trustfell | Sixth.

This week has been a difficult one. Between the personnel change and the punishment, the week was already looking to be long; the incentive, however, is one of the harsher ones, adding a layer of hardship to the group that does nothing but compound the already-existing tension.

And, as always, there's the ever-present threat of the timer.

Friday morning dawns like the rest of the week before it; the clock chimes, the doors to the kitchen unlock, and there's a heavy silence that's settled over the building. There's no announcement from Jericho to awaken you, either; once again, this is something that's promising until it's thought about in slightly more depth.

Of course, as soon as you leave your rooms and move toward the main portion of the Academy in the morning, it will become immediately obvious that something is horrifically wrong.

Namely, there's a very distinct scent coming from the room with the incinerator; not to put too fine a point on it, but let's say that anyone who was in either the bar or the workshop last week will probably recognize it.

...Yeah.

Explore?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Rin just kind of needs to get really far away from Estelle's body right now. Originally she thought to head to the kitchen, but getting there she happens to look across to the dorm areas... And Estelle's door, which has always been the first in view. Her feet end up taking her there instead, and she tests the door. Is it locked?]

[It is locked.]

[Fuck dammit, she should have known. WELL, she'll be back then.]

[Good luck on keyquest, Rin!]

[Well congratulations, door. Tarrlok found the key so you are spared the wrath of Rin Tohsaka attempting to bodily break you down today. Let's open this up and go inside!]

After all that, there better be a handwritten confession note...

[Never mind that makes zero sense. But yeah, what's this room looking like?]

[Poor Rin, you really do suffer so much.

Estelle's room is clean and nothing really looks all that off at first glance. Where do you want to start your investigation?]

[Mm, probably the desk? But she'll glance over at the bed too, to see if it's made.]

[Good call on both counts! The bed is neatly made. There's also something on the desk, if you're ready to check that out!]

[Interesting... And yeah, now that we have that covered, let's take a look! What is it?]

[It's the motive envelope from earlier this week! The pictures inside show a young girl.]

["I went through advanced corpse touching and all I got was this ~~t-shirt~~ motive envelope."

Well, maybe it'll be important. She'll take it to the trial. For now, Rin's just going to borrow Estelle's sink to wash her hands...]

[HE'S HERE he's going to knock at least...]

The door's open.

[The voice sounds a little further away and muffled, but the door is indeed open. If Tarrlok opens it, he'll be able to hear water rushing loudly from the bathroom.]

All right, I'm coming in, then.

[...oh, well, he'll just sit down... at the desk because it'd be really fucking weird sitting on a dead girl's bed, and he'll wait for Rin to come out.]

[...It takes a bit. Not because there was a lot to clean off, but because even when her hands look pristine, she can still feel it. She can still smell it. And it makes her think of...

But Rin is a sensible person. This isn't something scalding hot water can fix, nor scrubbing her hands raw. When it's clear she's pushed the limits of what soap and water can solve, she forces herself to turn the tap off and reach for a hand towel.]

...do you still have some of that spray you told me about? The kind you made with the tea.

Oh, it... wasn't a spray, actually. I just kind of dip my hairbrush in it in the mornings when I go to brush my hair.

[...]

But I'm sure it'd work fine as an exfoliating hand rub.

I'll pay you back for it. [Or he doesn't have to, if he doesn't want to. She looks like she's rethinking things, considering taking her request back, holding her arm close to herself.] It's a silly indulgence on my part, so I'll make sure the scales are even.

You really don't have to.

[...]

Unless you want me to bring it over.

[it's a half joke. he's trying.]

[She starts to laugh at that, a light and quiet sound, and a smile flickers on her face. It's not very strong, but it's there.]

[...he can't help but smile, too. Man. Is this what it would be like to be a-]

Anyway, I'll go get it. I'll see if I can think of anything on the way there.

[Before he can turn to go she's going to reach out, tugging at one of his sleeves by the elbow. Immediately she feels silly for it; wants to let go and pretend it didn't happen. But she stays right there.]

...thank you for coming. [...she didn't think he would.] I was getting worked up, but I feel a little calmer now.

[oh shit. this super must be what it's like to have a daughnnnnnnnniece. niece. damn.]

It's fine. I just... wanted to see if there was anything I could do.

[if he patted her on the head, would it be too sappy? too... you know. she's older teens. also way too ironic.]

[Headpats and small displays of physical affection is for nerds, smother her in them.

But okay, she's letting go of his sleeve now. She managed that without exploding, and she even feels a little better for it! Basic achievement unlocked.]

Right. [She slips Estelle's key into her pocket before heading for the door.] So let's get that tea, huh? There's probably still time before the trial starts.

[sadly, both of them are emotionally constipated, so he doesn't.]

I'm sure we still have a few minutes. If not... well, there's always afterwards, I suppose.

Sixth.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject