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

[relieable]

[Osoamtsu shakes his head]

I didn't think you did think of them like that. It was more that I just... wanted to make connections, yanno? Emma and I were pretty close, too.

[illusionarymelody]

Oh, so you were at the mansion with her then? We're sisters despite the different last names even before I married, well not blood related but we were both raised together by our grandmother.

I will say, even if she's not the Emma from my timeline, I still am not giving up on her. She still exists and there must be a way to bring her back.

[relieable]

[yes yes he clenches his fists]

She was... very kind to me when we were in that place together. I absolutely wanna bring her back. Her, and everyone else.

[illusionarymelody]

That sounds like her. She's kind to everyone. She's the responsible sister and I'm the flighty reckless one.

[relieable]

Really? [he laughs a little] I think you're pretty responsible, too!

[illusionarymelody]

And then I do things like spread glitter in the hosts' room. No, I'm definitely far more reckless at times, but I try to take calculated risks. I'm not going to act in a way where I can't accept all possible outcomes, good and bad.

[relieable]

[that and the darts thing... but Osomatsu is more amused than upset about those]

Being reckless is more fun, anyway. But when I say you're responsible, it's more than I mean you're... Hm... Knowledgeable! Like, when we have meetings, and stuff. You really understand what's goin' on around you.

[illusionarymelody]

Well that is definitely appreciated. Witches do tend to be smart because you have to have a keen mind to have a talent with magic. Did Emma tell you much about how she's a witch and the magic she can do?

[relieable]

A little bit. [he nods] She wasn't, like... telling everyone right away, though. I think she wanted to keep it secret.

[which he can definitely understand]

[illusionarymelody]

I did the same at the Base. Only Jonathan found out I was a witch since we grew quite close before I died. I also have a feeling some of it comes from the fact that Emma is a bit less confident of herself as a witch. She's still quite skilled. It's a shame you couldn't see our powers because we can do things like teleport, heal, attack, influence people, and much more.

[relieable]

[shocked pikachu face]

You can do... all that? That's so cool!

["influence people," though, HM]

[illusionarymelody]

[If someone would show her Star Wars she'd say it was just like when Obi Wan says "there's nothing to see here" with the Force and people believe it.

But goodness Oso, if that is amazing, maybe Vita should find a way to get him an ARCUS so he can learn some arts like she did with Jonathan, Yurick and Nagisa.]

It is, but it takes a lot of training. Arts are similar and much easier for most people to learn, why if I could get you an orbment you'd be able to learn those.

[relieable]

[him? learn actual magic to make gold

he looks positively enchanted with the idea]

Guess I'll have to work extra hard on gettin' us all free, now!

[illusionarymelody]

Then it's a promise. I know Emma would want all her friends to be safe and I did the same for mine. It's not the same as magic, but still more useful than the powers here.

[relieable]

[hehe! he feels a lot better after talking to her]

Thanks a lot. I look forward to it.