Conversation 659: BOARDWALK / WCH

Dead working class husband who has fallen through the blanks and cut himself open and it's generally a very gruesome and sad death.

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Column definitions:
  • ID: a numerical index for the entry within this conversation.
  • Character: the character speaking or acting.
  • Dialogue: prose containing spoken dialogue and other description.
  • Conditions: logical checks governing this entry appearing or occurring.
  • Links: entries that might follow this one, depending on conditions and player choice. Most links are internal to this conversation, external links to other conversations are marked with the format (conversation ID, entry ID).
ID Character Dialogue Conditions Links
0 None
  • 1
1 None
  • 147
2 Working Class Corpse A man lies on the boardwalk, his limbs bent and neck turned at an unnatural angle. Right next to him is an empty bottle of spirits. In his cramped hand: a chewing gum wrapper.
  • 200
3 None
  • 9
  • 10
  • 83
  • 31
  • 44
  • 12
  • 15
  • 11
4 None
  • 5
  • 6
5 None IsKimHere()
  • 7
6 None (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 133
7 Kim Kitsuragi "Hold on..." The lieutenant squats next to the corpse and examines his face. Two bulging eyes stare back at him, void of any signs of life.
  • 8
8 Kim Kitsuragi "Lividity is faintly pronounced. Whoever this is, he's been dead for two days, no longer." He stands up and shivers as a gust of wind blows through his bomber jacket. "We need to investigate."
  • 133
9 You Study the man's clothes.
  • 13
10 You Study the man himself.
  • 14
11 You [Leave.]
12 You "What do you think happened here?" Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_the_man"] == true and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_clothes"] == true and IsKimHere() and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_surroundings"] == true
  • 19
13 Working Class Corpse He's wearing mud-caked boots, beige trousers and an old brown leather jacket with a bright blue lining. There are traces of kebab sauce on his chest.
  • 16
14 Working Class Corpse The man has fallen through a crack in the boardwalk and hit his head against the metal bench. Coagulated blood covers his black hair. One of his feet is still dangling through the hole.
  • 22
15 You "What should we do with him?" Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_the_man"] == true and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_clothes"] == true and IsKimHere() and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_talked_with_kim_about_what_to_do"] == false and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_surroundings"] == true and Variable["TASK.identify_corpse_boardwalk"] == false and Variable["TASK.report_corpse_wo_taking_main_task"] == false
  • 30
16 Composure The leather jacket suits him well. It must be custom-made.
  • 69
17 You Search his pockets.
  • 249
18 Working Class Corpse You find some sunflower seeds and a rain-soaked library card, folded into two. His jacket feels sodden and heavy under your hand.
  • 151
19 Kim Kitsuragi "Death by misadventure. He slipped and fell through the boardwalk. A truly unfortunate accident... If it wouldn't have been for that bench, he'd be alive."
  • 86
20 None
  • 3
21 Visual Calculus Height: 170-175 cm, curly hair, stout build. Age: approximately 50-60 years.
  • 135
22 Electrochemistry You have to be quite inebriated to fall that bad. Well over a litre of pure ethanol. Three bottles of wine or one and a half of spirits?
  • 24
23 You Examine his face.
  • 28
24 None
  • 25
  • 26
25 None Variable["boardwalk.corpse_electrochem_had_to_be_drunk"]
  • 27
26 None (Variable["boardwalk.corpse_electrochem_had_to_be_drunk"]) == false
  • 201
27 Logic Or maybe it was just dark.
  • 237
28 Working Class Corpse His expression is dull like the sea behind him, drops of water shining on his moustache. His eyes, empty and wide, look frightening in their frozen gaze.
  • 21
29 None
  • 3
30 Kim Kitsuragi "From where I stand I can see two options. We either take the case and follow the leads to identify the body on our own -- or we report back to the station and leave this for our colleagues to handle."
  • 35
31 You What should I do with the body? Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_the_man"] == true and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_clothes"] == true and IsKimHere() == false and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_surroundings"] == true and Variable["TASK.identify_corpse_boardwalk"] == false and Variable["TASK.report_corpse_wo_taking_main_task"] == false
  • 32
32 Working Class Corpse First you need to talk with the lieutenant, then report back to the station. This is too complicated to handle on your own.
  • 40
33 You "Do you think he was drunk?" (Point at the bottle.)
  • 34
34 Kim Kitsuragi "Oh yes," the lieutenant nods.
  • 136
35 None
  • 84
  • 146
  • 37
  • 36
36 You "I still need some time to decide how I want to solve this case." (Return to this later.)
  • 38
37 You "Let's leave this case for the station, I don't want to spend time on it." (Don't take the case.)
  • 171
38 Kim Kitsuragi "No need to rush."
  • 42
39 Kim Kitsuragi "Alright. The station is going to want details, however. Let's examine that library card you found on the man's body, see if it has any clues. Then we can call the station from my Kineema and hand over the case."
  • 43
40 None
  • 3
41 None
  • 3
42 None
  • 3
43 None
  • 3
44 You "Who is this man?" Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_the_man"] == true and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_clothes"] == true and IsKimHere() and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_studied_surroundings"] == true and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_who_is_this_man_done_alone"] == false
  • 45
45 Kim Kitsuragi "Looks like one of the locals -- he'd have to know this spot to come here. You don't *just* walk over here." He looks south, the way you came.
  • 51
46 You "Could it be related to the lynching?"
  • 53
47 None
  • 50
  • 76
  • 49
  • 56
48 You "We know who this is. It's the working class woman's missing husband -- dead on the boardwalk." Variable["TASK.find_working_class_husband"] == true or Variable["boardwalk.corpse_logic_wcw_husband"] == true
  • 188
49 You "Looks like just another old drunkard to me."
  • 61
50 You "He looks like me. I could have ended up just like him -- dead on some empty boardwalk with a bottle next to my corpse." Variable["boardwalk.corpse_inland_he_could_be_me"] == true
  • 62
51 Kim Kitsuragi "But that's just a lazy assumption. What do you think?"
  • 72
52 Kim Kitsuragi "Well, he's definitely *someone's* husband." The lieutenant points at the golden ring on the man's left hand, the flesh around it swollen and pale.
  • 195
53 Kim Kitsuragi "No, I don't see anything that points in that direction. For now let's treat this case as a simple -- albeit sad -- accident, unrelated to the murder case."
  • 98
54 Kim Kitsuragi "But let's try to not run ahead -- for now all we know is that he's an unidentified middle-aged man found dead on the Martinaise boardwalk."
  • 55
55 None
  • 3
56 You "I think labelling him as an alcoholic is a bit premature. We don't know anything yet."
  • 57
57 Kim Kitsuragi "We do know that he was married." The lieutenant points at the ring on the man's left hand, the flesh around it swollen and grey.
  • 59
58 Logic A dead working class man with a bottle in his hand? Don't deceive yourself, you know who this is.
  • 48
59 Kim Kitsuragi "But you're right, let's not run ahead. For now all we know is that he's an unidentified middle-aged man found dead on the Martinaise boardwalk."
  • 60
60 None
  • 3
61 Kim Kitsuragi "And he was married." The lieutenant points at the ring on the man's left hand, the flesh around it swollen and grey.
  • 54
62 Kim Kitsuragi "Well, at least you're not married." The lieutenant points at the ring on the man's left hand, the flesh around it swollen and grey.
  • 63
63 Inland Empire Or what if you are...?
  • 65
64 Electrochemistry Married to your drink, that's for sure.
  • 54
65 None
  • 66
  • 67
66 None Variable["TASK.get_a_drink_done"] == true and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_inland_wonders_married"] == true
  • 64
67 None (Variable["TASK.get_a_drink_done"] == true and Variable["boardwalk.corpse_inland_wonders_married"] == true) == false
  • 54
68 Logic A cool leather jacket with a bolt of blue? Oh no, this sounds terribly familiar...
  • 17
69 None
  • 70
  • 71
70 None Variable["plaza.working_husband_leather_jacket_known"]
  • 68
71 None (Variable["plaza.working_husband_leather_jacket_known"]) == false
  • 17
72 None
  • 73
  • 74
73 None Variable["TASK.find_working_class_husband"]
  • 58
74 None (Variable["TASK.find_working_class_husband"]) == false
  • 77
75 Inland Empire This is an omen, a sign from above -- that you need to stop drinking.
  • 47
76 You "What we're witnessing here is a demise of a great party beast. That leather jacket, an empty vodka bottle..." (Kiss your fingers.) Variable["boardwalk.corpse_electro_party_animal"] == true
  • 82
77 Electrochemistry At least this man knew how to party! Imagine the same scene without the bottle -- now that would be just sad.
  • 79
78 Inland Empire This is an omen, a sign from above -- don't start drinking again.
  • 47
79 None
  • 80
  • 81
80 None Variable["TASK.get_a_drink_done"]
  • 75
81 None (Variable["TASK.get_a_drink_done"]) == false
  • 78
82 Kim Kitsuragi "The wedding ring." The lieutenant points at the ring on the man's left hand, the flesh around it swollen and grey.
  • 54
83 You Study the surroundings.
  • 115
84 You "Hold on -- what about field autopsy?" Variable["TASK.perform_field_autopsy"] == true
  • 142
85 None
  • 35
86 None
  • 46
  • 33
  • 87
  • 89
  • 96
87 You "What about the kebab?"
  • 88
88 Kim Kitsuragi "What about it? The deceased ate some kebab." He shrugs. "It's probably from a nearby place, maybe in the Pox..."
  • 226
89 You "Someone should be held responsible for this broken boardwalk. It's dangerous."
  • 93
90 None
  • 86
91 None
  • 86
92 None
  • 86
93 Kim Kitsuragi "They'll seal this place off after the news reaches the Coalition officials. I doubt that they have enough resources to actually repair the boardwalk."
  • 94
94 Kim Kitsuragi "Not that sealing it off would keep anyone away. All it does is keep the city council's hands clean." He smiles sourly.
  • 95
95 None
  • 86
96 You "Right." (Conclude.)
  • 97
97 Kim Kitsuragi "It does seem to be a pretty straightforward misadventure, although there's still the question of identifying the body..."
  • 41
98 Half Light Yes, but what if there's a killer on the loose? Two suspicious deaths in such a short time frame!
  • 99
99 None
  • 100
  • 101
100 None Variable["boardwalk.corpse_halflight_killer_on_the_loose"]
  • 102
101 None (Variable["boardwalk.corpse_halflight_killer_on_the_loose"]) == false
  • 225
102 None
  • 103
  • 104
103 You "We should consider the possibility that we're dealing with a sequence killer here."
  • 108
104 You "You're right, connecting it with the lynching is a stretch."
  • 109
105 You "Someone could have pushed him from behind with an intention to kill."
  • 106
106 Kim Kitsuragi "It's possible, but let's take it step-by-step. We still haven't identified the man."
  • 114
107 You "What if he *witnessed* something? All of this could be staged. We don't know the exact cause of death." Variable["boardwalk.corpse_inland_staged"] == true
  • 106
108 Kim Kitsuragi "A *sequence killer*?" The lieutenant narrows his eyes in the wind. "There's nothing that connects those two bodies. This is a completely different case -- an accident."
  • 111
109 Kim Kitsuragi "Without any further evidence -- yes."
  • 91
110 None
  • 107
  • 105
  • 112
111 Inland Empire What if all of this is staged? He could have seen something that night in the yard...
  • 110
112 You "I'm just saying that we should be open to all possibilities."
  • 113
113 Kim Kitsuragi "Yes, but... I just wanted to make it clear it's not a sequence killer, okay?"
  • 114
114 None
  • 86
115 Working Class Corpse There's some dried blood on the metal bench, right where the corpse's head rests. The floorboards are rotten and slippery wet around the hole. An empty bottle lies nearby. A chewing gum wrapper is clutched in his fist.
  • 202
116 You Examine the man's head.
  • 117
117 Working Class Corpse A dried chunk of blood covers the hair at the back of his head -- an open wound. It's sticky and cold to your touch.
  • 119
118 You Step on the floorboards.
  • 123
119 Logic This is what killed him.
  • 120
120 Inland Empire This is where he came out of himself. Drop by drop when he was unconscious. It took three, maybe four minutes.
  • 155
121 Perception You see waves churning below... Something cracks beneath your feet.
  • 124
122 None
  • 116
  • 118
  • 125
  • 205
  • 127
123 Working Class Corpse They screech under your feet, ominously. It's hard to say whether the dead man's weight was what caused the boardwalk to break... It definitely looks fragile.
  • 121
124 Visual Calculus He could have easily disappeared into the sea through that hole. And you would have never found him.
  • 130
125 You Examine the bottle.
  • 126
126 Working Class Corpse A 0.75 litre 'Touloula' vodka with its cap missing. There's hardly anything left inside.
  • 134
127 You Step back.
  • 131
128 None
  • 122
129 None
  • 122
130 None
  • 122
131 Working Class Corpse The entire boardwalk creaks in the wind as you take a step back.
  • 132
132 None
  • 3
133 Authority Another dead body. This is your job. Steel yourself.
  • 231
134 Electrochemistry It's mid-market spirits. With a slight touch of menthol. The man meant to enjoy himself, have a good time.
  • 162
135 Empathy He was confused when he died. Confused and alone, most likely. Overcome with the awful surprise of it all.
  • 203
136 You "What about alcohol poisoning and liver failure?"
  • 137
137 Kim Kitsuragi "Some symptoms of acute alcohol poisoning could have definitely played a role here: severe confusion, respiratory depression, unpredictable behaviour..."
  • 143
138 Kim Kitsuragi "I'd say we should just write down 'head trauma' in the autopsy report and leave it at that. It would save us at least two hours of unnecessary work."
  • 139
  • 140
139 You "Yes, but... isn't that kind of sloppy?"
  • 141
140 You "You're right, I don't see anything criminal here. Let's leave it at that."
  • 144
141 Kim Kitsuragi "Maybe, but we don't really have much time or resources to spare. The guys at Processing will take care of the rest."
  • 145
142 Kim Kitsuragi "A field autopsy isn't necessary if the cause of death doesn't appear to be criminal -- and this looks like a simple accident to me."
  • 227
143 Kim Kitsuragi "But I think that death arrived through head trauma, not liver failure."
  • 90
144 Kim Kitsuragi "Good call. The guys at Processing can take care of the rest."
  • 85
145 None
  • 35
146 You "We found him. We should finish this." (Take the case.)
  • 176
147 None
  • 148
  • 149
148 None Variable["boardwalk.corpse_hub_reached"]
  • 150
149 None (Variable["boardwalk.corpse_hub_reached"]) == false
  • 2
150 Working Class Corpse A man lies on the boardwalk, his limbs bent and neck turned at an unnatural angle. Right next to him is an empty bottle of spirits. In his cramped hand: a chewing gum wrapper.
  • 196
151 None
  • 152
  • 153
152 None IsKimHere()
  • 242
153 None (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 20
154 Kim Kitsuragi "Good, we should take a look at that library card after this is done."
  • 20
155 None
  • 156
  • 157
156 None IsKimHere()
  • 158
157 None (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 128
158 Kim Kitsuragi "I don't see any other major wounds. Do you?"
  • 159
  • 160
159 You "It's hard to say."
  • 161
160 You "No, just this one at the back of his head."
  • 161
161 Kim Kitsuragi "Seems like the head wound was fatal. It's exactly the shape of the bench..."
  • 235
162 None
  • 163
  • 164
163 None IsKimHere()
  • 166
164 None (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 129
165 Kim Kitsuragi "Tare, all around us..." He looks at two other bottles forgotten near the coin-operated viewer.
  • 129
166 None
  • 167
  • 168
167 None CheckEquipped("yellow_plastic_bag")
  • 169
168 None (CheckEquipped("yellow_plastic_bag")) == false
  • 165
169 Kim Kitsuragi "Tare, all around us..." He looks at two other bottles near the coin-operated viewer, then at your yellow plastic bag.
  • 170
170 Kim Kitsuragi "I'd prefer if you didn't collect them this time. It's not... proper."
  • 204
171 None
  • 172
  • 173
172 None Variable["boardwalk.library_card_main_hub"]
  • 175
173 None (Variable["boardwalk.library_card_main_hub"]) == false
  • 39
174 Kim Kitsuragi "The next thing to do is call the station from my Kineema and hand over the case. Then we can return to the murder investigation and be done with it."
  • 43
175 Kim Kitsuragi "Alright. The station is going to want details, however. We already examined the library card we found on the body -- good, that should be enough for the first lead."
  • 174
176 None
  • 177
  • 178
177 None Variable["boardwalk.library_card_know_phone_number"]
  • 179
178 None (Variable["boardwalk.library_card_know_phone_number"]) == false
  • 180
179 Kim Kitsuragi "Alright. We've already examined the library card -- let's call the Jamrock Library from my Kineema, see if we can learn anything about this Billie Méjean."
  • 182
180 Kim Kitsuragi "Alright. We should first examine that library card you found. Then we can call the station from my Kineema, let them know we're taking the case."
  • 181
181 None
  • 3
182 Kim Kitsuragi "And while we're there we should also call the station, let them know that we're taking the case."
  • 181
183 None
  • 184
  • 185
184 None IsTaskActive("TASK.return_to_body_on_boardwalk_with_kim")--[[ Variable[ ]]
  • 186
185 None (IsTaskActive("TASK.return_to_body_on_boardwalk_with_kim")--[[ Variable[ ]]) == false
  • 3
186 Kim Kitsuragi "Hold on..." The lieutenant leans over the corpse and examines his face. Two glassy eyes stare back at him, void of any signs of life.
  • 187
187 Kim Kitsuragi "Looks like he's been dead for a while. I'm surprised no one found him before you came along." He stands up and shivers as a gust of wind blows through his bomber jacket.
  • 3
188 Kim Kitsuragi "The woman you met at the bookstand?" He looks at the bundle of flesh and rags lying on the ground. "Why do you think it's her husband?"
  • 191
189 You "The leather jacket." (Point at the man's clothes.) "It matches her description perfectly." Variable["plaza.working_husband_leather_jacket_known"]
  • 194
190 You "This is the most working class way to go -- completely alienated and forgotten." Variable["boardwalk.corpse_concept_wc_death"]
  • 193
191 Conceptualization Because it's the most working class death you've ever seen.
  • 190
  • 189
  • 192
  • 219
192 You "Bottles, all around him." (Point at the tare.) "She said he was drinking somewhere in Martinaise."
  • 52
193 Kim Kitsuragi "Yes, yes," the lieutenant seems impatient, "but what *actual* facts do you have that connect him with this woman you met at the bookstand?"
  • 189
  • 192
  • 219
194 Kim Kitsuragi "The bright blue lining?" He nods, then points at the ring on the man's left hand: "Well, he's definitely *someone's* husband."
  • 195
195 None
  • 3
196 None
  • 197
  • 198
197 None IsKimHere()
  • 183
198 None (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 3
199 Perception (Smell) The smell is... not as bad as a two-week-old corpse, but it's definitely heading there.
  • 4
200 Physical Instrument Half of his body has slipped between the cracked boardwalk, starting with the right leg. The fall has left him broken, contorted like a sad puppet.
  • 199
201 Logic A bad fall. It might have been dark outside? This place is a mine field in the dark.
  • 237
202 Savoir Faire Be very, very careful where you step here.
  • 122
203 Inland Empire He was *just* about to head home. The first step back home proved to be his last.
  • 238
204 Inland Empire True. It feels... disrespectful.
  • 129
205 You Examine the chewing gum wrapper.
  • 206
206 Working Class Corpse 'Rubowski' spearmint chewing gum. Green leaves on the cover. The man's mouth is half-agape from the terror of the fall...
  • 212
  • 215
207 None
  • 208
  • 209
208 None IsKimHere()
  • 210
209 None (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 234
210 Kim Kitsuragi "He ate the whole pack, right? It's to cover the smell of alcohol before going home. The worst thing is..."
  • 211
211 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant shudders from the cold. "I've seen it before: almost the same scenario. Even the chewing gum. It's always the same..."
  • 218
212 You Look in.
  • 213
213 Working Class Corpse The blackness of death. Stench. You think you see white chewing gum too.
  • 214
214 Perception (Sight) Confirmed. Nearly the whole pack is there, solidified on his lower rear teeth.
  • 207
215 You Back off.
  • 216
216 Working Class Corpse Careful. The wind blows hard, from the east.
  • 217
217 None
  • 122
218 Esprit de Corps In a ditch off a road below the 8/81, he thinks. A young father. Then he shakes his head, to make the memory stop.
  • 233
219 You "The library card! He was supposed to return a book." CheckItem("library_card")
  • 220
220 Kim Kitsuragi "I can't see a book..." The lieutenant pats his pockets. "So he took the book to the library, then came back and thought -- I'll have one."
  • 221
221 Logic I'll have *one* drink before I get home.
  • 222
222 Electrochemistry Just one drink. I have my cool jacket on. I took the book to the library. I've earned it.
  • 224
223 Kim Kitsuragi "Damn it... He's definitely *someone's* husband." The lieutenant points at the golden ring on the man's left hand, the flesh around it swollen and pale.
  • 236
224 Inland Empire The view from the lookout is beautiful...
  • 223
225 Logic Agreed. If this somehow converges later, why not. But keep it simple for now.
  • 91
226 Logic Sometimes a kebab is just a kebab.
  • 92
227 None
  • 228
  • 229
228 None Variable["TASK.ask_about_ruby_in_village"]
  • 230
229 None (Variable["TASK.ask_about_ruby_in_village"]) == false
  • 138
230 Kim Kitsuragi "I'd say we should just write down 'head trauma' and leave it at that. Let's keep this detour as short as possible -- the sooner we get back to finding Ruby the better."
  • 139
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231 Composure Calm now. Carefully. Just another day, just another dead body. Breathe.
  • 3
232 None
  • 122
233 None
  • 122
234 Logic To hide the stench of alcohol no doubt.
  • 232
235 None
  • 122
236 None
  • 3
237 Savoir Faire When damp these boards are really slippery, even a sober man could loose their balance here.
  • 23
238 None
  • 239
  • 240
239 None Variable["boardwalk.wch_inland_head_home"]
  • 241
240 None (Variable["boardwalk.wch_inland_head_home"]) == false
  • 29
241 Logic That's what the chewing gum seems to point to as well.
  • 29
242 None
  • 243
  • 244
243 None Variable["TASK.return_to_body_on_boardwalk_with_kim"]
  • 248
244 None (Variable["TASK.return_to_body_on_boardwalk_with_kim"]) == false
  • 245
245 None
  • 246
  • 247
246 None Variable["boardwalk.library_card_main_hub"]
  • 248
247 None (Variable["boardwalk.library_card_main_hub"]) == false
  • 154
248 Kim Kitsuragi "We should take another look at the library card you found on him," the lieutenant says, straightening his back.
  • 20
249 None
  • 250
  • 251
250 None Variable["boardwalk.wch_found_the_library_card"]
  • 252
251 None (Variable["boardwalk.wch_found_the_library_card"]) == false
  • 18
252 Working Class Corpse Only some sunflower seeds remain in his soaked pockets. You already took the library card.
  • 151