subdivided | WEEK ZERO TRIAL

Week Zero: Trial
31 in Competition

It may be difficult to sleep with the light shining so brightly throughout the night, but the participants can rest easy knowing they will not be plagued by unwanted, disturbing dreams. Early the next day, a bell chimes and all will feel compelled to enter the main meeting hall.

The hall looks mostly the same as it always has, the two thrones for Lune and Sol at the head of the room and scrolls hanging from the walls. The metal box sits on a table near the front, along with a glass box perfectly centered before the benches in the room. Now that the trial is in session, Tsurumaru's coffin is open, and his body will be available for examination.

Lune and Sol are seated in their thrones, patiently waiting for the last participant to settle. Before Lune gets a chance to speak, Sol draws everyone's attention.

"Yesterday…something really bad happened. The instability of the core has manifested into something bigger than we thought, and it's hidden among us. Today, it'll be your job to find it, and determine what to do with it."

They gesture to the open space between them and the participants then.

"Lune and I will help you as much as we can. But the final decision is yours and yours alone."

With that said, they settle back in their seat.

"Oh. And you have nine hours…let's get going."

Incidentally, anyone who did not dance with their partner during Wednesday's party will soon find that they are now sharing a new article of clothing. Congratulations.

✩★✩

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the first trial!

We'll go over a few notes briefly as we will be playing this trial a bit differently than other games.

As noted, there was no investigation period on Friday. However, today participants will have the chance to investigate areas in the game setting as they see fit! This can be done by providing the name of the location you want to visit to the host header comment. To help with the ease of the trial and for IC mechanics, only one location may be visited at a time. In addition, these locations can be manipulated and adjusted upon request to test theories and solve puzzles, so please feel free to ask if you're searching for clues! Your host will also be accompanying you on these visits.

Most importantly, before the trial is over, please place your character's vote over on the voting page. Voting will close at 9pm EST/6pm PST, and will serve as our activity check for the week, so please be sure you get your vote in before it ends unless you have contacted us previously.

If you have any questions at any time, please let do us know by pinging us on Discord! Dana and Ty will be in the chat and available for all questions. Thank you, and have fun!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You weren't mad at me? Because I couldn't say your name right? You didn't want me to go away? You don't want me to leave?

[She doesn't sound like she believes him, but she sounds hopeful, too.]

I'm not mad.

[ he doesn't smile, but he tries to look reassuring, at least. ]

Will you stay? We can play a game, if you want.

[Mary pauses, and laughs.]

Oh...oh, I'm always asking people if they'll stay, but I don't know if someone has asked me if I'd stay, like they thought I'd leave! That makes me so happy, you know? So very happy!

[She sniffs, wiping her face, and tries to smile.]

What...what kind of game?

Edited 2019-06-08 23:11 (UTC)

[ oh my fucking god

he doesn't even have anything to say to that. his expression wavers for a second, before he gets it back under control, and this time he does offer her a faint smile. surely she won't notice the sadness there. ]

Anything you want.

Edited 2019-06-08 23:14 (UTC)

If...if we're together in the sunshine, that's good enough for me!

[It's all she needs!]

We have to stay here for now - inside the hall.

[ but he heard her talking earlier, and it's a good opening for him to find out what he needs. so he asks: ]

...You like to draw, right?

[Mary nods.]

Drawing...drawing is my favorite. I like to draw all of my friends, so I'll draw you.

Then we need paper.

[ then he'll nod, stand, and offer her his free hand so they can go. he's not currently holding tsurumaru's shards. as they walk, he hesitates before asking: ]

...Do you like to paint?

[She eagerly grasps his hand, tightly, like she thinks he'll snatch it back.]

I like anything pretty and colorful. I don't have any crayons...

[ he doesn't pull away, and walks slowly enough that she can keep up. ]

Do you have a favorite color?

[ please, don't say red. ]

Red...

[It's fucking red.]

[ fuck. he takes a deep breath before answering. ]

It's mine, too.

[ and once they find the paper, and some pencils, he sits down next to Mary. ]

You said you like sunshine. You can draw us somewhere outside, with lots of sun.

Okay...

[She still seems on edge, but she starts drawing, anyway. Kara and Mary holding hands and surrounded by flowers, under a big smiling sun!]

[ he's mostly watching quietly as she draws. she's an okay artist and that makes this worse. ]

Have you been to the places outside of the village? [ after a moment, he adds, ] Do you have a favorite?

I like everywhere except the place with fire. I won't go there, it's scary.

[But a favorite, favorite?]

The water is really nice.

[ he pauses at that. ]

I don't mind it. My magic is fire.

[ just. putting that out there. he won't ask her to go with him. ]

Is your magic... water?

[ please be water, he's heard talk about air magic and he doesn't want this kid to be the one who broke tsuru ]

[She shakes her head.]

No, I just like it there.

[...]

Don't set me on fire, okay?

[ that makes it a 50/50 chance and he's afraid to hear the answer. ]

I won't. I promise.

...Will you tell me what magic you have?

Why do we have to talk about that? Why...I haven't used it, so it doesn't matter.

Magic is new to me, that's all. I wanted to know what yours is like.

[ after a moment, he'll add, ]

Mine is too dangerous, but maybe we can find a game to play with yours.

[She's quiet as she looks at the paper, then gasps.]

Oh! Oh, like flying kites?

[ ...fuck. ]

If that's what you want to do.

[ somehow he manages to work up a smile despite knowing the answer to this next question could break him as completely as tsuru. ]

Does that mean you have air magic?

Yes...it's so pretty on top of the mountain. You can see everywhere from there. But I didn't really do much practicing, because I was having too much fun playing.

[ his eyes close. ookurikara had wanted to find who broke tsuru, and wanted them to pay for it, but not like this. not when all of the evidence leads to a kid who doesn't even seem to realize what's happened.

he looks across the hall to where he'd left tsuru's shards, but. they'll have to wait a little longer. ]

Then we'll make some kites, and go fly them up there together. Does that sound good?

Yes! It would make me so, so happy!

[I'm weh. :( ]

(no subject)

unfriendliest - 2019-06-09 00:27 (UTC) - Expand