trustfell | Week 2.

Week 2.

WEEK 2
Two people are dead. Ken Kaneki has been murdered, Reaver has been executed - and perhaps most uncomfortably, the Conductor is proud of you all for adhering to due process.

(As always, by which he means that there is a process, and you all are certainly doing it.)

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...

However, once you've shaken that off, there are new things to be looked at; the previously closed-off area near the kitchen has been unlocked, and there's a new floor to be explored - consider it your reward for a job well done.

PARTICIPANTS REMAINING: 27

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[OOC: Welcome to week two of Trustfell! Save your threads for coins and the coming week's activity check; don't forget to check in to this week's activity check and submit your memory regains as well!

The Letters and Switchboard posts are still active, for the sake of contacting the jerk who's keeping you here, to be used at your leisure!]

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[Oh no, that's... Well, Logan's never been good at knowing how to comfort people and now is definitely no exception. It takes him a moment to figure out how to proceed.]

Youko...

[He reaches out as though to touch her shoulder before he realizes that that's probably not a good idea. Instead he holds his hand out and tips his head a bit towards the door.]

...Let's discuss this somewhere else.

[Somewhere privately, probably. The last thing he'd want would be for everyone to walk in on him having a breakdown, so he can imagine Youko would want something similar.

Despite the blunt words, Logan's trying to be gentle and it's... well, it's as gentle as he can get, at least. He really is trying, okay.]

[ She knows. Or rather, it's Logan, so she can make a very educated guess. Of course he's trying. This is Logan, that's who he is. His theory might translate awkwardly into reality, but they can work on that.

It wouldn't have been a bad idea, she's not averse to physical contact. It's why she takes the offered hand without hesitation, this isn't a time Youko can handle being alone. ]

Please...

[ Please, Logan. Please take her somewhere safe. ]

[Ah... That's... Logan isn't sure what to do with that, but he does know that the first order of business is to make sure Youko's somewhere safe. He'll lead her back to his room (his, not Reaver's, because that's awkward) and once he's got the door shut behind them he gestures for her to sit. Wherever you want, Youko. Make yourself at home while he tries to figure out what to say.]

[ The bed, of course, because why go against tradition. You're joining her, right?

You wouldn't just stare at her from the chair, right?

Please don't do that. ]

[...SORRY, YOUKO...

He'll take the chair and move it so he's sitting directly across from her. Logan rests his elbows on his knees and folds his hands in front of him, slouching forward as he looks at her.]

...Did you receive something from the machine?

[Something like the Dark Seal, something that's messing her up--

He can't think about that right now.]

[ ~~...that's prime handholding real estate, are you really sure you want to be sitting there logan~~

Youko's disappointed, but if she feels herself getting worked up again - he is close, at least.

As for that, however... she slips Kantarou's rosary out from her sleeve, making like she's going to hand it to him so he can see for himself--

...Only it turns out she can't let go of it, so maybe that's not going to work out so well. ]

He shouldn't be parted from this.

[ Death? Impossibility? Both are true. ]

[Ah... Logan doesn't try to take it from her, but he does tip his head slightly at her words.]

This belongs to someone you're close to back home?

[What is it doing in the machine? We probably won't get an answer to that, though...]

My...

[ Youko falters. Could she really tell him about that? How could he understand? She'd never tried explaining it to someone else. She barely understood it herself, how she and Kan-chan just... were. Why there was...

...

...She might not be able to explain it. But as for the rest - she's too worn down. Maybe later she'd feel shame, regret pulling back the curtain on the person she wanted to be seen as: self-possessed and free.

But right now, she can't make herself care.

Out with it. ]

My master. My family. My Kantarou.

[...Well, he doesn't understand, but that doesn't mean he won't try.]

This belongs to him? Do you think...

[something happened to him TRY TO BE LESS OF A WALNUT, LOGAN]

Will you tell me about him?

[He's not sure if that will help at all, but it worked with Ashley, so...?]

[ She was expecting 'so are you a slave, or' from the king, so you're actually farrrrr less of a walnut than you could have been Logan

You still kind of hecked up though, but at least she was already thinking that Kantarou's dead! ]

If this isn't fake, then he's dead, or will die soon. I don't know the full story, but I know it's important.

[ ...You know what, let's take a step back and approach this in selfish terms. Those are easy. She can work on adding in "love" from there. ]

...Kan-chan dying doesn't free me. There are... conditions to what we have, and I have to be freed for the conditions to dissolve. If the conditions can no longer be dissolved, I'm... trapped.

His death also means I've lost my dearest friend.

[ That aside - Logan. Did you really think she'd just let you say something like that to her without comment? She can tell when someone's reading from a script. To that end, Youko widens her eyes slightly and adopts a less solemn expression, one that's more confused, curious. ]

I can tell you about him - but I don't understand, Logan. Why do you want to know about Kantarou?

[ Everything must begin from something real, or it is meaningless. ]

[He's quiet for a moment, taking all of that in. She's some kind of servant and it sounds like it's a pretty tough situation... but she also greatly cares for her master. He can't say he understands at all.]

...You're obviously in pain. I thought it might help to talk about it. How am I to understand what you're going through if I don't know the person you're talking about?

[The words are as gentle as he can get. His expression is still entirely too stiff, but that's how Logan always looks.]

I may not be able to understand your situation, but at the very least I can listen. You do not have to bear this alone, Youko.

[And that's... that's funny, isn't it? The one person who had been there to help him handle what had happened is dead now, yet his first response is to attempt to be there for her so she doesn't have to deal with something horrible alone.]

[ ...Well that's not what she was expecting at all. Youko looks seriously caught off-guard - more so than Logan's ever seen her. There's something real where there wasn't when she posed her question, and the difference is stark.

The difference is certainly enough make her consider that maybe she should have ducked her head, rather than - unthinkingly - letting him see that. ]

...You're not just saying that because you think it'll help.

[ It's as blunt and clumsy as she feels right now and the moment it leaves her mouth she regrets it. Stupid.

She gives up and hunches over, burying her face in her hands. ]

[Oh, she's... He's never seen her look so confused and that's... Is she just not used to people trying to aggressively care about her?]

No, I'm not. I'm genuinely trying to do what I can, Youko.

[Sure, he could say it's to repay what she did for Reaver, but that's not it at all. He likes Youko. It's as simple as that.]

...I may not be able to do anything for you, but I wish to try.

[He's not going to try to get her to look at him though; she probably needs a moment.]

[ In a word: no. Although at least that's mostly because she's rarely the mess breaking down back home!

...when she is she's sort of on her own in terms with dealing, yes.

That's... yes, give her a moment, please. His words bring her shame and would be the reason why, when Youko finally raises her frowning face from her hands, her cheeks are burning red. ]

...

[ The silence continues as she sits back up properly, shoulders slumped. How does she respond to that? If someone wants to help her... what is it they can do for her? What does she want? ]

...

[ ...She's not quite at a loss, but it's stupid. Yet in typical fashion, the more she tries to push it out of her mind, the more it's all she can come up with.

Shame hasn't left her expression, but tiredness has joined it. The silence has dragged on for too long. Quietly: ]

Please sit next to me. I'd like that better.

[Logan doesn't try to rush her. This is something she needs to work through on her own, he thinks. The most he can really do is be here for her, and maybe she'll have something for him to do that will help.

...Admittedly he wasn't expecting that, but after a moment of thought he stands. He's not entirely sure why she wants the proximity, but he's never been a very physical person. Logan sits beside her, leaving enough space for it to be comfortable.]

...Is there anything else I can do?

Do you mind if I lean on your shoulder?

[ And we're right back to giving no fucks! If she's going to be this much of a disgusting mess, why not go all out?!

...That's what she tells herself, but the shame hasn't left her expression. It's genuinely what she wants, but actually asking someone - let alone Logan? It feels wrong. She feels wrong for saying it. But her misery is stronger. ]

[Oh, that's...]

Give me a moment.

[Let him get the chestplate off first, that's... going to be uncomfortable otherwise. It doesn't take him long to remove it and he sets it on the floor before settling back beside Youko.]

I don't mind.

[Though it's sort of awkward since he never does this with anyone. Comforting isn't something he does in general, but boy is he trying. That's sort of the summation of his entire stay here in murderschool: #trying.]

[ ...WELL THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE WAS EXPECTING. Yes, Youko's thirst for physical contact runs deep enough at this moment she was going to lean against cold, hard metal, and she was going to like it.

Thank god one of them isn't a disaster today. You go, Logan. ]

...I actually didn't think of that. Thanks.

[ The surprise has a similar effect to a gentle shake, and Youko pulls herself out of what had been the beginning of a quickly-advancing sneaky hate spiral. ]

...You're better at this than you think, you know.

Ah, I... Well, I assumed that would be incredibly uncomfortable.

[Because unlike normal people, Logan is actually very fond of wearing a piece of metal at all times. Part of it is safety, he feels far too exposed when he's not wearing it, and part of it is Logan's a weirdo who genuinely finds it comfortable.]

I will continue to do what I can for you.

[Though he's really not good at this, he's awkward as hell. He hasn't hugged his sister in years much less offered anyone else physical contact. This is... strange, but it's not bad.]

You're not wrong, I just... [ She shakes her head, mumbling the rest. ] ...wouldn't have mattered enough.

[ With that, she closes her eyes and leans against his arm, because that's where her head comes to rest more than Logan's shoulder.

...There are some dropped words between 'just' and 'wouldn't' that Youko hasn't realized didn't quite make it out. Probably because what did come out is the actual truth. ]

[...He's not sure what Youko was trying to say there and Logan tips his head a bit as he consider whether to ask or not. That's probably something he shouldn't press, but...]

I didn't hear that. What were you saying?

[Well, of course he's going to ask. He doesn't mind her leaning against his arm, but his posture is surprisingly stiff for once. Normally he's slouching all the hell over when he sits, but this is... sort of awkward.]

[ You can't slouch when you're supporting someone! Which is why Youko doesn't think twice about it, like a good little walnut. ]

Hm? I said... 'You're not wrong, I-

[ ...what had she said, exactly.

Her eyes aren't shut anymore. ]

I said... that it just... I'm... surprised? I...

...Why do you care? If I'm okay or not? Even over little things, like if I'm comfy or not?

[ Her voice actually breaks on that last part. This is... surprisingly distressing.

She'd learnt that he had a good heart, somehow, as unlikely as that was. But maybe... she hadn't properly processed what that could mean. Like concern. For her.

...Logan's no longer the only stiff one. ]

Why shouldn't I care?

[No, hang on, this is really confusing--]

You're obviously going through something incredibly difficult right now. I wish to help in whatever way I can.

[?????????]

What... why should you?! And not just about important things, but trivial things...?!

[ She shakes her head vigorously, but actually manages to calm down. ]

How can I matter so much to you?

[ ah, the human-youkai divide... ]

You... You were incredibly kind to Reaver and you've been kind to me. Why wouldn't I care about you?

[??????????????????

...yes, he really is that simple about these things]

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