theairlock | week 3

Week 3

[Come week 3 of the Champion Excellence Program the high-flying feelings that came with the dodgeball game last week has dissipated, especially after the...everything that was that trial. Satan Mask sure was a thing that happened.

Just like last week, right on the dot at 7 am, the mechanical woman's voice chimes to awaken the remaining champions on Sunday morning. After the initial wake-up call though there's a new message tacked on:]

Congratulations, Champions! By surviving your second trial, you have unlocked the third floor of the ship. A new mini map has been added to your P.I.P.! To access the second 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 3, everyone! Check-in has begun and don't forget to submit your memory regains!]

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No, that -- that is my lie. They think me a witch because I told Mercy I was.

[ Without the pressure of her father, pushing her to come up with a reason why this is happening without incriminating herself, her immediate response to the twins is more charitable. She doesn't go immediately to the thought that the witchcraft taking place on the farm comes from them, though the half-buried idea continues to fester, and instead remembers the real fear she saw in Mercy's face when she pushed her to the ground. ]

Ever since Sam, the twins have been unbiddable. They spend all the day singing songs about that goat and running wild, and I taking the blame of it. Mercy was a-playing at being the witch of the wood, saying I let her take Sam. She had no idea of what she spoke, and she'd not heed Caleb nor I. So I told her I was the witch what stole him, to quiet her... but I was cruel. She rebuked me at the first, and I kept at it til she was truly affrighted. I told her I'd witch her and Jonas if she said a word, that I signed the Devil's book and could vanish any thing I wished. Naught more would have come of it if that had been the end, but then Caleb disappeared.

[ Will he understand what she means, even a little? Her face is drawn with guilt. ]

I would never hurt them. I but wanted her to stop. And now they believe all I said, and Mother too. Perchance they shall see me hang for it.

You can't let them. [He says it with a certain vehemence. She can't--but then, that's not for either of them to decide, is it?]

The children were being insufferable. You snapped to make Mercy stop being cruel about what happened, and that would have been that except that--Caleb happened, with the hare. And you unconscious and moved in the woods. And then what happened to him later, after what you'd said about the apple...

But it wasn't you. As family, they should trust that. You didn't cause any of it to happen, no matter what you may have said or thought. If there is a witch haunting you, it seems to have taken a liking to you.

...Maybe your other memories might see a better ending to all this.

[ It seems to have taken a liking to you. ]

Would that they will. Or that she had tormented me too, just as them.

... I have been weak here, Shadow. I fall into sin, and betray mine own base will with doubts. 'Tis different among those of my faith, in my time. We cannot know who is good and who evil, even among kindred, and question not the work of God nor Satan. When the twins dissembled and rolled on the floor like beasts, and would not pray, only I knew it for a lie. Father might hear me, and stop this, but he is the only one.

[ She seems to finally realize she's holding onto Shadow way, way too tightly, and lets go. ]

Thy hand... [ w h o o p s ] You cannot endanger yourself for my sake. I won't abide it.

[Religion is such a strange concept. Not one he'll mock, but just...the idea of there being a higher being or beings, and what seem like such arbitrary rules. So he doesn't know what to say to her about this. Maybe the best advice he can give is none at all. She, of course, knows her family better than anyone else.

It's her letting go, and her subsequent words, that get him to react.]

I can, and I will if I must. If he were to ever do something to hurt you, I would find out about it. I may not succeed in hurting him right back, but I'd damn well try.

Didst not see what he did when you but tried?!

[ She looks frantic and opens her mouth to continue, then shuts it. She juts her chin forward defiantly. ]

I cannot stop thee from doing as thou wilt. Be then not surprised when I risk the same for thy sake.

I can take more of a beating than you can. Trust me. [He flexes his hand with a grunt of pain, but that's all. The stars are out of his eyes, and the little cartoon birdies flying over his head have dissipated.] If I get hurt for defending you, then I can deal with that. If you get hurt defending me, it'll be hard to forgive myself that you felt you had to put yourself in that position.

I shouldn't find it easier! Being able to endure such cruelties means not that you should.

[ She pouts, but goes back to the matter at hand, which is his hand. Do you get it. Do you get it now. ]

Kurumi must still have her bandages. If there were only some means of making a salve or a poultice...

It honestly doesn't matter. I'll recover. I don't think I've broken anything, but even if so, it'll heal. I think I know something that will help cushion the joints, set them right, and makeshift a cold compress if need be.

It...really is fine if it happens, Thomasin. You don't have to fret so much. [He's got half a mind to explain why that is, but it would...probably sound bad so let's not.]

It matters to me.

[ She sniffs and wipes her eyes with her sleeve, which is gross, then just leans forward to hug him -- not too hard this time, but tightly. Guess what: she can hold a hedgehog. He's like the size of one of those novelty giant stuffed animals you get at a fair, so the whole image is very bizarre, but heartfelt! ]

Thank you, Shadow.

[!!!!!

!!!

!]

...You're welcome.

[He's not sure what for! Since she's been scolding him a little about taking any pain dished out. He'll at least half-hug her back with a good hand on her back. Avert your eyes or you might get cavities.]

week 3

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