Week 5: April 29th - May 3rd

[cartesio]

Fifth Week

Everything's getting worse. Rose Nylund and Frasier Crane murdered Jughead Jones during the event Jughead worked so hard to organize. Given some of the townspeople were in attendance, it didn't give a good impression -- if the visitors did this when trying to be good people and get along with Cartesio, then how will they behave once they get into destroying everything? The cruel method of Jughead's death also left everyone quite horrified, too.

That may be why it's no surprise the town's quiet unrest is slowly turning into real, tangible fury.

During the week, from time to time stones break some of the windows of the motel, looking outside shows a random passerby running away. Graffiti is left on the walls: 'SEE IF YOU LIKE THIS' 'MURDERERS' 'YOU'RE GOING TO DESTROY US ALL', and other similar messages. Some of the store owners hesitate when the visitors approach, but they don't refuse service because money is always nice.

The Sergeant's pervasive influence is starting to cover not only you, but also the entire town of Cartesio. After all, everything that's happening to you and the motel? It's the result of what you and the other visitors have done.

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

Comments

SUNDAY - April 29th

[cartesio]

 

EXECUTION

[cartesio]

At dawn, two culprits were sentenced to death, and for that, there’d be two executioners. How would it go?

At the usual time, Kino and Wayne are escorted into the execution room and cell area, where Rose and Frasier are awaiting. Even though they have no bindings or handcuffs, they’re awaiting, almost immobile. Kino and Wayne look at each other before Kino steps forward, receiving a gun from the Sergeant.

Anyone watching the execution will see how Kino and Rose enter the room. Rose doesn’t seem very worried; she stands in middle of the room. Even though she got caught and is about to die, she puts a hand on the electric chair, as if she needed it to stand. Kino confronts her, nodding at Rose, an agreement they had made beforehand would be done: she would execute Rose in a quick and painless way. Perhaps like Oda did? Or like Millium did? Rose had no way to know, but she hoped it was going to be over very soon.

“I’m feeling kind of hasty today. Let’s get this done quickly, okay?” said the Sergeant. Both Kino and Wayne nodded, as if this was something they had agreed beforehand with the Sergeant. “One minute. Go!”

Measuredly, taking her time, Kino raised the pistol, while Rose closed her eyes. She expected a bullet, maybe a second of pain, and then it’d be over. That’s why she didn’t expect the bullet that passed through her chest. Her eyes opened, tears filling it immediately, she opened her mouth to ask what was going on when another two pierced her. She couldn’t even look down; she couldn’t see how the bullets had hit her the same way she had shot Jughead. Kino, with superb aim, had imitated what she had seen on Jughead.

“Oh. That’s weird. I missed” she said, not even blinking. Before Rose even had time to react, Kino shot for a fourth time, this time hitting Rose right in the head, the execution had been done. Rose didn’t fall, instead she fell against the chair. Without missing a beat, Kino turned around, throwing the gun upwards, towards the ceiling, the gun twirling, going up and staying in the air.

“Wayne!”

The Sergeant pushed Wayne forward, Wayne didn’t even need that, he was already running into the execution room, passing beside Kino stepping out of the room. Wayne barely had time to process the scene when he was running forward, noting three things in an instant: one, Rose was gone. Two, a very confused Frasier was right in front of the electric chair. The third and last one was that the gun was falling.

With remarkable agility and strength, Wayne grunted and raised a leg, jumping and smashing a knee against the side of Frasier’s neck, throwing him onto the floor. The psychiatrist one moment was seeing Wayne running towards him, the next he was lying on the floor, the base of his skull throbbing with pain where he was hit. All he could see was Wayne’s legs while the young man extended a hand upwards, catching the gun while it descended. With ease, he aimed the gun at Frasier and shot, not even bothering to give him a moment to realize he was about to die.

The man collapsed onto the floor, hit by the bullet. Even with his haste, his executioner had managed to make a perfect shot, killing him instantly, much more merciful than how Kino did it yet with the same underlying vitriol she had. While Wayne shook his head, muttering under his breath, and glanced at the Sergeant, who was looking at his clock. “One minute. Good job, you two”

Neither Kino nor Wayne seemed happy to be congratulated over this, it was more like both had a faint feeling of catharsis – they hadn’t done a good thing, but it was what the culprits deserved, after Jughead had died in such a horrible manner. Without further comment, Wayne tossed the pistol at the Sergeant, who caught it in one hand without even looking, and entered the room. Frasier’s prone body was already gone when he went in.

NEWSPAPER

[cartesio]

[Weather: The frost is gone, but low temperatures persist.

Cruel twist in Jughead Jones' good will celebration.

[There's a photo of the panic. It's impressive, in the worst way possible because it doesn't paint a good image of the talent show]

The tourists' intentions turn out to be darker than expected. A few do have real intentions to not harm us or our town, but as shown during the talent show organized by them, others don't have any qualms with killing and destroying. The trial we witnessed reinforces that idea.

Everyone, we have to consider this: what will happen once everyone in that group who is good-natured dies? The remaining visitors will turn their sights onto us.

We strongly encourage looking for any avenues that could lead to the visitors' expulsion from our once peaceful town. This journalist will look for any legal arguments that could be made. In the meanwhile, lock your doors and make sure to insure your home. Stay safe]

investigation

[clearities]

[ There are no tears; not this time, anyway. She's pretty much kept to herself the last few days and while the graffiti is horrible-- too cruel-- there's much more important things that need to be done. Again, she avoids the execution but she also seems to be purposely distancing herself from... most of the others, actually. So she puts her efforts into being productive. She's going to be searching out the new locations to see if there are any familiar faces, and also seeking out any sorts of magic traces, too. Eventually this leads her into the flower shop, where she asks to buy many white chrysanthemums. How peculiar. She then quickly runs back to the motel lobby, where she tries to set up a table - placing the flowers and the cranes that she's been making the last couple of weeks on it. She's also going to making small little paper memorials, a name of each of the ones they've lost on each one-- including the two that died during the "test run". If nobody is going to set a grave for them, then... at the very least, she can set a memorial instead. ]

Motel lobby

[pursuitofdeath]

[Dazai was just on his way out when he sees Sakura’s memorial. He hums— it’s a lovely sentiment. And it brings a bit of beauty to their motel, which is hard to find now, with the graffiti and rock throwing.]

...It would look nice with some candles. Perhaps it would help chase away some of the darkness.

Lobby

[silvertongueheir]

[He stares at the memorial for a while before speaking.] Should we hold a wake, perhaps? It would be quite belated, but it may also offer some closure.

lobby

[robitussin]

[She's heading back inside the motel when she sees the memorial Sakura has put up; she looks at it for a few moments before speaking, expression tightening slightly.]

...That's a good idea. You want any help with it?

Investigation

[cartesio]

[Bless you, Sakura, for being productive.

Remember this regal young lady? She's enjoying the flower shop, almost always you can see her coming and going, with bouquets every time. Decorating wherever she lives, most likely. Although she's not fond of the flytraps, because...who would be, really.

Another thing Sakura may notice is that there's something off about Cartesio. Back then, in the first few weeks, there were no signs of unfamiliar magic, or ghosts. Now, walking around the town, it's different. Brief bursts of magic signatures spring in random places around town, so brief and so quick she may think her senses are deceiving her. Her ghost-sensing skill reacts similarly, although much less often, like her senses aren't sure if they should even be registering anything.]

[pursuitofdeath]

[On Sunday, the usually lazy Dazai seems restless. He leaves early in the morning, stopping by the bakery to purchase some pastries. It’s very random selection— pointing at this and that like he doesn’t even know what he’s buying... or case. He stops by the park to eat them but... there are a lot of extras, if you’re hungry.

In the afternoon he goes to the cinema but— he’s not really here for the movies, though they don’t bother him. He just likes having the dark place to think.

And finally in the evening he pays a visit to the flower shop. He doesn’t seem to have anything to buy, but he spends a long time looking like maybe he wanted to?

As it gets colder and darker though he seems to just wander around outside like he doesn’t have anywhere to go. More realistically he just doesn’t know where he should be going.]

wandering

[robitussin]

[It's unclear where she's heading when she comes across him, but when she sees him there... She wasn't concerned enough to seek him out after the trial, but there's a measure of worry in her voice when she speaks to him now.]

...Shouldn't you be heading inside? It's freezing.

[She says, despite the fact that she's doing much of the same.]

park

[carbide]

[Olympia doesn't really get hungry as such, but she theoretically appreciates the offer in the action tag.

She's not sure she has anything to say, either. Standing here awkwardly is a good plan, right?]

flower shop

[integratedsoul]

We got a nice place this time.

[ Cian greets Dazai with a warm smile as she joins him in looking at the display. Staring at flowers for a long while doesn't strike her as particularly unusual, they're soothing among the stress that is the rest of their existence in Cartesio. ]

investigation

[odasaku]

[ oda is a good errand boy and, in the morning, he can be found sweeping up the shards of glass of what used to be a window. while he understands the town's vitriol towards them, he doesn't want anyone to end up hurting themselves. once that's done, he'll...do his best to tape the hole left with some duct tape and some garbage bags.

it's not pretty, but it'll do.

besides that, oda will brace the cold in order to attack the graffiti with a bucket of paint and a brush, obviously making an attempt to cover up the horrible message written on the front. it doesn't even seem like he's bothered by the cold, but you can tell that his cheeks and nose are red from all the time outside.

and, lastly...oda will be taking up the challenge to investigate the new abandoned building that's shown up! it's late afternoon so maybe the lighting isn't so great but hey, repairing the motel takes time, okay? ]

Investigation

[cartesio]

[Good luck with the new building! When you enter--oh, wait, you can't enter. Right on the doorway there's what seems to be a metallic shelf blocking your way. It's really dusty, it must have been left here long ago.

Can you get it out of the way?]

cleaning

[robitussin]

[It's when he's tending to the empty windowpane with tape and bags that Natalie happens to pass by. Carefully, she leans against the wall near the window, glancing his way.]

...You want a hand with that?

[pursuitofdeath]

[On Oda's way back from his investigation he might notice that someone's out wandering with-- something in his hands?

It doesn't take long for Dazai to notice he's there.

And the something gets pushed into Oda's hands. It's a colorful combination of hyacinth and tulips.

...well then.]

painting the outdoors

[integratedsoul]

[ Cian can absolutely understand wanting to be rid of the graffiti. Seeing it the first time absolutely threw her. Cruelties like this are novel to her, but she can't say she truly blames the townspeople now. It's awkward.

Seeing Oda work outdoors to fix it though, Cian has to smile a little. Oda's always there when something needs fixing. It's nice. ]

Oda-san! Shouldn't you take a break and warm up soon?

[streetwolf]

It's not going to be long now till things completely go to shit huh?

[He just walks throw the glassshards without a beat. His boots can handle it fine.]

Investigation!

[quickpersuader]

[Wherever Kino is found today, she will be dressed in a brown coat over the black jacket. It looks too big on her, really, but she doesn't seem to mind.]

[Flower Shop - Investigation!]

[Kino will be spending some time here checking out all of the available plants. As mentioned during the trial, she does have some awareness to the type of things that can kill her on the road, but does that match with anything here...?

However, when the PCs find her, she will be drawn to the flowers in particular. Come take a look with her? The red lilies are beautiful...]

[Cinema]

[Kino actually sits through an entire film - some typical adventure one where rule of cool trumps reality in every way - and pops the very last of her popcorn into her mouth.]

...I don't think they had that much ammunition.

[Especially for that last battle.]

[Park]

[But, eventually, she'll just head right back here. This time, she does take some rocks and start tossing them in, but it's with less agitation than the last time. She even manages to skip a few.

Her outward demeanor is calm. But is that really the case after everything...?]

[cartesio]

[There's this really big greenhouse of the back, giving growing space to a lot of plants. Most of them are flowers -- very beautiful flowers, even species that aren't native to this area. How nice!

Although the amount of flytraps is kind of weird, but surely that's to avoid any harmful insects from eating the flowers.

That said, there's a corner of the greenhouse that doesn't seem to be stuff for sale...take a closer look?]

park

[robitussin]

[It's not rare for Natalie to frequent the park, and when she spots Kino, she slows to a stop.]

...Hey.

[Unlike her usual routine, she actually came to watch the execution this morning.]

cinema

[protectandselfserve]

Well, they didn't, but the plot provides when it results in a flashier narrative.

[because why not watch a dumb action movie?]

[investigation]

[protectandselfserve]

[This just keeps getting worse and worse, huh? Well, Gant supposes there's nothing that can be done about it until they get some kind of leg up on Sarge. Of course, the fact that it's far too cold to swim in the mornings isn't helping the matter, but at the very least, he can be seen jogging around the park at an unholy hour and waving cheerfully to passers by, whether they're residents or fellow "tourists." Thank god he managed to find a blinding neon tracksuit to wear, even if it's lime green instead of orange this time.

After returning to the hotel and getting ready for the day proper, he heads to the diner to have his morning coffee and a slice of pie while he reads the paper.]

Hmmm... I suppose we're going to have no luck hitchhiking our way out of here, huh? They want us gone, certainly, but we're basically the ol' hook handed hitchhiker at this point.

...

Actually, I think the hook might give us better odds.

[Anyway, when he discovers it, he's going to spend a good chunk of the rest of the day at the bowling alley, because he loves stupid games and having fun. Certainly, not all of the day is spent bowling, because... hey. Why not poke around some? He's found crucial evidence in weirder places, after all.]

[doublelammy]

[motel]

[Millium can be found not in her own room, but in Oda's, sitting on a somewhat awkwardly-placed bed and staring intently at a teddy bear that's about half as large as she is.

Whatever she's thinking about in this staring contest with this bear, she's deep enough in it to not notice people walking by... or coming in.]

[flower shop]

[Depending on when you come in and find her, Millium will be doing one of two things:

1) Poking at the venus fly traps and pulling her fingers out before they can "bite" her with a bright smile

or 2) Asking the (slightly disturbed-looking) clerk what kinds of flowers are best for laying on graves.

She can be interrupted at either.]

[graveyard]

[Millium is here with an armful of lilies, going by each grave and setting a single lily atop each.

Some small measure of goodwill toward the town, perhaps, even if they won't have it towards her.]

Who wants to go splunking in a tomb?

[streetwolf]

[After the excution, Wayne can be found in the motel eating a piping hot bowl of pasta. Where’d he get that from? Who knows but it smells amazing and it’s not going to last long. Even if he stops to think occasionally.

This was going to suck if they got caught.

... So he needs to be prepared and make sure some of the others are ready. So in the morning, he can be found in the hardware store looking at torches. Flicking some on and off to test them and see how bright they are.

Something bright enough to see clearly, but not so bright that it'll light up the windows. Can be turned off quickly and quietly. Heck, being able to blind someone for a few seconds would be a great distraction. He's going to test them all. Waving the torch a bit for the last one to make it look accidental.]

Oh... My bad.

[Once he's found the perfect torch he's leaving. Grabbing two crowbars as discreetly as he can and paying. It's all being hidden in his room after that.

He sighs as he leaves the motel again. Cause now its time for the hard part - finding people who'd help desecrate a grave.

He's really wishing Nine and Clarisse was still here. They'd probably be down for it. But for the heavy lifting he needs someone strong. Keith, Sting, Olympia. Sorry but you seem strong enough to help. So you’re getting ran at. Along with Franciscus and Kino. Cause they seem smart enough to be helpful.

So… I might have found something linked with the vandalism from last week. But it involves going somewhere we really don’t want to get caught.

[Niwa though, you’re getting something a bit more specific.]

Uhh. This eye of the cornrat thing. How’s it work exactly? Would you be able to see something coming from a distance?

[Everyone else, have fun wondering why Wayne’s looking for those randoms. There’s some of you he’d like to ask and he hesitates for a moment whenever he spots someone he’s not already decided on. Got to list the pros and cons here…]