Week 6.

[trustharder]

WEEK 6 The number of Survivors left is dropping at a quick pace; the King got what he wanted, for better or for worse; Tarrlok and Lynne were victims of both fate and some sort of magic that most in the Vault still don't quite understand, and Misa Amane has been executed, not for her particular brand of "justice", but for murdering two innocent people. It's been a bad week. However, 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... Once again, that spiral staircase leads farther than you remember, clear up to a previously inaccessible sixth floor. Go ahead and explore as much as you like; you've done well. You've earned it. SURVIVORS REMAINING: 14

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
[OOC: Welcome to week six 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

[ratingspoint]

You do! But I'd get it if you weren't up to it.

[He's not going to push that angle, though, and he'll close the door behind him after he enters the room proper.]

Are you doing all right?

[cherryblooded]

Just fine.

[This is a lie.

Cherryblod's sitting on the bed, and there's enough space for Mettaton to join him, so it'd seem strange if he didn't invite him to sit down, right?]

Have a seat.

[ratingspoint]

[...Well. He'll join him, then; he doesn't seem terribly awkward about the action itself, though he's closer to the edge of the bed than usual, and while he crosses his legs idly at the knee like he usually do, he's not as relaxed as he usually is - he wants to be able to get up quickly if this ends up going south in a hurry, really.]

...You owe me a favor, you know. I don't know if you remember, it was weeks ago. But I traded you some things and we agreed you would owe me a favor later in exchange for it.

Is that still good?

[cherryblooded]

Of course it is. You gave me some tea, if I remember right.

Are you calling it in now?

[Cherryblod folds his hands in his lap, unfolds them. He's trying not to look tense and probably failing.]

[ratingspoint]

That's right, darling. And I am. It's probably a weird request, though, because you know I normally don't like things like this.

[...]

I want you to actually talk to me for a bit? Without lying to me or telling me things that you think I want to hear. And don't tell me you don't, because you lie almost as much as I do.

[cherryblooded]

Ah.

[No, he's definitely not going to say he doesn't - he's well aware of it. Especially right now, when he's consciously been avoiding Mettaton's favorite places so he won't have to put on a fake smile and perform.]

I can do that. What do you want to talk about?

[ratingspoint]

Well. First of all, we're starting the conversation over from the beginning.

How are you feeling?

[cherryblooded]

About the same as when I had to come get a hug from you even though we were fighting - so awful, basically.

[ratingspoint]

[...Ah.]

Do you want another one, or do you want me to not touch you?

[cherryblooded]

...Not right now. Maybe later. Depends how this conversation goes.

[ratingspoint]

That's fine! And this really does suck, doesn't it? Sigrun does this sort of thing to me sometimes, I hate it.

[...He says with no qualms whatsoever about doing it himself, because thanks, Mettaton.]

Are you angry with me? Not for doing this. For what happened on Sunday.

[cherryblooded]

[Thanks, Mettaton, indeed.

Cherryblod has to consider this for a second, because he doesn't want to give a dishonest answer right now.]

Angry's not the right word. I did something stupid, you decided you didn't want to care about people who intentionally did stupid things, you have every right to decide that and I don't blame you.

It's just painful. Really, incredibly painful.

[ratingspoint]

[He doesn't really seem to know what to do with his face at that; in the end he just settles for "a weird amount of nothing."]

...It's not about it being stupid. I've been telling you to do something like that from the start.

It's about how you kept telling me everyone would kill you if they knew. You drilled that into my head for weeks. And then once you had confirmation that someone who knew did want to kill you for it - and literally the only reason she didn't is because it would be predictable and too obvious - you decided to tell everyone else.

[cherryblooded]

Could have timed it better. Waited, maybe. Too late now.

[He sighs and looks away.]

I've been afraid of telling people for hundreds of years. That the best that could happen is being rejected, and the worst would be execution. It's hard to get over that in a few weeks, even with your support.

It was and still is terrifying. I don't think I could have done it any earlier.

[ratingspoint]

It's not about doing it earlier, it's-

[...]

Everyone that matters is dead back home. I can't care about people that are just going to do stupid things that get them killed because I can't handle losing anyone else.

[cherryblooded]

[Oh.

...Oh.

Cherryblod slides an inch closer to Mettaton.]

If you'd like that hug now, I'd like to give it to you.

[ratingspoint]

...All right. Yes. That's fine.

[It's...awkward, and his tone is strange when he says it, but it's obvious that he's trying to recover himself a bit, at least.]

[cherryblooded]

[He's getting that hug, and despite how little it may help given the metal and everything, Cherryblod rubs his back as soothingly as he would any other child of his.]

I'm sorry. I didn't want to risk dying with regrets, but I didn't mean to hurt you. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, my dear, and I'm so sorry.

[ratingspoint]

[He actually can feel things despite the lack of nerve endings; literal magic is good for things like that.

That said, though, he'll actually...return the hugging, sort of, even if it's awkward and he kind of sucks at it and his grip goes really tight after a moment.]

You... You don't have to worry about me, sweetheart, I'll be all right. It's just hard right now, that's all. But it's...nothing I can't manage eventually. It'll be fine.

[The usual conviction isn't behind it, though; they're words to fill space, more or less, the sort of automatic things that people say because they need something to say in the first place.]

[cherryblooded]

I have to worry a little. Because I love you, no matter what, and it hurts me when you're hurting.

[It's a sharper pain than being rejected was, a stab to the gut rather than an ache.]

I'm here for you. For as long as I'm alive, I'm here for you whenever you need me.

[ratingspoint]

...I know you are.

[He'll manage to relax after a moment, though, if that loosening grip is any indication.]

It really will be fine. I just...needed to talk to you about this, I guess.

[cherryblooded]

[Good, because that actually kind of hurt, not that Cherryblod was ever going to say so.]

I'm grateful you told me. Thank you for being honest.

[He's getting the forehead kiss again.]

[ratingspoint]

You know, I suspect I should feel worse than I do about the amount of people who have to thank me for things like "not lying through my teeth today" or "having feelings like a normal person."

[...It's a little dry, but he doesn't sound bothered by it, either.]

[cherryblooded]

Like you said, I lie almost as much as you do, my dear, so I can't call you out on that. And I might be ninety-five percent feelings, but that just means that you and I are different.

I know the kind of person you are, and you're still precious to me.

[ratingspoint]

Honestly? I don't know how you do it. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure this has been great and all! But I never want to do this again.

[using your words like an adult is hard and it sucks a lot, cherryblod]