Part 3: 10:18-11:40: Cuno Dont Care
Chapter 3: 10:18-11:40: Cuno Dont CareContent warning: (censored in-game) homophobic slurs and false sexual assault accusations
Before we start, some of you asked for the item descriptions because theyre funny. Well, I am a kind host, so I will oblige:
Im not sure I like the attachment were forming to this tie.
With that out of the way, lets head outside.
THE GARDENER: Oh that She points north. Thats right there, in the yard.
THE GARDENER: Yes, sir. District of Martinaise She looks around, thinking what else to say. This intersection is called Roundabout North.
THE GARDENER: Excuse me? She doesnt understand.
THE GARDENER: I have a greenhouse in the yard there. She gestures over her shoulder. Ive been trying to get some work done
THE GARDENER: As you already know, theres a corpse there. Hanging from a tree. It smells pretty bad, so I have to take breaks.
KIM KITSURAGI: Dont worry, Miss. Were here to clean it upyou can get to work soon.
THE GARDENER: Of course, I wont hold you back. She wipes her brow with the canary yellow glove.
Ooh, bottles!
A girl stands outside, shivering in the cold. This building sits next to the Whirling-in-Rags. You should talk to her. She might know something.
ANNETTE: Its a book store, sir! We sell books, postcards, and some board games. She points at the window. Its called *Crime, Romance, and Biographies of Famous People*.
ANNETTE: A postcard, she observes you for a moment, is a small cardboard picture. You can write a few words on the other side and send it to your friend or your *beloved*.
ANNETTE: My name is Annette, sir. My mom, her name is Plaisance, she owns the store. Shes inside, minding the register or organizing the stock.
ANNETTE: Im signaling that the store is open. She nods eagerly. Otherwise people might not know theyd miss out on the *Crime, Romance, and Biographies of Famous People*.
ANNETTE: Kind of you to offer, sir She doesnt know what else to say.
ANNETTE: Mom says its necessary to do both, because it builds character. Mom says a proper worker is dutifulthats how you get ahead in life, you succeed.
ANNETTE: Mom says its peachy. She was a little afraid at first, theres talk about this house being She looks over her shoulder. Cursed.
KIM KITSURAGI: We can go into the bookstore and ask about the case, but I dont see much more to look *into* here. The lieutenant makes a note in his notebook.
KIM KITSURAGI: No such thing. The lieutenant stands at your side, stern and serious.
ANNETTE: Head. Yes!
ANNETTE: If you say so, sir. She smiles mischievously. Hes just a fictional character, hes no match for your *soul*.
ANNETTE: Its the type of book where theres a rich lady and she has to choose between the good man and the bad man. She smiles at the thought, perhaps imagining herself in that situation.
ANNETTE: Yes! She nods, relieved. She knows books, definitely.
CONCEPTUALIZATION: [Medium: Success] What *was* that? An idea for an unfinished novel stuck somewhere in your fore-brain?
ANNETTE: Oh, kings and queens and generals of old, or artists and writers, or musicians, those kinds of people. Theres usually something extraordinary about them. She scratches her cold-reddened cheek, then continues: I think thats why people read them. To find the secrets of their fame.
ANNETTE: What do you mean, sir? She knows where this is going.
ANNETTE: She looks around anxiously. Her hands remain folded in front of her. She doesnt want to show them.
KIM KITSURAGI: The lieutenant stands bylooking at the two of you with little interest.
ANNETTE: It was okay, sir. Shes still got a rebellious streak.
ANNETTE: Youre quite sober. She snaps back quickly.
Somehow this feels worse than if he had just broken out in laughter.
That wasnt very productive. Youve wasted enough time. Head for the crime scene already.
Well, after you examine this broken fence, anyway.
PERCEPTION (SIGHT): Cop habit. You look at everything.
AUTHORITY: He was exaggerating. People blame *cops* for everything that goes wrong in the world. This has nothing to do with you.
KIM KITSURAGI: You are correct. This is a rather motor carriage-friendly city.
KIM KITSURAGI: Im not sure there are plenty of traffic accidents waiting to happen in Martinaise. With the jam right here on the roundabout. I would keep them separate.
You see a buzzer for the building in front of you, with several different businesses available to contact. You put them out of your mind and decide to inspect the crime scene for now.
A small, grotesque child throws rocks at the corpse. Out of the corner of your eye, you see another child egg them on from behind a fence.
You feel an urge to ask the children if they know anything, despite the simultaneous feeling in your gut that its a mistake
Outta the way, Kim. Geez.
CONCEPTUALIZATION: [Medium: Success] If there ever was such a thing as an ugly kid, then this is it. Hes almost exquisite in his ugliness. Like a gremlin.
CUNOESSE: Right in the dick, Cuno! Get him right in the dick! The children ignore you.
CUNO: F****ts love it in the dick.
CUNO: Cant talk, pig. Shits coming up strong. Throwing rocks.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY: [Easy: Success] Shit coming up strong that sounds good. Joyous. You should hang out with this kid and see what that juicy *shit* is all about.
CUNOESSE: Yeah, Cuno! Ride the lightning, Cuno!
CUNO: Cunos riding it, C. He wipes sweat from his brow and sends another rock flying.
CUNOESSE: The rake, Cuno! You should throw the rake at him, Cuno.
CUNO: The fuck are you talking about? He throws another rock.
CUNO: Shitload, pig, whats your question?
CUNO: I dont know, some fucking He looks around, trying to come up with something.
Sounds real. Demand more information about this cool-sounding city.
CUNO: Just a couple of pigs sniffing around in the dirt. That seems pretty fucking suspicious to Cuno.
CUNO: Youre testing Cunos patience here.
CUNO: The fuck are you calling a *third person*?! Cunos the fucking FIRST person.
EMPATHY: [Medium: Success] He looks slightly confused but proud he came up with that retortbut right as hes getting distracted, you hear a malevolent hiss from behind the fence
CUNOESSE: Watch out, Cuno, hes trying to fiddle you. Hes gonna put his HANDS on you! The *thing* behind the fence starts squealing, shrill and violent like a fire alarm. The sound gets louder as the child shouts at the windows overlooking the yard. Help! Pigs got Cuno! Help! RAPE!
Kill all children, I always say. Annette can live.
CUNO: No one, he whispers suddenly. Cunos doing this because he *likes* it, pig.
AUTHORITY: [Easy: Success] This is where Cuno establishes dominance. Over you.
KIM KITSURAGI: You put him up to this yourselfwhen you decided to talk to him in the first place.
CUNO: Help, misters! HELP! He prances around, eyes bulging out of their sockets, rolling hard, yelling at the windows
EMPATHY: [Medium: Success] Hes having the time of his life. Total ecstasy. Fuck the pig.
Dont punch the child, no matter how much he seems to deserve it.
CUNO: Look, f*g Cuno whispers, even softer than before, vanishingly silent
CUNO: I can. His voice is so silent, it seems the words are echoin in your head, not coming from his lips. Cuno can smell that violence shit. I know what you were thinking Im gonna fuck that Cuno up. Im gonna shut his shit down You know what? You should have hit the Cuno, because NOW He raises his voice again. Youre NOTHING! Youre a joke to Cuno. Cuno LAUGHS at you! He spreads his arms, taking dominion over the yard. KING CUNO!
AUTHORITY: [Medium: Success] Backing up was a bad idea, now he thinks hes establishes dominance over you.
CUNOESSE: Cuno turned you into his prison bitch! Youre gonna be *in* this shit with Cuno
KIM KITSURAGI: No. The lieutenant almost rolls his eyes. Youre not. We can just leave
CUNO: Okay, Cuno is kind to his bitch. Ask your questions, but remember. He taps at his temporal lobe. This *changes* shit.
CUNO: Get your snout out of Cunos ass! He waves you off. Cuno knows how hard Cuno pushes it. Cuno pushes it hard-level You should give up, poppo. Or the Cunn will keep fucking it out of you.
CUNOESSE: Are you okay, Cuno? She looks worried. The *Cunn* has her confused.
Well, that was a delirious waste of everyones time. Just inspect the body and forget that happened.
KIM KITSURAGI: Active decay, The lieutenant raises a white piece of linen to his nose. Its okay to throw up, officer. No one is judging.
Dont throw up in front of the children! Theyll pounce if they sense weakness!
KIM KITSURAGI: I cant handle the headache.
KIM KITSURAGI: That young woman, the gardener, mentioned she used salts for the smell. He nods toward the plaza. If she doesnt have any, there might be some in the Frittte store nearby.
So, weve got a few more things to do at the moment. Go to Kims car and retrieve the prybar (and call the precinct while were at it) or simply get the keys from Garte, as well as get the ammonia from the gardener. Well take care of some of that next time.