scene xxv

[encored]

ACTION;
A) [In the morning, Charles can be found living up to his actual age, being an old man and setting up a chessboard in the park! Someone save him before he starts feeding pigeons and wearing sweater vests. He doesn't seem to have a partner to play with. Not until you walk by, that is, at which point he smiles and gestures to the other side of the table.]

Why don't you take a seat? Let's have a match. [SUSPICIOUS... No, he's just that bored and in a rare social mood.]

B) [Or maybe you catch him a little later on, after he's packed away his chess set and is out walking his, uh... Horace. The giant beast actually seems pretty tame, all things considered, only stopping to sniff moving things (like you, whoops!) and occasionally making gross growling noises and drooling on the ground. So majestic.

For the unfortunate citizens, these two losers can also be found in much less docile situations - Charles trying to shoo his droolbeast away from a drone it's attempting to gnaw on, or perhaps Horace lolloping down the road with a few geese in its mouth.]

PHONE;
[And carrying on with the trend of being utterly unruffled by everything that happened over the weekend, Charles will pick up his phone in the early evening with a question for the masses.]

I'd like to know your opinion on concerts. Proper orchestral performances, I mean. Who here enjoys them? If something with that sort of music happened to be available in the city, would you attend? [His little fancy cultured self is starting to feel more deprived than usual okay... Having at least one other star performer now, all that's left is to gauge the interest of a potential audience.]

Comments

[encored]

Zemekis? You're correct in saying there isn't any proof that he's Lucy, but there have been a few hints indicating that. There was a chalk drawing in the school in Westport that depicted a crowd bowing down to a young girl with pigtails, for example. She's also shown that she possesses powers unlike other key figures.

[extraordinarily]

Yeah, Zemekis.

[Haruhi personally hasn't been to Westport, but this information is all good. She'll take it all in, sighing.]

So? We -- 'we' meaning Mayfield as a whole -- have powers too, so this isn't a huge shock. There's a possibility that she's not truly in charge, but is in the top tier.

[encored]

[there's a moment's pause as he mulls the possibility over, and he eventually gives a lopsided shrug.] True, I suppose. I'd like to think we would know who was behind this entire charade by now, but that might be hoping for a bit much.

[extraordinarily]

True, since it's already been three years. At least, that's what my documents say.

[Documents that she got from a friend, that is.]

[encored]

I can account for at least two and a half of those. There were a few who had been here before my arrival, so I'd imagine three or so years would be a correct estimate. [which for some reason feels like a long time whenever he says it out loud, even if it's a drop in the bucket for him.]

[extraordinarily]

I had a...

[There's a pause. She doesn't know if she can actually call her a friend. Were they actually friends?]

Well, a brigade member of mine was here for a really long time and wrote a bunch of stuff which accounted for three years.

[encored]

Had... They aren't here any longer, then? It's a good thing they had the foresight to keep so many notes. I don't believe many people do, since it seems like a frivolous activity in the face of so much chaos. [he looks thoughtful for a moment, placing a hand to his chin.]

It might be a wise idea to see how many other people are keeping notes on hand and try to collaborate and create something of a history book.

[extraordinarily]

She got droned twice! Which really sucks, but it's not like I could do anything about it.

[She just shrugs. But at least the notes that she left behind.]

Yeah! Not only history, but a huge information book about this town.

[encored]

It happens to some. To others, they never get the chance to return. [he shrugs as well, since he's pretty good at distancing himself from the topic by now.]

That might be a wise idea, don't you think? We could compile a timeline of things that have happened so we could check for similarities between the days when things go sour in town.

[extraordinarily]

Yeah, exactly. I did start a timeline, but I think it would be easier if more of us worked on it!

[encored]

Precisely. [a curt nod of agreement, though his attention is distracted by droolbeast, who has now scaled the side of a building and is resting on the awning. rolling his eyes... oh, right, more important things-!]

-Ah, what was your name? It would be good to keep in touch.

[extraordinarily]

Suzumiya Haruhi!

[She speaks enthusiastically, nodding as she says her name, grinning.]

[encored]

[wow, so much overflowing enthusiasm...! it brings a short laugh of amusement from him.]

A pleasure to meet you, I suppose. Well, it's always a pleasure to meet more proactive members of the community. [charles you don't even fall into that category]

[extraordinarily]

[Wow, "I suppose"... that's not actually the best choice of words for Haruhi. Not at all.]

Well, of course! But I better get going. I don't want to get too bored, after all.

[encored]

[and that's being polite for him... ]

I should go fetch that mouse, as well. [who has scaled the rest of the building during their conversation whoops. he'll nod his head and raise a hand as a parting gesture before ambling in the direction of the alley closest to that building.] Good day to you, and the best of luck in staving off your boredom.