[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/626e6295-e0f1-4bb3-a2fc-2a80907e597a.png [/img][/center]
[color=5486ae]Time:[/color] Late Morning
[color=5486ae]Location:[/color] Sorian Beach
[color=5486ae]Interactions:[/color] Charlotte [@princess]
[color=5486ae]Mentions: Olivia [@Potter], Lorenzo [@FunnyGuy], Farim [@Lava Alckon][/color][hr]
[hider=The Ends of the Eromora]
The journey north took almost a full day by train, and another few hours by snowmobile, and what John was greeted with wasn't a village of wonder and curiosity that sparked many cute fairy tales across the age, but instead silence - an eerie deafening silence. Right there, at the ends of a continent, a silent village sat there suffering from its accursed fate. 

But by all means, it was nothing out of the ordinary for an event this calibre. Despite glowing reports from the governor there that the plague had already been contained, fear probably had yet to release its tight grip on its inhabitants. And it would continue so for at least a while longer after he would be gone. 

The snow mobile slowly appeared inbetween the frozen treelines, two individuals stood in anticipation: Baron and Baroness Salovey of this tiny speck of land called Omyakon. Their governance was barely a footnote in Varian history, as the place was so remote no one wanted anything to do with the place. But today, they would be put under the spotlight by the Varian Institute, having an outbreak on their hands. Both spouses were shaking, not from cold, but anticipation. 

[color=fff79a]"I don't trust that woman anymore, honey. Look at her, she's itching to snitch us out to the Institute."[/color] Baroness Salovey, a stern middle-aged woman, her curly black hair normally requiring high-maintenance cowered behind her large coat and hat, as she glanced back and forth between her bald husband and a blonde lady much younger than her standing at the distance.  

[color=9e0b0f]"It does not matter how she looks."[/color] The Baron didn't even bother looking back at either, instead looking at the incoming snowmobile, that soon parked over at an empty snowfield, its driver and passengers disembarking. [color=9e0b0f]"This is their new guy. All new guys follow the books to bootlick their higher ups. Just follow my lead, give him what he wants and we'll be fine."[/color] 

The driver with the snow goggle was accompanied by two gentlemen, one in military uniform and one wearing plain but sharp overcoat. It was not hard to identify who is who.

When John neared the two nobles, they both gave the doctor a simultaneous bow. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Doctor Williamson. Omyakon is honored by your arrival."[/color] The Baron said.

[color=fff79a]"Deeply, deeply honored."[/color] The Baroness trailed behind.

[color=9e0b0f]"I understand the Institution is having a lot of questions regarding the situation, but be assured that we had everything under control..."[/color] The Baron continued, his voice monotonous. [color=9e0b0f]"Here is our full report...as well as all the individuals to be held accountable."[/color] 

He handed John a few sheets of paper. The list of name was not important, John skimmed over the report worth lives over. And just like the previous report, it was shoddily written. Grammatical error and spelling error notwithstanding, they seem to lack the knowledge of what is a good report in general. The Barons wouldn't know it from looks alone, but John grew aware the moment they listed the only cause first in the report and then present evidence towards it. Especially combined with the list of responsible individuals, or as John would like to call it, lambs to the slaughterhouse. From his experience sticking around with Mina, it seemed awfully like they were interested in blaming someone. 

"No."

A female voice spoke up from neither behind John nor in front of him. Stares of delirium were immediately sent that way. 

"These men and women were not the ones responsible. I can attest on their behalf." 

John raised his chin in curiosity, but the two nobles immediately intercepted her. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Doctor Hania, I see you are continuing to spread information that goes against the best interests of Omyakon."[/color] The Baron sneered. 

"It's not for or against anyone's best interests if it's a fact."

[color=fff79a]"Doctor Williamson, please forgive her uncouth manner. She lives and often works in solitude, so she can get a little cuckoo sometimes."[/color] The Baroness smiled, but John simply met the pretentiousness with a raised eyebrow. She turned back to the newcomer, seemingly confident in what she would say next. [color=fff79a]"Explain it to us, Doctor Hania. How is it that this plague is caused by [i]magic[/i]?"[/color]

His eyebrows shot up even more. Magic. That's even more outlandish than the report said. 

"That is not what I said."

[color=fff79a]"Oh it is exactly what you said, darling."[/color] 

"I said it is influenced by a magical source, not that it was definitely caused by it."

[color=fff79a]"Oh? Then explain it to us, to Doctor Williamson here."[/color] The Baroness's voice churned. [color=fff79a]"How is it influenced by a magical source?"[/color] 

The blonde girl suddenly found herself without words to say, especially as her peer, a man with much more power than her, one who with a stroke of a pen could easily ruin her life, was standing right there with his arms crossed. She grasped her coat with an arm, trying to avoid direct eye contact with John.

"I-I'm not ready to explain it at this time."

[color=9e0b0f]"As I presumed, there is no answer."[/color] The Baron responded, full of self-satisfaction. 

[color=fff79a]"It's disgraceful, really. To think you are a doctor we entrust our lives to..."[/color] 

John, having observed all three of them, were not really amused. He trusted none of these individuals, but from the brief conversation they had, there is a social dynamic going on here. Both the Barons were talking down to Hania, and addressed her as Doctor, meaning there might not be nobility going on with her. And by having the figurative 'victory' there, those Barons may be able to claim their bogus 'respiratory disease with necrosis and nosebleed' some authority and legitimacy, especially to Hamilton and Louis here, both of whom he did not expect to be aware of such technical knowledge. No, the authority to dictate the investigation should lie with him and him alone. 

[color=00aeef]"If magic is not involved...then,"[/color] John cleared his throat before speaking. [color=00aeef]"how do you explain necrosis and respiratory disease in the same sentence? Excuse my ignorance but I have never heard of a respiratory disease that causes your skin to die like that."[/color] 

It was a bit of a lie. He could think of a few conditions, but they didn't know that. Neither might Hania...

[color=fff79a]"Honey, how is that the case?"[/color]

Works like a charm...

[color=9e0b0f]"I'm not sure myself. It could be a new disease..."[/color] 

[color=00aeef]"You said it's a common regional disease though. You didn't read the report?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"No no no Doctor Williamson, I have read the report. Ma-maybe you can talk to the doctors who wrote this instead of me?"[/color] 

Holes had been poked, his authority had been secured. Now it is time to see who was the one speaking the truth. 

[color=00aeef]"Very well, arrange a meeting with [i]all[/i] doctors in this village. I want to hear everyone's perspective."[/color] Including this weird doctor here too.

Both Barons looked at each other, their nerves clearly been touched wrongly, but had to concede. 

[color=9e0b0f]"It will be done, Doctor."[/color]
[/hider]
John remembered the ball a few days ago, he confessed being a fashionably boring person, wearing pretty much the same clothes everywhere until the day he is put into the ground. He wasn't kidding. With the exception of the coat, which John opted out due to the uninterruptible sun at its zenith, he [url=https://i.etsystatic.com/23968543/r/il/1eef81/3216569826/il_570xN.3216569826_38oi.jpg]looked quite similar[/url] to previous day's appearances. How this man, especially one who had lived in the cold north was able to withstand such heat in such stuffy clothes, science would have a field day. But one thing was for sure, it did not seem like he was interested in the water. 

Having caught up with his sleep schedules, it was the first time John felt energized. He could finally embark on his lifelong mission: free breakfast. And today, the beach offered them. Its alluring aroma did not break him out of his composure, but it sure attracted him from stall to stall, enjoying a teensy bit of everything before moving onto the next, and then finally settling in with a large refreshment of strawberry-banana smoothie.

[color=5486ae]"Ah, good stuff. Good stuff."[/color] With a kid-like grin, he began trailing the shorelines but never really going close to the water. It was then that he noticed more familiar faces around here: Charlotte and Lorenzo. They were in the middle of a conversation with another woman and a man he thought was familiar. One of the Alidasht nobles? A pretty interesting one judging from his mannerism, and her visible discomfort. Noting that, John simply stood at a reasonable distance, waiting for Charlotte to notice a familiar face. It shouldn't take too long considering how out of place he looked.