WEEK 4.

[trustwellness]

WEEK 4 Three more have died this past week. Milla Maxwell was killed for breaking a rule, Chiyuki was murdered, and you all had a hand in executing Yoshikage Kira. It seems like this isn't going to stop any time soon. How many more will join them this week? 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... Despite the Wordsmith's reaction to the last trial, it seems as though you've been rewarded once again for a job that was...well, it was done, even if he didn't explicitly say it was well-done. Another door has opened in that stairway, it seems, leading you further down into the building; once again, there are more rooms down there, more things to occupy yourselves with. Or perhaps just more means to get creative with regards to how you take initiative with your fellow Apprentices. APPRENTICES REMAINING: 23 APPRENTICES REMAINING: 22 APPRENTICES REMAINING: 20

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[OOC: Welcome to week four 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]

[It's...a few long moments, and it's not like he can tell if there's sound of movement or not since, well, soundproof. But the door does open a crack, and Hanyuu peers out. It's hard to see much of her, but it's clear she's been crying.]

...Watanuki, a-aah... S-sorry, I didn't...hear you. [Not quite true.]

[foundfate]

[As soon as she opens the door, Watanuki is instantly worried. It's hard not to be, when she looks like that.]

Hanyuu, what's wrong?

[oyashiromama]

[The question causes her bottom lip to tremble. The door opens just a touch wider, so it's clear that she's still in her pajamas, a hand clutched to her chest.]

I- I-I- [To most, it would probably sound like she's just stammering. But Watanuki, he will be able to tell there's something strange about her pronouns today. I, she said- boku, a strict departure from her usual watashi. Her hand trembles and she corrects herself.] I- I'm- R-Rika's--

[foundfate]

[Yeah, that is quite the change from how she usually talks.

Watanuki reaches forward and tries to push the door open a little more. Maybe if he helps, he can actually get in there and try to calm her down.]

Shh, it's okay. It's just a dream, remember?

[oyashiromama]

That's wrong! [Her voice catches. She doesn't have it in her to stop the door, so open it does, but that doesn't mean she won't cry out in distress.] A- th-that's a lie, it- f-for years- years--

[She can't stop fresh tears from spilling out.]

[foundfate]

[He's going to step in and hug her, then. That worked last time, so it might work again, right.]

Catch your breath first, then tell me about it, okay?

[oyashiromama]

[She quickly bows her head and stumbles into his arms. Seems she isn't protesting the hug, though one of her horns might catch his clothes. Usually she's so careful, but not so this time.

Already her face is streaked with tear stains so what's a few more? It's more intense than after Alani's execution, more intense than any show of despair she's had here.]

[foundfate]

[Don't worry it's the school uniform, that can get holes in it and he won't mind. He will just hug her tightly until she's ready to talk.]

There is a slight lump in the front of Watanuki's shirt, though, because Mugetsu decided to go hide between his vest and shirt. Gotta stay out of sight when emotional things are happening!

[oyashiromama]

[Go on, Mugetsu! ...She'll be sure to apologize to you when she knows you exist and are here, but right now Hanyuu's a little out of sorts, to say the least, and unaware of moving shirt-lumps.

...But, eventually, she'll...well, her tears slow and she's some form of calm. Enough, at least, to get something out.]

I- I'm sorry- I'm sorry f-for shouting.

[foundfate]

It's alright. It must have been a terrible memory, for you to be upset like this.

[Tell him all about it, Hanyuu. He'll listen.]

[oyashiromama]

[She hiccups. And-]

Rika was killed. Sh- she keeps being killed.

[foundfate]

She keeps being killed?

[One: that's horrifying to hear.

Two: what?]

How?

[oyashiromama]

I-I remembered the first last week, and I-I thought- I thought I saved her, b-because... I just wanted her to live, s-so...something happened and I... i-it was like I rewound time.

But, it...the result didn't change...!

[foundfate]

You rewound time? How? Something like that shouldn't be possible!

[And as for the results not changing, he's not surprised. Why would anything change, if everything is done the same way?]

[oyashiromama]

Watanuki... I'm a god, remember?

[This is one of her powers, she supposes. One...only possible with Rika.]

It's... i-it's a little different, I- c-can we sit down, please? My... My head is spinning.

[She doesn't really want to let go of him but.]

[foundfate]

Yes, of course, come here.

[They can go over to the bed to sit down. Watanuki will pull away from the hug, but he will still hold her hand.]

[oyashiromama]

[Once they're seated, that's...better, far better. Hanyuu takes a deep breath and keeps hold of his hand, staring not at him, but at the floor in front of her.]

How... How familiar are you...with alternate realities? Not like...ours, but different variations on the same core?

[foundfate]

I know a little bit. I, um, I haven't experienced it first-hand, but it's been explained to me. The idea that two worlds are almost identical, except one tiny thing is different between them?

[oyashiromama]

Yes, that's a way of saying it. [She sniffs.] It... The way I'm familiar with it, it's a little...more nuanced. I-it could start with one tiny thing...but more and more details can shift, and change. They're... They're called fragments, different fragments of a...a world, a scenario.

That's...how I use my power. I, a-and Rika...we go from one to another, where the scenario seems to be...each year, in June of Showa 58, she's killed.

[foundfate]

Hanyuu...

[So they jump worlds, trying to find one in which Rika doesn't die? That sounds painful.]

How long have you been doing that?

[oyashiromama]

We went back six years first...and then five, three times, to try and stop...other people from dying too.

[She closes her eyes.]

We...we haven't been able to save anyone.