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

[telecosmetic]

[She promised Jonathan, so fine, she's going to leave it at bloodying his nose before poking him in the chest somewhat hard.]

Nnngh-you fucking idiot! Were you really planning to take that whole thing on your own shoulders? [She spins away and stomps off, before turning back.] For the record, once we make it back I'll be glad to help get rid of that guy! Not for you, but because someone like that needs to be stopped!

[katzenpfote]

Of course I was. It's not anyone else's thing to shoulder. I'll probably die trying to fight him, but at least one of his 'projects' will have stood up to him.

[telecosmetic]

[She doesn't turn to face him, but she's definitely rolling her eyes.] Ugh, no you're fucking not. If that guy's torturing kids I'm sure almost everyone here is gonna wanna fight him. My abilities might just be illusions, but I've got plenty of connections to call on too.

[katzenpfote]

[He's quiet for a long moment before speaking softly.]

I don't want anyone I care about to get hurt.

[telecosmetic]

[She shrugs, back still turned to him.] Do you really think you can stop them? You're certainly not stopping me, here. And if they actually care about you it'll be even harder to get them to back off.

[unwittingking]

[…she's not wrong...]

[katzenpfote]

I never expect help or for anyone to care. Call it cynical, but it kept me alive for many years and is hard to shake.

[telecosmetic]

Humph. [She crosses her arms.] Well you've got someone else aiming for that guy's head now, like it or not. [She's not going to categorize it as "help," but still. Fuck that dude.]