W̧E̷E̡̕K ͡3̴

[strangerpeople]

W̛E̷͞E̶̵K͏͘͠ 3̸̡

[You got a phone call that morning. It wasn't the realtor for the vineyard, like you had thought. Instead, it was a scientist.

She offered you something you hadn't ever expected: hope.

"I think I've pinpointed where this blight has come from, and how it became so virulent. You were among the first whose crop was infected-I wish to speak to you personally about it."

You meet in a car, and drive to an isolated road. She will not take any chance to speak publicly about it-not yet. She doesn't want to release the information until she is certain. But she felt honor-bound to explain to you, given your own importance in her research. You hadn't known she had sampled your dead and dying grapes, but she did.

"This blight..." She opens a folder, showing you the photos. "Started with a gopher, several years ago. I know, it sounds insane. This disease should only affect certain animal species. But one day, it jumped into vines...the original gopher died a long time ago. But not before it had eaten an entire cluster of grapes in one swallow. It ended up scratching itself on the trellis of the grapevine as it choked to death. Its blood, its body decayed, and helped to water and fertilize that strain of grapes the next year or so, and...well, the seeds from those buds that resulted were sent out to every farm in the area. Then, to every farm in the country, different regions..."

That sounded insane. This woman's theory sounded utterly bonkers. But you can't dismiss it out of hand-you have no better answer.

Before you can say anything more, the woman's phone rings. She answers, and you see her face turn white. You don't have to guess why.

Before, the theoretical gopher had infected the grapes with the blight.

Now, the blight had claimed its first human victim.


-


[The morning hurts. It hurts to know that, even dead, there was that final, terrible moment for the Embarrassing and the Nagging. It must hurt more to know that this will continue, and that there is something out there that is invested in ensuring each and every last one of the Strangers are, if not dead, than broken.

And then, there is IT. IT is the enemy, it seems. But...what is IT? Is IT the one truly responsible? How?

As you try to think on it, you remember your truths, and suddenly, you realize, another has changed:




[That you would. Can you? You know that, whatever your answer, you must find a way to the truth. The alternative is too horrible to even contemplate-if it is even possible to be comprehended. After all-if what you saw is what happens to the dead and condemned, what will become of the living at the hands of the terrible, unknown IT who is your jailer?

Hope that you do not have to find out. Hope there is an answer in the new floor that has opened up in the Building. Otherwise...otherwise you really are doomed.


There are 13 strangers in this place.]

Comments

[comesaround]

At least you were trying. That's what's important, right? You guys made an effort to do something positive when everything else was falling apart.

[ There were times when he could be reasonably insightful, and now happened to be one of them. ]

[relieable]

[a sigh. Osomatsu supposes he never looked at it that way before]

So, yeah, he's the best friend I've ever had... He could be more than that. The feelings I have for him are pretty strong. Are they romantic? Maybe. I'd like to figure that out.

[under... normal circumstances. he'd like to not be rushed, but also he'd like to just enjoy his company more]

...That's why... I want to win against whatever we're facing. I wanna know if it's possible to see him again.

[comesaround]

[ Karma nodded, something kind of soft and understanding in his expression even as he gave off a soft chuckle. ]

For your sake, I'm hoping it is, too. So you guys can reunite and figure things out. [ Briefly he looked a little sad for a second before shaking his head. ] I'd like to hope that if it is possible, that I could see Akira again, too.

[ Not gonna go down that road before he brings the mood down any, since he wants to keep things light. ]

Since you shared, I suppose I did say I'd do the same, so... if you want to hear it... I'll tell you about the person I like.

[relieable]

[yay! more gossip. Osomatsu really enjoys this theme of sharing they've got going on in their friendship. even though it's a little painful, Osomatsu does like when he can get things off his chest. he's been holding in a lot]

Yeah! Tell me!

[comesaround]

[ This wasn't gonna be easy because talking about things like actual feelings was kind of embarrassing so he had to figure out a way to talk about it without becoming all stupidly blushy or anything. ]

His name's Nagisa Shiota. We met in the first year of middle school. He's small and somewhat unassuming with bright, sky blue hair and eyes.

[ Okay he could do this. Not embarrassing yet. ]

Don't let that fool you, though. He's probably the second most deadly assassin in training next to me, but still pretty stubborn and sometimes a little too nice for his own good. There's noone out there like him... and it was during my time in my first game at the mall that I kinda realized I liked him as more than just my friend.

[ Shut up he is not blushing. He will NOT admit that he is in any capacity. Shhhhh. ]

I meant to tell him how I felt when I got home but... circumstances weren't exactly kind and I never got the chance to.

[relieable]

[haha... Osomatsu would rest his chin in his hands if they weren't walking. he looks more than pleased, though, maybe because the kid's blushing.

even assassin kids can fall in love, too, huh?]

Do you think he liked you back?

[comesaround]

[ Karma closed his eyes for a moment, his steps slowing a touch as he considered such a question. He thought back to Nagisa and all the times they'd shared throughout class during the year, and just the way he acted overall. ]

I'd like to think so. Won't know until I get the chance to see him again face to face so I can ask him myself.

[ A soft laugh escaped him then, feeling his cheeks grow just a bit warmer as something occurred to him. ]

Of course that means figuring out how to say it properly. I can handle a knife, threaten delinquents and beat the shit out of people, but dealing with feelings like that? That's something I don't have experience in.

[relieable]

[Osomatsu inhales as he ponders this, thinking about how he might tell someone that he likes them. in his experience, someone else admitted first, before he could]

Yeah, I don't have a lot of experience with it, either. I do know that it's bad to wait too long, but you've also gotta find the right time, or something like that. It's... hard.

[comesaround]

Yeah. No kidding.

[ Karma ran a hand through his hair, putting both hands into his pockets after as he turned his gaze to the sky.. or whatever passed as one. ]

Next time I see him... I'll just have to figure it out. No matter what happens though, I'm not going to hold back.

[ Oh god so much embarrassment. He hates feelings sometimes. ]

Anyway... I figure since we're friends, why don't you ask me anything you want to know? Guess I'm in something of a sharing mood.

[relieable]

[sharing more, huh? Osomatsu almost laughs, because... they've shared a lot with each other. they keep talking about feelings.

but that's okay. it just helps them get closer. they're not supposed to trust each other, but..........]

Well, I think you've told me some pretty big secrets already. Why not tell me... what your favorite food is.

[since they can't have it]

[comesaround]

[ It's probably simply out of sheer spite of not supposed to being able to trust each other that he's stubbornly going ahead with this. Even having something of amusement soon show on his face as he actually considered what Osomatsu had suggested for him to share. ]

Hmm... that's a bit tough. I generally like most things and do a lot of cooking on my own, but... I could say I have a bit of a like for things that tend to be on the spicier side.

[ Such things sort of came with learning to cook your own meals, what with parents never really being home all that much. ]

What about you?

[relieable]

[spicy's good! how Osomatsu wishes for spice, flavor... instead of sand-food]

Ah! I love yakisoba! I mean, I like most things, as far as food goes, but that would be my favorite.

[comesaround]

Yakisoba, huh? Good choice.

[ This was so simple and nice, and he liked it a lot. ]

What about drinks? Have anything you consider a favorite drink?

[relieable]

Probably.... beer.

[Osomatsu rubs his chin]

But there are sodas that are great, too. I like drinks with those little bubbles in them!