WEEK 1: April 2nd - April 6th

[cartesio]

Peace Week

Sunday must have been exhausting for you, maybe even upsetting. A new town, new faces and a an ominous order from a man without a face... who wouldn't be a little frightened? Hopefully, all of that is forgotten when you climb out from under your blankets this fine Monday. Rise and shine! A new morning is a new start!

If you make your way to the lounge, you will find a few copies of the local newspaper provided for your perusal. Once you go outdoors, you'll find the weather forecast 100% accurate. It's pretty impressive.

It seems that quiet mornings like this are going to be your everyday life now. Maybe you should see this whole stay as a vacation? Go out and explore the town, meet your fellow motel guests and meet the townspeople. They're sure to welcome you with a smile!

This week's special in the diner is lemon pie made with love (and a top-secret recipe)

Links

IC Rules
Guestbook
Room Assignments
Locations
NPCs
Activity Check

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

[Welcome to the peace week! This week there won't be a murder nor a task. Enjoy the peace while it lasts! If you want to contact the Sergeant, please post here!]

Comments

[robitussin]

I'm still 95% sure that waiting for something terrible to happen doesn't count as peace.

[quickpersuader]

[Kino gives a slight shrug.]

If I spent my time worrying whenever things were tense, I'd never get any rest at all.

[Another day in the life, really.]

[robitussin]

[She can see the logic in that, but it makes her wonder...]

Are things, uh, normally this tense for you?

[quickpersuader]

They can be. The roads are dangerous for travelers.

[robitussin]

[A pause.]

You're... traveling alone?

[quickpersuader]

I have Hermes with me, but he can't fight. Well, in some cases, he makes us an even bigger target. A few people have tried to steal him for themselves.

[robitussin]

[That makes her curious, but what concerns her more is what's unspoken. As such, there's a frown that accompanies her words.]

Aren't you my age? Where are your parents?

[quickpersuader]

[Kino just stares at Natalie for a short moment before giving a shake of the head.]

[robitussin]

...Sorry.

[She seems uncomfortable saying it, and she moves on quickly.]

You didn't have any relatives you could stay with?

[quickpersuader]

Mm, that wasn't the problem.

[How to put it...]

I fled my country. Even if I returned, I definitely wouldn't be welcomed back.

[It's said just as calmly as the rest.]

[robitussin]

Oh.

[And then, a bit more bluntly, with a curious edge:]

What'd you do? I mean, did you get banished or something, or do they just not like people leaving?

[quickpersuader]

In my country, everyone receives an operation to become an "adult" when they turn twelve. But right before my twelfth birthday, a traveler came to our country and told me a little of his experiences traveling.

After learning that it was possible to live without the operation, I thought that I would have liked to try to become an adult without it. But in my country, that causes a child to be labeled as "defective."

[So.

Y'know.

Kino can continue, if you'd like to know more. For the heavy subject matter, Kino doesn't seem particularly bothered.]

[robitussin]

[She pauses for a long moment, taking that all in; it's not hard to tell from her expression that she's fairly horrified.]

...Holy shit.

[quickpersuader]

[A wry smile.]

Adults in that country have the right to dispose of their defective child. So I definitely won't be returning to that place.

[robitussin]

Why would they... Jesus christ. What did the surgery do, even? That's fucked up!

mild surgery mention

[quickpersuader]

The way they put it, they cut the child's head open and took out the child, leaving only an adult who would do their work with a smile on their face, no matter how much they disliked it.

[Back then, Kino hadn't even been able to conceive of the idea of a job or lifestyle that could be fun as an adult. Hard, awful work was just... part of being an adult.]

[robitussin]

[Once she takes a moment to understand that, she pales, shaking her head.]

What the fuck?! That's - disgusting!

[quickpersuader]

Anyway, since I left under those circumstances - I don't think I would receive a warm welcome back.

[Though Kino doesn't sound too torn up about it.]

[robitussin]

...Yeah, I guess not. Shit.

[She runs a hand through her hair, still obviously thrown off from what she's hearing.]

Still, it's - good you left a place like that. Your country is the only one that does it...?

[quickpersuader]

As far as I know of.

[There's still many other countries Kino's yet to see.]

I wouldn't say that's the worst country I've ever seen, though.

[robitussin]

[She pauses. If the first one was a low bar and the one Kino is speaking of now goes even below it, then...]

I almost don't want to ask.

[quickpersuader]

I won't tell it if you don't want to hear.

[This is a no judgment zone.]

[robitussin]

...It's probably better for you if we talk about something else, too, right?

[Even if Kino's seemed mostly unbothered, it's hard for Natalie to imagine that she doesn't mind discussing it.]

[quickpersuader]

[Kino doesn't particularly mind, but there's no need to tell a story unasked.

Kino's gaze returns to the direction of the lodge.]

Either way - I'm used to being in tense situations by now. I'll save my worrying for when there's a weapon pointed at me.

[robitussin]

...Just make sure not to let your guard down until it gets to that point.

[Though she isn’t too worried about that any longer, after what she’s just heard.]