WEEK 0 — ARRIVAL

[cartesio]

Week 0: Arrival

When you wake up you immediately feel something’s off. You sit on the bed and find it’s not your bed, and this isn’t your room either. You seem to be in a rather normal-looking motel room. To your side there’s a trunk, if you open it you’ll find a military uniform, the key to your room, a set of rules and a debit card. Don’t lose those items! Or do lose the rules, you'll find a brand new copy the next day under your pillow. There’s also a calendar on the wall, you can see today’s date. The year is unreadable, but the month and day are very clear:

March 28^th
There it says ‘Meet the Sergeant at the Lodge, 9:00 AM’. There’s also a circle around March 31st, with the word ‘END’ scrawled there.

For now leaving your motel room would be a good choice. When you reach the lobby, you see the receptionist’s desk— no one’s manning it. There’s a rack filled with maps, marking several locations in the town.

There are also many strangers here – and you’re one more. For now it may be a good idea to take a map and explore the town.

After all, looks like you’re stuck here in the boonies for a while.

Links

IC Rules
Room Assignments
Locations
Tasks (LOCKED currently)

March 28^th
March 29^th
March 30^th

Comments

[cartesio]

Do you think I went around choosing random civilians for this? You all are here because I believe you're capable of doing what I say.

The reasons behind this are none of your concern. All you have to do is take care of your own survival.

[He says that with a tone that simply oozes 'I can't believe I have to deal with this'. He really is shutting out anyone who dares to speak against this]

[intentus]

Saying someone's "capable" of it doesn't mean anything. [ most humans, most youkai too, are capable of being kind or being cruel. a moment passes where he recalls something from his past—the words of a youkai, tenderly whispered into his ear.

he continues speaking anyway. ]

Because you're capable of stopping this, aren't you? But you're not considering doing it, just because it's not what you want.

[ he's definitely gonna keep trying even if he's being shut out! ]

[cartesio]

I'd say it means a lot. If I didn't believe you're capable of taking a life with your own hands, I wouldn't have brought you at all.

[The Sergeant scratches below his helmet]

...I wouldn't say I can stop this. Even if someone dies in two hours, you all have to stay here until the end of the month. Logistics issues. Don't blame me for that part.

[intentus]

[ what you think they're capable of what they really are might not be the same thing. that's what natsume's thinking, at least. ]

If you're the one saying you want someone to kill, why wouldn't you say you can stop it? Why can't you ask for something else, something that doesn't involve anyone dying? And why do you have to ask for any of this at all?

[cartesio]

Okay, fine, let's "suppose"-- [He even does the air quotes] --I do what you say. Any ideas?

Come on, if you don't want to do it my way, then show me your way. If not killing, then what do you think I should make you all do?

[Unlike for when Millium said that, the Sergeant doesn't sound nearly as encouraging. Maybe because Natsume already is deep into his list of people he'd like not to deal with much.

And yeah, he's expecting Natsume to say something without even telling them the reasons for what they're here for. Talking to this guy seems to be like bashing your head against a wall repeatedly, only less productive somehow]

[intentus]

[ what he thinks? he glances over at some of the other people here. it's obvious, isn't it? ]

I don't think you should make anyone do anything. [ in other words, you're really asking the wrong person here. ] I'm sorry, I don't know how else to answer. I don't even understand why you want someone dead in the first place.

[cartesio]

[He shouldn't make anyone do anything, huh]

I think the fact you were all brought here without your consent shows I'm not particularly concerned about your wishes.

[The lack of concrete answer disappoints him. The Sergeant crosses his arms, glaring at Natsume]

I said you don't need to know the reason behind any of this. I need a death, and one of you must do it! That's all! Don't you think if there was any other option I'd have tried to use it? I'm all about efficiency, impertinent child!

[intentus]

You've made it obvious how you feel about everyone here.

[ dismissing them, shutting them out, disrespecting their lives... yeah, that makes it very, very clear what the sergeant's stance is. at his side, natsume's fist clenches; it has more to do with being unsure what he should do than being angry or intimidated. if he's frustrated by anything, it's himself. ]

I told you, I don't understand why you need someone dead. [ and it's need now—not want. did the sergeant say that intentionally? ] So how can I know what you would do? How am I supposed to know what else you should do without understanding anything?

[cartesio]

[The Sergeant doesn't seem to have noticed his slip]

Don't pretend you'd accept my reasoning if I told you what it was.

[intentus]

[ that gives him pause. when he speaks up again, his voice is extremely calm. ]

It's true I won't accept it. [ the "if" coming up is a big one. ] Even if you're trying to do something good here, I can't accept the way you're doing things.