week 4

[airlockedmods]

Week 4

[Four weeks in and almost half the Champions' original numbers are gone. Eight people in the span of a month and, even with the Overseers seeming increase in empathy for the remaining Champions, there is no end in sight for the Champion Excellence Program.

And again at 7 am on Sunday the mechanical woman's voice chimes to awaken the remaining champions on Sunday morning. After the initial wake-up call the message tacked on:]

Congratulations, Champions! By surviving your third trial, you have unlocked the fourth floor of the ship. A new mini map has been added to your P.I.P.! To access the fourth floor please stand on the teleporter and select the floor you wish to be teleported to.

[And again the Champions are awakened they have regained one new memory from the ones they've lost. Starting again on Sunday, as well, Jamie and Bolton will be back to their usual office hours in their usual locations.]

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday


[ooc: welcome to week 4, everyone! Check-in has begun and don't forget to submit your memory regains!]

Comments

Painting

[kingshaming]

Seems everyone is in a decorating mood as of late.

[He pauses to admire the flower. His own door is marked, though it looks more like he smeared paint while stumbling around in his hangover yesterday instead of an actual plant]

[bylight]

Some of us are better at it than others.

[Yes. She's taking a jab at you, Xander.

With the rose is done, she cleans her brush before dipping into a light blue dab and painting a tear. After that eventually comes a snow crystal, an apple, a fang, a feather, and last is a heart. They all seem to surround the rose even if it wasn't the intention.]

[kingshaming]

[He huffs in false insult, quietly watching her work. The symbols are too overt to be anything but intentional. Eventually he lightly taps above the snow crystal]

Snow?

[bylight]

[She's not sure what else to paint when he taps the door. She nods before using pointing at each picture in turn.]

Vanille is the apple. Fang is the fang. [She can't make that up.] Sazh is the feather, and Hope is the heart. [Her face falters for a second when she points to the tear.] That one is for my sister, Serah. She cried a single tear that turned to crystal when she did... They were our crystarium crystals. Mine was a rose.

[Beautiful to look at but quick to strike with hidden danger.]

[kingshaming]

Crystarium...

[He mimics the word carefully, so he can learn it]

Roses seem to keep showing up lately.

[His own paintings yesterday were of roses as well, and he recalls what he said to Togmai about them- that it was human nature to want things that were dangerous. That this in itself was the temptation.

Ah]

[bylight]

They held and helped grow our powers as l'Cie. But that was a long time ago.

[She gives him a curious glance.]

They are a popular flower. Serah would have known the meaning behind each color. I know that they require a lot of care and attention if you don't want them to wilt.

[kingshaming]

They're common in Castle Krakenburg's gardens- they're our House standard, so it's a bit of a pride thing that they can grow there even without much sunlight.

They aren't this red though. Or as red as the other flowers popping up today.

[He gives her a sidelong glance. So many dangerous red flowers.]

[bylight]

[She catches his glance, thinking fast.]

I should take the brush and palette back to the art room. [She pivots towards him, feigning a stumble and smearing the remaining paint onto his clothes. She drops the palette and brush to grab his wrist.]

Didn't think you were that close... Come on. You can wash up in my room. It's closer. [The look she's giving him is anything but shy and bashful. Please get the hint that they can talk in peace past that door.]

[kingshaming]

[He grunts at the sudden paint on him- though after how awkward they both were in the gym before, it's pretty clear this was intentional. So he goes with it.]

Hopefully this comes out, or Thomasin will be upset.

[He follows her inside hurriedly]

[bylight]

She can be upset with me since it's my fault.

[She lets go of his wrist once inside, waiting till the door closes all the way before sighing.] It was either my room or the showers. This looks less suspicious.

[Thank the gods she got rid of anything that would embarrass the living hell out of her that the Benefactors gave her.]

[kingshaming]

Agreed. Sorry for all the verbal dancing, but Bolton and Jamie are always slinking around the hallways.

[bylight]

The cameras being everywhere sure don't help. There's no cameras or listening devices in our rooms as far as we know. [On to the subject at hand.] Not everyone has painted a flower on their door, but those of us who have try to make it look inconspicuous.

[Except you, Xander. Fix that.] We need to find out who Temerity is. I have a suspicion.

[kingshaming]

[Excuse you he thinks it's very inconspicuous since it doesn't even look like a flower... just a splat.

...okay maybe that's weird]

I'm worried they're another part of the experiment. But... you're right, we can't ignore this. What are you thinking?

[bylight]

[No drunk painting for you ever again.]

The obvious choice is Jamie since he's far more sympathetic to our cause in getting out of here. But from what we've seen of Bolton, even he can be rattled if our trials are any indication. We'll have to see which one of them slips up and talks about the flowers.

[kingshaming]

Agreed. Though... I would be surprised if our 'friend' is just one of them. I'd say it's either a third party or them both as a unit.

... unless they are amazing actors, I can't see one betraying the other.

[bylight]

They do seem to be a united front. [Hmmm...] I have a feeling we'll see them breaking it off soon enough, or at least get into a fight. [She can't help but snort softly.] It's too bad if that happens. They're good together.

[kingshaming]

[He quirks an almost-smile]

They are- I know they are our enemies, but I can't help feeling pity for them. This entire thing seems to be nearly as painful for them as it is for us.

[bylight]

I don't think they meant for all of this to be like it is. [She goes quiet for a few minutes.]

Though I wonder... We might have to have someone worm their way into Bolton's good graces. He might not be as heartless as he wants us to think. [Crossing her arms, she looks at the stuffed animals sitting on her bed.] ... It can't be me. Togami mentioned a possible mole, and I don't want to give anyone else the feeling it might be me. Not in the mood for a repeat of the trial.

[kingshaming]

Fair enough. I will... attempt to talk to him. He seems to find teasing me amusing.

[Oh Xander, just wait a few days]

[bylight]

You must be giving him a reason to keep teasing you.

[At least he isn't calling you Cinderella in a few days.]

[kingshaming]

[He huffs slightly]

I can't think of what.

Regardless... if someone working inside all this wishes to betray it, we have to take advantage. And even if it is a trap... it's better then this endless game.

[bylight]

[Maybe it's because Xander is the leader, and leaders always get teased. Or people are right and Light is just terrifying...]

That note... Why was it posted where the camera could see it, but neither Jamie nor Bolton said anything about it? That definitely means one of them did it at least. Or we definitely have a mole that's playing with us.

[kingshaming]

It would be too helpful for them to be that careless as to not even bother reading it themselves. I took it down once I was sure everyone saw it, but...

[bylight]

It might not seem like a threat to them... Like something they think the Benefactors came up with.