POST GAME SHENANIGANS

[protoshepherd]

[ Well, the game is over. Revivals have happened. How?

You already know.

You've tried entering the mirrors in the haunted house to try and see if you can go back to where you belong, but you couldn't. The mirrors aren't even mirrors anymore—they've become portraits of the team you represent. You don't even know who this person is...?

You don't belong here. You're from 2019, 2012, 2026, and it doesn't seem like you can go back. You have a new life now in 2027. How will you live it? ]

---

NOTE Welcome to Cry Badger's post game mingle! For those who didn't participate in the game and would like to play the originals (aka characters who REALLY BELONG TO 2027), here are two things to note:

1) a murder game of Cry Wolf happened in Gatewater Land unbeknown to anyone but these people.

2) setting is 2027, Dual Destinies-era. For convenience's sake, let's make it post-Turnabout for Tomorrow.

Comments

[doubledefense]

[ DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH PAPERWORK IT TAKES TO COME BACK TO LIFE LIKE A DECADE LATER.

SO MUCH PAPERWORK.


PAPERWORK FOREVER.


which Mia is staring at and yelling. yell at the paperwork until it does itself. ]


Birth certificate? I'll show you a birth certificate.

[turnaboutcoupons]

[Paperwork? Don't get Palaeno started on paperwork. He's getting assaulted by two different governments about stuff like this. Apparently neither the U.S. nor Cohdopia have a clue what to do when someone gets illegally, inexplicably cloned against their will. They're still trying to figure out what sort of paperwork they want to dump on him and it's a tricky road to get to that point.

Needless to say, when he enters the room and hears Mia's yelling, he experiences a pang of sympathy.]

Good afternoon, Miss Fey.

[shacklebreaker]

[Blackquill's first three weeks of freedom -- including Christmas and New Years -- are spent being hospitalised for his sword wound, and the subsequent recovery time after surgery. Feel free to visit him during that time, where he'll try and keep himself busy by keeping tabs on the police investigation into the Gatewater incident.

... He's a little grouchy he can't be more actively involved himself, though, and even grouchier that the hospital staff won't permit hawks into the ward. BIRD DISCRIMINATION.

Once he's finally discharged from hospital, he'll be trying to get his affairs in order now he's out of prison.]

[cardboard_journalism]

[Scuttlebutt was a woman on a mission.

Her plan hadn't come cheap. She knew no one else in the club would appreciate the newsworthiness of the story. She also knew that she couldn't run the Newspaper Club with the same iron fist she had in the past without everyone abandoning ship. Therefore it had taken considerable negotiations with the new club members, but she'd secured an edition with the entire front page dedicated to one thing: that Maximus Protonomy Badger was a terrible person.]

[The edition circulated throughout Themis and a special bundle of copies had been delivered to the Wright Anything Agency with a note to forward it to whoever it might interest.]

"Murderous Madman Honored?! Gatewater Land shows considerable distaste!"

byline: Myriam Scuttlebutt

"Tragedy unfolded yesterday as esteemed exonerated Prosecutor Simon Blackquill was taken injured at Gatewater Land, harmed by an unknown assailant.

The foul deed was carried out in the middle of a celebration of the first man to fill the role of mascot of the so-called "Proto Badger" in Gatewater Land, Maximus Protonomy Badger.

Coincidence?

Hardly!

Maximus, deceased in 2022, was known as a complete madman and certifiable loony. He attempted murder several times and was only not charged because of considerations to his mental health, which was quite bad to the point he was committed in 2001. He also had a terrible horoscope, never paid his phone bill on time, and frequently jaywalked, even when asked by a police officer to stop.

Why, then, has Gatewater Land chosen to honor such a deranged individual?

The answer is obvious.

Gatewater Land is a terrible place, run by terrible people, and promotes terrible acts, such as the misfortunate attack committed against Prosecutor Blackquill.

It is this reporter's opinion that a boycott of the so-called 'amusement park' is simply not enough. The police should be mobilized to close the place as a crime scene, local zoning boards should move to condemn the structure, and the entire place should be bulldozed to the ground, followed by a liberal salting of the Earth below so that nothing can ever grow there.

In the meantime, it is enough to know that Maximus Protonomy Badger was a terrible person and Gatewater Land should never be visited by anyone for any reason."

[Several photos of Trucy, Dahlia, and Larry as the Steel Samurai are on the front page. Trucy is described as "Innocent girl lured into attending terrible park sideshow! Bravely confronts horrible attraction!" Dahlia is described as "Visitor from beyond the grave? Photogenic evil spirit gives thumbs-down to Gatewater Land!" Larry is described as: "Presented without comment."]

[A small note is present at the bottom of the article which reads: "Objections to this article will be thrown in the trash."]

[The rest of the paper is as normal for Scuttlebutt's type of reporting, with the exception of a section dedicated to articles from new members, one of which details Myriam Scuttlebutt's recent bad mood and speculates she felt ripped off over the price of admission at Gatewater Land.]

[shacklebreaker]

[The day after the article is published, a letter arrives for the newspaper's editor:]

Dearest Box Top,

Kindly refrain from publishing sensitive information pertaining to criminals still under investigation. Or if you must do so, ensure you grasp a weapon before you strike. Evidence is everything, and your article reads as more a child's fantasy story and rampant sensationalism than a valid piece of investigative journalism, easily rubbished away with anyone with so much as an ounce of rational thought.

Your journalistic failures aside, I do hope you are recovering from your ordeal. I expect the police will contact you for questioning if they have not done so already. Do try to be a more reliable witness than you proved for the Themis murder case, hm?

Your scathing reader,
- SB

[cardboard_journalism]

[RETURN LETTER! This was actually hand-written too:]

"Dear Prosecutor Samurai:

First, we are happy our esteemed publication reached you. Thank you for your feedback, which would have been thrown in the trash if not for the high respect due to you as a prosecutor.

We at the Themis Herald hold one truth to be self-evident: a free press is a strong press. You will find our publication follows all the letters of the law. Amendment I of the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make no law... prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of... the press." This has been upheld with supreme court decision New York Times Co. v. United States which guarantees the right to publish classified information without censorship or punishment, and New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which establishes the standard that a plaintiff must establish a publisher acted with "actual malice" in the publishing of an erroneous statement to charge the publisher with libel. Los Angeles City bylaws also establish anyone with a printing press is protected by the first amendment, even if they're not an actual business. Like, say, a school paper.

[here her handwriting became shaky, as if she was shaking with glee while writing it]

I know my journalistic law if I know anything!

[then back to normal]

Also: you owe me an interview. You specify a time and place and I'll be happy to meet you face-to-box. Same goes for any potential police interviews. Maybe you'd like to see the photos I left out of that edition?

Get well soon!

Regards,
Themis Herald Publisher, Editor, Lead Reporter, Correspondent, Critic, Photojournalist

[unintelligible signature]

Myriam Scuttlebutt

PS: Say hi to Athena for me."

[psycholawgy]

[ She's heard the story in person, but seeing the article written by her friend just... makes her cry. SHE'S SO PROUD OF MYRIAM RIGHT NOW. So when she has the free time, she visits Themis. She saw Junie, too, which brightened up her day by a lot. And as much as she wanted to be honest with her best friend, she just let the article speak for itself.

After seeing Junie, she visits the Newspaper Club's room, hoping to catch the article writer in action. ]

Knock, knock!

[cardboard_journalism]

[A distinct and clear noise could be heard from behind the door inside the club room as Athena drew closer. The sound of a shutter closing, of drapes being drawn, of mechanical winding slowing down, and pencils being hurriedly shoved inside a drawer.]

[Athena would find the door not give when she tried to open it. Not because of a lock... but because it seemed someone on the other side of the door was holding it shut...]

[the voice would sound considerably haunted]

Who dares attempt to enter the Newspaper Club room when the paper hasn't yet been put to bed...!

Whoever would dare enter here must answer me these questions three, before the other side they would see.

Sss, sss, sss, sss.

What is your name?

[psycholawgy]

(Wow, dramatic. I guess I'll play along for her sake.)

[ She changes her voice and makes it sound a bit lower. Why not, right? ]

It is I, Athena Cykes!

[cardboard_journalism]

...Oh!

[she pulled open the door, looks like questions two and three could wait]

Athena! Come on in!

Quick, before anyone else sees you! Sss, sss!

[psycholawgy]

Oh! Well, alright.

[ She looks around and quickly steps in before anyone else passes by. ]

I was actually looking forward to the two other questions!

[cardboard_journalism]

Kaaahk. I thought you were one of my newbies with a last-minute scoop!

[shuts the door behind her]

What brings you here? Do you come bearing gifts? In the form of a breaking new scoop, maybe? Sss, sss, sss.

[psycholawgy]

No way! I read the article you wrote, and I just had to visit you personally to talk to you about it!

[cardboard_journalism]

O-oh. Kahk-kahk-kahk-kahk...

Well, you found me. What'dya wanna talk about?

[psycholawgy]

It was—[ Here come the waterworks. ]—so well-written! You really are talented at this!

[cardboard_journalism]

...

W-what?! Seriously?!

[WAS THIS A TRICK...]

[psycholawgy]

Wh- What? Are you doubting my sincerity?!

[cardboard_journalism]

N-no! Of course not!

Sss, sss, sss. I mean... it's completely natural that you would be impressed by that article! After all, it was written by none other than me: Myriam Scuttlebutt!

...but, I'm a little surprised you came all the way out here to tell me in person. You do have e-mail, right? Phone call maybe? Letter to the editor? Kahk-kahk.

[psycholawgy]

W- Well, it just wouldn't be right.

And I wanted to see Junie, too!

[ She wasn't even allowed inside. She harassed the security guard to let her in... Nobody wants her here, clearly. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

Juniper?? Did you see her already?

Well, since you're here... what do you say to a little interview?

[psycholawgy]

Uh huh. I went to see her before coming here.

[ A beat. ] An interview for what? No crazy articles again, okay?!

[cardboard_journalism]

Hm... must be doing something student council related...

W-what do you think?! C'mon Athena... your name is really well known here at Themis! Kahk-kahk-kahk...

You realize that, right? Even something mundane like "My Idea of a Perfect Sunday" would get people reading!

[psycholawgy]

I wouldn't mind, but you should tell your security that!

[cardboard_journalism]

Kahk-kahk-kahk... Security? You mean the school's disciplinary committee...?

[psycholawgy]

No way, the actual security guards! They wouldn't let me in earlier, I had to force [ okay maybe that was an exaggeration. but she sure did have to call phoenix for it. ] my way in!

[cardboard_journalism]

Kahk-kahk! What jerks!

Don't worry, Athena, I'm gonna write the worst article I can about them, right now! We'll see how that motivates them!

Let's see now... "Unscrupulous Guards Harass Honored Alumni!" --perfect.

[psycholawgy]

[ WAIT NO ]

We don't have to go that far! I sorted it out...

[cardboard_journalism]

Sss, sss, sss! What are you talking about? This is a big scoop!

What'd they look like? You got names? Want to pass by them again and see if you get stopped a second time? I'll have my camera ready. Sss, sss.

[psycholawgy]

We don't want to get him fired, and no, I didn't get his name!

[cardboard_journalism]

Kaaaahk! Why not? If he's abusing his authority like that for no reason then that's, like... textbook, what a newspaper is supposed to expose!

[cardboard_journalism]

Also... there's no guarantee he'd be fired for it. Disciplined, maybe? Or-- the school could just ignore it completely. Kahk-kahk.

[psycholawgy]

Oh! What if we talk about Mr. Wright in the interview, instead? He's a bigger icon here, I bet!

[cardboard_journalism]

...well, maybe. Kahk-kahk. [*click*]

Do you have any information about him that wasn't presented when he gave his speech?

What's he like on-the-job? What's he got planned lately? Any upcoming cases?

[psycholawgy]

He makes us clean the toilets when we have no cases...

[cardboard_journalism]

I... see.

I guess it saves money on a janitor. --But is that even in your job description? Do you think your law studies adequately prepared you for such tasks?

[psycholawgy]

N- No, not at all!

[ She hates cleaning up the toilets, so she looks really mad. ]

But it's part of being in the agency!

[cardboard_journalism]

So everyone at the agency shares in the toilet cleaning?

Does he order you to do any other menial work? Take out the garbage? Water the plants?

[psycholawgy]

We gotta water the plants, yeah. We basically take turns cleaning the piano, taking out the garbage, toilet cleaning, watering the plants.

Then sometimes we get clients who want us to look for missing things around the city.

[cardboard_journalism]

That doesn't sound law related either. Isn't that a job for the police? Or at least a private investigator.

What sort of things are we talking about?

[psycholawgy]

Pets, noodle bowls... [ Just shrugs her shoulders. ] I guess it's because our rates are cheaper than a PI's. I'm not sure about the police, though.

[cardboard_journalism]

I suppose if it's something like that and it's just "missing," then you wouldn't want to bother the police.

Who plays the piano? Mr. Wright, I presume?

[psycholawgy]

Apparently, he was a pretty bad piano player before he got his badge again!

[cardboard_journalism]

"Apparently," meaning hearsay? You've never actually heard it?

[psycholawgy]

He doesn't play. No one uses the piano at the agency! It's not like we can make him do it, either. He might cut my pay.

[cardboard_journalism]

How would you describe your pay?

--Does he threaten to cut it often?

[psycholawgy]

My pay is adequate.

And he actually doesn't do it. Except for that one time. I'm completely traumatised.

[cardboard_journalism]

"That one time"? What happened, exactly?