[ WEEK THREE ]

[sheriffexe]

WEEK THREE

CURRENT POPULATION: 35 It's a rather quaint town when you get down to it. At least, that's what the Sheriff would argue. Warm and dry in the mornings and afternoons with a brisk coolness in the evenings. The perfect type of weather to just sit out on your rocking chair and observe the comings and goings. ... Of course, there's not much in the way of comings and goings when there aren't any actual people here to watch. Nevertheless, don't let that get you down! The town is your oyster and those roosters won't stop crowing until everyone's out of bed. Up and at 'em, rise and shine, it's time to make the day yours! Except there is, perhaps, a few things amiss. This post functions as the general mingle post for the week. Wanted Posters and other small events will be posted in top levels below. If there's any questions or requests, please send a PM or shoot a PP to robowest.

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[tightly]

[ In the silence, Milla's voice bounces roundly off the smooth, circular walls of the pit. It makes the whole mine feel like a vacuum, a hapless and unforgiving echo chamber where only anguish loops into more anguish.

Natalie was dragged down into... something.

Seizaburo is not answering either.

Chane's hands tense at her sides, fingers itching for a knife to curl around. To feel safe.

And then, with no real warning, she reaches out to take Milla's arm. We're leaving. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[Chane's movement is so sudden that Milla almost trips when she stumbles forward. but she also digs her heels into the dirt and shakes her head vigorously]

No! We can't leave without them.

[she says firmly as she pulls on her arm]

There must be more to the mines than the pit. We need to find them!

[tightly]

[ As far as Chane's concerned, they're already dead -- and while she may grieve, later, in private, she has no wish to join them. She feels she is thinking clearly, in comparison to Milla's hotblooded insistence.

Stronger than she looks by far, Chane resists Milla's tugs, still gripping the other woman's arm. A morose set in her expression gives way to decided determination.

Let's.

Go. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[Chane is much stronger than she looks, and while Milla is no weakling herself, without the power of Maxwell she isn't able to break the other woman's grip easily. she does struggle though, because she's refusing to accept that Natalie and Seizaburo are dead already]

Not yet. [she says firmly] I'm not suggesting we follow them into the skeleton pit, but there's space around and behind the hole. We should, at the very least, examine those areas before we leave.

I refuse to exit this mine without at least trying to search for them.

[tightly]

[ Nope nope nope nope nope. N O P E.

See this head shaking? It's super emphatic.

As far as Chane's concerned, there's only so many lives that can be thrown away outside the rules of this "game" before it yields something worse. If Seizaburo and Natalie were granted a quick death, well...

Then that just makes them luckier than some. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[WHEN AN IMMOVABLE OBJECT MEETS AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE. . .]

Are Natalie and Seizaburo not our comrades? Our allies in escaping this brutal game? We owe it to them to press on, no matter how dangerous the road ahead is. We owe it to everyone here.

[a beat]

Besides, if you drag me out now, I'll simply return later on my own.

[has Chane ever met someone so stubborn??]

[tightly]

[ For the first time since Chane arrived in this stupid town, she finds herself wanting her notepad rather than bemoaning it. Not that there's enough light in here to read or write by, but for a strong moment, she finds herself missing the relative effortlessness of worded communication.

She hardly sees why they owe Sei and Natalie their deaths and, as such ... Well, she finally releases Milla's arm.

Go ahead, woman. Turn away from her. See what it gets you. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[Milla's gonna protag whenever she can, tbh. it's just in her nature! as is stubbornly pressing forward, no matter what]

[when released, she takes a few steps back and hoists her pickaxe so it rests on her shoulder again]

. . . thank you.

You don't have to come with me, but it's important to me that we press on. You understand, right?

[tightly]

[ Sorry, Milla.

She does understand, but she cannot condone it.

In that spirit, as soon as Milla is no longer facing her, Chane springs into action. The safest way to incapacitate someone is to temporary cut off all oxygen to the brain. By wrapping one arm around Milla's neck from behind, that's exactly what Chane does. Even if she struggles or flails, Milla will be sleeping soundly within a few moments.

When she wakes up in a few hours, she won't even have bruises about her throat. Not that Chane is expecting gratitude.

Once she's sure Milla is subdued, she affixes the other woman over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and exits the mine. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[. . . in hindsight, she really should have seen this coming. Chane was just as stubborn about leaving as she was about staying]

What in the--?!

[she can barely get the words out as Chane grapples her from behind, and although she grabs the other woman's arms tightly in an attempt to escape, it's to no avail. within a few moments, her body goes limp, allowing Chane to do with her as she pleases]

[DAMN HIT]

[WHY DO PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO KNOCK HERO OUT FOR HER OWN GOOD SO OFTEN]

[Gaius would approve of you, Chane]

[tightly]

[ A few hours later, Milla will wake up in the inn lounge, having been laid on a couch. Somehow, there's a soft quilt tucked up to her chin and a gentle cushion under her head. ????? ]

[thatsthespirit]

[well]

[at least the pillow is soft]