Week 8 - May 20th - May 24th

[cartesio]

Last Week

With the weekend's latest tragedy, a strange mood has descended over Cartesio. What happened was unprecedented, and perhaps that's why the already decreasing hostility from the townsfolk comes to a complete halt. Could it be the strange circumstances? Bolin's desperate plea? Last week's peaceful Wednesday? Some combination? Whatever the reason, it's clear that the Sergeant's iron fist around the town has loosened. While the residents aren't jumping to interact with you, there's no graffiti, no new broken windows.

Cartesio is confused...but open to explanation, for perhaps the first time.

Still, while the town seems amiable, almost accepting again, there's little to chase away the knowledge that the Sergeant's tasks for you are near their end, and that means those without medals are doomed to their fate.

Or does it? After everything that's turned around, is it possible for you to claw your way out of here as well?

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[Welcome to the final week! If you want to contact the Sergeant, please post here!. Also please remember to submit your activity check!]

Comments

[robitussin]

[After the execution, it's well into the afternoon when Natalie leaves her room again. She heads to the community kitchen first, but... Even though she has ingredients set out on the counter, she seems to be stalling rather than preparing them in any way.

Later on, she can be found in the library, sitting at a desk with a stack of books in front of her. There doesn't seem to be any unifying theme between what she's reading... Or trying to read, at least. If she sees anyone approach, she'll put the book down and glance their way wordlessly.]

community kitchen

[clearities]

Natalie? [ hi, Sakura's here and avidly curious about what she's doing here ]

[robitussin]

[She looks over towards Sakura as she speaks, raising a hand in greeting.]

Hey.

[clearities]

Are you making something? [ curiosity killed the cat, as they say and why would someone be in the kitchen and not be making something...?? ]

[robitussin]

Yeah... Nothing special, though.

[If Sakura glances over, it's not hard to tell that she has some ingredients for pork chops laid out.]

[clearities]

It might not be something special, but I think that food expresses the kind of person you are. Especially if it's good food.

[robitussin]

[She tilts her head.]

What do you mean?

[marmoron]

[She didn't want him to stay and watch the execution, but that was never going to happen. It's not something he necessarily wants to watch, but it's something he feels he has to watch. He doesn't know what's harder to take in -- the fact that Natalie's so obviously terrified or that Bolin, even in his final moments, is trying to make it easier. When the gun does finally go off, he doesn't look away, but it's clear that he's looking past what's going on.

Sentiments like this shouldn't even be fucking happening are the norm for Cartesio really, but it's always been something that was blanketed in rage. Something that could be dealt with by making vengeful promises nobody asked him to make. Watching Natalie stand there frozen though... part of him is angry all over again that she took it upon herself to volunteer for this. An even bigger part of him just feels bitterly helpless.

She leaves and he leaves with her, not knowing what to say. Eventually though...]

You shouldn't dwell on it.

[robitussin]

[By the time she leaves the execution room, it's hard to fill her lungs, and her hands are shaking. She's honestly forgot, in the span of a few minutes, that he'll be waiting for her when she emerges. That's evident enough when she walks out of the room, staring at the floor, only looking up when she hears his voice.

Her response is hollow, distant.]

Yeah. No... You're right.

[marmoron]

[The way she's acting isn't surprising, but that doesn't mean he feels particularly equipped to deal with it. Perhaps he doesn't have to -- she brought this upon herself by volunteering in the first place. The thought is immediately appealing on a colder, more cynical level, but he forces it aside. She's dealing with more than she bargained for and...

He hesitates, but once he's made up his mind there's no faltering. He reaches out to touch her arm, his grip firm and steady.]

Let's go.

[robitussin]

[The touch surprises her, but even so, she's silent for another few moments. She volunteered to do this. She... told herself she was ready for this, because it would help him. It's not fair for her to be emotional over it in front of him, is it?

That doesn't change the fact that he'll be able to tell that she's still shaking when he touches her arm.]

Okay. [...] I'm sorry.

[marmoron]

[She's shaking and he wants to not feel anything about this. But even if he were able to just brush this off as her having done this to herself, it wouldn't really make anything better. She'd still be upset, and it'd stil indirectly be his fault for scaring her badly enough during the trial that she'd go to these extremes, and...

And it still wouldn't change the fact that there's so much he would do to make all of her hurt go away... but he fucking can't. He can't go back in time and stop her from volunteering. He can't excise how she feels and just take the burden for himself. His hand moves down her arm to grab her hand tight in his.]

Don't. ]A beat. Softer.] You don't have to apologize.

[A breath out, then he starts leading the way out of the execution site.]

I should've tried to stop it.