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

[relieable]

Eh, I guess it's the same reason everyone calls you Keet. It's usually affectionate teasing. Though, with Nacc-- erm, Natalie, it's because she reminds me of someone. I mean no disrespect, though! Honest! Like I said, affection!

[marmoron]

....it's supposed to be affectionate?

[OK, look this is news to him. He's pretty strongly under the impression that people just want to irritate him.]

[relieable]

[he feels like he's... teaching Keith something here. incredible]

Yeah, man! I think a lot of people really like you. I mean, sure, sometimes nicknames can be irritating. [and Keith is fun to irritate] But, I think in your case, it means that people wanna be close to you. I didn't see anyone here who looked like they wanted to bully you, yanno?

[marmoron]

[Look, his friends at home don't call him by pet nicknames, this is just not a Friend Experience (tm) he's had before.]

I... don't know about that.

[For various reasons. Have you SEEN that statue, Oso? He's clearly being bullied here! But there's a beat and he adds a bit more seriously.]

Haven't exactly made myself likeable either.

[It's at least closer to acknowleding he was in the wrong in how he handled talking to Sakura at the meeting on Tuesday.]

[relieable]

[Osomatsu's going to cut Keith a piece of cake. he needs a piece since he doesn't get nicknames]

...I wouldn't worry about that. People still seem to like you, anyway. You're just fun to tease 'cause you get upset easily.

[marmoron]

[He'll accept the cake, but there's a bit of a ?? expression on his face as he does so.]

I'm not ... [He trails off. There probably isn't going to be a satisfying explanation for why this is entertaining for people. In the end, it's all just starting to remind him of how things used to be with Lance back when they were piloting Red and Blue respectively. He sighs, then adds super belatedly:]

Never mind. Happy Birthday. There anything I can get you while we still have unlimited cash?

[relieable]

[hm]

Thanks... Normally, I'd take you up on the offer but... I can get whatever I want here, myself. Besides, there's not much in Cartesio that I want. [he's just glad to be alive, okay]

[marmoron]

Well what do you want back home then?

[relieable]

Back home? [HMMM a loaded question] Guess a girlfriend'd be nice. Or just a bunch of cash.

[marmoron]

You want a girlfriend for your birthday?

[Oso, why this....]

[relieable]

[WHAT IS WRONG WITH WANTING A GIRLFRIEND ON YOUR BIRTHDAY]

Doesn't have to be my birthday. I'd settle for one, any day.

[marmoron]

[IT'S JUST A VERY UNRELATABLE BIRTHDAY WISH IS ALL....]

And you'd be okay with any girl?

[Time for a bite of cake.]

[relieable]

[blinks at the question]

I... Dunno, actually. I guess, as long as she liked me back, it'd be okay. [he has to bite his tongue here, so he doesn't say something shallow]

[marmoron]

[Have a blink right back.]

...that's your only criteria?

[relieable]

[he tenses up a bit, blushing. why is Keith asking these questions? they're hard...]

I-I mean... No, but... [AHEM, he loosens the collar of his shirt] That's what's important, right? To like someone, and have them... like you back...

[marmoron]

[Okay, so Keith knows next to nothing about relationships and all, and frankly he wouldn't even be having this conversation if it weren't for the fact that romantic relationships somehow meandered their way into significance, but...]

...I guess...?

[Frown. Another bite of cake.]

But what if she was just a terrible person to everyone else though.

[Why do conversations always end up incredibly not-fun when Keet's involved again...]

[relieable]

[oh... he actually hadn't thought about that. Osomatsu sits up, tilting his head as though he's just been enlightened.

for some reason, Totoko crosses his mind at that moment, but that's probably just because he's thinking about girlfriends and not because she's a horrible person to him and his brothers and everyone.

AHHH~ Totoko is so cute!]

That's... not... I think you're thinking too hard about this!

[marmoron]

[He's quiet for a moment.]

Maybe.

[It's annoying how little certainty he really feels about anything pertaining to this though. Give him a mecha to pilot and an enemy to fight -- he knows how to do that, no problem.]

So uh.. you've had lots of girlfriends before then?

[relieable]

[...Osomatsu would laugh if he weren't so upset by the question. as it is, he snorts, which is the best that he can do, turning his head away for a moment]

...I've never had one.

[marmoron]

[....oh.]

Sorry. Didn't mean to ask anything upsetting.

[relieable]

[Osomatsu shrugs. he kind of? wants to open up to Keith. but then feels like Keith wouldn't want to hear about his problems. so Osomatsu waves him off, forcing the usual grin onto his face]

It's fine! [it's not fine] It's not upsetting! [but it is upsetting!] Girls don't go for losers like me. They want the cool macho hero type. Like you!

[you normie! ...no, Keith's better than normal, isn't he? but as jealous as Osomatsu is of Keith, he doesn't hate him. maybe because Keith isn't fucking perfect. he's made a lot of mistakes, has said mean things. yet he's still ultimately good]

[marmoron]

[Even to Keith it's pretty obvious that it's not "okay" but the rest of what follows has him too baffled to even think about prodding.]

What are you talking about?

[SINCE WHEN WAS HE POPULAR WITH GIRLS AGAIN??]

You do realize... people tend to think I'm weird, right?

[relieable]

........Really? [he looks a bit surprised... maybe not that surprised. Keith is kind of weird]

[marmoron]

...yeah?

[Feels weird having to point this out tbh.]

Girls don't get interested in me the way you're imagining.

[relieable]

[oh. Osomatsu blinks again, slower this time, like he wants to say something. Keith was only in Cartesio for two months, and he and Natalie were...

well, whatever]

...Guess we both think the best of each other. [a light laugh. it's new to him, for someone to think he'd had a lot of girlfriends, for someone to want to talk to him and get to know him better. he hasn't had that in... well, forever]