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]

[There's a pause before she speaks, but it's difficult for her to keep the irritation from her voice when she does.]

...What do you want me to say here, exactly?

[marmoron]

I don't know.

[That's not a lie. He has plenty of things he'd like to say, but not a whole lot that he wants to hear that hasn't already been said. In short, he's not listening and frustratingly enough he knows he's not listening, but it's hard to shakeoff the feeling the she's not listening either.]

Say what you want to.

[robitussin]

I already did. I explained everything you asked me to. And I get that you're pissed, fair enough, but...

[She sighs.]

I don't know, either.

[marmoron]

[He's quiet for a long moment, but finally he looks away. This isn't the time to start bickering amongst themselves -- a fractured group is only going to help the Sergeant and hurt them. He knew this back in deep space when he started that fucking argument over Lotor. He knows this now. So why is it so hard to let this go?]

I'm gonna go before I say something stupid.

[Maybe that's not right either. Trying to abandon the paladins only made shit worse. He breathes out.]

Look. Having to hear about this stuff from the Sergeant ... it just stings. alright?

[robitussin]

...I should have thought about that more.

[It's a quiet admission, uncomfortable.]

I just - wanted you to be safe.

[marmoron]

[There's a longer pause before he looks at her again.]

I know.

[Sometimes he has to wonder if things would be better if she didn't, but...]

I'm sorry. I don't think I'm in a good place right now.

[robitussin]

...You don't have to apologize, you know.

[She's sure that isn't exactly rare among all of them.]

Did something else happen, though...?

[marmoron]

Fine. I'll take it back then.

[He's still sounding faintly annoyed there, but not much more than usual.]

I've just been thinking. How likely do you think it is that the Sergeant's being brainwashed ny his boss?

[robitussin]

[She pauses for a moment, taking in both statements. She doesn't comment on the first, but...]

...You think maybe when he presses his hand to his ear, it's not that he's getting orders, it's that he's being controlled somehow?

[marmoron]

I don't know, but he got real touchy about the suggestion.

["Suggestion." More like he yelled it at the guy because he was pissed, but same difference. There's a pause, and then:]

I made a deal with him.

[robitussin]

...I have literally no right to judge you for that, but - can you tell me what it was?

[marmoron]

[Nope, definitely no right to judge at all, buuuut that's okay because he's doing a lot of the judging himself anyway.]

I don't know if I can. It's a long shot, but I'm not risking him deciding it's void because I said too much.

[The only reason he figures saying a deal exists doesn't count is because Sarge set the precedent that it doesn't. Either way, he figures Natalie's perceptive enough to guess what the terms are given what he's said.]

Just let me know if there's anything you learn about brainwashing.

[robitussin]

I will.

[...]

Just - whatever it is, be careful, okay?

[marmoron]

[There's a pause.]

I have to be careful.

[A beat.]

You're going to come after me if I'm not.

[robitussin]

...That's probably the worst way you could have phrased that.

[marmoron]

Are you actually offended?

[robitussin]

I mean, no. I'm just saying.

[But...]

I will definitely come for you, though.

[marmoron]

Suppose that's a good deterrent.

[...but despite it all, he says it with a small smile.]

[robitussin]

[He'll get one in return.]

That's what I'm here for.

[marmoron]

[A pause.]

Is that what we're doing now? Threatening each other to stay safe.

[robitussin]

You don't need to threaten me. I've been staying safe starting... last week or so?

[marmoron]

That's what you say now. I'm sure something will come up again before we leave.

[robitussin]

...Maybe we can just both promise to not do anything dangerous unless we absolutely have to?

[marmoron]

[More seriously.]

Look. I'll have your back no matter what kind of trouble you put yourself in. Just... tell me if you're going to do something dangerous before you actually do it, okay?

[Just... some kind of warning maybe?? And maybe not hearing about it second hand from someone else would be great too??]

[robitussin]

[There's a pause for a moment, but her first thought is...]

Really?

[She's not exactly used to having someone in her corner.]