WEEK 4

[bathymetric]

Another trial, another week, and still you're probably running lower on answers than you'd like. And on people - you lost three since last Sunday. By the end of this week, you'll have been here for nearly a full month, yet still the days crawl on.

You wake up Sunday, again with no memory of Saturday, but this time with a simple message on your devices: You may resume requesting items, if you like. Enjoy. Guess it really was just a stealth motive after all, but at least it's being communicated that it's over! That's something, at least.

And when you leave your rooms on Sunday, there's another new area to explore! This one is... certainly more ambitious in its construction than the last one, to say the least. But hey, you have a pretty neat place to host parties, if you feel so inclined! That's... fun...

Hey, you gotta find the fun in situations like this where you can! Silver linings, right?



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to Week 4! Remember to turn in AC here, threads for regain coins here, and if you feel so inclined you can visit Angel's office hours over here! ]

Comments

[bolderfell]

[Therion lifts one side of his Jasper-dampened cloak and wrinkles his nose.]

I don't know. Poison, maybe.

[So, off it comes. He folds it and tucks it under his arm and begins removing his scarf as well. He hopes whatever's in the water will wash off in... more water...]

Kind of smells like the cleaning supplies they use here. That... sharp scent.

[hardnosed]

Is there anything in this facility that won't kill you? [ Says the person who was just a minute or so away from drowning. But then... ] Maybe you're on to something. We could try dropping something organic in it.

[ PLEASE DON'T ]

[bolderfell]

Huh. Like what?

[THERION.]

I haven't gotten anything living out of the machine.

[hardnosed]

It dispenses these unsightly little wriggling things sometimes, but I got rid of them weeks ago. [ She pauses. ] So you're thinking it's cut with something. Strong enough to kill, but not to destroy organic material.

[ She was thinking of biopoison! Clearly if you put a piece of ham in this pool, it's just going to get absolutely obliterated. ]

[bolderfell]

It's not eating through my cloak, is it.

[He unfolds it once more to show her. Anything Therion's wearing is 100% certified non-GMO organic, by virtue of no alternatives yet existing!]

In my experience, poisons kill, but it's acids that break things down. Though a strong enough acid might affect even you.

[hardnosed]

[ Haha okay just gonna ignore that last part! They're having fun!! ]

You haven't seen the stuff we use. [ She checks out the clothing, now smelly but undamaged. ] Obviously. You wouldn't be here to talk about it if you had.

[ ANYWAY, ]

Anyway, it's not affecting my physical form like that — I'd be able to feel it. But it's not normal either.

[bolderfell]

Yeah. It doesn't smell like any water I've come across, and I've been all through the Riverlands. Some of the Coastlands, too.

[He crouches at the side of the pool again. Hmmmm.]

Does it taste like anything? Assuming poison won't hurt you if it gets in your mouth.

1/2

[hardnosed]

Tch — I already told you, this form is just a projection. I haven't got organs.

[ And with no further preamble, she ducks her chin into the water and opens her mouth. ]

[hardnosed]

[ Then she immediately sprays it out of her mouth, either missing or hitting Therion at your discretion. ]

Ugh — disgusting.

[bolderfell]

[His title ain't Dodger for nothing! Miss.]

So--what? Not salt, right? Is it anything you recognize?

[hardnosed]

[ She's absolutely making a note of that reaction time while wiping her mouth off with the back of her hand, which is totally fine. ]

There might be some salt, but mostly it's just... chemical. The water only dilutes it so much. [ Jasper pauses, trying to think back, but— ] No idea.

Nice dodge.

[bolderfell]

What, were you trying to hit me?

[Evasion is his one saving grace, look at him, he's puny.]

[hardnosed]

Ch. If I was trying to hit you, you wouldn't be asking.

[ IF YOU CAN DODGE A SPITTAKE, YOU CAN DODGE A BALL ]

I just don't get why they'd alter the water in a pool like this. It's so obviously tainted, it's not like they'd catch anyone by surprise.

[bolderfell]

Maybe... you're supposed to push someone in from up there?

[He points to one of the slides.]

If they're stupid, they'll swallow some when they hit the surface.

[hardnosed]

They'd have to be stupid to go to the top of the chute in the first place.

I've been looking for abnormalities. Seems like everywhere else has some secret hiding place, here.

[bolderfell]

[Nod. Srs bzns time.]

Find anything yet?

[hardnosed]

There's something trapped in a pump. It's just a matter of getting it out.

[bolderfell]

...This pump. It's underwater?

[hardnosed]

Why else do you think I'm soaking in this swill?

[bolderfell]

I was just thinking I might offer my talents, but I'm not sure I want to soak in the swill. Especially if I'd need my eyes open while I worked.

[hardnosed]

You would. And even if it's just foul and not dangerous, you definitely need to breathe.

[ Therion's occupation is listed as thief, and he does seem to inevitably show up to meetings with a whole bunch of stuff he's managed to locate... ]

What talents?

[bolderfell]

[Rose knows what a thief is. Jasper must, too, so Therion shrugs casually.]

I've got a knack for retrieving things from difficult to reach places.

[hardnosed]

[ Ah, a lowlife! ]

Like the pockets of a higher-ranked human?

[bolderfell]

Wouldn't call that difficult, but sure. That's the general idea.

[Occasionally, he'll pick the pockets of lower-ranked humans, too. Equal opportunity!]

[hardnosed]

[ Shrug!! ]

They're just the ones most likely to have guards.