WEEK 5.

[trustfellows]

WEEK 5 Tabitha Smith, Sigrun Eide, and Solf J Kimblee are all dead. Regardless of what you think of the trial or the events leading up to it, there's no denying that you can feel the dent in your numbers now. After all, ten people are gone now. It may be hard, but all you can do is keep going. Saturday is given to regrouping and sleep; come Sunday morning, the clock chimes the hour at seven o'clock and there are no dead bodies to be found, so it can be assumed that all of you are safe for the time being. That said, you'll be feeling a little groggy when you wake up; it seems you've regained something that you didn't realize you'd lost... What with Jericho's excitement at the last trial, it's evident now more than ever that the new floor that's opened up to you is a gift, a reward for a job well-done. Because while surviving is something that you'll continue to try to do of your own merit...well. Let's say that he's so, so very proud of you. PARTICIPANTS REMAINING: 25 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING: 24 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING: 23

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
[OOC: Welcome to week five 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 Coordinators, you can do so through private meetings with Alena!]

Comments

[heritrix]

[There's a small gasp.] How? I mean, if anyone would know it would be you, but even so. I thought you told me it was limited to controlling someone's movements.

[Or that it was rare/illegal? Unsure if that would have come up at all. If it did she might think to note that next, but for now it's just like what.]

[bloodisthicker]

I don't actually know how it works, honestly. I know how it felt, of course, but... I suppose someone who was a genius could figure something out?

...

I know Amon and the Equalists know how to employ chi-blocking to temporarily incapacitate benders, so perhaps he figured out how to apply bloodbending to render that more permanent.

[heritrix]

[Chi-blocking...]

He's hitting the right pressure points, in other words. If you generate chi similarly to how a mage creates magical energy, then yes. He could do be flipping your off switch, in a sense.

[bloodisthicker]

Right, exactly. I can't say that's for sure that's what happening, but... given that what I felt was definitely bloodbending, that must be what he was doing.

...And I can definitely imagine why he would elude discovery as a waterbender, too. Given that bloodbending's illegal in places that have, well, laws, I'm effectively the one person who would recognize the sensation. I imagine he's been using it very subtly to spin fights in his favor.

[heritrix]

...It's so rare only you could tell?

[bloodisthicker]

...Well, maybe people who were alive when Yakone was at the top of his game would be able to notice it, but they'd be old enough that Amon probably hasn't targeted them yet.

...Of course, there's another thing that would misdirect people, I think.

[heritrix]

[There's a thought bouncing around in her head; something else that could serve as a lead for him, but that distracts her.]

What's that?

[bloodisthicker]

The vast majority of waterbenders can only use bloodbending on a full moon, because our powers are influenced by the moon phases. It's a bit like the tides in that sense.

...

My... family is different, though.

[heritrix]

[...

...She thinks she sees where he's going with this.]

When you told me it was rare, I thought maybe they could have been a pupil of someone you knew. You think the ties are even closer than that, though?

[bloodisthicker]

...yes. I don't really see how a pupil could carry out something like this, anyhow... and really, I don't see why my father would've bothered with us or even settling down in the first place if he had a pupil this powerful. Plus, Amon would have to be able to do most of it without accompanying hand motions to direct the bloodbending, which...

...

Unless I'm far off course or there are a staggering number of coincidences at play here, the only person Amon could possibly be is my brother.

[heritrix]

[If she hadn't somewhat wondered that's what he was working up to, Rin wouldn't believe him. It still gives her goosebumps... And she can only imagine what a blow this is to him.]

You did say you never saw him again... So you were right the first time, and he really was alive all these years.

[She ponders something for a moment, before deciding to approach and sit on the bed too. Not right next to him, but on one corner.]

No wonder you're so messed up. To find out that, and that he's the one that was threatening so many people, even turning against you. [Rin looks over at him.] If you need to take a few days for yourself to process this, no one will blame you. We can just tell anyone you don't want to get into the details with that you got a stomach bug.

[Because, uh. That certainly frames that secret in a new, horrifying light.]

[bloodisthicker]

...

Maybe tomorrow. I... should be able to get things together by Tuesday so I can hold the meeting.

[he doesn't even want to think about the implications of his secret right now man.

...

And he doesn't want to get into the other things he remembered. Should he, though? Should he keep it secret?

...]

I don't know, though. I wonder if I really can keep trying to lead from now on.

[heritrix]

Anyone can run a meeting. [She folds her arms in her lap.] That's what I'd tell you if you had left it at that, anyways, instead of saying words like "from now on". Isn't an indefinite hiatus extreme?

[Why are you thinking things like that?]

[bloodisthicker]

...

Maybe I shouldn't worry about it.

[it's not like he's shoved anyone here into a metal box in the basement of a sketchy cabin.]

I don't know. I feel like I must've just... really bungled things back home to end up in a situation where that happened.

[at the same time...]

[heritrix]

[Those are really great things not to do, Tarrlok. It's like a good idea/bad idea moment.]

That doesn't make it time to throw in the towel. I don't know if you lost sight of yourself or what, but if you have regrets, pull up your britches and do what you can to make up for it.

[Rin wags a finger.] If you want to retire when you're home, that's one thing, but you need something to keep you going here.

[bloodisthicker]

...

[you know, that...

...hm. yeah. making up for things.]

Honestly, I just...

[...]

Alright. I'll get over it.

[heritrix]

[...you know, that's something she told Shirou once. Taking something from her pocket, Rin winces.]

Geez... When I hear my own words parroted back to me like that, I realize how terrible I sound.

[Is she going to provide context for that? Apparently not, because she's shaking her head and moving on.]

I didn't mean it like that. Getting over it would be like saying it didn't mean anything. It did. [Rin frowns down at a pink ribbon in her hand as she says this.] You shouldn't forget that. Just... Just make better choices.

[bloodisthicker]

No, no, it's... fine. I know it probably looks like I'm trying to shirk duty because I suffered a setback.

[...]

I just don't want to let you all down, I suppose.

[heritrix]

[...heh.]

It means that much that we can depend on you, huh? That's cute, Tarrlok.

[bloodisthicker]

...

I'm glad you think it's cute, Rin.

[heritrix]

[Well it is! But she didn't mean for him to think she was making fun of him.]

Really. It's a good trait. [It sounds like she means that genuinely too, as she glances back down at the ribbon.] Would you like to hear a secret I've shared with no one else? It's personal. No one at home knows the truth either.

[bloodisthicker]

[...given his self-reflective track record, all things considered...

...nah, he's poured his heart out to people, he should be the one to listen a few times.]

If you'd like to share it, yes.

[heritrix]

I don't. Every muscle in my body feels tense just thinking about it, and my ribs want to crush my organs, I'm so anxious. But that's what makes it a fair trade.

[Looking away from him, she smiles, like her nervousness is more amusing than anything. If she treats it like that, maybe it'll be easier.]

I have a younger sister. We were separated, eleven years ago.

[bloodisthicker]

...ah.

[from the way it sounds, it doesn't sound like it was voluntary on either of their parts.]

Some type of family issue, I presume...?

[heritrix]

[She doesn't quite shake or nod her head, though it looks like she was trying to make some sort of motion. It's just neither of those are the correct answer, so she just ends up bobbing her head.]

The spells and knowledge a mage accumulates becomes their family's most valuable possession. They're passed from parent to child, but the method... [Rin touches her left arm as she says this.] The knowledge is carved into our bodies, so it can't be split. Only one child can inherit the family's magics, and receive that household's protection.

My sister and I were both born with above average potential. Naming one of us heir would mean casting the other to the curb, doomed never to learn about magic, but also to attract attention from dangerous sorts.

Father... [Rin... Laces her fingers in her lap. Threads the pink ribbon between them. Her voice is softer with affection, but also an emotion that's harder to place.] Father didn't want that for either of us. I don't know how he made his decision, but when I was five and she was four, he gave Sakura away to a mage family that was once an ally of ours. Their bloodline had worn thin, and they were in desperate need of an heir. We had an extra, so both sides were happy.

[Rin doesn't sound happy.]