Week 2.

[trustfelling]

WEEK 2 With the deaths of Sayaka Maizono and Mallick Scott the first week draws to a close. While you all have varying opinions on what happened and who was to blame, one thing's for sure: the Adjudicator isn't messing around. Saturday is given to regrouping and sleep; 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... However, those weird dreams aren't the only new thing around here; those massive double doors on the southern wall of the foyer have opened up, leading down another hallway and ending in what looks like another corridor to the west. Go ahead and explore as much as you like; consider it your reward for a job well done. Or perhaps for just playing the game. COMPETITORS REMAINING: 28

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[OOC: Welcome to week two of Trustfell! Don't forget to save your threads for coins and the activity check, and don't forget to submit this week's activity check and memory regains!

If you'd like to get in contact with the Adjudicator, you can do so here!]

Comments

[flagitate]

[ ... Huh. ]

Did it get to you, too?

[evilfrenzy]

[He doesn't say anything at first.

...]

As much as I hate to admit it, yes. I won't believe anyone who says that it didn't.

[flagitate]

Wow. That's really honest for you.

[ She actually means it sincerely, since she's still rattled. ]

[evilfrenzy]

[He gives a small sigh in response. He can tell from her tone that yeah, it's sincere.]

I know. It's genuinely surprising that my life isn't perfect, isn't it?

[flagitate]

Yeah. A real shocker. Next you'll be telling me you actually care about someone who's not yourself.

[evilfrenzy]

Oh, now that's a good one!

[How does he exist.]

[flagitate]

[ why is this her life ]

Maybe once we get out of here I should go into comedy.

[evilfrenzy]

I'd go to one of your shows. You bring the sort of cynical humor that I find amusing.

[Except for when it's directed at him and he doesn't agree with it, that's just rude.]

[flagitate]

I'll be sure to send you an invitation or something.

[evilfrenzy]

Excellent. Here's hoping we both don't die horrifically before then.

[Hahahahaha...

He falls silent again after that little bout, not forgetting what brought them to it in the first place.]

I can't say I'm surprised that he would start giving out bonuses, but it also makes me wonder why he wants to expedite this process.

[Like, is there some ultimate goal where someone getting away with murder triggers something?]

[flagitate]

[ Ha.

... She purses her lips, glancing back at the flower. ]

He's probably just impatient. Who knows what's going through his head.

[evilfrenzy]

Impatient for...what? Bloodshed? Kind of defeats the point of having us all live together in mock harmony until someone kills. An arena would be a lot quicker option.

[Of the worst things he could say to Katniss...he has no idea what he's getting into here.]

[flagitate]

[ ...

What does she even do with this. She actually looks genuinely, deeply disturbed? Good job, Rideaux. ]

You are not serious.

[evilfrenzy]

[Oh. That was a peculiar reaction. Rideaux almost hesitates for a second. Did he step into a minefield with that...?]

Completely serious. It would be much more difficult for us, especially if he kept our abilities on lock down, but it would get him what he wanted at a faster rate.

[...]

I never said I'd prefer it, though.

[...maybe if he had his abilities.]

[flagitate]

No.

[ That's a very firm and intense reply, wow. ]

You don't have any experience with that kind of stuff. Well, I do, apparently. [ There's a sharp edge to her words. ] Seeing people you've gotten to know and actually kind of like? Seeing them die because you can't do a thing to save them? That's not the kind of thing you would ever want. Ever. And imagine this: You're walking along this part of the arena when you hear your sister screaming. So you go and try to save her, because that's not a sound you can let her make. But it turns out it's just a trick! Poison gas that burns your skin, crazy monkeys that attack you just for being there, rain that drenches you except it's not water. It's blood.

Tell me which one you prefer now.

[ ... She unloaded a lot there, wow. She's shaking pretty seriously. ]

[evilfrenzy]

[This ended up being a minefield of monstrous proportions. Rideaux wasn't sure what he expected treading further into this subject, but this definitely wasn't it. It leaves him stunned.

He briefly considers the possibility that he's just become so used to killing out of necessity that talking about fighting in an arena doesn't have that much of an impact on him. It would just be another obstacle that he would have to overcome to keep living.

But he had no way of knowing that he'd end up being so blase about it to someone who has literally been in an arena of some kind of hellish design. It's a good reminder that he knows absolutely nothing about the people here, including Katniss.]

...Is that what you were doing before you woke up here, then? You were in another game, like Mallick Scott was?

[It's the first thing he can think of to say, because he's not quite sure how to react to tripping the hugest mine in this field.]

[flagitate]

[ It looks like venting at him has calmed her a little bit. Her jaw's still set pretty hard, and she doesn't quite look at him. Not for a while, at least. ]

It was what I was going to do. [ ... ] I had a dream about-- going into another one. After the-- first.

[evilfrenzy]

Another...so you've survived one already.

[He falls silent again, processing that. He had gotten the impression that Katniss might have been hardened from something. Call it experience of living in a pretty unfair situation for a lot of his life, despite whatever fame and wealth he may have now. He couldn't have imagined her dealing with multiple death arenas and surviving at least one. Wow.

He wants to ask for more information, but...Katniss has pretty much given the best first impression of whatever games she's been involved in, hasn't she?]

I...very clearly had no idea.

[That was, um. Something of an attempt at apologizing because hoooly shit.]

[flagitate]

I guess.

[ She shrugs, still not looking at him. That was a lot more unloading than she'd meant to do, but... To Rideaux, even, of all people. ]

Just don't say stupid stuff like that again.

[evilfrenzy]

[He awkwardly fiddles with his clipboard, then gives a slight nod despite Katniss not facing him to see it.

The next bit comes kind of out of nowhere for him, but...]

You know, I feel like I understand you a little better after that. It explains some things.

[Like, sorry he had to accidentally drag it out, but. It gives a meaning to the cynical and prickly exterior that Katniss puts out a lot of the time.]

[flagitate]

[ Well. She finally looks at him. She half-expected him to make a snide remark, but this is... a pleasant surprise? ]

... Thanks. I guess.

[evilfrenzy]

[He gives another nod, this time so she can see it.

He seems a little stuck on what exactly to say next, though. This ended up being a pretty awkward conversation.]

This is probably strange coming from me, but I guess if anything I know for certain that if anyone targets you, they're in for a nasty surprise, aren't they?

[He was getting that impression anyway, but this kind of seals it.]

[flagitate]

[ She allows herself a wry smile. ]

I'll take them down with me.

[evilfrenzy]

What, not confident that you can make it through a trial?

[Ah yes, another awkward question. They'd truly be competing in that setting, too...]