cartesio: (Default)
Cartesio NPCs ([personal profile] cartesio) wrote in [community profile] cartesianism2018-11-04 01:52 am

Week 6: May 6th - 10th


Sixth Week
Killers and victims, killers and victims. Three of your own have fallen prey to murderous intent last week. Your numbers keep shrinking. Azura has fallen prey to Franciscus in the same night that Olympia betrayed her friend Millium and killed Cian who wound up in the crossfire. At this rate, is there anyone you can trust?

The townspeople's anger burns hotter than ever. Wherever they go, must they live in fear of stumbling on a corpse? They can't live like this. More than ever, the visitors are being shown that they are unwelcome.

Walking outdoors, cold looks are the norm. Shouted profanity isn't unexpected. Barely anybody is willing to still hold a conversation with any visitors.

Even within the motel, there is no feeling of safety any longer. Not only have two people died in this very place, no, now the townspeople also lost their fear of coming inside. While they don't enter private rooms, the daring among them vent their hatred of you by vandalizing the common rooms.

Cartesio has become a menacing place.

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
[Welcome to the sixth week! If you want to contact the Sergeant, please post here!. Also please remember to submit your activity check!]
robitussin: (pic#12531892)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-04 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[She closes her eyes for a moment as the light starts, surprised by the sudden brightness. As the wind begins... There's a second of hesitation, because her immediate instinct is to continue despite it, but with the furniture flying around and the wind erupting from nowhere—

She hates it, but she takes hold of his arm, aiming to head back to the double doors with him in tow.]
marmoron: marmoron (troubled)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-04 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[The glaring light from the wall to their left has Keith raising his arm to shield his eyes. Immediately he starts retracing their steps -- what did they do, what alarm did they trip, what --

The wind trying that begins tearing the place apart cuts that train of thought short. It's hard to intimidate him really; he's fought Haggar and her druids, so a small display of a magical defense system doesn't make him want to back off. In fact, it's clearly a sign that they're in the right place if this dilapidated room is worth defending at all. He scans the room another time, arms up and ready to dodge whatever furniture gets tossed his way, but then there's a grip on his arm.

For a moment, it looks like he's going to argue. They're not going to get a clean opportunity to do this again. The Sergeant's going to be aware of the potential for intruders during executions and other absences. He'll fix the problem, he'll make it so much harder.

The words "you go" are on the tip of his tongue, but they've already had this discussion, haven't they? Teeth grit, he turns. Turns and runs back towards the double doors with her.
]
robitussin: (pic#12583040)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-04 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[There's a moment of genuine relief when he comes with her without protest; part of her was worried that he wouldn't.

Once they reach the lobby, she pauses, looking back for just a moment at the double doors.]


What the hell just happened...?
marmoron: (resting bitch face)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-04 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Keith ignores the question for now, choosing instead to grab her arm and keep running. They can talk about this once they're out of the Lodge entirely. If they're not risking getting caught inside the reception area, they're not getting caught in the lobby either.]

Just keep moving.
robitussin: (pic#12475592)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-04 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[She doesn’t resist, even as she frowns. Whenever they’re far off away that he’s stopped running, though, she stops as well.]

...Well, that went well.
marmoron: marmoron (side eye)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-04 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[Keith doesn't stop running until there's a few blocks between them and the Lodge. He's in good shape and isn't out of breath when they do stop, but he exhales sharply as he leans back against a building,]

We need to get rid of these disguises so they can't be traced back to us.

[A beat.]

We should talk about this while it's still fresh in our minds. The dead said there was darkness inside the Lodge, but that's not what we saw.
robitussin: (pic#12475586)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-04 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
What do you wanna do? Burn them, throw them in the lake?

[Given that, she agrees with the idea. With a sigh, she runs a hand over her face.]

Just us, or everyone? You want another meeting?
marmoron: by request of the icon creator, pls do not take (leaning forward)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-04 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Shred 'em then toss them in the lake.

[A fire would be a bit conspicuous now, he thinks.]

As soon as we're done with that, we could try calling a meeting, yeah. In one of the empty motel rooms maybe. Shouldn't be weird if we're all gathered in the motel.
robitussin: (pic#12531896)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-05 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Okay. I still have the knife you told me to bring.

[She nods.]

Empty motel room sounds good. You wanna plan for like an hour or two?
marmoron: marmoron (listening)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-05 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
Something like that.

[He's better with the military crap than he is with organizing briefings/debriefings. He's still trying to think what else they're gonna have to dispose of, but for now he's not coming up with anything else. And that's when it finally occurs to him to look over at Natalie to ask a really basic question.]

You okay?
robitussin: (pic#12531873)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-05 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
Sure. I can let everyone know.

[There's a pause at the question. She's alive, they're both physically unharmed, and she can't pretend that wasn't more than she expected. Still... She can't claim she isn't frustrated at the lack of progress they made. It doesn't change her answer much, though.]

...Yeah, I guess I am. [...] How about you?
marmoron: marmoron (relaxed)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-05 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
You guess.

[Keith raises an eyebrow, giving her a quick up-down look to make sure she's not physically injured, but even he can tell that's not what it is. Whether she wants a real answer to the question or not is anyone's guess, but a real answer's what she's getting.]

I guess I'm wondering if leaving really was the right call.
robitussin: (pic#12475592)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-05 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
...I wasn't going to let you get your neck broken by a flying chair.

[She's fairly certain that it was, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating to deal with.]

I just wish... I don't know. We brought all that shit, I thought we'd be prepared for basically anything.
marmoron: by request of the icon creator, pls do not take (appraising)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-05 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
[That actually gets him to laugh -- not necessarily happily, but it's not hollow either.]

You don't think I have the reflexes to dodge a chair, huh.

[Death by chair. What an embarrassing way to go. The small smile fades after a moment.]

It's impossible to be prepared for everything. If it were just me, I'd have kept going despite that.
robitussin: (pic#12583852)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-05 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
No, that's not what I meant, I just...

[She pauses, then, and sighs. She's taking this the wrong way, more likely than not, but:]

Yeah, maybe. Sorry I slowed you down, or whatever.
marmoron: marmoron (gloomy face)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-05 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
Huh? No, I --

[Not what he meant at all, but now that he has to clarify, he doesn't really want to.]

I get into bad mindsets sometimes. [A lot. All the time.] I was thinking maybe it'd be worth it to go further. Even if I died, I could still find a way to pass the information to you guys... like the dead are doing now.

[He shakes his head.]

I'm glad you were there.
robitussin: (pic#12583123)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-05 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
[She falls silent at that for a long moment. The kind of honesty she's used to employing is blunt and forceful, lacking in the kind of emotion that makes her feel too vulnerable.

That's harder to do with him, given what she knows; how it's difficult for him to talk like this too, but he keeps giving her the courtesy of doing so time and time again. After some time passes, with a small sigh:]


When I told you that you aren't expendable, I meant it. Okay? So - I'm glad I was there, too.
marmoron: by request of the icon creator, pls do not take (teeny fraction of not hate)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-05 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
[It's still relatively new to Keith, in all honesty. This whole "not being expendable" thing. It goes solidly against the life he had growing up orphaned, goes against the code of the Blades while he was primarily affiliated with them. There've been more people in his life of late saying otherwise back home. Not something he was really expecting to hear repeatedly in Cartesio. He's quiet for another moment.]

Sorry. Takes a while for things like that to get through to me.

robitussin: (pic#12583047)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-05 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
...No, it's okay. I get it. I mean, it's not okay if you keep thinking that, but - you know what I mean.

[There's a stressed laugh of her own as she runs a hand through her hair, letting it down from the bun it was pulled into.]

Sorry. I'm not, um, used to - breaking into places like that. I'm a little tense.
marmoron: marmoron (listening)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-05 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
[....Right. Somewhere amidst the bitter anger the trial had left him in and diving headfirst into another attempt at doing something, the fact that this really has been Natalie's first venture into this kind of activity just completely went over Keith's head. He blinks, then looks away.]

The very first infiltration mission I was on was on a Balmera. The Galra had completely overtaken the planet, and we had to go deep underground where the Balmerans were harvesting crystals in labor camps. This felt more dangerous than that. It'd be weird if you weren't tense.

So ... [It's a little awkward, but he gives her a pat on the shoulder.] ... congrats.
robitussin: (pic#12531898)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-05 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
[She doesn't dodge the hand on her shoulder, but everything he says leaves her with a look that's at first concerned, and then surprised. There's not much to do with the concern; it's the same that she feels for everyone here who came from worlds that were riskier than her own.

The surprise, though...]


Wait - congrats for what?
marmoron: by request of the icon creator, pls do not take (ehh)

[personal profile] marmoron 2018-11-05 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
[And that's the hand going back to his side a little quickly there.]

...for making it out?

[Which is true in part, but that's probably the most superficial way he could've phrased it.]
robitussin: (pic#12475593)

[personal profile] robitussin 2018-11-05 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
...You know, you’re not the first person here to congratulate me for not dying, but I can’t say I’m used to it yet.

[She doesn’t sound bothered, though.]

Either way... Thanks. You too.

(no subject)

[personal profile] marmoron - 2018-11-05 06:50 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] robitussin - 2018-11-05 15:11 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] marmoron - 2018-11-05 20:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] robitussin - 2018-11-06 02:19 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] marmoron - 2018-11-06 03:13 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] robitussin - 2018-11-06 03:19 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] marmoron - 2018-11-06 03:44 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] robitussin - 2018-11-06 04:26 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] marmoron - 2018-11-06 05:47 (UTC) - Expand