Week 7: May 13th - May 17th

[cartesio]

Seventh Week

The tense truce that had covered Cartesio was over. The town, feeling betrayed after having given a chance to the outsiders, pushed back. Enraged, they started getting even more daring, starting to get into the tourists' only safe haven: their motel rooms. They don't manage to break in, but it's not unusual to hear thumping on the doors, someone trying to get in. The windows are almost perpetually broken, there's so much graffiti on the ground floor of the motel, both inside and outside, it's hard to know what each one is saying. Can't be anything good, that's the only thing that's certain. The lounge's furniture has been tore to pieces, the lobby only has the guestbook intact, and the planters in middle of the motel are broken, the soil and plants strewn around.

The residents of Cartesio are near their breaking point. The despair, fury, and desire to get rid of the outsiders so everyone can return to their peaceful lives, have covered the town. It won't take long before they reach their breaking point, and if they do...what will happen to the visitors?

The Sergeant's grip on the town is total, and next week is the one marked as END. It seems like there's no way out, like the Sergeant won.

But you can't lose hope. You have to remember: now that you're on your darkest hour, the only way lef to go is upwards. Things can get better, you have to make it happen!

In the lobby of the motel there's a few more brochures, and the maps have been updated once again. Don't mind that some of them have been damaged in one of the attacks on the motel.

Links

IC Rules
Guestbook
Room Assignments
Events
Locations
NPCs
Activity Check

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

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

Comments

SUNDAY - May 13th

[cartesio]

 

EXECUTION

[cartesio]

The police station is rather ruined that morning. The Sergeant, Kino, and Bolin walk through the remains of it. The walls and doors are full of holes, everything was blasted, it's like a hurricane of fire passed through. They walk beside agents panicking and trying to salvage everything they can, they pass near the desk where Nanette is sitting, grabbing her head and staring at the table wih despair, defeated. Kino watches everything with detachment, Bolin expresses more sympathy but doesn't stop, and the Sergeant doesn't even spare a glance.

Instructions are given once they get to the basement, and both executioners are taken into the execution room. Once the Sergeant tells them to wait for a moment, he goes to get Dabi and Hawks. He returns just a few minutes later, both prisoners walking in front of him. Dabi has that typical deadpan expression, while Hawks is a bit more pensive, sneaking glances at the Sergeant every few steps, waiting for a chance to act.

"Go in. I'll bring your executioners" the Sergeant says, opening the door and letting them into the empty execution room. Dabi and Hawks enter without protest, and the Sergeant closes the door behind them, watching them from the outside through the sturdy glass walls, and walks out of sight.

The peace doesn't last long. Like it's something they agreed beforehand, Hawks dashes forward, his wings curving, a dagger-sized feather detaching, Hawks catching it in his hand without even looking at it. He lunges forward, embracing Dabi tightly, holding him close and taking a deep breath. Dabi understood immediately -- they both had to do it at the same time, quickly before the Sergeant had time to retrieve Bolin and Kino. Dabi smirked, ready to set himself in the most intense fire he could muster, blue embers flickering, covering him as a hint of what would come very soon, and got ready to feel the plunge of Hawks' feather stabbing into his back.

It was supposed to take only a few seconds, they moved so quickly the Sergeant was supposed to not even have ascended to the ground floor by the time it was all over. Hawks did it without hesitation, stabbing with the feather down.

The feather hit nothing. Dabi wasn't there anymore. Hawks was there, standing with an arm crading empty air and the other clutching the feather, and in front of him it wasn't Dabi on fire. Instead it was Kino, just a few feet away, already aiming the gun at him. Hawks blinked, processing what had just happened, cconfusion, realization, and then sadness played across his face when he realizes he and Dabi had been baited and set up to have their souls and hearts crushed one last time, just in time to hear the noise of the gunshot.

-----

Dabi hadn't agreed with Hawks to do it like this, but if he had to be executed, he preferred it to be by Hawks' hand, and he wanted to take Hawks' life by his own hand, too. The moment he felt Hawks' arms around him, he focused, letting his quirk do the job. The blue fire enveloped him, a blast of heat emanating with such strength if Hawks had been there he'd have felt it to the core of his being. The blue fire crackled, inside was Dabi, satisfied and sure this would seal the deal and their deaths would be swift.

It didn't come. The pain of being enveloped in his own fire was the only thing he felt. Hawks was gone. In his place, in front of him and surrounded by rocks emerging from the concrete floor, was Bolin.

Smirking and not showing any discomfort, Dabi moved, the fire trailing with him. To Bolin it's like facing something very familiar -- Dabi's like no firebender, his fire and strength are different, but he decides to fight the best he can nonetheless. With fluid movements, like it's a normal fight instead of an execution, Bolin slammed a foot against the floor, one of the rocks bounced up. Without missing a beat, Bolin spun on his foot, the other leg extending and not even hititng the rock itself, launching it forward, speeding through the air!

He wasn't going to let it happen without defying it. Dabi threw a fireball, hitting the rock in the air, shattering it in pieces. The dust of the rock hadn't even cleared when Bolin had already launched another, and a third one. Bolin moved his arms in an arch, more rocks sprouting from the ground, the concrete flying in pieces, the electric chair falling apart when a spire of rock speared through it! Judging that'd be enough, Dabi threw another fireball and stepped back, the fire passing through the rocks. One of them crashed right in front of Dabi, the other sailed through the air.

It was a rather large rock, almost as big as Bolin. It wasn't surprising when it hit Dabi, it pushed him against the wall, the wall cracking behind him. Rock and villain slumped onto the floor, the blue fire extinguishing underneath the rock. For a moment Bolin wasn't sure that had been enough, around him the other rocks spun and floated, ready to be thrown as well as necessary.

And just like that, it was over.

Kino wasn't sure what happened. She had just shot Hawks, she hadn't even lowered the gun when suddenly it wasn't Hawks in front of her, it was Bolin, surrounded by floating rocks. Bolin had his arms raised in the air, ready to launch the rocks, when suddenly it wasn't Dabi crushed against the wall, it was Kino. The both of them stared at each other, unsure of what happened. Once it was clear there wasn't any immediate danger, Bolin relaxed, the rocks crashing down, he was breathing heavily out of stress. Kino raised her eyebrows, impassive. Neither Hawks nor Dabi were anywhere to be seen.

"That's it" the Sergeant said from the open door of the execution room. "Well done"

Nothing to be done but leave the execution room. Without crossing words, Bolin and Kino exited, ascending the stairs up the ground floor and leaving the police station without nary a comment.

NEWSPAPER

[cartesio]

[Weather: The fog that covers the town will lift at sundown, settling onto the sky.

Our town has started to expect the violence the outsiders have shown each other, week after week, but this weekend's events were a personal blow to all of us. After finding renewed faith in a particular one of their group - Mr. Hawks - it turns out he had been planning on committing violence for longer than any of us could have imagined.

If what he said at that mockery of a trial can be trusted, he's been working with Mr. Dabi - who this reporter believes had a personal hand in burning down our beloved diner - for longer than they have even been here. The one who we put our faith in when Davis Williams was kidnapped was a liar, conspiring with an arsonist to kill two other people.

How can we even begin to trust the outsiders again?

Mr. Mason Sterling was contacted for comment, after it came out that Mr. Hawks was not the noble hero we had started to believe, but he declined to answer.]

------------

[During the night, the police station has suffered a lot of damage. It looks like it could crumble apart anytime soon.

Meanwhile, in the park...there's quite the additions to the place]

---------

[On the streets, stalls are being built, balloons and streamers are being placed all over town. The preparations for the celebrations for this week are being made]

[cartesio]

[It's almost noon when someone comes to the motel. There's someone knocking on the door!]

investigation

[clearities]

[ As the only person who still remembers the events of that week before everyone else, she has to be the one to do it. She's the only one who can, after all. So as per usual, besides avoiding to watch the execution -- she's checking the new locations to see who she can find. And she especially needs to check up on the refinery, now that she knows that's there, given that there's one person that she needs to make sure is absolutely safe. Naturally, after that's said and done she's off to the flower shop once again, but this time, she seems to be getting flowers not just for those who died here, but... For those empty graves in the graveyard, which she promptly visits afterwards, making sure she can place one white lily atop every single one that she's able to. ]

investigation

[marmoron]

park - morning
[He didn't get a whole lot of sleep since the folks in town have been busy smashing windows and thumping on doors."Grumpy" is a mild word for how he's feeling right now, but on the bright side he's got a neon space wolf with him that's keeping everyone at bay with a show of teeth. It's fine. It's all fine. He knew this "peace" crap wasn't going to last.

He's passing through the park as part of his usual routine, all part of the daily grind or whatever, but it's hard to miss that awfully shiny structure catching the light at every imaginable angle. And that.. whatever the heck that statue (???) is standing in front of it. He's going to figure this is all part of the festival Cartesio's got going on later this week maybe. He'll approach it to check.

And then just come to a dead stop once he realizes there's something awfully familiar about this statue. He squints, taking in each horrible detail, eyes darting from place to place like he's searching for some safe place to look on the monstrosity, but there just.... isn't one. At all. Slowly his face turns a violent shade of red; he's never felt so fucking horrified in his life?? Why. Why is this happening. Why is this his life. WHY IS HE NOSELESS AND IN A LOINCLOTH??

Glaring right at the beautifully glittering Fort Millim sign, his voice cracks as he shouts.]

All of you can stay dead! See if I care!

hangar - investigation (feel free to hop in if you wanna join!)
[Well now that it's official that he's never setting foot in the park again??? It's time to go check out what's new this week. To his more pleasant surprise, it appears to be a hangar. Being a former fighter class pilot and all, he decides he'll give the place a closer look to see what all's lying around for him to find. Who knows. Maybe he'll be able to fly something here....]

MONDAY - May 14th

[cartesio]

 

NEWSPAPER

[cartesio]

[Weather: The fog settles back onto Cartesio the entire day and night.

Usually we see destruction and buildings being broken apart. This time, we see something being built. It's strange, but in the park there seems to be a statue made of some sort of metal. Almost nobody dared to approach, but this reporter has a duty to do.

After an investigation, I found it resembles one of the outsiders, the one who used to be known as 'Keith'. This monument to criminality was built with expertise, but that doesn't make it less of an eyesore. What will the community think? Could this be the outsiders' way of claiming the park? Are they trying to bar us from entering that place ever again? The community of Cartesio will miss having access to the pond and its ducks.

In the meanwhile, the charity organization of Cartesio is discusisng plans to build a wall of curtains around the statue, to 'keep the decency of the town. That guy's almost naked'. Whether these plans will lead anywhere remains to be seen.

For now, this reporter will investigate further.

------

Kino will find these indentations on the wall of her room. Hm!]

[quickpersuader]

[Room]

[For once, Kino has her door cracked open as she looks at the indentations on her wall. There's several scraps of crumpled up papers littering her bed with different possible solutions, but eventually...

She sets aside her notepad and strides up to the indentations, drawing lines between the indentations before settling back to look over her work.]

Is that it...?

[Hopefully the NPCs don't get too rowdy outside. They get chocolate coins thrown at their faces for their troubles. So might you, if you aren't careful.]

[Nine's Room]

[This time, Kino writes another message using the same method as before, carving the words and then carving deeper indentations into any angles that will better hint to what the letter is. As a result, the wall now reads:]

HOW STOP SAR FROM ACT? -KINO

[She keeps the door shut as she works, but once again she can be seen exiting it, knife still in hand - though she folds it up once she's out.]

[Ice Rink]

[And, for a bit of fun... Kino can be found here later in the day, staring out at the expanse of ice.]

Hmm... Have you ever ice skated before?

[Seems like it could be interesting.]

TUESDAY - May 15th

[cartesio]

 

MOTIVE

[cartesio]

[When everyone gathers in the Lodge, the Sergeant once again has a screen behind him. Once everyone is waiting, he starts:]

Next week this is scheduled to end. The nine of you are quite tenacious. I'm impressed...although I did think there'd be more of you left. Like seventeen. I didn't think some of you would get so into murder.

[But hey, c'est la vie]

Since it's the last chance, I should make this one be interesting. This and Wednesday's task are the only chances left of earning a medal, so you better consider this, especially when it's not your life and future what's at stake here.

[When he says that, the screen turns on. Do you remember how during the first motive you saw people that were important to you?

You're seeing people important to you again. Just that this time, they're behind bars. The camera moves through a row of what seems to be dungeon cells, showing the people inside. You'll soon see someone your character would like to protect or at least keep alive and with you. They're conscious, glaring at the camera, until it passes in front of all the cells and turns off]

They're here. They're deep in the Lodge. Don't worry, the jail cells were just to drive home that they're prisoners right now, and were taken to comfy rooms afterwards...

...comfy rooms they'll trade for a life in this town if nobody's dead by Friday sunset.

[He opens his arms]

At least if you do nothing, some of you will stay with friendly faces! I'm done here, all of you go do whatever you want. And don't get any funny ideas about rescue missions, alright?

NEWSPAPER

[cartesio]

[Weather: The fog that has covered the town for so long finally dissipates during the night.

[The strangeness in our town continues. First there was a statue and a fort, and now there's a lot of plants covering the motel. A close examination shows a lot of flowers and vines, covering the vandalism the residents of our town have brought onto the outsiders as retribution for their actions.

These plants are rather pleasing to the eye, especially when compared to the statue to criminality or the fort made out of limbs. Instead of morbid displays of shamelessness, the plants are actually a decent improvement.

If the outsiders decided to stop their crimes, they may have a future in the botany market. Alfin, who has made a living distributing flowers from the greenhouses in this town, comments they're of quality despite having grown in a night.

If only the outsiders would stick to flowers instead of to destruction]

-----------

[The stalls and stuff have been finished! There's all sorts of games. Throw balls, hit with hammers, carnival games everywhere. There's also a lot of snacks and similar stuff. Although everyone in town is giving you the stinkeye, they won't protest you taking part in the games or buying anything]

meetinggggg

[robitussin]

[A while after the motive announcement, Natalie ushers the nine of them into one of the empty motel rooms once more. Given how quickly things happen here, she’s sure some of them have more information to share. To begin with:]

I have a lot this time, so... You know, sorry that this is going to take a while.

[She opens up her notebook and goes over everything Dabi told her when they met just days ago in the jail. She adds a description of the video tape she found in his room and what it revealed. After that, though... Out of her pockets come a hard disk and a small, square device.]

This [she holds up the disk] is a copy of all the data the police have gathered against us. Video evidence, testimonies, photos... Most everything is on here. I put it in a computer myself and looked over it all, so I can confirm that it's all in here. This [she holds up the square device] is something the Sergeant wants put on one of the machines in the refinery. According to him, putting it there will allow him to control the flow of oil throughout the facility. He's told me that if that happens, for whatever reason, the blame for everything that's happened so far will shift from all of us to him, and he's promised that doing this won't disrupt the celebration the townspeople have planned. He told me it won't cause any injuries or fatalities, either. But... Putting it on the machine would still play into his plans, basically. I don’t know why he wants to take the blame, but here we are.

[She holds up both items for another moment before lowering her hands.]

...I thought this was important enough to get some input on. What to do with each of them, I mean. Also, if anybody else has something new they’ve learned, go for it.

WEDNESDAY - May 16th

[cartesio]

 

[cartesio]

[Weather: Gray clouds fill the sky, but no chances of rain.

[Tonight is the parade commemorating the moment the first brick to build Cartesio was placed. That timeless moment, featuring our founder James Williams, will be immortalized in our traditional floats. Everyone in town has been working on their own custom vehicles and props for the parade, it's expected it'll be bigger than in past years.

Despite the recent suffering we all have gone through, spirits are quite high in preparation for the parade. Some of us hope for a peaceful night, and we'd like to request the outsiders to leave us alone for just one night. Let us have this night.

Our police force is unable to ensure the safety of everyone, but everyone's alert to report any abnormalities and attacks. Stay alert, people of Cartesio.

------

Bolin, Keith, Kino, Osomatsu and Sakura will find something outside their doors when they wake up: a CD. When played, they'll find a video of a conversation with the Sergeant. It's someone they know -- may be someone who was in the motive, or may be someone else of importance.

The setting is a nice-looking room. The hostage talks with the Sergeant about their friend/relative. It's a tense conversation, despite the Sergeant's friendly tone. Not surprising, given the situation. Nothing of importance is said, but the hostage is encouraged to talk highly and tell about a moment they lived with their friend/relative

------

Kino will find a bunch of indentations on her wall again!]

cw: major major clear card spoilers

[clearities]

[ honestly the moment that she finds the CD is the same moment that she rushes out of the motel without a single thought in her head to find a place where she can play it - most likely in the records and video store, where she goes and politely buys supplies. but, uh. this was kind of a mistake because she's struggling on the carrying part of the whole ordeal, if only because she is still. a child. send help. she didn't ask for this. but she is absolutely bringing this home because the CD might be important?? who knows? not Sakura, that's for sure. eventually once that's settled and she's gotten Help getting things to her room, she's absolutely going to play the disc. she doesn't mind if others watch, since she actually has zero idea of what to expect. and the video eventually flickers to life and it starts to play. . . the face that she sees is familiar; it's Syaoran, after all; he's looking a little more tense, a little more serious than yesterday, his eyes not looking at Sergeant's strange, non-existant face, instead eyes at the camera as he speaks up, just as serious. "Sakura's going to see this, right?" there's a pause, a gasp from Sakura's end as she brings her hands to her mouth, emerald green eyes widening. "Then. . . there's a few things I probably should tell her that are important. She's my number one person, and I--" he hesitates. his voice cracks, guilt settling there and his gaze absolutely drops from the camera to the ground, his hands folded. "-- I've been lying to her." what. what the- Sakura's lips move, but the words don't come out, even though someone who's good at lipreading can probably tell what the shocked words should be. Syaoran-kun... she's just. absolutely stunned. but the video keeps on going regardless of her feelings. and while he said 'her' at first, now he switches to an obvious second person-- talking straight to the camera. "I... should have told you earlier, but Hiiragizawa told me that I shouldn't. But with me here, and you there, I think now's a good time as ever for me to. Sakura, I was the one who stole your Sakura cards." another gasp, another shock, but she looks closely and she notices that the expression Syaoran is wearing is one that is in obvious pain and anguish. "I'm sorry. I really... really am sorry. I didn't want to cause you pain. I never wanted you to be unhappy. But the decision I made was because I needed to protect you. For what's to come. You're the most important person to me, Sakura, my number one person, in fact. That's not the only thing I've been hiding from you, though. About the Clear Cards. You were the one that was making them. It was your own ability. You're honestly really powerful now, Sakura. And my mother and Hiiragizawa, they told me that having such power might cause your unhappiness. And I've never wanted that." his voice breaks, and he shakes his head. Sakura watches him closely, tears wet in her eyes but she doesn't say anything. but his hands on his lap close into tight, clenched fists, shaky as guilt eats at his expression. "Anyway, I believe in you, Sakura. I always have, and I always will. You're the most important person to me, and I don't want anything bad to ever happen to you. You still have your invincible spell. And... I love you." he means it, and the video ends there. it was definitely a whirlwind of emotions for him to say those things, but she knows he's telling the truth. there's no way he'd lie. so even if she's crying, she manages to smile, to wipe away her tears in spite of herself because you know what? in spite of what the Sergeant was trying to do here. trying to get someone to kill, that just ignites the opposite feeling for her. her hands go towards her chest and she feels like she can do anything. or well, almost anything. maybe someone's watching with her or perhaps not, but nevertheless, she manages to say the words quiet, determined, full of life: ] Mm. Thank you, Syaoran-kun. I'll... tell you the same, when I get back. Because everything will surely be alright. I promise. [ but that...... sure clears up A Lot Of Things which kind of. hm. she's not sure how she actually feels?? about this new information. nevertheless, she can later on be found after watching all of this at the park; specifically near the lake. maybe if she believes in herself, in her own wishes, then maybe she can actually help this time. but for now! time to just skip pebbles into the water, see if that helps. ]

[relieable]

[Osomatsu eventually finds a way to play his own CD. he is surprised to get it, but maybe not that surprised. it's like the Sergeant is really playing hardball this week, trying to get them to snap.

he's in the library that morning, pushing the disc into a computer in a private room. it whirs to life and...

hm... hm! that sure is Karamatsu on that CD! Karamatsu is Osomatsu's "twin," so to speak, the second-born. he's usually very animated, but sitting in this room, he looks terrified of the Sergeant. that's to be expected, he's kind of timid, after all. nonetheless, Karamatsu appears like he's trying to be his normal self, pushing his hand to his forehead as he speaks about his beloved brother in that... Karamatsu way of his, much to the Sergeant's chagrin.

"Ah, yes, my brother!" begins Karamatsu. "There is a lot I could say about him. So much, that it could fill an ocean! I hope he has not been giving you too much trouble. Sometimes, he does that."]

Like you should be talking! [Osomatsu huffs at the computer screen, as though Karamatsu were there with him, and he was able to speak to him face-to-face. the Sergeant says something in response, but Osomatsu isn't listening to him. his eyes are fixated on his brother, who looks more serious now.

"But yes...if I were to be completely honest about the eldest of our number...he is completely useless.

He is lazy, selfish, arrogant, and often thinks more of how he will benefit from a situation than the rest of us. Often times, I find myself wondering what force of fate decided that Osomatsu was the fittest of us to be the eldest. The leader."

of course... of course Karamatsu would say that! Osomatsu looks like he might shake the computer]

Who's the arrogant one, Shittymatsu?!

[he opens his mouth to yell more obscenities, when Karamatsu bows his head. he's got one leg crossed over the other, and he's tapping his foot quickly, a clear sign that he is nervous.

"Yet, I say all of this...and I would never ask to have him be anything else but my older brother. He may be all of those things I just described, but I do not truly think anyone else could be the way he is. He has a certain...aura about him, do you understand? He is easygoing and can turn a bad situation around without thinking about it. He wants to have fun in his life. Whenever someone thinks 'Matsuno Brothers', they think of Osomatsu first."

Osomatsu's fangs disappear. his mouth closes, his muscles relax.

"In a sense...Osomatsu is the reason we are who we are. Without Osomatsu, we would not be the Matsuno sextuplets. We would simply be five brothers who happen to look the same.

I am not sure I could ever fully explain what I mean to you when I say this, especially if you do not have siblings. Osomatsu is the only older brother I have.

That makes him irreplaceable."]

...


[they don't always get along. in fact, Karamatsu has been known to call Osomatsu out on his bullshit. but he seems like he really misses him. perhaps he's also stressed because he's had to be the rock of the family now. Osomatsu touches the screen sadly when he watches, eyes becoming glassy. seeing those three hostages is really taking a toll on him. he's sure the Sargeant must have Ichimatsu and Jyushimatsu somewhere, too, or even his parents.

after hanging out in the library for a while, he decides to wander around town. he wanted to look at some of the fair stalls today, but he's not really in the mood]

[quickpersuader]

[In which you get to see Hermes - Record Store]

[Kino can be found outside of the store, looking down at the TV and DVD player she just purchased. Upon seeing others, she holds up a DVD.]

Do you mind helping me get these to the motel? You can watch it too, if you really want to.

[She doesn't have much worth hiding.]

[Nine's Room]

[And here we are again. Using the same method as before, she carves and punctures:

"DIDN'T WHAT? HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?"]

[marmoron]

near the lodge - late morning
[Anyone passing by the Lodge this morning might run into a curious sight: Keith in paladin armor, tied to a tree just outside the Lodge. Unsurprisingly he's looking unamused and struggling against the rope restraining him to try and grab the bayard on his leg. It's going... not particularly well.]

Damn it.

millium's room - Early evening
[Trying out Kino's ghost talking strats in here with his dagger in hand to etch the following message on her wall.

WHY THE STATUE

He adds a line underneath this for emphasis. Then he's adding

WHY DO YOU KNOW GABE]

EVENT

[cartesio]

[It's the night of the parade. Out there, the townspeople seem to be in better mood, they're giving the last touches to their plans. In the motel, maybe the mood isn't anywhere as good.

It's bound to get even sourer when a certain person appears in the lobby]

So, you all busy? It's the night of the parade. Take a guess what's happening tonight.

THURSDAY - May 17th

[cartesio]

 

[cartesio]

[Weather: The sun shines for the first time in a while. Starry night.

Surprisingly, the parade commemorating the pivotal moment of the foundation of Cartesio went without a hitch.

For the first time in a long while, a Wednesday night ends peacefully. The night wasn't uneventful in terms of interference, though. There were reports of the outsiders messing around, several people saw them working on contraptions all over the town. A police investigation later proved these devices were rigged to overload the town's oil delivery system, causing catastrophic damages to properties all over Cartesio. Agent Nanette Johnson informed there's something strange about the devices, and commented she suspects there's something else afoot. Is it related to the outsiders?

We shouldn't forget the outsiders' actions so far. This could be another attempt to disturb the peace. We cannot let our guards down.

For the time being, we can enjoy the rest of our celebrations. Today the jam contest in the ice cream parlor will be held, we invite everyone to partake in it.]

------------

Despite the article refusing to give the visitors any credit, it seems the townspeople of Cartesio think different. For the first time in a very long while, nobody is yelling at the visitors. It's a far cry from the welcoming attitudes at first, but it's also heaps better than the hostility from before. Some people even seem to temptatively approach, although they back off pretty soon.

The dark cloud of hostility and social chaos that had covered Cartesio is starting to fade.

-----

Natalie, Kinzie, Niwa and Gant receive their videos today]

[relieable]

[that was some parade, huh? Osomatsu's feeling a little bit better than he was at the beginning of the week. not great, of course, because he's still worried about the hostage situation. but he's not bad.

walking through town, he notices that the people of Cartesio aren't throwing insults (or rocks) at him. that's new. so he decides it is safe to go to the park in the morning and take out the Pokémon. let them play around, get messy, soak up the sun, look at Keith's statue.

after the park, he goes to his usual hangouts, the bowling alley, or the casino in the evening. he wants to unwind. he hasn't forgotten that the following day is Friday... the weeks are passing quickly. soon, if he can make it, he'll be free of this place. he hopes. who knows if you can trust the Sergeant.

he pauses, though, remembering something, and he'll turn to to anyone who's nearby and makes a comment]

...My birthday's next week.

[pecker]

[Well, all right, Niwa is morbidly curious so she'll watch this DVD.

The woman the Sarge is talking to is sitting politely, smiling with kind but serious eyes - she shows no fear to see the person before her, looking rather more like someone in the middle of a negotiation than a proper hostage. When asked for her name, she replies with "Sharyuu, the Warrior of the Monkey, killing peacefully" - explaining that this is customary as they are still technically in the midst of their battle, but reassuring with a gentle smile that she has no intention of harming anyone involved and that instead she'd be happy to negotiate with the Sarge. When that is inevitably shut down, and she's meant to talk about Ryouka, Sharyuu lets out a little sigh, and seems to have a thoughtful expression.

Well, to be honest, I certainly would have liked to know her much better! We met for such a short time, and in the middle of the Juuni Taisen as well. Before that I only knew of her from battlefields, and she would always keep her distance. But having met her that one time, I... was really very touched that she would lend me her ear, enough to speak with me and leave without causing me or the young Nezumi harm. But I was also quite sad to see her go. It's not only that we couldn't be useful allies, of course. Rather, it seemed like she was afraid of her own heart... of the pain of exposing it when she couldn't believe in peace prevailing. It's understandable in our situation, but I hope that she's faring well, now that we've been pulled out of it for a moment. I meant it when I said I would always wait for her to come-

Niwatori has been pretty uncomfortable watching this the entire time, but this makes her yell at the screen, loud enough that it might be audible from the other rooms]

BULLSHIT, you'd want me dead like anyone else!! [It's been so long since they've met like that, she can even believe it. That she wasn't thinking straight from the drug, and of course Sharyuu was as much a threat to Niwa as Niwa was to her. She became their enemy again as soon as she'd left and she must know that, no way she would care if she got taken out of the running. Maybe it's possible that whatever strings the Sarge pulled got the Taisen suspended for everyone, but they all know very well that getting out of it is never this easy. She sighs harshly and tunes back in to the video. Sharyuu is leaning forward more to speak very honestly.

So, in all honesty, I don't think using me will get what you want out of the Chicken. She doesn't see my value as a peace negotiator, so I'm sure she won't try to save me... but I still believe in her potential, you know? I would be very happy if we could save her. Won't you hear me out, Sarge-san? You see, I already have a plan-

Niwatori stops the DVD and leaves her room, SLAMMING the door behind her and immediately pacing outside.]

[goturshit]

[ Kinzie has been mostly keeping to herself for... the last while, anyway. Maybe she's working on something big? Maybe she's been unspeakably depressed??

Well, if her lying upside down on a couch in the motel lobby and groaning softly is any indication, uh. ]

Booooooored...

[ It's much less interesting than either of those.

Later on, she goes to the bowling alley and just kind of... starts up a game by herself. She's actually pretty good, all things considered.

After that, though, she takes a quick trip into the video store to... emerge with a video camera and walk around town with it. She appears to be narrating into it? ]

Cartesio. A small town in the middle of Nevada full of small-town-in-the-middle-of-Nevada people. Aaaaand also a bunch of kidnapping victims who are either kids or dead or really sad. Times are hard. Let's walk around, shall we? Pretty sure Las Vegas means Nevada has like no recording laws.

[ And if your character doesn't approach her... ]

And here's one of our kidnapping victims now! Got a few minutes to be part of the lamest documentary ever?