WEE͠K ̸́4͝

[strangerpeople]

W҉͘E͜͠͝E̕K̡̛͡ ̡͟4̸

[The blight is all-consuming.

Within days dozens are confirmed infected, and you and your unexpected new scientist friend find yourselves trying to work on a cure. If not a cure, a stopgap of some kind. Anything to prevent this thing from destroying everything. It's hard work. It's not going very well. Really, it feels like with every step forward, you're taking ten steps back. Discouraging is an understatement, to say the least.

A week passes, and the death toll rises. It's really starting to look bleak. You constantly second-guess yourself, and even get into a fistfight with your new ally one night. It's getting to the point where you are working on fumes.

Then, unexpectedly, you get a phone call. It's been a long night, and the sun is beginning to rise above the mountains, when it happens.

You and the scientist are not the only ones looking for a cure. In fact, there are at least a dozen others-and they think they may be close to a breakthrough.

But-and you can't believe you're hearing this, after all of the failure you'd experienced throughout this blight-they need your help.]


---


[To say that the end of last week sucked would be an understatement. To say that no one knows what this week will bring is not even in question. Yet even as you wake, you feel a cloud lift from your mind, as one of the truths you've been living with since the beginning has suddenly changed.]




[But is it possible to abide by this new truth? The Hosts, and IT beyond, seem intent on making that impossible. And the rat...well. Obviously the rat's not an ally. Let's not kid ourselves.

There's only one way to find out if more deaths can truly be prevented-and that's to keep going, and hoping that the new floor that has opened up will offer something in the way of an opportunity.

In the meantime.


There are 11 strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[hexposition]

[Alas, for the sisterly reunion has to wait a minute. Speeding alchemist and all.]

[illusionarymelody]

[She can wait, Emma is definitely getting a hug once Arthur is done hugging.]

[hexposition]

[Now that things have calmed down a tad, it might not be a bad time to jump in.

Or tease. Whichever, really.]

[illusionarymelody]

[Nope, Emma is getting a hug first, then teasing because she's still got to explain that she got married and all.]

[icanhearscreams]

[And behind her, a small beanpole just watches with his arms crossed.]

[hexposition]

[sssh, small beanpole... it's okay. Emma's just flustered, not in danger.

Probably.]

[icanhearscreams]

[Still! Fuss!]

[hexposition]

[Okay, yes, distracted from the blonde now. Although still clinging to him, even as her face goes redder and redder.]

Vita...

[...all right, she'll let Arthur go with one arm to hug Vita back, she can't not. Not even after how she last "saw" her, by her timeline.]

Not you, too. It's bad enough that this place dragged me in...

[illusionarymelody]

This is the third time actually. [Yeah, she's not going to lie about that.]

It's also 1205 in our world for me, and much has changed. I'm married now.

[And she'll let that sink in before introducing Jonathan.]

1/2

[hexposition]

I— wait, the third time?! How did that even—

[. . .]

2/2

[hexposition]

You're what?!

[Please excuse Emma as her voice just cracks in utter disbelief. Sorry for the shouting, Arthur, but this sure is a bombshell.

How. Why? Who would willingly?

Emma has so many questions and yet can't voice any of them, so she's just kind of opening and closing her mouth like a fish in her attempts.]

[icanhearscreams]

[Jun just walks up behind her a little closer, staring over her shoulder at Vita.]

[illusionarymelody]

Married. To the blond haired blue eyed completely adorable young man who isn't Arthur. His name is Jonathan.

[backuphero]

[Well, that sure does seem to be his cue... Jonathan's still wary, though. (He could swear there'd been static - but that was crazy, right? Crazy.)]

Well, you're definitely Arthur's you, so I guess I do need to introduce myself, don't I?

Jonathan Morris. Pleased to make your acquaintance, miss.

[He tips an imaginary hat, smiling at her.

It doesn't quite reach his eyes.]

[hexposition]

I— um.

[What.]

I-it's a pleasure to meet you, too, sir, I...

[Okay, no, she has to ask.]

How?

[That's to Vita, as can be judged by the completely dumbfounded stare in her direction.]

[icanhearscreams]

Usually involving some kind of clergy, Emma.

[Sorry not sorry.]

[touchsensors]

Is that how they do it on Earth-lun? On Saman we just submit a request to Mother-lun.

[icanhearscreams]

... Okay so you're an alien, good to know.

[What is his life.]

I think the captain of a ship can do it? I don't know, I never planned on doing it and hate romance movies.

CS1 spoilers

[hexposition]

I— I know that!

[kjdfaksfkdj;

Hey, it looks like this level of fluster is enough to throw her off her sync for a second, though. Nice!]

That's not what I mean! It's...

[mmmm.]

...Jun, this is my older sister. Vita Clotilde. And while it truly is a pleasure to see you alive and well, Vita, considering the circumstances, you have to understand...

The last time I heard from you, you were showing us Osborne's assassination.

I think you can understand why I'm more than a bit baffled to hear that things have apparently changed so radically.

[illusionarymelody]

I know that, you were quite detailed about events in our world and Arthur told me what was going on. The civil war is now over. For me it's November 1205. But I wouldn't be so mean as to spoil you for all that happens.

[Yeah, over a year later, of course a lot has changed.]

[backuphero]

She kind of swept me off my feet, really.

[Never mind that question wasn't meant for him, he's answering it anyway, still smiling.

Still watching to see if Emma's keeping time.]

[hexposition]

[Just. Kind of looking over him and trying to figure out if she can sense some kind of charm on him, honestly.

HE SEEMS TOO NICE. SHE CAN'T TRUST THIS.

...

Oh, and she is. Exactly.]

[backuphero]

[Of course. Of course it was all too easy.]

God, I hate being right... Arthur, you need to step back.

[illusionarymelody]

I asked Jonathan to marry me and he accepted. We got married by a priest in his world, maybe about a month ago now?

[incendiarize]

[His eardrums have taken worse.]