cradleproject | WEEK FIVE

WEEK FIVE

the pygmalion. . .

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CAPTAIN'S LOG:
WEEK (5)

monday - thursday

(33) survivors

It had been merely a week since the last trial, but you find yourself faced with a new week on The Pygmalion. When you awaken, you will find the handcuff around your wrist gone. The robot in the cafeteria has prepared another breakfast of various foods.

(OOC: Please submit your murder proposals by 9 PM EST Tuesday.)
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ENTER COMMAND_

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Because they don't want to be killed. The risk is great for everyone, but more so for those that actively fight.

So it's a fast death or a slow death, depending on how you're feeling. [He can't help but shake his head, more than a little annoyed by the thought.] ...so why do you fight?

That's simplifying it a bit.

[the question gives her pause, but he's been honest enough with her, she thinks.]

When we were younger, my sister used to speak about how when she grew old enough to ride a charger, she would go to fight and lead armies. She was committed to eradicating the monsters from our land, and making it safe for all of our citizens.

I know that me doing the same is what she would have wanted.

[The word "was" is enough of a tipoff to understand something happened to her sister and it's...almost noble that Adelina picked up where the other girl left off. Would he do something like that? Probably not, but nobody ever said that Luke didn't have his own motivations and drive for things.]

I think the bigger question is if it's what you want. But if it matches your sister's wishes then fine. [A beat.] Been doing this long?

I'm not certain I agree with that completely, but... It is what I want. If it could become even a bit more peaceful and safe for people to live, I would be more than satisfied.

[she shakes her head]

Not terribly long. I'm still learning. And you?

[He wants to ask why she wouldn't agree, but he'll come back to that in a sec.]

I've been on my own since I was 9 but I've been learning to fight a little before that. It's been a while...you start to learn how to tackle pretty much anything when you're out on the field. There're places we can go to train, too, but I didn't have that option for the first five years.

On your own... I'm sorry. That sounds awful.

[a small pause, uncertain whether she should push, before she continues:]

May I ask why? You needn't answer if it's something painful.

[Of all the things Adelina could ask, that's probably the least offensive.]

Figured I'd take my chances out there than keep staying with my mom. I still don't really regret that either.

...I see. She wasn't an appropriate caretaker, I assume.

[A little smirk.] My mom was pretty crazy. It...[...how to describe May Castellan...] It was just better for both of us if I left her behind. That's all. I never went back after that.

[...which is mostly true, but those two times aren't important.]

I'm very sorry to hear that. It must be difficult.

It wasn't, if you can believe that. When we got to Camp things were a lot better after that. It's where we really learned how to fight and protect ourselves. [He nods toward the knife again.] Annabeth trained with that thing and I started learning how to fight better with a sword.

I see. Were there many more people in that camp?

Way more than I ever thought. Anywhere between 60 to 100 maybe if I had to guess. It was kind of a great thing to have other people around and not have to worry about finding food or, you know, not getting killed.

[He's incredibly casual about this, but Camp Half-Blood was actually both a blessing and a curse for him.] Monsters couldn't cross the boundaries either which helped.

It sounds lovely. Did you make many friends?

I made enough of them. More than I ever had before we got to Camp. [And then he hit betray on pretty much all of them.] And probably more than I'll be making here. You really think we'll all be able to get along here?

[she shakes her head]

I think even when it becomes obvious to the people here that there will be a murder occurring each week, each person will still have several individuals they trust more than the others. That being said, I highly doubt all of us will get along, yes.

Camp was like that, too. [It's an idle comment.] So what're you gonna do when it narrows down that far?

...I already think it's foolish to trust anyone in these circumstances when we've scarcely known each other a month. There is a difference between friendship and trust, I think.

[liking most people here but still not being 100% that they aren't going to shank her: a life]

When it comes down to it, think it's just about how well you can judge just about anybody. [Hmm...] When I was a kid, I didn't really have a lot of choice but to trust the first person I met who was in a similar situation that I was. We'd never spoken before. She was just some girl who was probably more powerful than me and I had to make the decision to trust her. We became friends after that.

[And then he developed hardcore dokis for her and then she became a tree and everything went to hell. But regardless.] Where do you find the difference? [He has his own answers, but oddly enough he respects Adelina enough by now to want to know her opinion.]

I disagree. I think there are people back home who I know I can trust because I've known them much longer than a month. It's hard to say the same for anyone here.

[a thoughtful hum]

For example, there are people here I've enjoyed getting to know and speaking to. That doesn't mean I think it's wise to let my guard down around them. It's different from the situation you've described. I'm capable of protecting myself without the assistance of another, so I'm not in a position where it's necessary to place my trust in another.

If I may ask, though, who was the person you had to trust?

And even then you can know people for years and still decide you don't trust them. I'm not sure time really has much to do with it even if it helps sometimes.

[But ah yes the million dollar question. He doesn't say anything for a moment as he thinks of the best way to answer without answering. Then again...what's it matter? She won't ever show up here anyway.]

Her name's Thalia. She was a runaway like I was, met her after a few years on my own inside a dragon's cave. We escaped and figured it made more sense to stick together, so we did. We were together for years even before Annabeth came into our lives. I would have trusted her with anything back then. Pretty sure the same is true for her. It's just stuff like that.

A dragon kept you alive in their lair for years? That's rather rare. You must have provided a great deal of entertainment.

[a small smile]

You must miss her.

[For once, he actually genuinely laughs.]

No way. More like I was alive for years and on the run for years and ended up in a dragon cave for half a day. I think the dragon was more surprised by the two of us than we were of it. Wasn't the last dragon I went up against either.

[...but...] ...but you're not wrong about that. [He misses Thalia like crazy, but he sure did screw that up. Oh well.]

Were you able to kill it, at least?

[a nod, sympathetic.]

What was she like, then?

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