DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)

[phantasmods]

The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.

This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.

Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.

Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.

[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]

Comments

[foolishjustice]

Well, if it helps, I found out by staking out his Palace the day the calling cards were found.

[hairpincurves]

It helps a little...

[But also can you feel the palpable "UGHHHHHHHHHH," Goro?]

[foolishjustice]

[He'll just. Pat her on the shoulder.]

I am an ace detective, you know. I would have been remiss to not follow up on my opponents announcing where they would be in the next day or so.

[hairpincurves]

It wouldn't have been necessary to announce where we'd be at all if it wasn't for Makoto. At least, that's how things went in my version...

[foolishjustice]

Even if you'd delivered the calling card subtly, I probably still would've heard about it. He did have connections to the conspiracy I was part of.

[hairpincurves]

I mean that's true, but still... it's... frustrating. The situation was frustrating and likely could have been avoided.

[And she hasn't... fully forgiven Makoto for escalating the situation. Or the blackmail.]

[foolishjustice]

You think you could've stopped him without a Change of Heart?

[hairpincurves]

It's not even about stopping him, it was having to deal with him at all that I'm mad about.

[foolishjustice]

Was leaving him be really an option? He was tormenting the people of Shibuya.

[...]

I know I'm being a little hypocritical, as someone who had access to his Palace long before the Phantom Thieves even existed as a group, but...I was glad to see him brought to justice.

[hairpincurves]

Well, no, but... it would have stung less if we'd chosen to go after him on our own from the start.

[foolishjustice]

Ah...

[...Now he feels a little bad about forcing the Thieves to make Sae one of their targets.]

[hairpincurves]

... Hey. I can only speak for myself on that, okay?

[...]

... Besides, you didn't exactly blackmail us before escalating the situation like a dumbass.

[foolishjustice]

Well...I can't say I escalated the situation, but I did essentially force a plea bargain. I had evidence of their identities, and told them that the only way to convince me not to follow up on it was to allow me to join them for one last heist, and then promise to disband.

[hairpincurves]

I see... [A beat.] See, that still doesn't sound nearly as bad to me, but I'm not sure whether that's because it actually wasn't or because I still resent Makoto.

[foolishjustice]

Ahah...well, I can't really say much there. I'm not exactly sure how much I'm willing to forgive her for her role in solving the problem of my assignment by deceiving me, myself.

[hairpincurves]

Yeah, I'll admit, I'm not especially thrilled with her myself for that, and I wasn't even part of it.

[foolishjustice]

The...worst part is, I'd thought we were starting to get along by the time we were almost done with Sae-san's Palace...Akira-kun doesn't think she'd fake something like that, but...

[hairpincurves]

I will say that based on the one I know, it does seem out of character, but I can't really... say for sure...

[foolishjustice]

And...the two of you know Niijima-san as an ally, not someone with motivation to deceive you.

[hairpincurves]

... There's that too, yes.

[... It's really tempting to make a snide mark about her Makoto and it shows, but she manages to bite it back.]

[foolishjustice]

As much as you two would know your respective versions better than I know mine, I can't quite assume you would know how they might act toward someone they truly regarded as an enemy. Especially since...the version in Akira-kun's timeline admitted to having been jealous of that timeline's version of me.

[hairpincurves]

[...]

I don't imagine it'd be much different back home... if not worse, for other reasons.

[foolishjustice]

I did actually talk to Niijima-kun a couple of times before he disappeared. None of them were...what I would call friendly.

[Granted, part of that was his own fault. He'd gone into those conversations defensive.]

[hairpincurves]

Mmn.

[She... wishes she could say she was surprised at that. She just... quietly leans against Goro.]