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]

No.

[Well that was succint]

[quickpersuader]

Then when did you get here?

[cartesio]

I don't know.

[He shrugs. He doesn't seem particularly concerned about that]

I don't know how long ago it was. I just know it was at least six months ago.

[quickpersuader]

The lady at the diner seemed to think you were born here just like everyone else.

[cartesio]

People get attached to their perceptions. Unless something that contradicts their opinions and perceived facts is shown to them and proven without any room for doubts, they'll believe whatever their minds fabricated.

Whether it's true or not is up to interpretation. Whether I tell the truth or not is also up to interpretation. Even what at first sight sounds like the truth may not even be correct.

After all, who says I am correct about what I have said?

[That's...not a good reply, Sergeant]

[quickpersuader]

[Kino merely looks thoughtful at his words.]

It's true, though. Everyone has their own perceptions and filters. If people living in hell believe they're living in paradise, they'll never want to leave. On the other hand, even people living in paradise could believe they're in hell and want to escape.

[The young traveler's voice is musing, clearly thinking back on past times.]

What do you think is true, Sergeant?

[cartesio]

The second. There's no such thing as being happy with what you have.

[No way someone will think anything is paradise]

[quickpersuader]

Really?

I've met many people who would prove you wrong. But does that mean you're really wrong?

[cartesio]

People like who?

[Well he's not dismissing your train of thought. Tell him all, Kino!]

[quickpersuader]

Once, I traveled to a country with no discrimination. Even saying the wrong word could get people angrily scolding you for being a terrible, rude, discriminatory person.

The country was covered in a dome protecting it from everything outside. All of the walls were a bright, bright blue, like the sky.

...I didn't even stay for a full day. The entire country was filthy - everyone dumped all of their waste into the river, and no one was very hygienic. When I spoke with the gatekeepers outside again, they told me that the people who lived in that country did not have a high life expectancy due to how quickly disease spread from the filth.

But none of them ever thought to leave their home. After all, their country was a wonderful land without discrimination. What could possibly be waiting for them outside that would be better than that?

[cartesio]

That's more like burying your head in the sand. The people in that country are idiots.

[The Sergeant nods, as if he had said something very profound instead of an obvious statement]

Fine, I was wrong. Being happy with something as disastrous as that is possible but cowardly. That's no different than giving up without doing anything.

[quickpersuader]

But it's a perception, just like you said.

[A perception that their hellish home was paradise.]

For them, that country is the perfect place to live. I think there's some "truth" to that, too.

[cartesio]

I'm never going to accept that truth.

[He's pretty categorical about that. He understands Kino's point, he knows she has a point, and that it does mesh well enough with his own thoughts, but he refuses to acknowledge it, just out of principle.

He's immensely stubborn about principles. Sorry, Kino]

[quickpersuader]

Why not?

[cartesio]

Being satisfied with a miserable existence goes against everything I believe in, that's why.

[It doesn't seem like he can express that with more depth]

[quickpersuader]

[Huh...]

What about people who are satisfied with a peaceful life?

[cartesio]

.....

[Something about the silence gets very heavy. The shadow on his face seem to extend further over his face, rippling and reaching his neck, like tendrils clutching him tighter. The container with pie is put aside, he says nothing for what seems like an eternity, until finally:]

Get out.

[It's out of the blue, it's not like Kino asked anything offensive or weird, yet he sounds deadly serious about that command.

Maybe you should do what he says, Kino]

[quickpersuader]

[Time to leave, apparently. Kino nods in acknowledgment, standing to leave.]

If you tell me what you like to eat, I can bring that next time.

[Just sayin'. But Kino will indeed begin to make her way towards the door.]

[cartesio]

Anything is fine.

[He's not even shouting]

[quickpersuader]

Then let's try a burger and fries.

[That smile's back for that brief moment before Kino finally exits.]