[ HIS NASTINESS IS WHY HE'S HOLDING HIM, he figured if he dragged Isami's body then it's gonna rip up and stuff which he thinks will probably not be very good. Unfortunately unlike in his world, he will not bank on there being someone with healing/regenerative powers, who can completely fix up the most screwed of corpses.
Bleeeeegh. Just because he's kind of used to the stench and viscera of bodies doesn't mean it's actually pleasant. He really, seriously wishes he had his normal mask right now. Pausing to put on the okina mask over his face like that'll help at all (maybe it will in spirit at least), which probably makes him look like an absolutely terrifying thing to anyone who happens to see him (A SEVEN FOOT CREEPY GRINNING GRANDPA WITH TWO HEADLESS CORPSES?) but like whatever.
Between two bodies and his injuries really settling in, he'll be slow, but... it'll do. What be this large dark shape, he'll pause to squint at it hopefully with the illumination of background firelight before moving on. ]
[He's so mindful of this corpse's skin that's just barely holding on... ALSO YEAH WOW. WHAT A HORRORSHOW. Imagine if a kid just appeared out of nowhere and wandered across his path, can you imagine the 1880s version of therapy they'd have to go through.
Anyway, as he takes a look, he'll discover that the dark shape is... a wheelbarrow! It's set up so that it's mostly obscured from view if you were to look into the forest from outside of it, but not so well-hidden that someone in the forest wouldn't see it. Someone's got friends on the other side. It looks big enough to fit a body if it's fetal position'd a bit, but maybe Aikawa can try his luck with some jenga-ing.]
[ Did you mean: internalise it and/or tell it to your children where it will be remembered as a ye olde folk tale of horrors in the woods? Because yes.
Wow thank you, you are being so nice to him. How fortunate for him. He'll put Risu's in it because Risu is bigger. Take a rest on the grass Deadzo Isami while he finagles Risu a bit. He'll probably stick out of it a little bit but you know what... you know what... it's fine...
And then once again, he'll just have to sorta jenga this bullshit, maybe lowkey use the obi to tie Kondo's body to him so he can better use his hands for this wheelbarrow, god help him. He starts astral projecting a little bit in the midst of this at how much effort he's putting into this and he doesn't even know what's gonna happen in Tama.
He unfortunately successfully manages to jenga this whole situation out! And down the footpath he goes... It's probably a little rocky with the footing considering it's still drizzling and the ground is wet, but as far as footpaths go, this one is decently cleared out. Almost like someone or something came to clear it out ahead of time!
The rain continues to lessen as the storm sweeps along its course, until the drizzle dries up and stops. As he keeps moving, he'll eventually come to a point where the footpath starts to widen. Ahead of him, he'll pick up on the sounds of moving water. To his left, he'll spot what appears to be the start of another, thinner path, leading left and into the foliage.]
Anyway thank god. He's just walking in the rain and his body HURTS, but the rain maybe helps the burn on his forearm a little. He's like... zoning out as he walks a little, though granted, keeping an ear and eye out for dangers, but also... zoning out. Thinking about how he's gonna get his ass reamed when he climbs out of this stupid field trip. And worse yet is the fact that he is still alone. Sure, he's never seen nor heard the existence of a one-man CYOA, but just because he doesn't know of it doesn't mean it can't happen. It certainly feels that way for the time being.
But well, hello here. Can he listen in on which direction the sound of moving water is coming from? As well as listen in for any sounds of anything or anyone approaching, any presence. It'd be nice if he could take a short detour to the moving water and clean off the blood and at least some of the viscera before he continues... ]
Would that not be so funny if Aikawa really was just the only person on this adventure though. Wow. That would be hilarious.
Listening specifically for the river will tell him that it appears to be flowing in a way that would cut off his path anyway, running left to right (or North to South, as it were) in front of him. It seems to be relatively close by!
Listening in for other sounds will reveal general Night Sounds (crickets, frogs, so on) nearby, and strangely what might be the sound of... chopping? Off down the path to the left. Faaar off in the distance, he might hear what sounds like a grizzly bear roar, but it's a fair way off.]
[ At the current moment he thinks he is because THERE IS NO HIDE NOR HAIR OF SIEGHART, NOT EVEN THE RADICAL SOUNDS OF HIM SURFING ON A SMALL CHILD.
But hm, how very weird. Well the sound of the chopping is probably a bit more intriguing than the necessity of water for vanity purposes (because we don't believe in infections and sepsis in murder games), he's gonna push this wheelbarrow a bit more quietly towards the chopping noises to try to see. What kind of chopping are we talking here... ]
Anyway, it's fine! Following the little path will lead him toward a small clearing. The chopping noises seem to be coming from a person, whose back is currently facing Aikawa. They appear to be whacking away at something on a cutting board with a rather large cleaver.
The rest of the clearing implies that there might only be one person living here, since it's actually quite small. Rather than a tent or any sort of camping equipment, it appears that a little place to sleep has been made in a natural alcove created by fallen trees and large boulders. Cuts of meat have been hung up on a string between trees to dry out, and a small campfire crackles close to the center of the clearing.]
He will clown those Kronks but even he can tell that this is awful vibes and he should not just go up to them and go 'oi' with ease. Cannibal hours...?
That being said, he's actually gonna. Just back up the way he came. Goodbye. He will check out that river after all and see if he can't just cross that way. ]
[i can't believe aikawa doesn't want to interact with this sweet person just preparing a home-cooked meal in the middle of the woods ):
But, away he goes with his little wheelbarrow! Back out the way he came, leaving behind this mysterious person and their meal prep. Once he gets to the river, he'll find that it appears to be too wide to cross likely even as a solo swimmer, let alone a big injured dude with two corpses. However, as he's looking around, he'll spot a wavering light bobbing on the water... It appears to be attached to a boat docked on his side of the river, manned by a figure who's currently sitting down with their back facing Aikawa. There are a lot of shady-looking backs out here tonight.
Except then lowe rolled a 1 so there's the snapping sound of a twig from behind him! And then a thin and reedy voice with a bizarre lilting sing-song says:]
Oh... How very strange...? It would seem that we have some guests tonight, after all...?
[Unstoppable force meets immovable object in the form of this absolute towering figure of a man with a rotting body strapped onto his back wheelbarrowing another around and wearing a laughing grandpa mask, versus...
Nah no the vibes on this guy are absolutely rancid as hell and there is nothing normal about him from the outside at all. This person is ghostly pale, with a shockingly white head of hair. Alarmingly, he's only about a head or two shorter than Aikawa, but he looks like he weighs maybe a sixteenth of that weight, with limbs and a body so thin and long that it looks almost comical. So, like, a pretty snappable guy! He's dressed in the same sort of uniform that the soldiers over at the execution grounds were wearing, except he has no shoes. He's also still carrying his bigass cleaver, but his posture isn't very threatening, and his smile would be peaceable if it weren't for the uncanny valley vibes it carries. Also the fact that that is not the reaction one should have to a weirdo lookin like Aikawa does right now.
Anyway! The man nods over toward the boat.]
Good evening, friend...? I wonder... That boat over there... Is that a companion of yours...?
[ Who is Yume Nikki Masada-Uboa crossover looking motherfucker? Is this a white man??? Also to be fair there's way weirder and worse in his canon that people just kinda pass off as normal so he's not too pressed about this guy just kinda... not addressing his... everything.
That being said, his house was creepy as hell and so is he, so Aikawa is just not gonna
[lowe right now with this guy is literally me with the inventors in that escape room except they were white in blood and ikoma is white in color palette
Anyway! It's a battle of the weirds now. Just as Aikawa doesn't seem to react to this guy's weirdness, he doesn't seem to react to Aikawa's weirdness. Like. He's just not making any mention of the wholeass body on his back or in his little cart.
Instead, he peers around Aikawa's side, over toward the boat.]
Oh... What a nice-looking young man...? Why don't we go and say hello...?
[W...whether or not Aikawa comes with him, the man is going to start heading in that direction.]
[ You know what, he's tempted to say something but he's already sorta committed to this bit so he's just gonna. Stick with this bit. Because it seems it's at least sort of working so that this man doesn't harass him some more. That being said, he is warily? Watching this guy go...?
Sure, he'll follow from a bit of distance. Wyd, maybe he can at least eavesdrop on their conversation if they have one. ]
[From a distance he goooes. The man really doesn't seem to want to bother Aikawa too much, instead approaching the boat and the figure within with much more rapt attention.
Where Aikawa's at, keeping the distance he is, he'll be able to overhear some snatches of conversation and other sounds! The figure in the boat turns and looks upon hearing someone approaching. It's difficult to make out exact features, but from stature and voice, it appears to be a young man.]
Captain—? Wait - who are you?!
[To which the reedy-voiced man replies with:] Oh, no... Oh, no... That armband... Could it be...? Are you from Aizu...?
[He's swaying back and forward where he stands while he talks, but doesn't raise the cleaver. Despite his words, his tone doesn't sound very concerned or upset, either; it's the same even keel as it has been this whole time.
The person in the boat is definitely not taking an "out-weird your opponent" route, though! He stands up and places a hand on the hilt of his sword, the boat rocking from the motion.]
That uniform... Are you from the New Government forces?!
[Wowie, it appears like there's about to be some kind of showdown over here.]
Or it's more accurate to say, the guy with a cleaver is suddenly launching himself at this poor young man who's scrambling to withdraw his blade. By the looks of things, Cleaver Man is definitely going to have the edge in this scenario, since he's mad fast and appears to move with the sort of finesse you'd expect of a seasoned soldier. Or cannibal?? Anyway he makes his fellow Kronks look even sadder and more incompetent, basically.
External actions: dropping Isami's body onto the wheelbarrow, muttering a curse under his breath, and dashing forward with his broken sword fake knife piece to intercept that cleaver strike because what the fuck. Sometimes you try so hard to do a pacifist speedrun but God is testing you.
[Isami's body drops like a sack of potatoes and fortunately doesn't explode. God continues to test Aikawa - he's speedy enough to make it! Kind of! Sir fancypants cleaver man over here seems surprised about the sudden quick intrusion from laughing grandpa mask.
Unfortunately, due to the angle at which Aikawa intercepts the cleaver strike and where the boatman is standing, the cleaver slides from the side of his broken blade rather than being locked in place and it sinks directly into the crook between boatman's neck and shoulder, causing him to fall back with a pained yelp and a very anime blood spurt.
Cleaver man is trying to pull back his cleaver, and seems to be looking at and through Aikawa at the same time.]
Why...? Why would you do such a thing...? Won't you step aside...?
Anyway! Despite the fact that this dude leapt at boatman with such fervor, he actually seems pretty easily cowed. Aikawa strikes at his wrist which makes contact, and while he doesn't drop his cleaver, he holds it and his arm to his chest and gives Aikawa an incredulously distraught look. The vibes are very Miette right now.]
Oh... Oh... I see... [He's glancing over toward where Aikawa's left his barrow o' bodies before looking back toward the boat.] I see...
[DOES HE??]
Could it be, that I've made a mistake...? Friend, are you collecting these tonight...? Bodies...? Won't you spare this one for me...?
[The "body" is STILL ALIVE the boatman is just rolling on the boat floor clutching his shoulder and groaning in pain.]
[The albino not white weirdo just sways from side to side for a few moments, fussing with the handle of the cleaver and glancing over toward the wheelbarrow again.]
No, no... I could never... Desecrate a grave, for food...? My dear Gennou, eating such a thing...? Oh, no, no... My sweet, sweet Gennou...! He must still be out there...? Hunting again...?
[Toward the end of that, it's more like this dude just starts mumbling to himself rather than talking to Aikawa directly. HE THEN JUST.
STARTS TO WANDER OFF AGAIN.
He's taking his cleaver with him and he's just sort of ambling in the general direction of the wheelbarrow, but he seems poised to simply walk past it, muttering about Gennou and feasting and young men as he goes.]
[ He doesn't have a good feeling about that guy, and is the first that gets an Probably Okay To Kill in his books. He'll remember you, weirdo... and I suppose, that name. Gennou or whatever.
He'll back up slowly to the guy in the boat while watching this guy hobble off, just in case -- but when it seems clear that he will not ransack his body wheelbarrow, he'll dip to check on this boat guy.
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Bleeeeegh. Just because he's kind of used to the stench and viscera of bodies doesn't mean it's actually pleasant. He really, seriously wishes he had his normal mask right now. Pausing to put on the okina mask over his face like that'll help at all (maybe it will in spirit at least), which probably makes him look like an absolutely terrifying thing to anyone who happens to see him (A SEVEN FOOT CREEPY GRINNING GRANDPA WITH TWO HEADLESS CORPSES?) but like whatever.
Between two bodies and his injuries really settling in, he'll be slow, but... it'll do. What be this large dark shape, he'll pause to squint at it hopefully with the illumination of background firelight before moving on. ]
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Anyway, as he takes a look, he'll discover that the dark shape is... a wheelbarrow! It's set up so that it's mostly obscured from view if you were to look into the forest from outside of it, but not so well-hidden that someone in the forest wouldn't see it. Someone's got friends on the other side. It looks big enough to fit a body if it's fetal position'd a bit, but maybe Aikawa can try his luck with some jenga-ing.]
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Wow thank you, you are being so nice to him. How fortunate for him. He'll put Risu's in it because Risu is bigger. Take a rest on the grass Deadzo Isami while he finagles Risu a bit. He'll probably stick out of it a little bit but you know what... you know what... it's fine...
And then once again, he'll just have to sorta jenga this bullshit, maybe lowkey use the obi to tie Kondo's body to him so he can better use his hands for this wheelbarrow, god help him. He starts astral projecting a little bit in the midst of this at how much effort he's putting into this and he doesn't even know what's gonna happen in Tama.
Okay. Down the footpath!! ]
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He unfortunately successfully manages to jenga this whole situation out! And down the footpath he goes... It's probably a little rocky with the footing considering it's still drizzling and the ground is wet, but as far as footpaths go, this one is decently cleared out. Almost like someone or something came to clear it out ahead of time!
The rain continues to lessen as the storm sweeps along its course, until the drizzle dries up and stops. As he keeps moving, he'll eventually come to a point where the footpath starts to widen. Ahead of him, he'll pick up on the sounds of moving water. To his left, he'll spot what appears to be the start of another, thinner path, leading left and into the foliage.]
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Anyway thank god. He's just walking in the rain and his body HURTS, but the rain maybe helps the burn on his forearm a little. He's like... zoning out as he walks a little, though granted, keeping an ear and eye out for dangers, but also... zoning out. Thinking about how he's gonna get his ass reamed when he climbs out of this stupid field trip. And worse yet is the fact that he is still alone. Sure, he's never seen nor heard the existence of a one-man CYOA, but just because he doesn't know of it doesn't mean it can't happen. It certainly feels that way for the time being.
But well, hello here. Can he listen in on which direction the sound of moving water is coming from? As well as listen in for any sounds of anything or anyone approaching, any presence. It'd be nice if he could take a short detour to the moving water and clean off the blood and at least some of the viscera before he continues... ]
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Would that not be so funny if Aikawa really was just the only person on this adventure though. Wow. That would be hilarious.
Listening specifically for the river will tell him that it appears to be flowing in a way that would cut off his path anyway, running left to right (or North to South, as it were) in front of him. It seems to be relatively close by!
Listening in for other sounds will reveal general Night Sounds (crickets, frogs, so on) nearby, and strangely what might be the sound of... chopping? Off down the path to the left. Faaar off in the distance, he might hear what sounds like a grizzly bear roar, but it's a fair way off.]
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But hm, how very weird. Well the sound of the chopping is probably a bit more intriguing than the necessity of water for vanity purposes (because we don't believe in infections and sepsis in murder games), he's gonna push this wheelbarrow a bit more quietly towards the chopping noises to try to see. What kind of chopping are we talking here... ]
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Anyway, it's fine! Following the little path will lead him toward a small clearing. The chopping noises seem to be coming from a person, whose back is currently facing Aikawa. They appear to be whacking away at something on a cutting board with a rather large cleaver.
The rest of the clearing implies that there might only be one person living here, since it's actually quite small. Rather than a tent or any sort of camping equipment, it appears that a little place to sleep has been made in a natural alcove created by fallen trees and large boulders. Cuts of meat have been hung up on a string between trees to dry out, and a small campfire crackles close to the center of the clearing.]
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Hm.
Deeply, deeply concerning.
He will clown those Kronks but even he can tell that this is awful vibes and he should not just go up to them and go 'oi' with ease. Cannibal hours...?
That being said, he's actually gonna. Just back up the way he came. Goodbye. He will check out that river after all and see if he can't just cross that way. ]
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But, away he goes with his little wheelbarrow! Back out the way he came, leaving behind this mysterious person and their meal prep. Once he gets to the river, he'll find that it appears to be too wide to cross likely even as a solo swimmer, let alone a big injured dude with two corpses. However, as he's looking around, he'll spot a wavering light bobbing on the water... It appears to be attached to a boat docked on his side of the river, manned by a figure who's currently sitting down with their back facing Aikawa. There are a lot of shady-looking backs out here tonight.
Except then lowe rolled a 1 so there's the snapping sound of a twig from behind him! And then a thin and reedy voice with a bizarre lilting sing-song says:]
Oh... How very strange...? It would seem that we have some guests tonight, after all...?
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He won't say anything yet just STARES I GUESS............... new identity who dis. Maybe if he just doesn't say anything they'll fuck off. ]
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A polite young man?
Nah no the vibes on this guy are absolutely rancid as hell and there is nothing normal about him from the outside at all. This person is ghostly pale, with a shockingly white head of hair. Alarmingly, he's only about a head or two shorter than Aikawa, but he looks like he weighs maybe a sixteenth of that weight, with limbs and a body so thin and long that it looks almost comical. So, like, a pretty snappable guy! He's dressed in the same sort of uniform that the soldiers over at the execution grounds were wearing, except he has no shoes. He's also still carrying his bigass cleaver, but his posture isn't very threatening, and his smile would be peaceable if it weren't for the uncanny valley vibes it carries. Also the fact that that is not the reaction one should have to a weirdo lookin like Aikawa does right now.
Anyway! The man nods over toward the boat.]
Good evening, friend...? I wonder... That boat over there... Is that a companion of yours...?
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That being said, his house was creepy as hell and so is he, so Aikawa is just not gonna
answer him
? ]
...
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Anyway! It's a battle of the weirds now. Just as Aikawa doesn't seem to react to this guy's weirdness, he doesn't seem to react to Aikawa's weirdness. Like. He's just not making any mention of the wholeass body on his back or in his little cart.
Instead, he peers around Aikawa's side, over toward the boat.]
Oh... What a nice-looking young man...? Why don't we go and say hello...?
[W...whether or not Aikawa comes with him, the man is going to start heading in that direction.]
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Sure, he'll follow from a bit of distance. Wyd, maybe he can at least eavesdrop on their conversation if they have one. ]
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Where Aikawa's at, keeping the distance he is, he'll be able to overhear some snatches of conversation and other sounds! The figure in the boat turns and looks upon hearing someone approaching. It's difficult to make out exact features, but from stature and voice, it appears to be a young man.]
Captain—? Wait - who are you?!
[To which the reedy-voiced man replies with:] Oh, no... Oh, no... That armband... Could it be...? Are you from Aizu...?
[He's swaying back and forward where he stands while he talks, but doesn't raise the cleaver. Despite his words, his tone doesn't sound very concerned or upset, either; it's the same even keel as it has been this whole time.
The person in the boat is definitely not taking an "out-weird your opponent" route, though! He stands up and places a hand on the hilt of his sword, the boat rocking from the motion.]
That uniform... Are you from the New Government forces?!
[Wowie, it appears like there's about to be some kind of showdown over here.]
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Hold on -- wait a minute --
[ DON'T FIGHT, KIDS!! Between injuries and the smell of corpse, he's very tired. ]
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Or it's more accurate to say, the guy with a cleaver is suddenly launching himself at this poor young man who's scrambling to withdraw his blade. By the looks of things, Cleaver Man is definitely going to have the edge in this scenario, since he's mad fast and appears to move with the sort of finesse you'd expect of a seasoned soldier. Or cannibal?? Anyway he makes his fellow Kronks look even sadder and more incompetent, basically.
Sweet, tired Aikawa, what will he do...]
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External actions: dropping Isami's body onto the wheelbarrow, muttering a curse under his breath, and dashing forward with his broken sword fake knife piece to intercept that cleaver strike because what the fuck. Sometimes you try so hard to do a pacifist speedrun but God is testing you.
ANYWAY, AIKAWA IS A SPEEDY LAD WILL HE MAKE IT? ]
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Unfortunately, due to the angle at which Aikawa intercepts the cleaver strike and where the boatman is standing, the cleaver slides from the side of his broken blade rather than being locked in place and it sinks directly into the crook between boatman's neck and shoulder, causing him to fall back with a pained yelp and a very anime blood spurt.
Cleaver man is trying to pull back his cleaver, and seems to be looking at and through Aikawa at the same time.]
Why...? Why would you do such a thing...? Won't you step aside...?
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Because I feel like it, I guess -- !
[ That being said, moving to strike Mr. Cleaver Man in the wrist of the arm holding the titular cleaver. ]
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Anyway! Despite the fact that this dude leapt at boatman with such fervor, he actually seems pretty easily cowed. Aikawa strikes at his wrist which makes contact, and while he doesn't drop his cleaver, he holds it and his arm to his chest and gives Aikawa an incredulously distraught look. The vibes are very Miette right now.]
Oh... Oh... I see... [He's glancing over toward where Aikawa's left his barrow o' bodies before looking back toward the boat.] I see...
[DOES HE??]
Could it be, that I've made a mistake...? Friend, are you collecting these tonight...? Bodies...? Won't you spare this one for me...?
[The "body" is STILL ALIVE the boatman is just rolling on the boat floor clutching his shoulder and groaning in pain.]
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No! Why do you need bodies?! There's a graveyard a couple feet back in that direction, if you want 'em, take a shovel and go get them yourself!
[ LOADS OF BODIES BACK THERE MR. ALPHA KRONK. They may be rotting but I hope u don't mind. ]
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No, no... I could never... Desecrate a grave, for food...? My dear Gennou, eating such a thing...? Oh, no, no... My sweet, sweet Gennou...! He must still be out there...? Hunting again...?
[Toward the end of that, it's more like this dude just starts mumbling to himself rather than talking to Aikawa directly. HE THEN JUST.
STARTS TO WANDER OFF AGAIN.
He's taking his cleaver with him and he's just sort of ambling in the general direction of the wheelbarrow, but he seems poised to simply walk past it, muttering about Gennou and feasting and young men as he goes.]
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[ He doesn't have a good feeling about that guy, and is the first that gets an Probably Okay To Kill in his books. He'll remember you, weirdo... and I suppose, that name. Gennou or whatever.
He'll back up slowly to the guy in the boat while watching this guy hobble off, just in case -- but when it seems clear that he will not ransack his body wheelbarrow, he'll dip to check on this boat guy.
Are you okay sir!!!! ]
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