Week 4: April 22nd - April 26th

[cartesio]

Fourth Week

A second murder shook the town of Cartesio. Clarisse's ambush plan ended with Katsuki Bakugou's death. Now what?

Nothing to be done other than continuing their life and watch what happens. After two weeks, after the deaths they have seen, it's hard to think there's a way out. The only option is to wait for the right chance to turn the tables and see a weak point in the Sergeant's plans -- and hopefully not see any murders.

The townspeople's attitude towards the tourists soured even more. The destruction of the church was much worse than anything they had seen so far, and they ran out of patience. People who in the past were nice and wanted nothing more than to make the tourists happy now aren't afraid of saying to their faces what's what. Random pedestrians shout at the visitors, telling them to stop being criminals. Although there are a few who have more patience than the rest, general opinion is clear:

The tourists are nuisances, to say the least.

In the lobby of the motel there's a few more brochures, and the maps have been updated once again.

Links

IC Rules
Guestbook
Room Assignments
Events
Locations
NPCs
Activity Check

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

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

Comments

[robitussin]

No, I mean...

[She pauses, trying to decide the best way to put this.]

If there was someone who found you when you were in a bad place and helped you find the way to go, wouldn't you feel even more lost without them?

[marmoron]

[He's quiet for a moment longer.]

..Yeah, I did.

That whole period of time when Shiro had just disappeared after their battle with Zarkon? It'd been like nothing else fucking mattered but trying to end the war as quickly as possible no matter what price they had to pay just so he could devote all of his energy to finding Shiro again. But--]

The situation's different now. Of course, I'd rather have him by my side, but Shiro or no Shiro -- I know what I have to do.

[He looks up again.]

Is that how you feel right now? Lost?

[robitussin]

[She blinks when he asks, immediately realizing that she's made (what she considers) a mistake by saying that, and shakes her head.]

That's not... No. I shouldn't have-- it's fine.

[marmoron]

Natalie, I'm serious.

Look, I know I'm not exactly the easiest person to talk to, but... it's okay if it is. I'll help you. I'm not about to let the Sergeant use either of us in whatever it is he's trying to achieve. But we're gonna have to be able to trust each other more.

[robitussin]

I'm serious, too, okay?

[Fight or flight instinct finally kicking in, she shakes her head, standing up from the table.]

That's probably the similarity, so we figured it out, so - I should go.

1/2

[marmoron]

[Ah. Upsetting a girl while he's sitting down with them at a place that serves food. Did that twice with Cian already and now apparently it's time to do do this with Natalie. Keith's aware that he can be abrasive to a fault -- perhaps that's easier in a way since people have predictable reactions to that.

So when he's actually trying to be considerate and things go sour? That's more disconcerting than he can really put words to. He blinks in surprise.]

I'm --

[marmoron]

[Fuck. Keith just cuts himself off and gets to his feet as well.]

Whatever. You were here first. I'll get out of your hair.

[It's probably the wrong thing to say -- that much occurs to him as he says it, but it's not really a sentiment he'd take back.]

[robitussin]

[She knows that he hasn't done anything wrong; it's not his fault that she's uncomfortable talking about this, after all. So, she doesn't sit down, and she doesn't leave, either. Instead, after a moment:]

I brought it up. You didn't... do anything. You don't have to go.

[marmoron]

[There's a moment where they're both just standing there, not sitting down, not leaving. A moment where Keith just feels so profoundly awkward that he doesn't know if he wants to glare or look away. The Keith of the past would have simply stormed off without a second thought. The option is still massively appealing if he's honest with himself -- interpersonal relationships confuse him, other people's feelings are hard fo deal with after a lifetime not giving two shits and it's all so messy in a way that fighting just isn't.

But Keith quite that same person anymore. Or at least, he was trying not to be for the sake of the paladins. He breathes out after a moment, arms folded across his chest.]

Look. [Deep breath. Let's try to sound a little less prickly.] It's fine. I'd rather eat in my room anyway. Don't really care for all the dirty looks I'm getting. I'm sorry that this wasn't easy for you to talk about, but it wasn't easy for me either. I'll see you later.

[robitussin]

[She doesn't voice it, but there's a moment after he speaks that it's impossible to hide the shades of guilt that move through her expression. She hadn't considered that - and it dawns on her that that's part of the problem. After a moment:]

Wait, I wasn't trying to...

[A breath in, a breath out. While she doesn't finish that thought, it's not difficult to tell that she's trying to voice that she wasn't trying to upset him.]

Look, you were right, okay? That's all.

[About her feeling lost, that is.]

[marmoron]

[Keith says nothing for a moment, brow furrowing but not with annoyance or dislike.

That's just normal, isn't it? You don't just grab a teenager with no experience with the paranormal or serious violence, throw them into an environment where you're expected to kill and not end up with a disoriented, lost mess. There's more to it than the obvious "duh" factor of it, but it still makes Keith sigh.

But then again, he can respect that it's because you're in a place like this that admitting that you're scared is even scarier. Keith has his objectives to keep him grounded; he doesn't quite know how he'd be reacting to all of his if he'd been brought here when he was her age.]

Let's both just get out of here. [A beat, then he tries again. Softer.] I'm probably the last person you want to hear this from, but... you don't have to be brave alone.

[robitussin]

[A few responses come to mind and then fade before she says them. Eventually, as she grabs her notebook and plate and stands up:]

...Neither do you.

[Then, after a hesitation so brief it's barely noticeable, she turns to leave.]

[marmoron]

[Keith stops in the middle of grabbing his food and drink like he's grinding to an abrupt halt. Her words have him taken aback, but before he can respond to them, she's walking away.

Keith doesn't call after her, but he watches her leave the bakery for a moment before giving himself a mental shake and leaves the premises himself.]