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 Things are changing in Panthea, but few are truly capable of seeing it. Change is happening at all levels of the city, from the towering skyscrapers of industry to the seedy criminal underground. From an impending election where a new challenger threatens to shake things up, to the largest company this side of the country undergoing an unprecedented restructuring to combat growing pains, to the rumblings of a civil war that could tear the criminal underworld apart altogether and a string of bizarre murders on top of all that? A grand lie is being pushed to Panthea, one even those at the top don't realize, and if the truth isn't uncovered soon, this beloved city could end up in flames. ...But that's not your concern, as you are simply a bystander with no hand in the matter, and no way to change the oncoming danger. And even if you would want to, know this: nothing is promised. Whatever fates these movers and shakers reach, they earned by their own merits. Your role is to simply witness, and entertain yourself with betting on the outcome, as you pursue the truth at the heart of Panthea. With all that said, the first question asked of you is the most important: do you think this story will have a happy ending? *** The Divine Deception is a visual novel game created and released by a developer going by the name of Themis. It released originally in December 2021, and is the second game in the 'Shuffled Deck Collection' the first one being The Zodiac Trial, which I previously LP'd and can be found here. While not a direct sequel in the way you would imagine, the two games are set in the same universe, and references (and maybe the odd connection, if you're attentive) to the first game may occur, so it's recommended you read that one first if you want the full picture though not a necessity. Unlike the first game, this one is a bit different mechanically as well. Rather than having branching paths with different routes based on early choices, Divine Deception is laid out much differently. This time around, we will be instead following multiple different perspectives and experiencing different paths simultaneously, all set in the city of Panthea a coastal city where beneath a shiny, bright exterior lurks dark, interwoven connections and dangerous goings-on. Furthermore, unlike the first game, we won't be voting on decisions to try and change the course of events- rather, we as a thread will be betting on things, wagering our hard-earned chips on how we think things will shake out. The amount of votes we receive (both in the thread directly and privately) as well as the difference between the options will determine how many chips we put down and how much we could stand to lose. Bet wisely, but bet honestly after all, it's not like we're the one making the decisions.                                                                                                        
Mix. fucked around with this message at 03:34 on Apr 14, 2024 |
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 Note: Is updating as the LP develops, so will contain spoilers.  The ones whose path we follow.  Laverna Smyth: An independent private eye that as of late has been finding herself pulled into police investigations to assist as a third party. Not originally from Panthea, but has been living there long enough to have made something of a name for herself. Eccentric, exhausting, and yet, ultimately, beneficial to most cases she's called in on. Is somewhat estranged from her twin sister, Eris.  Lock: A gambler who spent a lot of his time in an underground casino until a recent incident resulted in its investigation by the police. Has recently managed to trick his way into becoming Bach Underwood's campaign manager, for as of yet unknown reasons. His true identity, as well as the source of his current funds, is that of the Auto Larcenist, a thief wanted in the city of Aurea for a prominent bank heist. After being humiliated by Odin Deisma, he has used his connections to procure blackmail material of Aija and Devon interacting, as well as some kind of photographic proof linking Devon to the scene of one of his "jobs" - something that hasn't helped the growing number of people who want his head...  Vels: Vels is a newcomer to Panthea, having found their way here after a series of tragedies results in them having to flee their hometown, both parents dead and a furious gang out for their head.They have trained considerably in hand-to-hand combat, which along with their unassuming personality gives them an edge when it comes to their current situation - protecting Krish. Years of trouble and social isolation has resulted in Vels developing a paranoid streak, but it pays off more often than it doesn't... and now that they've seen behind the mask Polly wears, what will they do with this new information?  Eris Smyth: Online handle is 'Olif'. Laverna's twin sister, and an ex-lawyer, she is currently unemployed and trying to decide what direction to keep moving in... and has decided in the meantime that engaging with conspiracy theorists and trolling randos on social media is an acceptable use of her time. Much more prickly than her sister - and towards her sister - though if hard pressed she can admit to worrying her sister may be getting into something dangerous. Has assisted Lara in essentially defrauding both Deisma brothers for a substantial amount of cash, after Lara was sent her way by an online friend.  Mercury: A waiter at a well-known restaurant named Cassone's, Mercury came to the Mandjet ship to investigate the disappearance of their childhood friend, Jacy Nazea, who seems to have been one of many in a string of Duat-led lynchings which seem to include other Duat members directly. After having escaped the Mandjet with Lara, and having both encountered and then escaped from Odin Deisma and his mysterious war room, Mercury found themselves with the perfect opportunity to put to rest their biggest remaining threat - Thane, the Shadow of Panthea, who now lies dead on the ground in the woods outside Odin's mansion...  Thane: Very much not Thane, but rather, a target of Thane that managed to kill him somehow - and now finds themselves forced to assume his alias until they can find a way to disengage safely. While Mercury killed the Thane that was pursuing them in the woods outside Odin's mansion, does that mean this Thane is one in the same? Only time will tell... whoever they are, they seem to have a habit of playing things close to the chest and keeping others at a distance... which, ironically, makes them a perfect stand-in for the real Thane.  Devon Deisma: The middle Deisma sibling, currently estranged from his family and functionally nonexistent as far as the public knowledge is concerned. Struggles with a tendency to get lost in spiraling thought processes that negatively affect his mental health, possibly as a result of the abuse he suffered at his father's hand during his childhood... or the trauma he has from his time in the military... or both. Accidentally murdered a stranger outside of a bar, which led to him being picked up and groomed by Aija and Arrianne into forming an 'Anti-Conflict Trio', to act as their blade in the dark, taking down anyone that gets in the way of Aija's plans for Panthea to change.  The 'primary cast' of our story.  Aija: The current governor of Panthea, and currently favored to win the upcoming election and retain her position. Sharper than she initially lets on, Aija is definitely not someone you want to get on the bad side of. Her late husband, Tahka, was also Chief Arrianne's brother, but even with his passing the two women have a strong friendship of support - as well as a hidden partnership as two of the three people in the 'Anti-Conflict Trio', a private team formed to take out any threats to Aija's goals.  Arrianne Libera: Chief of Police. She commands a lot of respect from her officers, and likes to be hands-on with the larger investigations, rather than leaving it to those below her. Her brother, Tahka, was killed in gang violence in the past, which was the primary motivation for her more direct approach to police business, to prevent future incidents like what happened to him. Sometimes finds herself having to be a shoulder for Aija in light of stress - as well as her confidant and aide in the 'Anti-Conflict Trio', a private team formed to take out any threats to Aija's goals.  Art Deisma: Son of Odin Deisma, and current CEO of Olympo. The natural successor, he has a lot riding on his shoulders in regards to the company. Despite his position, his office is located on a restricted floor across from his brother Polly's office. Text messages on a burner phone Polly owned imply he has some contact with the Duats, and may have had a hand in Jacy Nazea's disappearance. Has paid handsomely for what he believes to be ownership of Odin's shares in Olympo upon his death, though little does he know his brother has done exactly the same.  Bach Underwood: Aija's main political rival in the upcoming election. A down to earth, generally liked guy whose milquetoast exterior hides a deeply passionate love for his city. Born in a backwater town named Stagbluff, he moved to Panthea as a child, and grew up seeing everything the city had to offer to people of all types and financial positions - something that he also recognizes has been scrubbed away with time and other's influence. Before his political career, he did data analysis for Olympo, and his only vice is a bit of light gambling once in a while. Is actually a plant that Aija will be paying handsomely to intentionally lose the election and continue her reign of power over the city.  Baldera Vasquez: A young police officer still holding onto her ideals. She has a reputation for being headstrong and impulsive, but it's hard to keep a smile off your face whenever she's around. Is usually the one to invite Laverna to help investigate - whether she has permission to or not.  Chara Tucker: Online handle is 'FuschiaD3mon'. One of Olympo's Chief Directors, despite her young age. Chara is disgruntled about the state of Olympo, and has been spending a lot of time working on a plan with Polly to usurp control of the company from his brother, Art. No nonsense and to the point, her devotion lies soley with Polly, rather than Olympo itself... though she insists their relationship is purely platonic.  Jacy Nazea: An ex-reporter for the Oracle who has been missing for an indeterminate amount of time. A childhood friend of Mercury's, and the one responsible for their presence aboard the Mandjet. Current status is unknown, but it's looking more and more like she was murdered - but by who, and why?  Kane Shay: Founder and head reporter of The Oracle, an independent news site that reports on all things Panthea. He claims to love Panthea and has a real fervor for his job. You'd be hard pressed to find a Panthean native who doesn't have an opinion on him - most of which are negative opinions, naturally.  Krish Devaki: They/them only. Krish is what you would picture if asked to imagine the idea Panthean citizen: outspoken, very community-driven, and eager to help no matter what is involved or who is asking. Unfortunately, their desire to help has made them something of a well known figure around town... which is a detriment when you find yourself on the run from the largest gang in the city, with a hit out on your life. Their dream is to be a writer someday... though they have yet to actually start writing anything. Considers Vels their best friend, and after Vels manages to lower a wall and explain what led to them arriving in Panthea, the two seem to be repairing their friendship...  Lara Naomi: A Senior Officer of the Duats, one who seems to be well liked by the lower ranked members. She has a rivalry with Yi for inheriting the leadership once Marduk passes, and her priority for Duat expansion seems to be that of ensuring they can regain the general public's trust (or, at least, indifference). Her last name reveals the secret she wishes to keep from the other Duats - her mother was the last to lead the Shikome, a rival gang that no longer exists in Panthea due to Duat meddling. When she was younger, before she joined the Duats, she lived with Odin Desima for a while, and seems to have left quite the impression on him as a result - which seems to have resulted in him bestowing his inheritance to her upon his death. ...At least, that's what he said he'd do...  Marduk: Leader of the Duats. Has marked Lara, Thane, and Yi as his Senior Officers, and those in the running to replace him upon his passing. Seems to be disappointed in all three for different reasons, and is implied to have forced Thane to assume the Black Mask as some sort of punishment or learning experience. Has been the leader of the Duats through multiple gang wars, and has an aura intense enough to unsettle even non-Duats. He was once part of an alliance with Odin and Zahhak to reform the city to suit their tastes - with Marduk handling the criminal side - but after Zahhak's arrest, he and Odin have gone their separate ways with an understanding to not step on each others' toes.  Odin Deisma: Founder of Olympo and long since "retired" - though he can often be seen hanging around Olympo's primary building and sticking his nose into things whenever it interests him. Seems to be willing to back the other players in the city should they prove themselves worthy of his interest; one such person is Lara Naomi, who he allowed to live with him for an extended period of time when she was younger, and whom he views as the greatest threat to his ideals. He was once part of an alliance with Marduk and Zahhak to reform the city to suit their tastes - with Odin handling the corporate side - but after Zahhak's arrest, he and Marduk have gone their separate ways with an understanding to not step on each others' toes. Has claimed to have rewritten his will to give his shares of Olympo to Lara upon his death.  Polly Deisma: Whether it's making a public scene or finding himself knee deep in another scandal, one thing's for sure - everyone knows who Polly is. Claims to be trying to turn over a new leaf after spending time working some of the entry level positions at Olympo (when not in his executive suite office across the hall from Art, anyway), as well as desiring to clean up his act. Currently renting out the house of the late Veronica Collins, which he's made his unofficial base of operations for the campaign to overtake Art and replace him as CEO. Has paid handsomely for what he believes to be ownership of Odin's shares in Olympo upon his death, though little does he know his brother has done exactly the same.  Seth Johnson: Another police officer, one who's been with the force for much longer. While often seen with Baldera, he is much more jaded than her - possibly a result of an incident several years ago, where his previous partner was killed while they were on a job together. Seth is also a mole for the Duats, and feeds them information/does his best to let them get away with gang business whenever possible.  Thane: A mysterious, violent, threatening masked man that Mercury encounters in the act of torture aboard the Mandjet. Thane is a Senior Officer for the Duats who was killed by Mercury in the woods outside Odin Desima's mansion, but his identity is still a mystery that has yet to even be hinted to...  Yi Giles: Another Senior Officer of the Duats. Originally from Panthea, he left town to teach ethics in a neighboring city for a while, but circumstances resulted in his simultaneous return and allegiance to the Duats. Has a rivalry with Lara over who will inherit the Duats upon Marduk's death; his area of focus on Duat expansion involve financial growth and expanded ventures. Seems to have had the previous Thane on his side, though whether it's as allies or leader and follower remains to be seen.  Those we will encounter from time to time.  Fang: One of Yi's underlings in the Duats. A tall man who rarely speaks, letting his action - and penchant for violence - do the talking for him. Surprisingly, spends most of his free time sculpting.  Gani: Governor Aija's second in command. Has a reputation for being a bit of an airhead, but that doesn't bother him. Has just been assassinated on accident, due to being mistaken for Lock. Oops!   Jia and Xia: A pair of siblings who seem to be Yi's underlings in the Duats. They would be much more fearsome of a team if the two weren't always at each other's throats.  Pandora: One of the Panthean police force, often seen helping out at crime scenes. Don't tell her anything you aren't okay with the rest of Panthea knowing.  Ossa: Bartender and owner of the gambling nest Nohoi's Nest, beneath a false restaurant of the same name. In his place, rules are king, regardless of whether they're fair or logical - if they're agreed upon by both parties, then they're upheld til the game is completed.  Zaochi: One of Yi's underlings in the Duats. A short, stout man who isn't much of a fighter, instead serving as more of a facilitator.  'The Devil': The owner and operator of a strange conspiracy theorist site. Claims to have been watching and collecting dirt on Panthea for decades, including information that they haven't posted to their site, but are they a trustworthy source, or just yet another internet freak? 'The Djinn': An anonymous supporter of Aija who seems to be feeding her information on the goings on around Panthea, seemingly with no intention of getting anything in return. Apis: The previous Chief of Police before Arrianne. Supposedly ruled the force with an iron fist and commanded much respect, to the point a massive portrait of him hangs in the main hall of the Police Station. He was first appointed by Zahhak... and eventually ended up being the one that took him down, once Zahhak's corruption became known to him. Zahhak Ubir: The previous Governor of Panthea before Aija. Was originally a political author with great ideals... and a willingness to do whatever it takes to reach them. Along with Odin and Marduk, formed a three-man alliance to reform the city to suit their desires, with him focused on the political side of things. Most of current Panthean legislature is by his design, even after he was arrested for corruption and unlawful dealings. Isa Dolus: A previous police officer who was well liked by pretty much the entire force, and who was well known for his capacity to solve cases that the others couldn't. Was killed in the line of duty while investigating a theft with Seth, something that - according to Baldera - has weighed on Seth ever since. Was Apis's nephew. Mix. fucked around with this message at 03:30 on Feb 13, 2024 |
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Jul 7, 2023 15:47
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... ... ... [BGM: Silence]   Good! Very good, very good indeed. For a minute there, I was worried I had set this up wrong. All right then. Guess we can get started. Welcome, reader. Glad to have you here.  Who... are you? Why, that is a good question, isn't it? Who exactly am I in all this? I'm afraid I don't have a good answer for you on that front. Who I am is a long and sordid story, one completely disconnected from the one we're here to tell. We shouldn't get bogged down in such details so early. But... you have a point. It'd be for the best if you had something to call me. Hm. Let's see then... What should you call me? ...All right, let's keep things straightforward. You can just call me 'The Narrator'. How does that sound? We only communicate through given dialogue options, most of which are only conversational and have no impact. I'll be handling our responses for the most part, when it's just talking with our companion here, and I'll be using this dialogue portrait for our part in the conversation. Isn't it a bit impersonal for a name? You know what? You're absolutely right. So then... How about we go with 'Ez' then, huh? How does that sound to you? I get the feeling I don't have much of a choice in the matter. Oh, aren't you the clever one? We're going to have fun here, I can just tell. Anyways, now that we've got that settled, we should move on. There's a lot of ground to cover, after all. As much as I love small talk, it'd be irresponsible to engage in it at a time like this. Well, not that I'm opposed to being irresponsible. But I digress. What is this? This? What you're experiencing right now? How to put it... ...No, the more I think about it, the more I realize I shouldn't tell you. I mean, explaining everything would be a whole other story, and again, that's not the one we're here to tell. Honestly? It'd be for the best if you just forgot about all of this. Who I am, what this is... You won't find answers to those questions, not in this tale. So just relax, and accept it. All that matters is that you're going to experience a story, and I 'm here to help guide you through it. Okay? But I want answers! Ah, right. You always were an inquisitive type, right? Too curious for your own good. Well, tough poo poo, friend. You're going to have to accept that you won't always get answers. Who knows, this could be a good learning experience for you. ...Let's just move on. Tonight's story is one of immense drama. It is a story of a city, a story of change, a story of mortal gods. There is death, violence, betrayal, gambling, and above all else, deception! There will be sadness! Anger! Elation! Surprise! There will be... ...No. No, no, no! This isn't right. I can describe how intense the story will be all I want, but it still won't properly capture the feeling. What's the problem here...? How can I get you to truly delve into this story, the way you must?!
Oh. Right, duh. It's obvious, isn't it? It can't just be a story, can it? That's not enough for you. What you need is a game. ...No, that's not quite right. A gamble. This needs to be a gamble. Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Inspiration! It's flowing through me! This is the way to go, I can just feel it. All right, let's make this little tale into a gamble. How do we do that? Well, to start with, you can't gamble if you don't have anything. And in the state you're currently in, you don't even have a form, much less something you'd want to bet. Let me just... fix that.[20 chips gained.] There you go. I just gave you 20 chips. You can use that to gamble. With those chips, I'll let you make bets. Bets on what, you ask? Why, the very story we'll be going through! You can bet on certain outcomes, and when they're proven right, you'll double the amount of chips you bet! Of course, if they're proven wrong, don't count on getting those chips back. But hey, that's gambling, baby! Oh, and I'll also scatter in plenty of opportunities to make more chips in the story itself. Gotta keep this chip economy flowing if we want to really have fun. And, to top it all off, prizes! Right, because of course, it's not gambling unless you can win something. Once we're finished with the story, I'll open up a Prize Counter. You can use the chips you've won to buy all sorts of extras and goodies and the like.We'll be seeing what that's about... at the end of the LP!  Well, how does that sound? It's a lot more fun like this, right? Absolutely. Right! Yeah, this is going to be good. In fact, let's start betting already! That's right, the casino's already open! Wait, I don't know literally anything about the story at this point. So? Gambling's all about not knowing the outcome! So then, for this first bet, let's go big. The story we're about to go through... Do you think it'll have a happy ending?I'll explain how betting is going to work for this LP in a second, but first, let's give our answer. At the end of the previous game's LP, I left this question without any context since, well, we don't exactly get context here, either  The results of the vote were that this game will have a happy ending. Yes. An optimist, huh? We'll see how long that lasts. Alright, now you have to pick how many chips you're going to bet. Oh, but... thinking about it... You're not going to get the payout from this bet until literally the very end, huh? So betting big now, even if you get it right, might be a mistake, since you'll be separated from gambling funds. That is a problem, hm... Well, like I said, you'll be able to earn chips all throughout the story proper. But still, it feels like this should be considered somehow. Alright, how about this? Payout on this bet is doubled. That's right, if you get this one correct, you won't get twice the chips you bet back, you'll get four times that amount. That ought to sweeten the pot a tad, huh? So with that in mind, make your wager.So, the bets. There's going to be quite a few of these over the course of the LP, and we actually have to also wager a set number of chips each time too. The way I'm going to be handling the amount of our bets is pretty simple after the vote is concluded, I'm going to take the percentage of the votes that didn't win and calculate what that percentage of the chips we currently have comes out to. That way, for bets where people are collectively in agreement on, we'll bet less chips as a result, but for bets where people are more divided, the bet will be higher which means a higher potential payout as a result. As Ez said, we'll be earning chips throughout the story in addition to those we get from bets we won, but in the long run this is more of a way to see how many chips we'll have at the end and nothing more. Let's shoot for the top! In any case, this first bet is pretty straightforward only 33% of your votes were for there being a bad ending, so we'll be betting 7 chips.  Awesome! First bet, in the books. So then, right now your chip count is 13. But don't worry, I'm sure chips'll be flowing out of your hypothetical pockets in no time! All right, that's that for setup, I suppose. On to the card stacks. Choose a stack, choose a card, finish the card, the next one in that stack is dealt, bada bing, bada boom. It's pretty simple. Complete those seven stacks, and then maybe we see what happens from there. Oh, and a tip if you want my opinion, I'd spread out your time amongst the stacks instead of focusing on any one or two in particular. Move through them at a somewhat even pace, and I think it'll be a more entertaining experience. ...Or don't, I don't care, I'm not your mom. There's really only one restriction to how you move through the cards: some of them have these pesky locks, see. If you want to unlock those locks, you have to find a key of the matching level. Keys can be collected by completing cards. So basically, if you run into a roadblock, try a different stack. ...Oh, and only one use per key. Annoying, I know, but trust me, it's better this way. All right, and you're off! Alright, so, time to explain how this LP is going to work. This game functions similar to games like 13 Sentinels, Heavy Rain, or 428 Shibuya Scramble, where you're following multiple perspectives/paths that are all happening within a set period of time though, what order they're in and how they connect is up to you, the reader, to figure out on your own! No narrative hand-holding here! What Ez said is true; we want to spread out our time between these stacks each stack corresponding to a different perspective because like she said, there are locks that can be encountered, and you get keys over the course of the story for hitting specific beats. Now, I could've put it to a vote what order we do stuff in... but that would be a lot of votes to have to keep tallying, not even taking into account the votes for what bets we're going to be making! Therefore, I feel that if we just go in order, left to right and top to bottom, that'll do well enough and also ensure we get an even amount of time with each perspective, not to mention basically ensuring we'll always have the key we need whenever we encounter a lock! With that being said, next update, we'll start with the first part of the first stack...
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[BGM: Silence]  Walking through a forest trail in the dead of night is certainly a unique experience. It's one that inevitably fills you with a certain amount of dread. Especially if that forest is in Panthea, an incredibly dangerous place. Especially if there are plenty of people who would rightfully want you dead. Even the most logical of people would have a tricky time with such a trek. You can be as aware as the next person that ghosts and ghouls don't exist, but when left with nothing but a flashlight, your thoughts, and the shapes the trees make, you can't help but see faces. The trick is to disconnect your mind from your emotions. Those faces might scare my emotions, but so long as there's a disconnect, that won't stop my legs from continuing the walk. Nothing can dissuade me from walking until I reach my destination. One might wonder why, if it's such a frightful experience, I would even bother to walk this far. I took a taxi up to the forest's edge, why not continue the drive to my destination? The people attending my destination weren't the type to go places they'd have to hike to.  There were a number of reasons. For one, as spooky as it might be, I liked the atmosphere these sorts of walks cultivated. The quiet, cool silence was entrancing. It felt empty. Perfect for thinking. And there was a lot to be thinking about. I was in no rush to the crime scene. I was already quite late. And I was okay with that. A private investigator should always be fashionably late. Let the grunt cops do the legwork, arrive in time to hear the evidence, and then take the glory of solving the case for yourself. So, a leisurely stroll felt appropriate. It gave me time to really consider the location I was heading towards. The geography of Panthea really highlighted the class system prevalent everywhere you went. Panthea was a city by a seaside. Most of Panthea was an urban jungle, cram-packed to the brim. And yet, Panthea also housed an expansive forest in its border. A forest with mansions and buildings and facilities with plenty of room between each other, reserved for those who can pay the steep prices such accommodations cost. The one small grace of this forest trip was that it assured that the victim and most likely the murderer would be one familiar with Forest facilities. Eventually, I reached my destination.  There were plenty of cars parked outside of the facility. Fancy cars. Police cars. And one familiar, dingy car parked haphazardly away from all the others. I let out a sigh. This could only mean one thing.  Sure enough, Kane stood outside, irritatedly smoking by the entrance. From his ill-kempt hair to his raggedy coat, he was a distinctive figure, to say the least. Clearly, he had been kept out of the crime scene at least for now. Thank God for small miracles. As I approached, he soon spotted me. And with that flash of recognition, a small smirk crossed his face. He reached into his pocket and grabbed a recorder. Here we go.   Hey there, Laverna, right? Ain't you a sight for sore eyes. And sore eyes you most certainly have, Kane.Like the previous game in the series, who our perspective is following is offscreen, so for this LP I'll just be using the symbol on the matching card stack for their dialogue, respectively.  Oh, what did I ever do to deserve your barbs? I read the coverage of cases I work, you know. Yeah? So what's the issue? I figure I gave some pretty good advertising, don'tcha think? Well, I suppose I can't fault you on that front. How in the blazes are you even here? I know reporters tend to flock to tragedy like trees approach the sun, but even still, to appear before myself... Impressive. What can I say, I've got connections. When a crime happens, some people call the police, some people make money. And I'm not surprised I made it here before you. I'm surprised you're here at all. I know the police can work with private investigators, but usually not on high-profile murder cases. Is Panthea's force so desperate they need to consult for all their cases? Is that how you intend to spin my presence? Hey, if the shoe fits, you dig? Whatever it takes to prevent the blame from falling on the current administration. Whoa, hey, them's fighting words. Calling a journalist biased is tantamount to a direct insult, you know? Ah, so is The Oracle still intending to charade as unbiased? So, for the record, it seems like you have some issue with Governor Aija's administration. Care to expand on that? I've no issue with Ms. Aija. I simply think it weak that every opinion you intend to push upholds whatever the status quo dictates. Well, you know how it is. Objects in motion, and all. Is that so? I well wonder how you intend to score this incident to the administration's tune. Are ya kidding me? Some lowlife terrorist decides to assassinate a guest of Governor Aija? This is prime time sympathy fuel. And you're well aware the murderer is also someone connected to Ms. Aija? Well, that remains to be seen. Is that the story you're running with? I prefer not to parrot what others say. Only what I behold myself can I pronounce as truth. That so? All I gotta say is, good luck getting in. I'm sure it won't be a problem. I'm expected. Ah man, really? They're really gonna let some unknown like you in while they're restricting one of Panthea's most familiar faces from the scene? Oh? You hold yourself in that much esteem? That certainly is news to me. Are ya kidding me? You know what keeps the world turning, Sherlock? Information. Who has it. Who doesn't. Who you know. Who'll speak to you. How you'll spread it. I can't exactly argue with you on that. When you look at it like that, I'd say I'm the most powerful person in all of Panthea! Ha! Well, if nothing else, I always respect audacity. Perhaps we've more in common than I first thought. However, the first act of the story awaits me, and I ought to grant it a conclusion. If you're hounding an interview, at least let me acquire a look at the scene first. Go right ahead, Miss.With a mocking bow, Kane stepped aside. I took the expression in stride, and confidently entered the venue. [BGM: Ante Up]  I pushed open the doors, entering a completely different world. A bright, opulent, crowded world. One packed with fancily dressed citizens, with the occasional police officer scattered amongst them. It was a world of grand gestures, so I may as well play the part. The detective has arrived!  Oh, loving hell, s-seriously?Instantly, I was greeted with a less than friendly face. The balding, weaselly officer with a nervous fidget and annoyed look was Seth. We'd been acquainted a few times before now. Ah, Seth. Fancy running into you here. Seriously, who i-invited her? This is a murder investigation, we don't let third parties in. Oh, come off it, Seth. From the sounds of things, you need a helping hand. We need, uh, jack poo poo. It's been hours. There's no indication that we won't be able to handle this ourselves. So you say. But then again, men say many things in their lives. Some true, some false. Between the two, it can be difficult to differentiate until far into the future. That doesn'tBefore Seth could object, a louder voice interrupted.   Lav!The beaming officer approached me directly, and before I could object, she came in for a hug. I had no choice but to reciprocate. When she let go, I was left wondering how close she thought we were. We really hadn't known each other for that long, and only in an official capacity. ...Well, I doubted having her on my side could hurt. You're looking real lovely as usual. Ah, Baldera. How you falsely flatter me. Falsely? Not a chance! Really, I love your outfit. It really compliments your grey eyes, makes them pop. Yeah, uh, speaking of your outfit, is this really appropriate for this sort of scene? Most private eyes I've met don't wear high heels.  Oh, come off it Seth. She looks proper official, at least official enough.Seth was right. My clothing was appropriately garish. It's certainly not the sort of thing I'd wear in my free time. But for this role, it would work well enough. Baldera, Seth, as much as I cherish your company, I did not come to discuss fashion. Though I've many opinions on the topic. No, I do believe Baldera has called a certain drastic crime to my attention?Sure enough, a mere glance to the left made clear why the police were here. I couldn't get a good look at this angle, but it was pretty clear that an old man had collapsed to the floor. Must be the victim.  Y-yeah, about that. Baldera, why did you call Laverna here? You know, my mother always said, the more the merrier. And two heads are better than one, yes, but also, there's a reason we don't let civilians help with our investigations. Laverna's not a civilian! She's a private investigator. And you know as well as I she's useful to have around. You saw the work she made of the last few cases she consulted on.Baldera brought up a compelling point. [BGM: Ura Dora]  Looking at it empirically, I was a good investigator. That was perhaps my greatest leverage in this situation. Despite that natural skill, it was still something of a surprise to myself that I ended up in this situation. I mean, I always knew I was bright. From a young age, I scored pretty high on intelligence tests. I got the hang of things far faster than my classmates and peers. I can still clearly remember how proud I made my parents, back then. We were never really a wealthy family. Middle class, at best. But at my pace, it looked like I was going to be able to get a scholarship to a really good college. And I had passions when I was young as well. I remember my first real investigation. It began when I was still a teenager. Far too early. Still, I felt compelled to try my best. The police had already given up on the case. Hearing that, you might think that's a sign to give up. But to me, that just signaled that it was even more important that I try myself. And sure enough, my investigation techniques got far further than the police could ever have hoped to. Despite the grim circumstances, I found that first investigation... well, to be frank, enjoyable. It was exciting, making progress in ways nobody thought that I'd be able to. And, eventually, my investigation succeeded. I had found the true culprit. I had done what I set out to accomplish. By all accounts, this should be a successful origin story. However... well, to make a long story short, affairs being wrapped up neatly when the truth is revealed is the realm of fiction. The ugly conclusion of that first investigation turned me away from the practice pretty severely. I really intended to give up my ambitions of being a private investigator then and there. But, well...  Maybe, at my core, it just fueled my intolerance towards injustice. Because here I was, private investigator of Panthea, at the police's service. And there was Governor Aija, highest authority in the city, approaching me with a strained look on her face. [BGM: Raise]   Ah, greetings.As she approached, Baldera immediately stood to attention. Governor Aija, ma'am. Pleased to be serving you. Ah, Officer Baldera, was it? Thank you, really. I'm glad to have such reliable members of our city's esteemed police force at my aid. Truly, it moves me to see Panthea's justice in action.Aija turned back to me. Speaking of, I don't believe I recognize you as one of our city's police officers. That's because she's not. Laverna Smyth, private investigator. Pleasure to be of service.I extended my hand, and Aija graciously shook it. Ah, charmed. You're here to help investigate, I imagine? I wouldn't be a particularly good investigator if I didn't, no? Ha ha ha, I suppose not.She turned to Baldera. I suppose I'm just confused. Last I checked, I didn't remember it being standard protocol for the police to rely on third party investigators, especially this early on. Ah, well, erm, that's because it's not, ma'am. Oh, is that so? Then is Ms. Laverna's presence some sort of reflection of your faith in your ability to solve this case?Baldera seemed to shrink under Governor Aija's gaze. Seth watched this interaction, then sighed.  Actually, ma'am, it really isn't that uncommon. I mean, we don't like to advertise it, so as to not get every j-justice seeking wannabe knocking at our door, but restricting ourselves to just members of the force can be... er, restricting. Really, uh, working with trusted investigators not affiliated directly with the force is pretty common practice. So then, is Ms. Laverna a trusted third party?I noticed Seth visibly grinding his teeth.  You know, well, I g-guess I'd have to say so. And of course, it's not like we're just going to let her go willy-nilly. I promise that I, personally, will make sure she's kept under careful, uh, watch. Just to make sure.After this, there was a pause in the conversation. The sound of Aija strumming her fingers across her other arm seemed to fill the entire room. Then, she spoke up.  Wonderful. Of course, I don't intend to come across as though I'm questioning your process. I was just curious about how these things are done. I'm so busy with my job, I rarely get to see these aspects of your work. Well then, don't let me bother you. Go on and catch a criminal! ...On behalf of dear Mr. Athen. We'll be sure to do just that, ma'am.Baldera saluted Aija, which seemed unnecessary, but Aija apparently appreciated it. With a small nod, she departed the scene. At her departure, I saw Seth visibly deflate. Well, uh, I guess that's settled then. Don't do anything s-stupid, Laverna. I'll be watching over you. Being stupid is simply antithetical to my nature. Uh huh.[BGM: Ante Up]  Seth gave me a pretty dirty look, but I made sure not to give any sign that I had noticed it. I was just happy to get the go-ahead to investigate. Now then. We have wasted enough time. If we delay any longer, the criminal will be able to slip out of our grasp. Luckily, that's not one of our concerns. Oh? Do tell. Yes, do tell. You're the one who brought Laverna in, it's y-your hjob to deal with filling her in. Sure. Not a problem with that at all. So then, let me give you a rundown of the crime. As I'm sure you're aware, the crime scene was this fundraising gala for Governor Aija's re-election. Most of the folks invited to this place are real fancy-like, not the type to go around committing murder like this. Tch. That's a way to l-look at it. You disagree, Seth? Way I see it, uh, it's the people at the top that have a lot more to lose. Sure, but that doesn't mean they'd actually do a freaking murder themselves! It's uncharacteristic. Maybe. Anyways, this gala's got a real strict guest list. I believe it was organized by Aija's secretary, Mr. Gani. They hired nine waiters and a small kitchen staff.I looked around, noting the various identical looking figures wearing tuxedos and plain white masks.  I presume the staff are the masked ones? Exactly. I wonder whose bright idea that was? I like it! It adds a sense of... I don't know, class, to the whole affair. M-Makes it creepy, more like. Whole thing has an 'elitist, Eyes Wide Shut' type vibe.I had to agree with Seth making your staff wear identical disguises can hardly be described as good taste. It's a matter of elegance, Seth. Ambience is important. You're telling me. Thank you, Lav. Anyways, the staff set up the party, and then the guests came in. There's only one entrance to this venue, and people were IDed pretty heavily when walking in, so we can eliminate any unknown entities as suspects. You can, assuming your statements hold true. However, the rogue unfounded axiom is the murderer's shield. Can we truly ascertain that there are no secret passages to the building? Rogue panelings, hidden tunnels?I heard Seth let out a nervous chuckle. Well, you know... we can check for that stuff later. For now, let's just go over the case summary, 'kay? So then, the victim. Mr. Athen. He was a rich old man, a businessperson in his prime. Shrewd, insightful, and influential. He was a wrinkled bat clinging to life. Seth! Hey, i-it's true, alright? He doesn't have any living relatives left, he doesn't have any close friends. He lived alone, doing nothing but playing, uh, moneyball by himself, investing his h-hoard of cash into whatever he likes. He had a handful of years left, none of them important. Seth!! Am I wrong? It's a thing called common decency. It's just not right to speak ill of the dead! Look, it's not pretty, but it's relevant to know. It makes the motive of this whole thing really hard to figure out. Motive? Seth, didn't we already decide that it's probab Hey, hey, woah! Seth's face flushed with annoyance. R-really? Really, Baldera? I thought I made this perfectly clear. Hey, hey, calm down. Don't get your knickers in a twist. I caught myself. No, I caught you.It was clear that the two were having a conversation that I was completely exempt from. That annoyed me more than I cared to admit, but making a fuss about it now wouldn't be productive. The motives of murderers are mysterious. They can oft be buried in deep and private histories, impossible for the passing eye to see. Only an amateur would rely on such a shallow thing to catch a culprit. Really? Y-you're going to call most police forces across the globe amateur? Because that's what you're doing. If the shoe fits. Relying on motives to reach the truth is like polling the audience as a hint in a gameshow. Perhaps it shall lead you to the right track. But it is far from certain, only to bring you in line with the common man. I am anything but. You're telling me. Besides, any murder mystery worth half its salt gives all the suspects a worthwhile enough motive. She's not wrong. At the very least, it's worth noting that Athen was a considerable donor to Governor Aija. It's not in her interest to cut off such a major revenue source. So, approaching it from the opposite direction, killing him deals a decent blow to Aija's campaign. Unfortunately, all our suspects should be s-supporting Aija. In theory, that is. In theory. So then, at a certain point all the lights in the building went out. The darkness most foul took over the building. Yeah, pretty much. Eventually, one of the waiters was able to get the lights back on. You can guess what had happened. Our victim had become our victim? It's really sad. You're right, Mr. Athen was on the ground, collapsed. When he was rolled over, a rag doused in something was found under his body. Forensics is still doing their thing, but we can pretty safely guess that this was the murder instrument. Ah, poison. It seems we're dealing with an experienced snake, not some novice worm. Right, this was premeditated. Any ways, when the light was out, nobody could've escaped the venue. One of the waiters was standing right by the entrance when the lights went out. They've testified that in the panic, they backed up into the door, and it didn't open until the lights turned back on. And of co urse, after the lights were on, nobody was permitted to leave until we arrived. I could listen to the cops just explain the scene for as long as I wanted, but that wouldn't get me any further than them. At some point, I needed to begin investigating for myself. I took a step towards the body. The sight of the corpse was slightly unnerving. As much as I had blustered, my experience with dead bodies was pretty few and far between. At the very least, there was no blood or gore to freak me out with this one. You could mistake Athen's stillness for deep sleep. The only thing frightening about this sight was how it made you question your own mortality. Well, time to get to work. Mr. Athen. Pleased to be working with you.I reached down and grabbed the body's cold hand. With some resistance, I shook his hand, as you would when meeting anybody. Lav! See this, this, this is what I'm talking about! This is why we d-don't bring in third parties. Putting on an annoyed expression, I turned to those two. Relax. I'm wearing gloves, you pansies. There's nothing that moving his arm a bit will cover up remember, the body was already jostled when it was flipped over. Still, it's a matter of protocol. We're well past that point.I turned back towards the body. So then, Mr. Athen, could you please testify as to your killer?I grabbed the body's mouth and began to puppet it as I repliced to myself in a raspy voice. 'You foolish child! It was pitch black! You expect me to have any answers for you? If I knew who killed me, I'd have said so already.' Well, you have me there, sir. It was at this point I started to become aware of the numerous stares I was beginning to attract from the party guests. Good. Fine. Irrelevant. This was a little thing called commitment, a concept far too few people really understood. This a, a, a part of your process? Always.Seth brought up a good point. It was time to do some actual detective work. I gave the body a once over, looking for anything unusual. My eyes first spotted a rag atop the body. This must be the suspected murder weapon they were talking about. Hmm... Looking close, it seemed as though a bit of the rag was caught in Athen's front pocket. Did it get like that when the body was rolled over? Or... I kept looking around Athen's body, in case there was anything else relevant. On his left shoulder, I saw a stain. It had been dried off with a towel or something, but you could definitely make it out. Something light yellow had spilled on him at this area. I moved over to it and gave it a tentative sniff. Oh, Jesus.As I expected. Wine.  Was anybody nearby Mr. Athen before the lights went out? No. As I s-said, he doesn't have anybody in his life. He came, uh, alone. I really feel bad for this old man. Not only was he alone, he decided to sit by himself in the corner of the room. Well, if that doesn't just bring a tear to your eye. True, it does seem a waste. An exuberant party like this? Or, gala, I suppose. It's a time and a place to make memories. Not to waste away, becoming a victim to time. Well, in Athen's case, a victim to time among other things. Make memories... By golly, I think I'm on to something! Seth, Lav, you two stay here. I'm going to follow up on my big breakthrough.Before Seth could get in a word edgewise which he was almost certain to do so Baldera took off. This left Seth in a grumbling mood.  ...gotta keep playing babysitter... Pep up, Seth. I've still got questions that need answers. Oh, th-then please, ask away. So the man was by himself. So what? Surely, somebody could've been looking in his direction, no? Eh... Doubt it. And why is that? Apparently, um, a big fight broke out right before the lights went off that drew a lot of attention. That Polly brat one of the Deisma siblings got into a huge screaming match with his ex. How garish. Yeah, sounds like the one thing that might've made this whole shitshow interesting. ...Well, besides the murder. Indeed. The timing on that seemed a little too convenient. I made sure to table that under the 'follow-up' column in my brain. What about the blackout? Surely that cannot be a completely unexplained phenomenon. If you're asking what's the deal with the lights shutting off, then I g-got an answer for you. The panel in the Boiler Room was messed with. Seems to be direct sabotage, but again, these are, are, are, early days. Need to get forensics on this. Do you want to check it out yourself? Soon enough. Not quite yet, however. Great.As I asked these questions, I continued to examine the corpse's location. There were some more notable objects to be found by simply stepping back a touch. Near the corpse was a broken wine glass. Red wine was splashed all over the floor by it. An incredibly important discovery. But perhaps even more important was the crumpled-up sheet of paper under the nearby table. Gingerly, I reached over and picked it up. As I unfolded it, I noticed that the sheet had already been unfolded once. Looks like the cops had already found this piece of evidence and placed it back down. Why, then, would they not mention it to me? I expected the paper to house some deep, dark secret. However, it looked to be a torn out page of the Bible. A page from the book of Psalms, to be exact. And on the page, a specific quote was highlighted in orange. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. A bit on the nose, huh? With a questioning gaze, I turned to Seth.  What do you make of this piece of evidence? It's a B-bible page, isn't it? That much a child could deduce. I am inquiring you because, for whatever reason, you thought it prudent to not inform me of this page. I, er, just wanted to test your detective skills.Seth wasn't even trying to hide the fact that he wasn't making eye contact. Looks like it was up to me to push the issue further. Well then, let me demonstrate my skills. Not only did you hide this piece of evidence from me, so did Baldera. If it was a decision only one of you had made, the other would have chipped in earlier. Thus, you must have discussed withholding this piece of evidence previously.[BGM: Silence]  Continuing down that road, another discussion you had previously pertains to motive. So then, does this verse somehow pertain to motive? Laverna, I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself. I, uhBefore he could say more, one of the officers that had been talking with the guests approached. I recognized her. ...Pandora, if I remembered right. Hey Seth, I finished taking those witness statements you asked for. Oh, Laverna! Surprised to see you here. Are you also going to be helping us with the Cock Robin Murders? ...'Cock Robin Murders'?
God. drat it, Pandora. Huh? I Go.
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Jul 7, 2023 15:48
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[BGM: Kicker]  Without another word, Pandora scurried away. Confused, but sure enough that she'd somehow screwed up. Seth began to massage his burning red forehead, barely containing his anger. After a few more choice curse words, he began to pace back and forth. Finally, he turned to me. Alright, okay, gently caress. You are n-not to tell anyone about this, okay? And you're definitely not going to tell my boss that I told you. I'm only telling you this because I know you'll be even more of a pain in my rear end than usual if I don't. Believe me, I am well versed in secrecy. Laverna. Seth, I swear. I get it. I promise I won't tell a soul about this.I looked him straight in the eyes. Seth proceeded to pace back and forth a few more times, before taking a deep breath and beginning to talk. I'm just going to make a long story short, okay? And, and, and you're not going to ask any questions, you're going to listen and nod, and when I finish explaining, you're going to move on. A while ago, we found a dead body. We find them all the time; funny thing, though, is that this one was shot with a bow and arrow. And that's not what killed them, this was done post-mortem. ...'Who killed Cock Robin? I said the Sparrow, with my bow and arrow'. You're familiar, then. Good, that'll make this quicker. Before too long, we found another corpse. This one had its eye removed post-mortem. 'Who killed Cock Robin? I said the Fly. With my little teeny eye, I saw him die'. Okay okay, we don't need your running commentary for this. You get the point, r-right? Soon enough, we found that these post-mortem additions were following the poem. So, that suggests that they're all the same killer. I'm sensing a but. But, there's some issues with that theory. For one, the victims seem to be all different types. Like, a fair few have been influential. But m-many more are, erm, nobodies... So the deaths just seem random. Very well then, it's a serial killer's doing. That's what we thought until recently, when we actually caught the killer. Or, at least, a killer. We know he couldn't have done most of the other murders. And he claims he didn't even know that the body was altered post-mortem. The chief th-thinks that we got the wrong guy. But I... Maybe I'm not the b-b-best officer, but the evidence I found against that guy was strong. He definitely was the killer in that instance. And he definitely wasn't in any of the other instances. And naturally, you haven't let this trend out as public knowledge. O-of course not! That's standard serial killer procedure. So then, judging by the poem... you're up to the Thrush? Yeah. That's a lot of victims. Yeah. You really should've caught this person before now. ...Yeah. Well, fret not. You made the wise decision to bring me into your fold. I shall now catch this dastard, posthaste! Oh, just l-like that, huh? Relax, would you? We don't even know if this is the work of the Cock Robin killer. For one, the connection here is loose. But, more to the point, there's but so many people who could have killed Mr. Athen. That's completely against pattern, and for good reason. If the Cock Robin killer really is somebody in here, a thorough investigation and cross-reference with past records will find them. So it'd be suicide for them.Seth made a solid point. The Cock Robin killer... this was certainly a major puzzle piece. Not just for the mystery of Athen's killer, but for the mystery of Panthea. I filed that away for later. Very well then. Onto more thorough investigations.I crossed the room with Seth following in my stead, visibly annoyed. The first person I needed to question was... quite apparent. An argument that draws the whole room's attention just happens to occur right before the lights went out? That's a bit too good to be true. And in my experience, if things are too good to be true, then they're often not. I approached Polly Deisma, the person who apparently started the argument. It wasn't hard to spot him out. Next to his brother and his father, he stood out like a sore thumb. ...Swayed like one, too. [BGM: Stand]  Polly Deisma, I presume? Yeah, you got it. And what's your name, cutie? Really, dude? Hitting on an in-investigator? Laverna. Charmed to be of your assistance.I held out my hand, and with little hesitation, the man sloppily reached out to shake it. This just further confirmed what I already suspected. This guy was buzzed out of his mind. ...And that was fine in my books. Drunks tended to make my job easier. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'd like to get your insight on a certain incident. I heard you got into a little spat earlier? Mind giving some info on that?Instantly, Polly's face soured.  How the hell is that my fault? I never said it was.  Well, you'd be the first. I just want to get an understanding as to how things played out. How they played out is plain and simple. That bitch texted me and started stirring some poo poo up that's just not true! And then! And then. When I called her out, she had the gall to play dumb and pretend like she hadn't texted it!  It's on my loving phone, honey! Piss poor job of playing dumb!I was... quickly losing interest in this line of inquiry. And I didn't love the attention I was beginning to accrue. So, think this is, uh, a key line of investigation? I'm beginning to suspect not. I'm just saying, if you're gonna stir poo poo, say it to my face. And at least cop to it, my God. But apparently, hic, apparently I'm the embarrassment here. I'm the family disgrace. ...I think there might be a bit more here to unpack than I was planning on. You think? Look, Polly, it was lovely meeting you. For what it's worth, it sounds like you were totally in the right.This predictably put a smile on his face. You know, you're right. You're a good detective, you're a smart detective, you keep at it. Naturally.At this point, a much more well-dressed man who looked oddly similar to Polly stepped in. It didn't take a detective to work out that this was Art Deisma, Polly's older brother.   Hello there, Laverna, was it? I apologize for my sibling. He's... well, he's troubled. I hope he didn't cause a scene. Oh, he was just lovely. That's encouraging to hear. A nice change of pace.Subtle.  At any rate, I'm frankly mortified by recent events. If you need any help, I'd be more than willing to give you my full support. No, I'm afraid that's completely unnecessary.I... hadn't meant this to be as harsh as it came across. Still, hearing this, Art looked crestfallen. Before he could respond, however, I heard a chuckle. It appeared the head of the family had been listening in on this exchange.   Swing and a miss, Arty boy. It appears this lady's a biiiit too wise for your usual buttkissing.Art's face crumpled even more.  I was just trying to make myself helpful. And look how that worked out for you.Odin Deisma chuckled some more at his dejected son. I assure you both, I've this situation well under control. Of course, if you ever have any future troubles, I'd be happy to assist you in investigative matters. After this exchange? I'd prefer not to. Besides, I already have people for that sort of thing. Uh, Laverna, if you're not getting anything out of this, I think this might be time to bail.Seth was absolutely correct. I gave the pair a meek bow, then proceeded to walk away.  I wanted to search the area where the lights went out. The boiler room. ...But I didn't know where that was. I could have asked Seth. Instead, I began to wander about the place. Was... this the way to the boiler room? Nope, no, that was the way to the restrooms. What about this hallway? ...Aha! This must be it. I entered the room confidently, and sure enough, it looked like a boiler room. The boiler room, I presume. You could have just asked.Seth, who had been following the whole time, sounded thoroughly unimpressed. Well, I wasn't doing it for him. Whatever. You're right, for what it's worth. The, er, power outage or whatever happened here. That panel right there, in fact.He pointed to a very obvious panel with switches and wires. It appeared to be vaguely burned, though by what I couldn't tell. Are we aware of what happened? No, I'm afraid that's awaiting further analysis. At the very least we know that whatever caused the blackout's origin is in this room. This isn't, uh, some power cable elsewhere being cut or something, the criminal was in this room.With my skill set, looking at the panel itself wouldn't get me anywhere at all. Instead, I turned my attention elsewhere. I began to sweep the room, looking for any detail that may be of use. I was hoping for a dropped note, or perhaps a string of a distinct color caught on a door handle. ...Nothing quite so obvious jumped out at me. But there was one thing of note. That's a window on the wall, is it not?Seth looked up to where I was pointing.  Uh, yeah, that looks like a window to me. What, do you think somebody got in or out through there? B-because, hate to tell you, I don't know if someone's arm could get through there much less somebody's body.Seth exaggerated... there was definitely enough room for someone's arm. But he was right, it probably couldn't smuggle a person outside. But... perhaps it didn't need to. I'm simply filing it away. Oh? What's that about? You can't expect the whole truth to be apparent at present. Only when all the clues are revealed can such thing be determined. So, when evidence is relevant yet directionless, I store it in a limbo state. It helps I've lost interest.I didn't have a snappy comeback to this. Instead, I simply made my way back to the main venue with the rest of the guests. I had done enough venturing about. When I returned, however... I saw quite a peculiar sight. [BGM: Silence]  Lay off, dude. I don't know the first thing about what you're saying! I just want to know why you did it! Were you a sleeper agent? Have you grown a deep resentment for your employer, and this was your way of striking back? Woah, woah, t-take it easy there, Baldera. What's going on here? What's going on here is that I found our culprit! Magnificent, Baldera. Please, show us your reasoning. I'll do just that, thank you very much. See, it was something Lav said. It got me thinking that people were probably taking pictures, right? This place has a lot of old fogeys, but even still there are a couple young'uns addicted to social media. I asked around, and sure enough, this one daughter took some lovely selfies. Lovely selfies, I'll note, that took place right before the lights went out! We know that our culprit had to be in the boiler room to shut the lights off. So anyone caught in these pictures has an airtight alibi. ...But I wasn't content ruling people out. No siree, I wanted blood. So I ruled the guest list against these pictures, trying to find who wasn't accounted for. And one person was mysteriously missing at this time. Secretary Gani. And I'm telling you, I was just taking a poo poo! Nothing sketchy with that, you feel me? Save it for someone who'll buy your story. Hate to say it, uh, Secretary, but Baldera here has a point. It doesn't look good for you. ...But it doesn't look bad for you either. Lav?[BGM: Showdown]  It was a valiant effort, Baldera. I admire the tenacity. But to deliver a killing strike, you need more than that. The truth is rarely as clear to the observer as you expect it to be right here. And... I'm afraid your reasoning simply doesn't hold weight. Alright. You think I'm wrong? Bring it on. Prove me otherwise. It would be a privilege. Here, I'm gonna lay out how Secretary Gani committed this murder. From the start, Athen was Gani's target. First, Secretary Gani went to the boiler room to turn off the lights. Then, without any issue, he walked his way right on over to Mr. Athen. Ha! From the start, your entire argument was built upon a support structure of sand! That is to say... it can't hold its own weight. Pray tell, how exactly would the dear secretary make his way to Mr. Athen? As you said, it was pitch black dark! Unless you intend to label him a descendant of an owl a sensible enough argument, I suppose... - then this is a worthless path to walk. That's, well... Okay, gosh, you got me on that front. Gani might not be the direct killer. But he could easily be an accomplice! Think about it Lav! I checked those photos from social media. They occurred right before the blackout, so anyone in that picture couldn't have turned the lights off in the boiler room. Cross referencing it with the guest list, well, there's just one name missing. If all the other guests are accounted for, then by golly it's gotta be the secretary! Here is the heart of the matter. Perhaps we can eliminate the guests from suspicion. ...Perhaps. However, there is a whole subset of person that has evaded your memory, dearest Baldera. As they say... perhaps the butler did it? A butler? Well, I get why they're suspicious with the masks and all. But don't think I'm just some idiot, you hear? I already thoughta that. We know a total of nine butlers were hired. The pictures show a group of three by the stage, and four of them about the main floor. That adds up to seven. If you add the butler by the main entrance, and the one in the kitchen accounted for at the time of the blackout by the kitchen staff that's nine. That should rule out all these butler types, right? Butler types... what a fitting title. True, nine butlers were hired. However, can you prove that only nine donned the mantle of butler during the party? Uhh... Well, I think I can. So, if there was someone who wanted to pretend to be some butler, earliest they could arrive was when the party was getting set up. That's the earliest you can imagine? How limited your mind must be! For all we know, this dutler disguised butler infiltrated the building far before preparations began. They hid beyond detection, and once the party began in earnest they assimilated to their surroundings. Okay, okay, maybe you could sneak in like that or something. But what about getting out? Because the culprit was inside the building when the lights went out. Again, this is an assumption, Baldera. And you know what they say about assumptions. They make an rear end out of.... us all, in the end, when you think about it. No, I'm not wrong about this, Lav! The lights went out because that panel in the Boiler Room was messed with. It's an unshakeable fact you'd have to enter the boiler room to do that. And okay, maybe some device could mess with the panel. But we didn't find anything like that in the dang boiler room! You'd have to be in the room to remove the device. Ah, that is the crux of your misconceptions the root of all confusion! There's a small window in the boiler room. Depending on the flexibility of an entering arm, surely that could be one way with which to remove the device. I... Lav, you're killing me here! Okay, but what about the actual murder? Because Mr. Athen definitely died during the blackout! He was killed with that poisoned rag. This is the axis! Huh? I said... this is the axis: the axis upon which our whole perception of this case shall swing. I'm not following you here. Uh, ditto. You see, there is a clear contradiction at the scene of the crime. It stood out to me from the very beginning. However, alone, it was like the rhythm of a single instrument. Only in concert with the rest of the track can I hear the murderer's symphony.This would usually be the point where Seth cut me down with a typical dismissive remark, but surprisingly I maintained the floor. It appeared as though even he realized that I was on the brink of a big discovery. Look at the stain on the man's clothes. Made from wine of a light yellow color, if I had to guess. Now then, witness the spilled wine bottle by Athen himself! Dark red! Blood red. Clearly, somebody else spilled their wine on the man. Sure. Okay. So? Have we tested the red wine for poison?A brief bout of silence. I mean... it's going to the lab just like the rag and a bunch of other forensic evidence. We'll know if it's the m-murder weapon soon enough. But poisoning specifically Mr. Athen's wine seems pretty difficult for, uh, a few reasons... Murder is a difficult business, Seth. If it wasn't, the assassin market wouldn't be so lucrative, and we wouldn't be as casually rude to our coworkers as we tend to be. But with the proper preparations, anything is possible. It's simply a matter of being thorough. Lav, it'd help if we had a clue about what you were talking about right now.I must admit, this part of my job was a lot of fun. [BGM: Ante Up]  Here we have the detective, right about to lay out some grand deduction. Haven't you gotten such a deal? You've paid for the whole seat, but you've only used the edge! ...I mean, you didn't pay anything, and you don't actually have a seat, but I think I make my point. Some great truth is about to be spoken! ...So? What is it?
Well come on, I'm waiting. Oh, you didn't think you'd get to just sit around and let Laverna do all the heavy lifting, did you? Non, au contraire, you have to help Laverna out! I mean, you don't really, this all has already happened. But still, I figured this would be a good spot to inject some interaction on your part. Everyone wants to be a detective, right? I'm sure you do. So come on, let's engage in a linguistic journey! I'll even show you how it's done, so you don't get too cranky. Watch. Alrighty, deductions are less about figuring out what happened (Laverna'll usually already know, more or less), it's more how to say it. Presentation is everything for someone in her line of work. This means stringing together a great proclamation by alternating from prepositions or conjunctions to statements of fact, until you have a coherent and correct train of thought. Right now we can only see our conjunctions, if and then. Unfortunately, we need to proceed a bit before seeing the statements. A touch inconvenient, but it is how it is. Luckily, it seems like we're forming a very simple deduction. I have to imagine if will go first. So let's select that. Okay, now we see the full scope of things. You'll always get all the conjunctions and statements you'll be working with from the start. The downside is you have to use all the conjunctions you get. Anyways, I'm just gonna... Okay. Yeah, I aborted that little tutorial section prematurely. Just seemed a little basic. You get it, right? It's not a super difficult concept? Yeah, uh, totally. (Lie)  Did you... did you just say 'lie' out loud? Oh dear. That's not a good sign. Might want to check that out, make sure this thing isn't having any unfortunate side effects on you.
Oh, sorry, I should finish with this first. What were we talking about? Oh yeah, deduction tutorial, right. You said you understood it, as I recall? Great, let's move on. Could I give you a pro tip, though? You see, I'm a real stickler for grammar. I don't like people who don't talk good. So please, if you're trying to say something, be precise in your phrasing. Say it as grammatically correct as possible. I'll try and work with you as much as possible, but if you're just mindful on your part, it'll make it easier on both of us. Oh, but don't misunderstand me. I won't be pleased by just any flaccid deduction that's syntactically coherent. Making valid sentences is a prerequisite for most humans. I'm looking for actually correct deductions, okay? If what you say contradicts the facts, you're barking up the wrong tree. ...Okay, let's just get to it. Oh, I almost forgot. I was going to have difficulty options. Right, what say you? How confident do you feel about all of this?We're going to be doing the hard difficulty for everything in this LP. I see hard, I choose hard. A gamer of principle, I see. Very well then. Your funeral. Deduct or die, syntax champ. I'll give you, uh, let's call it 7 chips for each time you finish one of these deductions. Oh, but if you make an incorrect deduction, I'm taking a chip off that reward. It's time for you to learn in the best way: by doing.Okay, so, Deductions are one of the four minigames that we'll be encountering over the course of this LP. It's pretty straightforward alternate between X (conjunction/preposition) and Y (fact) pieces to form a coherent sentence that gets across the solution while using all of the conjunctions/prepositions. How we're going to actually represent this puzzle in the LP is that I'm going to provide the formula (that is, lay out a representation of the order to alternate) and then provide each option in both sides. You can solve the puzzle yourself that way, if you're interested! I'll spoiler the actual answer at the bottom. We're going to get 7 chips for each of these regardless (since, well, I know the answers), so this is more for fun. With that, let's get started!X + Y + X + Y + X + Y + X + Y. [X] -If -And -Then -Or [Y] - The killer was disguised as a butler. - The killer is hiding in the building. - The killer left before the lights went out. - There are currently only 9 butlers present. Solution: If there are currently only 9 butlers present and the killer was disguised as a butler then the killer left before the lights went out or the killer is hiding in the building.
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Jul 7, 2023 15:48
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[BGM: Double Down]  [You won 7 chips!] Okay then, the simplest way to teach is to demonstrate.I grabbed Secretary Gani's arm and pulled him next to the corpse. You sir! You shall play the part of the victim. All right, neat. Do I need to like, do something? Unnecessary. Simply act according to my commands. Sick.Next, I ran to the nearby waiter who had been guarding the door. I ripped the mask off his face and put it on mine.  Ow! Thaaaank you. Is the mask necessary? I like masks. That's n-not what I asked. Just hush, Seth, she's saving our asses right now. Correction, she's saving your rear end. I am saving the victim's spirit's rear end, by helping pursue his murderer! Now... to begin the tragedy. I am a waiter. I have a meaningless existence, doomed to be forgotten, to die unloved. Doo do-doo. Hey!I mimicked typical waitery motions. Except! That is just a facade! I'm not a waiter at all! Correct, you're a headcase. Baldera, the kind soul she is, stomped on Seth's foot for me. My plan starts by planting a most foul device in the boiler room.I began running over to the boiler room. Hey, wait up! Here I am, planting the device.I mimicked placing a bomb on the panel. Next, I make my way back to the party.Right as Seth was catching up to Baldera, I turned 180 degrees and fled the room. Oh god damnit what was the point of this?Soon enough, we stood next to the would-be victim.  Now, question for the class: what is the identity of our murderer? How should we know? I do not seek a name, merely an occupation. ...Waiter? Assassin. Uh, what about a magician? It appears the secretary is most fitting for the title 'detective'. Oh, I'm actually happy with my job. A man of conviction I like it. Yes, what happens next is an act of sleight of hand. The faux waiter 'bumps into' Athen, spilling some wine on him. And with this opportunity, he does three things. He poisons the man's wine, he plants the rag in Athen's front pocket, and he drops the crumpled-up psalm on the floor near Athen's table.I mimic doing all three to Secretary Gani. Up until now, I had Baldera and Seth's attention. However, at this stage, Seth raises an eyebrow. Seriously? You don't, er, think that's a little much? Yes, it is. Murder also seems a tad too far, but we can't judge others by our own standards. Now, this next piece is key. Right after this interaction, the faux waiter makes his exit from the party. And, once outside, he presses the activation device on his EMP, plunging the venue into darkness. It is in this darkness that the effects of the poisoned wine take hold of Mr. Athen, dropping him to the floor as though he were a mere puppet. The killer collects the damning evidence from the boiler room with incredible flexibility, and, like that, the situation is handled. Voila! Murder, in three acts.With this, I took a grand bow. Secretary Gani clapped earnestly. Baldera and Seth were less impressed. [BGM: Silence]  Wait a minute... what were the three acts? Laverna sweetie, this was a very nice story. But come on, really? You doubt me, sir? Uh, well, um, yeah. Yeah, actually, I think I am. Well then, have at you! Prove me wrong if you can! Okay then.Seth walked over to the waiter standing by the exit. Did another waiter exit the venue right before the lights went off? Huh? Oh, yeah. The guy said he was taking a smoke break. That's...
huh.I bowed once more, and received another bout of applause from Secretary Gani. [BGM: Stand]  Well that's, uh, a slice of h-humble pie for me. I'm really not good at my job, am I? Why am I even here? Oh, come off it, Seth. Any good detective needs an adequate foil. It is the clash of two equal and opposite forces that creates progress. That doesn't sound right to me, but I don't have it in me to argue with you again. But wait, wait, wait just a gosh darn minute!! You!She turned angrily towards the masked waiter, raising an accusatory finger. This is some incredibly relevant testimony. Why didn't you say anything up until now?I clucked dismissively. Tsk tsk, Baldera, I thought you smarter than this. Isn't it obvious? We didn't ask!
I seriously can't believe that we're relying on h-her of all people. Lav, I... I can't... Words seemed to evade Baldera. I tended to have that effect on her. Why are you defending him? Whose side are you on? The truth's side! And you see, the truth has no sides. It is a sphere. A sphere of pure, idealized history, that we all must covet. It's slippery, so the only way to grab ahold is if we all work together, pushing it to the center from all angles. Okay, okay, I think we've wasted enough time with Baldera's typical hysterics. W-we don't need to waste more on your conceptual geometry lesson on truth. Which, um, for the record, is undercut by the fact that you started your lecture by saying you're on truth's side before proceeding to say it doesn't have a side. Ah, I see where you could get confused with that. To explain Oh, sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. I don't care. I just didn't think it was important... Uh, so... does this mean we're chill now? Oh! Um, well, yeah, you're free to go. So so sorry for the inconvenience, really, I feel pretty awful about how this whole thing shook out. Hey, it's no biggie. Really? Yeah dude, we all mess up. I know I've screwed the pooch a fair share of times myself! Oh... well, good to hear. Boy are you lucky, Baldera. If it weren't for Laverna, you could've gotten in a whole heap of trouble. I m-mean, accusing the governor's secretary? If we took him in for an arrest, that would've been another PR fiasco. Well... you know, I was the one who brought Laverna. So, in some ways, I'm kind of responsible for reaching the eventual truth, right? ...Speaking of, Lav, I can't thank you enough for this. I require no thanks. Merely praise. Well, you're gonna get a whole lot of both from me. Way to help a girl out! Oh? So the thing to take away from this event was that you didn't come out looking unfavorable? Ms. Aija, ma'am!Baldera jumped to attention. What are you doing here? Ah, well, there was a little incident in regards to my secretary. Right, look, I'm really sorry about that... Hmph. Ah, all is forgiven. I'm not the type to hold on to grudges. Really? Of course! Look, I relate to you. I've made my mistakes in my past. ...My distant past, a far period of time from now, and minor ones which don't speak ill to any significant degree of my character. My point is, I believe in second chances... and the people. And I believe in forgiveness. Why, that's why I've given the most gubernatorial pardons of any of Panthea's governors throughout history. So simply look to the future. Of course, ma'am. Now, to the matter at hand.Aija turned to me. To most, her staredown would be, at the very least, slightly unnerving. Not so for me. I knew better. Hello there, Governor. Funny how we keep running into each other in this place. Oh ho ho. Yes. Humor. Anyways, I actually came over here to speak with you. It appears I misjudged you. I get that a lot. I can believe it. Perhaps more of an introduction is in order, then. You moved to Panthea not too long ago, no? Where did you live before then? A place less in need of my skills than here. Well, that narrows it down quite a bit, doesn't it!If only. Still, to move here in particular? I have to imagine there's some reason for it. Relatives? What's your family situation like? It's not unlike many others. Well, aren't you quite the mysterious lady? I like to think it increases the intrigue. It certainly does. You said you were a private investigator. Have you any interest in being hired onto my staff? This whole experience has certainly served as an impressive interview. And... there are plenty of matters I'd appreciate investigated.
Ah, truly, a flattering offer. I must bow to it. ...However, I'm not sure the cases you'd like me to take on are the ones I want to take on. I'm content at the pace I'm working at. Is that so? And... I imagine pay wouldn't be a factor that could change that decision. The only pay I require is the payment of justice. Well then. At the very least, since you've been working in conjunction with the police so much, I'd imagine it might be prudent to become an officer yourself. Surely that would help things, at least from a logistics standpoint? If you like, I could put in a good word for you with Arrianne. Ah... again, I must reject your humble offer. I'd prefer not to shackle myself to one client at present. ...Is that right?[BGM: Silence]  You're quite an interesting character, Ms. Laverna. I don't think I'll forget you. Few do. I can imagine. ...Gani. Come.And like that, Aija turned around and walked away with her secretary in tow. She had been quite diplomatic through most of our conversation. But, one of the reasons I was good at my job was because I could read people. Right as she was turning around, I could see a stern expression forming on her face. I can imagine that Aija didn't necessarily leave with a great impression of Laverna Smyth. ...Oh well. It can't be helped. [BGM: Pip Count]  You two done with damage control? Damage control? That's not what that was? Because, um, if it wasn't, that's what it should've been. Anyways, I've been thinking some more on Laverna's explanation. Let's say it's right, for the most part. ...Why? Why? Why is it right? It is right because I based my deductions on No, no, not that. It's clear a lot of effort was put into making it look like the culprit was somebody in the party.Seth was right. When you looked at the killer's timeline objectively, a lot of unnecessary effort was put into the kill. Most of it could be explained if you assumed they really wanted to make it look like the killer was still inside the building. But we would've come to the right conclusion eventually! I mean, Lav, you really helped me out right there. But when forensics came back with the poison in the wine, when we collected more thorough testimonies from everybody involved, when we couldn't find any traces of the poison hidden inside the venue... Sure as the day shines, we would've eventually gotten it right. As tempting as it is to take some more pot-shots at this force, Baldera's right. It's a lot of effort for a temporary stopgap. Why?It was a really solid point. There must've been some good reason for why the murderer did what they did. A plan this elaborate wasn't constructed haphazardly. Truly, there can only be a single explanation. The culprit sought to buy that which all humans yearn for time. There is some critical piece of evidence that would slip from our fingers had we focused our suspicions on those within this oversized coffin. That is the true purpose of this grand deception. Alright, Little Miss Genius, then what's this evidence that's slipping from us right now? Because, uh, from your description, I don't think there's anything like that. Hey, Seth's right!
You don't get to act so surprised at that with your track record. What evidence could we be missing, Lav? Ha! Isn't the answer to that astoundingly obvious? Um... no? Exactly! In which case, why would you presume that I would know that?
...That's, um, fair enough, I s'pose. I-i-it really isn't...Fact of the matter is, I was stumped on that just like I was stumped on a number of things. However, I'd have time to be stumped later. For now, there was something far more urgent taking up my attention. Entering the venue, quite late to the party, was Chief Arrianne head of Panthea's police department. Instantly, all the other officers stood to attention. An odd, almost archaic show of deference, I thought; one I didn't feel the need to go along with. Nor did Arrianne, by the looks of things. She waved her hand dismissively, calling it off. I wonder, was that because she was currently in the public eye? Immediately, she approached me. [BGM: Opening Lead]   Laverna. Arrianne, what brings you here? I am the Chief of Police, Laverna. I make it a habit to join in all major investigations. The only reason it took me this long to arrive was because I was busy on the other side of the city when I got the report. I believe that was, um, a rhetorical question, Chief. Was it? Apologies, then, for the redundant answer. No need. Redundant answer is practically my middle name. That is quite the unwieldy middle name. Again, I b-believe she was being hyperbolic. And I was being sarcastic, Mr. Johnson. Oh. Apologies, it's sometimes hard to tell with you, ma'am. I am aware. Laverna, I do not suppose you would enlighten me as to your presence here? Isn't it obvious? Wherever there is justice, I appear. Hmm. I was seeking a more... literal answer.Instead of asking me again, Arrianne scanned the room. Before long, her gaze landed on Baldera. I presume Laverna's presence was your doing, Ms. Vasquez? Heh heh, you got me dead to rights, Chief. I just thought a little extra help couldn't hurt, you know? It couldn't. Well then, is that what Laverna provided? Extra help?Deciding to try and help, Pandora pitched in. Totally, Chief! Bringing Laverna in was a great idea! I mean, if she wasn't here, Baldera totally would've arrested Governor Aija's secretary for the murder. That would've been a total scandal! So it's a good thing Laverna was here.At this, Arrianne raised a single eyebrow. Is that right? Baldera gave Pandora a dirtier look than I thought her capable of. ...It is. Thanks for the report, Pandora.
Arrianne briefly regarded me.  Well then, I suppose that performance is worthy of brief praise. You have my thanks for saving my subordinates from undue embarrassment. The pleasure was mine, Chief. Chief? You have an issue with it? Not particularly. Just... only my men call me 'Chief'. Well, when I'm helping out on one of your crime scenes, you can consider me as one of your men.[BGM; Silence]  Arrianne looked me over, as though she was re-assessing me somewhat. As expected, this was the right tack with her. Very well then. I shall do just that.Arrianne turned back to face the group as a whole. To be honest, one question rises above all in my mind. Yes? Why exactly have you all allowed a reporter free access to a crime scene while not even bothering to cordon it off?For a moment, nobody knew exactly how to respond to this. Finally, Seth spoke up, albeit extremely hesitantly. I'm... sorry, chief? I, uh, I'm afraid I don't understand what you're referring to.Arrianne sighed. That is exactly my issue, Mr. Johnson. When I finally arrived, I was greeted with a most troubling sight. To the side of this building, I saw that slimy reporter Kane...[BGM: Bust]  And he was having a field day taking photographs of a corpse.Again, it took a brief moment for everyone to comprehend exactly what Arrianne was telling us. Then, in an instant, the room became electric. Before anyone could say anything, however, Arrianne spoke up. Now that she was here, we were under her orders. Pandora, you make sure none of the guests or the staff exit the building. Everyone else, follow me.She didn't need to speak twice. Personally, I felt like tripping over myself trying to rush to the scene. Exiting the gaudy building back into the dark night, filled with sounds of bugs and animals, was as much a departure as it was entering the building in the first place. A death in that well-to-do party felt like an anachronism... but a death here felt right at home. We followed Arrianne, who circled around the west side of the building. Turning the corner, I quickly saw what she was talking about. Further down the building, there was a section faintly lit up by a spare light that was attached to the building.  I could see Kane, merrily taking more pictures from more angles. Doubtless he'd already gotten enough. But, having unquestionably already encountered Arrianne, he must have known his time unaccompanied with the body was coming to an end. When he heard the oncoming posse, he put his arms up and slowly backed away from the body. I could plainly see a smirk plastered upon his face; he was cackling on the inside about the situation. He, unquestionably, found it hilarious. ...I also sort of found it a bit funny, but of course there was not a chance in hell I'd say that aloud. Some of the officers immediately began cordoning off the area, taking their own pictures of the scene. A medical-looking officer began inspecting the body up close. That would likely take a bit of time. For now, there's no need to concern myself with the body itself. There was another person much more willing to answer questions within arm's reach. Kane. Speak. Woah, woah, easy there! No need for the harsh stares, Sherlock. I think it's appropriate right about now, buddy. Tell us what you know. Hah! How the tables turn in such little time. What brilliant fuckin' irony. Before, you were acting all high and mighty... you weren't willing to give me an interview. But it looks like now you are looking for an interview from me. How about that? This really how you're planning on playing this? Thought you were smarter than that. If you would recall accurately a challenge for you, I'm aware you would know I did agree to an interview. I simply asked to delay it until I saw the crime scene myself. Alright, alright, relax. I was just having a bit of fun. What can I say, I like flexing some power when I have it? Real admirable trait, that. You know, I should be getting thanked right now. I found a dead body! And y-you reported it to the authorities immediately like a good citizen. ...Okay, okay, you got me there. Your conduct on this is bordering on a felony. Take it easy! I was just doing my due diligence as a reporter. Really, anyone in my position would do the same. Well, I suggest you start talking now, because as it stands, you're at the top of the suspect list. This chick serious? Kane looked between Seth and me, and after clearly not getting the support he expected, he shook his head. Ah, poo poo. Alright, here's the scoop, unfiltered. Really, it was a coincidence more than anything. You guys kept me out of the scene, so I got antsy just standing around outside in the cold. Began to pace the building's perimeter, just to clear my mind. Soon enough, I stumble across that scene over there. I knew that was a grade A chance, so I got out my camera and began doing my thing. Not long after that, your boss came and started chewing my rear end out. Like, seriously, that broad really needs to learn some basic time efficiency. I got the point in the first minute, didn't need the next nine. And that's it. Didn't touch the body, didn't alter the scene, didn't do anything like that. That's it? That's your story?[BGM: Kicker]  That's the truth, and you should take it to heart. And, while you're at it, maybe ask yourself why you and your little buddies didn't find this before I did. That's just shoddy work right there, plain and simple.I had to admit, I agreed with Kane on this one. The fact that none of the officers had bothered to canvas the scene at large up until this point was sort of embarrassing. I noticed Chief Arrianne gesturing for us to join her next to the body. We're going to have more questions for you. Oh, I'm sure.Kane's self-assured smirk got under my skin, but I couldn't dwell. Instead, I walked with Seth and Baldera up to the corpse. The other officers had already spread out a bit, so we could finally do some investigating. You have the floor. Do your preliminary investigation. She held a flashlight up to the body, and for the first time, I got a good look at the guy. He had collapsed on his side, and unlike the first victim this guy's cause of death was pretty apparent. The back of his head was awfully bloody, and looking closely I saw flecks of... was that bone? Gross. This guy was far younger than Mr. Athen not much older than myself, as a matter of fact. He was dressed up, though not to the extent that many of the other guests had been dressed up. He could've fit in at that gala, but his wardrobe would've been mocked by some of the more judgmental guests. Any idea who this poor bloke is? Maximillian Collins.Baldera said this with an odd chill in her voice. Unfamiliar with the name, both Seth and I turned to Baldera, questioning. At this, Baldera became flustered, as though she needed to justify herself. The, uh, the nephew of Veronica Collins. She was the CEO of some shipping company, I think. And friends with Odin Deisma. Deceased, by the sound of things.Baldera just nodded. So then, you, you suppose this guy was on the guest list for this gala? Well, um, it could definitely be possible; I'd have to check. But at the very least, if he was supposed to show up, he didn't. I'd have known if anyone who entered the building had left. I took out a flashlight of my own and began looking around in the grass where the body lay. I noticed three cigarettes, each burned to a nub and crushed. Had he been waiting here for a time? Waiting for someone? But... that discovery was nothing compared to what I found next. Lying in the grass, covered in blood... a single bronze bell lay. Th-that's... 'Who'll toll the bell? I, said the Bull, because I can pull. I'll toll the bell.'I had to keep myself from grinning. This. This was getting interesting. [BGM: Silence]  Ah, I love a good Whodunnit. Of course, usually you get to, oh, I don't know... know who dunnit? Ah, but we'll probably get an answer soon enough. But what really ties a mystery together is the detective! And folks er, folk we've got ourselves a wacky one. I wonder why so many detectives are wacky? I suppose it's a wacky profession to go into in the first place. Home to the justice-obsessed and the habitual narcissists. You have to be a degree of both to do what a detective does and feel like a good person. Guess that's why if you're not a wacky detective, you're likely a depressed one. ...Or both? Maybe detectives are wacky because criminals are wacky, and to catch someone out of your mind you have to think like them to be out of your mind yourself! Yeah! I mean, that doesn't actually mean anything or make sense, but it sure sounds like it does. Whatever the case, Laverna sure seems a lot less wacky in her head. Booooooring. If you're wacky in your actions but not in your thoughts, you can't be True Wacky. You're just eccentric. ...Let's move on. I fear if I say the word 'wacky' one more time it'll lose all meaning. Whoops, I just did. Guess the word is meaningless. The arrogance of humanity. Let's talk about the victim. Or, victims. Love me a double kill. Killing more than one person at a time has always been a bit weird to me. Makes sense though I suppose. If you're already dipping your toes in the 'murder' water, might as well get your hair wet. Say, who do you think bit the bullet first? Athen or Max? Now isn't that a fun question? Why don't we bet on it? C'mon, it'll be fun. You can pretend to be a detective yourself! What do you say, you think Athen died first? Or Max?The winning vote was Athen died first, so that's what we're answering. Athen died first. Think the old man croaked first? Why, just because you saw his body first? Or is there a more in-depth thought process? ...Eh, I don't really care, let's just keep going. What I really want to know is how much you're betting.20% chose the losing vote (Max died first), so we're betting 5 chips. And there we go! We're gambling! That's gambling, baby! Now to watch the metal ball spin! Next update, we begin the next stack... and are introduced to our second perspective, Lock.
Mix. fucked around with this message at 03:12 on Jul 9, 2023 |
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Jul 7, 2023 15:49
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ApplesandOranges posted:Well this is an interesting set-up. If you're using the chip dialogue icons as your basis I'll go ahead and say that all of the non main characters in this LP will have those, there's a lot more minor spriteless characters this time (since, well, it's not a death game setup) so thats my workaround That doesn't rule out that any of the other perspectives aren't involved with the gala, though 
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Jul 7, 2023 18:51
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Athen died first. Think the old man croaked first? Why, just because you saw his body first? Or is there a more in-depth thought process? ...Eh, I don't really care, let's just keep going. What I really want to know is how much you're betting. 20% chose the losing vote (Max died first), so we're betting 5 chips. And there we go! We're gambling! That's gambling, baby! Now to watch the metal ball spin!Next update, we begin the next stack... and are introduced to our second perspective, Lock.
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Jul 9, 2023 03:11
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Odds are low that we would ever get a unanimous vote but if we do then it'll loop back around to betting half our chips. ...but I don't think it'll happen personally
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Jul 10, 2023 05:06
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[BGM: Stand]  Ah, Panthea. A lot of people called it an ugly city. It was derided as rotten. Of course, I'm not talking about on the national scale. I'm talking about the people who actually live here. People wise enough to see all its faults. They look to how the Duats have taken over the streets. A low crime rate sure as hell doesn't mean crime doesn't happen. They look to how Olympo has slowly become a monolith of the culture. Nobody likes a big monopoly swallowing everything else. They look to how stagnant things have been for the last few years. People can always find things to complain about in their situation. And when that happens, they want that situation to change. They complain and complain and complain. And... they've every right to do just that. It's the right of every person down on their luck to lament their fortune. But me? At times like these, I tended to see the beauty of Panthea. No, not the beauty seen from the outside. I couldn't give two shits about how many mansions were built in some forest. The grand and beautiful designs all over the place didn't really match my aesthetics. Honestly all that stuff just made me more resentful than anything else. I found the beauty in this: the nightlife. The hustle bustle of the city. It was far later than anybody should be out and about, and yet look at how many people were out and about! For business? For pleasure? For a mix of both! It was a city of hunger. And hunger... I could respect. Though, maybe that's just ego... for I was probably hungrier than anyone else traversing these dimly lit roads. And that hunger was motivating my little walk to a local 'restaurant'. I could see the distinctive sign further down the road. I was getting close.  It was at this point I suddenly began to do a mental check of my appearance. Gave myself a once over in the dim glass of a clothing shop. I was never one who overly cared about my looks... but I definitely cared about my look. When a passerby saw me, the first thing they'd notice was my flashy suit a purple blazer with green stripes running down it. I wore it over a pure black buttonup... and the thing that kept it all together was the bright red tie. My pants matched the color palette of my blazer, if a bit more toned down. The only part of my attire that looked remotely pricey were my brown loafers. Yeah... it was certainly a look all right. Maybe a touch eccentric. Or, to put it less favorably, cheesy. If you really wanted to go for the jugular, it was slimy. But you know? I liked it. Liked it a lot more than the greasy mop of a wig I called my hair. But not much could be done about that. Pleased with my self-analysis, I turned around and leaned on the glass. Ah, man... it was times like this I wished I smoked. I mean, I was happy with my choice not to. Does terrible things to your lungs. And I planned to live a long life. Still, there were certain points in my life I desired exactly what cigarettes provided. I was pretty certain that if I was a smoker, I'd be taking a long drag right about now. Instead, the most I could do was take a deep sigh. Not nearly as fun. So then. Did I want to go ahead with tonight? If my hunch was right and it tended to be this would be the night that things really went into high gear. I was already in pretty deep in Panthea. To pull out now would be a massive waste of time and resources. Not to mention, I'd be giving up on the reason I came here in the first place. But the alternative...  People were fearful in Panthea for a reason. It was a dangerous place. And I wasn't scared of the Duats or something like that. Every indication showed that they were your typical gangster organization. Powerful, but I knew how to work around them. So then, if not them, then who? Like it or not, the Duats had carved out a pretty solid monopoly of crime here. There weren't really a lot of other threats that I could see. But... that just meant I couldn't see whatever other threats there were. And that was scarier than anything else. I had been to enough of these broken cities to already tell there was some deep darkness at the core of this place. And it might not be the type I could afford to cross. So why stick my neck out like this? I was putting a lot of skin into this game, but there was no need. It was a big country. There were plenty of smaller, risk-free fish to go after. Looking at it 100% logically, there was no need to go in deep like this. ...Ah, well. Gamblers weren't really logical, were they? Like I said, I was hungry. Enough with the hesitation. This was just pre-game jitters talking. I was smarter than just about anybody in this hellhole. A deeper darkness? Pssh. Since when did I get so dramatic? No, no, no. Every rube walking these streets showed their hunger on their sleeve. So long as I kept those hungers in mind, I'd be fine. Worst comes to worst, I'd just flee town. I was good at that, at least. [BGM: Dummy]  I stopped leaning against the glass and resumed my walk. I was really close to the destination: Nohoi's Nest. There was no big billboard advertising the location, or flashy colors. Just a humble wooden sign. But that's all the advertising a place like this needed. As I approached, a man swung open the door. Looked like he was leaving in an incredibly sour mood. I could hear him cursing under his breath. A few steps behind him, some blonde was also leaving. However, she was walking in the other direction. And she had a distinct smile plastered across her face. A familiar smile. Thaaaaaat's a story. But if I stopped for every story I came across in this town, I'd never get anything done. As I entered Nohoi's, I could hear the bell attached to the doorframe ring. New customer.  The restaurant was nice. Quaint little place. Little cramped, but that was fine. A couple wooden tables, some chairs, neat candle lighting. Some old posters of... musicals, were they? They had some signatures. Clearly something the owner felt passionate about. What was most notable was how the restaurant seemed to be empty. Usually this place had at least one legit customer ordering something. Must be a slow night. All right. Enough pussyfooting about. I walked up to the receptionist. Hey Mickey, what's up? How's it hanging? I'm doing okay, Lock. You? I'm, uh... you know. I'm doing. Sorry to hear that. Let's just say there's a reason I came here. But... you must get that a lot. More often than I like. Well, don't mind me. I don't intend to be a nuisance. That's the thing about nuisances. They rarely intend to be. How you wound me, Mick. But, seriously. You know me. I know a lot of nuisances. The way this conversation is going, I'm starting to think you're a nuisance yourself. Hey, I don't get a lot of company up here. I like conversation when I can get it. So that's why you should like me! I always give you some good conversation when I swing around. That's true enough. So then, what're you here for? You actually in the mood for a meal? I'm here for the same reason I'm always here. Because I'm hungry. ...Lock, you realize that doesn't actually answer my question. Micky, have I ever been here for actual food? I don't know, you could start. Our service is actually pretty good I'll have you know. Yeah well, no arguments there. But no, you know why I'm here. Mind letting me down? Without the password? Isn't the password reserved for newbies? Not regulars like yours truly? The password is the password. You need it to enter. Rules are rules. Jeez, you're killing me. What, you think somebody's gonna be able to just disguise themselves as me? Just say the thing, dude. Fine. 'I bet myself against yourself'. All right, this way.The reception gave me a nod and started moving to a nearby door with a big 'Employees Only' sign. ...A sign that was disobeyed almost 100% of the time. I followed him into the room, looking around one last time to make sure nobody was looking in through a window. Not that it'd be my responsibility if somebody saw this. The light was already on in the closet of a room. At first brush, it just looked like it was a room for storage. But then Mickey pushed on a specific plank of the left wall... and that plank pushed in... and with it followed the wall. A reasonably disguised secret tunnel. As soon as you went down that rabbit hole, however, the entire vibe changed. It wasn't suddenly fancy or anything. But, wood turned to stone draped with furs. It wasn't dark, it was dark blue. Then dark green. Then dark purple. Indeed, the lights slowly pulsed between the cool colors, creating a surreal atmosphere. I finished walking down the stairs, and nodded to Mickey as he began to return to his post.  This was the real Nohoi's Nest. The biggest and best underground casino in all of Panthea. It was one of the few places blind to riches in this city. Rich? Poor? Middle of the road? All were welcome, if you were willing to keep it a secret. And no place for elitism here. This was the only place you could really let your gambling spirit run wild. You couldn't afford to be choosy. ...Which is why you saw so many big spenders living it up in a dingy, underground lair. Concrete walls decorated with crude posters. Tacky fur carpeting. Dance music filled the air, albeit at a lower volume than might be expected. They had some pretty good sound insulation, but if you're running an underground operation you can't be blasting tunes at full volume. And you couldn't complain to the owner if you wanted to stay here. If they took complaints, they'd definitely have done something about the lighting. I didn't know anybody who appreciated the lighting consisting of just low pulsating colored lights and a single disco ball. ...Oh, wait, I did know one person. Me. I mean, apart from the practical aspect, I just kind of dug the style of it for its own right. Not many places like this places packed with elation and sorrow, where some were looking for a good time and some were looking to make money. Where all were living a life of vague illegality. A comfortable blend of illegality, for that matter. This wasn't a hole for hardened criminals. If the police ever busted this place, it's unlikely many charges would stick. But, illegal in the literal sense it wasn't legal. That added an extra sense of tension upon everything else. This was my kingdom. These were my people. My gut instinct was to immediately hit up one of the tables... but hey, let's take it easy now. A good night out started with drinks. For now, I'd just hit up the bar. I made my way over, and luckily at the moment I was the only one getting a drink. That meant I could have a private chat with the bartender. I liked talking with Ossa. A shame he didn't like me. [BGM: Bidding]  Lock. Hmph. Hey, hey, woah, what's that reaction about? Just acknowledging that you're here. Yeah, here to give your bar some much needed patronage. My bar has been doing just fine, thank you. As has my casino.Ossa wasn't just the bartender, he was also the pit boss and the owner of this whole franchise. ...Well. 'Owner'. Anyways, some people might think that the owner acting as a bartender is a little odd... and they'd be right. But all things considered, this was a small outfit. Private rooms aside, the bar had a view of the entire casino, so Ossa could multitask. Besides, according to him, he enjoys the act of bartending. So, what'll it be, Lock? Have any suggestions? Yeah. My most expensive drink. Oh, you.
Oh, uh, I guess just get me some Methe vodka. At this, Ossa raised an eyebrow. What? Nothing, nothing. You intend on actually doing some gambling tonight? Obviously, or else I'd go to a bar, not a casino. Then I'm curious why you're starting with Methe. What can I say? I like me some vodka. Besides, I've got a high alcohol tolerance... and I do my best work when I'm just a bit tipsy.At this, I winked at Ossa. If he saw this gesture, he gave no sign of it. Instead, he slowly turned around and reached for the drink I had asked for. He made no rush in filling up my shot. Ossa wasn't exactly a fast mover. Another reason I was grateful to have his undivided attention. When he handed me the glass, I toasted him, then immediately downed the shot. That's the way to do it. Ah, that hits the spot. I'll give you this you're a unique drinker. That's the best compliment you could give me. Now that that's done, just give me a glass of beer: dealer's choice. Just want something to sip for a bit. If that's what you want. Ossa shrugged, and turned back towards the rack. You know, you've been showing up here a lot lately. And I'd have thought that'd make you the least bit grateful. Me? Grateful to one of my customers? All right, bad word choice on my part. Just, fuckin', I don't know... less outwardly hostile. I really don't feel any particular way about you. If it makes you feel better, I've been told by friends that I give off a hostile air. I'd believe it. I only ask because your nightly visits have stood out to me. You strike me as the type to have a life.Implying that people who show up at your casino this often don't have lives, huh? Once again, I got the feeling Ossa had a weird resentment towards his own clientele.  drat straight I have a life, buddy. Gambling is my life! Hmph. Maybe I'm not being clear enough. You seem to have a lot of money to throw around. What can I say? I'm a good gambler. Not that good. I've kept track of your games. You don't win nearly enough to make a profit. Well, who said my winnings were from here? You're not helping your case. How do you figure? You and I both know that you don't make big bucks from gambling on a whim. You don't even make big bucks from being skilled. If you're saying that you made it big from some previous gamble from wherever you came from, then either you're a miraculous idiot...Ossa placed my glass of beer down on the counter with a bit of force.  Or you swindled that money.Ossa gave me a stare. I didn't break eye contact as I grabbed the beer and took a sip. What can I say, mon ami? I'm adored by many ladies. Miss Luck is just one of my conquests.If I didn't know him better, I would have thought Ossa just rolled his eyes like a teenage girl. I'm just saying, you better not be causing any trouble. You know what I do to cheaters, right? Ossa, the dried blood on your knuckle tells the story far better than you could.At this, Ossa just grunted and went back to polishing another empty glass. I intended to make some more small talk... however, before I could say anything, my eyes were drawn to the events playing out at the poker table behind me. [BGM: Keep Hitting]  gently caress off!The sound of a glass being slammed onto a table echoed throughout the place. Oh, this is gonna be good. Standing at one end of the table was Polly Deisma, Troubled Heir Extraordinaire. That dude was as good a propaganda machine against his family's company as you could get. He seemed to trip into scandals at every possible opportunity. And his family seemed to equally treat him as a complete disgrace.  On the other side of the table was a face I wasn't familiar with. It was some redheaded chick. The girl was pretty attractive, wearing some oversized glasses and a fashionable outfit. The stacks of cash sitting on her side of the table was also a plus. Behind her was her friend, who was wearing a slightly odd denim outfit. She looked less scared and more pissed off. Though... not nearly as angry as Polly was. You're really gonna *hic* just go in a casino and cheat people? Well not this guy, honey! I'm not another one of your stooges. Um, I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about. I get being upset... I did take a lot of your money. But you bet it! I don't care about the money! I don't give two shits about the money! gently caress the money! What I care about is that you've got the gall to try and *hic* cheat me! Cheat you? What do you mean? I was really sure I followed all the rules, we went over it so many times...No use hollering there, Polly. You were in Nohoi's Nest, where the rules are king. If it's legal hell, if it's illegal but it's not caught then it'll fly and be enforced. Nu uh uh, no you don't. I'm a fuckin' GOD of this stupid star game. And I know for a fact you don't make the moves you made unless you know what the other person had. And the only way that works is if you've marked the cards! You're saying my moves didn't make sense? Well darn, I put a lot of thought into them, too. But it looks like I got lucky, don't you think?Polly's eyes flared with rage. The redhead was... not helping her case. By the bar, I noticed Ossa cracking his knuckles. Oh boy, were we about to get some real action in here? However, before the fun could begin, another person made a move. [BGM: Silence]   Oi, dipshit, think that's enough of that.A random girl beat Ossa to the punch. She looked a little familiar, so at first I thought I might've known her. However, I probably would've remembered encountering someone with hair dyed bright pink. Ow! For gently caress's sake, Chara, I'm in the middle of something here! You're in the middle of making a right rear end of yourself! Let's get out of here. Or what, do you want to be on tomorrow's front page as well? Really tryin' ta give your brother more ammo? You think I give a poo poo about what that dickhead thinks? Put me on a month's worth of newspapers for all I *hic* care. Yeah, see, that's the problem. As much as I'd love to watch you self-destruct, ya got a promise to keep, and some work to do. That means waking up at a reasonable hour. And that means getting out of this bog.The girl gave Polly another tug, and this time Polly stumbled with it. Fine, fine, fine. Bedtime for me.[BGM: Stand]  Before leaving, however, Polly turned back around. Don't think I'm forgetting you though, you cheat. These little scams are going to catch up to you one day, you hear me? Um...At this, the girl gave Polly one more push towards the stairs. Real sorry about him. He probably didn't mean it he's just proper buzzed. Oh, it's okay, really. I mean, it's not your fault or anything. Well, it's my job to make sure he's not faffing about places like this, so it is a little bit. ...Be seeing ya.And with that, the girl followed Polly up the stairs and out of the casino. With the situation resolved, people began to look elsewhere. The scene had came and went. ...  Well, that was a show, wasn't it? Hmph. Oh? You look unenthused. Right. Really, you didn't get any enjoyment out of that? When you're in my line of work for long enough, scenes like that are too common to be interesting.Isn't that the sad truth. Good thing for the prince that his girl came and bailed him out soon enough. Things would've gotten really ugly for him had he kept pushing it. Ugly for him? I was a little surprised, but upon further thought, it made sense. Ossa was about to step in before the fight got broken up. He must've planned to take the redhead's side. Planned on putting that rich prick through the wringer, eh? Not if I could help it.'Not if I could help it'? Now what on earth did that mean? I considered asking him for a bit more info... but before I got the chance, I lost my privilege of being the only customer of Ossa's. If you're guessing that the walking disaster would've lost a fight to glasses, then I'd have to agree. ...Also, a scotch whiskey, please.Ossa just grunted at this. If he had disdain towards me, he hated this joker. And? Fair enough. Who the hell liked Kane? ...Governor Aija, maybe. For everyone else with half a brain, The Oracle was nothing but pro-state propaganda. And the head of it, Kane Shay, a limpdick puppet. ...Well, I'm sure he had his fans. You didn't get to be the de facto source for news without any approval. But you weren't likely to find his fans in a place like this. Made me wonder why he even bothered showing his face in a place like this. Maybe the dude was a masochist. Or secretly self-hating. Or maybe he was a real gambling junkie, desperate to get his fix! ...I sort of doubted that last possibility. [BGM: Challenger]  Walking Disaster, huh? That what you call Polly Deisma? What, you disagree with me? Not particularly. Just surprised that's the nickname you'd give him. And why's that? Didn't you recently do a puff piece for Olympo? I'd have thought you were on their side. Or are all the opinions you put out complete, hollow horseshit? I take it you're aware of me. Most around these parts are. Huh. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I can't say the same. You are? Lock. Lock, then. Kane offered a handshake. It felt a bit weird to take it, but flat-out rejecting it felt a bit rude. For the record, unlike a lot of reporters, I do at least actually stand by everything I write. And yeah, I back Olympo. I don't back Polly Deisma. That guy is a mess. Entitled little poo poo who hasn't done an honest day's work in his life. He's a poster child for the worst type of rich person. So you're saying there's a good type? Ha! All right, maybe you got me there.That non-response let me know that, yes, indeed, this guy probably did think that, but was savvy enough to know that this wasn't the environment for that sort of talk. I was in a confrontational mood, however. Seriously, why back Olympo in the first place? I mean, okay, maybe you don't care about them hurting local businesses. Iron fist of the free market, blah blah blah. But they're a big faceless corporation with a thousand branches that stands for nothing. Why go to bat for them? I wouldn't say I go to bat for them. Really? Look, there's some upsides to housing a big company like that. What, that we're gonna have a sneak peek to the real life version of every sci-fi movie before the rest of the country? That Panthea offers something. 'A thriving community of mom and pop shops' is nothing on a national level. 'Home base to one of the largest companies in the country' is something. Maybe you're right that Olympo takes a lot of small stacks, knocks them over, and makes a big stack. I say good! People only take note of a big stack! Hmph. Am I too drunk, or was there the faintest hint of being impressed in that grunt? Judging by the fact you've already gotten two refills, yeah, I'd wager you're too drunk. But... yeah, at least that's an opinion. More than I expected from you, to be honest. Well, here's to defying expectations! Kane toasted me, and went back to his drinking. Alright then, so answer me this. Why do you give a poo poo about how Panthea comes around on the national stage? How's that factor into any thing? Oh, I dunno, a little something called citywide pride? Pride for Panthea, is it? This the wagon you want to hitch yourself to? Matter of fact, I do. I care quite a lot about Panthea. More than most of these jackasses. You know, my grandfather was a politician. He had a decent part in leading Panthea into something that halfway resembles a decent city. If you're that into 'uplifting Panthea', why not go into politics yourself? Yeah, well. Given my parental situation, I don't think that's really an option for me.Parental situation? I tried racking my brain. ...Oh, right. I vaguely remembered something about Kane's father. I wanted to say that he killed his mother, but to be honest I wasn't 100% on the situation, and this didn't feel like the sort of thing I wanted to guess on. But yeah, when criticizing Kane, a lot of people jumped to making remarks about his dad. That felt... needlessly cruel. Hate the guy all you want, but don't drag some trauma like that into things. Yeah, I guess that's true. Sorry about that, for what it's worth. Eh, it's fine. It's whatever. Probably a dead end from the start anyways. After all, it doesn't look like I'm going to be winning popularity contests any time soon, and that's without becoming a politician. Ha! You've got me there.I took a sip of my beer, then continued my line of questioning. So what, you think journalism is the best way to 'help out Panthea'? There's a bit more to why I chose my occupation than that, Lock, but it certainly doesn't hurt.I lowered my voice a bit. If you love Panthea so much, why not point out the threat that the Duats pose? Downplaying it seems like it's going to hurt this city in the long run. I don't know what you're talking about. If you're referencing me mentioning that crime's been at an all time low, I'm not wrong. Oh don't give me that, you know that's not a good way of representing things. Isn't it? Again, I think you're assuming insincerity when I 'm being straight as a fuckin' arrow. I'm in favor of the Duats. You're what? Look, I don't know you, but I'm guessing you don't remember what things were like back when the Shikome were around, or any of the other freak shows. Panthea used to be scared. A warzone. Now, at least there's order.I wanted to rebut that... but he was right. I wasn't around for the Shikome. I didn't even know who they were. While I got the sense I disagreed with Kane, I also got the sense that he knew more about what he was talking about than I did. So I decided to just continue nursing my beer. After a brief bout of silence, Kane spoke up. [BGM: Silence]  You know, I didn't come here to talk politics. I came here to forget about it. So why don't you and me have a little bit of fun, huh? I'm flattered, but I don't usually do hookups in a place like this. I'm talking about gambling, fuckface. I was saying we should settle things the way they should be over cards. Or what, you too chicken to actually gamble yourself?I checked my watch an obvious knockoff of an expensive brand. There was still plenty of time to kill. And it could be fun fleecing this fool of some cash. All right, what the hell? I didn't come to drink, I came to gamble. I'll take you up on that offer. Ah, now that's what I like to hear! Let me finish this drink first, and we'll get right to it.
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Jul 11, 2023 00:39
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Both of us finished our beverages, paid, and stood up. Then we made our way to the main floor, looking for an appropriate place for our match to begin. So, you figure we both just sit in at a poker table or something? Nah, that poo poo's boring. Let's face off at one of the private tables. Suit yourself. Nohoi's Nest was a bit of an unorthodox setup. Unlike a lot of casinos, there weren't too many tables manned by actual dealers. I mean, there were a few... but there were just as many empty tables, with nothing but chairs and general gambling equipment. This was for anyone looking for more individualized or personal gambles. Mister Polly Deisma was made a fool of at one of those tables just a short while ago. It was a bit of an odd setup, much like a lot of things about this place, but again, I liked it. In my head, gambles should be clashes of will between the players. Dealers and generic games like blackjack and poker didn't hold much appeal in my eyes. The two of us made our way to a private table, and stood on opposite sides. [BGM: Double Down]  So, we playing for money, or what? I make it a policy to always gamble for money, no matter how small.I reached in my pocket for my wallet and pulled out two 50s. Starting fee's 100 dollars. 100 dollars for a starting fee?!Kane looked a little startled at this proclamation. At first, I thought someone with a bigshot job like being head of the Oracle must be raking it in. But looking at his attire, it dawned on me that Kane might be a lot less rich than I had initially thought. The slightest ounce of guilt broke through. Hey, you know what, I think I should say something. Oh? I may not look it, but I'm actually something of a pro in this area. Oh, you look it. Uh, thanks? Point is, I don't know what you were expecting, but I'm no chump. If you're playing to win, I'd temper those expectations. And if losing 100 dollars would hurt, then maybe we tone down these stakes.This peace offering didn't go over well. ...Saying it aloud, I realized it sounded a lot more insulting than I had intended. Ah, poo poo. Kane's face morphed to a scowl. Being honest? This one was my bad. Sometimes in life things just came out wrong. This was one of those times. Kane reached into his pocket and, before I knew it, he had taken out four 50 dollar bills. I'll double it! And yeah, I am sure, so cough it up if you're so cocky.Couldn't say I blamed him for this reaction. I sort of provoked him. But... I also warned him. If he was gonna slam down 200 dollars, I wasn't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. I reached back to my wallet and scrounged up another 100. Sounds good to me. I'll even let you choose what we'll be playing. Well, thanks. Kane took a second to think, then had an idea. Here's the thing, Lock, my friend. I know your type well enough. That so? You're doing a number on my feelings right now, you know. Oh, my deepest apologies. Anyways, I just don't feel great about any sort of standard game against you. Feel like you're likely to rake me across the coals, and even though I just made a big deal of making it a real bet, I think my wallet's been a little light lately. More than that, I think I'm just too prideful to lose to someone like you. Again, the 'like you' remark really isn't necessary, man. But fine. What do you have in mind? I think you're a shark. So then, I think it's fair to play a game that tests just how good a shark you are.A part of me wanted to object to Kane's assessment of my character, right as it may be. A greater part of me was interested as to what he was about to propose. So, the gamble I'm proposing, I'm gonna call it... 'Monkey See, Monkey Do'. Had to give it a catchy name, huh? Every good game has a catchy name. Every good article, maybe. I suppose you're more the authority on games than me. Still, I came up with it, so I get to name it. I'm less interested in the name, more in what the hell you're planning on having us do. I'm getting there, I'm getting there! It's really simple. I'm about to make you a very simple bet. Painfully simple. Gonna let you see my whole process. And, spoiler I'm gonna win it. Then you've just got to do the same back to me. And to be clear, this ain't some trick where you need to fold your tongue seven times to win it or something? 'Cuz if it's like that, I don't see the point in this. No no no. I'm trying to be sporting with this. The little trick I'm going to do is something that you very easily could parrot back to me. Incredibly so. I just think you won't be able to.Oh, this prick. He wasn't just being haphazard right now. He was trying to hit me where it hurt. He decided to forego typical games and made it a challenge to my ego. Figured I thought myself sharp, and he'd use this to take me down a peg. Kane's more vicious than I initially had him for. Still, he made a decent mistake. I didn't think myself sharp... I was sharp. Sharper than anything this hack had up his sleeve, at any rate. Sounds fun. Unfair, but that's fine. I need a handicap. Hahaha, ah, it's going to be like that? Okay, okay. You'll change your tune soon enough. Sounds to me like you're agreeing to these rules. Sure. What the hell. Great.With a smirk, Kane took out a deck of cards. He casually shook them out of their container. Now see, if I was some sort of third-rate magician, this is where I'd do a false shuffle or some poo poo. Three problems with that approach though. I'm not a third rate magician. I'm about three beers past having any sort of physical dexterity in my hands. And, I know that sort of trick isn't gonna win me any favors, you'd just assume the deck was stacked and emulate it.Correct. So I'll just go as is. Kane then took out a worn-out journal from his pocket, along with a pen. He tore a page from it, then scribbled something down. Finally, he folded the page and smacked it down in the center of the table. We'll get to that in a moment. So now, grab a couple of cards off the top of this deck. Does it matter how many? It'd be best for the both of us if you grabbed less cards than you had fingers. But, you know, you do you.A part of me wanted to try and deliberately throw a wrench into his plans. But that wasn't sporting, and I was taking on this bet for fun. I grabbed a handful of cards off the top. Cool, cool. You know, Lock, I've a little number philosophy. A number philosophy? The gently caress's that? Just a little superstition about numbers. You don't have anything like that? I'm not a nerd, no. Don't be a jackass. I think anyone who spent enough time doing math in school, staring at numbers, began to think about them just a little. Didn't do a lot of thinking on the whole at school. I can tell. Anyways, I really like the number nine. I think there's some real power in it. They say three is the magic number, but for me, I think nine holds some real answers. Like, watch this.Kane began placing cards down on the table in front of us, one by one, right to left. Eventually, he had nine in a row. If you ask the Nine nicely, they'll tell you what you need to know. I bet you I can prove that right now. See, look at this...Kane reached over and grabbed the sheet of paper he had written on earlier. He displayed it.  'The King of Spades hides in the nine. The number of cards Lock drew gives the answer.' Well I'll be. Isn't that something? That it is.I had a sinking feeling that I knew where this was going. Well then Lock, how many cards do you have there?I spread out the cards in my hand. Turns out I had drawn six. Six, huh? All right then.Kane counted out six cards, left to right, and ended up hovering his finger above a certain card. Now, it'd be pretty cool if this was the King of Spades, don't you think? Flip the card over, jackass, and get it over with. Just trying to have a bit of fun with it.With a huff, Kane flipped over the card. ...Sure enough. King of Spades. Alrighty then.[BGM: Silence]  Your turn.Kane swept up all the cards and handed the deck to me. I'll give you a moment.He tore out another sheet of paper and handed me the pen. I had to admit it was a good little parlor trick. But... that's what it was. A magic trick. The type laid out in a middle schooler's magic book. Surely I could handle something this simple myself. So... let's focus. First of all, let's stack the deck so I knew the order of the cards. I made the top card Ace of Clubs. Next was Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts, Ace of Spades. Then came the Two of Clubs, Two of Diamonds, Two of Hearts, Two of Spades. And so on and so forth in that pattern. Kane had pretty much admitted his deck was pre-arranged, so this should be within the rules. As I took the time to do this, I thought carefully about everything. I had watched closely, and there wasn't any sleight of hand bullshit when Kane was sweeping the cards together. There was only one King of Spades. The note was also written from the start, that was never switched, wasn't written after the fact. What did Kane do in the trick? He wrote down the note. He let me pick some cards from the top of the deck. Then he laid out the top nine cards of the deck, right to left. Then he spouted some bullshit and opened the note. Then he counted the cards equal to how many I drew, and landed on the pre-selected card. Thinking about it that way... the first thing I needed to do in this trick was write the note. Oh boy. So, uh, here's my prediction. Watch closely, or whatever.I picked up the pen and thought. He wasn't doing sleight of hand, I can confirm that. So... What happened? [BGM: Burn Card]  Hey there! Just your local neighborhood Ez popping in with another minigame tutorial. We all know how this goes by now, so I'm just going to get into it. Sometimes, you need to think about things. I know! Scary. But it doesn't have to be. Look, here's the deal. See that little doohicky in the top left corner? That's your Brain Button BB, for short. As you go through a logical series of thoughts, you might encounter words written in a light blue text. Those words are a thought you're actively deliberating. If you press the BB when those words show up, you'll rearrange your thoughts to cycle through some other possibilities. Feel free to take some time, go through your options... and when you feel like you've got a solid train of logic going, just continue along your thinking like you would at any time. Worst comes to worst, you get it wrong, you're an idiot, you get booted back to the first point your logic started to mess up, everyone hates you you know, low stakes. Aaaaand that's about it for Logic, at least for now. Pretty simple, right? Right. But that doesn't mean it's easy. The difficulty of the logic, that's pretty variable. That depends on how hard you want this to be. So, uh... how hard do you want this to be? Crank up the hard! Alright, cap'n. Hard thruster set to 11. Hope you can handle it. And I hope you're content with getting 7 chips each time you complete a logic minigame, because it's the most we can give. Oh, but don't get complacent! If you go down an incorrect train of logic, that payout dips by a chip. ...All right then, well, that's sort of everything I have to cover. Don't have a lot of witty commentary to give here. Guess I'll just... let you get to it, then. Good luck logicking!This one isn't really possible to set up to let you guys solve it yourself unfortunately, so I'm basically just going to simulate the process to keep things simple. The bolded options are the correct answer, but I'll be showing off all the choices. Okay, so what did I know? I chose a card. Kane predicted it. How was that possible? Well... how much information did he have to work with? In other words, when did he know what card I'd end up landing on? Was it... [from the very start/after I drew a number of cards/after Kane dealt out those cards]? Right... yeah, since he wrote down a card from the very start, he must've always known what card I'd end up with. In fact, it's not particularly subtle, even. I mean, randomly ending up with the King of Spades? No, that card has too much of a 'pizzazz' factor. It was specifically chosen. So all right, Kane knew the key card from the start. How? Well... how was the key card selected? I chose a random amount of cards off the top of the deck, then nine cards were dealt, and based on the number of cards I picked, a card amongst the nine dealt was selected. That's a pretty clear-cut summary of events. But... was I laboring under a misconception? Thinking about it, I'm not sure if [I had a free choice in how many cards I drew/the deck was fixed from the start of the gamble/how many cards I drew actually changed which card would be selected]. I mean, the two seem related. But at the same time, doesn't the number of cards I draw directly affect which cards are dealt? I mean, both sets of cards come off the top... so for every card I draw, that's one card that isn't going on the table. Hm... I needed to picture how the cards specifically moved if I wanted to see through this trick.  The real key to this trick was [the magic number 9/what took place between when I drew cards and when Kane dealt cards/the fact Kane dealt and counted cards in opposite directions]. Thinking about it, if he dealt and counted cards in the same direction, then it really would be impossible to predict much of anything. But if I kept that fact in mind... Look, let's reframe our thinking to center around the position of this 'key card', known from the start. Every card I drew is a card not being placed to the right. Therefore, every card I drew essentially 'shifted' the key card one to the right. However, the number of cards Kane counted was equal to the number of cards I drew. For every card I drew, Kane would count one more from the left. A card counted can, in essence, be removed. So I could treat it as though for every card I drew, I was also 'shifting' the key card one to the left. But if for every card I drew, the key card 'shifted' both one to the right and one to the left... Then no matter how many I drew, I wasn't changing the key card's position at all! Ah, Kane, you lazy, sneaky bastard. You came to me with a trick this basic? A trick that ran itself, that crumpled under any scrutiny? Tsk tsk. Well, thanks for making it easy for me to replicate your trick. The key card would always be the [9th card/10th card/11th card] of the deck, which meant I should write down '[3 of Clubs/3 of Diamonds/3 of Hearts]' on this sheet of paper. This conclusion was simple. The number of cards Kane would deal was 9. If I drew only 1 card, the key card would still need to have been dealt. Alternatively, if I drew 9 cards, I couldn't be able to draw the key card. With those two pieces of information in mind, the key card must've been the 10th one from the top of the deck. There was probably a smarter way of going about it, but hey, if it works, right? [You won 7 chips!] I wrote '3 of Diamonds' on the sheet of paper. Then, proceeded to follow the steps. Held out the cards, dealt them, counted backwards. And, wouldn't you know it, my prediction came out correct. [BGM: Double Down]  Looks like victory goes to me!Before Kane could complain, as he was inevitably wont to do, I reached forwards and snatched the money from Kane's side of the table. As expected, he tried to grab my arm. Too slow, dude. Come on, you must've had something better than that for me. You little poo poo.Kane on the other hand was actually quite irritated. I didn't get it, to be quite honest. Why was he taking this so personally? If he really wanted to win, he shouldn't have picked such a baby magic trick. If he wanted to win, he could've. But he didn't, because I assumed he wanted this to be a sporting competition. So... why get this upset? What's your problem, man? It was your gamble. Yeah, and you won! Oh, my apologies, I guess I should've thrown it. rear end in a top hat. I guess I didn't anticipate you being this experienced of a cheater. Seriously? How are you going to say I cheated? I don't know, that's what makes you a good cheater!I was, frankly, a little stunned. The nerve of Kane. I was also starting to hear the slur in his words. He... might've been more drunk than I thought. And he might've been a worse drunk than he thought. I was playing nice with you! To be treated like this... You know what? Fine. You think I cheated? Let's switch roles real quick.I grabbed the deck of cards and began shuffling it. We're going to do the exact same thing. I'll let you go first, then I'll go. If you can do it, or I can't, you get your money back. And I'll even throw my half of the bet in as well! Really? Yeah. I'm doing this just to teach you a lesson. Tch. Cocky poo poo. I'm gonna teach you to get out when you're ahead.He wasn't even grateful for me giving him a second chance. Whatever. This was just kicking someone while they were down. I didn't like to do it, but Kane had made me a worse person than usual.  All right, hope you have a good memory.I reached into the middle of the deck of cards and grabbed a random one. I slid it out of the pile, leaving it facedown on the table nearby. Neither of us know what that card is. Don't bother arguing with me about this, just trust me. I don't care enough about this pity round to be cheating.I flipped the top card of the deck face up. Now, keep up.I flipped the next card, placing it atop the first. And then the next. And then the next. I flipped from card to card in quick succession. Unless you had a diegetic memory, it was impossible to remember all these cards. Luckily, I didn't have to. I was just adding the numbers displayed up in my head, dropping the tens digit. Four. A five, which made it nine. An eight, which made it seventeen, which made it seven. A Jack, which kept it seven. Flip. Flip. Flip. Finally, I got to the bottom of the deck. I flipped through all the cards. The count was at seven. Which meant the facedown card was a three. All right then. What's the facedown card?Kane just stared at me.  You're kidding me. Process of elimination, dude. If you were smart enough, you'd get it. Oh gently caress off. Here, I'll even make it easier for you.I flipped over the deck of cards and spread them all out. I'll give you fifteen seconds to look at this and guess.I wasn't letting him look through the cards. I was looking through the cards myself. Specifically, searching for the threes. Three of Diamonds. Three of Spades. Three of Clubs. Got it. loving... Five of Clubs!Seriously? That was pretty close, considering it was probably just some guess he pulled out of his rear end. Kane had some decent luck on his side. [BGM: Stand]  Afraid not, my friend.I put my hand over the facedown card. Three of Clubs.I flipped it, and voila. Three of Clubs. I don't know what reaction I was expecting, but... Kane beginning to chuckle to himself? I suppose that was around the middle of the scale. All right. All right, all right, all right. Fair play. You're better than I gave you credit for, Lock. Thanks, I guess? It's a compliment, don't worry. You know, you've gotten my attention. I'll keep an eye out for you. I tend to hang around dingy pits like this a lot, so if you come by some night, there's decent odds you'll spot me. I think I might just do that. 'Cuz I'm a sore loser. I want a rematch. At a real game. I'd be happy to oblige, Kane. Happy to oblige. ...That is, if you have 100 dollars on you. Ha ha ha, will do.It was an oddly jovial note to end on. My mind briefly retraced the steps I took with Kane to get to this point. We really went all over the place, emotionally speaking. But I guess we were landing on a sense of... grudging respect? To be real, I don't know how much I actually respected him. On the other hand, this was definitely a useful connection to have. So... sure. Grudging respect. We can go with that. This was the thought interrupted by my eyes catching a very specific person. The man I saw certainly couldn't be described as a head-turner.  In a lot of ways, he was pretty unassuming. Low-key suit, short black hair, unassuming build. It was hard to even recognize him with the lighting and the atmosphere and everything. But... no. That was him. That was, 100%, without a doubt... Bach. Man, my luck. Wow. Well, this was fun, but I think I'm going to look for another gamble. A less personalized one, just blackjack or something. Cool, cool, you have fun man. For me, I think I've had my daily dose of escapism. Probably best to leave Wonderland and get back on the grind. You do that. Thanks for the company. Don't mention it.And with that, Kane began to walk away. So did I. But not to a blackjack table, like I said. Just to a spare wall. I needed to compose myself before moving any further. I checked my watch. Right on time. Finally, Bach showed up. I was wondering earlier if this was going to be the night where things were do or die. Back then, it was just a hypothetical. But now? When that man, nervously ordering a beer from Ossa, laid eyes on me, the die would truly be cast. One way or another, I couldn't look back or falter. I'd be on a path. So then, did I bail? Did I follow right behind Kane, up those stairs, out of this hellhole? Did I go get a normal job, a safe life, a stable relationship? I felt the weight of my pocket. The weight of the 200 dollars I had taken from Kane. It felt light. Far, far, far too light. Like I said... I was hungry. Too hungry not to put things into action. In some ways, I felt bad for Kane, seeing how much he loved this city. Because that man over there? As unassuming as he might look, he was actually a major player in this whole thing. The type that really shouldn't be spending nights in Nohoi's Nest, and yet for whatever reason, did. The type whose disposition would regularly lead them to falling prey to people like me. But... that didn't mean he was my mark. No, my mark was the city of Panthea itself. And I was going to swindle it for all it was worth. [BGM: Silence]  Isn't that a nice little brainteaser to end it on? How on earth do you go about swindling an entire city? Does that mean you swindle each and every member of the city? Because... that feels like it needs, like, an institutional level con. ...Or a liberal use of taking credit vis-a-vis the butterfly effect. Or... maybe it means to swindle a city, like, philosophically? ...Don't even try to ask me what I meant by that, I will not answer. Either way, I'm down for it. Swindles are fun! Swindles are good. I mean, life's set up to be survival of the fittest. If you get separated from your money, that's on you. If you try to pickpocket someone and get your hand cut off, that's also on you. I'm meaning this in the literal sense as in you have to deal with the consequences. I don't really care about whose fault it is. I've never had to care. I haven't lost any money, or gotten my hand chopped off. I guess I just admire swindlers because of the confidence they have in themselves. To attempt to swindle someone is to challenge their intelligence, and to have full faith in your own. I'd like to think of myself as a pretty smart girl, but I'm not nearly cut out for that level of trickery. I usually end up being a lot more blunt. To proclaim you're going to swindle an entire city... Well, Lock certainly has confidence I doubt anyone could question that. But, I dunno, I struggle to see it. I mean, this dude's picking chump change fights with drunk reporters using half-baked magic tricks. Can he really stand against the Gods of Panthea? Because, between you and me... if this dude wants to position himself against this entire city, he's got another thing coming to him. Just seems unlikely that he'd really be able to pull off what he claims. ...Well, that's the magic of the swindle, right? Having the impossible occur. I compared Lock to a magician earlier, but it's not a bad comparison; only difference between a swindler and a magician is a smidge of honesty. So, will Lock pull a rabbit out of his hat? Or will he fall flat on his face? Either way... I'll be entertained. Here's hoping you are, too. Next update, we move on to the third stack and meet our next perspective, Vels. Mix. fucked around with this message at 23:30 on Jul 15, 2023 |
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Jul 13, 2023 00:34
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content warning: misgendering [BGM: Dummy]   So at this point I'm kinda thinking that this poo poo is fuckin' boring, right? Like, nothing's happened for a chapter straight, it's just this explanation of what's actually been going on. And some of that's warranted, right? I want to know what's going on. And for something like this, somebody's gotta lay it out straight, it's pretty impossible to just figure it out through action. But I mean, at a certain point, it just gets annoying. Like, wrap it up, jeez. So anyways, this is right when the book's starting to lose me. But then, in an instant, they shed their clothes and take off their wig. Boom! Turns out, she was actually the heiress all along! And, for a moment, I was like 'woah, didn't see that coming'. Suddenly this climax was a lot more, uh, prepossessing? 'Captivating' works just fine. Captivating, then. So yeah, now I'm into it. But then, hold on I take a second to think about it. Does that make any sense? Like, they're in two separate places, you don't see them at the same time, fair enough. But they're always in both places whenever the main character enters the room. The hell are the chances of that? What, are they just sprinting from place to place all the time? Wouldn't they be seen at some point? And, on that note, the mansion was filled with the girl's family! I get that it was a disguise or whatever, but like, 'the visitor' interviewed all of them. Are you telling me the girl's father who's lived with her for decades wouldn't noti ce something was off over the week the visitor was snooping around the house? The problem was it didn't have any foreshadowing. So even though it invoked temporary, er, surprise or excitement, maybe it fell flat. Are you sure it didn't have any foreshadowing? Maybe you just didn't pick up on any. I mean, I thought back, and couldn't remember any. But even if there was foreshadowing, doesn't really matter to me. Because my bigger question is what the twist even does! Like, narratively speaking, the author could've written the 'visitor' character out completely and nothing would've changed. It didn't help any tricks, it didn't obscure the truth. It doesn't even play into the whole 'arguing sisters' subplot that dominated almost all their scenes. In the end, the only function of having the 'visitor' was to reveal that they were actually the heiress. And I don't think that's good writing. Yeah, yeah, sounds like.To be honest, it was hard to form any meaningful opinions. It's not like I read the book myself. But that didn't stop Krish from talking all about it. Not that I minded; it's not like I was gonna be reading some random book any time soon. Just didn't make for particularly interesting conversation on my part. ...Eh, whatever. I didn't have it in me to tell them, so I just let Krish rant. Was something to listen to while the two of us made our walk through Panthea. I enjoyed spending my free time with Krish, for the most part. Whenever we both didn't have anything going on, a rare occurrence, I liked hanging out with them. They were optimistic a trait I didn't share, but one I admired. And they knew their way around the street scene of Panthea. That was useful to a relative newcomer to the city like me. We were... an odd pair. Krish would describe their fashion style as 'fresh' and 'hip'. They'd be right in a certain decade, but not mine. As for me, I sported a simple, distinctive red hoodie. The fact I kept it low might've suggested to the random passerby that I wanted to keep a low profile. But that idea clashed with the fact that it was a sleeveless hoodie, which showed off the lightning spiral tattoos on my arms. It was unlikely anybody would walk by us and not have some opinions, one way or another.  My question is why do you read so many of these books?And why talk about them to me so much? - though I kept that question to myself. You stupid? 'To write, you must first read'. That's, uh... some famous writer, I'm sure. You stupid? gently caress off! I'm bad with names, okay? My point is, if I want to actually make it as a successful writer one day, I need to have a big pool of poo poo to draw from. And then I gotta, like, analyze it and junk. Figure out what works and what doesn't. And that'll actually make you a better writer? You serious? Sorry, I'm just not really knowledgeable about that sort of stuff. 'Course it makes me a better writer. If it didn't, I wouldn't be doing it. And you know how I know it's useful? Because I make sure of it. Every story I read, I usually learn at least one lesson, or get a good idea about something. Whenever that happens, I make sure to jot it down right here! Krish then proceeded to pull out a small, green leather notebook. ...Where were they keeping that? It was too big to be kept in a pocket. Did they have that tucked in the side of their pants? At this point, it's full of good poo poo. So then I assume you'll get to actually working on a book soon, then? Ah hah, yeah, you know... Definitely... definitely soon enough. Hm. Hey, why are we talking about work now?We're not, we're talking about your hobby. Right, now's the time for relaxing. It's why I'm taking you to Smith's. It's the best place to go in Panthea if you want a good lunch on a budget! That good, huh?I hadn't been to Smith's yet. Obviously! It's top tier. I mean, it doesn't hold a candle to my pop's old cafeteria. But for the options we have now? Yeah, it's my definite go to. ...And it'll be yours, too, after today![BGM: Silence]  It was at this point that I looked ahead a bit. Then I held back a sigh. I thought about things. And I could see the next couple of minutes playing out in my head. And I didn't like it. ...Well, who knows. I'm not a psychic or a genius or anything. Maybe I'm wrong about this. So, Smith's is a really cool place to hang out? Yeah! Fun place to just de-stress? I'd say so, sure. Hmm. Interesting. I gotta be honest, Krish, those three up ahead don't exactly look like they're having a chill time. What do you mean?I pointed up ahead to what I was referring to. Outside of the restaurant, a rather ugly scene was playing out. Two larger men were in an argument with an older guy. And it looked like it was going to get violent pretty soon. At first glance, you wouldn't think the older guy would be in that much trouble. He wasn't ancient or any thing, I'd place him in his late 50s. And, hey, looking good for late 50s. But his opposition was clearly more than he could handle. On the one hand, you had a skinny dude in a leather jacket with a crooked smile and slicked back hair. With that punk's confidence, not to mention the hand he had suspiciously stuffed in his pocket, I'd bet hard money that he had a weapon on him. On the other hand, you had this larger dude in a dirty wifebeater and slightly-too-loose pants. Hard to differentiate what was fat and what was muscle, but it was clear he had both. Most importantly, the younger pair both had the posture of an experienced brawler. So, yeah... if a fight did break out which was sort of the vibe I was getting I put money on the duo any day of the week. What on earth...? Hey, that's the owner of the restaurant! That's no way to treat someone! Who knows, maybe the owner started it?[BGM: First Rubber]  Krish didn't even dignify this with a response, just a bewildered look. Then they rushed over to the scene. So far... on track. I begrudgingly picked up my pace to keep up with them. As I approached, I began to hear the argument, and pretty quickly I got a decent picture of the situation.   You know it, I know it, so why're you wasting our time? It's the principle of the thing. Everybody in this day and age has forgotten the power of principles. Well... I haven't! I could be the last person in this drat city with principles, and I wouldn't bend the knee. Principles ain't gonna count for poo poo when your shop's burned down to the ground. Woah, hey, easy! Look man, it's a good deal. Just take it, please. I don't want to see anything happen to you. Something would be happening to me if I kowtowed to a bunch of no-good thugs like you. Yeah, you tell 'em!Krish piped in while simultaneously catching their breath. The shopkeep looked over to them, and their face morphed into a scowl. Okay, interesting, this was different to my predictions. Oh, for the love of... what's with all the troublemakers today? All of you just leave me alone! You know we can't do that. But bro, he's got a point. Wifebeater pointed a meaty finger at Krish. You've got no place here. Right, right, that's true. Official business meetings are going on right now, kid. This isn't the time to come and barge in like that. So get lost, will ya? Official business, huh? Don't see any contracts around. And you need contracts to make business deals!Then, Krish turned to me and spoke in a hushed yet satisfied voice, like they had just proven a point. I've also been reading some John Grisham.I just sighed, knowing that things were still on track. Verbal contracts, kid. Yeah! Don't talk poo poo! So then, what, who are you doing business on behalf of? ...Lemme guess. This a Duat venture?The pair looked at each other, then cracked a smile. Wow, real wise guy we got on our hands here. Yeah, we're Duat men. So you should know to back the gently caress off. Nah, it's cuz you're Duat that I know I need to step in. Step in, huh? That's real interesting, got an interesting guy here. How you supposing you're gonna 'step in'? Like this!Krish suddenly rushed towards Leather Jacket, fists clenched. ...Unfortunately, loudly announcing your plans to attack had its drawbacks. Wifebeater moved in the way and clenched his teeth. He took Krish's blow and clearly expected to be hurt... however, after a moment, he realized that actually Krish's punch hadn't done much damage at all. He then retaliated with a solid two-arm push right at Krish's chest, causing them to stumble backwards. As Krish floundered to regain a fighting stance, Wifebeater's smirk transformed into a full on laughing fit. Ah man, for a second there I thought we picked the wrong fight. But that's really all you got? Oh I'll show you all I got, dickhole![BGM: Silence]  Krish began to rush forwards once again. However, they stopped when I put a hand on their shoulder. Confused, they looked to me. Just stay back.Krish had a lot of spirit. Probably a good amount of experience, too. However, just speaking straight up, they didn't have a fighter's build. At first, Krish looked a bit hurt at my words. But then they ran through the very real possibility of getting the poo poo kicked out of them, and realized I was right. Reluctantly, Krish walked behind me. This was very amusing to Leather Jacket. Boy, really gonna chicken out that quickly? What kind of man tries to poke their head into something to just back out at the first sign of danger?While he was shittalking, I just closed my eyes and clenched my fists. Well, looks like I was a genius after all. Things had played out almost exactly like I predicted. What a pain... I really didn't like fighting. Often it resulted in me getting hurt, which was lame. It was dangerous, which, again, lame. Usually things could be resolved with a safer and more effective method. [BGM: Grand Slam]  But this was the situation I found myself in.  Oh, isn't this exciting! A nice, flashy action scene for you to sit back and enjoy passively. What fun it is to watch people grapple with an intense amount of stress and danger, while you do F All! How nice. ...That's what you're thinking, right? No! That right? Well, good. I don't tolerate passive mindsets. If the person in the scene is faced with danger, it's only fair that you should be as well! ...Well, perhaps 'danger' isn't the right word. This won't hurt you... probably. But it should keep you on your feet. How? Well, watch this!    Woah, words! Awesome! These are the concepts flashing through 'your mind' in a split second's time. Each one is being eliminated in its moment of consideration. Ergo, an idea not considered might be valid! All of this is to say... do you know which of these words didn't just pop up? ...Shoot? Hooray! You have a memory superior to a goldfish! Very good, gold star. Okay, okay, I get it, that was too simple. Well, what if you much as though you were in the scene yourself didn't have an infinite amount of time to answer? What if you only had a limited period of time to say 'Shoot'? Do you think that would make it harder? Shoot! Ah, quick on the draw, this one. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. The point is, I think you understand the concept. Phrases pop up, remember them, choose the option that was not shown on the screen. Boom. Minigame explained. Seems as though we only have one more order of business, and that would be setting the difficulty for these fights. So... what're you having? Hard mode or get the gently caress out! Got a real elitist over here, huh? Uh, can I say: gamer alert? Play the airhorns! ...What do you mean we don't have an airhorn sound effect? ...Wouldn't come up? Why wouldn't airhorns come up? ...Okay, the fact that you didn't anticipate that I'd use airhorns outside of the built scenes seems like a failure on your part. Can you use something similar? Like a gunshot, or s ...you know what, forget it, moment's passed. What were we talking about? Oh, hard mode. Fine. Beating one of these minigames on hard will net you... 7 chips. ...That is, if you beat it flawlessly. Each time you choose something wrong, or take too long to respond, that'll be one chip knocked off the reward. gently caress up too much, you're gonna get diddly squat. All right. I'm bored of this now. Just... do the thing.Yeah, uh, there's no way for me to replicate this minigame in text form, it's literally a memory/reflexes challenge, so instead I'm just gonna simulate it again though this time, I'll be adding an extra visual component so you see the flashing words to keep things interesting.  First up was Wifebeater. He looked pretty confident, having already landed a punch on Krish. Good. Cockiness was a poison. I watched him reel up an attack...  Wifebeater took a swing right at my head. Effortlessly, I swung under the attack, then responded with a swift kick right in his gut. The man stumbled backwards. We can end this now.My plea fell on deaf ears, as Wifebeater immediately sprung back up into action with a look of rage in his eye. drat, this'd be annoying.  Wifebeater came rushing in, looking to send his massive elbow into the side of my head. I caught the blow with relative ease. Despite the man's size, his strength was actually lacking. I needed to make a show of power, fast. Fights didnt last long, especially against amateurs like these. With his arm grasped in my hand, I reached over and put it over my shoulder. Then, with all the effort I could muster, I flipped the man over me, sending him crashing to the ground. Usually, I wouldn't have the strength to lift such a massive beast. However, momentum was on my side, and as I bent down, it was more of a fall on his part than a flip.  Before I could admire my handiwork, however, I caught something in the side of my eye.  Leather Jacket wasn't content to let his buddy take a beating. With both his hands still in his pocket, he kicked right at my side. Luckily, I noticed the attack before it was too late, and intercepted it by punching straight down at his outstretched leg. FUCKER!Leather Jacket bounced back, agitated. A coward like him wasn't likely to keep fighting after too much of a beating. But an rear end in a top hat like him wasn't likely to surrender while he still had his pride. Leather Jacket was already preparing a counter attack. Meanwhile, I noticed that Wifebeater was already back up on my right. poo poo. Both attacking, what to prioritize?   Wifebeater was attempting to grab me, and I couldn't let that happen. While maintaining eye contact with Leather Jacket, I took a half-step back and elbowed Wifebeater right in the chest. Then I struck out forwards, slamming Leather Jacket with a straight punch right in the face. As he stumbled backwards, I turned my full attention to Wifebeater. I softened him up with three punches to his stomach, then finished with a kick, sending him to the ground. That should deal with that one. But Leather Jacket... You little poo poo!In a slick motion, the man took out a switchblade knife and spun it around. Then, he went for me.  The man was attempting a straight up and down slice right at my chest. It was a tricky attack to avoid. ...So I didn't aim to avoid it. Instead, I threw a punch right at the hand holding the knife, intercepting it mid-attack. Leather Jacket recoiled at the blow, letting go of the knife. I caught it mid-air with my left hand, then swung it out, nicking Leather Jacket's arm pretty badly. This knife was Leather Jacket's trump card; this should be over now. I dropped the knife and then, for good measure, slammed Leather Jacket one more time, right in the face, sending him to the ground. [BGM: Silence]  And, just like that, the fight was finished. Two combatants, sprawled on the ground. [You won 7 chips!] The two of them were in a bad state. Meanwhile, I was doing my best to not breathe too heavily. The less effort it appeared I had exerted, the more leverage I had in negotiations. I haven't even taken out my knife yet. I'd leave while neither of you have suffered any major injuries, and while I'm going to just let you flee.Their faces hardened. This might not be enough. I leaned in and spoke in a hushed voice, one that Krish and the restaurant owner wouldn't be able to hear. You'll have plenty of time to try this later. Keep pushing the issue while I'm here, however, and I'll have to push back.This seemed to have had much more of an effect on the two. Nervously, they looked to each other, each trying to gauge the other's reaction to my proposal. Then, silently, the two slowly got to their feet. Without even a parting remark, they began to walk away. After a few paces, that walk turned into a run. Wasn't long before they were straight up sprinting away, tails tucked behind their legs. Ugh. That sucked. [BGM: Opening Lead]  And stay out!Timely, Krish. Very timely. I cracked my neck. Man, I really didn't like fighting. God drat it, Krish. We showed them what we're made of, eh Vels? Yeah, I'd say.The restaurant owner nervously approached from the makeshift cover he'd hopped behind.
...Thank you two, really. I'm grateful for your help in this manner. And... I'm sorry that I judged you too harshly. Had you not appeared, I'm not sure what would have happened. Oh, no need to thank me. Really, I did nothing.Accurate, Krish. You did do nothing. Wasn't a big deal at all. I'm not sure exactly how to pay you back for this... Ain't it obvious? We were coming to have a meal at your place. I think a free meal would be a fitting reward, wouldn't you say, Vels?Wow, how shameless. Declaring your desired reward so 'matter of factly' really dampens the 'selfless hero' vibe you were going for, Krish. ...I guess.By the owner's face, I could tell he also was somewhat put off by this request. Still, he shrugged his shoulders. That seems fair enough. All right then, have a meal on the house. But... just don't order too much. Trust me, we will!Then Krish began laughing at a joke only they found funny. Meanwhile, I decided to handle more important matters. I turned to the restaurant owner.  This likely won't be the last of those guys. We just bought you a little time. And you can't count on the help of random strangers to keep you safe for long. In fact, from what I can tell, nobody can really keep you safe from the Duats. So I'd heavily consider what you intend to do moving on from here.The restaurant owner looked a bit shaken at this. Had he really not considered this yet? ...Thanks for the advice. I'll go back to work now.And without another word, the man turned his back and went back into the store. Dick. Well, might as well... Oh, poo poo. Instantly I pulled down on my hood to make sure it was as low as it went. Then I turned around and pulled on Krish by the arm. Come on, let's have lunch. Hey, you two! Mind if I took a minute of your time?God drat it. Mix. fucked around with this message at 23:30 on Jul 15, 2023 |
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Jul 15, 2023 02:24
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[BGM: Challenger]  Approaching from behind was Kane Shay, a reporter. He was probably looking for a scoop, some article to write about. And we had just provided exactly that for him. drat it! If I had known someone like him was lurking around nearby, I wouldn't have bothered stepping in like that. Just my luck the one time I try and do a good thing there was somebody nearby to document it. I kept my hood down and tried to enter the restaurant, but Krish had other plans. Of course, what do you want?I just took three steps away and kept looking away. Well, I was just doing some normal rounds of the place, and I just so happened to catch that whole scene. Honestly, that was incredible! Really impressive stuff, guys. And you know, seeing how many complaints I've been getting about it lately, I thought it high time to actually put out a piece on the Duats. So I was wondering if you two wouldn't mind giving me a quick interview. It'd be a huge help. Kane put his head down pleadingly. Of course! I'd be happy to help. This is like, uh, a literature-adjacent experience, yeah? I mean, I wouldn't be requiring you to actually write anything down. But I'd be writing something down. So, kinda? I mean, besides that, I'm just happy to be interviewed. Awesome! What about your friend there?Kane pointed at me. I'm fine. You sure? You had some impressive moves there I'd really like to get to hear your story. I don't have a story. And I don't want to do an interview. Oh, just ignore Vels. See, Vels is real shy. Wouldn't appreciate being recorded, you feel me? Hey hey, I respect it. I was pretty shy as a kid. I actually first became a reporter to try and get better at talking to strangers. Really? I mean, it was a reason. Anyways, guess I'll have to settle with just interviewing you. 'Settle'? Hey, didn't mean anything derogatory about it, just meant that in this business, two witnesses are better than one. Fair enough. All right, give me a second. Kane began fishing in his pocket. He took out a recorder and pressed play. ...Wouldn't you just use a phone to record things in this day and age? How old was Kane? So, who do I have the pleasure of interviewing? Hey there, my name's Krish Devaki, they/them. I'm Panthean born and Panthean proud. Ah, another native. And one with actual hometown pride; I can respect it. Honestly, all the people who poo poo on this place really get on my nerves. Like, it has its issues, but the people here are awesome! Anyone who says Panthea has gone downhill needs to get bent. Krish my friend, I couldn't agree with you more. So then, born in Panthea, what was your family situation like? Well, I was raised by my dad Vashu. Unfortunately my mother died when I was pretty young, so I never knew her very well. Sorry to hear that. Losing your parents at a young age sucks. Yeah well, like I said, I never knew her very well. Hard to feel that bad 'bout her. Anywho, Pops ran this really sick cafe. Really, you had to be there, it was great. He doesn't anymore? No, no unfortunately, it closed down. Anyways, I don't have any siblings, so my family's always been Pops. But in a way, I treat a lot of Panthea as my family. I like that, I like that. So then, what do you do now? Right now? Well, I didn't do too good in school, and no money for college, so I'm kinda just going from part-time job to part-time job. Finding work wherever I can, trying to stay afloat, you feel me? Kinda hard with our economy how it is right now. Definitely, definitely. Are you hoping to settle down at a permanent place anytime soon? Well, I'm hoping to become an author. But that's kinda a pipe dream, so I don't know how reliable something like that could be... Realistically, the chances I pull it off are pretty low. Hey, don't talk like that! I'm not gonna bullshit you and say you've got great odds or anything. But I've heard plenty of stories of people who regret never taking a shot when they could. You're young! You have youth! This is the time to try and fail. The fail bit ain't really necessary, you know? Like I said kid, I give the truth. Well, thanks. All right then, moving on to the main event, mind describing what just occurred here? I mean, not much to explain. Some assholes were harassing a poor Panthean citizen, someone who didn't do anything wrong. I figured that was pretty bullshit, so I stepped in and did something. I have to say, most people wouldn't just 'step in and do something'. I s'pose.I wasn't looking, but I could tell Krish was giving a poo poo-eating grin right about now. So, you kept the peace by force. I mean, I had to. You saw those assholes, being super... uncordial. Uncordial's putting it lightly. I'm in favor of kicking some rear end, personally. Used to be that fights were just things that could happen. Then we as a collective got a stick up our asses and started getting litigious. So, why do you think those men were harassing the restaurant owner? Ain't it obvious? Those were Duat boys. And they were shaking him down for protection money. Protection money? What's that about? Ya know, paying your dues. Cost of business for selling on Duat turf, if ya heard it from them. If anything, I'd think it Panthea turf. It's both. Ya gotta pay taxes to the government. Ya gotta pay protection to the Duat. So, protection, what does that actually entail? Well, if you believed the Duats, it was protection from other criminals and any issues. If you pay, the Duats will help you out. Deter any third parties from messing with you, and solve problems that get in the way of your revenue stream. In exchange for all that protection money. And so, do the Duats have a point? I mean, sounds like a decent service they provide. They'd have a point if they didn't harass stores that didn't accept their protection money. The problem is you don't have a choice to say no. Not really, when there's that fuckin' insane power balance at work. I see, so you're saying that it's more like extortion than protection. Yes! Yes, exactly, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Okay, okay. So Krish, some people say that the Duats have been getting worse lately. Right. Oh, so you agree with this? Then in your opinion, what do you think is causing this rise? It's obvious, ain't it? They don't got anybody putting the checks on them anymore. Used to be that the Duats were in a pretty nasty feud with the Shikome. Before that, think it was the PCTL? Something like that. Point is, those wars came and went and the Duats are still standing strong. Only thing that's supposedly keeping 'em in check is the police, and they haven't been doing a good job of that at all. Probably 'cuz the Duats have gotten better at working around the police. They became large enough to have alternate solutions to the problems the cops present. And this 'Duat Dominance', you believe it to be a bad thing? I mean, yeah? My Pops actually said he kinda likes it better this way... there's a lot less conflict nowadays, and gang conflict's the type to leave bodies. But I dunno about all that. Something rubs me the wrong way with letting a group like the Duats do whatever the hell they want. Yeah, I can see that side of things. ...All right, I think that's probably enough for me to work with. Again, thanks for lending me your time. No problem at all. Glad to be of help.The two continued to talk for a little bit longer. Krish asked Kane some questions about the literary world. Kane seemed to try his best to be useful. And then, before long, Kane turned around and left. Thank God. [BGM: Silence]  You know, Kane's actually a pretty cool guy. Not at all like I heard. You knew about him? Of course! What Panthean hasn't? Yeah, well, you can be special. If that's the case, why'd you do the interview in the first place? Wanted to give my two cents. Why'd you hide in the corner the whole time? Because I didn't. Now come on, let's just get lunch.I just wanted to move the conversation along. Krish was eager to acquiesce.  The two of us entered the restaurant and got a seat. ...I had to admit, there was a nice ambiance about the place. Sort of an old time diner vibe. Hopefully the food was decent. Krish had assured me of that much, but I knew them better than to trust their opinions. As we were ordering our meal, I noticed somebody walking over to our table. I audibly sighed. What now? Krish, who was facing the opposite way, didn't know what I was sighing at. Because of that, they came to the quite reasonable conclusion that for some reason I was sighing at them. What, you don't like the place? Ya haven't even eaten yet, you're not allowed to judge! Besides, we're getting the meal for free. As far as I'm concerned, complaining about a free meal is a surefire sign that something's gone wrong. So just wait, okay?I didn't bother correcting their misconception. I was too busy trying to analyze the approaching man. I couldn't quite get a read on him just from his looks. Before I could come to an opinion, however, he reached our table and spoke up. [BGM: Trick Score]   Krish! I thought that was you. Oh, hey Mr. Yi! What are you doing here? I'm here to have lunch. Oh, right. Duh. So, how have you been? It's been a while since we've had a chat. In fact, I don't think we've talked since I left Panthea. You know, we haven't. I'm doing good! I mean, reasonably so, at any rate. Getting work at least. Ah, well, that's what's most important. To quote Freud, 'work is man's most natural love'. Though, to be fair, Freud was never particularly lauded as a philosopher. He was just the first quote that came to mind. Point is, it's good that you're employed. Youth of your age ought to have a job. Or in my case, jobs. Yes, well, whatever gets the job done, eh? So then, who are you eating with? Oh, this is Vels. I met Vels not too long ago, but we've hit it off. So, figured I'd show off one of the best restaurants in Panthea. A wise choice. By the way, shame about your father's cafe. When I heard about its closing I was deeply wounded. His place was my go to for breakfasts. Yeah, it sucks. But you know, we're holding up good enough. Good, good.Yi turned to me. Well then, Vels, is it? Pleased to meet you. My name is Yi Giles.I nodded at him, then mumbled a greeting. Nice to meet you. I could notice Yi being slightly put off by this response. Oh, don't worry. Vels just doesn't like talking much. Though Vels, you seem to be particularly quiet today.Krish was also shooting me a look. Whatever. It was too soon to tell for sure, but I still got the vibe that I didn't want to show too much of myself to this Yi fellow. Yi, for his part, seemed to accept this explanation. Ah, a colleague of mine is quite similar in that aspect. I admire someone who only speaks when there is something worth saying. 'Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.' Nice quote. Ludwig Wittgenstein. Interesting fellow, that one.Yi turned back to Krish. Good.   So, Krish, I couldn't help but notice your encounter outside through the window. You were being interviewed for something? Oh, right, that. Kane Shay just wanted an interview with me after I kicked some gangster's rear end.I threw a look at Krish. They seemed to look right back at me, challenging me. 'If you want to say otherwise, speak up'. I put my eyes down. Sure, take the credit here. You clearly want it.  'Kicking some gangster rear end'? You never change, do you? Oh, I've changed plenty! Just still have a decent conscience. Well, that is the one thing of yours that would be good not to change. Heh, thanks.Not a compliment, Krish.  Not to make you repeat the story a second time, but exactly what 'gangster rear end' did you kick? Oh, well, you know...I noticed Krish beginning to stall. Huh? That felt weird. They had been pretty eager to boast up until this point... Why were they stalling at giving out any details? Whatever caused Krish to temporarily pause, they eventually continued. ...Earlier, the restaurant owner was being harrassed by some Duat members. They were pushing him to accept the protection offer. He clearly wasn't interested, but they persisted. The members then threatened to get physical. Intervening was only right.Interesting phrasing, for Krish. The virtuous path, right? Indeed. Duat members were really threatening the restaurant owner? How disheartening. Yeah, uh, it's... well, yeah. Okay, I needed some more info. Although... I had a guess what the underlying cause of awkwardness between these two might be. A strained awkwardness I had felt from the beginning of the conversation. How do you feel about the Duats, Yi? Vels! What? I want to know Yi better. It's a topical question.A slight smile crossed Yi's face. My thoughts on the Duats, huh? Hmm... How to answer that, I wonder? 'The truth is the object of philosophy, but not always of philosophers'. Huh? Vels, the question is a tad complicated. After all, technically speaking, I am a member of the Duats. Seriously?Krish looked down. They were clearly already aware of this. Yeah... that figures. I knew I got a vibe from this guy. As a matter of fact, at this point, I occupy a decently high position on the Duats' chain of command. Though, I attribute that mostly to me being one of a few with any real higher education to speak of. Organizational and mathematical skills are, perhaps unsurprisingly, few and far between with those people. I certainly haven't been sent on many field missions. Right, that doesn't strike me as your style, Mr. Yi. Very much not so.Though they feigned a positive tone, Krish was clearly uncomfortable speaking up on this topic. I could read between the lines. Krish knew and to some extent, respected Mr. Yi before he became a Duat. On a personal level, Krish likes Yi quite a lot. However, also on a personal level, Krish loathes the Duats. At some point, Krish must have heard about Yi joining the Duats. The inability to reconcile those two beliefs is messing with them, so before now, they were just trying to steer around the topic. And I had pushed it to the forefront. ...Maybe I should've thought ahead a bit more.  Yi also sensed the awkward atmosphere, and sighed. I hoped to avoid this topic. It's not a particularly pleasant one.Some more silence. My position is certainly a delicate one. To answer your question, Vels, I hold quite a bit of contempt for the Duats.He... does? You do? Naturally. You didn't hear this from me, but their brutish methods have only increased as of late. I mean, at a certain time the Duats actually acted as a sort of defender force for the city a home to the homeless. At another time, they were simply another, less legal business; the distinction between them and Olympo seemed negligent, morally speaking. However, at the current time, they're slowly morphing into something of a noose, clasping around the city. Yeah, exactly! They're becoming really toxic.loving easy, Krish!! Hold some cards close to the chest! I decided to interject.  If that's the case, why are you still a member?At this, Yi let out a small, sad chuckle. Why indeed? As I've mentioned, my position is quite delicate. I never really intended to join the Duats in the first place. Given the circumstances of my return to Panthea, I wasn't really afforded the option. Then I performed my duties. And now that I'm at my position, simply retiring from the Duats is... Well, on every level it's a troubling process, but at mine it's even more contentious than usual. While it would be something of a lie to say I was stuck, it would also be something of a lie to say I wasn't.There was a genuine sadness in Yi's voice as he lamented. Certainly, to some extent, he was drawing from reality. But... I couldn't really bring myself to trust this man. How much of what he just said was the actual truth? And how much of it was just what Krish wanted to hear? Well, if Yi was looking to win sympathy from Krish, it worked.'  Seriously? That's fuckin' horrible! I believe it's rather standard. After all, it is a criminal organization. I'd have to have a word with some people if it was an easy job to leave. And... it's not like I'm completely blameless in all of this. Like I said, I had circumstances returning to Panthea. Circumstances, in some part, of my own doing. Yeah, but still... Honestly, if the Duats could be hampered, I would be in favor of it. Really? 'Cuz like, that's not an impossibility. Oh? I know people, you know. People who've had enough with the Duats. And like, I ain't exactly the strategy type who knows what to do with all these people. But I mean, if you're a Duat, and you're smart, then surely you'd have some suggestions. Well, I don't know about that. True, I did have some ideas... but I'd have to think on it. No no, of course, take whatever time ya need. No rush or anything. Hmm... Yes, this is certainly something worth thinking about. I don't want to lie to you Krish, I do quite prioritize my own personal safety. I'm not exactly eager to do anything that's going to get me killed. I don't want that either! Good to hear. But, if there was a way we could maybe, I don't know, bring the Duats back on the right track, with your help... I'll think about it. I really will. And I'll meet with you again soon; really, it's absolutely not right that I haven't spoken to you for this long. That'd be great! You know whenever you want to hang out, just hit me up. Well then, I don't want to take any more of your time. I'll be on my way then.Yi turned to me. It was nice meeting you, Vels. I'll keep an eye out for you.I kept my head low. Likewise.And, just like that, Yi walked out of the restaurant. Well... that was a thing. For my part, I was just really wishing I had stalled coming to this restaurant for, like, five extra minutes. Krish, on the other hand, had gotten quite excited by the possibility of teaming up with Yi to make a move against the Duats.  I mean, can you believe our luck? No, I can't. Yeah, we're really lucky. I mean, getting an in with the Duats like that? Yi's great! I knew he could be counted on. Why was I ever doubting him? You were doubting him because he joined the Duats, Krish. And, for the record, I think you should still be doubting him. Seriously? You heard what he said, he didn't have a choice! So he claims. You think he made all that up? I think he might have made some of it up. Nah, gently caress off. I'm serious. Look, he left Panthea to teach ethics at some college. Ethics! And he came back to Panthea under some circumstances that forced him to join a violent gang. You're just being paranoid. Maybe.I admitted this earnestly. I absolutely had a paranoid streak. Backup plans upon backups. On some level, I was proud of that paranoia. Paranoia's just a derisive word for preparedness. I'm just saying, stay sharp, okay? When ain't I sharp? Case in point. Eat poo poo. I might, depends on how good this restaurant actually is.[BGM: Silence]  At this, Krish laughed, and we were able to put the argument behind us. From there, we ordered and ate our respective meals in relative silence. Some casual conversation, but nothing particularly interesting. For what it was worth, Krish had been right. Smith''s made a pretty decent burger. Nice, cool milk too. I made a note to come back here sometime. The owner made good on their promise for a free meal. So yay, being a good person got rewarded. Go me. Krish and I then left the restaurant.  Well, that was fun, but afraid I can't hang out any longer. Got another gig starting in like an hour. Got it. It was fun hanging out. Really? Uh, yeah? Well, that's nice to hear! For the record, if I didn't have fun hanging out with you, I'd stop hanging out. Yeah yeah, I know that. I'm just happy I got you to actually cop to it aloud. Definitely not something you'd've done when we first met. Yeah, well. ...Don't get used to it. I'm never used to anything. That's why nobody's able to catch me off guard. 'Cuz I'm always on my toes! If you say so.  Next time we meet, I want you to have an actual concept for a story to flesh out prepared, okay? I might. I'm serious, Krish, if you don't start making actual steps forward soon, you're never going to write anything. I got it, I got it, really. Actual concept next time. Understood. ...See ya! Bye.And just like that, they turned around and started making their way to whatever job they had. Meanwhile, I turned around and started heading down the opposite direction. If I remembered Panthea's geography well enough a questionable prospect, to be fair my place was actually perpendicular to the direction Krish left from. But I figured putting some distance between the two of us before I started making my way back wouldn't hurt. Honestly, I wouldn't put it past that idiot to pretend to be going to work just to try and stalk me back to my place. They seemed to be getting pretty annoyed that I refused to tell them where I actually lived when I knew where they lived. After getting a bit further away, I turned down an alley. Then, while walking down the alley, I quickly turned down another. And then another. Then I waited for a few seconds. Then, after checking the upcoming corners, I resumed my walk. Luckily, there was a shop with big glass windows at the end of this street, so I could see behind me in it without too much issue. Nobody was probably following me. But you could never be too careful. These steps were necessary to make sure you weren't being trailed.  I checked my phone. ...God, really? I was hanging out with Krish too much. I didn't have the time to be spending this many hours doing nothing. I took a deep sigh and thought back to a conversation I had had with Krish pretty recently. They had said that they loved Panthea, but it was harder to lately. They said that they thought, on some level, Panthea was rotting. How incredibly sad. Even Krish could tell something was wrong. If only they knew the half of it... Rotting? Panthea was rotten. Deeply so, in a way that sucked in everybody. I thought about Krish. They were likely to be a liability. At this point, if I were smart, I'd cut them off. But I wouldn't. And... I wouldn't come to regret this decision until much later.  Well now, isn't this just an interesting little scenario we've found ourselves looking in on? Krish and Vels, we've really got some characters close to the ground who can hear what's really up in Panthea. Always appreciated, always appreciated. People's views are always inextricably linked to their position in life, no getting around that. Having a perspective removed from any position of power or information may, paradoxically, get one closer to seeing the truth of things. ...Just my two cents, at any rate. At the very least, we get to follow a character who can kick some rear end. In our modern and civilized society, fighting is a skill undervalued, despite it historically being key. I applaud Vels for not letting the dying art of martial combat die out.  Us fighters need to band together, you hear? And good on the Duats for providing some generic thugs to beat down on. Unabashed evil is also underrated. It really helps provide some guilt-free targets to punish and abuse. I mean, we all crave the suffering of others. It's human nature, the greatest form of schadenfreude! But since most of us are 'moral' creatures, watching innocent people suffer tingles our guilt receptors. But, if they're bad people, we can watch their suffering with pleasure! How convenient. Thank you, Duats. ...Well, I suppose not all Duats. For instance, Yi seems like a good bloke... if you ask Krish. Ask Vels, Yi is just as shady as any other two-bit gangster. Vels might not have a lot of faith in Krish's judgment capabilities... but then again, isn't that the arrogance of Vels? Krish has known Yi far longer than Vels, why wouldn't they have the best understanding of the situation? Skepticism is healthy, but an excessive dose is called paranoia, and Vels's worldview is bordering on that. ...Of course, I also don't think paranoia is a negative either, but let's just roll with common sensibilities for a moment. So, the question is thus: to trust Yi, or not to trust Yi? Do you think Yi has Krish's best interests in mind? No, he isn't trustworthy. Aw. What a sad world you must live in. But okay, guess accepted. Now... Let's bet on that fact! Oh come on, you had to see this coming. This is the perfect time to cast a bet! So come on, let us gamble some chips away. How much will you be betting?30% of the votes said that Yi was trustworthy, so we'll be betting 9 chips here. Ah, that feels nice. It feels nice to have a proper bet going, to establish stakes. Okay then. Let us continue. Next update, it's time for us to meet "Olif"... Mix. fucked around with this message at 01:09 on Jul 19, 2023 |
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Jul 18, 2023 01:27
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No, he isn't trustworthy. Aw. What a sad world you must live in. But okay, guess accepted. Now... Let's bet on that fact! Oh come on, you had to see this coming. This is the perfect time to cast a bet! So come on, let us gamble some chips away. How much will you be betting? 30% of the votes said that Yi was trustworthy, so we'll be betting 9 chips here. Ah, that feels nice. It feels nice to have a proper bet going, to establish stakes. Okay then. Let us continue.Next update, it's time for us to meet "Olif"...
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Jul 19, 2023 01:09
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ApplesandOranges posted:It feels kinda weird to have a bet right before a cut-off point. Might be better when actually playing it (I guess it's to entice you to keep playing as that perspective, as Vels did very little so far). Every bet in the game besides the intro one is at the end of a "card", so that's going to be the case for the whole LP
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Jul 19, 2023 01:30
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[BGM: Pip Count]  loving reposts. I've seen that one like a dozen times. Where were the mods? ...Whatever. Next page. Come on!  That took like seven seconds. Why were Kamapa's servers so painfully slow? They were, like, one of the biggest social media platforms. The fact that their site was still seemingly duct-taped together was pretty loving pathetic. ...Whatever. Some link to an old band nobody gives a poo poo about... some girl recovered from cancer, aw, boo hoo, whatever. A neat picture probably found off of Google... A dog. Oh, thank God, this user shared their picture of a dog. I really appreciate getting to see this specific dog. It's not like there are a hundred goddamn dog pics posted to this hellsite every day Jesus Christ. It astounded me the poo poo people thought was worth posting about. Wasn't there like a rule about low-effort posting? ...Whatever. Oh, what's this? Dang, somebody did a whole stop-motion routine with their clothes. Unoriginal, but still impressive if for nothing else but the sheer amount of time that must've been poured into setting all of this up. Honestly, it seemed a little pathetic. Who had so much time to be wasting it on things like that? Okay, okay, so maybe it didn't look like I was exactly doing something of great importance either. Pot calling the kettle black and all. Look, I worked a lot, okay? Thankless work. And, more importantly, it was good to stay informed as to current trends. This was all a part of my process. So, yeah, maybe to the untrained eye, making GBS threads around on Kamapa didn't exactly look like a productive use of time. But I knew what I was doing. Anyways, it was just for a bit of time every day. It's not like I was spending... hours on it, or anything... Let's see... someone said something dumb on Pyrim, no surprise there. Oh, what's this? It was a news article. Olympo acquires Bragi-docio, a chain of record stores. The chain mostly operated within Panthea. Is this just another step on the path to Olympo creating a total monopoly of commerce in Panthea? And is this actually a good business strategy? See what our experts have to say on the matter! Dang, another one? I wanted to learn more.  I clicked on the link, and got taken to some online news site. I tried scrolling down on the article, and instantly was blocked by a pop up. Please disable your Ad Blocker. loving, fine. I turned it off, refreshed, and instantly the entire screen was covered with garbage. Yeah, okay, not worth it. I could guess the answers were Yes and Yes.  I clicked off and looked at the comments on Panthea.  tl;dr Deisma says some poo poo about how music is 'close to his heart', whatever that means. Business goons then somehow both say that we're not in danger of a Olympo monopoly and that them creating a monopoly is a genius business strategy. 0/10 article, site sucks, would not recommend.  My favorite part about this whole article is this specific quote: Art Deisma, current CEO of Olympo, had this to say about the acquisition. 'It was motivated by my deep love of music. For me, music has always had a special place in my heart. I have a lot of fond memories about music, and I like to put it on whenever I'm feeling down.' Like, no poo poo he likes music. Everybody likes music. The fact that they thought that was worth keeping in the article... smh In response to that comment...  Ah, yes, I two like your muzac. It is pleasing to my human ears. Also in response to that comment, though with far more dislikes...  not even the loving quote bro. how hard is it to just copy c copy v? Another comment captured the vibe quite succinctly.  eat the rich  drat, I liked Bragi-docio. last time I go there tho lol  Honestly, we should've seen this coming. Remember the Bragi-docio CEO's Pyrim comments about Governor Aija? About how she didn't have the 'right temperature to govern'? In response to that.  oof. did he actually say that? Yeah, but he deleted the posts hours later and never apologized, so not as many people know about it. honestly i'm surprised it took this long for the shoe to drop if that's the case.  I was tired of the typical Kamapa hive mind at work, so I decided to poke the nest a bit.  why are so many people mad about this? my local Brag shop loving sucked lol at least with this they might get the funding to do their job right.  Well, we'd see if anyone took that bait later. As I exited back to the main page, a song I had heard for the hundredth time began to play. Okay, I was officially sick of my own playlist. This is what I got for not updating it frequently enough. I had been burned out on my own songs. What to listen to, then? I had heard some good things about this up and coming artist known as Talei. I decided to put on a shuffle of her biggest hits. Back to scrolling on Kamapa. Repost... repost... ooh, a sketch. I opened the video to find a pretty unfunny joke about some celebrity gossip I hadn't been keeping up with. Just great. I opened up the comments just to try and find anyone who agreed with me.  Honestly, you could tell me that was actually Collin Mayers and I'd have believed you.  lmaoo how does this guy not have more followers? is this guy still making videos? Yeah, that was a dead end. overrated imo. also, afaik weren't those rumors proven untrue? pretty hosed up if you ask me to joke about false allegations. just saying.  Back to the main page. Ooh, a nice sketch of a dog and a cat. It was done in this really cool pointillist style. ...Pointillist style? I think that was the right art term... but to be honest, my knowledge was sketchy. I gave the post a like and went to the comments to leave some praise.  Wow, what a great and original picture! /s Seriously, you couldn't go past the front page of Google Images? Ffs. [Link to what I'm talking about.] Oh god drat it, another art theft? What did these people get out of this? I turned my like to a dislike and went back to the main page. ...God, what was that screech? Okay, gently caress this Talei, you're officially not for me. Back to my playlist. It might be rote, but at least it wasn't poo poo. Had I got any responses to my comment on the Olympo article? That felt sufficiently inflammatory, and the post was recent enough. [BGM: Dummy]  I opened my inbox in another tab. Sure enough, it looked like I had some responses. I clicked on the link that took me to my comment. As expected, it was already in the negatives on the like ratio. Now, what were people saying?  Bootlicker. That was the most liked response. I quickly drafted up a response to that. another S-tier response from the commies lmaoo. What other replies did I get?  I'm surprised you had that experience with Bragi-docio. Honestly, part of the reason I was so disheartened by this news was because I've loved Bragi-docio. I've been there since I was a kid, and have some really fond memories. Back in the third grade, I was going through some rou This story did not deserve a loving paragraph and I wasn't going to read it. What else? Looks like the Olympo Defense Squad is still out in full force lol. I've never got why people like this exist. Like, they seem too stupid that they shouldn't know how to use this site? i'm not defending poo poo jackass i'm asking a question. the fact you couldn't explain F A proves you don't know what the hell you're talking about either.  Any other responses?  It's not like Olympo acquiring companies on the face of things is bad. However, the problem is that when a single company gets this big they start to act lovely. Something's power = how hosed up it will become. Not a fan of Olympo getting more powerful. It's already a complete shitshow, imagine what happens next. Finally, an actually intelligent response. complete shitshow? clearly not if it's big enough to be acquiring everything lol. also that equivalency isn't a real argument, it's not even based in anything. And, finally, at the bottom of the pile of responses. THANK YOU. so loving sick of the Kamapa hive mind. these morons get mad at everything and can't handle diverse thought. ...All right, that was probably enough of that. Back to the main page.  Scrolling, scrolling. Ooh, a Gambler's Fallacy sequel? I loved the first film. Had a bunch of inaccuracies, but what can you do? Another article on that recent double homicide... yawn. Next page. Somebody said something stupid on Pyrim, and somebody else made a very insightful retort. Cool, cool, very funny. Another article headline... Governor Aija passes revolutionary prison reform bill. First of its kind, it seeks to massively reform many of the issues facing the prison system. Well, that sounds pretty cool. Good for Aija. I clicked on the link to the article, just to skim through it. [BGM: Trick Score]  Luckily, this one was published by The Oracle, who didn't do the stupid pop up thing. The article was way too long to actually be read, so let's just try and see the main points. Improved conditions... Parole system rework... Eliminating bias... Critics apparently claim it doesn't go far enough or it's too little too late, surprise surprise there. Approval rating rose in response... Yeah, all right, just seemed like a pretty cool thing. Rare to get positive stories in politics. Nice when it happens. This'll help people, I'm sure. What did the comments think of this one, though? This I was actually interested to see opinion on Aija seemed to be somewhat split. Oddly enough, on a local scale she was less liked than she was on a national one. That tended to be the exact opposite of what normally happened. That said, Kamapa had this feature where it tried to prioritize local users and stories in your feed. So I was more likely to get news and images and whatnot related to Panthea, and I was more likely to see comments by Panthean users. According to the creator, it was something about trying to help 'foster communities and create connections'. It was a gimmick, as far as I was concerned. I mean, on the news side, it was useful to be naturally fed more topical articles instead of either just getting national or international news or defaulting to a specific Panthean feed.  Anyways, time to see where people's heads were at. This is actually really encouraging to hear! I have an uncle who's currently imprisoned, and I hear a lot of horror stories from him. I know we have a tendency to dehumanize criminals, but most are there for non-violent crimes, and fundamentally they're all humans too. Great steps forward in the right direction. Another comment had a bit more of a bleak take.  woow, a 'humanist' law coming out right around election season. right on schedule. Aija's a loving hack and any1 falling for her poo poo a sheep. #BachOrBust. Has anyone actually bothered reading through the changes? Like, don't get me wrong, they're deffo a step in the right direction. But they don't really get to the heart of the issue. Whoever wrote this up is either a bit daft, or doesn't really gaf.  weird how Aija's very clearly changed her tune. anyone else remember the last time we heard her talking about prisons and stuff? I remember. Link for anybody interested: [Bloop]. Huh, I wonder what this guy was talking about? Intrigued, I clicked on the link. I was taken to another article. Panthea's Prisons are appalling; Aija's silence damning. Woah, okay, strong title. Let's see if they could back that talk up.  I quickly skimmed through some key-seeming sentences in the article. Panthea has a fairly large prison population. Specifically, it has one of the highest prisoner-to-citizen ratios in the entire country. Much of this is likely due to the city's long and inextricably linked history with organized crime. For decades, Panthea has seemingly been a breeding place for violent gangs. There are several reasons why the city could be such a hotbox for this sort of activity. For one, its location as a portside city has made it a prime location for illegal smuggling by seaside. It also is an incredibly urban area, with a high income inequality gap. Whatever the reason for these gangs, the fact of the matter is they've led to Panthean prisons being fairly cramped. However, not until a recent undercover operation was it revealed just how miserable those living conditions have been. It appears in a bid to cut costs, several things that seem like basic rights have been restricted, or otherwise compromised. Then it goes into some boring details. Bad conditions for criminals, injustice is bad, yadda yadda. Okay, picking up where Aija is giving her quote. Obviously, we're looking into the situation independently. However, from the evidence that's been presented, I believe it is quite a stretch to claim that any human rights have been infringed. True, prisoners may not get the same treatment as customers of a fancy hotel. But I give the people every assurance that Panthea looks out for every citizen, regardless of circumstances. I am more than certain that Warden Pei has been doing her best to run a clean operation. She continues to waffle for a bit longer, and eventually the author cuts to the point. It is difficult to take Governor Aija at her word, however. After all, it was she herself who helped get Mrs. Cammie Pei to the position of prison warden. Aija's denial, and refusal to take action on the situation, comes more across as a carefully calculated move to limit damage than a sincere one. Looking at her past, this isn't the first example of this type of behavior from Ms. Aija... which raises a very fundamental, if frightening, question: Can we believe in our current administration? drat. After finishing the article, I was left just a little bit stunned. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was a well-written article. From what I read, anyways. Had a lot of, uh, facts, lots of citations and the like. Raised interesting points. Made those points well. Took a combative, yet respectful stance. By all means, it was an example of some stellar journalism. However... that's what sort of made me confused. You could take the article how you wanted, but very clearly this was a directed attack at Governor Aija. At least partially, at any rate. And yet, looking at the site I was reading, the article was from The Oracle. 'The Oracle' was a lot of things, but the one thing I thought it was fairly consistent on was its support of Governor Aija. I mean, yeah, this article was from some time ago. But still, I wasn't aware that The Oracle had changed so much in a relatively short period of time. It was my impression that it had been staying the course for years, at the very least. Who wrote this thing, anyways? I scrolled up to the top of the page and found my answer. Oh. Well, that explains some things. [BGM: Silence]  This article was written by Jacy Nazea. I already knew her quite well. As opposed to a lot of the other staff, she had written a number of fairly edgy and controversial pieces. Many aimed at the establishment. ...I decided I felt like going down a little bit of a rabbit hole. Not that I expected much to come of it. But who knows, just going down internet searches from time to time could be, at the very least, cathartic. And in rare cases, useful. [BGM: Doubling Cube]  I clicked to The Oracle's main page. There, I found a link to a page about the site's staff. It was a list of names, faces, and short bios. ...A lot shorter list than I would've expected. The Oracle is a decently big news site, especially in Panthea itself. I guess they just had a lot of hard workers. At the top of the list was one familiar face. Kane Shay, Editor in Chief Kane Shay is the founder of The Oracle. He has made it his mission ever since he was young to bring the truth to the people. Ever since he was young, he was fascinated by politics and current events. That interest culminated in the creation of The Oracle, a news site dedicated to looking at all stories, no matter how large or small. Kane Shay currently lives in the heart of urban Panthea, working hard to bring in the freshest scoops. Shay does not have any living family, and is not in a relationship; he says that his true love is journalism. No family, huh? That reminded me of something. ...Oh, right, Kane's parental past. I had definitely heard something about that on Kamapa at some point. Still couldn't remember specifics, though.  I looked up 'Kane Shay parents' online in a separate tab. A number of articles popped up. Let's see... give me the goods... I clicked on a random one. 'Recent tragedy in Panthea... Daniel Shay murdered his wife Saria in a fit of passion... Early reports claim Daniel also intended to murder his son, but was unable to locate him...' Seriously? Holy poo poo, that's hosed up. 'Daniel was killed in a firefight with the police during his arrest...' Yeah, that was enough about that. Seemed messy, poor Kane, yadda yadda. That probably scarred him some way, bad. My gut told me that that incident was, in some way, connected with why Kane ultimately ended up being so infatuated with Governor Aija, but no idea how. ...I had gotten side tracked. I went back to the staff list.  I looked around for the name Jacy. ...And I wasn't able to find it. So, at some point she was removed from the staff list? I supposed that made some amount of sense. But that wasn't particularly helpful to me. I opened a new tab and opened up a website that could travel back in time, digitally speaking. Let's see how far back I'd have to go to see her on the staff list. Longer than a month... Longer than three months... It took me eight months before I saw a notable change. ..There she was. Jacy Nazea, Investigative Journalist I read over her bio, but it all seemed like typical filler fluff. Jeez. Why had she even worked for The Oracle in the first place? She seemed pretty opposed to a lot of what they believed. Felt like a match of oil and water to me. But hey, people had reasons for what they did. For The Oracle, it probably helped their public perception to have at least one author who had an opposing belief from the rest of the staff. If you wanted to be generous, you could even say that they wanted to remove their bias by hiring her. And, for Jacy's part, there were also some good reasons. For one, it was a paying gig, which didn't hurt. And if she believed in what she wrote, which she definitely did, The Oracle had a decent readership. Writing for them got her work in front of a lot of eyes. ...I guess the arrangement did make sense, now that I was thinking about it more. I decided to look up Jacy Nazea online. ...Yeah, as expected. I was mostly getting articles written by her.  I only found a single article about her actual disappearance. I remember the article getting to the front of Kamapa, so I expected that the story was reasonably well known. ...At the very least, that there'd be more stuff talking about it. I mean, Jacy was at least somewhat in the public eye. You'd have to think people cared at least somewhat what happened to her. Well... might as well reread that one article, anyways. It had been a while since I'd saw it. Hmm... Yeah, skimming through, not a lot of details. Unclear what happened to her... Coworkers reported her missing... Signs she fled from her apartment... Police consider it an ongoing investigation...At present, no body has been found... I had to imagine that last aspect hadn't changed. No matter what, if a journalist turned up dead, somebody would've said something. As it stands, maybe this hadn't gotten much media attention because it might look like she simply left town. That's what some of the evidence seemed to imply, based on the article. But if a body was ever found, then it'd turn into a murder case. So, probably this was all that was ever found out about Jacy Nazea's disappearance. That... still felt weird, though. Even without a body... for someone to just disappear... No, not just somebody. There were a lot of 'somebodies' who disappeared in Panthea. But a journalist? One with multiple controversial takes? There had to be some people who wanted to know more about that. Why hadn't The Oracle published an article about this? Or even a statement? Had they? Looking around, I couldn't find one. Hm.  I changed tabs back to my comment on the Olympo article. Odds were, I got at least one more response to one of my replies. ...Sure enough, the most level-headed of the commenters I had run into gave me another reply. My equivalency might not be literal fact, but it's basically fact. Every single example in history supports that rule. And not just cos Olympo as a company is doing well doesn't mean that its' not hosed. Let me tell you: Olympo is going down a proper shady path atm. There's rampant abuse of power, a toxic company culture. Employees are the subject of abuse all of the time. So, yeah, I think my point stands. Abuse of power? Now this felt like an interesting line to pursue. Let's see if we couldn't try and push for a bit more information. Given the temperament, and likely position, of this user, just asking for more straight up would be a fool's errand. However, if I gave them a push... employee abuse lol how many times are we going to hear that w no proof? grow up. everybody hates their job. just because your pay's poo poo and your hours are poo poo doesn't mean you're being abused. anyways obvious bias is obvious lemme guess, you were fired? That should probably do it.  I tabbed back into my other search. I didn't believe that there wasn't any other credible coverage of the Jacy situation. I decided to scrounge around a bit more. After going down the search results for a bit... I did notice something interesting. A link to a post from a blog site entitled Panthean Heaven. ...All right. I'll bite. I opened the link... and immediately I was somewhat appalled by what I was seeing.
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Jul 19, 2023 23:59
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[BGM: Dance]  Holy poo poo. Was I in the last decade or something? The user interface of this poo poo was pretty not great. Gold and black background with green text and an uuuugly font. Oh boy. It was... a little bit charming, but moreso annoying. It definitely ruled out the 'credible' article idea in my mind. But... might as well read through it. Going through it, I realized this wasn't really anything special. The post pretty much talked about everything the initial article said. It also talked about Jacy's past works in journalism, speaking about her in fairly high regard. At the end though, it did make an interesting point. It echoed my concerns about why nobody was talking about it. However, they took it a step further. They claimed that this was part of a coverup. The reason that people weren't talking about it was because the people in power didn't want this to be talked about. Hm, so there were people who said things like this, huh? Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to believe the author held incredible truths about Panthea's nature, the delivery was all... wrong. Sloppy, conspiratorial, speaking without evidence or direction. No, no this was pure speculation on the article's part. I was intrigued with the site, though. I decided to click onto the main homepage. ...It certainly made the whole 'biblical' angle of the site's theming more blatant. Most of the homepage just showed recent posts, typical stuff. However, there was a certain message emblazoned at the top in blocky gold letters that... well, kind of spoke for itself. WALLED OFF BY ITS GOLDEN GATES, PANTHEA POSES AS A HEAVEN. IN TRUTH, IT IS RULED BY AN ALL MIGHTY POWER A GOD. THE GOD OF PANTHEA HAS BLINDED THE MASSES AND CONTROLS THE CITY. THIS SITE IS THE ONLY ONE WHICH CAN REACH THE TRUTH HIDDEN AWAY BEHIND GOLD LOCKS.  ...Okay then. That was... certainly a take, I supposed. Felt vaguely cultish. But, hey. Cults were interesting. If I was looking to kill time, I could do a lot worse than poking around here. There was something always amusing to me about crazy conspiracies and such. Like, they weren't real or anything. But they were a fun example of human creativity. I decided to click the About Us button to try and get a more formalized version of what this site's thesis was. And, indeed, the button led to a paragraph of text. However, before I read anything else, my eyes caught the name of the author. The Devil. ...Okay then. I liked that, I could dig the Satanic vibe. So, 'Devil', blow me away. Have you ever felt like something wasn't right about Panthea? Ever felt like you were going crazy, seeing patterns that didn't connect? Ever wonder why this place could be so full of contradictions? Why, to the world, we could look like a saintly place, and yet at the same time be a hellhole to the citizens? Why gangs have never seemed to leave? What if I told you that this wasn't haphazard? These weren't just coincidences. This was a calculated conspiracy. I know, I know, this sounds crazy. I mean, I'm literally using the word 'conspiracy' to describe it. But, if you're reading this, I think you're the type to look beyond such surface descriptions. I trust you're intelligent enough to hear me out. You see, as a long time resident of Panthea, I've been collecting information for decades. And there are patterns you can find. Information that doesn't get advertised. And maybe one, maybe two, maybe five of these things on their own could be meaningless. But all culminated? At some point, it's beyond coincidence. The same people, same families, same groups have thrived in this city for decades. They are unimpeachable. While the city looks chaotic, it's actually quite organized. While we fight amongst ourselves, people prosper. This isn't a mistake. When you look at the evidence, it becomes clear that we are mere chess pieces, being moved around by a great hand. A God. The God of Panthea, the one controlling all the strings. They shape this city to their desires. Our lives are their mere whims. Intrigued? Then enter this site. I have taken great efforts to catalogue all the minor details, small patterns, all the things that God hopes we will ignore. And through this, I hope to expose this God of Panthea. To dethrone them. To this end, I have taken up a fitting name. I am the Devil of Panthea. Read more, and you'll soon see that joining my Satanic Army is the only correct option. [BGM: Crawford Game]  Wow. I mean... wow. I'll give the Devil this, they knew how to entertain. Sure, it felt like a grade schooler's idea of prose. But the Devil had me hooked it was a solid premise. I'd read a novel based on this idea. But... somehow I doubted I should be taking all this too seriously. ...Well, what did I know? I decided to get a second opinion. I looked up the site's name, wondering if anybody had bothered to look into this person. And, to my surprise... somebody had bothered to look into this site.  I found an article written for The Oracle. Hm. I wondered for a second. Clicking on the article, I looked at the author's name. ...No, not a name I recognized. Just one of the standard employees. Well... while I was here, might as well read through this article. ...It told me pretty much what I expected. 'The Devil' wasn't exactly a credible investigator into corruption. The article pointed out how numerous of the site's posts just straight up contained factual errors. It also talked about how other posts seemed to misunderstand basic logical fundamentals, like cause and effect or how probability worked. It mentions that because so much happens in Panthea, The Devil has a lot to pull from to try and make arguments. The article then theorizes that The Devil, judging by some of his posts, is probably just some disgruntled lower-class worker who couldn't accept that their place in life was their own fault. ...All right, showing a bit of that Oracle bias at the end there. Finally, the author concludes that the site is not just stupid but actively dangerous. The ill-conceived propaganda may be obviously nonsense to us, but the author sounds convincing enough. You never know what sort of empty person will take these writings at face value and do something stupid. I.. had to agree on that last part. Maybe viewing this site as 'some fun time waster' was underselling it. Maybe it was even disrespectful. The Devil was clearly deeply deluded, and likely leading others astray as well. ...But I mean. It did also act as a good way to kill time. So there was that. I decided to look through the site some more.  There was a decent array of articles to sort through. They were, at the very least, entertaining. And, not for nothing, a little bit interesting. Better written than I'd expected. And informative. Hmm... You know, maybe writing this guy off completely wasn't such a good idea. Now now, to be clear, in no way was I being brainwashed into believing some stupid conspiracy about a city God. I was very self aware about this. Just, you know... The Devil raised some good points. If you looked past the sloppiness and franticness, there was actually quite a lot of value to be read in this articles. If nothing else, it was a good reminder of how hosed up things were. But, I don't know... there were certain situations I looked at and thought 'Yeah, you know, he makes a decent point.' Like, there were definite connections. The Governor certainly shouldn't have the power to appoint the Chief of Police, that definitely seemed prime for corruption. And just directly looking at crime statistics, yeah, Olympo should be hurting a lot more than they are. And, what was the deal with these new servers being built all around town? Why can't we find out more about them? ...Some of the stories were straight up dumb. Like, The Devil reported on this one rumor about someone seeing this female police officer putting on a jet black mask at night. That one felt like someone was just yanking his chain. And there was this one story about an underground network of homeless people that smuggled things underneath the city? Think i'd know about that if that was happening. So, like I said, it was hit or miss. But, you know, at the very least, it got me interested. Whether or not he was drawing the right conclusions, it was clear at the very least that The Devil had quite a bit of information. Something also caught my eye while going through the articles. The Devil made... frequent calls to action. Specifically, about getting in touch with him if you had any information or if you wanted to 'join the Satanic Army'. A CONTACT' button was glowing gold to the left of all the articles as well, so clearly it was something this person prioritized. So then, you know: why not take him up on his offer? What's the harm?  I clicked the 'CONTACT' button. I don't know what I was expecting... but just being taken to a page with a single email address written out was a bit underwhelming. Whatever, I could work with it. I copied the email address. Then I opened my email account. ...And then I promptly closed it and opened up an alt. Probably an unnecessary precaution... but then again, judging by the character I was contacting, it couldn't hurt to be better safe than sorry. I pasted the email address and began thinking of a proper subject line.  'About the God of Panthea' probably worked, right? Now, what to say... If I wanted to get information out of him, it'd probably be best to bluff a bit. Just replying as a fan sounded boring. All right then... time to spin a bit of a story. Greetings, Devil. I recently stumbled across your website 'Panthean Heaven'. I have to say, I was impressed. While I have some issues with the claims you're presenting, you're clearly a very knowledgeable person. You seem like the type to give truths that others can't handle. I am a private investigator, and I'm trying to uncover some of the truths this city has hidden beneath the surface. I believe you might be a valuable source of information. I'd like to pick your brain on a few matters. If it's not any trouble, that is. Hope this message reaches you in good health. Olif. ...Yeah, that sounded about right. For someone like this, a message like this would absolutely work. I read over my message one more time to make sure everything looked good, then hit the send button. Cool, cool, cool. Interesting to see how that pans out. [BGM: Golden Point]  I decided to check back in on the comment thread re: the Olympo thing. Ah, looks like I got a response. Oh, and an angry one, too! Fun. Let's see... Nice guess, arsehole, but completely wrong. Good to know you're just the presumptuous prick I thought you were, though. For whatever it's worth, I'm actually a fairly high ranking member within the company right now. That's why I can say for 100% certain that the company is currently in an absolutely dreadful place. And, that's why I care about it so much. I know for certain there's a guy at the same level as me that routinely treats women very inappropriately. But the company won't do anything about it because he's a competent earner. On the other side of things, the CEO has recently been 'suggesting but really demanding' people take a lot of overtime. And the whole corporate culture, it's intentionally kept very tense and combative. I know for a fact managers of lower divisions are specifically instructed to not let people get too content or connected. I suspect that last touch might be a hollow effort to try and prevent unions from popping up. So yeah, mic drop. Get bent, mate. Oh, wasn't this the cheeky reply. I liked it, I really did. For a bit, I was starting to feel bad, thinking I was actually making somebody legitimately upset who was just trying to help. Good to know I was just having a back and forth with just another internet dipshit, like plenty of other times. ...Not a particularly smart internet dipshit, I had to say. I mean, really, you think a high ranking member of Olympo would be spending their time arguing on Kamapa threads? Get real. If they had gone for a low-level worker, maybe I would've bought it. But nah, this person was bullshitting. And I knew how to call them out on it. wow, what a load of horseshit. didnt want to say this, but as a matter of fact i'm actually an employee of Olympo, high ranking one 2. and that's how i know those examples you gave are total bullshit. i don't even have the faintest idea what you're talking about. art has certainly not been pushing for more overtime as of late.  Aaaand send. That would probably set things straight. Or stir the beehive more, either or. I was going to move to another tab, but already I got a response. Wow, that was a quick one. I refreshed the page, and sure enough another comment had popped up. Wow, that's low, even for Kamapa. Alright, 'Olympo employee', what title do you hold? Which facility do you work at? What level clearance do you have? I'm pretty sure that last question was bait. In fact, the whole barrage had just been bait. Instead of shoring up their own position, they decided to go on the offensive. They were calling my bluff. They probably worked out I was bullshitting the same way I had figured they were. All right then, game on. I began typing my response. yeah ok sure im just gonna give personal details in public on a Kamapa thread lol. the fact you'd even ask me poo poo like that proves you dont know what the hell youre talking about. you think I want my boss catching wind of this convo? Send. There, that should sufficiently fend them off. After all, they'd likely switch to asking less personal questions. Those questions would either be the type that could easily be looked up, or the type that was completely unverifiable. Good luck cornering me like that. I pulled out my phone. I had things relating to my work I wanted to check on. Got lost in those details for a bit... After a brief pause, I decided to go back to the computer. I refreshed the page and expected a snide response. [BGM: Dance]  What I got... holy poo poo, seriously? Lmao, this you? [Link.] Reluctantly, I clicked on the link. And it took me to...  A Pyrim account. The profile picture was of a acne-ridden red head forcing an awkward smile. Bio: 'Waiter at Cassone's. Looking for my big break!' What... the gently caress. How the hell did this person get their hands on this profile? How much effort did they... for this pointless internet argument? They were really going to go all Matrix 'n poo poo for a conversation that barely anybody was paying attention to? hosed up, man, hosed up. You know what? I'm not gonna take this poo poo lying down. If you think doxxing is fair game, then let's loving go. I can tit-for-tat you all day. Hacking certainly wasn't my primary skill set, but I also wasn't rubbish at it. Let's see what we can do... [BGM: Doubling Cube]  Well, well, well. Look what we have here! Seems to me like we've got ourselves a little minigame on our hands. A hacking minigame, to be specific! Goodie. I always wished I was good with technology stuff. Always thought it would be cool. Sure as hell would be useful... eh, but I've got people for that. But it appears our hero here has no such luck! They must valiantly go it alone! But... how? Well, let me show you how hacking works with a little example! Right, we're in. The hackosphere. The netaverse. The cybersphere. ...or some poor approximation of it, I suppose. Hey, don't get on my rear end for the graphics, running this whole thing's a lot of work! I had poo poo to do. Anyways, in front of us, we have the hacking grid. Right now, all 25 of these cybertiles are 'live'. Simply by clicking on them, you can 'kill' any of them. If you kill the right tiles then submit your answer, the hacking will be a success! Easy, right? ...Oh yeah, you've actually got to figure out what the right tiles are, huh? Yeah.. that's a wee bit more tricky. But no worries, it's all based off a simple set of rules. Let me show you how it's done. First of all you're never going to have to kill a tile with a number on it. Just... put that thought out of your head. See, the number describes the size of its 'region'. A region is a group of live tiles which are directly connected that is, to say, no diagonals. A region is, by its definition, surrounded by dead tiles. So, you see those puny '1' tiles? Pretty easy poo poo right there. Since their regions are only 1 large, not a lot of thought is needed to figure out our first move. There we go. Nice and isolated, as it should be. Now, here's the next important rule! Live tiles can only exist in a numbered region. No live tile stragglers allowed! I mean, that's just data that doesn't store any information can you say redundant? Right now, I see two live tiles that can't possibly connect to a numbered region. Do you see 'em? Great. Let's kill them! Booyah! Double kill. Alright then, what's next? Oh, right! You also have to be careful about killing these cybertiles. Don't want to completely fry the mainframe. So you're also not allowed to have a 2x2 square of dead tiles. This rule can be a real pain in the rear end, so try not to let it trip you up. With this rule in mind, do you see what we need to do? Based off of the tiles we've already killed, there is now one tile we're not allowed to kill the tile right above the upper '2'. But that's fine we'll just incorporate that into the 2's live region. So then... let's create that region. Cool. What else, what else... there's something else I'm forgetting... Oh! Any live region can only have one number tile in it. Each number tile gets its own live region a simple precaution to prevent the data overwriting. On the bottom row, that 2 and 3 are looking awfully friendly... can't have that, now can we? We should separate them by killing the tile between them. Oh and if we do that, figuring out the region for the 2 tile should be pretty simple, huh? I'll just go ahead and do that for us. One final itsy bitsy thing to remember. I know, I know last rule, I promise. All dead tiles must be directly connected, forming one large contiguous 'wall'. Because, uh... because hacker reasons. The dead tile separated the 2 and the 3 is currently disconnected. Let's quickly fix that little situation. And now, we're at the final stretch. One region left to create. No new rules to introduce, though, so you should be able to figure out the last step by yourself. Got it? Yes. Cool. I'd be worried for you if you didn't, being honest. See? It's simple. We can't kill the tile right above the 3, or else we'd be createing a 2x2 square of dead tiles. And we can't kill the tile to the right of the 3, because that dead tile would be disconnected from the dead wall. So, by process of elimination, the two tiles to kill bringing the region to a mere 3 live tiles are easy to spot. And huzzah! Each number has its own live region, each with the correct number of directly connected live tiles. All the dead tiles are directly connected, and there are no 2x2 dead squares. There are no live tiles outside of a numbered live region, and no live region has multiple numbered tiles within it. I think we can call that a job well done all that's left to do is submit! So, that's that. Hacking tutorial completed. Now you 100% understand how to solve these puzzles. I mean, you got all that, right? I understand things, more or less. I find its always preferable to understand things more. But... I suppose it's a free country. Okay, now for the important question: how confident are you in solving these sorts of puzzles? Let's set the difficulty level. And just to be clear; that little doo-dad I just showed you? Baby poo poo. It's like, a fraction of the potential these bad boys might reach. Whatever your choice, you can't change it later, so make sure you're sure. I'm not scared. Give me hard! Hard mode, eh? You sure about that? All right, all right, I won't question you. You know best. All right, I've thoroughly killed the pacing, and I'm sure you just want me to shut up and let you get to hacking. Fair play. Go on ahead. Like the deduction minigame we were introduced to with Laverna, these are actual puzzles, so I can just spoiler the solution to give you guys a chance to solve it on your own if you want! Similar to the others, we'll get 7 chips each time. [You won 7 chips!] Oh? Oh?? Yes! Okay, hell yeah I had a trace. [BGM: Dummy]  Now, let's see here... ...drat. I guess I stood corrected. The profile I was looking at was, indeed, a member of Olympo. Chara Tucker. Some chick who dyed her hair pink, from the look of this picture. How'd she get to that position in the company at so young an age? She must've been pretty intelligent. Which made it even weirder that she was spending her time having internet arguments with randos. ...No, not just arguments, doing legitimate hacking to prove a point. That's... sad. I went back to the thread and responded. Wow, Chara, doxxing? I expected better behavior from one of Olympo's Chief Directors. Send. Hopefully that should put a bit of fear into her. Serves her right. My eyes were then drawn to a little notification on one of my tabs. My alt email account had received a message. I tabbed over, and sure enough, The Devil had already responded. Sick! That was a fast response time. I guess he probably had a lot of free time. That tracks.  I opened the email, excited to see what he had to say. Olif. Thank you for your email. I am grateful that you reached out to me for your task. You couldn't have chosen a better person. It seems we share a common goal in trying to expose Panthea's true side to the larger world. I can see how some of my conclusions might appear strained, however. There's a lot of data to pore over, and simply many things we don't know. I'd love to hear some of your opinions on what's really going on. Perhaps we can compare notes. Up until now, this was about what I expected. But then, the email took a turn I didn't see coming. To be honest, I actually have more evidence that I haven't posted to the site. Incontrovertible evidence. It's not exactly the type of thing I feel confident sharing with the general public, given my current situation. However, if it would aid your investigation, I'd be happy to share it with you. ---The Devil Huh. That was, uh... huh. I leaned back in my chair, trying to consider what to make of that response. ...Almost fell off, due to my lovely chair. I then noticed I had a notification from another tab. I had gotten a direct message on Kamapa. Oooookay, let's see what this was about.  I moved over to that tab, and checked my messages. It was from Chara. If you know who I am, you should know better than anybody that what I was talking about was absolutely legitimate. I poured through your message history, and your true intent became pretty clear. You're just trolling to try and get reactions, right? Just bored? Well, let me fix that. Delete the last comment you made just now, keep my identity to yourself, and I can give you some real juicy poo poo about Olympo. That was... a response. An interesting counterattack, I had to be honest. drat, my internet making GBS threads was really starting to produce results. Not one, but two people were offering some exclusive information to me. And, for the first time, I had to ask myself. Did I actually want these answers? Kind of felt like I was getting in the middle of something completely else. If there was some sort of major conspiracy, like the Devil claimed, then getting this 'evidence' would be painting a pretty big target on my back. And, honestly, I didn't know how to approach the Chara situation at all. The deadlock we were at right now just felt weird to me. But I mean, hey, I was getting information. That's what I wanted. So what the hell, let's see what these people knew. Maybe dicking around on the Internet would end up being productive after all. [BGM: Silence]  Isn't the internet a wonderful place? It's like a big masquerade party with an infinite number of attractions. The potential is, well, limitless! It's no exaggeration to call it a world unto itself. A bad world at times? For sure, for sure. A dangerous one, with pitfalls and villains and the like. At times, a strange and confusing one. Sometimes a wonderful world. But it's as much a new world as any alternate dimension. Which I guess makes our 'Olif' here an intradimensional adventurer? ...Well, let's not get too ahead of ourselves. Although, it's worth noting that they have seemingly stumbled into something bigger than themselves two somethings, in fact! And you know what, let's table the Devil discussion, I'm sure we can talk about that sometime else. I'm more interested in what Ms. Tucker has to say. She's offering some, quote unquote, real juicy poo poo - enticing, to be sure. But do you think it's legit? I mean, really, think about it. Think about what sort of person we've seen so far. I think there's a pretty good chance that she's just taking the piss again. But, I dunno... maybe it's genuine. Say... why don't we bet on it? Is Chara genuinely reaching out? Or just going to engage in some counter-trolling? She's genuine. Okay, okay, I like that, I can see that. And, how much are you betting on that?Everyone collectively agreed that they think Chara is legit here, which makes this the first 100% vote of the LP! Now, it's not an option to bet 0% of our chips - Ez won't let us not bet - so what I'll be doing instead is betting an even 50% of the chips we have (rounded up) instead - which means, in this case, we'll be betting 14 chips. Alright, cool. Another bet in the books. Guess we'll see soon enough, eh? Next update, we move to the bottom row to meet our next perspective, Mercury! Mix. fucked around with this message at 04:05 on Jul 23, 2023 |
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Jul 22, 2023 00:55
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She's genuine. Okay, okay, I like that, I can see that. And, how much are you betting on that? Everyone collectively agreed that they think Chara is legit here, which makes this the first 100% vote of the LP! Now, it's not an option to bet 0% of our chips - Ez won't let us not bet - so what I'll be doing instead is betting an even 50% of the chips we have (rounded up) instead - which means, in this case, we'll be betting 14 chips. Alright, cool. Another bet in the books. Guess we'll see soon enough, eh?Next update, we move to the bottom row to meet our next perspective, Mercury!
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Jul 23, 2023 04:05
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[BGM: Silence]  I was never a big fan of the sea. I know people said there was beauty in it and all, but I just never got the appeal. The ocean was just so large and chaotic. Made me uneasy. If I never set foot on a boat, I'd be perfectly content. ...Unfortunately, that didn't appear to be a possibility. I was visiting the seaside specifically to board a rather large boat. Unlike some of the other ports in Panthea, this one was pretty out of the way. You had to walk on land for a little bit just to get to it. That made sense to me. It wasn't as if many people were going to be using this port. It was rather apparent from a fair distance that most of it was taken up by one rather large freighter ship. In fact, when I'd first approached the dock, I imagined that was the only ship docked here. However, when I got closer, I saw a smaller humbler boat nearby. ...Probably somebody's personal sailboat. Man, imagine having your own sailboat? If only. ...As I got really close, however, I noticed something. The boat wasn't actually properly tied to the dock. Instead, it was very slowly drifting away. If I didn't do anything, it'd probably be far from the port before too long. I tried to reach over and grab it, but it was too far at this point. Is there anything within arm's reach that could help me pull it back? Unfortunately, this little search of mine came up empty. drat it... It'd be smart to just ignore this ship and move on. I had nothing to do with this. Just walk away, Mercury.  ...I took three steps back. Then, slightly nervously, I took a running start and leaped. Please don't let this go wrong. Falling in the ocean now would be a huge pain in the rear end. Luckily, I was decently athletic. I landed in the boat without too much issue. Great. Annoyed, I began paddling with my arms on the opposite side of the boat, trying to float it closer. There... had to be a better way to do this. Oh well, it worked. Soon enough, the boat was close enough to the dock that I could grab its rope and jump back on. With the rope in hand, I properly tied the boat to the port. Jeez... now my arms were all wet... Whoever owns this boat should really learn how to be more responsible. They really couldn't count on strangers docking their ships for them. Whatever. With that handled, I turned to the actual task at hand.  Before me, on the other side of the port, was a humongous freighter ship. Frankly, it was kind of ridiculous how large it was in comparison to the dingy sailboat I had just boarded. And written across the side, in big white painted letters: the word MANDJET. I was in the right place, all right. This ship... if I was on the right track, the horrors that occurred on this ship... I shuddered. A part of me wondered if I should just casually be doing this, by myself. This job felt like it'd be better suited for, I don't know, a cop or something. But... that wasn't really an option. So it fell upon some rando like myself to get the job done. With this thought, I got a buzz on my phone. Ugh, please don't be who I think it is. ...Yup. A text from someone I would call a coworker. 'Hey, where are you?' God drat it. Are you serious? Now? I shot back a reply. 'Why do you need to know? Are you my keeper?' ...I got another text. 'What? Look, I don't need to know specifically where you are. I just meant that you've got a job to do!' 'I'm aware. Are you aware that this is my day off?' 'Yeah, I know, you said that. I just... I could really use your help. It'd be really helpful if you could swing by.' 'I'm sure you can handle things by yourselves. If a single employee was really that important, I'd get decent pay!' With that, I shoved my phone in my pocket. I didn't really have it in me to argue with my 'coworker'. Pain in the rear end, more like. I worked myself to the bone day in and day out... I hadn't had time for myself in, like, weeks. I was owed a little personal adventure.  All right, back to the task at hand. How the hell was I going to board that ship? Well, if my intel was right, nobody should be onboard right now. So then... how would somebody who was supposed to be on board get on? After a bit of looking around, I found a ramp to the ship at the end of the port. Well, that's one way to do it. I walked over to the ramp, and was greeted with a little chain fence and a sign prohibiting me from entering. Physically speaking, it didn't do much to stop me. Mentally though, it did give me pause. Did I... really want to do this? If I boarded this ship, best case scenario, I'd be committing a crime. And if the rumors were true... Well, boarding a 'ghost ship' didn't sound like my idea of a fun time. However, this hesitation was pretty brief. I didn't go all the way out here and clear my schedule to be turned away by a sign. Nobody would know if I just hopped aboard for a little bit. What's the harm? With that dismissive thought, I easily scaled the fence and made my way up the ramp. After a longer walk than I would've expected... I was finally aboard the Mandjet.  I began to wander around the top of the ship, just sort of exploring the area. It was really something to behold. Dozens of these large containers were stacked all over the place. A lot of cargo ships would keep the units in orderly rows, but the Mandjet had these spread out seemingly haphazardly. A part of me wondered if, when viewed from an aerial position, the boxes would spell out a word, or have some sort of design. The containers themselves were also notable. I had always seen pictures of them, but this was my first time seeing one of these up close and personal first time touching one. Up close, you could really tell how many people one of these containers could fit. Was this where it happened? Was I... on the wrong path? Or is this the place that... ...poo poo. A deep-seated rage, one I had pushed down for a while, started to flare up again. Easy, Mercury. Calm down. Compartmentalize. From the start, I said I'd keep myself from getting too emotionally attached. That was a recipe for disaster. This wasn't some haphazard quest for vengeance. This was a search for the truth, plain and simple. But still, looking around... it began to dawn on me. This was likely the location where it happened. The boat on which she died... where she died, and nobody knew. Nobody cared. Well... not nobody. That's why I was here. I repeated a brief silent promise. A promise to nobody a promise to set things right. Then, I shook my head. That was my daily dose of sentimentality. Time for practicality. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for. However, whatever it was, it was probably in one of these containment units. So, time to start looking around. As I moved from unit to unit, two things struck me. One: usually units like these should have some sort of locking mechanism on them. However, I didn't find anything like that. Maybe that was connected to point two: usually containment units... you know, contained things. All of these were empty. ...For the time being, at least. Unfortunately for me, that also extended to being empty on clues. From unit to unit, I searched, looking for any trace of... well, anything. But I was faced with dud after dud after dud. It was the sort of reception that was incredibly demoralizing, the type that made you want to just stop right then and there. But I had gone too far to stop after a bit of resistance. Just keep searching. This persistence paid off before too long. In a red container in the middle of the ship, I noticed something on the floor. I bent down and looked closely. ...Was I sure about this? Oh, yeah, I was sure. [BGM: Furiten]  This was definitely blood. Flecks of old blood, most of it washed away. But looking closely, it was most definitely blood. ...Yeah, that was a bit concerning. But at the same time vindicating. ...Not as vindicating as what happened next. I was bent down, trying to look closer at the blood, when the doors to the containment unit slowly began to close behind me. Not because anyone closed it, mind you, it was just the sort of thing where the momentum of the doors did it by themselves. At first, I was annoyed. Because of that, the light in the unit had dropped drastically. However, as I moved to open the doors again, I thought I saw something with the little light that seeped in through the cracks. These doors closing wasn't a stroke of bad luck... it was a miracle. It showed me something I so easily could've missed. A message, carved into the container's walls. With what, I didn't know. I also didn't know if this message remained because the owners of this ship didn't think it worth the effort to erase, or if they simply never noticed it. But I had noticed it. 'DON'T TRUST THE DEVIL THEY LIE' To most, this would come off as the ravings of a madman. Not to me. I knew exactly what this message meant. And I knew who had left it. I chuckled to myself, but also felt like tearing up. It wasn't just this ship. She had been in this very container. And she had left me a message. It was an important message, of that I was sure. I didn't know how, but it was really, really important. I couldn't believe what a stroke of luck this was. Honestly, I'd figured that actually visiting the site like this would be a waste of time. Even if I was right about everything, the idea that there would be any trace of that left... well, it was a naive hope at best! But apparently luck was on my side. ...Hah. I wished. No, I wasn't lucky. Karma was just giving me a little advance favor. It needed to keep the scales balanced for what was about to happen next. [BGM: Silence]  This discovery should have had me invigorated. Instead, for whatever reason, I just felt... exhausted? That didn't feel right. Sure, I had been working myself to the bone lately. But I shouldn't be this tired. It was still day out! I wasn't... I shouldn't be... Why was I so sleepy? I yawned. Uh oh. My instincts were flaring up, giving me the equivalent of 'Red Alert'. This... was bad. Really bad. But what could I do? As soon as this thought crossed my mind, I felt my feet begin to wobble. Woah! Alright, let's just... I made my way to the floor on my own terms, aware that if it weren't doing this, I'd soon be falling to the floor anyways. Then, when I finally lay flat... it all slipped away. The boat, container, the message... consciousness. All I could feel was the slow, calm rocking of the boat. Back and forth... back and forth... ? ...ugh. ...What..... what happened...? [BGM: Furiten]  My head was ringing like I had just had the worst hangover. The pain was... indescribable. It was that combined with the grogginess that left me temporarily clueless towards anything and everything. I shook my head, trying to bring myself into focus. So... I wasn't on my bed. That's the first thought that entered my head. Why wasn't I on my bed? What did I do last night? ...Night? I don't remember last night. Last thing I remember was... In a container. That can't be right, can it? No, no, I was investigating the Mandjet. And then... I fell asleep? ...What? If I was remembering right... that was bad, that was really really bad. No, surely I was mistaken somehow. People don't just lose consciousness in the middle of dangerous situations. In fact, those are the times where very specifically people are not likely to lose consciousness. I hadn't done anything that would correspond with losing consciousness. I hadn't seen any drugs being pumped into the container, nor a grenade of any sort. But the moment I had laid my eyes upon that message... I fell to my knees, defenseless. It was like this boat was really cursed. ...Okay, okay, let's not get ridiculous here. Curses don't exist. I mean, if they did exist, a ghost ship like this is 100% absolutely the place they'd reside. But that doesn't matter because they didn't exist. I was a logical person. I knew better than to believe in the supernatural. Ghosts and ghouls were just make believe scapegoats people created in times of high stress. Correction weak people created in times of stress. And I wasn't weak. There was no curse. This wasn't a ghost ship. I would be fine. Enough wallowing around in the darkness of this container. I had probably just had a moment of heat stroke. In all likelihood, I had only been out for a couple of minutes. Time to resume my search. I reached around for the container walls, and before long, I felt the doors. I pushed them open, shielding my eyes, expecting to be blinded by the sun. ...How good was I shielding my eyes? I looked up... and my heart sank. I could see outside... but not because of the sun. No, all I could see was the same moonlit ship I had explored seemingly minutes before.  Okay, okay, okay, this wasn't the time to panic. This didn't look or feel good, true, but it was no time to panic. Panic would just make things worse. So... it looked like the heat stroke explanation was out. Or, actually, maybe not... maybe heat stroke can put you to sleep for hours? ...I wasn't a heat stroke expert. The point was, I had been asleep for longer than expected, but that was fine. As I took a step out of the container, I nearly fell over. It felt as though the rocking of the ship had only gotten worse. Easy there. Again, I looked to the sky, only to find stars and clouds and a bright moon illuminating everything. It wasn't quite a full moon, but it looked close enough to one that you could mistake it for one. It was honestly quite beautiful. ...That is, had it not been for every other detail about where I was at this point in time, I'd have found it quite beautiful. At the moment, I could only acknowledge its beauty on a logical level, unable to take it in at all on an emotional one. So... what now? Not really a question. I had found all the confirmation I needed, and a good hint to boot. Time to cut my losses and run. I began to walk to the edge of the ship by the dock. Woah, easy there! I didn't remember things rocking this much. The waves must have gotten worse. That was my theory, anyways, before I reached the side of the boat. However, as I approached that side, I saw something in the distance. I saw land. I saw Panthea. ...Wait, if that's in the distance, then My walk turned into a run. As quickly as I could, I made my way over to the side. There, I looked down. ...We were at sea. The Mandjet was at sea. And I was onboard. [BGM: Ura Dora]  Immediately, I started imagining if I could swim to shore. By my estimate, I wasn't too far from shore. People have swum tens of miles in the past, surely I could get back to shore, right? But... it was the dead of night. The water was almost certainly freezing cold. And who knew what creatures were in the water? What if the Mandjet decided to make its way back to shore and just plowed right over me? I've never been a great swimmer... No, no, swimming back to shore was just as dangerous as staying aboard. ...Okay, so now might be a more appropriate time to panic. ...No, no, panic was the worst thing I could do at a time like this. Let's try and think logically about what to do next. Try and analyze whether or not I was in any real danger. That was the smart thing to do, yes. ...Which is why it wasn't what my body did. My body immediately began pacing around like a nervous mess. My legs refused to stay still. My hands shook for no apparent reason. My ears began playing tricks on me. But my eyes... they started to really look at the ship. This... wasn't a normal cargo ship, was it? Look at that on the ground! That was dried blood, right? I couldn't be sure about that. I was viewing things under the light of the moon, and more importantly, through the lens of a panicked person. Obviously things would look worse than they really were to me. Still, the Mandjet wasn't a friendly environment. The floor was rusted metal. Across the ship there were these accursed containers, stacked as high as the eye could see. They made the top floor like a maze, without a clear path through it. This was the place where people got murdered. This was the fodder for cheesy horror movies. Pull it together, pull it together. I was honestly a bit disappointed with myself. I always thought I had pretty good nerves under a lot of pressure, but right now I was unraveling at the seams. I guess this was just a whole other level of fear, one I'd never been exposed to. Or... would it be more accurately described as another type? It was at about this point that I thought I heard the faint sound of screams.  Okay, okay, wait just a second. I thought at first my ears were playing tricks on me. But just then, I definitely loving heard somebody screaming out in pain. I couldn't quite tell from where, but that was an actual scream. Right? ...Right? ...loving ghost ship bullshit god damnit This ship wasn't haunted. Ghosts didn't exist. And if they did... if all they did was make very faint screaming sounds, they were pretty lovely ghosts. So... nothing to be worried about. Pull yourself together, seriously. Why did I keep jumping to the supernatural to explain things? I probably was actually hearing screams. Nothing to worry about. Hold on a second. That was worse, wasn't it? Thinking about it, yeah, if I was actually hearing screams, that seemed... very bad. Considering the rumors about the Mandjet... The fact it was currently at sea... If I was hearing screams on this boat, with no way to get off it... You know, people were always so skeptical of ghosts, but really, it was a plausible enough idea, right? This was a place with a lot of tragedy, surely it could just be ghosts! ...Stupid. Stupid! It wasn't ghosts, and it wasn't real! It was just my ears playing tricks on me. I needed to shape up and think about some actual next steps. So what could I do in a situation like this? What did I even have on me? My phone, yes, my phone! How could I forget such a simple thing? In this modern era, you're never truly stranded from the world. Not when there's a convenient escape hatch in your pocket 24/7. I let out a sigh of relief. Thank God. For a minute there, I really thought I was in a bad situation. Instead, I was a few buttons away from safety. Thinking about who would actually bail me out, especially at this time of night, did give me a moment's pause. This was going to be... one hell of a sell. Whatever. I'd cross that bridge when I got there. First, to open the phone ap  What do you mean, no service? What do you mean no service?! You're loving me. You're actually buttfucking me right now. What sort of loving city cell plan did I have?! No, no, no way in hell this was a coincidence. Something was blocking this signal. Hopefully, something supernatural. ...All right, fine, gently caress. At least I had a phone. Anything else on me? Any weapons? No? Great. All right, well, might as well wander around the hull, see what I could see. I tried to find what might be a main console, or maybe a cockpit. I was kind of wandering aimlessly, bu I stopped. *clonk, clonk...* I continued to wander some more. With a boat's geometry, the thing I'd be looking for would likely be in the middle of the boat, from left to right, and either on the front or back. Was hard to tell which was which, fra Again, I froze in place. *clonk, clonk...* ...Okay, seriously, what the hell was happening? Either I was losing my mind... or I was hearing footsteps. Which, okay, that was bad enough. But the fact that they were stopping when I stopped? That meant I was being stalked. I looked all around, to no avail. I even tried running around a container. ...I did two full circles before I felt like too big of an idiot to continue. gently caress this.  Hey! Who's there?No response. Of course not. I just want to talk! Please, just come out. Really!I considered saying I didn't have a weapon or anything. On the other hand, given my situation, should I be advertising the fact I was defenseless? A part of me thought not.
You're really freaking me out, person!The wilt in my voice probably made that clear enough without me stating that aloud. ...Okay, okay, fine. Maybe I was losing my mind. Maybe I was imagining the footsteps. Maybe I was imagining the screams. Maybe I was imagining this whole thing, and I was actually safely dreaming back at home. If only. If my stalker decided to make themselves known, good for them. In the meantime, I'd continue my search.  I continued to walk until I thought I spotted something on the floor. With only the moon as my light, I nearly missed it. But how could I miss such a big puddle? Puddle of what? The pale blue light made the color hard to see. Annoyed, I took out my phone and put it on flashlight mode. And... after a moment I really wished I hadn't. It was blood. Yup, okay, this was officially bad news. This was already above my pay grade, but that was really the last straw. Not old blood oh no no, that would've been too kind. Fresh blood, wet blood; blood not yet mopped up. Blood from somebody who had been bleeding on this floor recently. Cool cool cool, very cool. In a sense, it was comforting. Ghosts didn't bleed... probably. Well, if they did, they bled ghost blood. ...Wait, what if this was ghost blood?! I hadn't touched it yet, maybe it was translucent or something. ...I wished my brain was joking when it had that thought. The fact I was sincerely entertaining such notions was so pitifully sad I felt like laughing. I just... had to keep moving. I couldn't think about it for too long. Just, you know... block out the blood. Not a relevant detail. After a bit more wandering, I found something actually promising. It was a double doorway to a room above deck. A brief glance through the windows revealed that this room actually housed stairs. Stairs that led further inside this beast of a ship. To whatever structures lay inside this thing. It was something, right? Probably worth checking it out? Or... maybe not. Maybe I could just go back to that container I passed out in and go back to sleep. Maybe by the time I woke up next, it'd be daytime again, and the boat would be parked again, and I could just go about my business. ...Some part of me doubted things would go that smoothly. But even fi it wouldn't go smoothly, that didn't mean I should instead go deeper into this super sketchy situation, right? All the tenants of common logic said that nothing good could come of opening these doors.  Hold on... What if getting stranded on this ship wasn't a bad thing? What if it was an opportunity? I said I'd come looking for the truth. So then, shouldn't this be a great chance? If I wanted the truth, it probably lay below deck. So then... why not open the doors? ...For the reasons I had just outlined, brain. Because it's dangerous, brain. Stop reaching for those door handles, brain. ...Too late. Once I had sold myself on the 'pursuing truth' angle of this, I just couldn't help myself. The doors opened without any resistance. And, just like that... I made my way down. Down the stairs. Further into the madness. Whoopee.
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Jul 25, 2023 00:36
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content warning: emetophobia, gore, descriptions of torture [BGM: Danrasu]  The atmosphere was abysmal. Below, I found hallways of metal. It was lit with cold lighting, emanating an oppressive white light the type you might find at the worst type of doctor's office. These lights were on, big surprise. The plain metal walls, the metal floor, the metal ceiling, it all reinforced the feeling that this was a giant sarcophagus I was entering. And the slow swaying of the boat... Jesus, I was going to be nauseous. Keep moving forwards, that was the mantra. Surely before long I'd find something of note. Early on, I was encountered with a choice. Left or right. Without much to go on, I decided to turn right. I passed by several doors, but they were all shut and looked unimportant. But just moving straight, I soon found a door that was hanging open. It had probably not been closed properly, then opened on its own due to the swaying of the ship. Might as well pop a look in there. ...Okay, okay, bad choice, wrong choice. Immediately I began repressing the urge to vomit. I mean... holy poo poo. Holy loving poo poo, what was I looking at? I mean, a dead body was one thing. But this? This was... gently caress, I didn't know what to call it. A sick joke? A loving abomination? Overkill, most certainly. Well... what it was in a literal sense was a dead woman.  She didn't seem too old, by the looks of things. ...Hard to tell though, when her entire face was caved in. I don't just mean beaten up. I mean I couldn't tell you what color her eyes were, or how long her nose was. It even took me a moment to work out hair color. The entire front of her face was nothing more than exposed flesh. But I could tell some dark, twisted part of me could tell that it wasn't because she was flayed or anything. That flesh came from an earnest beating. ...Holy poo poo, the more I looked, the more details I noticed, the more disturbed I became. The girl was wearing a lot of denim, as well as a camo jacket, but her jeans had tear after tear not natural tears, tears covered in blood, as though somebody had taken a knife and had stabbed it up and down both legs. What kind of sadistic murder ritual could this possibly be? But the worst detail at least to me I hadn't noticed yet. I had to look closer to see what had happened to the fingers on her hands. It seemed as though... as though, underneath each finger nail, there was blood. A deep bleeding. As though somebody had taken a drill right between her nail and her finger and then slowly, painfully twisted it through, making those incisions. Agh, Christ! I felt my skin curl. Despite everything, that was what really stuck with me. That was what was really loving me up. I guess I was just antsy about fingernails. And it also made it clear this wasn't just murder. This was torture. Urgh... ...but wait. With all this, surely there should be more blood around, right? Yeah, yeah, that was weird. There was blood in the room, sure, but not nearly enough.... I mean, considering everything not like I was some weirdo who wanted blood or whatever. I looked at my feet, and that was where I noticed flecks of blood, in the direction of the body. I turned around to where I had came from, and my suspicions were confirmed more tracks of blood led here. ...Which meant I could also find where the body had come from.  I began following this lead. ...And moments later, I heard another scream. This time, there was no mistaking it. This wasn't my imagination. This was the sound of somebody on this floor. The sound came from the direction of the blood trail. Holy poo poo. Was something like what had just happened to the woman still happening? My pursuit of the trail sped up. I didn't want to waste any more time than necessary. And eventually... I found another door. One that looked far less rusted and far more official than most. This was the place. ...Should I really be doing this? My mind flashed back to the body I had just seen. ...I needed to see for myself what was going on. As slowly and as silently as I could, I opened the door. One creak, and I might be dead. Luckily, inside the room, it was dark at least, where I was. So I was able to step inside and still be hidden. To my benefit, there were some boxes of who-knows-what nearby. The corners of this room were completely engulfed in darkness. On the other hand, the center of the room was lit up by a single, dangling light. It was clearly set up for dramatic effect... and it worked. The floor of the room was covered in plastic wrap and that plastic wrap, covered in blood. Too much blood, so much blood. In the light, I saw two people. One was a man in his early fifties, if I had to guess. He actually looked pretty good his silver hair fit him well. ...Though maybe I only said that because his face was the only aprt of him undamaged. Most notably, his arms were tied behind his back. But not just tied up with rope. He was tied with some sort of wire. A wire with multiple exposed sections, attached to a machine with knobs and lights. I had to assume it was a setup to electrocute this guy. But... why resort to that? After all, he was bleeding from his knees, and now from one shoulder. They were gunshot wounds. Using context clues, a pistol had probably been fired at him point blank multiple times. ...By who?  Well, by the intimidating figure in black, of course. I didn't call him a 'man', even though that's probably what he was, for a reason. He gave off an aura not of a man, but of a demon. From head to toe he was clothed in black boots, leather pants, jacket, gloves... but most frightening was the mask. Not some sort of ski mask, this was a sleek mask made with black glass. It was a mask that inspired fear. It was the mask of Thane. Yes, I knew who this person was. This person was a nightmare standing. Even without the pistol he held in his hand, he would be incredibly intimidating. His mere posture, it oozed carefully calcuated composure, mixed with colossal confidence. And then, with a modulated voice emanating from a speaker on his mask, he spoke a dark, twisted, mechanical voice that made my heart plummet.  I know there's more. The fact you're trying to pretend that's not the case... well, it makes me sad.Thane continued to pace. How long had they been at this? ...What even was 'this'? Look, I'm not going to bullshit you. We both know how this works. We both know you're not going to get out of this alive. But that doesn't mean you don't have a choice. If you keep playing brave, you'll end up just like the girl. You saw her expression. That was a nasty way to go... and she was alive for most of it. And you know... I could've made it much worse. The only reason I didn't make it even worse for her was because at least she gave me something useful, even if it wasn't the full course. So... that's where you come in. Give me the full course. Thane didn't say it in a pushy, or demanding, or even threatening way. He stated it plainly. And what followed was a painful pause... one that literally made my stomach cramp up. ...Why? Why are you so insistent on making things worse for yourself? I mean, the girl I got. But you? You've been with us for long enough. I would've thought you'd have known us better. ...Not enough to not take the wrong side like this, at any rate.
I mean, look at this. Seeing what you've seen, do you really think the opposition stands a chance? If your bastard scheme to take from me actually had a chance of working, well, I could at least understand it on a logical level... but it's very obvious who's going to come out on top. So what's with this useless charade of honor? You abandoned all that when you turned traitor.How was the man reacting to all of this? I felt his facial reactions would be a big hint, so I tried to lean further beyond the boxes I'd hid behind. ...I'm not a very good torturer, am I? Maybe it's just because I'm not used to talking this much. I like to be the silent type. Maybe I'm not good at the negotiation part of this? Well, at the very least, I know I'm good at the torture part of this.[BGM: Silence]  Thane was clearly in the process of something. However, I never got the chance to learn what that something was... because as I was leaning around the boxes, the ship encountered a particularly large wave. It rocked, and caught me off balance... and I ended up stumbling out of my hiding spot. ...Out into the light. Thane's helmet turned, and soon enough he was facing me head on. For a solitary, magic moment... nothing happened. The two of us just stared at each other. ...Well, I stared at him his masked face was only pointed in my direction. Neither of us particularly wanted to break this little stalemate. ...The bloodied man certainly didn't want to say anything. If I had it my way, we'd just sort of, I don't know, stay like this. No end in sight, just kinda locked in this one moment where nothing was happening. ...Unfortunately, this moment didn't last forever. It actually only lasted for about two and a half seconds. [BGM: Burn Card]  Afterwards, without even moving his head, he raised the arm that was holding his pistol up. The gun was squared firmly at the shivering man's head. I saw his mouth open, obviously about to shout out some sort of plea or, failing that, perhaps a spiteful epithet. Whatever he meant to say, he never got the chance. A second later, the pistol recoiled, and I heard a splattering sound. I saw a burst of blood spurt into the air from the victim's forehead. The man stayed on his knees as the blood fell through the air to the floor. And then, a good three seconds later, the man too slowly collapsed onto the floor. I was so shocked by this display of life's fragility that I hadn't focused on Thane's actions during these critical seconds. He was reloading the pistol and moving his arm in a new direction. poo poo. poo poo, gently caress, poo poo. Immediately I pushed off on my right foot and began to lean left. I didn't have time to get a proper running start; I recognized that it was more important to start moving instantly. This instinct of mine was proven 100% correct a few moments later. The bullet Thane had sent my direction ended up missing me by, god, inches? I couldn't say for sure. It sure as hell felt like inches. I could feel the breeze off it or, at least, it felt like I could. It was, indisputably, the closest I'd ever come to death. An experience like that would usually be traumatizing... it'd force me to really stop, take a minute, and re-examine what I was doing. And, sure... trauma was almost certain to come later. But, luckily, there was something in my brain that acted as a big blocker to all those traumatic impulses: the giant, newly erected sign flashing GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE in big, bright letters. That brief hop to the left quickly transitioned to a full-on sprint. In seconds, I was moving faster than I ever had in my life. It felt like I was running at world record pace. ...Again, hard to tell how much of that was just my imagination. Regardless, the fear of death tended to put some real spring in your step, it seemed. Time also seemed to keep pace at this slow-motion speed it had been ever since Thane laid eyes on me. I was able to think crystal clear about every small movement I was making. ...Which was good, seeing as I was coming to a choice earlier than I thought.  Leaving this torture room, where to go? Left, right, or straight? ...Well, straight was immediately out. Looking further down, it took a little bit before the next turn into another corridor. Thane would likely get to the door in time to have a clear shot at my back. So then, did I go left or right? Right... was the way I came from, I remembered that much. My gut wanted to try and get back to the top of the ship. But hold on a second how much would that really help? It's not like I had an escape plan up there, either. More importantly, this sort of instinct was so natural that it was probably obvious. If my biggest priority was to put distance between myself and Thane, I should be trying to choose options that would lose him easily. He couldn't know too much, but he'd probably expect me to retreat back up the stairs. So then... left had to be the answer. Those thoughts passed through my brain in the course of a second. In the next, I jumped off my right foot again, curving left. I got about five seconds forward before I realized my mistake. 'Thane would think I ran to the right', huh? ...Not if he could hear me running to the left, dumbass! At the sprint I was moving, in an empty ship like this, he could very obviously hear my movements. I also heard footsteps a lot closer than Thane should have been, so clearly he had begun sprinting after me when I turned around. I didn't have time to transition to a slower, stealthier pace. And, at this point, I'd already committed to going left. Going in the direction I had no idea about. ...drat it. Time might have felt like it was moving slowly, but that was an illusion. Clearly I still wasn't actually thinking things through. Well... in for a penny, in for a pound. Further down the rabbit hole we'd go. I kept running down this left corner, and soon enough I was presented with another juncture. Left or right? This one was easier; thinking about the structure, going left again was moving back towards the direction of the torture room. It's possible it'd just lead to another entrance to that room. So, to the right this time. Not long after that was another choice: left, straight, right. I could hear that Thane would soon come up to the last juncture that I'd reached... which would give him a straight shot. I had to just keep running. So... left once more. At the next juncture, I went right again. Then right again.  This place was a loving maze. Who built ships like this, what was the purpose? True, I passed the occasional map of the floor plenty of closed doors, too. Sometimes there were cargo boxes left sitting in hallways. But with Thane so on my rear end, I couldn't pause a single moment to fully take in things like this. Instead, my brain jumped to a horrid thought: why did Thane shoot the bloodied man first? I'd like to think I would've dodged either way... However, it felt as though, in my dazed state, if he shot at me first he would've killed me. So... why attack that guy first? ...Think about it logically: either way, it looked like he'd given up on whatever he was doing at that point. He just wanted to kill us both. So... why kill him first? The only thing that made sense was that he knew I couldn't escape. That it was only a matter of time before he caught me, so he might as well finish his current job first. That the bloodied, beaten, barely conscious man was more of a threat than me... was that right? No, poo poo, I was giving him too much credit. He was a loving demon, sure, but he was still a man. ...Probably. He might've just been caught off guard, didn't think things through. It was this thought process that struck me as I made a wrong turn. I was confronted with a straight hallway, with a gate right in the middle of it... a gate with a lock on it. gently caress, gently caress, fu- ...wait, the lock had been left unlocked. Jackpot! ...Maybe. I ran forward and struggled with opening the gate. Open, drat it, open! After a bit of a struggle, I got through, and from the other side I pushed down on the lock. Right as I was secured it, Thane turned the corner. gently caress! Behind me were a couple more cargo boxes instantly, I dove for cover behind them. And by dove I meant literally, both feet leaving the ground. I credit this odd escape approach for my survival; had I simply run for the cargo boxes, the shot that fired at me almost certainly would've landed. When I slid behind the boxes, I instantly turtled up. It was just instinct, that. Didn't want to have any part of me exposed. In this fetal state, I heard three more shots. Two flew overhead, and one impacted the boxes I was hiding behind with a dull thud. I could feel one of them move closer from the shot, now touching me. But... it didn't go through. Whatever was in this box had held the bullet firm. After that third shot, the bullets temporarily paused. I used this opportunity to reorient myself from a fetal position to a crouching one. I looked at my surroundings. On the other side of the hallway, I saw a big metal door with a wheel on it, leading into another room. Looking up, I also saw an opening to a vent. Cool... I guess. gently caress. gently caress, no good place to go from here. I then heard two shots impact metal. It... sounds like they were hitting the gate? Was he... trying to shoot off the lock? gently caress, that's totally what he was trying to do. Luckily, I didn't hear anything fall to the floor. And it's not like a pistol had infinite bullets, right? I doubted he wanted to take potshots all day. The cargo boxes weren't far from the lock, either. This guy assumed I was caught hapless, but he couldn't be reckless either. For all he knew, I had a gun on me. ...Well, at this point, he might have ruled that possibility out. But something like a knife? He had to factor that in. So if he approached the lock to try and get it off, the chance that I could try rushing him to stab him through the gate was a real fear. What seemed to be a certain dead end for me actually held a glimmer of potential. How would this demon respond now, huh? The ball was in his court. I had a few seconds of nothing but breathing. Then... like a miracle, I heard the sound of footsteps retreating. No. No way. It couldn't be... [BGM: Silence]  As I heard them turn a corner, I risked a very, very brief look behind the boxes, prepared to pull back at the slightest sign of danger. ...But I was right. Thane had left. Seriously? Had he just given up on me? That didn't seem likely. Maybe he was going to do something drastic. Maybe I should use this opportunity to run the opposite way. No... no, that was stupid. This could easily be a trap. The moment I tried fleeing from this dead end he'd just shoot me from around the bend. More importantly, just because I locked that gate didn't mean I could unlock it. Ironically, I had actually trapped myself in this lovely situation. So... what now? I had gotten that far in my thoughts before I saw Thane walking back. poo poo. [BGM: Spot On]  Immediately, I pulled back, hiding once again behind the crates. I expected a bullet to whiz by once more... but no, I retreated successfully. That was probably because I saw Thane holding something in his hand. I'd only got a glimpse of it as I instantly retreated at the sight of him. What did he grab? That... was quickly answered by the sound of pouring. A hose. ...A hose? Then, I saw from my vantage point a black liquid slowly sliding down the floor. Black liquid... Oh, gently caress off! No goddamn way. Did he really have a container and hose of gasoline just lying around nearby?! The gently caress was up with the Mandjet? No, the time for complaining about outrageous circumstances wasn't now. Now was the time to panic. It was clear Thane was in no rush. He was going to, very patiently, wait for the right opportunity.,, and then he'd exterminate me. I was a trapped rat, and he was going to slowly corner me until I suffocated. I could just picture that black void of a helmet now. Expressionlessly standing there, holding a hose. Watching the gasoline slowly spill closer and closer... waiting joylessly until it was time to light it up. Focus! How the hell could I get out of this one? As far as I saw it, I had two options. The first was the door... couple of problems with that option. For one, my guess was that it was still a dead end. It'd be a room with no other exit, and I'd just be trading one place to make a last stand for another. For another, it almost certainly was the move Thane expected. He could hold a hose with one hand and a pistol with another... and it was all the way on the other side of the hallway. I didn't like those odds. And the third problem? I had no idea whether or not it was locked. From my angle I couldn't even tell whether or not it had a lock on it. But, if it was a door behind a gate with a lock on it, it's plausible it could also have a lock. If I rushed over there and couldn't open it, it would 100% be game over. ...So then, time for a risk. The odds of the other plan working were a lot lower, but there was a way higher yield waiting for me if I could pull it off. Which option had a better risk-reward ratio was obvious. I needed a heavy object. Well... what were in these boxes? Hesitantly, I tried to pry off the lid of the top box on the pile I was hiding behind. It was easier than I thought. Blindly, I quickly scrounged for something. I felt something hard, so I grabbed it and pulled it behind cover.  ...A rock? A weirdly shaped, weirdly colored rock, but a rock nonetheless. What possible set of circumstances could've led to a box of weird rocks being placed haphazardly in a container below the deck of a ship like this? ...Whatever. No time for hypotheticals. I'd only played a bit of baseball back in middle school, but I was decently fit.... and I was desperate. So, here goes nothing. Instantly, I threw the rock with all my might at the vent on the nearby ceiling. Before I could even see the results of this, I popped up and began to jump off the pile of boxes I had hid behind. Please... ...Yes! Turns out the vent covering was real old, real lovely. I was able to knock it loose with that rock, and with my leap from the boxes, I grabbed a hold of the opening. Not wasting a second, I pushed up. *blam!* A bullet was fired. It wasn't until I had completely pulled myself into the narrow vent that I realized the gunshot wasn't a complete miss. My pants had a tear, and the front of my right leg was very faintly beginning to bleed. ...Holy poo poo, the bullet had literally skimmed me. loving hell, how was I still alive? ...I was still alive. Right now, I was in a cramped vent, away from Thane. I was alive! *blam! blam!* Two shots whizzed through the bottom of the vent, both narrowly missing the position I had scooted towards. ...Yeah, it might be a little early to celebrate just yet. With more energy than I had ever had before, I began to scoot for my life. [BGM: Silence]  Oh, it's over? On that? drat, gently caress cliffhangers. ...I mean, yes, okay, I did sort of make the cliffhanger. I'm allowed to get mad at myself! And I do so, frequently. Back to the scene, that was a real nail-biter. For the back half there, I really thought this stack of cards would end at one. Imagine! And for the first half, well... it was real spooky. The type of poo poo you'd see in a horror movie, like a paranatural haunting might start up at any moment. Say... do you believe in spirits? No. Really? Not even a little itsy bitsy bit? Well... I knew it! I knew you had just a little bit of that fear in you, deep down. I appreciate your honesty. Believes in ghosts... good to know, very good to keep in mind. Well, at the very least, no spirits have shown up in this story yet. That we know of! BRAAOOW-KRASH! ...That was my imitation of thunder, if you couldn't tell. Did you like it? Don't answer, I already know you did. But yeah, for all you know there's not anybody even inside of Thane's mask. The whole thing could just be animated by, like, dead souls or some poo poo you don't know. Anyways, this is just me talking, but so far I'm digging this card stack. I've got just one problem... it's taking place on a boat. ...I'm not a boat fan. I hope these scenes don't stay on the boat for very long. They wouldn't, right? That'd get boring soon! ...What do you think? Let's say in, oh... two scenes, do you think after two more full scenes with Mercury we'll still be on a boat?This is a vote (and the group voted yes), but you do get the option to say you think Mercury won't make it that long, at which point Ez quips at you to vote where the corpse is instead. Probably. Really? You really think so? Boy, I hope not. Okay then, why don't we actually bet on that? Yeah, no, I don't know why I didn't think of this before now, this is a great topic to bet on! Can't believe I didn't think of that before now. So come on, how much are you gonna bet?It was mostly agreed that we will still be on a boat by the end of Mercury 3, so we're only betting 18% of our chips here - which rounds down to 2 chips. Okie dokie, now there's some stakes. Now you can really cheer for Mercury to stay on that boat! Which, uh... seems a bit counterintuitive, but whatever. Yeah, gambling makes this way more fun. All right, let's keep going. Next update, we meet the next to last perspective, which... well, you'll see shortly.
Mix. fucked around with this message at 00:43 on Jul 28, 2023 |
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Jul 27, 2023 01:22
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Probably. Really? You really think so? Boy, I hope not. Okay then, why don't we actually bet on that? Yeah, no, I don't know why I didn't think of this before now, this is a great topic to bet on! Can't believe I didn't think of that before now. So come on, how much are you gonna bet? It was mostly agreed that we will still be on a boat by the end of Mercury 3, so we're only betting 18% of our chips here - which rounds down to 2 chips. Okie dokie, now there's some stakes. Now you can really cheer for Mercury to stay on that boat! Which, uh... seems a bit counterintuitive, but whatever. Yeah, gambling makes this way more fun. All right, let's keep going.Next update, we meet the next to last perspective, which... well, you'll see shortly.
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Jul 28, 2023 00:42
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[BGM: Silence]  Man. What a beautiful sunrise. Even blocked by the trees and all, I could appreciate a view like this. It was a view I didn't get to see all that often. A lot of the time, my work kept me up late at night. I'd sleep right through these golden morning hours. But for once, that had been taken to its logical extreme. My work had gone on for so long that it went straight through the night and kept me up for long enough to see sunrise. This was gonna gently caress up my sleep schedule. ...Who was I kidding, my sleep schedule had been hosed for a long time. These beams of sunlight did indicate that I really had to get a move on, though. My time was running out, and if I delayed for much longer, things could go really badly. Worse than they already were. But, you know? It was worth taking in these moments whenever I got the chance. When was the next time I'd get to see a sunrise like this? Judging by how things had been going, maybe never. So then, why not enjoy it? The immaculate orange hues, pushing away the purple clouds. The sky wasn't bright, and yet the sun shone so brightly. This contradiction led to a beautiful clash between the previous night and the oncoming day. This was the sort of sight talented painteres drew inspiration from. If I had a camera on me, I'd have taken a photograph, despite it all. It was a nice view to rest to. And boy, did I need a rest. Leaning against a tree wasn't exactly comfortable, but right now, it felt like the most exquisite bed. That was how badly I just needed something to rest against. My back was killing me. My arms were sore as hell. I don't know if I could even feel my legs. My hands were calloused all to hell, and moving my fingers caused me to wince. This alone, I could easily handle what was really killer was the fact that I wasn't done yet. Just the thought of getting back to work made my bones give out a collective groan.  Get it together, me. I thought I was in better shape than this. How was I getting this tired? ...Maybe I was being unfair to myself. I mean, I was still in shape it had just been an exhausting night. I couldn't expect my body to be, like, an unerring machine. But I was too young to be getting back pain, for Christ's sake! That should be a curse exclusive to men in their, I don't know, 40s or something. Whatever. I'd see a physical therapist whenever I had some time off... whenever that would be. You know, what was really killing me was my parched throat; what I wouldn't give for some water. ...An idea crossed my mind. I leaned down and opened the silver case by my side. Maybe there was some water packed in here? Thinking back, I was pretty sure I already knew the answer... but it never hurt to double check. I rifled through the contents: a silenced pistol, a spare change of gloves, some thin black rope, a stun gun, grenades of various types, night vision goggles, a transceiver, a swiss army knife, some medicine, black duct tape, two burner phones, a stolen regular phone, a whistle of some kind... and not a loving bottle of water. Just great. In the future, I should really make sure to bring water to any excursions with the potential to last a while. Whatever. Let's just get it over with. The more time I killed just standing around, the more risk I was accruing. It'd be best to just get it over with. I reached down to the ground and grabbed a black, glass helmet. ...You know, that thing was really loving annoying to wear. Not comfortable in the slightest. No small wonder I took it off when I was giving myself a moment to relax. I guess then the question I'd pose to myself was why I was even putting it back on, if that was the case. I was about to do some more physical labor. Surely restricting my breathing like this would hurt, not help, right? I mean I wasn't a health nut, but that seemed like a no-brainer to me. [BGM: Ones Are Wild]  I guess it was the principle of a thing. It's about playing a role when you're in a role, it's best to inhabit that role in every aspect. In your thoughts, in your clothing, in your actions. You want to keep that character separate from your own person, else you're going to start doing some pretty existential questioning in regards to your own 'self'ness. There was a reason so many actors had complete mental breakdowns. So why was I doing a task like this? ...Yeah, let's put on the mask. I walked over to the nearby shovel and begrudgingly picked it up. Come on. No more stalling, time to just... you know. Get to work. I pushed the shovel deep within the dirt. My muscles burned, making their resistance to this act noted. Sorry muscles, you didn't get a say in this. Further, further down did I push the spade, until it was beneath a sizable chunk of dirt. And now, for the hard part. If my muscles burned before, they were on fire as I tried pulling the shovel up out of the ground, scooping the dirt around it all the same while. With such a quantity of dirt, I didn't exactly have the luxury to carefully move the shovel once in the air. I moreso just flung the dirt I had lifted in the direction I wanted. And this method worked; the hole filled with a bit more dirt. And again, the process repeated. And once more too. I kept shoveling and shoveling, filling in the hole... hiding the past. After a bit of this, I took a moment to catch my breath and assess the scene. I was making good time you could barely see the hole anymore. Just a bit more digging that needed to be done. There was one issue, though... you could still very clearly see an arm sticking out of the ground. God drat it. This was squarely my fault, I had to admit. I really should've set things up differently when I was placing the body in the hole in the first place. If I had been thinking, I would've thrown the man in arms first. But then... what about the legs?  Maybe it was best to dismember his limbs? That definitely would've avoided this issue. It would've also gotten blood all over the place, but I could just throw the bloody dirt in the hole. Overall, it likely would've been more efficient, but... I don't know. Doing that post-mortem just seems kind of messy and unnecessary. It was fine as is. I'd just... have to put some dirt over the exposed arm. No problem. Honestly, if we're talking about this from a 'hiding the body' perspective, how deep the hole was wouldn't really matter. If dogs were looking here, dogs would find it. To truly, properly make a body disappear, you'd need a far more thorough method than what I was handling. Still... I felt pretty confident that nobody would find this body. This job was more than sufficient. For one imagine finding this one spot in the middle of Panthea's forest? It'd be like searching for a needle in a haystack: really hard. You'd only search that hard if you were looking for a body... and I was pretty sure nobody would be looking for this body. I mean, people disappeared all the time in Panthea. And this guy? Yeah, if he disappeared from the grid, it wouldn't really cause a stir. It'd be difficult for the police to even place where he was before he went missing. Yeah, I was covered on all sides. This gravesite I was digging would be this man's final resting place. So, might as well make it a good one. I got back to work with the shovel. The breather didn't help. Shovel some dirt. Throw it on the hole. Repeat, repeat. Ignore your aching body. This really was not much fun at all, but it had to be done. Soon enough, the arm was hidden. But just hiding the arm wasn't enough. I didn't want a deer to trip over it or something. So a bit more, a bit more... ...okay, that was properly buried now. But it was pretty obvious what had happened here. I needed to cover my tracks a bit better. Using the shovel, I evened out the dirt around the hole some more, making it all level for the most part. Finally, I started spreading some leaves and twigs over the whole place. ...There. If you were just walking by, that'd look totally normal. If you were going for a hike, you could walk right over this corpse and never know it. [BGM: Silence]  And that was that. For all intents and purposes, the man beneath my feet was no longer my problem. I thought about the guy for a moment. He didn't exactly go out in a peaceful way. Strangling... yeah, that's gotta be rough. You're alive for long enough to know exactly what was happening to feel the pain, the fear that you'd soon be dead. And, eventually, you'd run out of breath, and slump to the ground. Oof. The poor guy didn't see it coming. He was just going about his business standing by one of these trees before I came up behind him. ...Well, I didn't feel guilty about it. I was just doing what I had to do. Him or me. If he didn't like this outcome, he shouldn't have gotten in this game. Still, seeing as nobody would ever see him again, it felt wrong to just completely abandon this spot without a second thought. Awkwardly, I got on one knee and put my hands together, and then... I gave a prayer, I guess? The whole thing felt weird; I certainly wasn't religious, I didn't believe in any gods, any sort of afterlife, and I doubted this guy's soul would see salvation. So why, for this one person I barely knew that I owed nothing did I take the time to pray for them? It's hard to say. Just a random compulsion, I guess... yeah, just a whim, I guess. That's the most I could make of my own actions. I wish you the best, man. May you rest in peace. ...Okay, that's enough of that. I got back on both feet. Time to make my way back home. First things first to get out of this drat forest. This much I could handle on my own. ...Hopefully. Just to be sure, I took out one of the burner phones and opened up a GPS app. Right, okay, I was correct. The way back to the urban part of the city was definitely, 100%, the direction I thought it was. Didn't hurt to check, though. If I spent an hour walking just to come out by the sea side, I'd be proper pissed. So began the walk. Ugh. You know, something like this really made me regret ever thinking I liked walks like these. There was a time and a place for them... and that time and that place definitely wasn't when you were already incredibly sore from a lot of work. I'd just have to pull through and endure. The map showed I wasn't that far from the urban side. The one thing I hoped to avoid was any hikers. It had become early morning, but should still be too early to run into anybody with some sense in them. Problem is... hikers weren't exactly known for their sense. They were the exact freaks who enjoyed waking up at this ungodly hour. Why, they very well could try going for an off-the-path hike and run into me. But if that happened... whatever. You couldn't fret about hypotheticals. You just had to assume bad luck wouldn't strike. And deal with things appropriately when it did.  Before too long, however, I finished my trek uninterrupted. The dirt turned to pavement. I was at the city borders. Fantastic. I could take a cab back to my ...gently caress. I probably couldn't do that, could I? I mean, it would probably be fine... plenty of people went for early morning hikes, like I just said. The police wouldn't even know to look for anything. But wasn't this, like, the thing that got people caught for murders that were tricky to prove, like this one? My mind was already flash-forwarding to the trial. 'So, Mr. Cab Driver, did the person before you definitely show up to ask for your services that morning?' Fuuuuuck. Fine, fine, fine. Sorry muscles you lose to my long term safety. I knew the way back to my place from here.  It wasn't that long a walk. I'd just have to suck it up and live with it. Through gritted teeth, I continued my journey on foot. Passed by closed stores, faceless towers. Crosswalks, parking lots, supermarkets. Like I said, it was still that golden hour, too early for most sane people. You were actually more likely to see people out and about at 1AM than you were to see them now. It was really nice, if a touch creepy, to see these familiar streets without their usual hustle and bustle. A change of pace. My murderous morning had given me a lot of nice sights. My eyes caught a row of posters pasted on a nearby brick wall. All were campaign posters for Governor Aija. Election's really coming up around the corner, huh? I felt bad for her competition. Bach had good spirit, but just, ugh. There were a lot of factors standing in his way. None so more of a giant iron wall than the simple difference between his lack of funding and Aija's advertising budget the size of a small company. Aija already had the advantage of being a household name, and she had a decent resume to boot. If you wanted to take down a goliath like that, either a huge scandal needed to break out regarding her, or you needed to launch a strong offensive. ...And it's hard to launch a strong offensive if you could barely be heard, doubly so if you were being actively drowned out by Aija's campaign. No doubt she was using the full extent of her connections to squash Bach's efforts. ...Though that last bit was probably unnecessary, given the state of the election. Bach had had a greater presence earlier, in the primaries. Plenty of people eager to take a shot at Aija, politically speaking, but Bach rose above them, seeming to be the best contender. And now, when it was time to shine, he was going to be buried... all according to plan. The whole thing was just, bleh.  Speaking on the note of elections, I also saw one of the new digital voting booths being installed. The 'new hot craze' for Panthea. I didn't see the appeal, frankly sure, it'd help sort out election results faster, but did that really matter, though? ...I guess it must. I walked past a young couple. However, when I looked at them, they recoiled. That's pretty rude, isn't it? Where did they get off acting like... ...I was still wearing the mask and getup, wasn't I? Welp. God, how had I not noticed that earlier? Tonight's proceedings must've just really taken things out of me. Well, thank god I didn't look for a taxi or anything. That might've been a touch stronger evidence against me. Part of me wanted to abandon things now walking around like this at this time of day seemed ill-advised. But what the hell was I to do? I needed to take the outfit with me. I don't think it could fit in the suitcase. And holding the mask and jacket and everything else under my arm didn't seem like a notable improvement. Guess I'd just have to deal with it until I got to the location. And, on second thought, it really wasn't that bad a setup. As I passed an old man, he instantly turned around and started walking the other way. Ha! Yeah, striking just a little bit of fear into random civilians was a fun enough novelty. It... was a passing novelty, however. Before long, I got to my place. Or rather... close enough. What I really found was an abandoned street close enough to my place. One that let me slip down without any witnesses.  I approached the manhole, and with a final burst of strength, lifted it up. There we go. Then, quite delicately, I began to move down the ladder. Once below the manhole, I slid it back into its proper place. Then I continued my way down the ladder. [BGM: Last Dice]  Finally, I was in the underground sewer. Home stretch. It was weird that the stench of the flowing sewer water was a good smell... but I associated it with returning to the safety of my home. I made my way further down the cement walkway, lit with the dim light bulbs hung much too far apart from each other. And soon enough, I found a small stairway. Walking up it, I found myself facing a door. I then fished in my pocket and pulled out a key before unlocking and opening it. I walked through it to find myself in a small, closet-like area. I made sure to close the door behind me, re-locking it. Lightweight security, to be sure, but I appreciated it. I stepped out of the storage closet into the stairwell, and I made my way up two flights of stairs until I got to my floor. Two doors down was my apartment. This was, to put it lightly, a unique way to get home... but what can I say, I valued thoroughness. Panthea had multiple hotels; this one, however, had a nice little perk one of its supply closets had a direct connection to Panthea's sewer system. Don't ask me why that was the case. I think it was a remnant of whatever this building used to be before becoming a hotel? Regardless, I was thankful for it. It's why I chose for my apartment to be in this building. I'd scoped out this feature before choosing to live here, you see. Why else would I spend my time in an ill-maintained, cramped, low quality place like this? Certainly not because of the stellar service. With this, whenever I wanted to go out, I'd just sneak out through the storage room, pop up somewhere through a manhole. Similarly, whenever I was making a return trip, I could do the opposite approach. The main benefit of this was making it incredibly difficult to find where I actually spent my nights sleeping. Even if you were actively running surveillance on me, or this hotel or whatever, it'd be difficult to tell. There were any number of reasons why somebody would want to hide where they lived in Panthea... and I had several. Walking into my apartment, it felt like I could literally hear the heavens singing. I was entering my own pearly gates. [BGM: Silence]  My small, dirty, one-room pearly gates. I wasn't a picky person. I didn't need a lot of living space to be happy. And I definitely didn't need a lot of living space to be happy right now. Because, right now, I just needed to be living. God. I had had some rough nights, but this one might take the cake. I tossed the silver case on the floor and collapsed onto my nearby couch. I felt like going into a coma. First things first, I was going to take off this stupid costume. Goodbye helmet. Goodbye gloves. Goodbye jacket, goodbye boots, goodbye pants. I stripped down completely, and just lay down. If I wasn't careful, I might fall asleep here and now. ...No, actually, I don't think I could. I felt... dirty. And fair enough, I was incredibly dirty. This called for a shower. I walked over to the restroom and turned the knob. Annoyingly, this place took a minute before hot water started to flow... and today, it took two. Finally, when my hand told me it was ready, I stepped in. Now this - this was heaven. I took my time washing my hair, scrubbing my face, and just letting the warm water envelop my body. Literally nothing felt better than a hot shower when you were entirely exhausted. ...Well, a hot bath might be better, but that would take too long and I didn't have a bathtub. But shower? Close second. If I had it my way, I'd just stay in that shower for hours, but practicality sank in at some point. After I was thoroughly done, I stepped out and began to towel off. I walked over to my wardrobe and picked out a very casual outfit. ...And then I fell down on my bed. I just wanted sleep. This was obvious, I had thought it several times at this point. But... no. I couldn't fall asleep now. For one, as I'd said, it would just completely throw my sleep schedule out the loving window. This was too critical a time to have that sleep schedule off balance. And I also just had too much to do... especially in light of recent events. Much to do, huh? What even was there to do? Reluctantly, I rose back to my feet. Then, I walked across my apartment to my desk. I took out my laptop. At the very least, I knew one site I should check. [BGM: Bidding]  That was where my mind was at when I heard it. A faint buzzing. ...Buzzing? Where the hell was that coming from? It was so faint at first, I thought it was like, an insect or something. But no, it was in my room and it wasn't faint, it was muffled. I continued to wonder what it could be, until I felt the floor vibrate a little. ...The floor? I looked around the mess of stuff I had left lying on the floor. One thing grabbed my attention as probably the main culprit; sure enough, at the next buzz, I noticed the silver case visibly move around on the floor. poo poo, poo poo, poo poo. Immediately I ran over and opened it. What the hell was doing that? Looking into the case, I saw it immediately: the transceiver. Looked like Thane was getting a call. ...I didn't want to answer. I really, really, really didn't want to answer. Not now, not like this. But I didn't exactly have a choice, did I? I didn't want to think about what would happen if I didn't answer the transceiver. With slight hesitation, I accepted the call coming in on the transceiver. There was a brief lull. Then, a familiar voice rang out on the other side. Hey, Thane! What's up, man? Why'd you take so long to pick up? You mad at me or something?Ah crap. This'd be tricky. I opened my mouth, my first instinct being to respond. However, before it was too late, I caught myself. No. Wait. Not my real voice. The last thing I wanted was to give away my real voice right now. I looked around, desperate. Where the hell did I put that drat helmet?! When I saw it lying haphazardly near the couch, I almost dove to grab it. I couldn't keep him waiting for a response for long. Hastily, I shoved my head in the helmet, and turned on the voice altering doohickey. Then I picked up the transceiver.  Morning.Then, I thought to shore up my position a little bit. ...Yi. SI almost apologized for taking so long to respond, but I caught myself right at the last moment. It's a beautiful morning out today. Really, something to be admired. You got a chance to go for a walk yet?I thought for a solid three seconds before responding. I couldn't double think every statement, I had to just stand firm. Afraid not. A little early for me. Ah, trying to get your beauty sleep, huh? I feel you, I feel you.Good, good. This was going well so far. After a moment's pause, Yi spoke once more, this time with an edge in his voice.   So, in regards to last night's little situation... I trust you handled things?drat it, this wasn't just a personal call. This was to talk business. Well, this was the likely outcome. Yi didn't strike me as the type to make a lot of personal calls. Realizing I was, once again, taking too long to respond, I spoke. Naturally. Who do you take me for? Hey, hey, I wasn't questioning you or anything. Just, you know... doing due diligence, is all.That response seemed to satisfy him. So then, did you strike gold?Spoke too soon. Thinking about what that phrase usually tended to mean... If I'd struck gold, I would've contacted you. Ah, yeah, that's true enough. drat. Kinda had a good feeling this time, too.  Well, what can you do? As our good friend Benjamin Franklin is wont to say, 'Diligence is the mother of good luck'. We keep at it, and surely a crack will form soon enough. Indeed.So, that's what he was calling me about, right? Surely our conversation was now done. Anyways, I'm calling you to say that you're needed.Seriously? You're kidding. No rest for the wicked, kid. Meeting at the V-Hall. All Senior Officers required to attend. Which means that the she-bitch will definitely be there, so more fun for us. Yay. What's the meeting about? Thane, you should know Marduk better than me. Has he ever been the type to give a straight answer about his intentions?
What can I say, he called the meeting. I'm sure we'll know when we're there. That it? Unfortunately not, my friend. We also need to finish up that whole Milo situation. Although, seeing as you've been doing a lot of work lately, I can probably give you something of a break between the meeting and that. Thanks. Don't mention it! It's what I'm here for. Anyways, get over to the V-Hall ASAP, okay? Understood. Cool, see you there.And like that he hung up. ...gently caress. Thane, feared Senior Officer of the Duats, the infamous Black Mask of Panthea, had been called over for an important meeting. After that, he had to conduct important Duat business. Seemed like a standard enough day. So what was the problem? It was simple. I'm not Thane. [BGM: Trick Score]  Thane, God bless his soul, was taking a nice nap at the bottom of a dirt pit, courtesy of yours truly. God loving drat it. Why did I have to kill him? Well, I know the answer to that... if I hadn't, I'd be dead within the hour. But because of that rear end in a top hat, I was wrapped up in this nightmare of a situation. What the hell was I supposed to do now?! There weren't any good answers. gently caress, gently caress, gently caress! I punched the wall. Ow. Okay, let's think about this logically. I was way out of my depth. I had no business being wrapped up in this whole gangster poo poo. If I just went to the police, maybe... ...No, that wouldn't work. If Thane really was a Senior Officer, there was no way the Duats would let his death just simply be. As soon as they found out what I had done, it would be Game Over for me. They'd look into what Thane's last assignment was... and they'd soon realize who was to blame. Once they knew I'd killed a Senior Officer, my life was over. No matter what I did, the Duats would have their vengeance. They were simply too big a force to deal with through any normal means. Even if I fled Panthea, got police protection, went into complete hiding... there was no way I could guarantee my safety. Not to mention, I'd be completely abandoning my life here in Panthea. Giving up everything I had worked for. So that was it, right? Curtains for me. Finito, end of story. Because I had killed Thane, I was in a pit, and I couldn't get out of it. ...So, let's take that statement from the inverse position. So long as I hadn't killed Thane, I wasn't in a pit. So long as Thane was 'alive', so was I. Well, how exactly was I supposed to make a dead man look alive? I mean... It was almost too convenient that the person I had killed was conveniently known for wearing a mask with a voice filter. For being an enigma of a person, with an unknown background, history, or place where they lived. Surely I shouldn't... It's like the Fates had set up this path for me, and were giving me a side eye. Like, 'hey, you want an out? Here you go!' ...I didn't like it. It was so convenient it almost felt forced. It felt... dangerous.  Like I said, people knew nothing about Thane. ...Nor did I. Who was he? What connections did he have? How did he fit in with the Duats? What were his priorities, who knew his secrets, how would he behave? I had some hints maybe from our encounter, but that sure as poo poo wouldn't be enough. But what other option did I have? Like I said, if Thane was dead, I was screwed. Ah, gently caress. loving gently caress gently caress gently caress gently caress. Okay. I didn't know what to expect from this meeting. I was entirely exhausted from today's outing. The odds that I would be found out within minutes were quite high, and if that happened, I'd just be shot in the head or something. But... what the hell? If the fates give you an out like this, you're stupid not to take it. This wasn't exactly a long-term solution. It's not like I could just live as Thane for the end of time. However, I was out of other options. Maybe, just maybe, this charade would give me some sort of out. So then. There wasn't anything to worry about. I hadn't killed Thane. I was Thane. That was the simple truth. I was Thane. The Shadow of Panthea. To the V-Hall, I go. [BGM: Silence]  Woah! How about that poo poo, huh? We got ourselves a bonafide actor up in here! I got to say, there are a lot of ways to approach this sort of sticky situation, but the identity theft angle certainly takes some guts. And this freak thinks that it's the safe option? Uh, can you say skewed priorities much? I mean power to them, but still. Anyways. You've already seen Thane in action, haven't you? That must've made this little tableau quite fascinating. For you to think you were watching this horrifying figure, only for said figure to be already dead! What a swerve! Well... you can't really guarantee that. After all, you can never really know who stands behind the mask. And people can change so drastically. I'd say anything's on the table, if you ask me. And, on that note, I think we should take advantage of that confusion. I think it's time for a b-b-b-bet! That's right, time for some more gambling! So then, what to bet on... Oh! I know. Our troubled main character has decided to assume Thane's identity. A risky prospect... one that could easily go to poo poo. So, I ask you: do you think that they'll really be able to keep it up? In more concrete terms, do you think somebody will discover the real identity of this Thane within the next 3 scenes of this stack? Yes. Aw, you don't believe in Thaney-poo? How rude. ...But, smart, probably. Okay then, bet made. How many chips are you putting up for this?Once again, a collective agreement here; therefore, we'll be betting half our chips, which adds up to 5 chips total when rounding down. Alrighty then, we have a bet! So now, let us enjoy the trials and tribulations of our newest, bestest Thane with all our hearts! Next update, we start the final stack, and are introduced to Devon... Mix. fucked around with this message at 00:27 on Jul 31, 2023 |
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Jul 29, 2023 01:23
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Yes. Aw, you don't believe in Thaney-poo? How rude. ...But, smart, probably. Okay then, bet made. How many chips are you putting up for this? Once again, a collective agreement here; therefore, we'll be betting half our chips, which adds up to 5 chips total when rounding down. Alrighty then, we have a bet! So now, let us enjoy the trials and tribulations of our newest, bestest Thane with all our hearts!Next update, we start the final stack, and are introduced to Devon...
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Jul 31, 2023 00:27
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[BGM: Challenger]  There's nothing like sitting on the toilet, with nothing but a stomach ache. It was... almost nostalgic. It certainly brought back memories. Not good memories, mind you, but those are hard to come by anyways. The point is, it's a familiar feeling. Which is weird, because I definitely have never been in a situation like this. Why was I getting nervous? After some of the poo poo I've seen, this was nothing. Was it just because of the environment? Fancy parties never did sit right with me. Hell, if we're speaking of bad memories... ...But no, that's almost certainly not it. So then, why? Ugh. I wasn't good at this self-diagnosis thing. I spent so much time in my own head, but I could hardly understand it. My moods often felt arbitrary. And, maybe that's what this was. An arbitrary mood. Not a helpful one, but since when had moods been helpful? Sometimes you'd walk into a room and forget why you came. Your body, your mind, it could just be cruel. So... what to do? I focused back on my counting. Three hundred and nineteen. Three hundred and eighteen. Three hundred and seventeen. Three hundred and sixteen. Three hundred and fifteen. What was so calming about counting? Was it the fact that it was rhythmic? Was it the fact that it was simple? Whatever it was, it did bring me back down to earth. I had been waiting in the restroom for long enough. The gala was in full swing outside. It was almost time to play my part. ...Okay. Get it together, body. Standing up... any second now... Any second... My body seemed to resist the impulse to stand up for as long as it possibly could. However, after enough urging, I got to my feet. I left the stall. I began to exit the restroom. ...And it was at this point that the door swung open. ...Ah, poo poo.  Hey, what are you doing here? I, um...I struggled to meet Secretary Gani's gaze. Even if I didn't know where this conversation was going, I could recognize that tone. Nothing good came from that tone. In my position, it was best to just keep my head down and stay silent. Are you the same guy who came down here, like, ten minutes ago? Don't think I didn't see that. I... Well? Yes, yes sir, that's me.Gani chuckled to himself, as if surprised by my gall. Then, his face tightened. Wow. I mean, just, wow. I get you might have to take a big poo poo, but unless you got, like, serious medical issues or something, there's no way in hell you should be here this long. Seems to me you're just bailing on your duties. That's not wh Hey, yo, did I finish talking? N-no sir.I was glad I was wearing a mask, or he would've been able to see my face turning completely red. Man, where do you punks get off? What, do you just think that because I'm doing things, I don't have my eyes open? Do you think you can get away with it because, what, I'm dumb or something? Not at all. Tch. You know, I know how I look. But you don't get to be the right hand of one of the most influential people in Panthea by being an idiot. Of course, sir. Whatever, I shouldn't be wasting more of your time. Just get back to work, 'kay? I will. Once again, the secretary shook his head bewilderedly. Don't play a player, man. I've slacked off long enough to spot a slacker.Without another word, he walked past me into one of the stalls. I, awkwardly, just resumed washing my hands. Keeping my count while holding my own in that conversation was tricky. I don't know why I got flustered by him so easily. It's not like he really mattered. As I reached for the soap, I thought I heard the sound of a lighter. This moron was really going to light a joint here of all places? I mean, I knew he was basically always high, but this was just ridiculous. Well, I encouraged it. The more blazed he is, the more likely he wouldn't remember this interaction. And that would be a win in my book. After drying off my hands, I put back on my gloves. Because those were so vital to doing my job right. This mask itched. As much as I hated to say it, Governor Aija was a little eccentric for making the staff all wear this getup. I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about it. But it gave me a natural reason to hide my face. So I saw that as a plus. Finally, I made my way out of the restroom and into the hallway. On the other side of the hallway was the door to the boiler room. I wasn't an architect, but this struck me as a bit of an odd layout. Well... what did I know? As I walked down the hallway back into the gala, I got back into the groove. I'm a waiter. Right now, I just have to do my job. Two hundred fifty seven. Two hundred fifty six. Two hundred fifty five.  As I entered the gala's main room, once again I took a second to admire the opulence of it all. It's not like I had never been in a fancy place before or anything... but it had been a while. The band was in full swing. The music playing wasn't exactly to my taste, but I could certainly appreciate its quality. The guests were all dressed to the nines. All oozed style and class. If you sold this group's wardrobe, you could probably house and feed a family for a year, at minimum. ...Years? I was bad with calculating money. Point was, it was a lot. The food and drinks all sported impressive price tags. Their taste probably matched. Or... did they? A question crossed my mind. Was this any better than any other party? Did the spacious area really add anything? Was the music more worthwhile than some typical EDM? These expensive outfits looked less comfortable than casual clothes. Some people say that when you're dancing, you're really happy. It didn't take a mathematician to calculate that less people were dancing at this party than at some rave. So... was it worth it? ...Probably. I was pretty dumb, especially about things like this. On the other hand, rich people tended to be pretty intelligent. They knew more than me. They could do whatever they wanted, and they chose to do things like this. They had for centuries. So, even though from my perspective the whole thing felt a bit excessive, I was sure I was just missing something. Still, some part of me couldn't help but wonder. Pretty much every person of decent wealth in Panthea stood in this room. The party wasn't particularly cramped. ...Well, there was probably a reason for it. This sort of thinking was beyond me. I was better for much more simple things. Things like serving drinks. I grabbed a tray and got to work.  As I made my way through the crowd, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on a particularly loud conversation between two well-dressed ladies.  So, how are you enjoying the gala so far? It's fine. I can't help but feel like Aija's done better in the past. Well, that goes without saying. Considering everything else about her, it makes sense her parties would also be in decline. Ha! Too true. But, perhaps that's not her fault. It's been incredibly dull so far. Usually there's some drama. Where's the drama? Wait for some of these men to get more drinks in, then we'll see this party's real worth. Cheers to that!They clinked their drinks. [BGM: The Gungniri]  Honestly, does Aija really need to hold these fundraisers? Rumor has it she's already been getting plenty of funding. Besides, it's been over a decade since anyone ever really gave her a run for her money. Oh, you haven't heard? There's a new candidate for this election. Do tell? Yes, it's some real folksy type. A man of the people. Again? Whatever whips up the masses. At any rate, I've heard he's amassed a reasonable amount of support so far. Is he particularly impressive? Not by my measure, but then again, I suppose he's not trying to rally to me. Really, he's run more of an offensive campaign thus far. He's been pointing out Aija's inadequacies. How those filthy Duats have still been unchallenged. How it's never been worse for small business owners. How the only policies Aija ever seems to bother passing makes Panthea more isolationist and self-sufficient. Really going for the jugular, eh? Apparently! And power to him, someone needs to say it. Aija's been getting far too self-assured for my liking. Indeed. Honestly, I don't think she's even a very good politician at all. And as a person? So pretentious. Seriously, I'm thanking my lucky stars that she hasn't come over to us yet to try and schmooze. ...That said, you're still going to donate a token amount ot her, right? Naturally. Pay your dues and such. It's not worth the hassle doing otherwise. What we put up with. Hear hear! Another cheers, in but so many seconds. Listening in on this whole exchange, all I could do was bite my tongue. Forget it. Let's walk away. Honestly, I didn't have time to waste with such petty eavesdropping. ...Oh, over there. Art was talking with Odin. It was in a hushed tone, but still loud enough for me to easily overhear the conversation.  I'm just saying, this might be an ideal time for you to... you know... Retire? I'm not trying to be forceful. Oh, just say it, you pansy. I don't recall raising a weakass. Well, I do recall you raising a workaholic. I'm well aware of your philosophy regarding a man's worth, Odin. Which is why I know that I might be coming across as insensitive. You're not coming across as insensitive, you dolt. You're coming across as calculating. You just want me completely out of the picture. And you know me! I respect calculating. God knows your siblings could've used more of that gene. But I've no intention on completely bowing out of the company. Why would I? Well, if you listened I know your damned sales pitch, it'll be all the typical talking points. I'm already relaxing most of the time. I'm pretty much retired already, only with the bonus of poking my nose into affairs when I want to. So you know, I don't think there's any sense in me giving up my 25% share of the company.Art sighed heavily. He was well aware of how obstinate Odin could get. I'd be much more understanding if I could get a better sense of where some of your ideas have been coming from. They just don't make sense to me. And that's the problem, isn't it? As good as you are at the details, you've always been completely abysmal at the bigger picture. So then, help me see. Is that how this family has ever handled things?
 You want to know what motivates me? I've given you all the clues. You want to seek the Trimurti, be my guest. But it's just like everything else. I'm not going to hand that out to you. Especially not that. So you're saying that you do have some sort of agenda? You tell me.There was definitely something more to that story. However, this was neither the time nor the place to look into that. And, to be frank, it was probably best to just not look into Deisma business at all. On the other side of the table, Polly was drinking by himself. It was painfully apparent that he had been drinking for a while. Typical. I could work with that. A few tables away sat Cyrene. She also seemed to be a bit tipsy, but clearly in higher spirits. She was in a particularly lively conversation with her... boyfriend? I was going to guess boyfriend. Most notably, she had an oversized purse hung on the back of her chair. I could see her phone in it from here. This wasn't luck, though. This specific opportunity presenting itself? Sure, that's lucky. But I was on the lookout for opportunities. And the odds that something like this came up was actually pretty high. I made my way by her table. A tray of wine glasses occupied one of my hands... which left one free to swipe the phone in a clean, practiced motion while I passed by. In the corner of my eye, I noticed it was still unlocked, left on some sort of social media. Cyrene was the type of sociopath to not lock her phone the moment she was done with it. Excellent. Now this was lucky. I continued to wander for a little bit, putting on airs. But for this to work, the timing had to be pretty precise. When I got an opportunity, I stopped, placed the tray down on a nearby table, and stood by the wall. It was a perfect, unassuming moment for a waiter to be checking his phone. ...Only, it wasn't his phone. Or, uh, my phone. It was Cyrene's. ...As much as I'd love to snoop... Professional. I'm a professional. I opened a messaging app. Quickly, I found Polly's contact. Their last texts were... more recent than I would've expected. To double check, I looked over. Sure enough, both Cyrene and Polly's tables were on this side of the room. So this would work. Judging by Polly's state of sobriety (or lack thereof), it wouldn't take a lot. Something short, sweet, and inciting. With a slight smirk, I typed up something quick. Your brother has a bigger dick than you. That'd do it.  All right. Sixty eight. Sixty seven. It was time. I picked back up the wine tray with one of my arms. I had the phone in my other hand. My thumb hovered right over the 'send' button. But not yet. Patience. Take things step by step. I moved past table after table. ...There, there was Cyrene's. I pressed the send button and, a second later, dropped the phone back in her purse. I didn't even bother looking back. If she noticed this little sleight of hand, I was already hosed. ...But she didn't. Because I was a professional. Fifty nine. Fifty eight. ...Yeah, like I thought. She hadn't noticed poo poo. But... someone else had. The gently caress's this about?!There you go, Polly. Make an rear end of yourself. Again, I didn't need to turn around to know what was happening. The completely inebriated jackass that he was, Polly was not going to take that last message lying down. Cyrene and Polly's on (and mostly off) again relationship was incredibly volatile. This wouldn't be the first screaming match the two would get in. This would just be the most public. And the most useful. Now came the main event. On the other side of the room, I saw him. If you had seen him, you knew what to look for. At a very even keel, I made my way over to him. ...No, not directly over to him. I planned my moves a few steps ahead. I moved, circling towards him. He would be on my arc, but not my final destination. ...That's how it would appear to the common observer, at any rate. This all sounds awfully technical and highbrow for just walking to a person. But I had to put a lot of thought into these minor things. It was the minor things that made or broke these operations. [BGM: The Pistol]  As I began approaching, I held the tray with the wine glasses closer to my body. I couldn't make this a major incident. It needed to be nothing more than a minor hiccup. Closer... closer... As I got right next to him, I carefully tripped over Mr. Athen's foot. With a deft hand, I directed the spilling glass right at the side of his coat. The whole thing panned out... perfectly. Most importantly, Polly's freak out was drawing everyone's attention. The following interaction... would be between Mr. Athen and myself. Excellent. As soon as the old man realized what had happened, his face turned to a scowl.  I say! Is this the type of service I should expect? I'm so sorry sir, please, let me help you out! I would think so!Honestly, I was surprised at how tame his response was. I thought he'd be even more of a dick. Still, I needed to play the panicked, nervous waiter. I placed the tray on a nearby empty table. Then I took out a rag and began drying off the spill on Mr. Athen. Some people would probably bristle at this gesture. They'd think it too much. But not Mr. Athen. To him, it made sense that someone else would fix their mess. That someone else would clean him up. Was it a little much to bank on his arrogance? Maybe. But I had a backup. This was just the best case outcome. Because as I was drying him off... it was the perfect opportunity to plant it.  The suit Mr. Athen was wearing had a big, obvious front pocket. It was practically begging me to slip something in there. And, sure enough, I slipped my prepared rag into that pocket. He'd probably notice it before too long... so the plan was that he wouldn't have too long to notice it. The rag was just the opening volley. The real key of this act was the ice cube. Mr. Athen wouldn't be distracted for long. But the old coot was well past his prime. He wasn't the attentive type. A real magician would have an absolute field day with him. And so... this next move took very little effort. I palmed the ice cube that had been slowly melting in my pocket. Honestly, I'm surprised it was still mostly intact. When preparing it in the bathroom, I was worried that it would melt very quickly. I guess ice keeps its form a lot longer than I expected. Very subtly, I slipped it into the glass of wine Mr. Athen was drinking from. When I knocked into him, he had very reasonably placed it on the table. ...Placed it in a prime position for me to drop the poisoned ice cube. I didn't even look at the glass, I just maintained eye contact. Made sure Mr. Athen didn't notice. ...He didn't. And, just like that, this old man's fate was sealed. Sometimes, when I did my job, I'd feel the need to apologize. Not to the person themselves, but just to somebody. Looking at this man's face, however, I didn't waver for a moment. He brought this on himself. He dreamed bigger than he should have. Fought nastier than he should have. The man had a very simple, very basic job. Even I couldn't gently caress it up. But, for whatever reason, Athen couldn't just do the bare minimum. He strove for more, when he had it all. That's something the universe always tends to punish. Thirty three. Thirty two. Thirty one. Again, so sorry. I bowed, and began to put some distance between the two of us. However, before I got too far, I took one last item out of my pocket. A crumpled up page of the Bible. I had highlighted a specific verse from the book of Psalms. The one I highlighted didn't really matter, it just felt like something fittingly ominous. The page itself, however, carried quite a lot of meaning. When I first read Cock Robin, I was sort of stunned. I didn't particularly like the poem. Much the opposite, it sounded like complete nonsense. I read it four times, and still didn't understand it. But I didn't understand a lot of poems. They tended to be too abstract, and they'd often go above my head. So I tried looking up the meaning online, hoping someone on the internet would know what the hell the poem was talking about. Turns out the internet was just as torn as I was. Some guy said that it was trying to talk about the fall of some British dude called Robert Walpole. Robert, Robin. Someone else said it was a parody of the death of King William II. He got killed by an arrow? I guess? Or maybe it was telling the story of the murder of the Norse god Baldr. Or perhaps, the death of the Celtic God Lugh. Theory after theory, each as threadbare as the last. I came away from the poem thinking that it was really completely meaningless. That I was only recommended it because it was a clear, methodical list of distinctive things. Well... fair enough. The poem might not have meaning now. That just meant I'd be the one to give it meaning. The note was right by the base of the table. That was close enough. Now, I could make my escape. I took three steps away from Mr. Athen. And then, a thought crossed my head. I turned back to the old man. Before I knew what I was doing... I spoke. Enjoy the party. After all, you never know if it'll be your last. ...Party, that is. The last party you attend, to be specific....Without a further moment of clarification, I immediately turned away before I could see the old man's reaction, incredibly embarrassed. Add a bit more pizzazz. Add a bit more pizzazz my rear end. How the hell was this supposed to make things any better? ...Whatever. Job complete.  Twenty one. Twenty. Nineteen. I needed to get out of here. I made my way to the exit. There was nobody in the way. Look casual, act casual. By the entrance, one of the waiters that was logging people in the guest list was standing casually. That's expected. That's good, honestly. But it might pose a tiny bit of an issue. ...No, no, that's only if I let it. I just decided to walk by him. Just gave him a solid nod. It was a matter of confidence. If I just walked out like I was meant to Hey man, where are you going?poo poo. Just, you know... smoke break. Ah. All right, cool.Oh thank god, I thought that was going to be a bigger issue. I opened the door, walked through. And, like that... I had fled the premises. I was out of the building now, so counting was irrelevant. Still, it was good practice to see how accurate I was. I had given myself ten seconds of wiggle room. That's about how close I could cut it before risking that the target would collapse before the lights went out. And that... was the absolute worst-case scenario. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Fiv I heard some shouting. Ah... that must have been it, then. [BGM: The Bomb]  People were panicking, because the lights went out unexpectedly. That made sense. That was the sort of emotional reaction I could track. ...Well, hold on. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe that old coot collapsed early. Maybe that's what the shouting was in reference to. To double check, I decided to look under the door. ...Sure enough, I didn't see any light coming out from under it. Things had gone really well. But I couldn't just zone out now. I needed to remember I was still a few feet away from a dead body. I would be powerless, useless, if I was in jail. Couldn't let that happen. So now, time to clean up loose ends. ...Wait, no. That made it sound like I was just beginning to clean up loose ends. That's what this whole thing was about. It was best to keep moving now, while adrenaline was working in my favor. Obviously, my first instinct was to try and put as much distance between this building and myself as possible. Part of being a professional... was to ignore those first instincts. I couldn't flee before removing my little friend in the boiler room. Theoretically, there was nothing about it that could link back to me. Still, its presence would give a lot of the game away. It was worth the risk to go remove it.  I sprinted around the west side of the building, trying to circle the venue. It.. was really dark out. Even the light on the side of the building was out. Probably my fault. Oh well. I had done my homework. I could circle this building blindfolded. Before long, I was on the other side, where I spotted a small open window. Dangling out of it was a small rope. I grabbed it and gave it a yank. For a moment, I was worried that only the rope would follow. Luckily, the crude mechanical device I had left in the boiler room was successfully fished out of the crime scene. I grabbed it and briefly admired my handiwork. A lot of people in my position would have connections that could craft things like this for them. I wasn't so lucky. Instead, I had to build it myself, without much knowledge of how to make something like this. But... I had time. I had patience. I had resources. I could do this much by myself. I mean, all it did was fry a simple circuit board. Not much to it. Anyways, now that I had retrieved my tool, I didn't want to leave the window open. That was a sure sign of my guilt. The window was a little too high for me to reach without assistance. Luckily, as I said, I had done my homework. I grabbed a second rope, this one attached to the back of the window, and yanked it down. Sure enough, the window fell to a close. I pulled the rope harder, and with some resistance it detached from the window. There. With a little ingenuity, I had erased my presence from the scene. Not hard at all. Now I could get started on that whole 'escape' idea. The fastest way to flee would be with a car down the road. I could be miles away in a matter of minutes. Luckily, I wasn't an amateur. That sort of escape was the type police studied. The type that would leave a trace. That would eventually get me caught. I remembered my mission statement: when I did my job right, it was like I was never there. I was just... a non-entity. A hypothetical, third party killer, with no evidence to prove or disprove me. I had turned my lack of presence into a weapon. So then, an escape via car was out. What about by bike? Scooter? What if I just... sprinted down the road? That wouldn't work, either. Again, it wasn't the car that was the problem, it was the roads. I should take advantage of my strengths. Usually, when people think about a killer, they think they've got some life they need to return to. Since I didn't have that, I should abuse that. My only goal was to escape detection. Speed wasn't an issue. So then, not the roads. The forest.  I made my way into the forest, in the direction of the seaside. I knew where I was going. So I began my trek in the dark and the silence. I still felt the need to put as much distance between myself and the crime scene. But, again, professionals ignored their instincts. I needed to be better. Really, once you got a few feet into the forest, most people wouldn't be able to spot you unless they went into the forest themselves. And that would only happen if they were looking for someone who had left the venue. If things had gone well, that wouldn't be the case. Remember, speed isn't important. Avoiding detection is important. I needed to make sure I wasn't leaving a trace. Light feet, careful feet. No footsteps, no trail of broken twigs. It was impossible to not alter anything, but it was also impossible to tell light traces of a human apart from the general chaos of a forest floor. I just needed to make sure I wasn't overt. Slowly, methodically, blindly. Move forwards. My destination wasn't close... but that was fine. Speed isn't the issue. Forwards, forwards. My mind drifted to the scene I left. At this point, the police were almost certainly there, discovering my work. Good. Discover my work. Be misled. Be preoccupied. Search for the killer in the gala, not the forest. Forwards. Step by step. Calmly. ...Was I going in the right direction? ...No, there was only one direction to go. It's not like I could get lost. But... did I go the right direction to begin with? ...Of course I did. I'd practiced this. These nerves were... natural. Expected. After all, it had been... hours? Hard to tell, but it would be hours before I reached my destination. With that sort of time commitment, it's expected that I'd doubt myself. But doubting isn't important. What's important is moving forwards. Step by step. Not a trace. ...At this point, the caution was probably unnecessary. If I had done my job up until now, it's not like they could find my trail in the middle of the forest. But it was the principle of the thing. Why risk it? Even if doing a job worse had 0% chance of having repercussions, you'd still be doing it worse. And you don't do a worse job if you want to be a winner. After what felt like ages, the tree line finally began to give way. Good. But don't rush to the edge, caught up in the moment. Step by step. As I looked out, I could see the sea. The moon looked beautiful reflected upon the rocky waves. But, obviously, I'd find the see if I poked out on this side of the forest. Did I reach the place where I was meant to be? I scanned the seaside. ...There. Found it.  A sad little dock, without much advertising... without a clear way to get to it... without any big or extravagant boats attached. I wasn't looking for an extravagant boat. I was looking for the small, pitiful boat moored to the pier.... and I found it. Before exiting the forest, I quickly scanned the area once more. This time, I was on the lookout for witnesses. There was no good reason for someone to be here at this time of night. But... I was here, wasn't I? The world was small, and there were a lot of people living in it. Fortunately, fate was still on my side. Great. I carefully made my way down to the dock... then, the boat. I didn't even know who owned this thing. Doubt they'd used it in months. Not that it mattered. I began taking off all the clothes that placed me as a member of the gala. I stuffed it into a bag I'd left on the boat, tied the bag shut, then tossed it into the ocean. I had debated whether it was better to hide these clothes in the ocean or in the middle of the forest. Ultimately, I decided that both options resulted in near-impossible chance of the evidence ever being found. Now I looked just like any other homeless person. So it made sense that I'd lie down in this random boat. Made sense I'd kick my legs out. This was where I was going to spend the night. The next day, I'd make plans for getting back to my actual residence. Was this a touch excessive? Maybe. But boy, were investigators vicious. They spent days upon days trying to snag the smallest thread you leave dangling for them. One of their first methods they jumped to was tracking people's locations. Not a chance in hell they could do that with me.  I made myself comfortable in the boat. For the first time tonight, I could finally take a nice, long breath out. For the first time tonight, I could lie back without the expectation to jump back to attention at a moment's notice. For the first time tonight, I could stop playing out scenario after scenario in my head. For the first time tonight, I could relax. ...Of course, that didn't mean I was going to relax. I probably hadn't truly relaxed in... My face soured. I couldn't exactly place a point in time where I'd call myself truly relaxed. But... that might just be a matter of semantics. Trying to define what was truly relaxing was like trying to define what was true happiness. A question for better philosophers than me. I suspected this was another one of those 'trouble thoughts'. The ones that would just send me into another spiral. The point was, lying in the darkness, I could feel... Content. Yes, that was the word. Content. As far as I was concerned, that was the most admirable thing to strive for. If everybody could just find their lot in life, and be content, the world would be a fine place. And because people couldn't... well, that's why I was in a job in the first place, now wasn't it? ...Yes, this was nice. I had done my job, and I had done it well. Honestly, this whole plan was a lot more elaborate than I was used to. There were a lot of ways things could have gone wrong. 'Why go through all this trouble?', I wondered. Maybe I was just tired of the same standard methods. Everybody wants to try challenging themselves. Try to spread their wings, show their full potential. But... that wasn't it, not really. Honestly speaking, this was the most straightforward way of achieving the optional objective that I could think of. For a question without a simple answer, this was as straightforward as I could get. Now, when the police arrived, they'd undoubtedly come to the wrong conclusion that the killer was somebody on the inside of the party. They might even be bold enough to make an accusation. That'd be the ideal case. However it plays out, they'll eventually figure out how misguided they are. And when the frame attempt on the gala gets revealed, the media'll have a field day with it. The next step will be super easy to complete. ...Apparently. I never really got the grander aspects of this job. I just killed who needed to be killed. More importantly, there was nothing that could lead back to me at the scene. They wouldn't catch me for this murder. ...Well, if they did, it wouldn't be for any mistakes I made this time. This would be the time that some would become panic-stricken. They'd start worriedly thinking over every step or movement they took, wondering if there were any loose ends. But I knew better. I knew that I didn't leave any loose ends. By all means, it was a perfect job done perfectly. And that was why I could lay back and be content. That's why I could enjoy the silence and the darkness. Who cared if the floor I lay on was hard and dirty? Who cared if it rocked unevenly? I knew better than anybody how phony luxury was. A man can be content lying on an expensive bed or on the ground's dirt. It's simply a matter of attitude. ...The bugs were loud. ...A perfect job done perfectly. [BGM: The Wire]  Is that what I did? By my standards, I certainly had. By every metric I judged my jobs by, I had. What was wrong? What went bad? Someone died. Isn't that sorta bad? ...I scowled to myself. Seriously? I'm an assassin. If someone dies, that means my job went well. ...Well, that's a pretty sad job to have, then. Who would be weeping over Athen? He was, by every metric, the perfect target. Not a single friend. No family, either. No one would miss him. That can't be true. There's nobody in the world that wouldn't be missed if gone. Ha! Now there's a joke. Maybe I am funny, after all. Athen would miss himself. You can't miss yourself if you're dead. I ended a man's happiness. How could that not be bad? Athen deserved it. He wasn't a good man. He was a bad man. A traitor, a snake, a rat. Was that any better than my boss? What really made him playing the game any worse than anybody else? In fact, some people might call what he intended to do noble, if a skewed sort. Put that aside, then. I did my research. I knew Athen's history. He had been a sinner for a long time. So then, had he forfeited his life? Because he made mistakes, he wasn't entitled to live? That didn't seem right. If that was the metric to go by, I wouldn't be entitled to live. Nobody is entitled to live. Millions of people die in cruel and irrational ways every day. The only thing that stops us from keeling over at any minute is luck. What's one more death? That's faulty reasoning. Just because bad things happen in other places, that doesn't make the bad things I did any less bad. Everybody deserves to die. Humans are evil at their core. God kills countless people with no regards to morality or utility. How then am I any different? Plenty of people curse God to the bottom of their heart. And did I really think of myself as a god? ...I didn't. I didn't think myself a saint, either. I didn't care about the morality of it all. Then why was I having this conversation at all? I'm not having a conversation. I'm just tormenting myself. And it wasn't healthy.  Ugh, even though I tried not to, I ended up spiraling again. At least I caught myself this time before I got too deep. Nothing good could come of questioning things like that. I'd just be making myself sad. Nothing else would change. It's not like this job was making my life empty. My life was empty before I started this job. Like I usually did when I got ungrateful, I thought about my lowest point. When I had just lost the little purpose I had in life. When I was truly in an abyss. Moving from day to day to day to day to day to day to day to day to day without the slightest bit of life in my eyes. Days where I wouldn't think a single productive thought. Days that would pass where I didn't say a single word. Days where I didn't do a single thing in my free time. I just stewed in guilt and anger and sorrow. Pathetic. Powerless. If we're talking about people who didn't deserve to live, well, never was there a more prime example than myself at that time. There was nothing for me, other than to question how I had gotten to this point. But, as empty of a life as I was living, I was still living life. I still had to go from day to day to day to day to day to day to day to day to day to day to day. Often I would try to drown it all in alcohol. And while drinking alone was enticing, it required the forethought to buy beer ahead of time. That was the type of forethought I didn't tend to have back then.  So many nights, I'd go out to a bar. Panthea had plenty of them... not that I really ever made a choice between them. Whatever was closest. In some ways, I preferred bars to drinking alone. On some level, I appreciated seeing other broken people like me. Made me a bit less lonely, I guess? But there was one problem with that. You... really don't want to interact with people as broken as yourself. God. That dipshit. I didn't want anything to do with him. I literally said nothing. I can't remember what got him started. The memories are too blurry. But I knew it wasn't worth anything. The guy must have just been looking for a fight. Most people would've pushed back at some point. There weren't many people who would just sit there, in silence, taking his drunken abuse. But... I was different than most drunks. I knew patience. I knew how to tolerate abuse. I behaved in a way nobody could fault that night when I was in the bar. When I was out of the bar? I mean... who can fault me? How much of an rear end in a top hat do you have to be to literally follow someone out of a bar, just to be a dick to them? I mean, I had absolutely nothing going on in my life, and even I thought that was pretty pathetic. It was the middle of the night. There was literally nobody else around. The sad thing I literally can't remember his face. I couldn't tell you his hair color, his eye color, anything about him. He's a blur. There's just one thing I remember. His voice. 'Pathetic.' I'm sure there was some context to that word. Some insult attached to the front or back of it. But that's the only word I remember. It's the thing that set me off. I had forgotten... just how strong I was. And I was too drunk to control myself. It was a sad story. But an incredibly common one. The amount of times this exact thing happened was honestly kind of shocking. I was just the next scumbag drunk who went too far. Who forgot how fragile people were around concrete. By all means, that should've been the end of things.  I took another sigh out, then stretched out my arms. ...I was lucky. That wasn't the end for me. That was the start. If it weren't for that, I would have had a worthless life. I would've lived life powerless. Sad. Pathetic. And eventually... dead. But look at me now! I was happy. No... not happy. Never happy. But content. Where I was now, was content. Yes... yes. Why was I questioning things like that? This was surely better than before. This was a worthwhile life. After so much reminiscing, it was clear I wouldn't be getting sleep any time soon. So, instead, I sat up in the boat and pulled out my burner phone. Seemed like now was as good a time as ever to think about my next target. I still had an optional target on the docket. Optional targets were basically low-priority ones. They didn't need to die, at least not any time soon, but they were still better off dead. They were contracts I'd get paid for if I chose to take them in my spare time. ...I didn't really care about the pay, though. I just liked to be thorough. If someone was better off dead, better to end them sooner than later. It was that sort of service that made me so valuable. I looked over the file started on the optional target. It was... pretty threadbare. Still, I didn't think I'd have a problem with this one. She was pretty easy to find. I studied the blurry photo provided. The woman had long, dark brown hair and distinctive silver eyes. ...God, this picture was from a pretty bad angle. How was this the best shot we had of her? ...Whatever. It was enough. I'd make a meeting with her soon enough. And I'd make sure to make her another verse. Laverna. I'd be meeting with you soon enough. [BGM: Silence]  Hey, you. Yes, you. Ever heard of a little something called... utilitarianism? Yes. I thought you might have. So... do you believe in it? As, like... a guiding philosophy. No. Really? Huh, okay. Maybe you're a step ahead of me. You see, I used to think utilitarianism was, like, the ideal philosophy. Not for me, of course, but in the eyes of the public, why wouldn't that be just the thing? Like, boom, philosophy solved. ...And yet, philosophy is notably not solved. What's up with that? Are people just dumb, and that's prolonged an easy debate this long? I wouldn't put it past humanity. But... no, I've had some more time to reflect on it, and I think I've come to a different conclusion. Utilitarianism is the perfect theoretical philosophy, at least for the purposes of the public. But that's the thing... it's the perfect theoretical philosophy. And the only people who care about theoretical philosophies are philosophers. If you're looking for practical philosophies, ones you can actually put into action, utilitarianism suddenly gets riddled with holes. See, how can you tell what's going to bring about the most good? No human can, not really. A genius would struggle with that, not to mention the amount of idiots there are going around. So here's the kicker: does the belief in utilitarianism, ironically enough, produce more bad in the world? Because, as a guiding philosophy... it's a lot easier to do bad with utilitarianism. There's kind of a maximum cap on the harm a strict Kantian can do. Situations where not murdering someone is going to result in major harm do happen, but they're kind of few and far between. But a utilitarian? A utilitarian will watch the world burn with a smile on their face if they think it's for the best. Now, I'm still not coming down hard against utilitarianism. It has its pros very obvious pros. But if we're talking in the practical sense, it certainly isn't the runaway choice. ...Just a little something that's been on my mind. Next update, it's back to Laverna.
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Aug 1, 2023 23:32
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[BGM: Silence]  Man. That was a high building. Highest in Panthea, probably. Whenever I saw massive skyscrapers like that, one question always entered my mind. 'Do they really need all that space?' It always feels to me that there's no way that a business actually needs to use up all of that space. ...Well, I was no business manager, and I was bad at conceptualizing big things, so it was probably justified. And if it was justified for any company, it definitely would be Olympo. With how many pies they had their fingers in, it's no wonder that they'd need a lot of space to house their workers. What definitely didn't feel necessary was how much space they took up of this urban area of Panthea. How much of that was just empty space reserved for aesthetics? Well, it made the area stand out, at any rate. ...Anyways, time to enter the building. [BGM: Stand]  I had been in this lobby before, but I still took a moment to take in the scene. The place had a wide receptionist area, restrooms, multiple waiting spots, and even a breakfast cafeteria in-house. Anything you could reasonably want. Only the best for Olympo, I supposed. I could respect that, on some level. I approached the receptionist. Greetings. I am Laverna, the detective. It is my understanding that your business is in need of my services? Worry not I'll be happy to dispense my aid however necessary. And, a chance to pursue the truth is the only payment I require! ...Though, of course, a healthy check certainly would not dull my spirits. Regardless, be sure to inform your masters of my arrival. In the meantime, I shall be lounging in one of your plentiful waiting areas. No need to direct me to one, I am familiar with this floor's layout.And just like that, I turned away. There was no need to have her actually respond. I'd leave a more striking impression on her this way. So I circled the reception desk and walked over to a waiting room.  I expected the wait to be dull. ...No, perhaps dull was the wrong word uneventful. One that would let me collect my thoughts, perhaps waste some time on my phone. But instead, the waiting room was occupied by two familiar faces. Lav! You're k-kidding.I held similar sentiments to Seth. What were the odds? Still, Baldera rushed over to give me a hug, and I felt compelled to reciprocate. Honestly, maybe it wasn't that big a coincidence to run into each other. There was a lot of overlap between private investigators and police, after all. [BGM: The Poison]  Last time we had met was when investigating the murders at Governor Aija's private gala. Unfortunately, that ended up at a dead end. Despite our best efforts, we were never able to find any evidence leading back to the killer. Ultimately, while there was still an investigation, the unknown third party had come and gone without leaving any trace we could find. The unexpected second body didn't end up giving us any hints. Later forensic evidence did reveal a few interesting details about the case. Apparently, when we found the body, he had been dead for several hours. He had originally been killed with a blow to the back of the head, around the time that the gala was starting up and people were still making their way in. Forensic scientists were also able to tell that, as expected, the bell was not the murder weapon. However, the real murder weapon was unable to be located. Most curious was the fact that Maximillian Collins wasn't actually on the invite list to Aija's gala, despite the decent amount of clout he possessed. That raised the question of what he was even doing there. Well, as the nephew of the late Veronica Collins, he had some connections, so perhaps he meant to meet, or confront, a guest of the gala. Veronica Collins, while still alive, was one of the few non-family members known to be close to Odin Deisma, the miracle man. It felt likely that, somehow, this connection was what got Maximillian killed. But... while correlation seemed apparent, the exact causation completely eluded us. Ultimately, as there was no forensic pieces of evidence that Maximillian's case led to, the double murders were 'still under investigation'... under investigation, without much hope of being solved without a new breakthrough. That was disappointing, but life and crimes waited for nobody. So... when I was contacted to help investigate a case of corporate theft at the Olympo Corporation, naturally I jumped at the chance to help out. [BGM: Stand]  What are you doing here? For the same reasons you're here, I presume. T-The Deismas hit you up, too? I must've left an impression upon them during our last encounter. Oh, I don't, uh, doubt that much. Seth, eccentricity appeals to eccentrics. Eccentric? Is that how you see yourself? People are multi-faceted. Trying to condense an existence within a singular adjecti- *cough cough cough* I broke into a coughing fit. God, my throat was hoarse. Luckily, there was a water cooler nearby. I walked over and poured myself a cup. You okay there, Lav? Oh, I'm fine. My throat must be a touch strained from karaoke last night. You went karaokeing? Jealous! Why didn't you give me a call? Oh, don't take it as a slight, Baldera. I was performing solo. Wait, so, so you went to a karaoke bar by yourself? Indeed spectacular listening comprehension, Seth. You see, if you go by yourself, you don't have to waste time listening to others, and instead can spend the entire time singing yourself. Pretty brilliant, no? If you say so.Seth had been holding his tongue more often as of late.  Anyways, I'm surprised it is just the two of you joining me this fine day. I would expect, at the very least, Arrianne to be in your stead. No, I'm afraid it's just us today. And thank god for that. Seth! Wh-what, I'm just saying it how it is! I do my work better when I don't have that cyborg breathing down my neck. Arrianne is perfectly nice. She just seems off putting because she's not, you know, the best with social cues and all. I'm sure that's true, t-totally, I just don't know her well enough. So then you can get to know her better through investigations! Yeah, no, see, uh, I think that's the problem. I kinda doubt I'm going to get anywhere with her during investigations. Baldera turned to me, clearly wanting to move on. Unfortunately, Arrianne couldn't swing by here we're pulled a little thin at the moment. Just shooting straight with you... a possible robbery of personal property isn't really that big of a deal. I mean, it's a case f-for Olympo, a pretty big and powerful group, but we're supposed to not factor in things like that. And when you consider that on the other side of town, there's a recent assault case that Pandora was the first on the scene to, Arrianne thought it'd be smart to head over there instead of here.Probably the right choice from Arrianne, there. Uh, um, I assume you are here for the theft case thing? Why else would I be in a building like this if not for business? Just making sure. I walked over and took a seat next to the windows. Cool, so it looks like we're going to be working together again. Fun! Yeah, fun. But why did Olympo contact a private investigator when we haven't even been able to take a look around? Do they think that little of us? It's a mere formality, I'm sure, Seth. This is Olympo we're speaking of. They like to be thorough. I guess...My vision wandered. I ended up looking out the window, aimlessly. Around this side of the building was a fairly extensive water feature. It connected right next to the wall, and had several little fountains. I had previously derided the space this place took up as excessive, and that was likely an accurate assessment of the facts... but it was a little hard to stay angry at that when looking at a nice installation like this. Maybe dismissing it as useless was small-minded. Perhaps the effect it had on morale was worthwhile in itself. What do you think, Lav?I turned back to the two. Oh, my apologies. Were you laboring under the misunderstanding that I was paying attention for the last minute? To be honest I tuned out a decent bit ago...Seth had to reign in a chuckle, while Baldera put on a pouty face.  Really, Lav? You're gonna do me like that? Look, it's a matter of efficiency. There is but so much idle chitter-chatter I can intake before my mind swaps from investigative mode to a more casual one a casual one, mind you, which has no place in an investigation. My tuning out was a deliberate attempt to prevent that occurrence. Well, that's a new one.This exchange was likely to continue for quite a bit. However, it was at this moment that we had a visitor who clearly didn't spend much time in such waiting lounges. Art had entered the room. He was quite well dressed his outfit was nearly indistinguishable from what he'd worn at the gala. I don't know if that spoke to how fancy he dressed at work, or how casual he dressed at the gala, but either way it was impressive. Regardless, it was an undeniable fact that the outfit suited him. If I didn't know better, I'd even consider him quite handsome. [BGM: Ante Up]  Apologies on keeping you waiting. Running a company like Olympo is a taxing endeavor I'm sure you can imagine. When I heard you'd arrived, I made sure to come down and personally greet you just as soon as I finished the matter that was at hand. I'd like to thank you forArt had gotten this far into his explanation before he stopped to look at me. He probably had been aware that I was in the room, but he must've written me off as just some other visitor, one of the likely dozens that went in and out of this room every day. To me, this said that I hadn't left a strong enough impression during our meeting at the gala. I couldn't tell if that was good or bad; regardless, he recognized me now... and with that recognition came a flare of annoyance. You. What exact business do you have here? Well, let me turn the question on you, to test your aptitude for this profession. I'm a world-class detective, and a busy one at that. Is there anything to your knowledge that may have summoned me to this room? Art sighed, heavily. I assume you're referencing the theft? Aha! Perhaps we should switch jobs. Perhaps not. To rephrase my question: why are you here for the theft investigation? You doubt my bona fides? My, this is surprising. I find that oddly insulting. Well, I have a website I can direct you to if you wish. It lists my past achievements quite plainly. Peruse that, and you'll see that I am more than appropriate here. No, I'd prefer not to. Again, it is not the qualifications which give me pause. It is the fact that you were not hired for this job. Wait, Lav, you weren't? Oh, you've gotta be k-kidding me... Naturally, I was hired. I can assure you that you weren't. I can assure you that she was. Odin!Art jumped up, startled. Fair enough I too had barely noticed Odin slink his way into the room, mischievous smile on his face. For such an imposing figure, he sure knew how to step silently. Ah, you're getting sloppy, Art.Odin smacked him on the back of the head. His face was friendly, but the sound of the impact sounded like it hurt. There was a time I wasn't able to get the jump on you like this. Wh-what are you doing here, Odin? I was getting hungry. I decided it was time for a meal, so I was leaving for a nearby restaurant. I know you didn't want anybody on the Restricted Floor to leave, what with the whole incident and whatnot... but I assume that I'm exempt from suspicion in this whole affair. Of course. Of course you are. And what exactly makes that the case?I decided to interject.  An axiom of investigation: those eager to exit a crime scene are oft the cause of said crime scene in the first place.Art shot me an incredibly dirty look. However, Odin began to laugh. How true! There is no good reason that I should be exempt from suspicion. It's pleasing to see at least one among you has the stones to speak their mind. See, this is why I hired you. Wait, Odin, you hired her? Of course I did. I couldn't exactly trust the police with a job like this, and the fact that you did proves you're still too naive to be without my supervision. After the job she did at the gala, I thought it'd be fun to invite Ms. Laverna here I thought she'd prove useful. ...Or, failing that, entertaining. I shall aim to do both. Prioritize useful, please. Seriously? Her? Some unknown private investigator we're going to let her simply waltz all around the vault of this company? Oh, don't be such a dullard, Art. Honestly, it is such a nuisance that you ended up being the least charismatic child. That...I expected that statement to flare Art up. Instead, he seemed to deflate. Then he gritted his teeth and turned to me. Fine. If my father has already purchased your services, it would be foolish not to make the most of you while you're here. I'll do my best to perform above your expectations. That won't be difficult. Excellent, excellent. Glad to see that this has sorted itself out. Well, my hunger hasn't gone away... I expect this matter to be settled by the time I return, Art. O-Of course, Odin. Fantastic.And, with no other remarks, Odin turned around and exited the scene. He had conveniently dodged the question I raised about him being a suspect, but now wasn't the time to push my luck. Besides, he wasn't the thief.  Well then. It appears you three will have to suffice. Don't worry, I can attest to the quality of both Baldera and Seth. They make for excellent grunt workers, perfectly suited for aiding my investigations.
Good to hear. Well, I suppose we should just get a move on.And like that, Art also turned and began to leave the room. With a single wave of his arm, he gestured for us to follow him. The four of us made our way back around the receptionist's desk, this time walking to the other side of it. Further beyond the desk was a hallway which led to a set of sleek marble elevators. Art pressed a button, and without a moment's hesitation the left door opened up. Ladies first.Art gestured into the elevator. Baldera and I entered, followed by Seth, with Art taking up the rear. The elevator had a whole tower of buttons. Art took out a white and gold keycard, placing it to a sensor on the elevator. Then, he pressed a button with a star indicator next to it. The restricted floor, it would seem. A few seconds later, the doors opened once more, and we found ourselves on a new, pristine floor. Instantly, the fancy flooring gave off the indication that this was a place for the elite. ...Well, I could already guess that much. Before we could go anywhere, however, we had to deal with security.  This, um, is this necessary? Wow. It's like that time I went to the airport!Indeed, the scene was akin to airport security. A large metal detector took up the center of the hallway. To the right of it was a metal desk that slid across either side of it. And to the left, a tough looking security guard stood motionless. This...Art waved his arms at the obvious display before us. ...is the restricted floor's security. The thing meant to try and stop incidents like this from happening. This here is Zethe. Say hi, Zethe. Hi. Hi, Zethe! How are you doing on this fine day? Not particularly well. Aw... and why's that? A theft happened on my watch. Oh yeah, that's gotta put a damper in your step. Well, hey, cheer up things'll get better.To this, Zethe just gave a small nod. Whenever anyone enters or leaves the floor, they have to go through the metal detector. Any metal objects on them, or any personal belongings, they're put on the desk and inspected by Zethe. Well, um, I'll give you this: it's certainly thorough. Thoroughness is a motto of Olympo. 'A motto'? How many mottos do you have at Olympo? And... thoroughness isn't really a motto, it's just a mere one-word value.If Art had heard a single word I'd said, he didn't let on. [BGM: Raise]  But, uh, is this really necessary? Seems like a lot just to have at work. I assure you, it is more than necessary. Given what's on this floor, we need to take such precautions. Some of the decorations on this floor, especially in my office and the meeting rooms, are worth enough to consider stealing. More important, of course, is all the information and data up here that is central to our business. At Olympo's level, corporate espionage is a major concern. Which is why we are taking the current situation so seriously. Company property must be protected not to mention, company personnel. Now, who even has access to this floor is already strictly monitored... still, you can never tell what will be too much for somebody. I fear the day when some vengeful employee will try and take a stab at me or someone else on this floor. Vengeful employees, hm? Would you happen to know of anything that you've done which would engender such strong feelings? Any specific employees that come to mind?
 Of course, I simply ask because I feel it may be a potential motive for the current caper we find ourselves in the midst of. Given the nature of this case, I very much doubt revenge is the catalyst. Could we just keep on m-moving, please?On Seth's behest, we made our way forwards. Luckily, we didn't have to be subjected to the usual scrutiny of the security measures. Instead, we could walk right ahead, down the hallway, through the restricted floor.  Art, could you be a doll and give us a bit of a rundown about what's on this floor? Might be useful for our investigation. Certainly. As you can see, there are a number of important rooms around here. These doors that we're passing? The ones on the left house important paper records. Business deals, contracts, that sort of thing. The ones on the right house Olympo's servers. Important doors indeed. Not to this case. They're so important that the doors to those rooms have an added layer of security you need to scan a keycard to open them. Those keycards require the highest level of clearance, and also log all entries in a highly encrypted third party server. And they haven't been accessed today. Good to get, uh, get that out of the way then. To the right are a number of offices for our higher-level members. However, our destination is to the left. We followed him down the winding hallway. Here to the left and the right are some high-end meeting rooms.Further down the hallway were two doors to rather large offices with glass walls. The office on the left had shut blinds all the way down. The office on the right had the blinds at the top; it was quite messy, with documents strewn all about. At present, a certain pink-haired employee was typing something on a laptop. The room to the left is my office, and the one to the right is my brother's. ...Oh, and farther down the hallway is the restrooms, if that becomes an issue. Wow, I'm surprised the CEO of the company has the same office as a Chief Director. Not my idea. Odin made it that way so that Polly wouldn't throw a fit... and Polly liked that we'd be right across from each other. ...He soon soured on that idea when he realized that it let me see just how often he wasn't working.If Polly really cared about that, why didn't he have his blinds down like you, Art? ...though I kept that thought to myself.  Art opened the door to the left office and ushered us in. Even though it had similar architecture as the other office, there was clearly a world of difference. Everything was nice and orderly, clean, in its proper place. The contrast and its meaning couldn't be more on the nose. Art walked over to the other side of his desk and sat down in his chair. Baldera, Seth, and I just stayed standing. Nice, um, place you got here. Indeed. I appreciate the minimalism present. I, too, indulge in the philosophy. My apartment contains no clutter whatsoever. This is only my office. I can assure you, my penthouse is quite lavishly decorated. However, such aesthetics would only serve to distract me during work time. ...We've already wasted far too much time on pleasantries. Let me cut to the chase. Yes, let's.
Ooh, Art did not like me. I swear I wasn't doing this on purpose. Okay then. Cutting to it.[BGM: Dealing Hands]  It is, on paper, a fairly simple case of company property being stolen. A laptop, to be specific. It was used for several important business transactions, and it has a lot of valuable information on it. I know it was on this floor this morning... because I used it this morning. I left it in a cabinet attached to the table in one of our meeting rooms; I will take you to said location momentarily. The important part is that, many hours later, when I went to use the laptop again, it was completely missing. I have had this entire floor searched, top to bottom, every nook and cranny, and the laptop has not shown up. These searches will continue, but at this point I can only assume that the laptop, and the information on it, has been stolen. If that information ends up in the hands of one of our business rivals, it will damage our prospects quite severely. Between the time I last used it and the time I discovered it missing, a total of three employees exited this floor. However, each went through the security procedure I have already explained, and all passed without any alerts. I have called those employees back, and they are waiting in a nearby room; your job is to ascertain which, if any, of these employees is responsible for the theft. If it is one of them, I would appreciate if you could make it clear how exactly they got the laptop past our security detail. If it is not one of them, I would then like the true culprit to be made clear, and for the location of the laptop to be revealed. All right, seems simple enough. R-Really? Because, uh, kind of seems a bit...Seth hesitated, realizing who he was standing in front of. Impossible? In a sense, it is. However, that adds to the intrigue. Impossible crimes are the most interesting. At their heart is a contradiction, a false assumption, an illusion to the eye. These are the greatest truths to uncover! Does... she always act like this? Yep. My sympathies. I'm familiar with how draining it can be to work with these types. There's a reason that she's not actually a cop. And that reason is that I shan't be shackled! Um, well, should we get started, then? The scene from which the laptop was stolen was the meeting room on the other side of the hall. You three can go look around there while I prepare things for you.Prepare things for us? I raised a slight eyebrow at that, but... I've been poking the bear a bit too frequently. Instead, I just followed Seth and Baldera out the door and over to the other meeting room.
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Aug 4, 2023 00:41
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[BGM: Dealing Hands]  It looked quite nice. On the end of the room opposite from the door, there were big wall-sized windows, and on the wall next to the door was a big TV mounted on the wall; below it, a fancy cabinet with a number of drawers. It looked like they were all slightly jutting out. Was that a thing with fancy cabinets? Seems more annoying than anything else. On the other walls were a number of still-life photographs of predatory animals that had been hung up. In the center of the room was a long, oval-shaped table, with a dozen chairs sat by it. Lovely little place. It's nice, I guess. Would you ever want to be the head of a big corporation like this, Lav? Why would a god cover a crown of man? Well, that's a new one. Over in the corner of the room, there was a little trash bin. I decided to walk over and give it a little look. At the bottom of the bin was a discarded coffee cup. So, what are we looking for? B-Beats me. I don't think we're going to find much of use. Ah, how limited your reach is. You got any bright ideas? Several.
Oh, you mean in regards to this case?Seth just sighed. Meanwhile, I took a seat at the opposite end of the table. Well, we have to do something. Just then, a familiar face walked in. Oh! Uh, Zethe, was it? Yes, that's right. Nice to see you again. What are you doing here? I was instructed to enter and aid with the investigation. I was the one who conducted the security checks of the suspects who left; Art thought I might be useful to have on hand when conducting the interviews. ...Oh, but don't worry about me not being at my post. Art thought of that too he got another guard to take up my shift. Some sense in that, I guess. Interviewing the suspects, eh? On that note, I have an important question for you. Very leisurely, I kicked back and placed my feet on the table. What rules you out as a possible suspect? It appears to me the simplest answer to how the thief scaled the wall was if the wall was, in fact, the thief. Uh... Why can we trust you, Zethe? There's a camera by the security station. It'll show that I was at my station the whole time. Tsk, tsk, tsk... A decent rebuttal, I must admit however, you may not have been the active conspirator, but, what say... an accomplice? ...Er... What if you were working with the thief? That's Not likely.[BGM: Ante Up]  Art had walked into the room not dissimilar to how his father had earlier. Our security guards, above all employees, are screened and trained to the highest scrutiny. I am certain that Zethe doesn't have a disloyal bone in his body. Thank you, sir. You can trust his account. I'm only willing to consider suspecting him when all other avenues have been exhausted, and seeing as how you haven't yet interviewed any suspects I assume that is not yet the case. Well then, bring us the suspects!Art smiled. I'll do just that. Percy! Get in here. U-uh, sure th-thing. Into the room rushed a fairly young-looking office worker. Judging by his visible pit stains, this whole 'being a suspect' thing was weighing on him. He nervously drummed his fingers across a leather briefcase he held. H-h-hi, um, I'm Percy. I guess I'm a suspect? Heh, heh, heh... Apologies for his hapless behavior. No need. Percy, just calm down. Nothing bad is gonna happen we're just going to be asking some standard questions.I slammed my fist down onto the table. Tell us why you did it, Percy! Why'd you throw away your freedom? Why don't you want to see your mother anymore? Was it worth it? Was it worth it, Percy?! Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-w- Laverna, what the hell? Lav, go easy on the kid. He's clearly having a rough time of it. I sighed heavily. Well, way to ruin my 'blitz confession' strategy, you two. Now we'll have to do things the old fashioned way. Out of curiosity, does that tactic ever work? To prove it didn't would require testing it on every person on earth. Percy, could you just tell us what you did? I-I don't know what to say. I needed some f-files that a colleague who's out sick had left on their desk. Percy doesn't usually work on the restricted floor. His office is on one of the lower levels. Right, so, um, I got permission to come up, and I went to my colleague's office. It took me a bit to find, but once I did, I just left and went back to work. When the laptop was discovered as stolen, and I began looking into suspects, Percy here was still working at his desk. Numerous other coworkers can attest he never went anywhere after returning. Anything suspicious about what he brought up or down? Both entering and exiting he brought a briefcase, but I put it through the metal detector and then checked it both times didn't trigger anything, didn't see anything suspicious inside. Is it the same briefcase as the one you're holding right now, Percy? Um, s-sure, here you go.Percy held the briefcase out, and Seth began rummaging through it. Is that all the pertinent information? Indeed. To be honest, Percy is the one I suspect the least... however, I am nothing if not thorough. One of your mottos. Indeed. Well, I g-got nothing in the suitcase. Far as I see it, Percy, you're free to go. ...For now.I put two of my fingers to my face, then moved them to his. Go and tell Herc to enter, okay Percy?Percy timidly nodded, then swiftly exited the room. It was only a couple moments later when an older man dressed similarly to the first entered. Despite being at least in his 60s, I could tell he had a good bit of muscle on him.   Hey y'all, nice to be here. Gentlemen, ladies.Herc gave a brief bow. Herc's testimony is going to be quite important. Treat it with as much scrutiny as you wish. Uh, are you sure it's a good idea to say that in front of the suspect? Oh, I don't mind it none. I welcome a challenge. Bring it on. Got no secrets to hide, my life's an open book. All right then, 'Herc', if that is your name, mind telling us exactly what you did during the timeframe when the laptop was stolen? Why, I was in this very room. Really? 'Course, not the whole time. Think I entered a bit after Art left. But I spent a good bit of the day cooped up in here. Left once to use the restroom, then left again shortly after that to get a nice refill on my morning cup o' joe. I'll tell you, I coulda sworn I had only drunk a sip of it, and next thing ya know, it's empty. Really gotta cut back on the stuff, think I might have a wee problem with it. I blame this one for that.Herc thumbed at Art. Shouldn't have put that cafe on the first floor. I strive to improve my employee's morale. So, Herc w-was here when you went to check for the laptop? He was. So that narrows the time frames when the laptop could have been stolen a fair bit, don't you think? Say, when exactly did Percy come up to look for the documents? Unfortunately for him, midway through his search, Herc decided to use the restroom, robbing him of an alibi. What can I say, when nature calls. Zethe, was there anything unordinary with Herc when he tried to go through the security detail? There was. Herc can't go through the metal detector without setting it off. Is that right? Yeah dental work, I'm afraid. Real pain in the rear end; bothers me every time I come here for work. Luckily, me and Zethe have worked out a workaround. And that is? Herc puts his body through the metal detector while keeping his head stuck out. Then he walks around it. Seriously? It's effective. So you're saying Herc's head isn't checked in the metal detector? Hey, if you wanna accuse me of smuggling out a laptop in my mouth, by all means, be my guest.I didn't have a clever comeback to that. Any other questions? Yeah, I have one. What w-were you doing in this room in the first place? I thought this was a meeting room. What can I say, I like my space. This room's airy; the office, stuffy. Figured nobody's using it today, might as well do my work in here. Which, I may add, is against company policy. Ya got me, chief. This'll be the last day I do it. See to it that that is the case.  While you're at it, go grab Darda for us. On it. Hold on a moment. You don't get to dismiss our suspects, we dismiss them when we're good and ready.
You are dismissed.With a half-cocked smile, Herc turned around and left the room. ' A bit of information about our next suspect: this is the only person who actually left the building during the time frame of the theft. This gives her ample opportunity. Ah, I'm catching your drift. So, this is our prime suspect? Judge for yourself.And, as if it were timed out perfectly, just then a blond woman wearing black clothes and sunglasses entered. Nice style. The woman walked further into the room and pulled out a chair, then sat down and crossed her legs.   Well, you have me. I was called back from a pressing prior engagement, so this had better be worth it. And that engagement was...? Is that pertinent to your investigation? It might be. Well, if it is, then I'll tell you. Up until that point, I'll keep it to myself. So, you just w-waltzed out of the building in the middle of the day? I had clearance for it. Everything was totally standard. Darda, would you mind just walking us through your day? Not much to walk through. I came in on time. Did my job in my actual office, on this floor. Left in the middle of the day... and later received a call that I had to return because some idiot thought it would be a good idea to steal a laptop in broad daylight. I assume she left after, uh, Herc's trips away from the room? Of course. Zethe, my man, you know what I'm after hit me up with those security deets. She passed the metal detector, easily. Entering and exiting, she slid a book down the metal desk. 'Tangled Trysts' hardback edition. I like to keep up to date on new releases in the literature world. Ooh, romance? Mystery, actually. Although, I'm beginning to fear it might not be a particularly good one.[BGM: Trick Score]  I did my due diligence. Flipped through the pages, made sure there wasn't anything else in the book... and there wasn't. Well, there you have it. I couldn't have taken the laptop. And, if you ask me... the laptop hasn't left the floor, it's probably just hidden somewhere that we haven't found yet. I didn't bring you in for the running commentary, Darda. Then can I leave? I can't imagine there's anything else I could be of use for. Yes, yes, retreat to your cave.Instead of responding to that, Darda simply stood up, turned around, and walked out.  Well, what do you make of it? You know, it certainly is a headscratcher. Not really a clear answer present. If there were a clear answer, I would not have involved the police. I vastly prefer using our in-house security team whenever possible. Truly an impressive caper. If I didn't know better, I'd say a theft of this beauty was the work of the Auto Larcenist. Well, let's get thinking. Is there any way any of those three could've smuggled the laptop past security? I don't think so, but let's try putting our heads together on this one...
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Aug 8, 2023 00:55
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The only one I could think of is Dardanus, one of Zeus's offspring and the founder of a major city in Troy, but he's not exactly the most thrilling mythological figure to reference
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Aug 8, 2023 13:12
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[BGM: Dealing Hands]  I got off my seat and began to pace. Time to put my brain into action. Obviously, I already knew how part of it happened, but I was completely in the dark on a bunch of details. And until I had explanations for those details, I didn't feel confident speaking up. Baldera sighed and looked to the floor. Man, it's a real bummer. It's times like these I miss Isa. He would've known what to do he was great with things like that. Hey hey hey, what did we say about this? We shouldn't even talk about him, it's not healthy.Seth looked even more uncomfortable than usual. I looked over, out the large window to the side. Below was the rather large water feature. ...You know, from this height and perspective, it didn't quite look as impressive. I tried to open the window; however, as soon as I pushed it up, a loud noise began to blare through the room. Baldera and Seth both put their hands to their ears. Art, on the other hand, looked irritated and pulled out his phone. With a few taps of the screen, the noise died down. What in the blazes was that? A facet of our security system... although, usually it just logs the event. It only set off an alarm because I set things to 'Red Alert' mode ever since the theft. Whenever a window is opened, it passes by a sensor. See, right there. Art pointed, and sure enough, there was a discrete sensor at the side of the windowsill. Th-that's probably how you know the windows weren't used in this, right? Naturally.Hmmm... I looked closer at the sensor. At first glance, indeed, it looked like opening the window would trigger it. However, that wasn't... technically true. The sensor was placed about half an inch above where the window would begin to slide open. Too thin for a laptop, sure, but still... Now I understood. Meanwhile, while I was looking at this, Baldera and Seth had been theorizing without me. What about Percy? I didn't like the look of that guy. Wh-what, why d-didn't you like the look of him? Squirrelly fellow, too nervous for his own good. Are we sure that briefcase didn't have some hidey-hole for storing things, maybe one lined with something to evade a metal detector? I looked over the briefcase myself and, and, I didn't find anything like that. You looked over this briefcase. But remember, he went back down to his office on the lower floors a while ago. He could've switched the cases. Didn't his coworkers say that he stayed at his office the whole time? Where'd the swapped case go? More importantly, you're not thinking about the important parts. Remember the time frame. Herc went to the restroom after Percy entered the floor. He couldn't have counted on, uh, on Herc leaving like that. The frame's too tight. You can't use that as evidence. After all, Percy also couldn't have counted on Herc showing up in that room in the first place. Sounded to me like that was just a whim. So if you're factoring in bad luck for the thief, you can also factor in good luck. That just balances it out. I don't think it works like that. At any rate, I think we can safely rule Herc out. What culprit would reduce the suspect pool like that? Seems like a really dumb idea to me. So, what, the culprit's Darda by default? I mean, she did leave the building she easily could've dumped the thing while she was gone. But how would she get past the security detail? I don't know, that's the whole problem with this thing! Ugh, this whole mess's too confusing for me. Are we sure that the laptop even left? Fancy place like this, I wouldn't be surprised if there were, like, super secret hidey holes for stashing secrets. Somebody could've just hidden the laptop there. To what end? I don't know, to cause a stir? I don't see how that helps anyone. Seth, some people just want to watch the world burn, and there's nothing ordinary folks like you and me can do about that.[BGM: Double Down]  Wait. Say that again. ...I d-don't see how that helps anyone. You don't need to see it, just do it! Um, it'll cause a stir? Before that! You've, uh, lost me Laverna. I'll be honest, I don't remember that far back. Super secret hidey hole? Yes! Thank you, human stenographer! Stenographers are already human. Hence, human stenographer. Anyways, Eureka!I rushed over to the other side of the room. There, I grabbed hold of the cabinet and began to yank off the drawers.  Hey, woah, what on earth are you doing? That's mahogany! That cabinet is priceless! The only only thing that is priceless is the truth! ...Besides, this cabinet is the type where you can slide the drawers off. That's... correct. How do you know that? Because... the culprit had to place them back after storing this! Triumphantly, I reached forwards and grabbed the computer from the back of the dresser. I displayed it with a grand smile. What the... Lav?! Woah, hey, what's that d-doing there? Lav, how'd you find this?? The drawers jutting out like that struck me as odd from the moment I walked into this room. However, when you spoke of hidey holes, I realized that was not a design choice that was a metaphorical telltale heart our culprit had left under the floorboards! ...Or, in this case, behind the drawers. Still, to, uh, hide a computer in a place like this... I didn't think that was possible. It's actually a semi-common hiding spot. Plenty of closets are built like that with a bit of wiggle room behind the drawers. Sort of like a false bottom. Yes, except in this case the false bottom is often unintentional. I'm surprised, Art. I wouldn't have taken you for a man who knew terms like that. Ah, well, you know, if your brother wants to be a magician for a few years, you end up picking up a few things along the way. Really? Polly never did strike me as the 'magical' type. Hm?Art looked confused. Uh, Polly, your younger brother? You just said he wanted to be a magician? Oh, right. Yes. Yes, he, uh, never had the right stage presence for it.Another time. I sat the laptop on the table and opened it. When I opened it, the insides were stained with coffee. It stayed firmly turned off as I began pressing buttons.  Just as I suspected. You did? I think the case of events here is painfully simple. The culprit made their move when Herc went to the restroom. He said he didn't remember drinking all his coffee... and I think he was correct. The culprit opened the computer, did their dastardly deed, then poured the coffee all over the laptop, rendering it useless. Then, they decided to dispose of the 'corpse' in this very room and they must've thought of the old drawer trick, perhaps even scoped that out in advance. And... then they left. Simple as that. Amazing! No, not amazing, and not simple as that. What's the point? I mean, if they're trying to steal the data off the laptop, it feels like the thief failed. I clicked my tongue. Oh poor, naive Seth. This is the modern era there is more than one way to transport data. The thief likely opened the laptop and transferred all the relevant data to an easy-to-conceal flash drive. With that, no need for the actual computer. Okay, m-m-maybe so, but in that case, why bother hiding the computer? If the culprit made it look like the actual computer was gone, that would limit how it could have been smuggled out of the building and narrow the suspects. It would throw off the investigation, leading us to make bad assumptions like the ones we've been making. But why make it a case at all? Couldn't they have just left the laptop in the drawer and nobody'd be any the wiser about the robbery? Well, once Art came and found the laptop covered in coffee, the fact that it'd been tampered with would already become obvious. But why throw coffee on it, then? That... That, I couldn't answer. It was a critical question. It was why this whole thing even became an incident, but despite how much I knew I didn't have a clue. To my surprise, it was Art that spoke up. I have an idea... the thief must have triggered the Meluzine software security.Then, realizing we had no clue what that meant, he took a second to explain. Basically, it's something on the laptop that would keep a log of actions sort of a secondary security system. At this point, surely it's tertiary. Perhaps. Regardless, if they became wise to that, they'd realize that whenever the laptop was next checked, I'd be able to tell it was altered. At that point, I'd probably already suspect the theft. So why not make it look like a physical job? As Laverna wisely pointed out, it would thoroughly mislead us. All right, so that means we're not looking for somebody who stole a laptop, we're looking for somebody who stole a flash drive. That changes things! Oh, uh, wait, what about that Darda lady? She had the book, right? You can hide a flash drive in a book. No, didn't Zethe say he flipped through that? In my opinion, the one that's suddenly got a lot more suspicious is Herc. He'd said to 'try and prove that he fit a laptop in his mouth'. Well, he might not be able to fit a laptop in his mouth, but I think a flash drive he could muster. Really? You think he could carry a conversation with a flash drive in his mouth? Did he have a conversation? And... whatever, even if he did, I say you can talk and hide a flash drive. Honestly, w-with this I'm not sure we can even limit the suspects to those three anymore. I mean, uh, Laverna here just proved that there are still possible hiding spots left to be discovered. And I think it's a l-lot easier to hide a flash drive than a laptop, so the possibility someone stored it away for later has risen a lot.[BGM: Ante Up]  X + Y + X + Y + X + Y + X + Y + X. [X] - The culprit broke the laptop. - The culprit wanted to frame someone here. - The culprit noticed the digital security system. - The culprit smuggled it out the window. - They downloaded the data on a USB. [Y] - because - or - so - and Solution: The culprit broke the laptop because the culprit noticed the digital security system or the culprit wanted to frame someone here so they downloaded the data on a USB and the culprit smuggled it out the window. [You won 7 chips!] [BGM: Double Down]  I walked over to the window and chuckled. Oh, you guys. You never truly can see the larger picture. Why wait, when there's a perfectly good escape hatch right here?I knocked on the glass, gently. Ms. Laverna, I did already speak to you about the security system, did I not? You did. However, I'm afraid your system isn't quite as secure as you may believe, Mr. Deisma. You see, I believe I can raise this window about a half inch before the sensors go off. That may not be much... but with the many ways you can store technology nowadays, I'm fully sure you could find something to fit through that crack.While I was talking, Baldera walked over beside me.  But hold on a second, Lav, isn't there a problem here? Look down below, there's the big water feature right on this side of the building. If you dropped something down there, wouldn't it get soaked? I d-don't think you can get enough momentum through that small crack to send the flash drive past the water feature. And, uh, I think the fall might also be a bit of an issue. So then, simply don't have the flash drive fall into the water. You keep saying these things without explaining yourself... Baldera, you remember the waiting room on the first floor, how lovely it was.Baldera's face sparked with recognition. How it was right next to the water feature! By Jove, I think she's got it! I propose this was a two-person job. One was somebody with access to this floor though I couldn't say who. As far as I see it, anybody who was present when Herc went to the restroom, as well as Herc himself they are all possible suspects. Though... if I were to guess, after the gambit the thief pulled, I imagine they'd try to cover their image by not leaving the floor. Whoever it is, they conspired with a partner who played the part of visitor and went to that waiting room. The two communicated via text, and at the right time the visitor opened the waiting room's window and caught the falling flashdrive. And just like that, the Olympo Heist is complete!And with this, I gave a large bow. To my surprise, it was Art who first began with some golf claps. [BGM: Silence]  My, my. I must admit, Ms. Laverna, it appears I judged you too harshly. I'm a big enough man to admit when I'm misguided; it appears you are, in fact, quite competent eccentricities aside. I only try my best. So hold on, shouldn't we go to the front desk right now? Like, maybe we can't figure out the culprit from the people on this floor, but now we've got a whole second avenue to pursue! Don't waste the front desk's time. I've got a better idea. Come, follow me.Art left the room, and we followed him. He made his way back to his office. There, he pulled up his laptop and began furiously typing. Finally, he pushed the laptop in the direction of Baldera. [BGM: Trick Score]  There you go. Look away. Why, don't mind if I do.With a smirk, Baldera took a seat and began going to work. I could see from this angle that it was some sort of security footage. So, uh, Mr. Deisma, you think we're going to get a lead with that? To be honest, I somewhat doubt it. I mean, so many people come in every day. That waiting lobby has dozens upon dozens of visitors on a daily basis. And unfortunately, we don't have an angle that actually showcases the window, where we could see someone try and catch that flashdrive. But, you know, I had the technology, I guess I felt this was a chance to try and get some use out of it. Uh, Lav...Baldera's tone was extremely hesitant. Yes? What's this about?Baldera pointed to the screen with a worried look on her face. I leaned in closer, then recoiled. What the... how the hell was I seeing this?? Meanwhile, Art continued rambling. You see, this Meluzine security system is really thorough. For instance, there are decoy security cameras... and there are also a bunch of hidden real ones. This one, for instance, is in a picture hanging on the wall in the waiting lobby.The screen... there was a figure wearing a dark green hoodie and sunglasses. But their face, it was unmistakeable.  It was mine. While I had been looking at this, Seth also came to see what was going on. After seeing the screen, he looked to me and spoke in a deadly serious voice. Laverna... what is this?I sighed. I... really didn't want to go here.
I suppose my twin sister is due a call.[BGM: Silence]  Twins? Really? Boo! What a hack! Although, I do appreciate the irony of having the detective character break Knox's Tenth. ...Still, you hate to see a twin in a work of mystery. At this point I'm tempted to write off every modern tale involving a twin as trash, context be damned. Because at this point, it's just a sign of laziness. A crutch, if anything. Oh well. Not much we can do. After all, these are real events, not just a script. Believe me, I'd omit all this had it not actually happened, and even now I'm still tempted. At the very least, I'm grateful it wasn't used for a twist. Now that would be bullshit. But learning about it now, it's like, 'okay, there's a twin', we know that, it's logged. Hey, there was more to this scene than the last few moments, wasn't there? Sorry, that twin reveal completely knocked off my train of thought. ...Well, in my defense, it's not like the other stuff was all that interesting. Corporate espionage, whoop dee doo. If we're discussing mystery rules, Van Dine's Seventh applies pretty keenly right about now, I think. If it's not a murder, I don't give a poo poo. I kinda doubt this 'stolen USB' poo poo is going to have any real effect on things. Why couldn't we do more with the Cock Robin Killings? ..Oh, speaking of! Did you catch at the start of the scene? We got an answer to our bet! Autopsies revealed that Max died roughly when the party was getting started! Or in other words... way before Athen apparently died. Now, I guess this isn't, like, airtight. Maybe the autopsy's faked! Maybe Athen died earlier, and the person at the party was a body double. Maybe some third, weird poo poo. But, for now, I'm just gonna call it, and if anything else comes up then I'll reverse the bet. For now, though... I'm afraid I'm ruling the bet in my favor, and thusly the chips stay with me. So sorry. Perhaps you'll have better luck next time? Anyways, I could talk more about this scene, I guess... but I'm not particularly inclined to, and I never want our chats to feel like a drag. So then, I guess I'll be out of your hair. Next update, it's back to Lock.
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Aug 10, 2023 00:26
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[BGM: Trick Score]  There he was. Sitting by himself in the bar of an underground casino, Bach Underwood was nursing a drink by himself. It was an odd look, most certainly. Most wouldn't picture a political candidate spending their night in a place like this. If a picture of him in this area got out, it'd probably be a (very minor) scandal. Thank God Kane already left, I guess. Most would wonder why Bach was slumming it up in places like this... but I understood the impulse. I understood a lot about Bach Underwood. I always made sure to do my research. He was a Panthean local, a man of the people. Up until this election, he had a managerial job at Olympo... no significant other, no close family... no real aspirations, no particular talents... His years were passing him by without him even noticing. Had things continued in this direction, he was likely to live a completely unremarkable life and eventually die alone... until, one day, for no apparent reason, he had had enough. He decided 'what the hell, I should run for governor'. It was a surprising move, for sure. Even more surprising... was the fact that it partially worked. I mean, somehow he won the primaries. Turns out the man had a decent head on him after all, and more of a talent for public speaking than he had even known himself. He had been angling this election as an 'anti-Aija' election; probably the smartest move to take, and it had carried him this far. However, the election was turning from a far-off hypothetical to a looming reality. And, despite his best efforts, it didn't look like things were going to be working out for him. From what I could tell, the man was starting to fall into a minor depression. He had really put his everything into this election lost his job because of it. Now... it looked like that was all for naught. His one real shot at something, and he had been unable to grasp it with his own hands. Probably sent him spiraling... probably sent him to a familiar place, a place like this, where he used to frequent after long, stressful days. Probably made him vulnerable... which worked for me. [BGM: Bidding]  I began walking up to the bar where he sat. I took a seat right next to him. However... I didn't immediately jump into conversation. This had to be practiced. I nonchalantly placed my order with Ossa... then, I caught a look at him in the corner of my eye. I looked pensive for a second. Now I could turn over to him. Hey... you wouldn't happen to be Bach, would you? Bach Underwood?  It seems you're familiar. Oh, cool! I'm actually a fan. I mean... maybe fan's the wrong word. Supporter, I guess. Is that so? Well, that means a lot to hear; after all, I'd be nothing without people like you. I don't know about that...I feigned sheepishness. So what's your name, young man? Me? I'm Lock. Lock... Just Lock is fine. Lock it is. Bach held out his hand, and I grabbed it and gave it a nice handshake. The man had a surprisingly firm grip. Did he practice shaking people's hands? I'm surprised I didn't recognize you sooner. Well, with the lighting and all, it can be a little hard to make people out. Although in your case, you should see that as something of a blessing it means you won't have to look at this old mug too closely while drinking.I gave the man's poor attempt at a joke a hearty laugh. Establishing rapport early on was critical. You know, I have to say, I'm surprised to see you in a place like this. I mean, no offense or anything, I just thought you'd be bigger than slumming it in a pit like this. None taken. Oh, Ossa, you baby. This place is literally a pit. And slumming it? That's, you know... ...You weren't the one asked a question, you know. Bach gave a little chuckle at this exchange. I actually used to spend a lot of time down here before I became a politician. No kidding? Bach here was a pretty regular customer. I liked his type. Tipped well. Didn't stir trouble. It's why it was such a shame when I saw that Bach entered the race. Because he'd be spending less time down here? Because I didn't want to watch him be crushed.To this, Bach gave out a sad little chuckle... but his eyes betrayed his attempt at mirth.  How rude, Ossa. Have a little faith.Ossa just grunted and returned to his job of cleaning glasses. [BGM: Dummy]  Still, even if you used to go to this place a lot, I'm surprised you're down here now. Don't you figure it'd be some bad press if you were caught entering a place like this? Is it?The way Bach said it, it almost sounded like he hadn't thought about this angle at all. Ah, well. I aim to be a man of the people, Lock. Now if Governor Aija was seen down here... that'd be one thing. It'd go against people's perception of her. But there's nothing inconsistent with a guy like me spending his time here. It's consistent with my brand. Huh. Guess I didn't think about it that way. Pretty smart, pretty smart. Guess you'd have to be, to run a campaign and all. Mmm. Bach didn't say much to this, just took a sip of his drink. I followed his lead and drank some more from my own glass. It was still too soon to make any moves. We had just gotten past the very basic first introduction. Quite a bit more ice needed to be broken before I pushed ahead. Well... that was fine. I could do small talk for as long as it took. Man, it's really a crazy world out there today. Did you hear about those murders out in the woods? Scary stuff. I did. I did hear about that story. Can't say I'm too sympathetic. Really?Bach looked surprised at this. Well, from what I heard the victims were these super elite, wealthy assholes. When I hear news of people like that passing, my first instinct is to pop open a beer instead of mourning. I, uh, don't know if I can agree with that. Sure, I can understand the resentment you can have towards those types; I'd say that's natural.  But still, when somebody dies when anybody dies I think you owe them some respect. Ultimately it's a human dying, you know? No no, don't get me wrong. I'm perfectly aware that the morally correct response would be to respectfully wish the dead well. I'd never say what I just said to, say, the victim's grieving relatives or something. But hey, can't help what I feel, ya know?Bach nodded sagely at this. That much is true. Well, so long as you're aware not to express such sentiments to the grieving, then I think that's fine. Maybe this is slightly blasphemous, but I don't really think it makes much difference to the dead whether you mourn or celebrate their passing. Exactly! You get it. Anyways, I heard about those murders in a completely different context. Oh? I mean, the murders happened at a gala for Governor Aija. A gala meant to help her fundraising, fundraising for a political campaign a political campaign that I'm her rival for. The pieces are there. Hold on, you're saying some people seriously think you had anything to do with those deaths? Not me personally; thankfully, I was publically accounted for during the time of the murders. But you know how gossipers get. The idea that, somehow, I was connected to the incident is too enticing. That's crazy! It's understandable. Everybody loves a good political thriller, eh? It's a much more fun explanation than the likely dull answer. At any rate, I'm pretty sure very few people legitimately believe that conspiracy nonsense. Though those few have been awfully vocal towards me. Jeez. That's gotta be really rough. Part of the hassle that comes with running a political campaign. I guess. At any rate, if I did that to try and help my political campaign, it certainly backfired. Frankly, I think the publicity that event has garnered Aija outweighs the potential donations she might've received from those two.Bach sighed and went back to drinking. All right... now we had talked for a while. Time to start steering the conversation in the right direction. Let's talk about something lighter... this place, for instance. Nohoi's Nest. What about it? You ever try gambling here? Huh? I mean, if you were looking for a bar, there are plenty more convenient spots. You go to Nohoi's Nest to gamble. Not always. You're saying you never gambled here? Never said that. Back in the day when I was still working at Olympo, I'd do a bit of gambling every now and then, time to time. I was actually pretty good at that, if you'd believe that. You don't say? No, seriously, I played with my bonuses and usually got a decent cut for my troubles. Helps that I can handle my alcohol better than most of the drunks here. And I'm not, like, a genius or something, but I'd like to think of myself as pretty decent with numbers. I used to do statistical risk analysis for Olympo. That's basically a form of gambling. Wow, I wouldn't have expected that from you. Should I take that as a slight? No no, not at all! Man, Bach Underwood, gambling. That'd be a sight. Trust me, it was pretty average. Well, why not prove it for me? Huh? I mean, we're at a place for gambling. Why not indulge in some old sins? That's... ah, I shouldn't. No? No no, I really shouldn't. I came here to relive the old days, not my old vices. I think there's a distinction between a politician drinking in an underground casino and them actually gambling in one. Oh, but I thought you were a real man of the people? 'Man of the people' has its limits. I suppose, I suppose.Feign like I'm losing interest in the topic, and take another sip of my beer. I don't know, I just thought it'd be fun to gamble against a guy like you. Ah, well...Bach floundered for words. Of course he did. I threw out a comment without an elegant response.  Sure you're not willing to change your mind? I mean, I'm just not in the mood for it. Not in the mood to make a bit of cash?Bach's eyes lit up. I'd be willing to put down some serious coin for a private gamble. You might be a hotshot politician, but it couldn't hurt to get some extra moolah. Ah, but there's the rub. I also have a chance of losing... 'some serious coin', as you put it. Hmm... True enough. Okay then, we can even the playing field. I will pay... twice whatever I lose in the bet. Seriously? I mean, it only seems fair. I want to play it straight with you I'm something of a gambler myself. And, if you take me up on this offer, I'd ideally like to play a custom gamble that I've played two or three times, and I suspect you'd have never played. That gives me an edge, and that edge should be balanced out. ...'Course, considering how luck based the game is, paying twice as much out seems excessive... but it's a clean number, and I'm the one asking, so let's just call it that.This was... a bit of a risky play. Being this generous in my offer should have been a sure tipoff to anyone savvy enough to definitely not accept my deal. But the read I was getting on this guy told me that unless I sweetened the pot a bit, he wouldn't bite. And my research on Bach said that he wasn't as savvy as he liked to make himself out to be. Despite that, Bach still hesitated, taking another long sip of his drink.  Still feeling sheepish, huh?
All right, how 'bout this?I put an arm on one of his shoulders and leaned in slightly. I spoke at a slightly quieter volume for this, but not to a noticeable extent. If, by some fluke chance, you end up owing more than you have on you right now as a result of the bet, then we'll just call it at that. That's...Bach continued to hesitate. I pretended to recoil back. You're kidding me! Are you saying that the Bach Underwood can't afford to spend what's in his wallet? My friend, how strapped for cash are you? Now, now, hold on. Don't put words in my mouth. I held back a smirk. There I had him from all sides. Psychologically, he was incentivized to accept the gamble for a number of reasons. I had led with the nostalgia angle, which made him genuinely want to relive the gambling experience deep down. Then, I threw in how I thought it would be fun, so he had the pressure of not wanting to let a fan down. The 'paying double' clause appealed to Bach's inherent greed, and the 'only what you have on you' clause appealed to Bach's nervous, loss-avoidance prone sensibilities. To top it off, with my last statements, refusing the gamble would make it look like he was admitting that he couldn't afford to spend what was in his wallet. That was a challenge to his pride. All those factors combined to push Bach to accept a deal his smarter side knew he shouldn't take. This is why building up the rapport and the character of this Bach fan was so important before I began. It was only because of that that the second and the last factor actually mattered. And it was because of that that I was able to believably present the first factor, and that the fourth seemed credible. You know what? What the hell? The night's still young, why not have some good ol' fun. That's the spirit! Trust me, this is going to be a blast.[BGM: Raise]  The two of us finished our drinks, then got up from the bar. So, you mentioned that you had a gamble in mind? Right, yes, I did say that, didn't I? Let's go over to a private table, and we can get things started.I walked right on over to the table where I had just gambled with Kane. Standing on the other side of the table, I noticed Bach already beginning to sweat a little bit. Feeling nervous, buddy? Little bit, I must admit. It's been a while since I did some earnest gambling. Thought you said you were a pro! I said I made a bit of cash. Big difference between the two. Look, just relax, this is going to be a friendly game for the sake of competition. If you want, we can take out the 'gambling' element entirely. No, no, keep the gambling in. A game only counts if there's something on the line. There! That's that gambling spirit I love to see. Yo, Ossa!I called over to him. Come over here to officiate! I'm tending bar. Get one of the casino dealers to officiate, that's what they're paid for. Oh come on, nobody's there now. ...Fine. I suspected Ossa gave in only because he knew I'd pester him more if he didn't. Uh, do we really need an 'officiator' for a friendly game? Not really, but I like an audience. And Ossa needs a break, this is the only way he's gonna give himself one. Wow, how thoughtful of you.How bullshit, more like. This guy was seriously taking all of this bait? What a rube. All right then, let me declare the rules of the gamble. Let it be known, the rules are being laid. Love it, love that ominous poo poo, keep it up Ossa. So, the name of the game we're gonna be duking it out in is called... 'Battle Blackjack'. Battle Blackjack? You mean, competitive blackjack? Got it in one, Bach. That's weird. Blackjack always struck me as more of a single player game. Well, that's why this is a custom creation. Now it's a two-player game.I picked up one of the sealed decks these private tables had. Then, I opened it up, and slid a number of cards out of it. Afterwards, I passed the card over to Bach, to let him examine them. We're gonna be using a totally normal deck, minus the Jokers and the Clubs suit. The Jokers I get, but why nix the Clubs? 'Cuz the Clubs are my least favorite suit. I actually like the Clubs. But I mean, why cut a suit altogether? Trust me, game takes too long with all four suits. Fair enough. So, at the start of the game, we both draw 13 cards from that collective deck... it'll be shuffled first, of course. Then, we start the first round. Every round, there will be three 'battlefields'.I slapped three spaces in the center of the table to demonstrate my point. Starting with the person who lost more battles last round, we take turns placing cards facedown in the battlefields. Lost more battles? Bach, Bach, buddy, I'm getting there. Don't be one of those people who keeps snipping in halfway through my rules explanations. Sorry, just trying to keep a handle on these rules. Well just hear me out, then you can take questions. So yeah, we take turns every round. You can either place a card or pass. When you place a card, you can choose any card in your hand and place it facedown on any of the 'battlefields'. When you pass, you're saying you have no more desire to fight on any of the battlefields. Once both players pass back to back, the round enters the 'war' phase. This is when the battlefields are evaluated. The player who placed the last card on a battlefield is the one who 'owns' it. During the war phase, the cards in each battlefield are turned face up and the points are tallied up, using blackjack rules. Number cards worth their value, face cards worth 10, Aces worth 1 or 11, whichever helps. If the collective total of the stack is 21 or less, then the player who 'owns' the battlefield wins the stack. On the other hand, if the collective total is more than 21, then the player who 'owns' the battlefield loses the stack. Okay, I think I'm beginning to see the picture here. It's like a psychological battle. You want to be the last person to play a card on a stack, but you need to make sure the stack is 21 or below. Hey, now you're getting it! The winner of a stack pushes it to their side of the table. The stacks are kept separate from each other each stack counts as a point. ...Actually, you know what? Let's just really define this point. A stack is a vertical pile of cards won in the battle phase that can't be split up or altered in any way. Anyways, then both players draw cards back up to 13, with the person who lost more battlefields in the last round drawing first. The deck is not reshuffled at any point the cards in it are a finite resource. After all, in a battle, careful ammo management is key! As it is in war, so it is in politics. Too true, I guess. Point is, if you're below 13 cards, but there's no more cards to draw, tough luck you're in the endgame now. The game continues until a round starts and neither player has any more cards to play or draw. At that point, someone should declare 'The War is Over'. The moment that happens, the game ends, and we're in the scoring phase. The person who won the most stacks over the course of the game is the winner of the gamble. And... I let a slight mischievous smile cross my face.  For every card on the loser's side of the table once the scoring phase begins, the loser has to pay the winner a white chip.I noticed Bach recoil a little bit. The white chip was the most expensive chip in Nohoi's Nest. It was an unorthodox price not a multiple of ten but that's just another remnant of Ossa's odd whims. The thin black line drawn across the table indicated the specifics of what I meant by the 'sides' comment. White chips? Oh, come on, it's just a little heat. Remember, it's just for every card on your side of the table. Which means as the loser, the less stacks you win, the less you have to pay out. And the smaller stacks you win, the less you have to payout. Hm. I suppose a rule like that does make things interesting. It gets to the heart of gambling, adding an element of risk reduction for those who want to play it safer. Right, right, you're catching my drift. Still, are white chips really necessary? Man, don't you remember our conversation? This is to your benefit. ...True, true.Bach seemed to be having some second thoughts at this point. Come on, don't back out on me now, man... we've come this far. Just accept it... Okay then, I guess that all sounds good.Yes!  Though I have to say, you almost certainly are at something of an advantage here. You know the rules quite well, whereas I still just barely understand them. Yeah, well, luckily for you the game goes on for a couple of rounds. You'll be able to get into the swing of things before too long. Once you do, the game really just becomes a game of who can read the other person better... and that's not something you can buy with experience.A lie. Quite right. Soooo, that's pretty much all the rules to 'Battle Blackjack'. Do you have any further questions? Clarifications, objections, anything of the sort?Bach actually took a second to consider the question. Then, he shook his head. No no, I think it all tracks. Excellent! So let it be known, the rules have been laid out and accepted. I gave a side look to Ossa. A sort of, 'you got all that?' Ossa's unamused expression gave me the response I was looking for. 'I got that, all right'. From the look of it, Ossa was wise to what I was trying to pull here... but Ossa also looked like he wasn't quite close enough to Bach to break precedent and interfere. He'd do his job as an impartial referee and impartial enforcer. All right then, enough pussyfooting around, let's get this party started, huh?
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Aug 11, 2023 19:47
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[BGM: Double Down]  Bach, be a pal for me, shuffle that deck of cards in front of you. Sure thing.Bach did as asked, giving a fairly basic Hindu shuffle a few times. A cut or two. He was at the level of somebody who interacted cards somewhat frequently, but not nearly often enough to be called an expert. Finally, once he had mixed the cards up to his satisfaction, he put the deck in the middle of the table. You wanna draw first, or should I? You can choose. Don't want you to think I did anything funny with the deck or anything. I didn't until you said something incredibly suspicious like that. Think I'll be drawing first, if you don't mind. Sure, sure, go on ahead. I reached out and slid 13 cards over to my side of the table, and began grouping them up into a little pile. After I was done, Bach reached over and did the same thing. I picked up my cards and quickly looked through them. An Ace, three face cards, a few low-value cards; it was an okay hand... if I was playing legitimately. And indeed, with two slight tweaks, this game was one that could be played legitimately. But it wouldn't be tonight. Usually, the first person to place a card is the person who lost more of the battles in the previous round. However, since there hasn't yet been a round, we're kinda in unprecedented territory. Since you're the newbie at this, I'll let you choose: do you want to go first or second? ...Second. Oh? And why's that? Since the person who's behind usually gets to make the first move, you'd be inclined to think it was better to move first. However... I think I'd like to be the one reacting to you. Well, that's a unique thought process. But no take backs! I looked through my cards and selected one. Then I placed it face down on the far left side of the table. Let's make this the first battlefield. Your move.I expected Bach to respond in a reasonable amount of time. However, on the very first move, he went deep into the thought chamber. These cautious types were the least fun. Whatcha thinking 'bout, pal? ...I'm just working through the possibilities. I've never played this game before, so forgive me if I'm a bit slow. Considering both players have hands of 13 cards, you have to assume that your opponent has, more or less, every value... You could only rule that out if you had 3 of the same type of card. Cards worth 10 points value are by far the most common. If you placed one down, and I responded in kind, then the only way you could win was if you placed an Ace down. But Aces are super useful cards, and putting it down as the third card seems like a risky prospect. After all, if I placed a relatively low value card down on the stack instead, and you placed an Ace, I could place another relatively low value card on the stack and more or less secure it for my own. Therefore, the alternative play, playing an Ace down first, is actually a pretty attractive option, isn't it? If I played a 10-value card on top of it, if you then placed a 10-value card on top of that, the battlefield's yours. Worse, even if I didn't place a 10-value card on top of it, it's impossible placing your 10-value card would ever bust the battlefield to a value above 21. And even if I placed a relatively low-value card, it's difficult for me to put a fourth card on the stack, not knowing the first or third card. In gambling, winning the early rounds nets you momentum. This Ace maneuver seems pretty solid. I think that's what you tried. So...Hesitantly, Bach placed a card on top of mine. I had to say, I was decently surprised. Bach had better analytical skills in him than I gave him credit for. Not good enough skills, but decent ones. Heh. You know I could hear all that, right? I know. Oh, some reverse psychology going on. I can dig it, I can dig it. Personally, I love me some chatty opponents. The chattier, the better. ...Anyways. I grabbed another card from my hand, and placed it in the middle of the table. New battlefield!Bach eyed me with some suspicion at this move. He weighed his options carefully for a full minute. Then, nervously, he placed a card on the left-most battlefield. Yeah, this guy had no idea what I was up to. Now... it'd actually be better to give this one some thought, just in case. With my options considered, I carefully placed a card to the right of the table. And there, all three battlefields defined. ...I don't quite get your strategy. Oh, no need to get it. Your turn. Bach continued to eye me with skepticism. Still, he proceeded to place a card on the center pile. Without much hesitation, I placed a card of mine on the right-most pile. Bach responded to this by placing a card on the right-most pile. Well, I wasn't backing down. I placed another card of mine on the right-most pile. Here, Bach hesitated. He was clearly considering passing. However, he decided to place one more card on the middle-most pile. To this, I placed a card on the left-most pile. He looked up at me, and then, with a slight grin, spoke. Pass.I smiled right back at him, and without even looking at my cards, placed one on the middle most pile. Pass.There was a bit of hesitation in this statement. Again, effortlessly, I tossed a card of mine atop the left-most pile. Pass?Bach had devolved to full-on confusion. That wasn't stopping me. I placed a card on the middle-most pile. This pattern continued, with me placing cards alternating on the left and middle piles and Bach continuously passing until I was completely out of cards. Then, and only then, did I let up.  And, pass! What was that? I was playing the game, Bach. I thought I explained the rules well enough. I mean, you did, I think. I just don't...Bach stalled out. He was just generally confused. He wouldn't be for long. Well, time for the War phase. As you could guess, I 'own' all three of the battlefields. Now it's time to see who wins the battles![BGM: Burn Card]  I turned over the left-most pile first. It didn't take a mathematician to calculate this one. Ooh, just a bit north of 21 it seems. This one's your win, Bach.I slid him over the stack. Reluctantly, he placed the stack right on his edge of the table. Now for the middle battlefield...Once again, I flipped over the cards... once again, the result was clear. Another bust! This one goes to you.I slid this stack over to him, and once again, Bach centered the stack and placed it on his edge of the table. Now for the main event...I turned over the cards.  The bottom two cards the ones I led with were a two and a three. Bach threw a Jack on top of that. And then the top card that I played was a five. That's 20. That's a victory for me. Well played, I guess? Why thank you.I slid the pile over to my side of the table. Well, 2-1, looks like you won this round. Since I lost more battles this round, I draw cards first.Then, suppressing a smile, I leaned over to the deck of cards and picked up the whole thing. Woah, woah, woah, what is this? A flash of irritation suddenly crossed Bach's face. What on earth are you doing? I'm reloading. You're taking the whole deck! Yeah, exactly.
Bach was smart enough that he realized what had happened by himself. Still, spelling it out was fun. I mean, a deck of cards without one suit is 39 cards in total. We each started out taking 13 cards. 13 x 2 = 26, 39 26 = 13. Now I'm just drawing back up to my full hand size: 13. Unfortunately... that means you won't be able to draw any more cards.  I laid it all out for you at the start, Bach. What are you getting surprised for?Bach just remained silent, a sour expression. You confused about anything? No, no, just... you were planning this from the start. I thought this was meant to be a friendly bit of fun. It is! I'm having fun. I don't have fun playing a game rigged with phony rules to screw over somebody playing for the first time. You don't? Well, guess people have their own definitions of fun. Bach, buddy, I gave you all the rules from the start And I'm not contesting that, I'm just... disappointed. I don't quite see what you're getting out of this. I just said, I'm having fun!
Well, let's keep playing. I haven't lost yet.On this point, Bach was absolutely right. This little trick gave me a pretty decent advantage... however, its utility was more muted than you'd first think. Bach only played a total of 5 cards, which meant he still had 8 to work with. I had 13 cards, a 5 card advantage, and was only down one point. At first, you'd think that'd mean playing conservatively, I could just force 5 more points than him. But, if we both passed, the round would end, starting anew. And if he placed his cards atop mine, he could still win. This was why actually winning the right-most pile was a priority of mine.  So, I lost the last round, so I'll place a card down first.Gingerly, I chose a card and placed it to the right of the table. Bach took a minute to think. Then, he placed a card in the middle of the table. Pass.Instantly, Bach recognized his mistake. Then, with some careful consideration, he placed a card on the right-most pile. Hmm... Bach understood that the longer the game progressed where we were at an equal amount of points and we lost cards at an equal rate, the worse his position would be. Therefore, he was extremely unwilling to let a round pass where we played an equal amount of cards and gained an equal amount of points. With that in mind, I selected my card carefully and placed it atop the right-most pile. Bach's turn. Some hesitation, and then Bach placed a card on top of the right-most pile. Pass. Pass. Okay, War phase. I flipped over the middle pile, and revealed a 7 card. You own this pile, it's under 21, so that's a point to you.I slid it over to him, then flipped over the right pile. I had played a 9, then he had played an Ace, I had played a King, he played a 4. You also own this pile, but I'm afraid that this is 24. That's a bust, so this one goes to me.I slid the pile back over to my side. It was 3 points to 2, Bach's advantage. He was down to 5 cards, while I still had 11. One look at Bach, and you knew he understood how bad this looked for him. Well, no cards to draw, so onto the next round. Oh! And it appears I never laid out the rules for what would happen if we won an equal amount of battlefields in the previous round. I think it's fair that whoever played the first card the previous round continues the trend. Is that okay with you? Fine.Bach was just done with this. The only reason he was still playing was spite a motive I could respect. Okay then, I'll go first.I grabbed a card and placed it in the middle of the table. Bach, with an uncharacteristic amount of speed, placed a card atop mine. I played a card on top of that one. ...Pass. Pass! War time! I own the sole battlefield, so here's hoping we're below 21.I flipped over the cards. I had played an Ace. He played a 10. I had played another King. Magic 21! Point to me.[BGM: Silence]  I slid the stack over to my side of the table. We were now tied, 3-3. Bach had 4 cards, I had 9. I won, so you place first.Without much thought, Bach placed a card in the middle of the table. I placed one on the left side of the table. He placed one on the right side of the table. Pass. Pass.Bach had given up. At this point, his loss was inevitable. He scored two more points, I scored one. He had 2 cards left; I had 8. I started the next round, and placed a single card down. He passed, I passed. 5-5. 2 cards to 7. He had to place a card the next round. I just passed, and he followed suit. 6-5. 1 card to 7.  I placed a card down. He passed. I placed another card down. He passed. I placed a third card down. He passed. 6-8. 1 card to 4. He had to place his last card down. I placed a card of mine to the right of his. Pass, pass. 7-9. 0 cards to 3. Well, it's honestly a little sad at this point, but might as well finish up the final round. I go first...I placed a card in the middle of the table. Pass.Bach was 100% checked out, which was great for me. Would make this last step so much easier. I placed a card at the right of the table. Pass.I placed a card at the left of the table. Pass. Pass! All right, I own all three battlefields, so time to check them. Do we have to do this? It's a matter of policy!I flipped over the three cards and dragged each one over to my side. At the same time, I stuffed my left hand in my pocket. Okay, new round, but I'm afraid...[BGM: Crawford Game]  Suddenly, I pulled three decks of cards out of my pocket and tossed them over to his side of the table. The War Is Over! What the hell? Let's go over just what's happening here. Firstly, the payout. The rules state that the loser owes the winner a white chip for every [round the winner won/stack on the winner's side of the table/card on the loser's side of the table] Lot of cards on Bach's side of the table, I must say. But we'll get to that in a second. After all, to get that payout, we need to decide the winner. And the person who [won the most stacks/has the most stacks on their side of the table/won the most cards/with the most cards on their side of the table] is the winner. So, uh, that'd be me. Which is great. Now let's look at the delicate matter of scoring. The score is based off of [when the final cards have all been placed/when the final war phase had started/when the final war phase had ended/when the phrase 'The War Is Over' is shouted], so let's look at that. Based on everything, Bach owes [12/52/162/174/208] white chips. Of course, let's not forget one key thing. Based on the rules, Bach owes [only what he has in his pocket/a white chip for every card on his side of the board]. Obviously. What else would Bach owe? That's what was said to Ossa, so that's what it is. [You won 7 chips!] [BGM: Kicker]  Okay, so, counting the stacks, I think I do win this, my 12 stacks to your 7. Now it's a matter of calculating the payout. On your side of the table that's three decks of cards, each with 54 in them, so that's a base of 162. Then amongst your stacks, there's 1, 2, 3 What the hell?! What is this?! ...174. You owe me 174 white chips. Hold on, what the gently caress is this? That's nonsense! What are you unclear about? Those decks of cards you just pulled out of your rear end! Out of my pocket, actually. When you said that you'd have to pay a chip for every card on your side of the table, I didn't think you could just pull cards out of wherever the gently caress! You were clearly talking about the cards that we were sliding across the table ourselves! Oh, were you confused about that? That's a shame. You should've asked for a clarification. Clarification?! Any reasonable person would interpret the rules the way I did! Sure about that? 'A white chip for every card on your side of the table' is pretty straightforward, if you ask me. This can't be legitimate! Afraid it is, my friend. Afraid it is. Right, Ossa? Lock is correct. The bet is valid.Bach recoiled as Ossa spoke up solemnly. He clearly had forgotten about Ossa's presence... and his presence reminded him of how thoroughly he was doomed. Of course this was bullshit this whole thing was bullshit! So artless a move that I could barely qualify it as a 'trick'. This would never normally fly. Normally. But Bach had forgotten where he was. Bach had left the realm of common sense at this point, and entered a realm where the outcome is king. The rules of gambling were unbreakable in Nohoi's Nest. If rules were agreed upon by both parties, then they would be followed, no matter what. This was a precedent every single gambler who entered this underground casino knew quite well. Even if the rules were misleading or cheap, they'd be enforced. Ossa would make sure of that.  B-but, Lock, you said that if I lost more than I had on me, you wouldn't fleece me for anything more than that. Needless to say, I don't exactly have 174 white chips worth of cash on me! Huh? What are you talking about? What do you mean 'what am I talking about'? You said that! You promised it! I don't remember anything like that! I can't... this isn't...Bach's face was completely flushed with anguish at this point. He saw his doom spiraling around him. Ossa, did you hear anything like that? ...No such stipulation was stated while the rules were being settled. Even if Lock did say something like that, which you cannot prove, if it wasn't as a part of the rules of the gambling, they won't hold up.[BGM: Silence]  Jeez, Bach, the hell's up with that desperate lie? I mean, 'I won't take you for more than you have in your pocket'? What sort of provision is that? There's no way I'd make such an unreasonable concession!Bach wasn't in a state where he could respond. He didn't even have it in him to conjure up anger, he was working on pure despair at this point. I could see his legs wobbling. He looked close to keeling over then and there. This fool. He didn't have it in him to play at dens like this. He didn't have the brutality Panthea required from you. No wonder this guy'd never become the governor. Okay then. Time to pay the piper, Bach. As I said, you owe me 174 white chips worth of cash.
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Aug 14, 2023 23:23
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content warning: brief sexual harrassment/duress [BGM: Danrasu]  ...I don't... Oh, you don't have that on you? That's understandable. Well, I'm a reasonable guy, Bach. We can go together to a nearby bank, or I don't have that kind of money... Huh? Who do you think I am?! Do you seriously expect me to have that sort of money? Woah, woah, woah, easy there. Good thing there's a table between us, huh? I mean, it's a healthy sum, don't get me wrong, but it's not that unreasonable. You sure you couldn't scrounge up that kind of money? Even putting together all your assets? No, okay? No, I can't, I don't have that sort of cash! I'm almost flat broke! Flat broke? Bach, if that's the case, why'd you agree to a gamble like this? Don't tell me you entered the bet with no intention on paying back what you owe! That's the biggest taboo a gambler can make! I thought the maximum I'd have to pay would be, like, maybe 14 or 14 white chips! Hell, I thought the maximum would be what's in my pocket! Bach. You're saying you can't pay your debts?Ossa's hands were in fists, casually hanging to the side. Bach looked on with a looming horror covering his face. Nohoi's Nest made the most out of being an underground casino. There was nothing Ossa hated more than those who welched on what they were owed. It was a major no-no. This wasn't something that could just be swept away... if you lost a bet, you had to pay up, one way or another. Best case scenario, Bach was in for a major beatdown. ...Like, unbelievably best case scenario. Bach was shaking, looking from Ossa to me in disbelief, life flashing before his eyes. Perfect, perfect. I knew from the start that Bach had no ability to pay off anything north of 162 white chips. Researching his poor financial situation was one of the first moves I made when beginning to plot my scheme. I took a few steps forwards, putting myself between Ossa and Bach.  Woah, woah, Ossa. No need to jump to any hasty conclusions! This is probably some sort of misunderstanding. Bach and I will just sort this out in one of the private rooms. By the time we come back out of it, I'm sure we'll have worked it all out. ...Fine. Great! Come on Bach, let's settle this somewhere with a bit more privacy, huh?Like that, I began to walk over to the side of the room, where there were a few private rooms meant for special gambles. They were small rooms with one entrance and one exit. From the expression on Bach's face, he had absolutely no desire to follow me. But he also knew that this was his only option to avoid Ossa and maybe save his own skin, so he had no choice. So he walked right besides me, and the two of us exited the scene into the closest room. Now I had him. The two of us were separated from the main hall. Absolutely no witnesses. If he left, he'd get the poo poo beat out of him. I was entirely in control of the situation. Now to squeeze this sucker for all he was worth.  That's much better. I prefer this atmosphere, don't you think?Bach was, understandably, even more nervous than he was before. Look, please, you don't have to do this. I mean, with your skills, your cunning, shouldn't you have enough money? You do, don't you? So what's the use of extorting a poor, uh, poor old man like me, already down on his luck?
Do you really want this on your conscience? When you go up to the pearly gates, do you want to be denied over what you did to someone like me? Is that a worthwhile sacrifice?
Let me go, and your soul will be cleansed. Repent, I say! Let the light enter your heart, and you will be saved, my son.
 You done with your little outburst?
Good. In that case, why don't we get down to business? First things first, I'm gonna need you to unbuckle those pants and drop trow. E-Excuse me?! Sir, please, I know you require payment, but just think about it for a second... Are you really going to get any enjoyment out of this? In this setting? I mean there's not even anything in this room like a couch or a It's not what you're thinking, perv. Hate to break it to you, but you're not my type. O-oh, good... Uh, was that disappointment I heard in your voice just now...?? I don't know, I didn't think my looks were that bad. Oh yeah, old men are sure in style nowadays. Less bitching, more exposed genitals.With a reluctant look on his face, Bach acquiesced. Honestly, I'm surprised that it was that simple. This man truly had no dignity left, it seemed. All right, the next thing I'm gonna need is for you to get in the most compromising position you can manage. Uh, okay, something like... this? This'll work.I fished around in my pocket and took out my phone. Then I took a few photos; got a variety of angles, just to be sure. Uck. Even when I deleted these, it felt like my phone was now somewhat permanently tainted. ...Oh well. Alright, you can get up now and stop making an rear end of yourself. I mean, you're a politician for Christ's sake... Bach did as he was told. That was Insurance. Huh? Now if you attempt in any way to wriggle out of your debt to me, I can make sure those photos are at the top of Kamapa in a matter of minutes.Bach very visibly gulped. What was he expecting I was gonna do with those photos? This guy seemed too dull to be running for office. So then, with that in mind, I would think that you would be very incentivized to try and repay me. Um... Let's hear it. How you're gonna make it up to me. Look, I am very sorry, from the bottom of my heart. The last thing I want to be known as is someone who can't make good on their word. I'm truly a man of honor! These photos would suggest otherwise. Sir, do you really have to kick me when I'm down? I don't have to, but it's a bit of fun. Do you think I'd go through all of this if I actually had the funds to pay you back? If you could just give me a bit of time, then I'm sure I could accrue enough capital, with a bit of work And how much time is 'a bit'? Well that's... Would it be after the election? ...Probably. Then I'm afraid that's too long.
Hey, I don't want to curse the internet with those photos either. We're on the same side here. So think long and hard. Do you really have no way to repay me? No assets, no connections, nothing you think that might be worth the amount you bet? Right now? I'm throwing everything I have into this election!
[BGM: Challenger]  I mean, maybe if I won the election... If you won the election... There are plenty of things being the governor can do for you. Power, information, resources. All things that I accept for repayment! And I'd be happy to do it for you, really! It's just the fact that I don't know if I can realistically promise you any of that.I had him. I mean, you're Panthean, right? What do you think the odds of my victory are? Not great, I have to say. Exactly! With every passing day, my chances of actually defeating Governor Aija dwindle and dwindle. I had a bit of a boost at the beginning, promising change and an end to Aija's reign. There were plenty of radicals looking to shake things up. But those sorts of promises only get you so far. People like to complain, but the honest truth is things have gotten better with Aija in charge. Not as fast as some people would like, but sometimes change is slow. If you separate the current problems facing Panthea from its leadership, you'll see Aija has an actually impressive record with what legislation she's introduced. Hell, I don't even think she's that bad a politician, if you want my honest truth. And most importantly, she has a bunch of experience governing Panthea. Then you look at me. I've got no applicable skills that'd help me with something like this. No real selling points other than not being Aija. I mean, look at me I ended up pantsless in an underground casino in the dead of night. Is this the sort of behavior a governor should be engaging in? A fun governor, maybe. Despite my words, Bach threw his hands up to his face. I'm pathetic. Utterly, utterly pathetic. And the difference in our capabilities extends to this election, too. Aija's won every election she's ever run in. This is my first campaign. She has brand recognition, she has a track record, she has plentiful resources... and I have nothing. Lock, I'd love nothing more than to promise you I could repay you once I became governor. But like I said, I'm a man of my word. And I can't promise that I'll win the election. Because winning the election is basically impossible at this point.And with that, Bach's head hung low. Perfect. I walked closer to him and put my arm around his shoulder. He looked confused. What are Sounds to me, mon ami, that you're thinking about this all wrong. Sure, things are bad right now. But I think with a more skilled campaign manager, you've got a real chance at turning this thing around. And, lucky for you, I know just the guy. You're not sayin Afraid so, buddy o' mine![BGM: Stand]  You are going to appoint me as the chief strategist for this upcoming political election. With my help, the two of us are going to take Panthea by storm! We're going to have you win that election. ...And then, once you're properly in power, you're going to pay me back with double the interest.For his part, Bach just looked stunned. I couldn't quite get a read on his thoughts. I don't... I don't know what to say. You can never go wrong with a 'Thank you!' Uh, thank you, I guess. B-but, um, this isn't... How exactly do you intend to turn this election around? Oh, that? ...You know, we can get to petty details like that when we get to them. Petty details?! Lock, do you have any experience with running a political campaign? Define 'experience'. ...Oh, and 'political campaign'. And 'run' while you're at it.Bach threw his hands up in despair. I can't believe it. This is the final nail in the coffin. Woah, woah, it's that sort of negativity that's dragging you down! Campaign Manager Order 1: No more being a Debbie Downer. The people want a leader who smiles. Oh yeah, I really feel like jumping for joy right about now. So I don't have the most traditional experience in political management. We'll work around that. That's literally your job! All right, hot shot, if you're the political expert, what would you say is your biggest impediment towards winning the election? The biggest impediment?Subtly, I noticed Bach straighten his back and adjust his collar. It seemed he was starting to take this a bit more seriously. Right now, I'd say that'd be the massive disparity in funding between Governor Aija and me. In the political world, cash is power. If you want to make any moves offensive, defensive, whatever money is the means to do it. Governor Aija is able to host galas filled with the richest people in the city to gather funds... and I can't even pay back your measly debt. Yeah, what's up with that anyways? How'd you get this far when you're this poor? Look, I poured most of my resources into the primaries. It took a lot of work getting this far. Ah, can't last long? I feel you there, man. The primaries were a seriously competitive point in the election. They were determining who would go up against Aija. Naturally, there were a lot of talkers. So you're saying our first step should be acquiring a large amount of cash in a short period of time to use as leverage. I mean, that'd be ideal. Well, your luck keeps on getting better and better! Scoring a boatload of cash just happens to be one of my special skills. I shudder to think of how you intend to go about that.I let out a hearty laugh, and put my arm back around Bach's shoulder. You and me, my friend, have a lot of work to do.[BGM: Silence]  I'd vote for Lock. He certainly has the fundamentals down already the right blend of Machiavellianism, as exhibited by this little display. I should be clear here I mean that sincerely. In no way do I level that as some sort of slight. I genuinely believe a great leader should be Machiavellian, at least to some degree. I have to ask: why do we despise Machiavellianism? Because we can't relate to it? Because it seems oddly distant? Cold? Because it's 'evil'? I don't know. Sure, it might enable evil actions more readily... but you could say the same thing about religion, and you don't hear me saying religion is evil. ...You don't hear me saying that. There are plenty of traits people despise narcissism, sociopathy, the like. But really, they're not inherently negative on the face of it. In fact, I think we should have sympathy towards those who possess just tendencies. Not like most of the people with those traits made a conscious choice about it. More to the point, a master Machiavellian has far more capacity to do good then some naive sucker. Who has more desire, well... that's up for debate. But without the power to make change, your desires are worthless. People whine and bitch about elections, how behind the scenes they're corrupt, how there can be no moral politicians. It depends entirely on what you call 'moral' you ask me, you need two things to lead well: the capacity, and the desire to do good. As of now, we don't have any way to truly learn someone's desires, as much as we might like to fool ourselves otherwise. So why not rank the other metric? Seems sensible to me. Next update, it's back to Vels.
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Aug 17, 2023 02:15
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i feel i should probably make a note this is basically the only point in the whole LP where this particular content warning is ever gonna have to be used 
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Aug 17, 2023 02:17
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[BGM: Bidding]  For such a dense city, it wasn't often you saw many people gathered together in Panthea. Especially not in a back alley such as this. So many people were occupying the space that frankly, it looked like it was some sort of health hazard. Perhaps a narrow alleyway in the middle of nowhere wasn't the best location for a group meeting... then again, considering the nature of this meeting, perhaps it was the perfect spot for it. Either way, something told me that Yi wasn't exactly thinking about spacial accommodations when choosing the spot. That, or he hadn't realized how many people would be showing up - maybe he just thought that it'd be a much smaller group? Lord knows I did.  It's pretty amazing, huh?Krish approached me from behind, wearing their typical poo poo-eating grin; an expression made only more annoying now that they were justified in it. Surprising. What's there to be surprised about? You should know just as well as I how much the Duats are a complete shitstain, er, how they are a kin to a plague of locusts swarming our whole, uh, city and stuff. They're bad for business, bad for branding, bad for walking down the street! So of loving course people'd be sick of it! Of course they'd be willing to stick it up their asses! That's what they want! The people, 'course. Not the Duats. If the Duats wanted it it'd sort of defeat the whole point, ya know?
Uh, yeah, you get me. So yeah, it's completely expected that people hate the Duats. That's not what I mean. Oh? Oh, oh I see. You're thinking, 'Sure, people might not like the Duats, but that's true about a lot of things; you'd have to be living a pretty sweet life if you didn't have stuff you hated. There are plenty of things I don't like! I don't like what's going on with our government, but you don't see me storming Capitol Hill!' ...Actually if you did that, the government might, like, fight back and junk. So bad example.That point is actually what makes it an incredibly apt example.  But like, okay, if you don't like a rapper's newest album, you don't go out to find and harass them. Some people do but that's besides the point. But the thing is, this ain't like that at all. It's a matter of, uh, of liberties civil liberties. It's a matter of not letting your rights get trampled on! On taking a stance! If you don't like how a cookie tastes, you can spit it out! Don't like a TV show, stop watching! But if you don't like being harassed by a gang, you can't just opt out. ...Unless, like, you moved. But then that's a whole thing that most people can't easily do and everything, so it doesn't count. Point of order some things are bad enough to move people to action. Way it stands? Things are like 1984 up in here. It's, like, Handmaiden's Tale. Like, uh, The Giver. Like Fahrenheit 451.I was mildly impressed that Krish hadn't named a single contemporary YA novel when floundering for dystopia-themed titles.  So again, nothing surprising to me about people being willing to mobilize on this. Again, not what I meant. For real? I'm surprised that you were able to mobilize all these people.Krish looked genuinely surprised. Seriously? I thought you knew me better than that! Clearly not. Tch. See, it's poo poo like this that makes it crystal clear you ain't local. Everyone in Panthea knows me. I'm a beloved figure 'round here. Beloved? ...Okay, well, maybe not universally, but you get the gist. I mean, my pops' cafe was one of the hottest attractions in this whole place. Back when it was, ya know, functioning and all that. So these people all know you from your father's cafe? Weelllll...Clearly there were a few other ways in which people might know Krish, but pushing on the subject seemed unnecessary. Regardless, you did good work. Really? You mean it? Like, great work? Or good work? I called it good work. But given how surprised you were at the results, wouldn't great be like, more, uh, apt? Am I using that right? You are. And it isn't. What surprised me the most about the crowd was the sheer variety of people present. This wasn't just a singular group of like-minded peers gathered. It was a coalescence of people from all walks of life. Certainly, the group skewed on the younger side plenty of people in high school, some a bit older than that, some a bit younger. But there were full-fledged adults as well; people in their 20s, people in their 30s, in their 40s, even people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, out and about, gathered by some kid in a random back alley. As if reading my mind, Krish spoke up. ...Kinda impressive, right? That so many different people showed up? See, that's what I'm telling ya, this poo poo affects all of us. Old, young, don't make no difference. Whether it's your father or your son being run out of business or being fleeced by loan sharks or whatever, still affects you the same. Still drives you to fight. That's why our little crusade has gathered all types.Krish said this, but I had actually noticed a unifying theme amongst those gathered. There was one thing in common with every person I saw: not a one of them looked particularly well to do. Okay then. So, a decent group's been gathered. Decent? Small alley helps the perception. We're talking about dealing with a city-wide threat. It's not about the size of the dog in the fight, it's about the fight in the dog! Sure. So, the group's been gathered. What exactly do you hope to get out of it? Huh? What's the purpose of this meeting? Hm. That's a good question, Vels!That's a question you should already have an answer to, Krish. Well, it's kinda like a marketing session, ya know? ...Marketing session? That's... not right, is it? ...Networking, that's what I mean, networking. In business and stuff you gotta meet people who are on the same wavelength as you. In the same field. It 'opens doors', having the right connections. And you know this because? Uh, a friend told me 'bout it.Does this friend happen to have the last name of Carnegie? So this is sorta what this is. We're creating a network of those against the Duats. That gives us a leg up, you see? Now when we're in trouble, we'll know who we can turn to. United we stand! And that's it? That's it? That's it??? That's it????? Saying it more incredulously isn't gonna change anything. I'm just surprised about how much of a buzzkill you're being 'bout this whole thing. You don't see the value of bringing a network of people together? Not really. You know, I think this might be something of a 'you' problem. Maybe.There was an awkward lull in conversation. I couldn't help but notice many of the group's eyes were being pulled in our direction. Made sense, since I was standing next to the organizer of the whole thing. So it's just to network? Not to plan? W-we can plan. We will plan! Of course we're gonna plan, this is like... plan central over here, baby! Planet Plan... population: us.You're overselling it.  Okay, so what is the plan? Well, you know, that's So you don't have a plan. I've got a plan! Or I will! Look, that's what the meeting's for. It's a planning meeting, you know? A meeting to plan poo poo. What, did you think I was going to plan the whole revolution?Sort of what you made it sound like, buddy. You know me! You know that ain't my strong suit. So why would I be the one to come up with some master plan, when we got a whole alley full of people, most of 'em probably more qualified to plan poo poo than me?A surprisingly valid point coming from Krish. That's right. I accept my weaknesses. Little thing called 'humblebility'. Maybe look it up next time you open a dictionary, 'kay? 'Kay. And hey, actually we already do have something of a plan.Then why didn't you lead with that? It's all right here.Krish held up the binder they had been clutching in their right hand. We're gonna discuss how to use this pretty little thing. And what's that? This, my compatriot, is a nuclear missile. It's a weapons silo; a loaded gun.Krish... really needed to work on cutting to the point.  See, the Duats don't like leaving a lot of evidence of all their crime poo poo. ...Because they're criminals and all. I follow the concept. Right, so, not a lot of traces... and actually sending their men to prison is an issue for a whole host of reasons. Corruption, witness intimidation, pawns willing to take the fall, blah blah blah. So mounting a front against them on the whole evidentiary side of things always seemed like a kinda tricky task, ya know? But I think that line of thinking's total bullshit! Just 'cuz it's hard to get evidence on their men, and just because there ain't a clear use for that evidence, that doesn't mean jack! Hard to get doesn't mean impossible, and no clear use doesn't mean no use.On a technical level, they weren't wrong.  So see, when I was gathering everybody up, I asked them to try and take whatever evidence they had against the Duats and bring it. I wasn't expecting much, since it's not like anybody here's been digging into their poo poo... but when you're terrorized day-in day-out, you're bound to take some souvenirs. Picture here... screenshot there... a discarded bullet shell or two...Hey, hey, hold up, that last thing seemed a bit more extreme than the first two examples! And guess what? As usual, the group pulls through! We've got a lot of pretty good poo poo collected here enough to, uh, I don't know... do... something. You didn't think the next step through? Like I said, this poo poo's all 'bout planning. Maybe we try, like, uh, I dunno, like an online campaign or something. Maybe we present it to a private eye? Heard from a buddy that there's this new chick in town, maybe she'll help somehow. Maybe we do try the police... you know, hope and pray. Point is we can do something with all this, maybe. Good to see you've got all this figured out. Hey, you're giving me a lotta poo poo for someone who's not doing much of anything yourself!To this, I just shrugged; they raised a decent point. And you know, there's one more thing working in our favor. What? What do you think? Remember what started this whole thing! We got Mr. Yi on our side. Hm. That's definitely gotta give us an edge! I mean, like he said, he's actually a Duat. He's on the inside! He's like, uh, an inside man! So if there's anyone who would know about how to take down the Duats, it'd be him. Now that we've got somebody who, like, knows their weak spots and poo poo, we can be super tactical. Insider knowledge! Ha, they'll never know what hit 'em! Actually, gently caress that! I wanna make 'em know what hit them. ...Mmm, we'll figure the details out later. But you get my point, right? I do.On paper, it was a solid idea. If we really did have a member of the Duats of decent standing on our side, taking them down would certainly become a lot easier. Having just a single point of contact on the inside of a gang like this really made a world of difference. ...Which is why I had concerns.  Krish, are you sure about Mr. Yi? Oh, he's definitely a member of the Duats! I've seen him with some of their regulars; he's been with them for a while. That's not...I took a deep sigh. It sounds like he's in decently-high standing with the Duats... to me, it doesn't make a lot of sense why he'd flip on them. Yeah, I totally agree! It is pretty weird, huh?
Well, lucky us! Krish, I'm asking if we can trust him. Pssh. Can we trust him? Come on, you gotta know the answer to that!I suspected I did. Look, I've known Yi for like, a looooong time. He's completely different than most of these Duat assholes. He's been good to me since I was, like, a kid. Hell, he's lent me cash loads of times. He's solid! Then why is he a Duat?Krish's expression went blank for a moment. It was as though they could do nothing but blink. Ah, don't worry about it. Why is he a Duat, Krish? Pretty sure it was out of necessity or something. He was in some pretty bad legal trouble a while ago? I think? The Duats helped him out, and now he owes them? Eh, I forget details. But I'm pretty sure it's not his choice....If you say so, Krish.  I guess I'll trust you. What do you mean, 'you guess'? Still, it's worth taking some precautions. Precautions? Like what?Out of my pocket, I pulled out a dark purple switchblade knife. Krish's eyes instantly flashed with recognition. With just a glance, they knew what this was, even without the blade having to be protracted. Only kind of precaution worth a poo poo.'I slid out the blade and began spinning it around my hand. The movements felt natural, like riding a bicycle. It had been many years since I'd first learned how to use a switchblade. Back then, I was clumsy and hesitant; I nicked myself quite a few times. Now, flicking it around in my hand was akin to using a stress ball. ...Which is why I found it so incredibly rude when Krish grabbed the knife from my hand. The hell? That's what I should be asking you! To my surprise, Krish looked legitimately miffed it had been a while since I last saw this expression on their face. This is a gathering of allies! This is a united front! It's no place to be bringing weapons! By bringing something like this, you're undermining the trust this whole thing is based off of! You bring a knife when confronting enemies, a knife among allies is useless!And with this cry, Krish turned around and dramatically flung the switchblade up. it went sailing high in the air, then landed on a nearby balcony overlooking the alleyway. The whole scene had drawn a number of eyes in our direction.
On second thought, that might've been a bit of an overreaction. Oh, you think? For the record, I bring that knife everywhere I go, dumbshit. Oh. Heh heh... whoops? ...I'll go get it.[BGM: Silence]  Without another word, I moved in the direction of the flung knife. For most people, it having landed up high would've been an issue... but not for me. There was a convenient storm drain in just the right spot. I gripped around it and began to scale the wall really wasn't hard in the slightest. And, just like that, I made my way to the balcony. There you are, my old friend. Just as I had this touching reunion... I heard the sound of footsteps. Well, considering how many people were gathered up in this area, that might not be too big a surprise. No, what was disconcerting about those footsteps was the direction from which they were approaching. Someone was coming from outside the alley. No, not just one person, a few. On nothing more than a whim... I decided to stay perched for a few moments longer. And, as those figures turned the corner, I instantly felt validated in my decision. In came Yi. Expected? Sure. But the expression on his face immediately set off alarm bells in my head. This wasn't a meeting you should feel happy about attending. It certainly wasn't one where you should flash a grin as soon as you see the scene. Nervousness would probably be the most appropriate expression. Or, at the very least, caution. That alone, however, wasn't enough to warrant suspicion. [BGM: Trick Score]  What really tipped me over the edge was the company Yi had brought along. To his left, a giant of a man lumbered behind him. He was, what, 7 feet? It certainly felt that way. He had both a grimace and a scar plastered across his face, and it was hard to tell which was more threatening. He wore a dark grey trenchcoat with a number of questionable stains across it. To Yi's right, a heavy-set man followed his lead with much more pep in his step. His outfit was, put simply, garish he wore a bright yellow overcoat and a fedora which was two sizes too small to fit atop his bald head. In contrast to the giant, this guy's expression matched Yi's. The group seemed to collectively recoil as the three approached... but Krish, as usual, didn't seem to share the group's sentiments.
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Aug 18, 2023 22:56
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[BGM: Trick Score]  Hey, Yi! Glad you could make it! Well, glad I could come here, buddy! Yeah, I'm just happy you came. I'm happy to come! Great! Awesome. Gotta say little late, though. Oh, a little late, or a little early? Ha ha ha ha, get what I'm saying? Oh, ho ho, ha ha. ...Not really. But then again, when do I? Ha ha ha. Heh, got that right! If the surrounding context wasn't screaming otherwise, you would almost mistake this for an amicable meeting of friends. Alright, well, glad you're here. With this, we can really get this meeting started, yeah? That's what I'm talking about!Krish, you absolute moron. Are you really not going to question the two guys he brought with him?! I wanted to shout at them, but given the situation I felt compromising my position might not be ideal. Luckily, there was at least one sensible person amongst the crowd; a white-haired girl ran over to Krish and whispered something to them. A look of understanding crossed over their face, and they nodded back to the girl. Right! So, Yi, can't believe my manners who are the two guests you decided to bring here? Oh, these two? Don't mind them! Ah, well, kinda have to a little bit. Fair enough. These two are just some buddies that I thought could be useful to the cause. So they're friends of yours? Exactly! Cool! Cool cool cool. ...except, uh, and forgive me if I'm wrong ain't they Duat members?Acting surprised, Yi looked to his left and right, as though he was examining the men beside him. Why, I do believe you might just be right there, Krish! Friends from work, then. Oh, well, okay. Are they also fed up with the Duats? Well, why don't we ask them? Say, Zaochi, are you getting tired of working for the Duats? The shorter man to Yi's right responded in a similarly glib tone. You know, I think I am. Great! If I may ask, what ended up being the tipping point for you? The injustice of it all? How unfairly they treat their members? Dental. D-dental? Yeah, they don't cover dental work. I mean, what self-respecting organization can't cover such basics? It's a frickin' outrage, I'm tellin ya! Indeed, indeed, it's pretty unbelievable. That does sound pretty bad.Krish turned to the giant. And what about you, what's your reason for joining our cause? Yeah, Fang, what really grinds your gears about the Duats? For a moment, the giant simply stood there. Then, with a sigh, he spoke in a low growl. I dislike these new restrictions coming from the higher ups. Hey, bureaucracy who needs it? I particularly loathe this new talk of 'necessary restraint' when engaging in beatdowns. It thoroughly hampers my ability to do my job. Heh heh, yeah, that's, um... that... kind of sounds like a good thing? I gotta be honest, I can't say I love your reasons for turning against the Duats. Nor do I love yours. Huh. Well... we do need all the help we can get. But, like, morally speaking, is it cool to team up with someone like this? 'Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow'. A little quote from Plato. Surely his presence is a step in the right direction? There is also the argument that the motives and outcomes of actions shouldn't really be factored in when questioning something's morality. It's too ambiguous and subjective. 'The wise man lets go of all results, whether good or bad, and is focused on the action alone'. That quote comes from Bhagavad, who argues on paying attention to what is evident. If Fang helps a good cause, then you should focus on that. Huh. Hmmm. ...You know, I guess that all makes sense! Alright, welcome to the group, Fang!Fang stayed silent. [BGM: Silence]  Smartly, many among the gathered group had begun to have doubts about the current arrangement. Some began looking around for possible means of egress... and, in that search, they began making their way down the other side of the alley. While the dialogue with Krish had distracted him somewhat, Yi noticed these deserters. And it looked like he was none too happy with what he was seeing. Solemnly, he put his fingers up to his mouth; then, with a surprising volume, he let out a high-pitched whistle. At first, all paused for a moment, curious as to what he was doing. The answer to that became painfully obvious, as a door further down the alley swung open. And, from an innocuous looking shop, two more figures stepped out into the daylight. [BGM: Kicker]  drat it, this location... it was a setup from step one. The two figures who walked out were equally as threatening as the other intruders. It was a man and a woman; both looked similar siblings, if I had to guess. They both wore a frankly offensive amount of camo gear and denim, and neither of them looked happy to be here. But this time... it wasn't their expressions which gave off a threatening vibe: it was their weapons. The woman had a metal bat draped over her shoulder, and the man boasted metal knuckles on each of his fists. So then, it had become clear this wasn't going to be a peaceful little meeting. Although, it appeared as though Yi was still content with keeping the 'friendly' song and dance up for just a little longer.  Ah, right, I should probably introduce these two as well! Jia, Xia, say hi!The girl spat on the ground. Yi, you piece of poo poo. You gotta stop yanking us around for grunt work. You know how long we were waiting in there?Annoyed, the guy turned to Jia and smacked her on the shoulder. She winced in pain. Can it, numbnuts! That's your superior officer you're talking 'bout!Enraged, Jia turned back around and swung her bat right into Xia's stomach. Idiot! That loving hurt, you know?Xia coughed; the swing clearly took something out of him. Bitch. You seriously can't handle a little hit on the shoulder? You're wearing fuckin' iron knuckles! That's... gently caress off! Uh, are they okay? Oh, them? Pay them no mind, they're always like this. Really? Pretty much. That being the case, I'm surprised one of them hasn't offed the other. It's a real wonder, isn't it? Honestly, I wonder why I keep them around. ...Well, they're amusing enough - that counts for a lot. Not unlike you, Krish. ...Thanks? You're welcome.It wasn't a compliment, Krish. Get your drat head in the game! Luckily, even Krish wasn't blind enough to not see the obvious problem those two posed.  Say, Yi... I don't wanna sound, ya know, accusatory or anything...You do, Krish, you really do. ...It's accusatory, right?It is. Yes, that's proper. Good, good. So, don't wanna be accusatory or nothing, but I have to ask why do your friends have weapons? It's a dangerous world, Krish. Lot of dangerous people. Yeah, not wrong. So maybe they just have that stuff to try and make themselves feel safer. You're not gonna infringe on their natural right to bear arms, are you? Don't pull a LaFollette on me, Krish. All I'm saying is that this was supposed to be a peaceful meeting. Bringing those things sort of puts out, uh, bad vibes. It's lowering people's trust. Your people don't trust us? Why, that is an issue. Trust is the foundation of every healthy relationship. Exactly, exactly. But then, why wouldn't you people trust us? What reason would you have to distrust us? Well, you guys are all members of the Duats. True, true. So then, what would the Duats have against this sort of meeting?Krish, how painfully is this dude gonna have to spell it out to you???  Well, it's a meeting against the Duats. So it'd make sense if Duat members were against it... Uh huh, uh huh. That makes a lot of sense.Behind him, Zaochi began snickering. So then, if a Duat member heard about a meeting of people opposed to the Duats, what might they do? Well... they'd probably come and ambush us or something. Right, right.
Krish had circled around the issue for long enough; after enough time, there was no more benefit of the doubt to be given. So then. Everybody, let's start. First things first, you can all get on your knees.The moment those words left Yi's mouth, the temperature of the alley dropped several degrees. The brewing tension spilled out, transforming into pure panic. The crowded bunch began nervously moving amongst themselves, not sure what to do. Everyone obviously wanted out. But, where to go? At the back side of the alley, Jia and Xia stood firm. Their bickering had stopped, and now they firmly held their weapons. At the front side of the alley, Yi stood firm, backed up by Fang and Zaochi. I had noticed Zaochi had already stuffed one of his greasy palms in his pocket; I could pretty easily speculate why that might be the case. So... that was that. Front covered. Back covered. Like fish in a barrel. There seemingly wasn't any option... but that didn't stop Krish. They stood tall, and their expression warped into anger. What the hell, Yi? The gently caress is up with this? I thought you were on my side! Why are you doing this, it doesn't make an*THWAP!* [BGM: Silence]  The sound of Yi's backhand swinging across the side of Krish's face echoed throughout the alley. It brought the chaos to silence. Even Krish just stood there, stunned at what had just happened. They didn't know how to react. The stunned silence only lasted for a moment, though. Yi... Seriously, what the hell are yo*THWAP!!* Once more, Yi backhanded Krish, this time with his other arm, and with a considerably increased amount of force. Krish faltered, stumbling a few steps back. This time... the silence lasted a lot longer. Krish's face fluctuated between fear and hatred. Once more, Yi reached out to them. But this time, it was with a look of sympathy. Gently, he put his hand on Krish's shoulder. Krish. Please, could you just be understanding? If you get on your knees now, this whole thing can come and go real simply. I'm begging you. I don't want to have to ask again. Not you.Krish didn't seem to really know how to respond to this. After a few bewildered seconds... they complied, getting on their knees. Seeing Krish acquiesce, much of the group that was still undecided realized what needed to happen. [BGM: The Bomb]  Collectively, the whole crowd got on their knees. Excellent. See, that wasn't so hard, was it?Then, in a much quieter and gruffer voice, Yi barked an order. Check 'em for weapons.Fang nodded, then stepped forwards. Apparently Yi hadn't needed to designate this task between him and Zaochi. Fang began moving from person to person, doing a rough patdown of each. Many recoiled at the sight of this imposing giant; however, none had the strength of will to do anything more than simply pull back. All let the man do his job. At one point, Fang stopped at an older gentleman. He pulled a pistol from the frightened man's pocket. With a stern face he looked at the gun, then back to the man... and then, wordlessly, he flung the pistol down the alleyway, over the heads of Jia and Xia. With that, he then returned to his job. In less time than would be expected, Fang had checked everyone. Well... almost everyone. Then, he returned to Yi's side. Brilliant. Yi then took a moment to clear his throat. He adjusted his tie. He slightly bounced forwards on his heels. Clearly, he felt like he wasn't in any sort of rush... which normally was true. However, he hadn't accounted for one person. Me. To be honest, I couldn't anticipate exactly what was going to happen, but I figured whatever it was, it likely wasn't going to be good. What could I do? On my own, not a lot I suspected. Luckily, there was one force in this city meant to handle situations like this. Now, one could argue the fact that this meeting is happening is a testament to the fact that said force wasn't exactly the ideal choice. ...Ah, well. Beggars couldn't be choosers. And there were limits to incompetence. The Duats might be brazen, but they couldn't just do whatever they pleased. If no, when the police arrived, they'd scatter. So then, it was just a matter of calling them. As silently as I could, I slid the phone out of my pocket. I was hyperaware that even the slightest noise could draw attention my way, dooming this whole enterprise. So even though my progress felt painfully slow, it was necessary. Better to be a bit slower here than to draw attention my way. Soon enough, I had the phone to the side of my head. My phone was on vibrate, and the volume was cranked down. And... 9... 1... 1... A faint vibrating... I clutched the phone tight, putting its speaker right up to my ear. Then...  Hello, you've reached the Panthea Police Department.Instantly, in as faint a whisper as I could manage, I began describing the situation. I gave them the address, and emphasized how urgent the situation was. And then, before things could go wrong, I hung up. Okay, okay. Looking down, Yi had begun his dumbshit monologue. No one had noticed me. So... now it was just a matter of stalling until help arrived. I could definitely do something towards that end, but... right now, I was the Ace up Krish's sleeve. I didn't know how much time I could realistically buy. So to make the most use of me, I needed to wait to the last possible moment. For now... just wait and listen.  So, it's come to my attention that some among you have... well, let's call them 'concerns' with the Duats as of late. And you know what? That's fair. That's on us. It's only natural that an organization as broad and long-lasting as the Duats would run into the occasional issue or two. And see, you might see us as the enemy... but that's not how I see us at all. The Duats are as much a part of Panthea as anything else. We're made up of Pantheans; we're reliant on Pantheans. The city may be hostile towards us, but I don't think that's the right approach to take. I think the Duats serve a symbiotic relationship with the rest of the city. We need the city to be running well to survive, and in turn we do our jobs and we do them well. So then, as a Senior Officer of the Duats, I'm very concerned with maintaining a solid relationship. Which is why I gathered everybody here together! You guys want to revolutionize the Duats, well... I'm all ears.Behind Yi, Zaochi was stifling another chuckle.  So then, let's hear it people! The Duat Suggestion Box is open right now in the form of yours truly. You got a problem with the way we're running things, speak up. We'll be sure to hear you, and we'll be sure to address the problem.Almost as if to emphasize the point in a dark irony, Fang began cracking his knuckles. Predictably, nobody had the guts to raise their hand and air their grievances. Besides Krish, most of the people here were pretty good at reading between the lines. This was a hollow, almost mocking gesture. Still, Yi stood there, eagerly waiting for someone to speak up. When it became clear nobody was going to, he clicked his tongue. Nobody? Really? Not a one of you has any complaints?Another pause. Hey Jia, Xia, you hearing this? All these people and not one of them's got any complaints for us. It's incredible, right? I know I sure got some complaints. Yi's asking the people now, Jia. Yeah, I got that. See, even Jia here has her grievances. So, none of you guys have anything to say? Last chance, standing right in front of you.More silence. Well, that's that I suppose. Yi clapped his hands, as though a matter had been settled... as though anything had been settled. Boy. So many of you came here to take down the Duats, and yet not a one of you could vocalize your issues with us. Gotta say I find that a little peculiar. It's got me scratching my head as to why you all were so incensed with us in the first place. Well, if none of you can offer me any reasons, I can only assume that you guys don't have any legitimate complaints to file. Instead, you were all maliciously teaming up against us for some, well, I don't know, half-hearted grudge perhaps? Now that doesn't sound very fair.People began to squirm. Which brings us to our next order of business.Yi walked over to Krish. They couldn't bear to make eye contact with him. Yi smiled at Krish, then leaned down and yanked the file of evidence from their hands. Let's talk about your plans to 'take down the Duats', huh? Let me guess you want to try putting us in jail? Makes sense, right? That's what you do with criminals in a just society, so going against the Duats like that seems like a pretty sensible method, yeah? And surely in this big old file, there's plenty of stuff that would lock up Duat members. Hell, if someone were to record all of this, maybe they could lock me up! Corruption can only get you so far, and blatant crime just can't get far. So then, do you all think this file is meaningful?Before waiting for a response, Yi haphazardly flung the file into a nearby trash can. Then he snapped his fingers. Like an automated golem, Fang began moving at Yi's command; he lumbered over to the trash can, took out a lighter, and tossed it in. In an instant, flames began to rise out of the can. The group recoiled. All that work... all that evidence... But, given the circumstances, perhaps this was the least of their worries. Afraid to say, you couldn't be more wrong. Now... I'm just as aware as the next person that a lot of what was in there has backups. That fire? It's symbolic. It's saying what you should do with that evidence. Because guess what? If you threw me in jail, hell, if you threw all of us here in jail, you wouldn't accomplish jack poo poo. Because right after that, the next in line would round you all up, just like now. Except that person wouldn't resolve things with just talking... they'd silence you in a permanent manner.Yi let that last sentence linger in the air. He wanted everyone to digest it. This was the big point he was trying to make. Throwing individuals in jail, yeah, that might've worked on the Duats in the past. That'd work with a lot of smaller gangs. But you're too late for that. The Duats are too big for that.  There isn't some key point you can strike down to collapse everything. There isn't a heart you can stab, a head you can slice off. The Duats are a shadowy, massive, all-consuming blob that does whatever the hell it wants, and is incredibly cruel towards those who get in its way.At this, there was some whooping from Xia and Zaochi. Look, you all are looking at me with scared faces right now, but you should be thanking your lucky stars I'm the one standing in front of you. I'm a sucker amongst the Duats; I'm soft. If it was someone else, who's to say? For instance, there's this new up and coming Senior Officer in the Duats. Name's Lara. Real uppity bitch. She's really looking to make her mark in the world, cement her place. And being the sadist that he is, I'm pretty sure Marduk would really appreciate a big group slaughter of those plotting against him.Immediately, unrest swept across the captives at his implication.  Hey, relax, relax! This is why you should be grateful that I'm standing here. I trust all of you, I believe in your ability to think logically. I am perfectly sure that you all will be able to get the message from this little warning meeting I've gathered. ...Right?Desperate nodding swept across the crowd. Krish, I noticed, refrained from this. Right, right.Yi leisurely took a few steps back. You know, I really am sympathetic to your plight. I get frustration at the Duats. But there are some certainties in life you simply have to make your peace with and accept. Going against the Duats... it's just something that people like you are incapable of.[BGM: Silence]  So that's it, huh?With an anger burning in their eyes, Krish stood up. The Duats are just too big and bad and scary to be dealt with? Just because they're scary, you're too afraid to stand up to them?[BGM: Grand Slam]  That's bullshit Mr. Yi, and you know it!Yi took a step back, a bit surprised. He looked temporarily lost for words. Krish took advantage of this momentary lapse in Yi's control to continue their crusade. You were asking for complaints, well, I've got some. How about how the Duats have been running small businesses into the ground? Somehow, they don't target those in power, they target those without it! Where's the justice in that?! What's right about hurting people just trying to make a living? What's right about forcing my father's cafe to close down, forcing me into poverty? You say that the Duats have a symbiotic relationship with Panthea, and I say that's bullshit! What do you give us? Protection? Yeah, yeah, is that like how you extort people for 'protection money'? You know who that protection's against? It's against fuckin' you! That ain't what protection means, have y'all opened a loving dictionary? And I know you know this, Mr. Yi! I know you're better than this! You always talked about doing the right thing, so where the gently caress's all that talk now, now that it's needed?! Don't give me some pussy excuse about Duats being unbeatable, that's god drat baby talk and you know it. Give me a straight up answer as to who the hell you've become! What the hell you've done!! At this point, Krish was standing mere inches from Yi's face. Their fists were balled so tight I thought they might hurt themselves. Krish, you loving idiot... Krish, Krish, Krish... I already gave you time to make your complaints. You should've spoken up then.Then, in one swift motion, Yi punched Krish right in the gut. They fell to one knee, clearly stunned. However, this stun didn't last long; Krish began to stand up, in a huff. Yi, what the helOnce more, Yi punched Krish right in the gut. It's not like he was winding his punch up, and yet I could hear the impact from here. Yi definitely didn't look that strong, but... clearly I was mistaken. Indeed, perhaps it was overly idealistic to imagine that things could be resolved with speech alone. Alas, the philosopher in me gets the better of me once more. On one knee, Krish glared at Yi with an expression of no longer anger, but profound sadness.
Come on, then. Get up.That sadness was replaced with confusion at these words. Still, Krish slowly complied, clearly not entirely sure what the point of it was. [BGM: Silence]  The point was made abundantly clear when once again, Yi struck Krish right in the gut. At this, Krish cried out in audible pain. This loving bastard... ...no, keep it cool, keep it cool. This was still mild enough; it could get worse. Don't get overeager. Krish was now nursing the spot in which they were struck with their hands. Okay. Get up. But Get. Up.For a moment, Krish just kneeled there, unsure what to do. Eventually though, they conceded, and began to stand up once more. And once more, Yi struck Krish squarely in the stomach. Barely any time passed between Krish falling back down and Yi's next predictable command. Get up.*thud* *thud* *thud* Again and again, this surprisingly mundane cycle repeated. It was very simple. Someone stood up, and then was punched in the gut. Repeat. But by the look on Krish's face, you couldn't argue its effectiveness. [BGM: The Wire]  Get up. I... I can't, please... Oh, I know you, Krish. You've always been remarkably strong in spirit hey, that's why you were able to call everyone together here in the first place, right? Here, let me help you.Yi leaned in and helped Krish to their feet. ...Then he took a step back and slammed Krish in the gut once more. And then, right as soon as Krish hit the ground, he began to help them to their feet once more. Oh, don't look at me like that, Krish. I know I said this before, but you should be thanking me right now. It's standard protocol for Duat torture to be a lot rougher than this. Usually it'd be something scarring, or maybe something with a lasting effect like breaking your arm. Some have some really nasty ways of doing it. Ever see one of those devices they clamp to your finger that drills under your fingernails? Truly revolting, makes my stomach heave. In comparison, this is getting off incredibly light! Just getting punched in the gut a few times, most people go through something like that at some point in their lives.And without another word, Yi slammed Krish in the gut once again. His point was thoroughly made. Barely anyone in the crowd could stand to even look at the spectacle anymore. I noticed that even Zaochi was beginning to wince at the display. Though, conversely, a slight grin began to form on Fang's face. Anyways, Yi had made himself perfectly clear. And yet... ...You know, somehow, I don't think you're gonna get the message from just this. ...I am. You are? You sure? I am.Krish couldn't manage to maintain eye contact with Yi. ...Probably because they were lying. Yi was right. Something this light wouldn't change Krish. Only reason Krish wasn't fighting back was because of all the potential collateral damage sitting around them. Weeeellll... if you say so. ...Eh, what the hell, one more for good measure. Krish sighed and got to their feet once more. Yi began winding up and then released one final, brutal swing right into Krish's stomach. They were completely knocked to their feet, and in the crash a certain dark-green notebook came falling out of Krish's back pocket. Oh no.
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Aug 23, 2023 00:27
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content warning: misgendering, implication of police brutality [BGM: Trick Score]  Yi looked at this notebook with some interest. gently caress. Oh? What do we have here? Don't touch that!Krish cried out, but it was too late; Yi had already picked it up, and began rifling through it with interest. Ah... Ah, I see. So this is your little 'ideas' journal, huh? For stories, things you want to write?
Come on, speak, will you? It... it is. Ah. I see, I see.Yi nonchalantly flipped through the pages. Interesting stuff here. I mean, nothing usable, but interesting. You really intend to be a writer, huh? Like, you want that to be your job? ...I do.Krish answered this with much more conviction. ...Wrong choice.  Well, that's no drat good at all, is it? Huh? I mean, put the practicalities of the market aside and look at yourself, Krish! Really look at yourself.Stop it. You know Krish, I really do believe you've got greatness inside of you. Problem is, I've never been too much of an Aristotlean. I'm a believer in the theory of forms, you see. Everyone should strive for excellence in the field they're meant to. And striving for forms that you aren't? Goes against the natural order. Waste of talent, waste of time.I knew what was about to happen. I readied myself. And then... I waited. With a sad sigh, Yi tossed the journal into the nearby trash fire. In a panic, Krish jumped forward to try and save it, bu t Yi was prepared. A kick to the gut, and Krish was back on their knees. That journal meant a lot to Krish... and I could've saved it if I had acted then. But... thinking about it logically, that journal wasn't worth much just a collection of written ideas. It wasn't worth compromising my position for something like that, not in a matter of life and death. [BGM: Silence]  Hey, I admire the guts, wanting for something like that. Trust me I've been there, done that. Didn't work.Yi leaned down to Krish. Look, from one piece of sewer trash to another, take my advice: stay in your lane. That journal? A complete waste, a siren song. And hey, I read through a bunch of that, and really nothing of value was lo*krack!* Krish had had enough. In a rage, they struck out, landing a solid straight punch right to Yi's jaw. Yi was sent reeling by the blow. AAAaargh!! God, gently caress![BGM: First Rubber]  Yi began rubbing his face in the place the blow landed. Oh, oh Krish, you little poo poo, you really, REALLY shouldn't have. I'm doing you a favor here! I'm being generous to you! To all of you!Yi was now bellowing, looking out to the whole group. For the first time, Yi was blatantly irritated. For a moment, it looked like he was going to go into a frenzy... but instead, Yi took a breath. And just like that, he recomposed himself. Ah, well. That's the way it goes, isn't it? Still naive, Yi. Think of Carlin's Rule: 'Imagine the average person, and realize that half of the population is stupider than that'. From the start, I needed a better example.And with that, Yi reached behind him and pulled out what looked like a flat wooden stick he had been keeping tucked in his pants, behind his jacket. Then, with his spare hand, he unsheathed the stick to reveal that this was no mere piece of wood, but a very short iron blade... more of an oversized knife, being honest. So, everyone! You know Krish here. He's a pretty bright young lad. But he's a painfully stupid young lad... and I think he just volunteered to be an example as to just what the Duats can get away with.Okay, I had stalled for as long as possible. Let things proceed without intervention any longer, and we were getting into 'serious repercussion' territory. Currently, I possessed the element of surprise. What to do with it? Thinking carefully, there was a clear target I needed to take out first. Earlier, Zaochi had his hand in his pocket; looking at the bulge, I was pretty sure he was carrying. Best to stun the person with the gun at the start. [BGM: Grand Slam]  I had to make sure my attack landed true. A falling attack...  I slammed into Zaochi with a falling strike. The momentum of my fall hurt me a bit, but it hurt that guy a hell of a lot more. Zaochi was clearly not a fighter, and with just this attack he crumpled like a bag of bricks. But I couldn't let up, not for a second. Element of surprise didn't last long. Next biggest threat the Goliath.  I kept my momentum up and charged right at Fang. Like a bullet, I shot at him, and once I got in range I jumped up and struck at him with all my force. It did... a bit of damage, but not enough. The man flinched, but only temporarily. Then, he geared up for a counterattack.  With a frightening speed and competency, he swung at me with his left arm. At the last moment, I ducked under the attack, grabbing a nearby discarded trash can lid in the process. Right as his arm passed by, I jumped up and slammed the side of the lid into the side of his head. The man flinched and lowered a bit in response to the attack, giving me the opportunity to lift the lid and slam it down like an axe. That one landed, causing him to stumble back.  But even with that monster blow, I was experienced enough to know that he was far from defeated. This guy would take all my attention. Best to first deal with the two looming fighters regaining their senses every second. I rushed over towards them, making my way past the civilians on the ground. As I charged Xia, he readied an attack at me.  Xia tried throwing a right hook at my charging figure. However, he mistimed it. Right before I got into range I paused, but Xia took the swing anyways; now off-kilter, I rushed forwards and slammed him in the gut with a kick to his right side. Then I pushed past him, hoping to make an attack on his sister... but of course, she was ready for me.  She swung her metal bat from the upper-left quadrant, meaning the blow would land in the lower right quadrant. I ducked over to the left, and the weapon barely missed the side of my head. Instead of considering how close I just came to imminent death, I punched Jia squarely in the side of the chest. With this moment of opportunity, I continued by giving her a straight punch to the nose.  She stumbled backwards, but I heard a sound from behind. Xia had recovered, ready to strike back at me. No sooner had I noticed this than Jia took a step forwards, ready to strike at me again. ...Rock and a hard place.  Xia, strangely enough, was going for an uppercut punch. Jia was going to swing her bat at me. In a brilliant instant, I realized what I had to do: nothing. Well... not quite true, I moved out of the way of the incoming attacks. But then, in the center where I once stood, Jia's bat connected with Xia's fist. He howled in pain, and she recoiled, realizing what she had just done. That recoil was all I needed I jumped up and kicked her right in the stomach. I then pushed off her body, using the momentum to power my punch at Xia's face. I didn't stop moving in that direction after the punch connected, however. Instead, I charged straight past, at Fang. At this point, the man had fully recovered, and was making his way over to deal with me. I couldn't have that. With this many opponents, I needed to stay on the offensive, making them react to me. Fang saw perhaps expected my charge, and prepared to retaliate in turn.  Fang's arms outstretched wide, prepared to grab onto me the moment I got within range. I... gently caress, there wasn't a good counterattack. Anything I did, this man would take in stride, then proceed to restrain me.  Meanwhile, in the corner of my eye, I noticed Zaochi, the one with a gun, was fumbling with something in his pocket. I didn't have time to tango with Fang. I just leaped low past him, avoiding his attempt to grab me. I almost lost my footing in this maneuver, but persisted in my run at Zaochi. He noticed my charge, let out a slight yelp, and put up his arms to try and block my attack.  Zaochi braced for a punch... but I didn't throw a punch. I just slammed into him with the full weight of my body. This completely broke his guard, and after I took a step back the kick I sent at his head connected easily. I could've continued to bully this punching bag for a while, but I noticed the bigger problems I had. I turned around and, sure enough, right in front of me Fang stood, fists clenched. To my right, Jia and Xia were just as close, both aiming to take a swing at me. Zaochi on my left would only stay stunned for so long. poo poo, too many enemies, too many possible attacks... What to do...? What could I do? My brain was in overdrive.  Too many opponents, too many factors. Needed an out, but where? ...There! Between Fang and Xia, there was enough space. I launched my body into a low dive, and got through the opening while avoiding the attacks of both parties. I kept running a few more feet, before reaching the alley's other wall. I came to a running turn, but at this point, I was faced with a very similar sight. Fang was upon me, Xia right behind him. Jia was flanking my left, and back to the right, Zaochi was still fumbling with his gun. poo poo, I'd have to deal with that. I was starting to feel a bit fatigued... but I was far from out of the fight. What's the next thing I sh [You won 7 chips!] [BGM: Silence]  That's enough!Suddenly, Yi shouted out, catching everybody's attention. drat it, I had completely forgotten about him! He had his blade around the neck of that white-haired girl I saw whispering to Krish earlier. She was quite understandably frightened. Impressive show, hoodie, but I think it's time for you to put it to rest... or else there's going to be more examples than necessary to get the point across.I grimaced. This was bad... Honestly, that was quite a display golf claps all around. But I'd wager you're an experienced enough fighter to know you're picking a losing battle. So why don't you spare my men some dignity and just call it quits here? Keep roughing them up and you're going to start giving some of them self-esteem issues. I wanted to argue back, but the truth of the matter was that Yi was correct. I was surrounded by experienced armed thugs. The element of surprise had propelled me for a while in that fight, but they had all come back to their senses. Frankly, I doubt I could take Fang down even in a one-on-one setting. Factor in that fat bastard and the wonder twins nipping at my heels, and I've no chance. And as Yi already pointed out... unintended casualties were too risky a factor. Tch. If only these sheep would do something. If any of them had been paying attention, they'd have remembered that a pistol was flung over Jia and Xia's heads earlier. With them out of the way and with Zaochi unarmed, getting your hands on that pi stol would get you instant control over the situation. Or hell, just run away, get out of here! This was the problem with Krish's plan from the beginning; it relied on bringing a bunch of people together. But people lose their efficiency in a group, rather than gain it. Most persons are smart. People are dumb as hell. Better to handle things yourself... or employ others intelligently. ...Well, that was besides the point. Fact of the matter was, I had lost. Game over. Reluctantly, I got on my knees. Yi smirked. Well now, looks like we should've been paying more attention to the New Guy in town after all. So thenAnd just then, Yi paused... because he heard what we all heard. [BGM: Trick Score]  The faint, faint sound of an approaching siren. In an instant, I could feel the fear that had slowly begun to build in my gut dissipate. Thank God. I had stretched just enough time out to save our asses. See, this is why you need to be smart when deploying your trump cards. Sometimes you really do need all the utility you can squeeze out of the situation before you bring them in. While Krish and the others looked relieved, Yi looked incredibly frustrated. For a moment he paced nervously, then threw his hands up in defeat. Fine, fine, fine, you guys have clearly gotten the point. I think this little demonstration has made it crystal clear that this whole endeavor is a dumb loving idea. Listen we all know your faces. We'll know your names. Don't start poo poo, keep your head low, and all of us will be doing just fine. ...Now, scram.Yi brushed his hand away, shooing the crowd down the alleyway. As he did this, his members reluctantly made their way to the doorway Jia and Xia had been waiting in earlier. Many of the gathered crowd didn't need to hear Yi's advice twice. They scurried away, certain to never cross the Duats again. However, quite a few were unsure of what to do, and just stood there dazed. Well... some of them stood there dazed.  Hey, hold on, why should we be running? Y'all, we're the victims in all of this! The cops are on our side! There's no need to run! We should stay! This is an opportune chance!At this, Yi scowled. However, before he could speak up, I did. Drop it Krish. They're saving our asses, we'll call that a win. For real?Krish looked confused and a little hurt by my suggestion. I was just being practical. Yi just made a big deal about how the Duats strike back, and we didn't know who or how many were coming to our 'aid'. At the very least, I doubt staying would do us much good, and it had the potential to just get us in more poo poo. The tactical thing was to just flee. You heard what your friend said, Krish. Scram!Krish hesitated, then began to begrudgingly jog down the alley. And with them, the rest of the group followed. Yi gave me a curt nod, and then began to walk towards the door the others had fled to. ...Which meant he wasn't looking at me. [BGM: Silence]  I told the others to get out of here, but I didn't say anything about what I'd be doing. As quietly as I could, I scaled the exact same drain pipe and settled on the exact same balcony scaffolding as I had before. You might think it was dumb to pull the exact same move twice in a row... but that was probably why they wouldn't expect me to do the exact same thing. ...Maybe. Eh, worst comes to worst, from my position... I scanned the surroundings. Sure enough, there was a nearby fire escape I could jump to at my height. I could use that to make my escape, and could easily get away pretty risk free. Yeah, it was worth the risk to start spying. After frankly far too long, I saw a police officer coming down the alley. They'd likely parked nearby. It was a balding, slightly fidgety man.  He walked down the alley at a brisk pace, with his right hand clearly placed atop his holster. Further down the alley stood Yi. He nonchalantly leaned against the door his comrades had exited through. A bold move, staying around, but perhaps an understandable one. Was this standard procedure? S-so, Yi, funny to see you here. A pleasure, Seth. You know I'm not here just for fun. There was a, uh, a call placed. A report. Said there was a major situation here, big incident of, erm, gang violence or something. A big beatdown. Oh? Sounds positively dreadful. Yeah, well, sounds a little far-fetched. But hearing about gang violence, I was sent to, you know... check it out. So then, well, you wouldn't happen to know anything about this report, would you? I figure I would. You would? And why's that? Why, because I was inciting that gang violence. Inciting gang violence, well, that's just not good at all. Did you know that's a crime? Is it? It is. Which means it's my job to haul you into the station.The two stared each other down for a beat. Then, without looking behind him, Yi knocked on the door. Coast's clear, boys.[BGM: The Gungniri]  I loving knew it. Zaochi, Jia, Xia, and Fang all made their way back into the alley. Seth didn't look particularly troubled by this, until Zaochi began getting in his face. The gently caress, Seth? You totally frigging ruined everything! We were in the middle of doing our poo poo, and then you came and we totally had to break it up! You were practically interfering in Duat business!Seth's gaze dropped down. Oh dear, oh dear, I'm s-s-so sorry about that, really, I hate to offend... If there's anything, I mean, anything I could do toAs he was saying this, Seth nervously put a hand on Zaochi's shoulder. Then, in the middle of his sentence, Seth pulled down hard on the back of Zaochi's neck and lifted his left knee with a fury. It made solid contact, landing a pretty gnarly looking blow on Zaochi. Immediately, he covered his nose with his hand, trying to soften the pain. However, just as soon as he did that, Seth also covered Zaochi's face with his hand, pushing him back. He stumbled over and landed square on his back.  You're seriously pinning this on me, dipshit? How the gently caress was I supposed to know what the hell was going on? You should be thanking your lucky stars I was able to get clearance to handle that report! A-and also, you know, how long does it take for you guys to do your drat jobs? I took so many detours on my way here it took me twice as long to arrive than it would for any standard officer.Yi put his hands up diplomatically. Relax, relax. Nobody here's trying to criticize you, you're doing just fine. Ignore Zao over there, he's a dipshit.Zaochi didn't look too pleased to be both injured and insulted in such a short time frame, but he also surely wasn't going to bring that up now. Honestly, I feel as though, as though you guys don't appreciate the risks I'm taking. You're appreciated! Everyone appreciates you. Hey, Seth? You're doing great.Yi held out a thumbs up. Oh, bite me. Well, if it hadn't been clear beforehand, that little conversation was the final nail. Seth was as dirty as they came - a Duat agent, in the police force. Shifty little poo poo. Still, this was really a blessing. They clearly didn't realize I was here. So if I could get a recording of this conversation... I patted my pocket, and instantly a bolt of horror jolted through my spine. Where's my phone? I looked around the scaffolding, then around the alley, and then... then I saw it. Oh you have got to be loving kidding me. I spotted my phone, lying facedown in the alley; it must've fallen out of my pocket at some point during the brawl. Go gently caress yourself, God not even a little bit funny. ...Whatever. Even if I couldn't get proof, I'd have to settle for info. Ahh, this was really loving annoying. So, I can't help but notice that your guys were already a bit roughed up before I got here; what's that about? Ah, that... To be honest, it was a complete blindside. There's a newcomer in town that came in for the save. A newcomer? I mean, I have to assume. Never really got a great look at 'em, what with the hoodie and the fighting and whatnot, but those arm tattoos, they were pretty drat distinctive. They were black and swirly... ringing any bells? What, someone in a hoodie with arm tattoos? Yeah, funnily enough, that's not ringing any bells. All right, smartass, I get it.Yi took a cigarette out of his pocket, and held it out to Fang. Fang took out another lighter and lit it for Yi. Okay then. Guess I'll have to look into our mystery guest myself. And then, depending on what I figure out, I suppose I'll handle it. Please, don't tell me what I don't need to know. Hey, I'm not saying anything specific. But in all seriousness, can you just, you know find someone like that? It's a small city. Duats got eyes in more places than you think. Might take a bit, but you really can't hide for long. And then... you know. Unfortunately. God, it's really a sick profession you dabble in. Oh? You think you're much better? I'm n-not talking about morals or anything. I'm talking about like, having the stomach for it and all. I mean, to do what you do... Pretty sure I'd get stomach ulcers. Yeah, well, you're you. No, I think most people without a craving for violence would react similarly. No no, I really do think it's a you thing. Whatever. Look, think of it like this. To even get here, I had to pretty brutally betray the trust of someone who looked up to me. And you know how much guilt I felt about doing that? None? Not an ounce....Easy, easy. Have to keep my composure. So when you put it in that context... Breaking a few bones or whatever? Child's play. I guess, I guess. So... was it worth it? Might've been if you didn't break things up so quickly. I told you Easy, easy, just messing with you. You really are wound up like a screw, huh? Tighter. Three guesses why. Uh huh, uh huh. Anyways, I think for the most part the point was made. People by and large take the easy way out... that is, unless they're spurred to action. And that's where I have my concerns. You're talking about Krish?It had been a minute since anyone but Yi or Seth had spoken up. To Jia, Yi nodded solemnly. Kid has real spirit. I mean that. It's the type that can cause a problem... and at the moment, Krish certainly has the motive and the fire to cause trouble. So I figure it's my duty to get a handle on that before it spirals into anything else. To start with, I need to actually find the brat. And then? ...I don't know. I'm hoping Krish will listen to reason. Could be a useful addition to the roster, someone with that many ties to Panthea's community. Do you really think Krish is likely to flip?At this, Yi took a real pause. He took a long puff from his cigarette... then, he dropped it to the ground and put it out with his foot. ...Suppose not. All right then. Guess we gotta kill 'em.I could feel my heart sink. It's a shame, a proper shame I'm telling you... but that's just how it goes. So you're looking for this Krish to be dealt with? Feels like that's how it has to happen. All right then. I know of this Krish... if it's necessary, I could... 'make a mistake', you know? Loud and clear, loud and clear. Well, good to know you're on our side... although you'd have to be pretty lucky to stumble upon Krish before our guys do. Right, right. That's for the best, too; don't want to deal with poo poo if I don't have to.[BGM: Silence]  The group of bastards continued to talk, but at this point it was all getting drowned out drowned out by the buzzing in my ears. ...This was going to be difficult to navigate. ...  Once again, the cops have to come in and be a buzzkill. And just when things were getting good! Lame! gently caress you, Seth, you ruined a perfectly good show. ...Well, it was nice when it lasted had all the key elements that create great stories. Tension, drama, tragedy... intimidation, torture, degradation... It was fantastic! I loved looking in on it. ...You did too, right? ...Kinda. Right, definitely! And of course, Vels enjoyed the scene, right? I mean, if you didn't enjoy the scene, and you had the opportunity to drop down and break it up, you'd imagine you would, right? Even if there was a logical reason not to, to just sit there and watch everything unfold... Well, either you didn't really mind what you were seeing all that much, or you're a total sociopath! ...I guess I can't clown on Vels too much, though. After all, the method worked out. Yi's quite the cool criminal, it appears. Speaking of... Look, if you take him at his word, you could maybe make the argument that he's, in some way, doing this for Krish. ...But come on, I'm hosed up and even I won't make the argument you can justify putting a hit out on someone for 'their own good'. So I guess I have to give you the win on this bet. Honestly, maybe it was a little easy? Yi was obviously sketchy. Oh well, having a few easy ones to start with is fine. It won't get easier from here. Regardless, Vels has bigger problems than you. Or, well, actually, I'd say Krish has bigger problems. Pursued by the Duats, purused by the cops... there's now a noose closing around their neck, whether they know it or not. I wonder if Vels will be able to save them? ...I wonder if Vels will choose to save them, especially if it comes at a cost? Guess we'll just have to wait and see. And with that win, we're now up to 45 chips! Which means we'll probably also be betting more come our next one, too! In any case, it's back to our good friend 'Olif' next update...
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Aug 25, 2023 20:29
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content warning: implication of/reference to police violence [BGM: Pip Count]  Finally, I got a response email from the Devil. That had taken quite a bit of time. Well... maybe it wasn't fair to judge him so harshly. He probably had a life or something. The point was, he was responding. I opened the email and began reading.  Again, I have to apologize. At this point, I'm simply not willing to part with the evidence I have. Ah, God drat it. We were still on this. This was the problem with these conspiracy nuts even if they had some useful poo poo, they didn't know how to make good on it. This might be a dead end after all. In full honesty, it is sort of the only fully unique card up my sleeve; a trump card, if you will. And while I admire and appreciate your quest... being honest, I've only shared a handful of emails with you. Surprise surprise I'm a little paranoid with who I trust. At least he was self aware. Now, I'm sure in all likelihood you're exactly who you claim to be. Funnily enough, his paranoia was actually justified this time. But I can't rule out the chances you're one of God's agents. An... angel, if you will. I won't.  So for now, at least, I think I have to keep that to myself. That said, that doesn't mean I'm not willing to help. Far from it I'd like to help in any way possible. In any way other than giving the goods, it appeared. For a moment, I wondered if he even had this evidence at all. He could just be bluffing, trying to keep my attention. Only one way to find out. Let me talk a bit about myself. You might be wondering how I get all of my information. In truth, you're not the first to reach out to me. There have actually been a number of people who have read my site and found the truth hidden behind the lies. I like to call these folks my 'Satanic Army'. It's a bit of a tongue and cheek title, but you have to admit it's a decent bit of good branding. Fair. Well, not that this sort of group should have branding. Anyways, nobody is dedicated enough to actually do anything major on my behalf, and I prefer it that way. I don't want to drag in ordinary people above what they can handle, but they have been doing an excellent job of reporting any suspicious information whenever they find it... and I do a fair amount of investigating myself. I don't want to give too many details in the interest of protecting my privacy again, not that I suspect you or anything. To make a long story short, I tried my hand at investigative journalism once upon a time; there was even a world where I might have worked at the Oracle. ...Unfortunately, that bastard Kane Shay turned me away for bullshit reasons, too. The purpose of this was obvious: because I made my true intents known. Kane couldn't have someone dedicated to finding the truth on at The Oracle. That posed too big a risk, since he was safely in God's pocket.  Now this was just not true. After all, Kane had let Jacy work at The Oracle just fine, no problem there. Felt more likely that Kane had (accurately) pegged this guy for a conspiracy nut, and didn't want to give him the job. And now, this conspiracy nut was bitter, and roping in Kane to his conspiracies. Then again... Jacy did go missing. I kept reading. Anyways, since I can't put my skills to work at the Oracle, now I put them to work on the website. And I'm a drat good investigative reporter it's how I got that evidence I mentioned. So, there are some of my bona fides; now, moving on to more interesting subjects. You said that you read some of my site. However, given the quantity of work I've put out, I have to imagine that you haven't gone over the whole thing. We could try and work out how much you currently know, but I think there's a better option available. Why don't I just give you the key points to my thesis? Not the vague, emotional marching orders I put on my site I'm talking brass tacks. The core of my argument against Panthea. That'll put us on even footing, right? Awaiting your response, The Devil Ugh. Well, Devil's proposal made sense to me would save me the headache of having to spend any more time on that horribly ugly website of his. So explain away, Devil. I began typing up my response.  Dearest Devil, I totally understand your hesitance to show me your critical evidence. In the spirit of total honesty, I must admit it comes as something of a disappointment that I can't see it, but your wisdom in holding those cards close to your chest only redoubles my belief that you are trustworthy. I can only hope that, with enough time, I will eventually be worthy of receiving your trust and with it, the evidence. As for your story regarding Kane Shay, I can only offer my utmost sympathies. I haven't heard anything positive surrounding that man. I can only conclude that, as you surmise, he is in the pocket of something or someone far larger than him. Hopefully it's through the work of determined individuals like ourselves that he will eventually get what's coming to him. I think your proposal about the summary sounds delightful; as you guessed, I haven't had the time to look into as much of your work as I rightfully should although I seek to remedy that soon enough. In the meantime, highlighting the points you feel particularly relevant would be helpful in our discussions. Thank you for your continual help in this matter. Olif Aaaaaaaand send. Ugh. Man, I didn't like kissing this guy's rear end like that. Well, that's life. I tabbed over to the other inbox. Perhaps this conversation would be more fruitful. Turns out I had gotten my response from Chara. I opened it up and began to give it a read. [BGM: Opening Lead]  So, you want to hear some real poo poo about Olympo? Well, here's some real examples about how it's gone all to pot now. First up, could we talk about the frankly blatant nepotism going on? I mean, maybe it's something of an industry standard, but that doesn't make it any less hosed up. Their poo poo is straight up dynastical reminds me of a monarchy. In fact, I'm pretty sure that comparison is deliberate. I think the Deismas would love nothing more than to evoke the monarchy, to think of themselves as royalty, to think of Olympo as their kingdom, to think of their employees as their bloody subjects. The company was founded by Odin's father, but after he passed at an early age Olympo was still pretty small-time, so his son inheriting and continuing the business didn't seem that bad. But then Odin turned that company into an empire, and became proper chuffed at that, beyond a healthy amount. I don't know the details well enough, but I can't imagine their growth was all that legitimate. Anyways, now Odin's practically retired, and the next CEO in line is his oldest son, Art Deisma. He's spent his whole life being taught by Odin how to run a company learning all the worst lessons. He got a job here right out of college without even an interview, and climbed the ranks with ease. Textbook case of nepotism, probably bordering on illegal. Hmm. Nothing in what she's said has been wrong so far, but it was interesting to notice what she wasn't saying. Usually, when people lobbied the nepotism argument, Polly was the critic's weapon of choice, and yet I hadn't heard a word about him. Curious.  What really makes the family grip on the company so apparent is taking a look at their stock situation. Did you know that 75% of the company stock is owned by Deismas? That means a mere 25% is in the hands of the public. Ratios like that are unheard of, and reek of paranoia. If that doesn't make it clear that the whole thing is a dodgy family business, then I don't know what will. But okay, maybe you don't give a poo poo. Let's go monarchies. Dynasties ftw. Or, alternatively, who gives a poo poo about who's in charge? Gonna be some rear end in a top hat bigshot anyways, right? I think I can at least somewhat get behind that second response. If it was just the nepotism thing, I really wouldn't care either. The problem is, like I said, Art has learned all the worst lessons from Odin. He's been trained like a dog from birth, honed on profit above all else. This has resulted in a robotic-like rule from him. Maybe he has some empathy towards his workers... maybe. But if he does, he certainly doesn't show it; he's prioritized getting the most out of his employees by any means necessary. At times, that can be carrots he makes sure that the place is pretty enough to feed his own ego. For the lower ranked employees, he makes sure that they get the respect that they deserve, if only cos his employees are a reflection of his. And for the higher ranked employees, he makes sure they get compensated well with salaries and bonuses, if only to keep them loyal and keep them motivated. But... that's about where his generosity ends because if it's a matter of spending money on unseen affairs, affairs that don't seem to really affect the bottom line, he cuts corners like a pro. Because if it's the lower ranked employees, then he pays them barely minimum wage, safe in the knowledge that they can be disposed of. Because if it's the higher ranked employees, he facilitates a competitive atmosphere amongst his employees to keep them coming to him, instead of each other. His only concern is expansion domination no matter the cost.  If a deadline is to be hit, then people aren't going home until the work is done. If investors are visiting, everybody is to be on their best behavior. If the company's value is falling, it's everybody else's problem and they will be paying for it. Just have a gander at the employees' faces when they leave the building, and try spotting a single happy one. Well... I think that last statement might be true of most jobs. This all sounded pretty bad, sure, but nothing particularly outstanding. However, Chara's message still wasn't done. And here's the worst part: Art wants to win no matter what. Win what? That's unclear. Initially, it was to win control of the company over his siblings, but at this point that war has long come and gone; Art is in charge, and it's not like there's a compelling other company in Panthea that really stands a chance against them. Olympo's technically a national company, but I haven't heard many plans to expand out that direction just yet. Maybe he's just trying to win Odin's respect? But, if that's the case, I almost feel bad for him... cos that's probably never going to happen. Whatever the case though, Art wants to win, and just using the overwhelming power his massive company has isn't enough he's willing to use illegal methods to get ahead as well. Which, like, wtf mate, you've already so much at your disposal, you still feel the need to resort to lovely tactics like that? One quick example: Olympo basically has a manual on how to properly cheat government taxes. Olympo does these regular charity drives, saying they want to give back to the community, but imo its pretty clearly just for looks. If they really cared about helping the community they wouldn't be bending over backwards to give as little tax money as possible. How Aija hasn't gone and patched up the loopholes Olympo's been using to at least get some revenue from city taxes is beyond me. So yeah, all in all, pretty lovely stuff from Olympo. You can see why I'm so pissed off about it. Yeah, yeah, it sounds like a pretty bad situation. I'd definitely feel pretty outraged in her situation. ...Not outraged enough to get in a bunch of petty Kamapa arguments, but you know, to each their own. Olympo sucked, I didn't feel the need to fight that. However, there was something I thought worth saying. I clicked on the reply button and began drafting up a response.  that all deffo sounds lovely. i sympathize, i really do. id say to try changing jobs, but since you've got a pretty high ranking position, i imagine thats not really an option. props for that, btw. i mean, in this economy? especially in a job thats so competitive? thats gotta be a pretty big achievement. anyways. those are some decent horror stories. but i mean... yeah. i believe 'em. and you know why? cuz thats pretty much what corporations are like. i mean, im not trying to sound disrespectful, even tho i definitely am coming off that way LOL. but i dont think olympo is especially monstrous or anything bc of all of that. most big companies end up being real shitheels. like you said, its the natural slide, survival of the fittest. or in this case, the meanest. i bet anyone at a similarly sized company could go tit-for-tat with you on these sorts of stories. for that to not be the case, youd have to like, do some pretty large scale changes... which, fuckin go for it i guess. but as it stands, this is just one story of a bunch. and on a more practical note... i dont know what you can really do about it. i mean, i imagine if youre this passionate about things you plan to do something about it, eventually, youre not one of those hypocrites that just bitch and moan without any concrete plan to change things. so in that case, wyd? you said that art is playing an illegal game, but really, i didnt hear you actually bring up any illegal acts. like, you talked about the tax cheat thing, but you called it a loophole: loopholes =/= illegal. scummy, sure, but thats already a given. so its not like you can get them on a legal issue. i guess your best backup would be rallying for better management? keep climbing the ladder, supporting good people, ultimately aim to put someone good in the seat of power. but... if things are really as dynastical as you talked about, seems like thats p much impossible as is. maybe you could try killing art lol. so yeah, guess im just asking if you have any real plans to do something. and if you dont fair enough i guess. And send. What was my point with all of that? I was sure I had one when I started typing up a response. Eh, whatever. It kept the conversation moving, at any rate. Well, I gave my response. Let's see if my other lead had gotten back to me. ...Well well well. A new email. And yes, it was from the Devil. Let's see what he has in store for me... [BGM: Danrasu]  Greetings, Olif. Delightful. It has been a while since I was able to truly rant about the truth of the matter to someone unenlightened. This shall be productive for us both. Now, where to begin? I suppose it is only right to start from the outside. Let us take the perspective of the most docile of sheep. Take an aerial view of Panthea. Even from here, you can see many problems with Panthea: dissatisfaction amongst the civilians, organized crime, poverty and extravagance... but you're liable to completely misdiagnose the core issue at it all. After all, from the outside, it appears as though the issues stem from the fact that the city is at war with itself. At this point, it's useful to highlight the four principal factions we will be discussing, for in Panthea, there are four groups who really lord above it all. You have Panthea's government, currently helmed by Governor Aija. You have Panthea's law enforcement, currently helmed by Chief of Police Arrianne. You have Panthea's largest company, currently helmed by CEO Art Deisma. And you have Panthea's organized crime, currently helmed by Marduk. These four groups each have their own role, and they keep different aspects of the city in check. The police threaten those who operate in the crime-filled slums, with the power to summon or withhold law enforcement at will. The Duats threaten those who live middle-class urban lives, extorting and harassing whoever they see fit. Olympo threatens those who live in the upper-class forest, the unyielding power of money and commerce to do whatever they wish. And the government rules above them all, making slow, broad unstoppable sweeps across the city with no check but the will of the people. No matter where you are in Panthea, you have to answer to at least one of these organizations. And to an untrained eye, it appears that these four powers are in an unending struggle for power.  Let's go through this in a bit more detail. At first, you'd think Aija was against them all you'd certainly think that if you listen to her speeches. She's passed the blame to everybody but herself. She's chastised the police department for being unable to properly rein in the growing threat the Duats pose. She's classified the Duats as the biggest current threat to peaceful living in Panthea, calling people to action against them. And she's rallied against Olympo, calling them a damaging entity which hurts the small businesses of Panthea. In fairness, this much makes sense when you're a politician who's been in power for as long as she has, you have to spread the blame everywhere else. And she certainly hasn't done anything in her run as governor that would outwardly help any of these groups... but she also hasn't really done anything to hurt any of them, either; more on that point later. Instead, let us move to the police force. Again, we have a group that seemingly has rivalries with all the other factions. Rivalries may be a bit harsh, but their job is to stamp out any crime. That means keeping Aija in check, making sure her campaigns and her governance is above board. That means keeping an eye on Olympo, making sure that there is no corruption or white collar crime going on over there. And they are certainly meant to be hunting down the Duats, imprisoning them and hindering them every chance they get. Once again, a faction seemingly opposed with the other three. Then look at Olympo. Olympo as a company has done no favors for the other three. They've very conspicuously failed to give Aija and her government the slightest bit of praise or support. They are hesitant to employ the police, instead always opting for their private investigators and security staff. And they've very specifically and very publicly made the choice to give no jobs to anyone affiliated with the Duats. So there you have it: Olympo distances themselves from the other three factions as well, just like the others. Finally, let us take a look at the Duats the one most obviously at war with the other factions. For rather obvious reasons, the Duats despise the police. Olympo stores have been the target of vandalism and looting. And hell, Governor Aija was almost assassinated by a Duat member; the attempt was foiled, and the assassin jailed, but it's clear that the Duats have no love for Aija. One faction against all three. The Duats. Olympo. Aija's government. The police. They're all at odds with each other. This conflict has led to a lot of the problems we see in Panthea. ...is what you'd foolishly be misled to believe. However, we are smarter than that we see the bigger picture. (This may be a good time to take a break and grab something to drink.) Are you following me so far? -The Devil  Man. This Devil character sure was making a compelling case. ...A compelling case against his own point. Like, everything he said tracks, that was all a bunch of established facts. ...Facts that pretty clearly show that the city isn't under one person's control. If that were the case, there sure as poo poo wouldn't be this much messiness. Where was he going with this? ...Whatever, I should just respond to keep the conversation going. I began writing up a response. Dear Ol' Devil, Thanks for typing all this up! I appreciate the effort you're putting into this. To your question, I am following along so far. Your explanation of how the city operates coincides with my current understanding of Panthea. However, it's the next step that I'm unclear on. The evidence does suggest that people are on different pages. But... that doesn't feel right. Hopefully you can clear up the truth for me. -Olif After typing that up, I hit the send button. Hopefully the Devil was actually going somewhere with all of this. I tabbed back to my Kamapa private messages. Oop, looks like Chara had sent a response. Goodie. Let's see what else she has to say. [BGM: Golden Point]  Oh wow, real insightful stuff there. 'You should do stuff about all the bad things going on'. You think I didn't already know that? Ffs. You literally just laid out why it isn't easy to do things about it. But, for whatever it's worth, no, I'm not one of those people who just bitches and moans with no plans to do anything. For what it's worth, I'm currently working on that management angle that you talked about. You're right in that it's the most straightforward angle; unfortunately, I've my doubts about how that's going to pan out. There are times I get a sinking feeling I've been putting my eggs in a faulty basket, if you catch my drift. But... I've gotta stick to my guns. So if you're just asking whether or not I have a plan, yeah, I've got a plan. Also, fyi, the tax thing isn't the only illegal thing they've done. I consider the loopholes thing basically illegal already, but I digress. You want straight up illegal though? Art hardcore insider trades he trades information about Olympo's future business decisions for key investments from other big companies. He trades those key investments for stock in other companies. He trades that stock in other companies for information about their future business decisions. From the sound of things, he's got a whole web of trades and offers that he carefully manages like, apparently helming a giant company isn't enough of an advantage for him. To achieve the completely dominating results in the business world he's been getting, he needs to pull out all the stops. drat. Okay, now this was juicy. This was the stuff worth my time. But then, how the hell did she know this? If she knew this, surely others would too.  I know what you're thinking. 'How do I even know this'? Well drat, she had me dead to rights. Honestly, it was a stroke of luck more than anything else. I was about to come out of the restroom at work when I overheard a conversation between Art and Odin. He was discussing the whole thing with Odin possible risks, the rewards, et cetera. Apparently not even the people he's been dealing with know that he's the one behind all of this. As far as other companies are concerned, this is the work of a rogue higher-up at Olympo. And guess what else? Not only do I know all this damning info, I even know where the damning evidence is kept. Art does all these dealings on a burner laptop kept in office. I went and found it myself he keeps it in this table drawer. Perks of being at the office, I suppose; beats the posh atmosphere, at any rate. So yeah, I wouldn't call Olympo 'just another morally bankrupt company'. I mean, I guess I don't doubt other morally bankrupt companies also do this. But at the very least, Olympo are actually doing illegal stuff, and their success can, in some large part, be chalked up to some cheating. Well... not like I care about that aspect of it so much as far as I'm concerned, all large companies are cheating in the market. All right, okay, this was what I was talking about. This was some actually interesting information, some useful poo poo. This, this was exciting. I hurriedly started drafting up a response.  drat ok lol. yeah thats a bit more weighty. first things first, sorry about the tone of my last message (and most of my messages thinking back lol). was just trying to get info. curious about your management plan, but if you didnt elaborate I assume thats for a good reason. but about that laptop... i mean, im probably pointing out the obvious here, but if youre looking to change olympo isnt that a prime opportunity? seems like getting your hands on that info would be a big get. like thats gotta be incriminating, and you clearly already have the hax0r skills to crack a burner laptop. you even know where it is! just grab it and go. when you get to safety, break open the laptop, then send the info to the police and its bye bye art. or hey, maybe you use that info yourself to rake in the $$$ B) After giving my response a once over, I hit send. Again, I was sort of pointing out the obvious, but hopefully I was also moving the conversation forwards, and that counted for something. Speaking of conversations moving forwards... Time to check my email. And hey... there it was, a response from the Devil. [BGM: The Gungniri]  Ah, Olif. Let us just cut straight to the heart of the matter, shall we. As I've laid out, it appears to the untrained eye that the four factions are at war with each other. But really, the things they levy against each other are, ultimately, weak they appear more like token gestures than anything else. Aija talks about the police being incompetent, but does nothing else. Aija talks about Olympo being damaging, but does nothing else. Aija talks about the Duats being a threat... but does nothing else. The police, meanwhile, claim to investigate Aija, but no one on her staff has been arrested. They claim to investigate Olympo, but no one on the payroll has been arrested. The police even claim to investigate the Duats, but the group continues to expand. Olympo speaks against Aija, hires their own security and investigators, refuses to take on people affiliated to the Duats but does nothing else. And the Duats are against the police, but when was the last time you heard about a cop actually being killed by them? How is vandalism and property damages the best the Duats can do against Olympo? And the Duats are against Aija, but why was the assassination attempt they carried out against her so easily foiled? You have to look beyond appearances. At the core, these gestures are merely that: gestures. When you want to establish where people's true allegiances lie, you have to look far deeper, far closer you have to examine their actual actions. Technically speaking, most of the things that the Devil has brought up until this point have been actions, but I got the gist of what he was saying.  So then, what do the actions suggest? Let's start with Governor Aija. Vocally, she is against the current police force, but there is a detail she routinely fails to mention: it is Panthea's governor that appoints the Chief of Police. And the Chief of Police is pretty much the unimpugnable head of the police. This means the head of one faction is directly responsible for appointing the head of the other. Tell me, does it seem remotely conceivable that Aija could actually be against Arrianne, considering that? Next, let's look at the police. They haven't found anything on Aija, haven't found anything on Olympo big whoop. Maybe they're all clean, but there's one group that is definitely not clean, and that's the Duats. The Duats, meanwhile, are currently unopposed. Do you know how they won the war? Not through bloodshed... or, at least, not through bloodshed alone the police ended up cracking down and catching several high-profile members of the Shikome, and most of those members ended up committing 'suicide' in jail. How, then, did the Shikome get wiped out like this, while the Duats still run amok today? If you ask me, I'd say that the Duats sold the Shikome out to the police, that those two groups already had a point of contact. Would explain why the Duats are bigger than ever right now. It's a better explanation than just chalking it all up to incompetence. Now, onto the Duats. Vandalism, property damage? What is that poo poo? Low tier stuff for a group like the Duats, complete nonsense. They're bigger than that. Or they should be, at any rate. The Duats are strangling pretty much every business in Panthea, with one key exception... Olympo seems to be doing just fine, hasn't ever been the victim of something major. Is it because Olympo is so big and powerful that even the Duats are worried about rubbing them the wrong way? But Olympo has pretty clearly disrespected them with the 'no Duat affiliated hires' policy... that's not something that would be allowed to pass, even when you're bigshot Olympo. That's not the gang way. The only reason Olympo can get away with poo poo like that is if there's something more going on between the two groups. Speaking of, Olympo. You know how little they pay in taxes? You know how much of that is due to the tax loopholes they exploit? Tax loopholes that could easily be patched up if Governor Aija gave half a drat! So why doesn't she? Big company like Olympo, she should be counting on a paycheck from them. Except... what if she already has? You look into Aija's campaign finances, there's a whole lot of fog of war going on. Whole lot of major donations from shell organizations it's hard to follow the money. And above all else, you should always follow the money. I feel pretty confident that Olympo is actually financing Aija's campaigns, and maybe giving her a little something something on the side.  So, to recap. On the face of it all, four factions look opposed; however, in reality, Aija is the one who appointed Arrianne, the leader of the police; in reality, the police seem to have worked with the Duats in the past, and aren't reigning them in now; in reality, the Duats seem to be deliberately targeting everybody but Olympo, and Olympo seems to be financing Aija's campaigns. They're actually all propping each other up! Which brings me to my final point: did you know that last Wednesday, Aija, Arrianne, Marduk, Art, and Kane were all unaccounted for at night time? What if they were going to a monthly in-person meeting to discuss things? A six person meeting the five Archangels, and the God. Aaaaaaaand here was where he started to lose me. This was the problem with conspiracy theorists, they always had to take things one step too far. Like, big surprise you don't know where a mob boss and a rich executive and a governor are doing on any given night. And there's no reason to wrap Kane Shay into any of this except for the clear and obvious grudge that you have towards him. Of course it had to all be the work of a single, omnipotent 'God'. It was this sort of thinking that made the whole idea look stupid. Meanwhile, the Devil did have a very salient point buried in there. There were clear connections, contradictions between the big powers in Panthea; the issue was assuming that it was one single, well-thought out web. Life is too messy for that. More likely, these contradictions the Devil were seeing were the result of individual incidents, unseen causes and effects, and personal decisions. Pinning all these effects on a single cause was a hollow attempt to try and simplify things in a digestible way. Hopefully, with this explanation, you start to see where I'm coming from. From there, we can begin to work on the next steps. I eagerly await your response, - The Devil Alright, well. I had to keep the dialogue going. Let's see here...  Dearie me, Devil, I never really looked at it that way. However, everything you said matches my information I'm surprised I didn't put things together like you have. I'm surprised more people haven't rejected this 'clashing factions' view very clearly being propped up as a sham. If you actually look at who benefits, it's clear that each of these groups stand to gain something from the other. It's simple globalization. Sometimes life is a zero-sum game, but more often then not it isn't. Working with others is often the best way to get what you want. It's like that old childhood moral of 'the true power is teamwork', but taken to its logical and darkest extreme. When they stand united, they all stand to gain, while the rest of us lose out. It's clear to me now. So I guess my next question is pretty obvious: Who is the God? I mean, to control all these factions, you'd have to be pretty influential, right? I can't imagine that the 'Angels' as you put it all bow to just some nobody. So then, who do you think is pulling the strings? Interested to hear your thoughts on this, -Olif And send. All righty then. Back to Kamapa. And, like clockwork, Chara had sent a response. I was really getting into the rhythm of switching between the simultaneous back and forth rallies it was just an advanced form of swapping between personas. So, what did Chara have to say... [BGM: Doubling Cube]  Oh wow, great idea! Why didn't I think of that??? /s Okay, well, no need to get mean about it. I already said you had probably thought of it! ...Forget it, just keep reading. Obviously I'd like to get my hands on that laptop. If I did, cracking it open would be child's play Art isn't some technical whiz, probably has super barebone digital security. And the stuff on that computer would definitely put him away... or, failing that, still do damage to him. At the very least it'd make Odin reconsider his faith in Art. But there's one major problem in that sentiment: I'd have to get my hands on the laptop. Say what you will about Art, but he's really anal about security. Especially on that floor. I could get the laptop, sure, but getting it out? Not a chance in hell, not without some serious bribery or conspiracy or whatever. And I've not the slightest idea how I'd start that. Should... Chara really be telling me all of this? Well, in fairness to her, she probably thought of me as the void. As far as she was concerned, I had no dog in this race. Still, it was an unnecessary risk on her end spoke to a general attitude of carelessness on her part.  Here's the funny thing about the whole thing. I've actually got a pretty good idea of how I could get the data out of the building. It's a really solid plan imo, could definitely work. Problem is, it's a two-person job, meaning that I'd need a partner for it to work. Wouldn't need to be somebody at the company, mind you anybody would do. But that's not the only issue. If they figured out that the data was stolen, which they very well could, then they'd be able to narrow it down to people with a certain clearance level. Not too many people that have my level. Then they'd look for any visitors to the Olympo main building... if anybody affiliated with me came by during that time, it'd be curtains for me, they'd put two and two together. And I mean it, Art is serious about this poo poo. I've heard rumors he's even got a personal investigative team. And for data that'd put him behind bars? He'd pull out all the stops, thoroughly vet everybody. Anybody close enough to me that would help with something like this would be figured out. That right there is the final issue I'd need the help of somebody close to me to commit a serious crime. If I was caught, I wouldn't get the book thrown at me, I'd get it launched at me from a pitching machine. It would be a baaaaaaad deal. And I think I'd be willing to take that risk, I'm fed up enough with this poo poo to go for it. But getting other people involved? Idk. I don't think I could risk it. I don't want to bring somebody down with me. So, tl;dr: I'd love to steal that laptop, but right now, it just doesn't look possible. [BGM: Silence]  I read Chara's message a total of four times. Then I thought really hard. This was... a bad idea, most certainly. A really, really bad idea. Or... was it? Eh, gently caress it. Let's just throw it out there.  so, to pull off this heist, you'd need the aid of somebody you're not affiliated with. somebody there's no way they could connect you to. somebody that you wouldn't feel bad about getting involved. somebody crazy enough to try a caper like this with no promise of a tangible reward for their help. thats a pretty tough recipe. but, if you really want to take a shot at olympo, and youre willing to get your hands dirty/take real risks... ...why not recruit me? [BGM: Silence]  Oh man, what a scene! So much to discuss, huh? Well, let's get the bet out of the way first. You knew Ms. Tucker was genuine. Bully for you. Have your rightly-won chips. All right, now that that's out of the way, I've got to s
What?
 Uh, this is awkward. I actually have to dip for a bit. Something needs my attention. You can go on without me though. Don't worry, I'll catch up to you, it'll be fine. ...Next update, let's see what's going on with Mercury's adventure aboard the Mandjet.
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Aug 30, 2023 01:27
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[BGM: Crawford Game]  So there I was, crawling in a vent, on a ghost ship, middle of the night, masked assassin right behind me. I'd take the time to retrace the steps that led me to this situation if it weren't for the fact that I was very much still in danger. It was difficult to crawl through a vent with any sense of urgency. Forwards, forwards, forwards. It was tight and it was cramped and it was uncomfortable but as far as I was concerned, it was a tunnel to safety, so I took it. *pow!* Extremely loudly, another bullet fired through into the vent. I wasn't able to estimate exactly how close the bullet had come to impacting me; however, from the sound of it, it wasn't far behind. Then again, I was unclear how accurate a metric that was, as the sound of the gunshot echoed all around this vent, extremely loudly. ...Whatever, let's just say the gunshots were right on my rear end. Probably a safer assumption to make. Keep scooting, keep scooting... to what end, I wasn't sure. Didn't have time to consider those thoughts. Had to just keep moving in a forwards direction, best I could. *pow!* Another gunshot, gently caress. Thane could run faster than I could crawl, and thanks to the noise I was making it was clear where I was at any given time. What initially seemed to be a saving grace was looking less and less like a viable option of escape. If things stayed the course, I'd have a bullet in me in no time flat... and once that happened, I'd be dead.  Think, think, think! There were very few situations in life that couldn't be solved through being clever enough, and this wasn't one of them. Sure the odds were, to perhaps a comical level, stacked against me; 99 times out of 100, I would die on this boat. But if there was one thing I hated in life, it was treating something within your grasp as impossible. I had outs right now the question was if I'd be able to find them or not. So... to the task at hand: what was the core problem? Thane was faster than me. Thane knew where I was. Thane wanted to shoot me with his gun. Those three things combined spelled bad news, pretty clearly... to survive, I'd have to topple one of those tenants. Given the current situation, convincing Thane to not shoot me with a gun, especially from up in this vent, seemed unlikely. I also didn't know any pro-vent moving strats, so that ruled that option out. What I was left with, then, was stopping Thane from knowing where I was. He only knew where I was because I was making a lot of noise. So... time to stop that. Well, I didn't have great hopes with the plan I had just concocted, but it was the best I could come up with in the few seconds since the last shot. As quickly as I could without interrupting my momentum, I took off one of my shoes. Then, with a ton of force, I tossed it ahead. It bounced along the vent walls, making a ton of noise. For my part, I stopped in my tracks; in fact, I began to very slowly, very silently, move forwards. The shoe only bounced and made noise for a few seconds before it stopped. And then?  Silence. Thane had no idea where I was at this point. If I stayed silent, it would stay this way... and, like I had realized earlier, he had a limited number of bullets on him. If he just wanted to go crazy shooting up the whole vent searching for me, that'd be a hard task. So then... was I safe? *pow!* I got my answer in the form of a bullet breaking through the vent except it was far, far down the vent. There was a lot of distance between myself and where that gunshot had hit. ...Huh? How badly had Thane judged my positioning? Quite severely, it seemed. Still, that seemed too far to be a reasonable shot *pow!* Another bullet shot fired through the vent, a second or two later, just a bit closer than the last. Huh? I was getting confused now. What was Thane's play here? *pow!* When another shot was fired an equal amount of time between shots as last time, an equal amount of space closer I got the drift. Oh gently caress. Thane didn't think I had made it that far. He was just defining an outer bounds; the farthest I could possibly be. *pow!*  And now he would slowly, methodically, walk forwards, firing every other second, until he came to where I hid. I'd be struck, and even if I was just glanced, I'd make a noise and then I'd be hosed. The vent wasn't big enough to try and dodge the bullet... so, what to do? My instinct was to turn around and start hurrying in that direction, but there were a bunch of problems with that idea. For one, turning around fully in this vent would likely pose a larger problem than I expected. More importantly, moving back the other direction would just put me in the same position as before. *pow!* Except this time it would be even worse. See, going forwards, it wasn't far until a turn in the vent and that turn represented, as far as I was aware, a turn past a wall, a place where Thane couldn't directly follow. I don't know how well Thane knew the architecture of the ship, but regardless, keeping up with me once the vent was going across walls would be incredibly difficult. On the other hand, behind me was just a straight shot for a long time; enough time for Thane to catch up and put a bullet through my chest. *pow!* But what other option did I have? The bullets continued to come with very little time apart, very little distance apart. He'd definitely hit me at this rate, definitely, definitely. *pow!*  Jesus Christ, this was terrifying. I could feel the sweat on my forehead beginning to build up; I needed to make sure it didn't hit the bottom of the vent and give me away. *pow!* What was truly frightening was how robotic this process was. How robotic Thane was. I'd been calling him a demon, but a cyborg comparison felt more apt he was precise, and he was deadly. *pow!* Same time between each shot. Same distance between each shot. Like he was running on a program. Wait a second... *pow!* That was it! This mechanical nature of his, it wasn't thoroughness, it was weakness. It made him painfully predictable, and I could deal with predictable. *pow!*  The timing on this was going to be incredibly tight. Like, insanely tight, ordinarily too tight to count on. But my senses were heightened... and it was do-or-die. My only way out was through literally. *pow!* So then, measure the time, measure the distance. This was all happening too quick to actually try measuring those things out with actual numbers or anything; I'd just have to feel it in my gut, get a feel for it. *pow!* That last bullet was close... really close. Not much time left before it was time to go. *pow!* Okay, running position... scooch a little forward... Next bullet *pow!*  Right as I heard the bullet, I pushed forwards. As the bullet was breaking through the vent, I was moving towards it... and when it hit the top of the vent, my head was already under it. My feet were pushing forwards as fast as I could, practically running sideways. Push along the vent with my arms, with my legs. Forwards, forwards, forwards! *pow!* Clearly, I had caught Thane unawares. It took him a second to react to the sudden noise, and because of that he was a bit too slow on the draw. Faster, faster, keep running! I caught up to my thrown shoe and scooped it up with a hand and kept moving. Honestly, my first instinct was to just abandon it and soley focus on moving forwards, but I couldn't completely abandon the bigger picture; being without a shoe would likely hurt me further down the line... and I planned on making it to further down the line.  Up ahead, the vent turned left. *pow, pow, pow!* Right behind me, Thane was still letting off a volley of shots, but none of them were connecting. I stayed with the vent, moving left while maintaining as much of my momentum as I could manage. In theory, this moved me away from where Thane could reach, but I didn't feel like letting up. I kept moving and moving, no idea where I was in relation to anything. The only thing I could tell was that there were no more gunshots being fired. A bit further ahead, the vent turned to the right. Without much choice, I continued in that direction. Faster, faster. ...Was that another loose grating? That thought crossed my mind right as I came atop it probably would've been better to acknowledge that sooner. Before I even knew what was happening, I felt my center of mass begin to fall. gently caress! With a loud clattering, the grate I'd ran over fell to the ground, and right after it *thud!* So, too, did I. That wasn't good. Instantly I looked around to ascertain my surroundings. [BGM: Silence]  I was in a small, empty room. Cool, didn't need any other details for now. Instantly, I rushed over and put my body weight directly against the door. I did this primarily for two reasons. First of all, looking at the door's window, it would be difficult to see me at this angle from looking in. ...I mean, I guess if you specifically tried looking directly behind the door, you could probably see part of my body, but if it got that far I was already screwed. Secondly, if Thane did hear that and was running right towards the door, this would help me fend him off I could try and keep the door closed by pushing against it. It was far from an elegant or permanent solution, but it might buy myself a bit more time. So that's why I kept pushing against that door. And then I waited... and waited... My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. Why this approach, instead of just running straight out? Well, the way I saw it, there were about three distances Thane could be from where I'd fell and impacted. They could be very close to the fall; in that case, running out would likely have me running directly into Thane, which would result in a bullet in me Bad End. He could be somewhat nearby, but not super close; in this case, if I haphazardly started running out, I wouldn't know what direction he was... so, again, I ran the risk of encountering Thane and getting shot Bad End, Again. Finally, Thane could be a good distance from the fall; in that case, right now they still weren't sure where I was. If I just waited for a bit, I would be safe. So... I just waited for a bit. [BGM: Furiten]  And after a minute or two, I determined we were in that third situation. I had, more or less, finally lost Thane. Excellent. This was ideal for me. I mean... as ideal as this situation could be. I still had to... gently caress, what was my endgame here? I hadn't had the time to really think that far ahead yet. Well, while I was hiding, now was that time. Way I saw it, there were three general strategies I could try, though they didn't necessarily overlap with each other. First, I could try just waiting it out until daytime. On the one hand, it felt sort of unlikely that Thane would willingly take the ship back to the dock while there was still a liability like me aboard... but then again, I didn't know how a lot of aspects of this operation worked. This was a fairly large ship, clouded in secrecy. There was the possibility that Thane and whoever else owned this ship simply didn't have the option of keeping it out in the middle of the ocean indefinitely. And if it was just a matter of hiding and staying alive, well, there was a lot of space. Still, this plan didn't feel great. ...Unfortunately, none of these plans felt great. Plan two certainly didn't feel great: it was to somehow steer the ship to dock myself. Did I know where the steering controls of the ship were? Well, no. Did I know how to steer a ship? No. Was it likely that the people aboard this ship would take kindly to me sailing it right back to shore? No. That last bit was the biggest hurdle... but it also might not be, considering plan three: Eliminate all other threats on the ship. ...I use the word eliminate broadly, but in all likelihood I'd have to kill them though, incapacitation would be ideal. Regardless, this almost felt like the least likely option of the three; Thane certainly didn't look easy to get the jump on, and, more upsettingly, I had no idea if Thane was even the only threat aboard. So far it seemed as such, but with an operation like this I could easily see there being more people involved. I still hadn't accounted for those footsteps I'd heard above deck. If the screams were real, those probably were as well... Not an optimistic situation, to be sure. But if I wanted any chance of survival, I needed to bank on one or more of these tactics. As far as I could tell, some combination of these three plans was my best out.  ...Okay, that's enough hiding. Honestly this little break was more for my own benefit than a strategic reason, but I couldn't just stay here the whole time. Even if I did want to angle for Option 1, hiding in a random room like this would probably backfire before too long. ...Though first, I crawled over, grabbed my shoe off the ground, and put it back on. Great. Then, veeeery slowly, I opened the door. ...God, these doors creak. I entered the hallway, gingerly placing one foot after another. There. I was in the hallway. ...Now what? Silence. I didn't hear... anything. What on Earth? Surely I should be hearing at least something at this point. Had Thane just stopped looking for me? Or was he in another part of the ship entirely? Neither option felt promising. Well... the only way out is through, I suppose; had to start moving at some point. I mean, I could keep hiding, but again, probably a bad idea.  Slowly, very slowly, I made my way through the metal halls. At each corner, I made sure to quickly pop my head out to check if there was somebody around the bend Thane, specifically. However, I kept lucking out, and I didn't run into him. Lucky me. I kept slowly making my way through this iron coffin. God, now that I was no longer in immediate danger, that good ol' paranoia was beginning to kick back into gear. Thoughts mindless thoughts, illogical thoughts started flooding in. What if Thane was right behind me? What if Thane had shut all the exits, and was actually flooding the boat? What if I was actually already dead? ...Okay brain, 'already dead'? We can do better with our dumb paranoid conspiracy theories. gently caress, where was I even trying to go? I guess making my way back to the deck of the ship, above board, would be ideal. I couldn't quite determine what the specific logic for that thought was, but I felt it somewhere in my gut. ...Dear God. Feeling things in my gut. What had I devolved to? ...Whatever. I sure as poo poo didn't know the layout of the ship, but I always had a decent sense of direction an internal compass, if you will. Despite everything, I could feel the direction where I'd came from on some kind of subconscious level. Or at least... I thought I did? I really hated relying on my subconscious thoughts. But, it was where I was at, so... I continued my silent, methodical movements. Now at least I had a sense of direction. Down halls, around corners, I slunk, fully aware that at any moment I'd have to spring into action at any moment, I could be face to face with a gun wielding maniac. Well... if that happened, gently caress me I guess. Play my outs. I'm going to be fine, I'm going to be fine. I repeated that mindless mantra to myself as I made my way through the ship. And, after a while... I was back in familiar territory. I knew where I was in the ship. I was close to the stairwell that led back up to the deck! The excitement of this realization made me want to speed up... but no, no, I still kept it slow and steady. You never knew when you'd encounter danger. [BGM: Silence]  Like now, for instance. I took two steps backwards. I was... pretty sure he hadn't seen me? ...He didn't see me, right? I held my breath. No, no noise. He definitely didn't see me. Or, even if he did, he wasn't moving from his spot. Around the corner in front of me, the ship had a straight path, with a turn to the left midway through that path. Standing firmly right in the center of that turn the turn which led right to the stairs was Thane. I'd only got a glimpse, but it looked like he was just standing there. He had had... something in his left hand, though I didn't get a good look. The pistol was still in his right. Jesus Christ, the moment I saw him my heart had plummeted. I couldn't deal with this... I couldn't keep dealing with this. How had I gotten here? What even pushed me to board the Mandjet? I tried retracing all my steps to center myself. Was any of this worth it? ...Yeah, yeah it would be. I mean, if you'd told me exactly what I would be getting myself into, then yeah, maybe I'd have some second thoughts but I didn't regret starting this quest. I couldn't. After all, it was Jacy's last request, and I could've been a pretty bad friend, but... I at least owed her this much. [BGM: Ura Dora]  Even though we didn't end in the best of places, Jacy was one of my oldest friends. I remember being close with her ever since I was a kid. It wasn't really a thing I had a lot of control over; my parents were friends with her parents. That sort of thing happened a lot. Still, I count myself lucky that I got to meet Jacy at all. She was always so bright and I mean that in more than one way. She had a bright personality and a bright mind. In some ways, I might've been smarter than her, but even still I often felt like I was the one trailing behind. I felt the need to try and impress her. However... even if she wasn't such a sparkling personality, things probably still would've broken the same way. You spend enough time with someone at a young age, you're bound to have an incredible connection with them one way or another. It's the reason people can have absolutely abysmal parents, and still feel the need for their approval. So yeah, one way or another, Jacy really defined a lot of my younger life. We hung out a lot, went to the same school, hell, at one point I might've had a crush on her, I don't know, I wasn't really emotionally mature enough at the time to understand it all. If I did, it was probably a good thing I never acted on those thoughts at the time. Whatever it was, eventually I moved past it. Jacy and I stayed friends all the way into high school. But from there... well, life happened. We became different people. At one point, we got into a pretty big fight; she was probably in the right about it, but I'd never have accepted it at the time. She pulled away, so did I. Our lives went in separate directions. I'd tried reaching out to her a couple times since then, tried to keep somewhat in contact, but... none of our subsequent conversations really went all that well. There was still a definite distance.  A lot of that was my fault. But I didn't want to keep Jacy out of my life especially not permanently. I mean, we were moving in different directions, but still... in the back of my head, I always viewed the rift as, I don't know, temporary; that eventually, we'd get over it. Eventually, we'd be close again, hanging out frequently. And who knows, maybe that would've been the case had life played out a little differently. But we make plans, and God laughs. Never take anything for granted, yadda yadda. Before I'd known it, I got my last message from Jacy. And, shortly after that... she disappeared. Dropped off the face of the globe. ...No, she didn't just drop off, she was killed. Killed, I was fairly certain, on this very ship... and the only person who could do anything about it was me. That's why I boarded the Mandjet. That's why I was staring down death. ...And that's why I'd have to get out of this place. It was really the only way to make things right with Jacy. So then. I shook my head; I needed to keep my head in reality. Stay focused, and escape. That was my purpose. [BGM: Tsumo]  Okay, let's think this through. Thane was standing in front of the stairs. He seemed to just be standing there casually. He was fiddling with... something, though I couldn't say what specifically. He'd probably been standing there for a while; that's why it was so silent. Had he defaulted to guarding that point after he'd lost me in the vents? Probably. So then, why? What information does this give me? Well, there were three inferences I could make, in descending order of reliability. The first one I was pretty much 100% confident about : those stairs were the only way back above deck. If there were multiple ways of getting up there, Thane would not be putting all his eggs in this basket the way he is that'd be completely unreasonable. Hell, Thane looked to be completely defenseless from behind. If there were another way to get above deck, I could rush behind and stab him, or something. The fact that he seemed so utterly unconcerned with this possibility made it pretty likely that wasn't a possibility. So, one way out. Second assumption I wasn't as sure about, but it still seemed to make sense: if Thane wasn't making any moves to kill me now, then he probably felt confident that, if things stayed as they were, I'd die eventually. It was possible that while he stood there, he was contacting the other crewmates to come down and hunt me. That might've been what he was doing. Or... maybe there was some other reason why he thought I'd inevitably die, some unknown factor I wasn't thinking of for whatever reason. Given what I'd seen, Thane needed to kill me; if he seemingly had no immediate desire to do so, I had to assume he thought the situation would rectify itself. The final assumption I was worried might have been wishful thinking, but thinking about it... Let's say those first assumptions hold true that's the only way above board, and my life was on a timer. That doesn't necessarily explain why he'd be puppy guarding that one spot. Given Thane's twisted personality, I imagined he'd still be hunting me down, if for no other reason but sport. Unless, of course... he couldn't afford that sort of arrogance? Him standing guard there implied to me that there was something above deck that might give me a chance of living... or, at the very least, being above deck meant I wouldn't necessarily die. If that was the case, then I really only had one option available, no? I had to get past him. I didn't know how, per se, but I had to trust my own logic if I wanted to survive. The third assumption might've been the weakest of the three, but it was also the closest thing to a plan of action I'd had for a while, and it gave me some much needed hope. So then... how to get past Thane? As it stood, I had no chance whatsoever; luckily, there was a place pretty close by that might have something of use.  Making sure to still move gingerly, I made my way back to the torture room. Hopefully, there would be something I could use. Looking at that corpse again, my stomach began to drop. Ugh, I was going to be sick. This was absolute brutality, the likes I hadn't yet seen. Well, that wasn't quite true there was one other corpse that probably had this one beat. ...Ugh, keep it together. I was supposed to have a good gut about these sorts of things. I moved forwards and began to check the older man's corpse. This was vaguely disrespectful, but now wasn't exactly the time for respect. If this guy was still around, I'm sure he'd think the biggest sign of respect would be evading his killer and avenging his name. I was just seeing if he could lend a hand. I thought it was a dead end, until I felt something at his left leg; I pulled up his (quite bloody and ripped) pant leg to find a thin, sharp ice pick strapped to the back of this guy's leg with a leather string. It had narrowly avoided the bullets that had entered the human it was attached to. I'm surprised Thane let something like this slip through the cracks. Was this guy just waiting for an opportunity to put this thing to use? Did he just never get the opportunity? ...What was your story, old man? Thane had said you brought this upon yourself, that you 'chose the wrong side'. I had a couple guesses, but none that quite made sense of the whole situation. What on earth could this ship really be? ...No, those thoughts were for when I was safe; they weren't likely to have any application here. At the very least, I had gotten a weapon. This was big. My eyes were also drawn to the strange machine that had a wire connected to it, that had been torturing the old man. I gave it a closer look; to be honest, I had had difficulty telling what the actual function of this thing was. Eh... probably useless. What really stood out to me instead was this papery tube on the side that ran from top to bottom. I could see that it was screwed to the top. Out of curiosity, I tried unscrewing it... and instantly regretted it, and began screwing it shut again. The moment there was a bit of give, smoke immediately started pouring out of it. loving great design there guys, holy poo poo. What a load of...  Hey, hold on. How much smoke could this make exactly...? The pipe was fairly large, and the smoke started coming out of it preeeetty quick. If I could make a lot of smoke, it could act sort of like a smoke screen... right? That had to be something that I could use! ...Except no, that probably wasn't right. I mean, what good would a smoke screen realistically do, given the current setup? Thane would just see through it, put some distance between himself and the smoke screen, and start firing through it. Anything I intended to do with this wouldn't work; Thane would just see right through it. ...So then, what if I counted on that? The key to adaptability was counterplay. If a plan would fail for some reason, make that reason part of the plan. ...Okay, okay, actually, I think this could work. It was a risky gambit, certainly, but risk was the name of the game at this point. I grabbed the mystery machine and left the torture room. Then, very silently, I made my way back to where I had seen Thane last. As delicately, as quietly as I could, I made my way around the corner in such a way that Thane still couldn't see me. I got as close as the T-turn as I could. Then, I ever so delicately sat the machine down, bent down, and began to unscrew the pipe. This had to be super delicate... I was basing my movements on the pressure and bit of past experience I had. There. Right where it got as close to being loose as it could be, I stopped. The pipe was super duper delicately positioned now; the slightest movement might cause it to come loose... and that was what I was counting on. Now, to get in position. I moved with an odd combination of speed and silence I didn't want things to get to the action before I was in place. However, if Thane heard me slinking around, it'd be 'Game Over' for sure; I was lucky the sounds of the rocking sea gave me a bit of cover. I moved back around the corner, back to the torture room... and I kept moving, past and around the torture room, around the hallways. I hadn't actually been down this way yet, but I was making a bet on how the ship was structured and the bet paid off; I ended up on the other side of that hallway, on the other end of the T-intersection. I could see further down the hall that the machine I had left in a precarious position had yet to burst, thank God that was my biggest fear with all this. I got closer to the T-intersection, staying as silent as I could. And then... I waited. And I waited. [BGM: Silence]  poo poo. I thought the pipe was barely on, but what if it wasn't? What if it wasn't going to burst open any time soon? Could I risk going back around and screwing with it more? That felt like a huge loving risk the fact I hadn't been heard up until this point was already a miracle and a half. And who's to say I wouldn't just mess up screwing the pipe next time? What else could I do then? Try knocking over the machine by throwing something small at it? ...No, if Thane was paying careful attention, that would ruin the whole thing. It was in this panic-stricken moment of mine, as it often was, that the world exploded into chaos. [BGM: Grand Slam]  Just as I was worried about the smoke not doing its job, the apex of my concern, the ocean hit us with a particularly disruptive wave. Enough to rock the machine enough to cause the pipe to come undone... and, in an instant, smoke billowed out, immediately making a loud noise and flooding the place. My smokescreen was being created, and Thane reacted appropriately. I could see from my position him rush out, facing the smokescreen and backing away from that side of the T-intersection. He had his pistol out. *pow, pow!* He fired twice into the smoky abyss. This was as good of a chance as I was ever gonna get... I took out the ice pick and rushed at him, hoping to stab him in the back. Because of Thane's strafing, I was pretty close to him, and his attention had been successfully diverted. Unfortunately... the geography worked against me; the T-intersection meant that the wall jutted out on the right side, the side with which I was holding the ice pick. Because of that, I couldn't swing wide, and instead had to sort of bend a bit during my stab. I don't know if that was what made the difference, or if I had never stood a chance, but somehow Thane sensed the attack coming sooner than he should've been able to. In a clean motion, he began turning towards me, and smacked the first I held the ice pick in with the hand he held his pistol in. gently caress! The ice pick went soaring off over toward the stairs, well out of reach. My one means of fighting back, gone. ...No, not true. I still had two pretty lethal weapons.  Keeping the momentum of my surprise on my side, I aimed a square punch at his face with my left arm. If I hit him head on, that'd hopefully stun him enough to allow a follow-up. And in a one-on-one scenario, once someone begins wailing on the other person, the fight is usually over. Unfortunately, as already made apparent, Thane was no pushover. He bobbed to my side, my first just barely missing his stupid black helmet... and as my swing failed, he began an attack of his own. His right hand was curled into a fist, and he threw an uppercut right at my stomach. Usually I'd be on guard enough to avoid that sort of thing, but I had put my all into the missed punch at his head, so his blow hit me straight on, and I was knocked right back. I was sent flying back on my rear end, defeated not because I was in a great amount of pain, but because I knew I had already lost the fight. Thane swung the pistol in my direction. He had the time to square the shot. I was lying flat on my back, I had no mobility; I was a fish in a barrel. The moment I moved at all, I'd be shot. If I rushed at him, I'd be shot. If I rushed away, I'd be shot. If I did nothing, I'd be shot. No matter what, in a matter of seconds, I would be shot. Oh, God... this was it, wasn't it? I had gotten this far, done so much, and now, on this mystery ship, to this mystery man, I would die. And then, I would likely disappear, just like that my existence, removed from this plane. This was the time to reflect. Had I lived a worthy life? One to be proud of? Was I destined to hell? I had had a hard life, of that I'm sure; a sympathetic one; a thankless one, too. I always tried to do my best, tried to do the right thing when I could. I tried to make things right... and that led me here, to this boat in the middle of nowhere, about to be shot. Just great. I sent my prayers to whatever lay beyond... if there were an afterlife, please have mercy on me. And if there wasn't... then please let somebody back here take up my quest and finish it. So now... goodbye. I was expecting a bullet to come at any moment, but Thane hadn't yet pulled the trigger. Why? ...I got my answer moments later.  Why? What are you doing here? How did you get here? How do you know about the Mandjet?This just confirmed what I already suspected: for whatever reason, Thane wasn't expecting me here. Huh. I mean, that made sense. Seemingly, I had decided to come investigate the ship on my own; nobody could have predicted that. But then... why did I pass out in that container? Forget all that supernatural bullshit, I wouldn't randomly fall asleep like that in the middle of an investigation. I didn't think it was being drugged at the time, since I didn't see any gas in the container back then. However, I had defaulted to accepting that explanation in lieu of any others. Thane, though, didn't expect me on this ship. So... how on earth could I have been drugged if the owners of the Mandjet weren't aware I was here? ...I didn't have an answer. I saw Thane begin to tense up, the grip of the pistol slightly changing. poo poo, poo poo, poo poo! Get your head in the game! Forget that prayer bullshit, if Thane was willing to be talked with then I wasn't out of options yet. I had exactly one way to stay alive at this point, and that was through some serious bullshitting. ...Luckily, serious bullshitting was right up my alley. If I answered this honestly that I had no idea how I ended up here, and that initially I boarded the ship to investigate a probably murder then I could guess how that would probably play out. No use for me, bullet in the head. So then, I needed another answer. [BGM: Silence]  Don't shoot! I was sent by your boss!At this, Thane cocked his head clearly not the answer he was expecting. Then, after a beat, he responded in a slow manner. And... that would be?Okay, one question down. How to handle this one? There was a standard response to this. However, going down that path would likely turn the conversation towards a lot of details I just didn't have. I was in a do or die situation. If ever there was a time to take some bold shots in the dark in a bid for high payout results, this was it. You don't want to kill me! I work for the Devil!It was hard to tell with the mask and all, but this response seemed to confuse Thane. Then, he began to chuckle a little bit. Who?I saw his pistol grip once again begin to tighten. Ah, gently caress. Wrong answer. He was going to shoot. Either it'd be a fatal shot, or it would be a debilitating shot... and if it was the latter, then I'd have no chance of escape. Looks like I was right to pray. Today was the day I *CRASH!!!* *pow!* [BGM: Keep Hitting]  It happened in an instant. Although, it took me a second to process what it was. From the stairway up to the main deck, a figure had come barreling in, crashing right into Thane's side. Thane, caught completely unaware, ended up gripping the pistol tighter, and by extension the trigger. This was a pretty common occurrence when something sudden happens to somebody holding a gun. Luckily, Thane also reacted to the crashing by moving his arm in reaction to the blow. Because of that, the bullet mercifully fired and hit the metal ground a couple of inches from my shoulder. Tooooo close for comfort, but then again, that's the general trend for tonight. After the crash had happened, I could finally comprehend who my savior was. It was some girl with red hair and glasses. I think I had seen her somewhere before, though I couldn't put my finger on any specifics. She looked, to put it mildly, pissed. Well, I wasn't gonna just haplessly lie around anymore. This was a loving miracle, and I immediately needed to take advantage of it. As I started making my way to my feet, the woman barked orders at me in a harsh tone.  Get moving! Already on it!Like I said, at this point I was already on my feet. Instantly I began running to the stairwell Thane had been guarding just moments ago. In the corner of my eye, I could see him already getting to his feet as well. My savior also recognized the looming danger and began running up the stairs, just a bit ahead of me. Soon enough, we had sprinted all the way back up onto the ship's deck, in front of the small room that led to the stairs. We didn't exactly have a ton of time for idle chit chat. However, as the two of us caught our breath, I figured that encounter was worth a few words. Thanks for that.  Who the hell are you?Well, not the response I was expecting. Huh? The gently caress are you doing here? Good question! I could turn that question back around on you. Seriously? You're gonna turn this back on me? Hey, I was just trying to thank you for saving my life! Only did that to get some answers answers you're not giving me. Well, look, it's a really tenuous situation we're in right now; I think it's justifiable tha Quick, poo poo, run! In the corner of my eye, I noticed through the window that Thane was making his way back towards us. Behind my savior, I saw a half-open metal container. I immediately began running towards it, grabbing the woman's wrist as I passed by her. I was afraid I'd get some resistance from this, but luckily she was pretty smart and began running with me without a second thought. Right as we jumped into the metal container, I heard two more shots fired off. Sounds like one hit metal, maybe even the container itself. As I entered the container, I turned around and grabbed the handles of the doors, slamming them shut. [BGM: Silence]  poo poo, that was close. You're telling me. That piece of poo poo's loving efficient, if nothing else. Yeah, well, luckily we were able toOnce again, I cut myself off as I noticed something happening in the corner of my eye. The doors of the container were beginning to open. And, in the crack, I saw it was Thane opening them. Immediately, I jumped over and grabbed the handles, pulling them back shut. I strained with all my might, struggling to keep the container closed. On the other side, it was clear Thane was also pulling the container open with all his might. This brief clash of wills lasted a few seconds, but luckily keeping the doors closed was an easier job than opening it. Also understanding what was happening, the woman rushed over and helped me pull it shut. Her assistance was a surprising boon, making our job much easier. A few seconds more, and it seemed Thane gave up trying to pry the container open. I heard the sound of pounding Thane slamming his fist against the wall. Then, a pause. *pow, pow!* Two gunshots impacted metal. From inside the container, I noticed an indent on the container wall, where the bullet had almost penetrated it. We... may still be very much screwed. Oh, you think? Next update, it's time to check in with the fake Thane.
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Sep 1, 2023 23:31
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It's a concept that comes up a lot in competitive games like poker, chess, even stuff like magic the gathering, where you don't let yourself get hung up on the games you were going to lose no matter what and, sometimes, instead actively develop the willingness to lose for the games that aren't guaranteed losses... because sometimes being willing to lose is what actually gets you the win. Sometimes the reckless play will pay off whereas being reserved/careful would ensure you lose there, and it's better to go for it and possibly put yourself into a win then do nothing and ensure the loss, since if you go for it and lose anyway, well, guess you weren't winning that one either way, yknow?
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Sep 4, 2023 23:36
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[BGM: Doubling Cube]  So, I had decided to replace Thane, hiding his death and keeping myself alive for longer. Cool, cool, good plan... There was just one teensie little problem though: I needed to find out where the 'V-Hall' actually was. If I didn't know where to show up, I'd be dead in the water from the jump. Luckily, I had a lot of Thane's poo poo hopefully I could get something useful out of all that. And if I couldn't... well, let's manifest some positive thinking, why don't we? I'd already broken into the stolen phone, not much of use there, so next up were the burner phones. I chose one to try and open, but unfortunately it had a password. Well, no matter; in this day and age, a password is really more of a warning sign than a roadblock. I hooked the phone up to my laptop and began to get to work.  Oh, by the way! This hacking puzzle has 'yellow tiles'. You don't have to be scared of them, they're actually kind of helpful when you think about it. For one, they will always be 'live'. Also, of the 8 tiles surrounding them left, right, up, down, diagonals exactly 4 of them will always be dead. Isn't that a neat info gathering tool? All right, get to it. As before, the solution is under the spoiler tag here  [You won 7 chips!] Voila! Here we go. [BGM: Ones Are Wild]  I spent some time browsing the phone. The most important information to learn was the address of the V-Hall; since I was already into the phone's system, it wasn't hard to access the locations this phone frequently visited. Cross-referencing that with some past texts, I was able to get an address. Lucky me. Going through the rest of the phone, I read through and subsequently memorized as much information as I could. This was only giving me a partial picture, but at least I had something of a cheat sheet for Thane's life some building blocks, as they were. I wanted to look through the phone a lot more than I did, but Yi said I needed to get to the V-Hall ASAP and I already wasted a lot of time. There was one thing, however, that brought me a great deal of unease. Thane had named this phone 'Duat Burner Phone'. So then, if this was the Duat burner phone... what was the other phone? For personal use? You wouldn't really need a burner phone for personal stuff... I mean, maybe if you were super paranoid about privacy that could be Thane. This could also be nothing to worry about, but I mean, why would you bring your personal contact phone in an assassin's briefcase? ...Maybe I was overthinking things. Or, maybe, that other burner phone was important. I really wanted to crack that other phone but, again, time crunch. So, going to my first Duat meeting. What did I want to bring? Something told me that bringing the full silver suitcase to something like this was the wrong approach. Or... maybe it wasn't? Was Thane the type to never go anywhere without his suitcase? I couldn't tell. So in that case, what could I talk my way out of? If Thane usually has his suitcase, it'd be easier to explain why he doesn't have it... but if he usually doesn't have it, bringing it to the V-Hall would be a really, really, really bad idea.  So the suitcase was out. But what about a pistol? That felt reasonable to bring. Or... maybe not? Like the suitcase, bringing weapons might be taboo. Besides, I wasn't exactly a pro marksman, so there was the question of how useful a pistol would actually be to me. If I had to use it, it'd probably already be too late. But... just having a gun afforded me options; the threat of it, and all and again, maybe it'd be weird for Thane to be without a gun. Ultimately, I used the same decision making process as I did with the suitcase easier to explain the lack of a gun than the presence of one. So... I was going to go into the belly of the beast completely unarmed, with only a quarter of the knowledge needed to pull off a successful disguise. Awesome. Well, better to rip off the bandage. It was time to make my way over to the V-Hall. I exited the hotel my usual way out the storage closet, down into the sewer. I stayed in the sewers to get to the other side of the city. From what I could tell, the V-Hall used to be a production facility... that is, until it was purchased by Olympo, then let go. The actual owner of the land was in limbo, but through some circumstances, the Duats owned it. Now, all the actual machinery that had went with it had been disposed of, and it had served as the Duats' central lair for some time. This was some pretty good info. Not super key info, mind you, as this was where the members hung out, so naturally it was a little too conspicious to keep anything truly damning... but still, in terms of understanding the layout of Panthea, it was a good piece to tuck away. I tried to walk through the sewer with some amount of urgency. I was still too sore to break into a full sprint; however, I hadn't yet figured out where Thane usually lived, so I didn't know how long it would be reasonable for Thane to take. Eventually, I got close enough to the location to climb out of the sewer and walk the last bit above ground. ...There, that building must be the V-Hall.  From the outside, it looked pretty rundown. Probably the intent, huh? Helped keep a low profile. ...All right, no turning back now. I approached the building with a sense of confidence I was Thane, after all, nothing in this building should give me any pause. I was a Senior Officer! I went right up to the front entrance and opened the door. Not locked, huh? Well, the guard standing by the door probably had something to do with that. Also, it's not like anybody'd be stupid enough to enter a place like this if you weren't a Duat yourself. ...Oh, wait. Hey Thane. Been a minute.Before me was a leather-jacket clad Duat member. A grunt, if I was placing him right, accustomed to front-line work. I didn't know the guy's name, so I simply nodded. This seemed to work for him; thank God Thane was the way he was, because playing a 'silent type' character really was a lot easier. All right then, just to be sure, what's the password? Man, what was with people asking regulars to give passwords? ...Actually, considering I was hiding my face, it was probably fair in this case. Luckily, this was one piece of info I had actually gleaned; fortunately for me, the password changed pretty recently. 'To speak the name of the dead is to make him live again'. Cool, cool.I had to say, it was a pretty wordy password I didn't quite get the purpose behind it. Apparently, it had been assigned by Marduk. Maybe that gave me some insight into his mind? Though, if it did... I couldn't define it. So, now I'm afraid I've gotta pat you down. Put your hands and arms out, if you please. Fine.I feigned annoyance at this as I complied, but honestly the only thing that passed through my mind was relief; I had made the right call. Had I a pistol on me right now, things would've been a lot more awkward. As I was being examined, I got a better look at the inside of the facility. It was pretty big, all things considered. There was an open-air area, with a lot of members congregated I guess this was a factory area, previously. A number of doors and hallways to other sections of the building lined the walls. And there, I saw a familiar face. Yi approached me with a smile on his face. ...Here we go. [BGM: Silence]  Thane! Good to see you, good to see you. Say, what are you doing, letting this scrub pat you down like that? Huh? Senior Officers are exempt from body checks, dipshit. Thane, why would you subject yourself to that?gently caress. Seriously Leather Jacket, you had to do me like this? You had to gently caress up in a way that would out me? I had just gone through the door and already I couldn't catch a break. Seriously, gently caress me. I was waiting to see if this one would catch on to it himself.I said that with as much menace as I could muster. I needed to lean on one of Thane's biggest advantages his threatening aura. It seemed to work on this punk, at least. I-I-I'm so sorry, uh, sir, I wasn't r-really thinking... See, I don't usually have g-guard duty, so, um Is that your excuse?[BGM: Bidding]  Yi looked to me, and then the grunt before me, and then back to me with a slight smile on his face. Oh, give the kid a break, Thane. I'm sure he gets the picture. Right, pal?Yi gave Leather Jacket a friendly punch on the shoulder. O-Of course! Totally!I let the silence linger for a second longer. ...Don't do it again.And like that, I began to walk into the lion's den. Yi casually strode beside me. Hopefully that bluff had successfully gotten the heat off me.  Ah, Thane, why do you always have to pick on the tykes like that?Do I? Awesome. You really that much of a sadist? Do it just for kicks?I merely shrugged. The problem I had right now was that I wasn't quite sure how to approach Yi. I hadn't quite pegged their relationship. In theory, they were both Senior Officers; so then, were they colleagues? There seemed to be more to it than that, though. I needed to pick up on Yi's vibes to understand how to proceed. A shrug was noncommittal enough that it wouldn't get me in any hot water. Say, what took you so long getting here? What, you fall in the toilet or something?So, I guess I was late. That's to be expected, I suppose I did take a while. But I must not've been too late? You caught me at a bad time. I got here before the meeting began, didn't I? Ah, ya got me there.Good, so Yi didn't feel like pushing the issue. That's a good sign for me. Another person walked over to Yi and I. It was a woman with red hair and glasses.   Hey Yi, Thane, how're you two on this lovely day? Lara. I'm doing just fine, got a good night's sleep. Love that, great to hear. And you, Thane? I'm fine. Good, good, good. Good.At first glance, things seemed to be fine. However, Lara was very good at hiding her true intent; I was pretty good at reading body language, and it was clear that Lara was extremely uneasy about Thane. She didn't want to bring it up, but something about him made her nervous. I thought back... Ah, yes, of course. I actually knew why Lara was nervous around Thane. Well, all the better for me. Nervous people were less likely to push issues.  Do anything interesting this weekend, Lara? Ah, if only I'm too boring to do much, unfortunately. I fall into the regular patterns I feel you there, sister. Nowadays, I'm more and more inclined to curl up at home with a good book. Feels like I'm becoming an old man. What about you, Thane? I didn't do anything worth talking about. Yeah, that figures. So, what do you guys think this meeting is going to be about? Marduk's really hard to get a bead on. Ah, well... why speculate, when we're going to have the meeting in a few minutes anyway?I'd actually like to speculate, Yi; if I knew what I was getting into, I could better prepare. Because it's fun, silly. Just trying to make conversation? I suppose, I suppose. My problem is that it's not like we have much to go on. Marduk's always been a man of whims, even more so these days. For all we know, he could've called us here on random impulse. You know, I actually like that in a man. Someone willing to do what they want, when they want? It's the sort of confidence fitting for our head. Hey, don't get me wrong, far be it from me to question our Supreme Leader. Just saying that guessing what the meeting's about is going to be hard. There aren't exactly any recent events worth discussing, so, failing that, it could really be about anything. That so? No recent events worth discussing, you think? Nothing comes to my mind. Anything come to yours, Lara? No, no, can't say that anything does, unfortunately. At this point, two other Duat members walked over. Hey Lara, how's it going? Did everything work out with your apartment? Oh, hey guys! My apartment's fine, but thanks for asking. Really, I was just bitching about nothing problems, you don't have to worry about that. What about you two, you gone to see your sister yet? Not yet, I'm afraid. What? Why? 'Fraid she's gonna be mad at us... Seriously? You two did all this work to pay for her surgery; she'll be thrilled to see you! And even if she's really mad about how you got that money, it's still worth just going down there and hashing it out in person. You're right, you're right. As always. Look, we'll try and head down there whenever we get some free time. That's the spirit.The burlier man then took a second to look at Yi and me. So, what're you doing hanging around with these two? Well, Old Man Yi here was asking for my help. I was teaching him how to set up his iPhone. The lack of buttons confuses him...The others snickered pretty heavily at this. Yi, on the other hand, strained to keep a grinning face. ...Did, uh, these guys have a different metric for burns, or...? Oh ho, Lara, you... If you spent less time working on your stand-up and more time working for the Duats, you wouldn't have to get on your knees to stay a Senior Officer. Begging isn't a pretty look. Aw, but Yi, if I did more of your work, what would you have to lecture the rest of us about?More snickers. ...Different senses of humor, I guess. At that moment, a tall, lumbering figure walked into the room. I initially didn't think much of it, but when he entered, everyone else instantly shut up. At first, I thought that was because this guy must have a high rank; however, after analyzing the situation a few seconds more, I realized the real reason why his presence brought the conversation to a halt. This man had come from the one conspicuously prestigious looking door along the wall of the open area. Unlike the other doors and rooms in this place where I saw people coming and going from them this one had been completely devoid of visitors so far. [BGM: Silence]  I could make an educated guess as to what the room was. It was the office of the head of this whole operation... Marduk's room. The next words spoken confirmed my suspicions. Marduk's ready for you.He directed this comment at the three of us: the Senior Officers. Agh. I had a feeling things were getting a bit too chummy around here. We better not keep old Marduk waiting. Definitely don't want to keep him waiting. He can be such a hassle when he's in a grumpy mood. Ah, well. Might as well get this over with. Here's hoping today's meeting'll be painless.That makes two of us, Yi. Doubt it. Oh, why are you two always such Debbie Downers? Meeting the boss isn't supposed to be a bad thing! ...At least, if you've been doing your job properly. If that's the case, then why do you look so chipper?Lara let out a little chuckle. Oh, Yi. You're always such a tease. That's me all right. Real jokester.As much as I dreaded entering that office, the real Thane would probably say something along the lines of... Did we not just talk about not keeping Marduk waiting? Yeah, yeah, we're getting to it Thane. Jeez, always so on edge with the whole Marduk situation. Totally! Thane, you should really learn to lighten up. We should go for drinks sometime! I know a super cool place one of our operations. Didn't that den run into a spot of trouble recently? Oh, that was nothing, it's back on its feet already. Let's meet with Marduk first. Afterwards, we can... discuss future plans, if you like. Got it, got it.[BGM: The Bomb]  And with that prompting, we finally began making our way to Marduk's office. I didn't know what to expect going in; honestly, I didn't even expect to get this far. Things had been going pretty well so far. But so far, I was just coasting along on the easier stuff things I had some idea of how to tackle. But a meeting with Marduk... What was he even like? How much did he know? What was Thane's connection with Marduk like? I knew some things about him some things most people didn't even know, but nothing that felt like it'd help me in this situation. More importantly, it was the nature of this meeting that frightened me. It wouldn't be for conversation. It would be for business. Business discussions tended to be details-heavy... and details were the last thing I was looking for right now. ...Whatever. I'd just have to bullshit my way through this. Play to my strengths. I'd gotten this far, hadn't I?
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Sep 7, 2023 01:15
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| # ¿ May 15, 2024 11:25 |
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Also, sorry updates have been slow/delayed the last two weeks, work-related stuff has basically been taking up most of my energy lately so I haven't had a lot of time to prepare new updates, but things are finally settling down so we'll be back to a regular schedule soon
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Sep 9, 2023 14:13
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