SERGEANT NPC CONTACT

[cartesio]

The Lodge is located on the hills near the town, large and strange. It contrasts a lot when compared to the rest of the town -- its gray and white walls are quite the change from the vibrant and colorful Cartesio, the plants and bushes that are planted on the lower levels of the Lodge only make the contrast more obvious. There are many windows, but no matter how much you look you don't see anyone passing behind them. If you didn't know better you'd think it was completely empty.

But it isn't empty. The Sergeant is there.

You won't get too far into the Lodge before you encounter the Sergeant. There he is in the lobby, standing in front of a door that leads deeper into the building. No matter at what time you come or what you do, he'll always be there, reading self-help books, or with a mirror, practicing his next speech/confrontation. When he's not facing all of you at once, he seems to be easier to talk with.

Want to bother him?

Comments

[cartesio]

Technically that'd earn you a piano too, yes -- and the right to leave the town. But if you're that picky...

[So much contempt towards all the visitors. Come on, guys, it's just a teensy tiny murder. The deadline is approaching!]

Next week I should have a new task for you all. Just do everything in your power to help, like you did at the cinema. That was admirable of you.

[Somehow he sounds genuinely appreciative, excited like he was on Wednesday night]

[robitussin]

...Okay.

[There's a small pause, before another question is on the way.]

Why did you want us to do that, anyways?

[cartesio]

I wanted the sign. It's a historical artifact, so I wanted it. It's attached right over there now.

[He points at the wall above the entrance to the Lodge, and indeed, there is the sign, glowing blue and green. Still pretty garish, really]

It'd look better if Katsuki Bakugou hadn't broken part of it, but beggars can't be choosers. Explosions shouldn't get in the way of future tasks, that I can ensure.

[robitussin]

[She wants to ask about it, but first—]

Ensure how? You're not going to do anything to him, are you?

[cartesio]

No, I'll simply assign tasks that won't involve anything fragile, although knowing him, he'd still break stuff out of spite. Stupid kid.

[Katsuki Bakugou is a horrible kid, in his opinion. Curse him]

[robitussin]

...I mean, you had to have realized that before you brought him here, right?

[cartesio]

I did. I simply understimated how hard to manage he'd be. Things don't go like you expect them to sometimes, and planning ahead can only do you so much good.

I have a lot of faith on what I'm capable of, and what I can do, but the basic tenet of sociology is that people don't fit the expectations you have sometimes. Unpredictability is part of human nature.

I just am unlucky some of you are particularly unpredictable and infuriating.

[robitussin]

[A small smirk.]

I'm gonna guess this is your first time doing this, then.

[cartesio]

That obvious, isn't it? Sociology is my field. That field of study doesn't prepare you for this.

[He shrugs]

But orders are orders.

[robitussin]

Wait. You're telling me that you, like, went to college?

[cartesio]

You don't get anywhere in this field unless you're taught and filled with knowledge. How else do you think it happened?

[Pretty roundabout way to answer, but seems to be a yes]

[robitussin]

I don't know. It's just hard to picture. How'd you get mixed up in all this, then?

[cartesio]

My superior gave me orders, and I accepted them. That simple.

[Figures he'd go for the literal and simple answer]

[robitussin]

Yeah, but there was a time before they were your superior, right?

[cartesio]

...

[The relatively easygoing conversation stops. The Sergeant freezes, surprised, and pretends to be really interested in the cinema neon sign]

Change of topic.

[Sorry, Natalie]

[robitussin]

[There's a long moment where she pauses; she's hesitant to let it go, but she can tell that line of questioning isn't going to go any further.]

Okay, next question, then. If you did choose all of us specifically, what was your reasoning?

[cartesio]

I did choose every single one of you among an infinite number of possibilities, but I can't speak as to what was my criteria.

[robitussin]

Because it's against your orders, or because you're not sure why you chose us?

[cartesio]

Because it would ruin the point of everything.

[Looks like the topic as to why each one of you was chosen is something he's 100% certain about]

[robitussin]

[Interesting.]

Yeah? How?

[cartesio]

If telling you what the criteria is would ruin it, what makes you think I can explain exactly how it'd be ruined?

[As he sees it, that'd have the same effect]

[robitussin]

Whatever the reason is, then, I guess it must be pretty important.