Week 4.

[trustfelling]

WEEK 4 Three more Competitors died this past week. Chitoge Kirisaki tried to take matters into her own hands only to be punished as a result while William Flemming and Archie both tried to take the Adjudicator up on his word and escape. Three more of you are gone, but there's no going back now. 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. 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... Once again, another set of doors has opened up - this time at the end of the western corridor, leading up and toward the north. Go ahead and explore as much as you like; consider it a reward for surviving another week. COMPETITORS REMAINING: 23

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[OOC: Welcome to week four 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

[middaymoon]

[ Mahiru seems much calmer today than she had during the trial and after party, going through her typical sleepy morning routine before she makes her way to the game room. She's in the 2nd west corridor when she lurches to a halt, staring openly at the new opening at the end of the hallway. She looks honestly shocked to see it there. ]

What...?

[ After that, Mahiru turns on her heel and runs all the way back to the foyer. Once there she stands in front of the student profiles, looking equal parts shocked and stricken. She stays there for several long moments, her gaze flicking back and forth between Archie and Flemming's profiles with growing and frustrated confusion.

Later, after vanishing into her room and only emerging again several hours later, Mahiru can be found in the library. She's quiet, her expression pensive, and she meanders through the shelves without paying attention to where she's going, running her fingers over the spines of books without reading the titles. It doesn't seem like she's interested in reading much for once. ]

Foyer

[fortunatedetective]

Is there something wrong with the profiles?

[middaymoon]

[ Mahiru gives a startled jerk when Naoto suddenly speaks behind her, turning her head slowly to stare at her. For a moment she's silent, and then she abruptly steps back from the board. ]

No, it's not like - no.

[ She shakes her head. ]

... There was something on my profile I didn't understand when I first got here, but - the dream from last night...

[fortunatedetective]

Yes, by now it seems likely these dreams are actually memories.

[...]

I'm still wondering why we'd have memories removed and then returned each week.

[middaymoon]

Yes, that's - almost certainly it.

[ Mahiru takes a deep breath. Okay. Composure regained. ]

And... who can say, but it's clear by now that the Adjudicator is capable of all manner of unusual feats.

[fortunatedetective]

The extent of his powers is rather impressive, and he has outstanding resistance. Surviving poisoning by cyanide is truly difficult.

[She recognized the symptomps from seeing Juri!]

A person like that being brought to watch over us in a game...he must have something to win, or he was coerced into this.

[She really doesn't want to believe Juri would agree with all this just because he was bored or anything like that]

[middaymoon]

'Something to win' seems most likely, doesn't it? Even with as much power as he has, humans always desire more.

[ For various reasons. ]

... I suppose he could have been coerced, however. He doesn't seem especially put out or harsh towards us, despite the power gap.

Foyer

[meanttobe]

Mahiru?

[A little hesitantly, Brady approaches her.]

Are you okay?

[middaymoon]

[ Mahiru blinks and turns, her movements a little dazed. ]

Brady...

[ Ah, right. He's asking after her. She steps away from the profiles, letting her hand fall to her side. ]

I'm fine.

[ ... That's a terrible lie. Mahiru is immediately annoyed with herself for even making the attempt. ]

[meanttobe]

[He looks at her a little apologetically.]

That's... You don't have to tell me, but if I can help, I want to.

[middaymoon]

[ Mahiru hesitates for a moment, giving Brady a steady look. She honestly hasn't known him for very long, but when you see someone several hours a day, every day, for nearly a month straight...

Well, even with her title it only goes so far.

Finally, she sighs, a tired looking smile crossing her face. ]

I'm sure I must have been acting very odd at the trial.

[meanttobe]

[Brady similarly hesitates, unable to hide a wince. He raises a hand and flops it back and forth- a little.]

You...were kind of freaking me out, yeah.

[middaymoon]

[ Well that's a completely understandable reaction. Mahiru doesn't seem offended in the slightest, at least. ]

I imagine so. I apologize.

[ Mahiru hesitates for a moment, weighing her options. ]

... Can you make me a promise, Brady?

library

[seventhprogenitor]

[It seems someone might not have had such a good night, and Ferid follows her for a little while to ensure she's really not paying attention before slipping around to the next shelf to wait for her, counting the seconds in his head as she approaches the end.]

Well, don't you look a little out of it. Would you like to discuss dreams again, or is this due to another matter entirely?

[middaymoon]

[ The sudden sound of Ferid's voice has Mahiru jerking to a stop, her eyes narrowing. A moment later, she closes them with a sigh. ]

Don't be so coy, Ferid. I'm sure you know exactly why.

[ The usual calm, almost airy quality to her voice is gone, leaving her with a tone that's flat and almost annoyed. ]

[seventhprogenitor]

[That's the same sort of voice he heard in his dream, certainly, and his amusement last a split second before he sighs himself, shaking his head lightly.]

Mahiru, I'm not as all-knowing as you think I am! You're going to have to give me a little more than that if I hope to know the troubles of a dear friend.

[middaymoon]

[ Mahiru's gaze flickers when Ferid claims ignorance, eyes going dark before something like mania enters them - but then she closes her eyes and breathes out, and when she opens them she looks mostly normal again. ]

Was it Flemming that chose to act on the Adjudicator's incentive, or Archie?

[seventhprogenitor]

Both. However, Flemming picked a fight with the wrong man and ended up dead for it.

[Archie had his own regrets, aired out at the trial itself, and he's almost mocking when he asks:]

Don't you remember, Mahiru? You were quite on Archie's tail the last part of that trial, pushing until he snapped.

[middaymoon]

[ An attempted murder that turns on the one making the attempt. Just like Sayaka. The rest of Ferid's words get a long silence and flat stare from Mahiru for a brief moment. Then she smiles. ]

You take such delight in making yourself difficult I find it strange that no one's killed you yet, Ferid.

Library

[greenmamabear]

Looking for anything in particular?

[ > Fern rolled a 4 in perception and failed to pick up on the social cue.]

[middaymoon]

[ Mahiru blinks, snapping back to reality and wondering how she could have missed someone so very green. Half a beat later, she shakes her head. ]

No, I'm... ah, just curious as to what's available.

[ She taps one of the books in front of her. ]

I've already come across several authors and works I recognize.

[greenmamabear]

Yeah, I've seen some familiar stuff too. Guess he's providing us with something entertainment-wise from home.

[middaymoon]

That seems to be true of everyone I've spoken to. Plenty of books they know, and even more they don't.

... Perhaps he'll give us movies next.

[greenmamabear]

I can't help but feel like we're already in Nightmare on Elm Street sometimes.

[middaymoon]

[ That just gets a puzzled frown out of Mahiru. ]

'Nightmare on Elm Street'?