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[perfectsymmetry]

[ACTION: Are you new in town? Wandering around looking lost? Staring and gawking at the drones and identical houses with a growing look of dread across your face?

If so, a tall teenager will shyly approach you. He's carrying a newspaper bag, but instead of the daily news, there are pamphlets poking out. He has a quiet voice and a light Irish accent.]

Ah, um, excuse me. Couldn't help but notice that you, um, seem to be feeling your out of place. I can explain, if you's like.

--

[PHONE:]

Um.

N-No one's seriously considering the position of police chief, right? It's so suspicious... what if you get droned into the role, like Grad-- er, Evan Olney probably was?

Comments

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. She's my, ah, "mother" here. I take it you know her?

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Holy shit this is a small town.

Yeah; she's'a one that talked to me'a day I showed up. Showed me'a pamphlet Dist wrote an' everything. She ever mention me? I'm Sergeant First Class Balin Wilbur.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

She hasn't, but it's nice to meet you, sir. Um, I-I hope that information was helpful to you.

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

It has, yeah. Thanks for lettin' me know. [And then in a sympathetic tone,] I, uh ... Sorry if askin' opened some old wounds. I ain't gonna say I'm used to that kinda shit, but I've seen a lot of it back home.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

N-No, it's okay. Um, i-it's best if everyone is up to speed a-and knows what's going on, yeah?

[Oh, the things this town has done to this kid. There's a list a mile long.]

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

With half'a shit this town pulls? Definitely.

Speakin'a which ... How many times have you been attacked by'a other people in'is town? I'd found out about'a "spring culling" when I first arrived, see, an' recently I got pointed to'a "trophy room" at'a roller rink.

Fuckin' disgusting. But I still don't know who killed who an' what for, aside from gettin' tormented into doin' it.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Um. A-A lot. Someone killed me during that event. I-I've died seven times in my time here. I-It happens more often than it should.

[There's a pause. He hates admitting that. It never gets easier, and it makes him feel weak.]

There was no reason during that particular incident to kill anyone. I-If everyone would have j-just ignored it a-and realized it was just another one of Mayfields tricks--

[Crowe died early on, and didn't know about people's fears being brought to life in order to make them participate. He cuts himself off there, though, with a short sigh.] Sorry.

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

... Holy shit. People really do lose their minds around here a lot, don't'ey?

[This kid lives with Riza and he doesn't seem like the type to be a murderer at all; and he never saw a "Crowe" at the trophy room, so that confirms what he'd just said about dying early on in the incident ...]

[Balin's only conclusion is that the town is full of sick fucks who see him as a nice, easy target.]

You're right, though. I haven't met many people so far who said'ey got a letter an' didn't act on it. Just two, uh ... Yuri Hyuga an' Hong Meiling. I figure they've got their heads screwed on tight if they ain't'a type to give in to what'a town wants, even with all'a hallucinations an' shit.

—Ahright, Crowe, listen. I'ma Demolitionist back home. I'm workin' on some plans for defendin' my own household, but I'll see if I can do'a same for you guys. You had'a deal with gettin' attacked at home a lot, right?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe also has a habit of throwing himself into danger too much. Kid's got a lot to prove.]

A-A few times. The hazmats. Awhile ago I had tried to build a bunker, i-it was Mr. Saeba's idea, but it... it didn't help. But, um, it's worth a shot, yeah?

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it'll be worth it'a put some defenses up.

I wasn't really thinkin' about earthworks, though ... hm. I could probably get some kinda fortification built—no, I can, just a little rusty. Haven't done it since I was a Sapper—[Then he realizes Crowe said "it didn't help."]—wait. What happened to'a bunker?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

W-Well, the hazmats, back during the time when they w-were looking for the Soviet escapee? They um. They came to my house twice. I-I was building the bunker at the time, and they... i-it didn't stop them. B-But I mean, it's not like I really knew what I was doing. A-And then Mr. Saeba got droned, so...

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

[Balin pauses to think back on Dist's letter. He thinks he remembers reading what Crowe talked about ... he recalls that the "hazmats" had been responsible for hunting down the townsfolk several times. Nevertheless, he sighs.]

Ahright ... Yeah, a fortification's not gonna be much help if you got no way of defendin' it when someone's gunnin' for you. Better option in'is case would be active defense. That's what I'm workin' on.

By'a way, was'is Mr. Saeba a military engineer of some type?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

And when the hazmats are controlled by Lucy a-and can do pretty much whatever they want and need to...

Oh. No? He was, um... well he called himself a "city hunter" which I think is just a term for um, sort of an odd jobs, private detective sort of thing?

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Ah, I getcha.

Well, maybe this'll work better. Personally I can't think of anything that says "get'a fuck off my lawn" better'an a storm'a shrapnel.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

I-I suppose it's worth trying. Anything is better than nothing, really.

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Damn straight.

I'll let'a Lieutenant know when I've got a good batch of 'em ready.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sir. I appreciate it.

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Ahright—

[He's about to say "bye" and hang up the phone when he realizes something.]

—Oh! Uh, you wouldn't happen to know where I can get a copy of'at pamphlet Dist wrote, wouldja? The Lieutenant showed me hers, but I wanted to get a copy or two for the household here.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, I have some copies. I give them out from time to time. I can leave one in your mail box when I'm out on my paper route, if you like.

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if you can do'at for me, that'd be great.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Sure thing.

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Ahright, well—I better get back to this setup I'm workin' on.

You an' Riza stay safe, Crowe!