BACKYARD SMOKER ON THE BALCONY - 444

G 0 START 1 input 0->1 26 Smoker on the Balcony: You see a young man on a balcony nursing a cigarette. His eyes have been following you for a while. 1->26 2 You: "Alright, we'll talk later." [Leave.] 87 Smoker on the Balcony: "No, we won't." He takes one last drag of his cigarette, before stubbing it out on the balcony. "No, we won't." He takes one last drag of his cigarette, before stubbing it out on the snowy balcony with a dying hiss. 2->87 3 IsKimHere() 4 IsKimHere() 3->4 5 !(IsKimHere()) 3->5 96 Kim Kitsuragi: "What were you doing last Sunday?" 4->96 179 Jump to: [You: ""What did you do last Sunday?""] 5->179 6 Smoker on the Balcony: "Occasionally." He takes another drag, filling his lungs with nicotine. "Why?" 161 You: "Are you on the track team?" 6->161 174 You: "Nothing. You should give up smoking, son. It's not good for your health." 6->174 7 Smoker on the Balcony: "It was my Sunday friend." 49 Electrochemistry: A *Sunday friend*? How intriguing... 7->49 8 Suggestion: Time to bring out your secret charm: tears and begging! Show him your *emotional* side, throw yourself before his very feet like a dog! 140 You: "What do you want from me? Do you want me to *cry*?! Huh?" 8->140 157 You: "Please don't go! I'll stop drinking, I'll... take the trash out, just... please don't leave me." 8->157 9 You: "I get it. Nothing wrong with looking good." 220 Smoker on the Balcony: He gives you a honeyed smile, before shaking off the cigarette ash. 9->220 10 Smoker on the Balcony: He doesn't reply, gesturing 'no' with his cigarette. In the neighbouring windows you can see faint reflections of his silhouette, all from different angles. 106 IsKimHere() 10->106 11 SetVariableValue("backyard.smoker_think_name_is_martin_martinaise", true) --[[ Variable[ ]] 191 Rhetoric: Martin Martinaise? Good local name. Let's go with that. 11->191 12 Smoker on the Balcony: "I don't want to be seen talking to the *gendarmerie*, if that's okay. I just want to finish my cigarette." 63 Electrochemistry: It's the God of Cigarettes and Youth -- ask him if he's got anything to spare. 12->63 13 You: "Looks like you've got a good view of the Whirling's backyard. Can you tell me anything about the hanging?" 201 Variable["TASK.get_the_dead_body_down_from_the_tree_done"] 13->201 14 Smoker on the Balcony: "No, of course not. Could you please lower your voice?" He scans the courtyard. It's silent like the bottom of a well, every sound captured and reflected back. 160 Authority: Ask him again. 14->160 15 Smoker on the Balcony: "Good luck with the investigation." He walks away. 34 IsKimHere() 15->34 16 You: "Can't you just like, toss that one down?" 222 Smoker on the Balcony: "I'm not sure that's a good idea." 16->222 17 Variable["auto.is_snowing"] 18 Variable["auto.is_snowing"] 17->18 19 !(Variable["auto.is_snowing"]) 17->19 45 Smoker on the Balcony: "Last week? I don't know, look..." He looks around the courtyard again. Snow blankets the old patio chairs and dead house plants, and all the neighbouring windows are black. 18->45 76 Variable["auto.is_raining"] 19->76 20 You: "I need to get inside this apartment building. Can you help me?" 142 Smoker on the Balcony: "Help you? No, sorry, gendarme..." He shakes his charming head. "I have to run." 20->142 21 Kim Kitsuragi: "And when did you speak to this more *muscular* gentleman?" The lieutenant takes out his little blue notebook and writes something down. 21->17 22 Rhetoric: That's definitely not his real name. 82 Variable["backyard.smoker_know_name_not_martin_martinaise"] 22->82 23 You: "A shame. Young man like you, with a body like yours, you'd be a credit to any track team." 71 Smoker on the Balcony: "Trust me, I'm *not* a team player," he says with a honeyed smile. 23->71 24 You: "So we just give up?" 205 Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_muscular_types"] 24->205 25 task gained hub 198 You: "Great, let's do that." [Leave.] 25->198 178 Smoker on the Balcony: "Not looking for any trouble, officer..." he says in a quiet voice. Despite the cold, his shirt hangs unbuttoned on his frame. 26->178 27 redcheck hub 209 You: Let him go. [Leave.] 27->209 210 You: Convince him to stay. 27->210 28 Hand/Eye Coordination: There's no way you'd catch that cigarette anyway. 54 Variable["backyard.smoker_handeye_catching_a_cigarette"] 28->54 29 Electrochemistry: Ah, there it goes -- *wasted*! You would have gotten at least a few good drags out of it. 29->15 30 You: "Why are you whispering? It sounds like you're *already* in trouble." 81 Smoker on the Balcony: "There's no trouble, I'm just speaking in a *lowered voice*," he says sotto voce. 30->81 31 Kim Kitsuragi: "We will remove the body as soon as possible. Now tell us, where were you last Sunday?" 150 Smoker on the Balcony: "Oh..." He waves lazily with his cigarette. "You already asked me that, didn't you?" 31->150 32 Smoker on the Balcony: "My name? My name is Martin Martinaise." 32->22 33 Smoker on the Balcony: "You're right, it's horrible for the skin. Very ageing." He takes another drag, before shaking off the ash. 153 Endurance: Not that he has to worry about getting old yet -- he's sparkling with youth, a radiant demi-god. 33->153 35 IsKimHere() 34->35 36 !(IsKimHere()) 34->36 132 Kim Kitsuragi: "He's gone." The lieutenant puts away his notebook and turns to you. 35->132 37 Smoker on the Balcony: "There won't *be* a next time." He takes a last drag of his cigarette, before stubbing it out in the balcony snow. "I really need to get going." 90 Jump to: [redcheck hub] 37->90 38 Smoker on the Balcony: "Good luck with the investigation." 38->34 39 Smoker on the Balcony: "Listen, I really have to go." With a flick of his wrist he sends the extinguished cigarette sailing over the rail. 58 Variable["TASK.find_smokes"] == true  and  Variable["TASK.find_smokes_done"] == false 39->58 40 Smoker on the Balcony: "No, for god's sake, I don't want you to cry!" He takes a quick step back and looks around, clearly disturbed. 40->39 41 Logic: Wait, is someone else investigating the lynching? 116 You: "Did you?" (Look at Kim.) 41->116 144 You: "I'm pretty sure I didn't." 41->144 208 You: "Did I?" 41->208 42 greeting hub 109 You: "Hold on... Can I at least have a cigarette?" 42->109 149 You: "Actually, the police *really* needs to talk to you." "Actually, the gendarmerie *really* needs to talk to you." 42->149 152 You: "No problem. We'll talk more next time." [Leave.] 42->152 43 Physical Instrument: By god, this young man has the body of a *decathlete*. His lithe form was practically made for vaulting over the high bar! 127 Variable["backyard.smoker_reveal_body"] 43->127 44 Smoker on the Balcony: For a moment the man on the balcony seems almost vulnerable. Something moves in the depths of his feline eyes: compassion, and a hint of understanding. For a moment the man on the balcony seems almost vulnerable. Something moves in the depths of his feline eyes: compassion, and a hint of understanding. There's snow gathering on his hair and on his shoulders, a speckle of white against the purple that hangs loose on his slender frame. 93 Smoker on the Balcony: "I am sorry, but I really don't have the information you're looking for." His voice is soft and deliberate. With a flick of his wrist, he sends the cigarette butt sailing over the rail... 44->93 146 Conceptualization: A downy blanket of white to cover up the miserable poverty of the scene. 45->146 46 Variable["auto.is_snowing"] 47 Variable["auto.is_snowing"] 46->47 48 !(Variable["auto.is_snowing"]) 46->48 223 Smoker on the Balcony: He doesn't reply, gesturing 'no' with his cigarette. Under the grey sky snow continues to pile on the neighbouring window sills. 47->223 48->10 65 Authority: Makes sense. Friends are nice on Sunday. You don't have to work, you can just spend time with pals, watching rugby and drinking beer. 49->65 50 Smoker on the Balcony: He doesn't reply, gesturing 'no' with his cigarette. Under the dull and darkening sky the neighbouring windows stand silent. 50->106 51 Jump to: [MAIN HUB] 68 MAIN HUB 51->68 52 You: "You're right, he probably didn't have anything important to say anyway." 52->205 53 Kim Kitsuragi: "He could be a witness, him or his *Sunday friend*. Either way we need to look into that *muscular type* who's asking about our case..." 192 Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck_success"] 53->192 55 Variable["backyard.smoker_handeye_catching_a_cigarette"] 54->55 56 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_handeye_catching_a_cigarette"]) 54->56 92 You: What, really? 55->92 73 You: "You're right, that was obviously a bad idea. Forget I said anything." 56->73 57 Smoker on the Balcony: "Last week? I don't know, look..." He looks around the courtyard again. Old patio chairs and dead house plants litter the scene. 79 Drama: He's an actor declaiming a soliloquy. See how you hang on his every word? 57->79 59 Variable["TASK.find_smokes"] == true  and  Variable["TASK.find_smokes_done"] == false 58->59 60 !(Variable["TASK.find_smokes"] == true  and  Variable["TASK.find_smokes_done"] == false) 58->60 59->29 60->15 61 You: "I'll come back to this later." [Leave.] 62 Smoker on the Balcony: "No, not you." He gestures idly. "Some more *muscular* type." 118 IsKimHere() 62->118 80 Visual Calculus: Don't let him go! This could be your witness -- the balcony has a great view of the whole thing. 63->80 64 no kim 2 98 You: "Was it someone from the police?" 64->98 173 You: "When was that?" 64->173 67 You: "What's your friend's real name? Did he see something?" 65->67 66 You: "We should run after him, see where he went!" 72 Kim Kitsuragi: "No point in running. Tenements like these often have multiple exits. If he doesn't want to talk to us, then he'll know how to hide himself." 66->72 164 IsDusk()  or  IsEvening() 67->164 68->2 68->13 68->20 85 You: "Listen, I really need your name." 68->85 95 You: "Can you tell me your name?" 68->95 158 You: "Son, do you train?" 68->158 69 You: "I'm working on it." 110 Smoker on the Balcony: "Thank you." 69->110 70 Empathy: But he hasn't left yet. 113 Jump to: [MAIN HUB] 70->113 100 Jump to: [MAIN HUB] 71->100 72->24 72->52 75 Smoker on the Balcony: "As you wish." He takes another drag. 73->75 74 Hand/Eye Coordination: Yes, really. Don't even try. You'll just embarrass yourself. 74->73 124 Jump to: [greeting hub] 75->124 77 Variable["auto.is_raining"] 76->77 78 !(Variable["auto.is_raining"]) 76->78 200 Smoker on the Balcony: "Last week? I don't know, look..." He looks around the courtyard again. Rain patters on the window sills and dead house plants, too late to do them any good. 77->200 78->57 187 IsKimHere() 79->187 80->42 81->12 83 Variable["backyard.smoker_know_name_not_martin_martinaise"] 82->83 84 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_know_name_not_martin_martinaise"]) 82->84 122 You: "You're not actually called Martin Martinaise, are you?" 83->122 84->11 114 Smoker on the Balcony: "And I *really* need to finish this cigarette," he replies with a subtle smile. 85->114 86 Smoker on the Balcony: "I couldn't tell you," he says, exhaling a little puff of smoke. "We don't usually see much of the *gendarmerie* around here." 86->173 168 Smoker on the Balcony: "Now, if you'll excuse me, I really need to get going." 87->168 88 Electrochemistry: The God Himself has denied you absolution. 88->16 134 You: "I need absolution!" 88->134 89 Smoker on the Balcony: "No, not you two." He gestures idly. "Some more *muscular* type." 89->118 90->27 91 You: "No trouble from me, I just want to know what's going on here." 91->12 92->74 117 Smoker on the Balcony: But hold on, what's that? For a split second his hand lingers... as though gesturing towards a stone placed right next to the front door... 93->117 94 Kim Kitsuragi: "There has to be a way of getting inside the building -- let's go check out the door near the pier again. Once we've found the way in, we can ask around for his apartment." 94->25 95->32 96->150 97 You: "You still haven't answered my question. What were you doing last Sunday?" 112 Smoker on the Balcony: He sighs. "I had a friend over." 97->112 98->86 99 Untitled hub (05) 99->9 99->23 100->68 101 Kim Kitsuragi: "There has to be a way of getting inside the building. Once we've found the way in, we can ask around for his apartment." 101->25 102 Kim Kitsuragi: "He did leave us a sign, did you see that? He wanted to draw our attention to that stone right over there." The lieutenant nods towards a small rock on a soggy patch of grass. 155 Kim Kitsuragi: "If we find a way inside the building, we can ask around for his apartment." 102->155 104 Smoker on the Balcony: "I'm not throwing anything." 104->28 105 Smoker on the Balcony: He doesn't reply, gesturing 'no' with his cigarette. Under the grey sky the neighbouring windows are streaked with rain. 105->106 107 IsKimHere() 106->107 108 !(IsKimHere()) 106->108 126 Half Light: Someone hides behind a curtain: those windows have eyes and those eyes are watching, spying on you three. 107->126 167 Half Light: Someone hides behind a curtain: those windows have eyes and those eyes are watching, spying on you two. 108->167 172 Smoker on the Balcony: "Apologies, but this is my last one." He takes another drag and shivers. 109->172 186 You: "What did you do last Sunday?" 110->186 111 Kim Kitsuragi: "You didn't answer the question. What were you doing last Sunday?" 111->112 190 You: "What kind of friend?" 112->190 113->68 114->70 115 Smoker on the Balcony: "Is it really that important?" he asks you, adjusting his shirt. 121 Half Light: Like a nervous cat, he keeps stealing looks at the neighbouring windows. 115->121 116->89 163 Suggestion: It's a sign! 117->163 119 IsKimHere() 118->119 120 !(IsKimHere()) 118->120 119->21 120->64 221 Smoker on the Balcony: "Alright, but make it quick. Once I finish this cigarette I have to run." 121->221 122->14 123 Smoker on the Balcony: "No, I just like to look good." A light breeze pulls back a flap of shirt. 123->99 124->42 125 Jump to: [Smoker on the Balcony: ""Oh..." He waves lazily with his ci..."] 125->150 131 Jump to: [MAIN HUB] 126->131 128 Variable["backyard.smoker_reveal_body"] 127->128 129 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_reveal_body"]) 127->129 128->68 185 Composure: There's something about the way he carries himself... Something enviable, mysterious, attractive... 129->185 130 Smoker on the Balcony: "I can *tell* that you finally got him down. Thank you -- it was quite a disturbing sight, even by Martinaise standards." 130->3 131->68 132->66 133 Smoker on the Balcony: "I'd even go so far as to say that the view is a little *too good*, my dear gendarme. Do you have an estimate of when the body will be taken away?" 169 IsKimHere() 133->169 156 Smoker on the Balcony: "Absolution? I don't know that brand, but I'm pretty sure you can get Astras at the Frittte." 134->156 135 You: "Shut up and throw, kid!" 135->104 136 Conceptualization: It'll take more than rain to bring this place back to life. 136->187 137 Variable["auto.is_raining"] 138 Variable["auto.is_raining"] 137->138 139 !(Variable["auto.is_raining"]) 137->139 138->105 139->46 140->40 141 Smoker on the Balcony: "*Trash*?" The young man shakes his head in confusion. 181 Empathy: Please don't go, I'll even stop smoking inside. 141->181 143 Jump to: [MAIN HUB] 142->143 143->68 144->62 145 Drama: It's the voice of someone who has something to *hide* my liege. 199 Untitled hub 145->199 146->187 147 Smoker on the Balcony: "Sorry, I don't have time for this. I just want to finish my cigarette and be gone." 147->63 148 You: "Hey, listen..." (Lower your voice.) "I am just trying to make things okay again. Can we meet again somewhere else?" 148->44 149->115 150->41 151 Rhetoric: He's deflecting. He's young, with a sharp memory. He hasn't had time to drown it in booze and chemicals. 151->97 152->37 153->51 154 Kim Kitsuragi: "He could be a witness, him or his *Sunday friend*. It's worth looking into..." 154->192 155->25 156->16 157->141 158->6 159 no kim 159->69 159->186 204 Jump to: [MAIN HUB] 160->204 161->123 162 You: "You hiding something? Speak up, this is the police." 162->81 163->15 165 IsDusk()  or  IsEvening() 164->165 166 !(IsDusk()  or  IsEvening()) 164->166 165->50 166->137 167->131 168->27 170 IsKimHere() 169->170 171 !(IsKimHere()) 169->171 170->31 171->159 172->88 173->17 174->33 175 Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_sunday_friend"] 176 Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_sunday_friend"] 175->176 177 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_sunday_friend"]) 175->177 176->154 219 Kim Kitsuragi: "He could be a witness. We shouldn't rule out the possibility..." 177->219 178->145 179->186 180 You: "Too late, young man. Trouble's found you." 180->147 181->39 182 Variable["pier.apartments_door_clicked"] 183 Variable["pier.apartments_door_clicked"] 182->183 184 !(Variable["pier.apartments_door_clicked"]) 182->184 183->94 184->101 185->68 186->125 188 IsKimHere() 187->188 189 !(IsKimHere()) 187->189 188->111 189->151 190->7 191->204 193 Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck_success"] 192->193 194 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck_success"]) 192->194 193->102 194->182 195 Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_sunday_friend"] 196 Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_sunday_friend"] 195->196 197 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_sunday_friend"]) 195->197 196->53 218 Kim Kitsuragi: "He could be a witness. And either way we need to look into that *muscular type* who's asking about our case..." 197->218 199->30 199->61 199->91 199->162 199->180 200->136 202 Variable["TASK.get_the_dead_body_down_from_the_tree_done"] 201->202 203 !(Variable["TASK.get_the_dead_body_down_from_the_tree_done"]) 201->203 202->130 203->133 204->68 206 Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_muscular_types"] 205->206 207 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_mentioned_muscular_types"]) 205->207 206->195 207->175 208->62 209->38 211 You: Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck"] 210->211 212 Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck"] 211->212 213 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck"]) 211->213 214 Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck"] 212->214 213->214 215 Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck"] 214->215 216 !(Variable["backyard.smoker_suggestion_redcheck"]) 214->216 217 Suggestion: This isn't the place or time for questions: Who knows who might be watching from the distance, hidden behind the curtains. 215->217 216->8 217->148 218->192 219->192 220->100 221->43 222->73 222->135 223->106