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]

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.]