#B91600

[heartsteals]

My companions in kidnapping,

I've yet to see anyone make note of it in this most public forum, so I will do it myself: I would recommend you don't undertake the Quest requiring you to steal color from others. Firstly I do not know how you would accomplish this. But that is not the problem - recall that some have lost color in the past, and it is most often the result of a grievous Injury or temporary Death or some other type of curse from the town. Based on this we should assume for the moment that losing color is a bad thing, and to be avoided.

This begs the question of why such a Quest would be given to us in the first place. Indeed when I look back I see little benefit we have gained from fulfilling even those quests that are harmless outside of food or clothing. I have been here since the Start, and was willing to play along with these little games, but it has been many months with little results. As it is Winter, we should focus simply on surviving for the moment, but I would also like us to brainstorm how to move forward with our escape.

I am considering a sturdier Boat in which a small amount of us could travel across the lake. If anyone has experience in building these things your assistance would be appreciated in the future.

I am also considering trying to contact whatever lives here or watches over us here directly.

Your thoughts?

PS: I am feeling as of late a terrible chill in my bones and think that there is perhaps a sickness spreading around town. Do be careful.

Yours,
Lupin

Comments

[troubadamsel]

We've had no choice but to do what they wanted since we first arrived, if you think about it.

[owowattsthis]

i'll try it and see what happens. worst case scenario just means i got to prank a friend and i'm so down for that??

oh. uhh, i mean, sure, but even if big honcho gets it, i'm not sure we're necessarily gonna get a reply. i feel like maybe getting attention might require something more extravagant than a letter.

[doublesharp]

Yeah... Yeah, you're right. Sorry for being negative. We all have to stay positive, just like that quest that one month!

We've been able to make it through all the hard times before by helping each other, after all! Thanks, Lupin-san!

Since everyone deals with this a different way, how do you stay positive and not be too afraid of your friends leaving or getting hurt?

[interlucere]

[ Funny, that was the exact thought she had about him the moment she saw his original posting. ]

Then it seems that there has been quite a jump in severity over the last few months. This hardly seems gradual, or unintentional on our dear Mister F's behalf. One has to wonder if he is attempting to see what he can get away with before showing his true colors—or lack thereof, as the case may be.

But I for one do not like the idea of being toyed with, though I do worry that if we do not acquiesce to his "requests" eventually, there may be repercussions. I have heard stories of what it is like to lose one's color, and I am loath to believe that this is the only tool our captor has at his disposal, to keep us compliant.

There is a saying where I am from, that misery loves company. Since it seems the both of us are under the weather, it might be nice to pool our resources and help each other keep warm with conversation. I would not wish this illness on anyone, and I, at least, would enjoy the company. It seems we have much that we could talk about, in person.

L

[ Translation: She doesn't like speaking candidly when she knows she's being watched. ]

[appraiser]

Though not as fun as growing our own boat. How many people are you planning to take with you on your expedition?

Won't it? His presence is healing.

[ And he should have amrita... Minato... save Lupin ]

[heartsteals]

[ so Okuyasu just knows a kill spell? That's a little alarming. Lupin's glad he's a goofy nice guy and not some kind of villain. ]

That is a rather frightening power you possess, my friend.

[heartsteals]

[ he tells him to have faith in him right after saying he's right..... kyrie remains ridiculous. Lupin's shaking his head at his monitor. ]

Of course, I will be sure to share the results with everyone, should I have any. This may still be too gentle an approach to take.

[heartsteals]

[ guess he's just PUTTING UP WITH THIS NICKNAME now..... the more he fights it, the worse it'll be, he knows. ]

There are, yes; the person who has died will lose all Color for a short period of time and be but a shadow of their usual self as far as emotions and personality are concerned. Thus far their color has returned eventually - but note that we have no proof this will always be the case, nor that we have an unlimited number of lives, so to speak.

[heartsteals]

That depends on the size of the boat and the number of volunteers. I should say a group larger than five or six would be unwieldy.

True - speaking with him warms the heart - yet this chill remains in me! It is not enough.

[heartsteals]

Precisely so. We will handle this situation as we've handled all the rest.

As for the secret to my sunny disposition, I find that dwelling on negative possibilities is rarely helpful or efficient, nor is it charming. Happiness will not come to you - you must plan your attack, go forward and take it for yourself without fear. Though perhaps it is easy for me to look forward with a smile when I consider the difficulties I faced in the past.

[heartsteals]

I am fully aware of that. Is it not better to work one's way up to something extravagant, rather than start with something explosive only to learn the easy way would have been just as effective?

[owowattsthis]

nah, just graffiti the town from the get go, fam. i'm honestly surprised it's not something that's been done already

[heartsteals]

It may appear so - but there are always other options, and I say it is time we begin investigating them.

[heartsteals]

[ yeah, he gets that - but he's also fairly certain at this point that they're always being watched. She said she was new, though; she might not be as aware of that as he is. And, like she said, there's nothing wrong with some company. ]

If that is your wish, then so be it, for I am in the business of granting them. You're in Flavo, I assume?

[ based on that eye-searing font color... ]

[heartsteals]

Is that so? Then I am quite lucky! I'll be depending on your help, without a doubt.

It's true that we cannot predict what could be waiting for us out in the water, and we will be very vulnerable there, but we've explored far less of the lake than we have the forest. There may be an entirely separate town on the opposite bank, for all that we know.

[heartsteals]

You're welcome to do that yourself so long as you don't vandalize someone's house without permission - I will not be made an accomplice in that.

[teradaya]

Sakamoto Ryouma. Contact me whenever you'd like; I'll be sure to make time for you.

As long as you're aware of the possible dangers. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, but I know it's not entirely avoidable, especially if we want to to make progress. Do you have other crew members in mind for this little adventure or are you focusing on getting a ship ready first?

[troubadamsel]

I wouldn't exactly be opposed to that. Otherwise, our stay here might be even longer than we cared for.

[pursestrings]

yeah, i guess
sometimes u just wanna get rid of something, u know?

[heartsteals]

I am curious as to what would happen if we were to cease completing the quests altogether. Would we get any reaction at all or simply lose a supply of resources? I doubt it would be possible to garner the cooperation of the entire town for such a feat, but I'm curious nonetheless.

[troubadamsel]

A bold endeavor, but one I couldn't go with. If we don't follow them, there's little to stop our "hosts" from merely grabbing more people from other realms who would.

[doublesharp]

["Happiness will not come to you"... Lupin may not be able to see it, but the words are enough to make Riku pause in thought, slightly taken aback at how deeply they resonate.]

...I didn't make the connection until now, but this is just like any other hardship with a goal, isn't it? We just have to make our way until we reach the finish line.

I'm usually pretty cheerful and optimistic, so I get scolded a lot for not thinking of all of the bad things out there and being "too naive." Ehehe. But it's been hard to keep smiling when my friends keep leaving... it's different from before, so I didn't know how to deal with it, and it brought me back to that bad place.

But you're right. Even if they're different from yours, I've gone through hard things before too, so this is just like that. Even if we have to make a path by ourselves, we've got to keep going together. Right?

Sorry, I guess I'm rambling! I didn't mean to write so much, especially when it's unhappy stuff like this!

But you helped me cheer up a little, so thanks, Lupin-san. We've got to keep working hard. And I'll try to keep smiling, too!

[interlucere]

That would be correct. Are you feeling well enough to move around? I would not want you to push yourself. If you would prefer, I could meet you somewhere in town.

L

[ Some people just want to blind others with their brilliance. And font color, as the case may be. ]

[messianic]

I'll be counting on that, then.

[ASSUMING HE'S THE SORT OF FRIEND WHO WOULD BE TOLD.]

it's so hard to be sure of what will happen in a place like this, so I can't help but be concerned.

[flinty]

[ yeah cause if he argues choubee will remember it and punch him out of spite i wish i was kidding. ]

so it's like losing your spirit/
or somethin
like that
and has it been proven that all of a persons emotions come back when they get their color again it might be the more you die here the more you lose yourself
i guess there's only really 1 way to find out

you think anyone here will let me kill em to find out