WEEK 3.

[trustwellness]

WEEK 3 As the second week draws to a close, two more have joined the deceased. Christo and Alani are dead, leaving twenty-six of you remaining. It may not seem like very many have died, but their absence will certainly be felt. Saturday is given to regrouping and rest; on Sunday morning the clock chimes as it always has, but at least there are no bodies to find today. It seems you're safe for now. The night before wasn't necessarily a peaceful one, however; you'll probably feel a bit groggy when you wake up, and it seems you've regained something that you didn't realize you'd lost... Just like last week, a door in the stairwell has opened, leading you down further into the building; there are more rooms open to you down there - possibly even one that you'll find personally interesting. Go ahead and explore all you like; after all, you did well at completing your lessons this past week. APPRENTICES REMAINING: 26 APPRENTICES REMAINING: 25

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[OOC: Welcome to week three of Trustfell! Feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend. Don't forget to save those threads for coins and the activity check!

If you'd like to get in contact with the Wordsmith, you can do so through letters or the switchboard!]

Comments

[oyashiromama]

That's...mmm. [She thinks a moment-] It's all for fun and sport? No fights to the death, if it can be helped?

[feistytrader]

[...Well, it's supposed to be, anyway.]

It depends. The battles most trainers do are like that. A lot of medical research goes into helping Pokémon, and Pokémon Centers are everywhere, which are free clinics that can heal up injuries in minutes. But they can get dangerous too. If you're too outmatched or don't know your partner's limits, your Pokémon can get hurt. The same goes for if you run into danger in the wild. That's why it's a trainer's job to do their absolute best for their Pokémon, both in training, care, and their own physical limits.

[Weavile nods along, but his gaze is fixed on Hanyuu.]

And then there are people that try to take advantage of Pokémon for their own means, and don't care about the lives they put at risk. Those are the guys Gold and I take out.

[oyashiromama]

[...Wow. This got...kind of heavy, fast. Hanyuu bends down a little, to pet Weavile's head-feathers.]

Creatures with such amazing abilities and power... Yes, of course there are people who'd exploit them. But, you two... You're so young, and you fight them? You both sound like heroes.

[Is this what Silver has to worry about, that keeps him from enjoying his youth like Gold told her?]

[feistytrader]

...We're not that young anymore. Maybe compared to everyone here, but the first time we saved the world from a big threat was five years ago.

[Weavile gets a little more animated at that, at least; he was really cool and strong and did awesome stuff and we all beat up this big loser named Will-]

[oyashiromama]

Five years? But you would've been... [Just...a year older than Rika...]

...You shouldn't have to be responsible for something like that.

[feistytrader]

...No one made me do it. No one made Gold do it, either. I told him to say out of it a bunch of times, actually.

[But it worked out in the end. He understands that this is upsetting to Hanyuu for some reason, but he's not really sure why, so he's not sure how to react, either. Weavile's doing his best to be comforting, at least.]

[oyashiromama]

[Weavile, you're a good egg- er, mon. Hanyuu straightens, so she can address Silver better. How to...]

You seem like...a very independent boy, Silver. That's not a bad thing, I just... From my perspective... I've seen youths your age...the age you were when you saved the world, take so much on their shoulders, and I've seen them suffer through it. Hearing that you're one with so much weight on your shoulders... I just wish I could shoulder some of it for you.

[feistytrader]

Don't.

[...It's a little blunt, and he wonders if he should have said it that harshly, but- Gold said she wanted to be treated like a human, right? So he'll treat her like a human.]

I didn't have the happiest childhood, and I'm not good at much other than fighting. And I like fighting. It's something I understand. When I help others, I'm useful. Even if it's difficult, even if I might get hurt, it's something I choose to do. And I don't do it alone. Big sis and I didn't have anyone, and now we have all the other Pokédex Holders.

[Weavile nods along; he doesn't mind downtime, but he feels pretty similarly to Silver on the matter.]

Besides, you take on enough burdens as it is. You don't need to shoulder everyone's weight for them. All you'll do is get crushed.

[oyashiromama]

[It's not the bluntness, but the words that surprise her. He likes it, he understands it? But... She thought anyone, when presented with an alternative- that's how it worked for her-

She looks between Silver and Weavile, quiet concern crossing her face. Her words are but a murmur,]

That's...what Gold told me too. [And then-] As long...as you aren't alone. You do know your life better than I do, and...if you're not lonely, or struggling...then I have no reason to tell you to stop.

If there is anything I can do for you, though...anything at all, don't hesitate to ask, alright?

[feistytrader]

...Anything at all?

[That's a lot to offer. But it isn't like he doesn't have something in mind, either.]

[oyashiromama]

[She nods.]

I may not be able to do everything, but- but I want to help you smile, as much as I can! I want to help...everyone make happy memories!

[That's what Chiyuki said she should focus on, and that's what she is. That's how she's going to be a god.]

[feistytrader]

If you want to help me out, then I want you to be a little more selfish.

[He probably shouldn't be patting a god on the head, much less someone a thousand years older than him. He's going to do it anyway.]

It's hard watching you struggle with your burdens. I know they're important, but it's good to take care of yourself. You deserve to be happy too.

[oyashiromama]

[If his request doesn't surprise her, the head pat does. She almost gapes. It's nothing she finds demeaning, on the contrary, it's...

Familial.]

I- I... But... Someone has to...be the one to absolve others...to be responsible. To quell the- the chaos in the world. If not a god, then who?

[feistytrader]

[...Well, before he says anything else...]

What happens if no one absolves them? If they have to be responsible for themselves?

[Maybe things are different in Hanyuu's world. He doesn't know.]

[oyashiromama]

Th-then... Then the sins keep getting pushed around. I- I'd prefer if people were responsible...in some way...but that's not how the world works. I've seen too many times, it- ...if a god doesn't take responsibility, it only causes more and more discord.

[There's a sadness to how she speaks.]

Everything...in the village...has to be because Oyashiro-sama- because I willed it. That's just...how it works. Someone has to be a sacrifice.