audience: north

[cyclists]

Comments

Week 4, Wednesday

[cyclists]

[He'll wait for her by the lake inside the gateway, but he's also holding a cat? Apparently? Kyuu what the fuck.

Anyway he's just staring at her from under the hood.]

What are you doing.

[televised]

[She's doing her best, maybe.

Deadpan:]

I don't want it.

[cyclists]

Well you didn't have to take it. You could have left it at the cafe. [He does not know this cat followed North. ]

[televised]

Does it look like I took it?

[EXASPERATED.]

The damn thing followed me out of the gateway and wouldn't stay put when I tried to return it.

[cyclists]

Well, why do you want to return it in the first place? It sort of looks like it's happier to see you than me. [Given the cat keeps trying to abandon Sol and go to North.]

[televised]

This isn't the kind of situation where you'd want to keep a pet.

[cyclists]

What makes you think that I'd take it from you then? If you really don't want it, you can take it back to the castle or to that girl who trained everybody.

[televised]

Didn't you hear me? I already tried to take it back. It ended up following me, anyway.

[And she's! Weary!]

At least with you two, it won't be shit out of luck because someone killed its owner.

[cyclists]

Cats seem to be kind of needy like that. And anyway, you say that like I couldn't bring the cats back to their owners later. So what's this really about?

[televised]

Back to the— Bring them to like, what? To the great beyond? That's messed up.

[LOOK. LISTEN. Let her be moody about her newfound cat ownership! She scowls at him for a moment, almost as if she's deciding whether or not to stomp away while he's still holding the cat... before she sighs and looks away.]

I can't be responsible for something like this. Even if I survive until the darkness is taken care of, what then?

[cyclists]

[He shakes his head.] It's not that messed up. How do you think Lune and I keep traveling back and forth, North? [Plz. But...it makes sense, and he tilts his head even as he pets the squash-faced cat.]

You mean you can't be responsible for it even after you leave this place. Why not?

[televised]

I have my guesses. But you're welcome to elaborate.

[See? South is fine with him? Please keep the squish-face.]

... We're at war, Sol. And the other side's goal? Extermination. I don't know if I'm going to live to see the next day once I leave, or if everything is going to go to shit the moment I get back home. The enemy isn't going to take pity on a cat if they find us.

[cyclists]

[...there's a laugh.]

North? I'm not a child. [Like, he is, but also:] I know that. But I also know that it's not the end of the world to try and keep living life even while war is going on. You can ignore the cat all you want but all you're going to do is make it sad as it keeps following you.

[...though.] What's really happening for you back where you're from?

[televised]

[Gives him a flat look, like, no. He's a toddler?]

I already told you, didn't I? [Crosses......her arms......] We're at war. My people need a leader, and... I'm the only one who can do it. That's what's happening for me.

[cyclists]

You gave me a really brief, basic summary but nothing that made a lot of sense. [Just saying. But...yikes.]

Why you? No offense, I'm sure you'd do fine, but why does it have to be you?

[televised]

Because Markus— [...] Because our previous leader died. I was... close to him. And everyone else is too afraid of the humans to step up, so it has to be me.

[cyclists]

[...ah.]

...I'm sorry. [For your loss? Sure.] So it's a war against humans and...whatever you are, exactly. Right? How did this start? [How can you end it?]