involved.]

vote...

[isafraid]

[Speedwagon notices the vote being put up. He won't do or say anything until lunch is over, in which case he makes his way over, reads the sign....]

Sigrun.

[Someone's probably going to get angry at him for this, but at this point, can they really spend so much time arguing?]

Vote

[goodforsomething]

[Rather than signing his name under any column, Stan leaves a note.]

Do we really need a leader? [Because they do pretty well even when the one they have ditches them.]

Lower Floors

[pokexplorer]

Ah... Hello, Cherryblod.

[Colress had been heading up the stairs to a higher floor when he bumped into Cherryblod along the way.

Despite the greeting, he thinks about continuing past without saying more, but...

It's just been so awkward since the discussion. And it's probably especially awkward since he hasn't responded to the vote yet either.]

[cherryblooded]

Good afternoon, Colress.

[On the other hand, Cherryblod actually seems to relax a little after seeing Colress.]

Holding up alright? How's your sleep?

[pokexplorer]

[He pauses again, running his hand along the railing of the stairwell.]

I am afraid to admit it, but I am feeling a bit conflicted at the moment. I did manage to get some sleep last night, however.

...Did someone fill you in on the remainder of the meeting?

[cherryblooded]

Was told about the punishment assigned to Black. Anything else important happen?

[pokexplorer]

Ah.

[He desperately wants to just leave it at that. He's not ready to potentially harm his relationship with someone else, especially Cherryblod. But he knows that's not the right thing to do. Everyone had secrets that needed to come out, and he is no different.

So with a shaky breath...]

I told everyone that I received an offer from the Kingmaker to do the very same thing that Black did. I ended up not accepting, but I cannot deny that the offer did indeed occur and I was considering it for a good while.

[cherryblooded]

Oh.

[Oh, indeed. Cherryblod's face falls, and he considers that for a few moments... before his smile reappears.

It looks genuine enough.]

Think it speaks more to your character that you refused, than it would if you'd never received the offer in the first place.

[There's nothing to forgive. He's proud of you, Colress.]

[pokexplorer]

[Cherryblod's reaction genuinely surprises the heck out of Colress. His eyes widen a little bit in confusion.]

Do you truly think so?

[He's incredibly grateful that Cherryblod doesn't seem hate him or anything, but... He hadn't really thought of it like that. He was stuck in the zone of feeling guilty for even considering it after all that has happened.]

[cherryblooded]

Of course. We've all considered doing things we'd regret - many of us here, things worse than spying.

[He'd rather be spied on than dead, personally speaking.]

The important thing is that you decided against it. There's nothing I hold against you.

[pokexplorer]

[He gives a slow nod at that. Oh, he definitely agrees there.]

I suppose what has stuck with me is at the time, I didn't believe that I would have any regrets. It...certainly goes to show how much things have changed, being together with you all for so long.

[It's so complicated to even think about. Bonds truly are far more complex than he can ever fully comprehend.]

You really are too kind to me, Cherryblod... Thank you. Truly, thank you.

[cherryblooded]

[Cherryblod smiles and clasps Colress gently on the shoulder.]

You've grown by being here. If I've played even a tiny part in that, then I'm honored.

[Cherryblod has affection for Colress as real as the affection he has for his Pokemon, although it's a different type.

Would it be strange to say he's proud of him?]

[pokexplorer]

[Colress is clearly having an Emotion here, but he isn't exactly sure how to express it so his expression comes off as more apologetic than anything.

He gives Cherryblod's hand on his shoulder a small pat.]

...If I've grown for the better, then you absolutely played a part in that. I can only hope to repay you for all you have done.

[Now more than ever, he sees the similarities between Cherryblod and Rosa. They've both taught him some pretty important things.]

[cherryblooded]

[Emotions are hard sometimes. Cherryblod keeps picking up people who have trouble with them, and he's endlessly patient with people who don't know what to do with their face.]

You can repay me by continuing to be my dear friend. That's all I ask of you.

[pokexplorer]

Of course.

[In the midst of his emotional whirlwind, he manages a genuine smile.

He's not a little misty-eyed too, what are you talking about? It's. It's been a really long last couple weeks, and they're catching up to him.]

That is something I am happy to do without even needing to be asked.

[cherryblooded]

[...Colress, really...]

Would it be alright if I hugged you?

[He'll understand if the answer is 'no' - that's why he asked. But he thinks Colress could use it. Or at the very least, he'd like to show his affection.

He's a huggy kind of person.]