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

[bloodbiter]

[Having collected all that information, she starts on the first draft; she continues to speak as she does so, though.]

A selfless person, then, who does everything he can for others. Oh, but - how does he style his hair?

[heritrix]

Fluffy. [This is said emphatically.] If he weren't such a clean freak, I'd swear he doesn't own a comb and just brushes his hair with his fingers.

[bloodbiter]

[It brings a laugh.]

Other than unkempt... Straight or curly, and what length?

[heritrix]

Straight, and short. It's not cropped close, but about... [She demonstrates with her own hair, using fingers to indicate length.] This long? And shorter on the sides.

[She adjusts her fingers to show the length near his ears.]

It's red in color. I know these are pencil sketches, but I thought you might want to keep that in mind for the shading.

[bloodbiter]

[She nods.]

It's helpful to know. Thank you.

[While she continues to draw, she speaks, though now it's more general curiosity than anything that would help her with the picture.]

What is his name? How did the two of you meet?

[heritrix]

His name is Shirou Emiya. ...I've known about him for a while; we go to the same high school. But it's only recently we've interacted more than exchanging a few words in the hallways.

[bloodbiter]

I see. He must be a wonderful person, if you hold him in such high regard already.

[heritrix]

"High regard" might be too generous... But I know I can count on him. Even when I've told him to stay away, he's remained by my side.

[Rin smiles, shifting her attention to the other portraits.] What about those two? The girl looks like she could be your sibling.

[bloodbiter]

I see. I suppose I assumed you must, since you asked for him rather than anyone else... Regardless, I am glad you have someone so reliable with you in your home. But - if I may ask, why would you ask him to stay away?

[She turns her attention to the other portraits with a slowly spreading, fond smile, her hand slowing in it's progress.]

She is my sister, yes. Her name is Meryl, and she is... incredibly dear to me. She is a year older than I am, so we have been each other's companions all our lives.

[She'll get to the other picture in a moment.]

[heritrix]

It's a complicated story...

[Rin trails off, as if unsure if Adelina wants to hear it. She focuses on the subject of the girl in the portrait for now. Sisters only a year apart... Ha.]

You never get annoyed with her? It felt like my classmates at school would only complain about their siblings.

[bloodbiter]

If you would rather not speak of it, I understand.

[There's no pressure in her voice, but there is curiosity. She doesn't seem to mind if Rin elaborates, at any rate.]

Annoyed with her? Certainly not. Meryl is - absolutely wonderful. She has always been there for me, no matter the situation. She's the kind of person everyone adores, besides. Bold and brave and helpful whenever she can be.

[heritrix]

I don't mind.

[It's just easier to focus on one conversation at a time, and she did ask. They can get back to that afterwards.]

I grew up as an only child, so it's hard for me to picture a bond like that.

I always thought it would be nice, though. [She says this a little dreamily.] I can tell you love her a lot.

[bloodbiter]

It's a wonderful thing.

[She gives a nod.]

Our mother passed away shortly after I was born, and our father is... distant, to say the least. When I was younger, I was very timid and easily frightened, so I had trouble making friends. In many ways, for most of my life, Meryl has been all that I have. She taught me how to be brave, and how to stand on my own.

[Her affection stretches for miles, really.]

[heritrix]

[Rin makes a noise of sympathy without interrupting her. She's sorry about your mother, Adelina.]

...What sorts of things would you do together?

[bloodbiter]

Well... We could not go far from the castle. Or, rather - I asked her not to. The farther you went, the more prevalent monsters were, and I was terrified of anything happening to her.

[There's a kind of guilt in her voice there, but it's masked, and she moves on quickly.]

She loved to ride, though. She'd often spend entire afternoons near the stable with her horse. We'd go to lessons and take walks through the castle gardens, too, and there was a lake near the palace, close enough that it was typically safe to reach. Sometimes we would go on picnics there.

[And then an even softer smile comes over her face.]

When we were younger, she loved to play pretend. She would also act as though she was a brave hero who would slay dragons or find a cure for the plague. Going on an adventure like that is her largest dream.

[heritrix]

[That sounds picturesque, like something out of the many books Rin has read over the years, and it does make her smile.]

You told me you were on a quest before. Did she come with you?

[bloodbiter]

[She pauses, and then shakes her head, her smile fading a bit.]

No, I was not with her. Rather, I went for her. I mentioned that there was a plague in our land, correct?

[She assumes the rest won't be difficult to deduce.]

[heritrix]

...Yeah. You told me the object of your quest was a cure. It struck your sister, then?

[bloodbiter]

Yes. But... We have always known that a cure will be found someday. It was prophesied many years ago. I simply had to find it before she succumbs to her illness.

[She takes a breath.]

I have remembered discovering what the cure was, and where to find it. Now I just need to bring her to it, and she will be safe.

[heritrix]

[The plague was so sever it earned a prophecy? That gets Rin's hard attention, and tells her just how bad things might be.]

If you've gotten that far, maybe you've already delivered the medicine safely back to her and just don't remember it. There's definitely a chance.

[bloodbiter]

That is my hope. Or, rather, there is no point in entertaining any other possibility when I can do nothing to influence the situation yet.

[She takes a breath.]

My apologies. That became more serious than I intended... You were asking about the portrait of the young man, too, correct?

[She gestures to the other one she drew before Rin entered.]

[heritrix]

Let me know what you learn, okay? I'm curious now, and crossing my fingers for you.

[Her eyes lift to the boy.] But yeah, I was interested in him as well. There's not a strong family resemblance with him, as there was with your sister.

[bloodbiter]

I certainly will. Thank you.

[As for what Rin says next... It gets a small laugh.]

Well, yes, there's a good reason we aren't related. He is my husband.

[Being married at sixteen: #justmedievalthings.]

[heritrix]

[Whoa!]

No kidding? How long have you been married?

[bloodbiter]

...I don't know. In truth, it's a bit of a unique situation.

[After a moment, she pulls a locket from her neck; the material is made of clear glass, so it's easy to see the two strands of hair interwoven inside. One is Adelina's exact shade, and one is jet black.]

I haven't remembered our wedding yet, but I received this from the vending machine several weeks ago. The only time such trinkets are made are when two people are wed, and it's a tradition in our land to cut a strand of hair from each partner and put them in such a piece of jewelry. I can think of no other explanation for why such a thing would exist. And - I remember his proposal.