trustfell | Week 8.

Week 8.

WEEK 8
Regardless of what you think of the most recent deaths, four more people have died this week. Milla Maxwell, Angel, Susan Ashworth, and Aligula are gone now, leaving you with about a quarter of your original number. Thirty-five down to twelve - this can't keep going for much longer, can it?

Is there anything you can do?

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...

Unlike the previous weeks, however, it seems that either you've reached the end of the line or Jericho has decided to stop rewarding you for your effort; where there would usually be a stairwell to a new floor, you're met with nothing but solid wall. Perhaps it's distressing; perhaps it's a good sign.

Only time will tell, and time isn't something you have a lot of around here.

PARTICIPANTS REMAINING: 12

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
[OOC: Welcome to week eight 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 Hilda!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

O-of course I do. I'm not expecting...like, Sayaka to have to choose between us or something like that.

And you can also understand what I say when I say a family's love is unconditional.

Um... Yeah, of course.

[ What's she getting at...? ]

Good. I'm glad I don't need to educate two stupid girls.

[ At least on that front. She sighs once more, and hangs her head a little, her eyes still closed. ]

[ Alex should probably take offense to that but she's still lost. ]

You're not... ...You can't be talking about...me... I... I thought I'm not...good enough for her.

I'm not talking about you. [ Let's not get that twisted, you're not her family. ] I'm talking to you, and I'm telling you that I was right. [ That Sayaka doesn't understand love as Elda means it. Certainly not the unconditional kind. ] I, just the other night, had to explain to that stupid girl how it hurts me every time she goes on about what she deserves or doesn't deserve. How, if she's going to claim me as a mother, it feels like my failing.

[ The woman pulls her legs up, curling into more of a ball. ]

If I had to educate you on that front too... I might just scream. I'm far too tired for that.

[ . . . There's more to be said. But she leaves it there as she searches for the words. ]

[ Okay, well, that's better. For a moment, she thought maybe-- ...

She never knows if a conversation with Elda is going to remain light or careen into this territory. Honestly, she...should expect the second.

She doesn't speak up loudly; whenever talking with Elda, it's like...walking on eggshells. ] ...I don't know what that has to do with what we were talking about before.

Everything.

[ And if Alex doesn't see it either? Then she can drop dead for all she cares. No... no, she shouldn't even think that. From her ball, Elda grits her teeth in anger. She tenses a little bit in the ball, flexing the claws of her fingers. But then reigns it in and shakes her head ]

If you will be blind to that too, then... then just hold your tongue about it. I'm liable to break your nose today, I'm still so furious about it.

[ Exhale. ]

... Both Aligula and Susan told me to look after you, you know.

[ ... ]

Why would they do something like that? Anyone can see you... [ You'd prefer I-- ] ...You're not the type to.

[ She can put a few things together. Really, she can intuit a little. "It'd be cool if we could continue to do things together." ...It's almost hilarious, it's an inverse, but still, she's in this position.

Alex keeps her gaze on the manual. She's not reading a single word, but it's better than looking up. ]

You don't...have to worry about that. I can- I can take care of myself. I wouldn't wanna put...that on you.

[ Elda laughs a little, bitterly into her legs. The fact is that... of course why would they ask that of her? It's so absurd. The vampire raises her eyes, and they're in cat-mode now. As she said, furious, but they also look wet, like she might be in danger of crying again. Still, with one blink she steels herself and pushes past that. ]

They were my friends, girl. I've had very few of those in my life. I loved them.

[ And Aligula spat in the face of that. ]

I can and will honor their request. The burden of one human girl's life, put on top everything else? Especially when I already invited you to my Shihaba? That's nothing.

[ ...She... ]

Well... You can't really, in the way Susan was probably asking for. You know that, right?

[ She looks up. Her own eyes are wet. ]

She was my friend too. What she did for me, it was... ...This isn't honoring her request. I'm not telling you to sit and play nice with me, but I-- [ She sucks in a breath. Really... Really, it's Susan's steely courage that she thinks of. ] ...I'm trying. I know you are too. ...But if you keep forcing yourself to try and like me, or even...tolerate me, you're only gonna hate me more.

[ ... Bah. Don't think she's ignorant - that's the first response but it dies on the fine. She untangles her legs, and in doing get's a remind that yes, she's in Aligula's dress again. Mmm.

The woman shakes her head. ]

Any fear I've projected on you, all of those would be Sayaka's fault in the first place. I'm sorry.

...You wanna keep her safe. I get it. [ She rubs at her eyes with her- her brother's- jacket. ] Just- i-it won't be good for any of us if we're trying to force a square peg in a...round whatever.

[ But. She... ]

I...appreciate it, though. I do.

The world of adults as many instances of that, you know.

[ She tilts her head and - then stands, abruptly. ]

If I might correct one thing though, I've never hated you, or at least not especially more than any other human.

...I would've thought, since you know me personally, it'd be...all the more reason to.

[ They've had conversations like this before, sort of. They have, but Alex always... She has a little trouble believing. ]

Just the opposite.

[ She laughs a little at it. Sheesh, all of them - Every last one. ]

Hilda scolded me, you know. Because the fact of the matter is, those people who destroyed my life, they've all been dead since before your grandparents. Hell, possibly even before those ghosts you have.

Hilda did...?

[ Mmm. She really has meant to... ]

...I mean...she's right, but that doesn't get rid of what happened to you.

Nothing will.

[ And her anger, that burning anger and hatred still hasn't... gone. The hurt will never be gone. But Elda walks up two more steps, gets in front of Alex, and points at her. ]

Of course nothing will. But that also means I've had very little experience with humans before now, and I've seen you as an individual grieve and react every other which way. How heartless do you take me for that I wouldn't be moved more by it?

[ There's a moment, and. ]

...It isn't that I think you're heartless. More... After...my brother, everyone...

[ "The town looks at her like she has a red letter tattooed on her frickin' forehead, and the giant, lit-up Christmas tree reason why is that--"

Alex is tense. Looks like she's trying to smile, but it's bitter. ]

...Even mom kinda looked at me like I was cursed. Like...I was the reason he wasn't there anymore. If people I'd known my whole life could, then...

[ It's...like she's talking to Clarissa. An older, scarier Clarissa. God, is that why she's so...? ]

[ elda pauses a moment, not sure if she should validate or invalidate that pain. In the end, she opts for something between the two. Her hand reaches out, and she brushes up alex's bangs such as to put the palm of it on her forehead. ]

Humanity is cruel. But I've never been human for a single day. [ . . . No, say something more. She... ] It's obvious to anyone you're haunted, but my reasons for being defensive have been far more petty than that.

[ In an almost familiar moment of deja vu (isn't her life just that by now, deja vu?), she recalls their first aborted conversation, Elda placing her hand against Alex's forehead. While there the action seemed gentle but she felt wary, here, it's the opposite. Knowing what she does, knowing the complications of their relationship, Alex should be wary, but instead...

...how surprisingly gentle. Perhaps, this is what Sayaka's drawn to. ]

Thank you. [ ...Ah- ] For- um... Just...thank you.

[ It's strange to think, thanking someone for petty reasons, but it's genuine. ]

[ She... she hesitates a moment, but that strange little thanks? She brushes up the girl's bangs, the touch now serving as something close to a head pat. It's nothing like that time when they first met - then, she had been trying to erase the girl's memories. She was nothing to her. This time, well... ]

Think nothing of it. [ Seriously. ] I did, after all, invite you to my Shihaba, even if there are circumstances that forced my hand there.

[ Ha. Alex lets out an awkward little laugh, but it's not with the undercurrent of discomfort or anxiety that usually accompanies it. ]

I...guess I should probably ask more about it, your home. For prep, you know.

Hah. You know, Sayaka's neglected to do that this whole time? I wonder if she figures because I am there it will be fine.

[ Elda pulls her hand back and then pulls over a stool to set closer to the girl, by the drums. She grins. ]

Shihaba's a small city in Japan's central region. It's bordered by the Okura River, Sanjou City, and Amamiya City. It's a quaint little place, but as far as humans are concerned, it's a warm city.

Sh- she hasn't...? [ Alex shakes her head a little, with a fond smile. ] Sayaka...

You know, I've never been to Japan in general...but it sounds like it's got some things going for it. How easy is it, to get to those other cities?

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