PC: Adlet

[rizomata]

Comments

[querencias]

Yeah, they will. But why? The past two have been different but—

[ there's a pattern here, somewhere, he figures. ]

[rizomata]

I don't know. I still don't understand why the hell Chiemi--

[her voice catches -- just thinking about it is making her upset all over again.]

With those notes that went around last week, there's just more incentive for people to panic and act irrationally...

[querencias]

[ he reaches out to touch her hand briefly, just as a show of support. regardless of whether she allows it or not: ]

The one about the medal, and the card of Datz? Or something else?

[rizomata]

[she allows it, possibly because it's affection week.]

The ones those two groups brought back from out of town last week. Did you see them?

[querencias]

No, I talked to Hans, Whisper, and Jolyne about what they saw, but we kinda got distracted. What'd they say?

[ his 1 brain cell covering for the end of last week murdering me irl. ]

[rizomata]

[she hesitates, thinking for a few moments...]

... Well, you might as well see it. Here.

[rita takes out her notebook, flips to a page with two passages copied down, and shows him:]

The stakes so far have been too boring. It’s no fun when all they do at the end of the day is go home, so for the next round, we’ll spice it up a bit. If they want a chance for anyone to return at all, they’ll have to take that chance from someone else.

One death each week is enough to keep the door open. Kill, or lose everything any of them have cared about. Let’s see how heroic they can be in those conditions.


These heroes are unable to return to the worlds they call home while they have yet to win their competition. If a team loses, all those within the team, present and future, those worlds they hail from will come under the light of the moon. Those worlds will be forever changed with the loss of the heroes hailing from them. There is nothing better than a hero under distress.

By winning they will be putting their companions here at risk. By losing, their homes will be rewritten to be completely different, erasing their place within it. A dire situation indeed. A benefit no matter the outcome.

[querencias]

[ he reads it, expression falling to something serious. ]

There's the gloating...beyond what this could mean, I still gotta wonder: why hide it? If we all knew it was like this, we might be more willing. That just makes me think that this is full of crap, or that there's more to it.

[rizomata]

Yeah... there's a lot that's fishy here.

With the obnoxious tone and all, it could be the work of this "supervillain" I've been hearing about... and if that's the case, then there's even less reason to trust the content.

[querencias]

A threat only works if you know what you have to lose.

[ ... ]

You don't think Mika or the other guy knew about this, do you?

[rizomata]

Mika? No. Argalia? Maybe.

[... a long, tense pause.]

Chiemi did.

[querencias]

[ mmn. ]

...that makes sense. Did she leave note after all? Or did someone talk to her?

[rizomata]

I talked to her, around this time last week. So I know she saw the notes.

... I don't know if that's why she did any of the things she did. I'll probably never know, because that asshole killed her.

[querencias]

Sorry.

[ he's doing the whole hand touch thing again. ]

It's not a bad guess. I didn't really know her, but I don't think anyone would have targeted Norma for no reason. And that guy...he's just the kinda jerk who likes to hear himself talk.

[ at least in adlet's opinion. ]

[rizomata]

... Guess I didn't know her that well, either.

[grimly.

without thinking, she grips his offered hand.


they're stuck now.]

1/2

[querencias]

[ oh, that's unexpected but. nice? yeah. yeah.]

[querencias]

[ and as his brain processes a little more...

...
...
...

ah, they're stuck together now. ]

R-Rita? [ looking away with a definite blush. ]

[rizomata]

Huh...?

[looks at him. looks at their hands.

shakes them a little.]

Y-you can let go now!

[querencias]

Now!? [ does that mean it wasn't an accident??? ]

I can't! You can try but—

[ looks at how him and axel got stuck together trying to battle a goose... ]

[rizomata]

[she shakes their hands harder. they do not come apart.]

No...! We can't be stuck like this!

[querencias]

It'll wear off after a bit....until then you have the strongest man in the world by your side.

[ that sounds stupider than he normally does, smh. ]

[rizomata]

I'd rather keep him at arm's length, thanks!

[querencias]

Even the strongest man in the world has feelings you know!

[ though it's hard to tell if he's actually offended. ]

...you wanna just sit here and pretend it's not happening?

[rizomata]

[dragging her free hand down her face...]

... Sounds better than being seen in public like this, if nothing else.

[querencias]

At least there's no goose this time.

[ ... ]

You wanna ask me anything? Now's your chance since I can't just run away.

[rizomata]

What, you think you're that interesting?

[she is so rude.]

... Fine. How about...

What's the deal with you and food?