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]

[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?

[relieable]

[he heard that, about the Kyuubey being willing to contract anyone..........]

I dunno. I can't figure out how the pieces fit together yet.

[and they don't really have time to go over everything]

[silvertongueheir]

I wish I could share more, but I didn't realize they were plaguing you on this side as well, or I'd have interrogated that one further. [Franciscus leans his head against Osomatsu's. as they watch the commotion outside, though he blinks a bit at seeing the Pokeball.]

You have Gerard with you? [He mentioned not being able to find Hydrangea, so by process of elimination...]

[relieable]

...O-Oh. Yeah. Caleb got Gerard from the New York Sock-Exchange.

[don't mind him. anyway, he gets the pokeball and calls out Gerard. time for more sad reunions]

I've been taking care of him.

[silvertongueheir]

[Gerard lets out a gleeful squawk when he sees Franciscus, and Franciscus lets out a cry of happiness in return, wrapping his arms around the Archeops and stroking his feathers.]

Gerard, I'm so glad to see you! It must have been hard, right, being all alone and not knowing what happened...but I bet Osomatsu's been taking good care of you, right? It's okay, Dad's here.

[Gerard nudges Franciscus, now letting out a chirp of confusion. Franciscus smiles sadly.]

...yeah. I'm...not a hundred percent back yet. You can tell, hm?

[relieable]

[SAD.

Osomatsu watches this display, then peeks out the window again. things are getting more escalated]

We should... probably go out there.

[silvertongueheir]

Indeed. [Franciscus gives Gerard one last head-scratch before opening the door again and peering out.] If I had known what was going on here, I'd have tried to convince Zelda to come along...perhaps the sight of her would have done something for Link.

[relieable]

It's not like you knew.

[Gerard goes back in the pokeball, for his own safety]

...If we don't get the chance to see each other again, I want you to know...

[he turns his head to look at Franciscus dead in the eyes]

You've made me incredibly happy, just from getting to know you.

[silvertongueheir]

[Ah...that gets a warm smile to spread across Franciscus' face, just from hearing those words. He looks right back, eyes glowing with gentle affection.]

I feel the same. I've been blessed, to have your friendship and love.

[relieable]

[HMMMMM.... Osomatsu doesn't want to cry again, but he looks like he is pretty close, his body warming up. he nods, and then he's opening the door to step out into the unfolding chaos]