Week 5

[grimgrinningghosts]

[...So that was a mess. All of it was a mess, and things don't look to be improving any time soon. With tensions at an all-time high and conditions worsened, it seems pretty safe to say that this whole week promises a great deal of foreboding atmosphere.

But, hey, things aren't entirely bad. Just as Randall promised, you're now able to leave the Manor! 

Just don't stay out there for too long. There's still a lot of you, and you just can't afford to lose numbers.

24 guests remain]

[SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY]

[OOC: and don't forget to fill out this week's activity check!]

Comments

portrait gallery

[pinkflip]

[ Well, Kim's working on hanging some signs in the foyer, so naturally she walks by and...what's that? ]

Hello? Uh- Freddie's...shadow? [ yeah guess who she sees first ] What's going on?

[faciliheir]

[the shadow just kinda... pauses. as if it's trying to figure out how to communicate to someone who doesn't just innately know what it means.

it eventually decides on a pretty universal signal: twirling its index finger next to its temple. she's crazy.]

[pinkflip]

[ Kim frowns in concern. She's pretty sure she knows who the shadow's talking about, so. She gingerly enters the portrait gallery. ]

Freddie? You in here? [ she asks this and then immediately sees freddie herself, all holed up and that...boy, does not bode well. ]

[faciliheir]

[SHINES LIGHT oh, it's Kim. that's... no, that's exactly who they would choose to trick her. she can even see the shadows, just waiting behind her... SHINES LIGHT RIGHT AT HER FACE.]

Who's asking?

[pinkflip]

[ Oh, ow. She squints and tries to block the light with her hands. ]

It's just me, it's Kimberly.

[faciliheir]

How do I know it's really you, and not just another trick? [kim hasn't been in the parade of faces she's seen tonight but shit anything can happen]

[pinkflip]

What do you-- [ oh. oh, shit. ] Freddie...did you go outside?

[faciliheir]

It's... not good out there. They're everywhere. And they all followed me back inside! That's why I did all this [gestures at flashlights] so they can't get at me. Even if that one won't leave!

[pinkflip]

Which...? [ She turns around, sees Freddie's shadow, and pales. ] Ohh no. Freddie, you have to listen to me, they're not here. That one's just yours. It won't hurt you.

[ Just walking closer to her, carefully, like dealing with a wounded gazelle or something. ]

[faciliheir]

You think that's gonna stop it? It'll take me down with it; that's what they do!

[just shaking kinda violently nbd]

And it's got another thing coming if it thinks I'm gonna be half as easy to drag off as Dad was! I'm not leaving!

[pinkflip]

[ Kim kneels down, closer to Freddie now. ]

No. It's just worried about you- and if it tries to hurt you, if any of them try to hurt you, I won't let them. Okay? I promise.

[faciliheir]

That's not something you can promise. You shouldn't go around promising things that you can't do.

[just... peering around her because surely the shadows are there now, waiting.]

[pinkflip]

[ She winces. That's...fair. Kim has a habit of doing that. Gently: ] Okay. Then I'll do my best to keep you safe. What about that? If something tries to take you, I won't let them without a fight.

[faciliheir]

[bites her lip, thinking...]

... Suppose revenge is the most I can ask for. [this seems to at least comfort her somewhat?]

[pinkflip]

[ Not...quite what she meant, but if it helps. She reaches out a tentative hand to Freddie's shoulder. ]

I've got you, okay?

[faciliheir]

[she nods stiffly.]

Okay. [she just wishes she didn't fully expect Kim to throw her to the shadows at any moment.]

[pinkflip]

[ Well, to reassure Freddie, Kim's just going to sit with her for awhile. Just stay here in solidarity. ]

[faciliheir]

[she. appreciates the solidarity. but her eyes keep darting around.]

... Some of it, it's like what Basil went through, with the curses. Where he kept seeing his ex. Things that can't be real. [unlike the killer shadows, which are definitely real.]

[pinkflip]

It's whatever's out there. [ Her voice cracks a little. No, she is here for Freddie, she's fine. ] I...saw some stuff too.

[faciliheir]

Where are we? How is anyone supposed to find us in all this darkness? There's nothing out there!

[pinkflip]

...It reminds me of a dark dimension. [ She shivers a little. ] I've been stuck in them, a few times. They're...hard to locate, but not impossible.

[faciliheir]

We can't even tell anybody about this, with the mirror... Why can't the shadows kill him? I haven't even done anything!

[pinkflip]

[ She can't answer that...but she gives Freddie's shoulder a gentle squeeze. ]

I... I think if we stay inside, it'll be okay. [ they wouldn't have even had the choice to go out into that if it weren't for her, stupid, with her stupid mouth- ] At least- I haven't seen any of the shadows inside, except for yours.

[faciliheir]

[looks at her uncertainly, because, uh, do you not see the shadows LITERALLY EVERYWHERE?]

Ugh. That jerk. I wish he'd never unlocked that stupid door...

[pinkflip]

[ ah. mmm. Kim glances away. ]

I'm sorry. It- it's my fault. I should've known better than to ask him.