Week 2, Sunday Evening; Barnham

[alcobrawlic]

[ It's actually the first time she's stepped foot in the saloon today. She's perhaps had a long day with killing a man (sword), giving his sword (self?) to someone else, and dealing with everything else, up to and including the death of someone else she hadn't known at all.

But Sara's put up enough strength for everyone else today, she thinks, and as the sky finally grows dark, she pushes open the saloon doors.

... And pauses, blinking. ]

You can't tell me you're here just to investigate.

Comments

[moraled]

Very well then.

I shall not.

[Have a drink--he'll even pass a glass to her. Have some beer.]

[alcobrawlic]

... This was too much, even for you, huh?

[ Well, it's not like she'll refuse it. She needed this beer. ]

[moraled]

... It was certainly...disgusting.

[Not the execution, but everything else--this sucks.]

[alcobrawlic]

Yeah... that's a good way of putting it.

[ And she'll just... plop down. Even Sara's tired today. ]

[moraled]

[Everyone's tired today.

He's quiet for a long moment, and then:]

It is a mockery of a proper trial. There is nothing just about this.

[alcobrawlic]

But didn't we already know that was how it was going to be from the start? The only rules here are ones set by those not actually involved.

[moraled]

... That does not mean that that... farce needed to take place.

[He scowls.]

An accomplice to a murder, who did not care if he did not live... so long as the murderer got away--who has ever heard of such a thing?

[alcobrawlic]

... I have.

[ That sounds exactly like the members of the Imperial Liberation Front, in their own way. ]

[moraled]

[... ugh.]

There was never any intention behind us finding the truth the moment we stepped into that room.

Even one of our own was thwarting us.

[alcobrawlic]

At the very least, we found someone with a role.

[ So all's not completely lost, even though she's not at all happy with how things went. ]

[moraled]

... A role that does not stick.

[So really, it feels somewhat pointless.]

He was undeniably guilty--but even so, a murderer remains on the loose.

[alcobrawlic]

You don't have to remind me.

[ She's clearly not happy about any of this. ]

[moraled]

[... right.]

... Of course. You have handled...far more than your share of the burden today.

My apologies.

[alcobrawlic]

[ Sara slowly shakes her head, staring into her mug. ]

I can't say I've ever been thanked by someone for killing them.

[moraled]

Pah. He was a coward.

[That's...all Barnham can think of him, really.]

Thanking you for that as he put you in that situation to begin with...it is absurd.

[alcobrawlic]

Absurd enough to make even you drink, huh?

[moraled]

... I suppose it is.

[He can't deny that.

This entire thing is...]

I am not certain yet...how to stop this from happening. Nor...how to restore justice to this town.

[alcobrawlic]

There's got to be a way... other than waiting for information to fall into our laps.

[moraled]

Indeed. I believe it has become explicitly clear... we cannot afford to wait any longer. Lives are at stake.

[alcobrawlic]

The problem is, where to go with this... the new things aren't that easy to investigate.

[moraled]

[... That is the problem, isn't it.]

I fear... after this, it shall grow all the more challenging.

[Too much blood has been spilled to go back now.]

[alcobrawlic]

You're right... but you're not the type to back down from a challenge anyway.

[moraled]

Certainly not. That... is something I cannot do. It would be far too cowardly for me to tolerate.

[alcobrawlic]

Good! Then hold onto that mindset, because we're gonna need it. Beer will only get you so far.

[moraled]

I would say that alcohol does not get you far at all.

[EVEN IF HE IS DRINKING... honestly, Sara, way to ruin the mood.]