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

[silvertongueheir]

[If Franciscus had his way, he'd hold on to Osomatsu like this forever. But he's heard people talking about whether or not they'll be able to stay...and it always seems like it's not permanent, when the dead get to return, isn't it? But still...for now, he wants to hold on to his one anchor in this world.]

It's...it's alright. [He holds Osomatsu tighter, tears still trickling down his cheeks but slowing now.] It was a horrible accident, and literally neither of us were thinking clearly. It...it must have been terribly confusing... [His voice gets softer.] I...I was so surprised when I saw we'd made it here. I'm so glad I get to hold you again.

...I love you, you know that, right?

[relieable]

[it's very nice to be held like this! actually, more than just very nice. it's wonderful. for the first time in this whole game, Osomatsu feels safe]

...I know.

[his voice is so quiet, muffled against Franciscus' clothes, his eyes half-closing]

I love you, too.

[silvertongueheir]

[It's the same for Franciscus. For the first time since he died, he actually feels warm. Like everything's going to be alright. Finally, he nudges Osomatsu's chin up a little.]

...I'd like to kiss you. Would you prefer we do that indoors? [People've already seen them hug out here, and Karma apparently knows about them already, so he's not that worried about them being in public right now. He's missed Osomatsu too much to worry about that. But if Oso would prefer being in private...]

[relieable]

[oh! oh... Osomatsu is a bit... not self-conscious? mostly he's still reeling from this experience. at the question, he nods, and pulls away, taking Franciscus' hand to lead him inside.

this is... rough. but it's also a shot in the arm, maybe the one he needed? because now, all Osomatsu is thinking about is getting everyone back to their homes safely. they're there, Franciscus is here. maybe he's not alive, but he's present. that's what matters]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus lets himself be led inside, reaching out an arm to close the door behind him. Right now, he can actually believe everything will be alright. He can momentarily believe that they're coming home, together, even if the lack of a heartbeat and breath belies his true state. He turns to face Osomatsu again once they have some proper privacy, gently reaching out a hand to tilt his chin upwards so that he can lean in for a kiss.]

[relieable]

[still charming, even when he's dead, Osomatsu thinks as their lips meet. the lack of breath is... frightening to him. but it's still Franciscus, he believes. at least, he hopes it is. he hopes this is not some horrible fever dream where he's just going to wake up and have him be gone.

worse yet, he hopes this Franciscus is not one of those... weird clone things? he doesn't know what they are. the things that people see right before they die here. wouldn't that be fun? a scary shadow puppet here to lure him to his end.

if he can, Osomatsu will reach up to grip Franciscus' sleeve to keep him close]

[silvertongueheir]

[It does feel strange, to not even have to come up for breath. But Franciscus is concentrating enough on staying solid that Osomatsu can certainly grip his sleeve-and he returns the favor, reaching out to grasp the back of Osomatsu's clothes, fingers clenched tight to keep hold of him.]

[relieable]

[that feeling is also wonderful, causing Osomatsu to shudder a bit. he doesn't want to get too carried away, because... well, he's still dealing with a lot of stuff and his mind is all over the place. but this is a nice break from the sadness and horror happening around him.

even now, it's difficult, because Franciscus is obviously not alive. it hurts his heart.

when he finally pulls back to breathe, he noses at Franciscus' face. they probably shouldn't hole up in here together alone for much longer. even though that sounds kind of nice]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus nuzzles back, a light smile still on his face. There's a part of him that wants to go further, as well, to ask about the bedroom of this house...but he's also content with this for now.]

Ah...I missed this.

[And then he frowns a little when he hears some commotion outside beyond a certain other Pokemon trainer punching a wizard.]

Are those your captors...?

[relieable]

[ah, right. the Hosts! Osomatsu moves to the window and peeks outside]

They're the Hosts, at least. They were previously pulled into past games and now they're... like... brainwashed? We think. But we dunno for sure. Actually, Link might be connected to Zelda in some way.

[IN SOME WAY]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus peers out the window as well.] They do have somewhat similar features.

...does the other one usually carry an axe?

[relieable]

Uh............. no?

[an axe? why do the hosts have weapons? they must be mad! Osomatsu goes to open the door so that he can hear]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus also moves to observe the situation. He almost snorts at the contrast between their use of weapons and the politeness in their tone.]

I'm not even sure how we'd get back. [There's no portal in the sky here.]

[relieable]

...How did you get here in the first place?

[maybe instead of kissing they should be trying to figure out things. yeah... sorry, Osomatsu is distracted by everything]

[silvertongueheir]

We found an abandoned van being devoured by static, and our abilities were able to stop that encroachment. It had enough fuel to drive us to a portal that those Kyuubey had been traveling through. And, well...then we found ourselves here.

[That does sound weird now that he says it like that.]

[relieable]

[Osomatsu doesn't doubt him. after all, so many things have been happening. weird things. his whole life has been weird]

I'm glad you came.

[back to the window]

I don't want you to leave.

[silvertongueheir]

Do you think they actually know how all this happened? [Franciscus' voice is soft.] They might be wrong about that, after all. [Though his voice doesn't sound really sure. After a pause, he reaches into one of his pockets and pulls out a somewhat battered-looking plush red panda, holding it out to Osomatsu.]

...I found this while we were in the carnival. It...reminded me of you. [He definitely cuddled with it in his sleep a few times. When no one else was watching.] But...I'd like you to have it. [In case the hosts are right and he does end up disappearing.]

[relieable]

[Osomatsu opens his mouth to respond, but then he is suddenly being handed this panda. it reminds Franciscus of him? ...okay, yeah, that's understandable.

he sighs and takes it, but it doesn't bring him much comfort. after looking at it for a second, he turns his head up to look at his friend]

You... went to a carnival?

[his voice breaks, like he's trying to laugh, but his body wants to cry instead]

[silvertongueheir]

It was more like we landed on the shores of one when the island started collapsing. It's not as if there was even anyone minding the games. [So yes, he did just snatch the prize.]

...though there was that clown wielding a chainsaw. I'm still not sure how he ended up there in the first place.

[relieable]

[UHH..........]

Sounds like you've been through a rough ride.

[he's so sorry]

[silvertongueheir]

[A quiet sigh.] You could certainly say that again. We've already had to travel away twice after we showed up on that island...the carnival was where the people from the train began to appear.

[relieable]

...So all these games really are connected, even among the dead.

[he looks down a moment, then back at Franciscus]

Don't suppose you know much more about the Kyuubey, do you? One of them told me that there was a disease destroying our worlds. The Kyuubey said they're trying to salvage what they can, but... the games are still gonna continue.

[silvertongueheir]

More than one of them showed up over there and claimed that they were also dead. According to that other trainer Eliza, though, they can just come back in new bodies. And seeing how they apparently have a direct path from there to here, it appears they were stretching the truth.

...one of them tried to make a deal with Akko. Jun and Eliza were...extremely aggressive in dissuading that. Eliza actually kicked the first one we saw into the void somewhere. [God, that girl definitely has anger issues. One reason he's been keeping his distance from her despite them having Pokemon training in common.]

[relieable]

[oh. with Akko! BAD]

Mmmn.

[he moves to set the bear next to the photo, his little shrine of stuff he's gathered. there's a pokeball there, too]

I wonder what they want... But I guess I gotta figure that out.

[silvertongueheir]

The one we met tried to target Jun as well. Apparently they're now willing to expand from their original scope of simply targeting young girls. [Franciscus' tone shows his disapproval of this.]

Did the one you met give you any useful information?