trustfelled | Week 4.

Week 4.

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!]

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[Sharpedo'll abide. He's not as enthusiastic as he could be, but he'll bounce the yarn ball back alright.

Brady shuts the door behind her, to give them some privacy, but leaves it open a crack, so it's easy for her to leave when she wants.

Okay. Okay, alright, second chance, Brady, don't blow it. (Third? Fourth? He doesn't know anymore-)]

If I... If I said I remembered something this weekend. Something about you? Would you wanna know, or. If you just wanna forget about all that, uh. What might've happened, I can...not.

[Mack's quiet for so long it almost seems like she's too absorbed in playing with Sharpedo to hear. But she shrugs eventually, her tone light in a way that suggests she's doing it because she knows Sharpedo can hear.]

Depends. Do you remember that board in my grandfather's shop? Wodden, with a flower on it. [She's not looking at Brady, but whether that's because Sharpedo isn't conveniently placed for that or because she doesn't want to is anyone's guess.] He probably told you some nonsense about it being a "board of destiny."

[Okay, well, probably he messed up again. That's okay- well, not okay, but he can just try and stay chill, answer her-]

Uh. Yeah, I remember him talking about it once or twice. It looked really cool, old but sturdy.

It's a family heirloom. He told me this weird story once, about how one day he rode it during a huge storm and "found his destiny." [She's quiet for a moment, and almost doesn't catch the ball of yarn when Sharpedo bounces it back.] He said my great-grandfather rode it during a storm and "found his destiny" too.

He never really explained what that meant, so I just assumed . . . I thought it was, like, a metaphor. Except, I don't think it was. I think I rode it during a storm and you tried to stop me . . . and we ended up in Wet Side Story. I just don't know why.

[As Mack talks, some kind of realization dawns on Brady's face. Or...something. If she looks at him, she might see it.]

...I know. At least, I think I do? It- it's what I remembered about you. [Since she's talking about it, those memories they can't possibly have, he supposes he should-] ...You were leaving. Going away to a school on the East Coast, because...you said because it was what your mom would've wanted. We had to get home so you could catch your flight, but...you were conflicted about it.

["It's the best school in the entire country. You'll go there, once you've graduated middle school, in order to prepare you for college, like your mom wanted."
"I don't want to. I don't want to grow up and be like you - always working, always stressed, in a job I don't even like! That's not what mom wanted for me."

Mack doesn't catch the ball of yarn when Sharpedo bounces it back. It hits her in the shoulder and falls to the ground, without her even noticing, because she's turned to stare at Brady incredulously.]

What my mom . . . what she . . . Oh god.

[Sharpedo looks a little concerned. And confused?

This clearly means more than Brady realized. Should he get closer, or-

He does, but only to gesture her over to sit on his trunk.] Here. Just, take a moment, okay?

[Mack's quiet for a long moment, because she's not sure. She's not really sure where to start, what to say.]

. . . my mom died when I was in seventh grade. [She's not sure if he knows that. It happened such a long time ago.] She had me when she was pretty young, so she didn't get to college, but she . . . her dream was for me to go to college and be successful. I used to think that meant getting into some Ivy League college, but . . . I realized, when I started surfing and my mom was so proud of me that she'd be okay with whatever I did.

. . . she just wanted me to be happy.

[Brady takes a seat near her, on his bed, an inverse of their conversation a little over a week ago. In lieu of his own comfort, Sharpedo, who can tell this conversation has gotten a little heavy, bumps his nose against Mack's knee. Mental note to thank Sharpedo; he's still not sure if she'd appreciate his hand on her shoulder.

Nothing like a heart-to-heart with a six foot shark as a guest, right?]

I'm sorry. [...] I... I don't think, in that... In our memories. For one reason or another, I don't think you'd realized that yet.

Yeah. That's why I took the surfboard out, I'm guessing. [She bends down and grabs the ball of yarn, which super conveniently rolled nearby, but doesn't toss it just yet.] I guess I didn't go, though, since . . .

[You know what really matters about our future? No secrets.]

You built me - us a surfboard. One that could surf, even when there wasn't any surf, and we used it to get Tanner and Lela home.

[She assumes that Lela and Tanner came Way After they went in instead of ~~like a week~~ pretty soon after. Obviously, because. Why would Brady spend the whole summer making her a surfboard?]

[You built and he tenses up a little, because he's talked with only a few people here about that, and he's self-conscious enough about it back home--

But. Obviously, she remembered something about him, just like he had about her. Funny, that. Abruptly, he stands and practically leaps over his bed, to its far side where there's a small pile of assorted stuff. Like a DVD, and a notebook. He returns with the notebook and kneels down by her, flipping it open to a rather detailed surfboard design.]

Did it look something like this? Like, with a motor, and a water pump system and everything?

Yeah. [She taps the surfboard schematic.] You added a . . . handle, I guess, so when it starts going, there's some stability. It folds down so it's still easy to carry.

. . . You didn't want to tell me you could make surfboards. [She sounds annoyed about this, but in a way that makes it sound like she's annoyed with herself.] You thought I'd think it was stupid.

Oh. Smart idea, good job me. Uh- [What does he...say to that. It's not like something he broadcasts, especially not to-

...not to people like her, with their lives together. Yeah, that makes some sense. Instead of address that, though:]

You, uh. Didn't want to tell me you were going away. [Instead of disappointed or angry, he just sounds a little shameful, like it was his fault.] I think you were worried how I'd react.

My grandpa makes surfboards for a living.

[LIKE. She gets why he was worried and all in this other timeline but, c'mon. Her grandpa making surfboards is how they can afford to live.]

. . . I don't tell people about my mom, though. I think Alyssa is the only one who knows, and that's because I was studying at her house when . . . when my mom went to the hospital. So, I guess we both had secrets.

Hey, I can't say what other-me was thinking.

[Is that how he's referring to them now-]

...Except, it feels kinda stupid having that be the only thing you're good at when everyone else is kind of brilliant. [He sighs.] Okay, maybe I can say what other-me was thinking. This other...whatever it was, sounds like things weren't exactly perfect.

I'm terrible at it. [She laughs, a little unexpectedly.] I wanted to learn a couple years ago, and I totally ruined my first attempt. It's got a huge scoop out of the middle where I got a little over-zealous with my shaping.

Even people who look put together are bad at things, and you're honestly amazing at surfboards. Like, the fact that you made a working prototype for a board that surfs by itself? My grandpa could never.

[Brady can't help but look a little shy.] You mean it? It's tough, but I thought anyone who's smart could pick it up. If even he can't.

[He makes a thoughtful, almost amused nose and folds his notebook closed.]

...I think what you had waiting for you was why you were so determined to get the movie back on track. By the way. It was a little cool, how focused you were. And, sounds like you figured out what your mom really wanted anyway. That's pretty cool too.

Grandpa's good at making surfboards, sure, but he's not an engineer or anything. [. . . Does Brady not know?? That's what he did???] He doesn't make boards out of anything but styro, fiberglass, and wood - super traditional stuff, you know?

. . . I used to prioritize other people's feelings over my own, before my mom died, but she said something to me one of the last times I saw her: "Do what makes you happy, Mack. Stop trying to live for other people." She told me I shouldn't quit surfing just because my aunt said it wouldn't help me get into college. Turn's out the joke's on her - I'm paying for college with surfing scholarships.

[Haha what's an engineer not me]

You can do that? [Looks like he's just focusing on her achievements here.] I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you're like. The girl they call the best on the beach, aren't you?

[He has kind of. Had a feeling that's her.]

Your mom...that advice she gave you, it's really good. Sounds like it's worked out for you.

Maybe it worked too well. [She should apologize, huh. She kinda hecked up last week, like. A lot.] . . . Sorry about last week.

I don't . . . dating is a bad idea here, but I guess everyone needs a friend.

[He shakes his head.] It's okay. I guess I got a little...caught up, in all that. All those memories.

[Is. Is it okay if he... Brady puts a hand on her arm.] I...can definitely do that friend thing, though. Friends is a pretty good thing to be.

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Week 4.

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