Frozen Hearts Mafia [Family Ties - Mafia/Survivor Victory]

DAY FIVE
And Now, The Weather

JANUARY 20

Woke up again. My back hurt from sleeping on one of the prisoner's cots, but I wouldn't expect much in the way of courteous arrangements in a holding facility. Looks like sleeping in Lyncroft's police station did the trick, though. I managed to sleep a solid eight hours, the first without nightly interruptions or followed immediately by the sinking feeling that death was approaching.

My concerns vanished for a little bit as Lyncroft gave me a police escort to the cafe, where I met my patrons outside. Before going in, I made the ill-advised move of doing a headcount. Naturally, one was missing. My feelings of unease didn't subside once Lyncroft informed me they had a call for a break-in in the wealthy district of Caribou's Den. Considering all intruders so far have a habit of murdering their visitors, I carefully awaited a call from the coroner's office.

There was a small, outdated TV in the top ceiling corner to the right of the entryway that played the local news on repeat. Although the volume was kind of poor and nobody could hear the TV over the usual discussion, my patrons requested it remained on when I went to turn it off. I did enable closed captioning, however.

In the morning silence, I could hear the TV. And the silence was prolonged when someone pointed out that Affle was on TV. I can't believe I only noticed it now - he was on the television every morning, apparently.

"And now, here's Wallace, with the weather," the anchorman began.

Sure enough, Affle was the weatherman, a little late this morning.

"Thanks, John!" he began. "Well, I can certainly confirm last night was a chilly one? Why? Someone left my window open and tried to kill me! They failed, ha ha ha!"

Everyone in the cafe laughed along with his joking behavior. A bit morbid, if you ask me. The silence came soon afterwards.

"Yes, well, I survived. They trashed my place pretty good, but I got out. It's that business down at Vincent's, you know. They have us hunting for criminals, and those same criminals want us dead for our involvement. If you ask me, I'd steer clear of there until this all blows over. Or just don't visit for a bit. Either way, I'll be sleeping with extra locks on my doors from now on. And you can bet I'm not aiding in that endeavor any further. Take that, you murderous crooks! Anyway, today's high is 30 degrees Fahrenheit, with temperatures slowly dropping again into the teens tonight at 19 Fahrenheit. Wind gusts up to 33 miles per hour in the city today, with a 10% chance of snow showers tonight...

My attention trailed away from the TV to the phone call. I didn't bother to answer it - I knew who was missing from that weather report - and so did everyone else. I wrote up the summary and posted it on the corkboard, as per protocol.

Today's forecast? Snow, with a bitter wind. Tonight's forecast? Snow, with a bitter wind. Tomorrow morning's forecast? Blizzard conditions, again.

Being a weatherman in a place with such boring, predictable weather can be a drag. Hence his decision to take up the mantle in hopes he could be more exciting and entertaining than a weatherman who simply reads the temperature ratings and calls it a day. To that extent, Affle had developed a bit of a television persona as Wallace the Weatherman.

He laughed and told jokes during the weather segment. He wore a funny suit on occasion. He did whatever it took to make the weather not just another boring part of the news report. His entertaining antics made him a local star, and he gladly accepted fame. With a slight hop, a little skip, and a couple of dance moves, he breathed life into your co-anchors, who also took up his jolly ways. He made Caribou's Den a better place to live.

On one particular news segment, he even recognized and showed gratitude for having met me. Labeling me as a nice man and giving my business a leg up on one morning segment, he helped drive business during my first week here. I had more business and more regulars than normal for this portion of the city. The surge in crime, however, must've worried him. Likely out of concern for me - a man he liked from the off - he resolved to stay by my side, hoping his celebrity status will extend to me and grant me protection.

Affle was a TOWN VANILLA.

He lacked any special powers, aside from being able to talk during the day and having a lynch vote to make free use of.

Affle was a LOYAL CUSTOMER, and thus held Caribou's Den's best interests at heart. He would achieve victory with his fellow cafegoers when all threats to the safety and stability of Caribou's Den were eliminated.

"...Back to you, John."

"Thanks, Wallace. And now, for today's breaking news: housefires continue to spread in Caribou's Den. The relentless spree of arson has many residents rushing to the hardware store to buy fireproof insulation. Experts recommend you do not attempt to install it by yourself, but to hire a professional to assist you in fireproofing your home..."

Oh, right, the housefires.

"Anyone's house burn down lately?" I asked.

Someone raised their hand. I was hoping it was a joke, but the backpacks and travel suitcases they had said otherwise.

Druplesnubb's house has been BURNED TO THE GROUND.

Sigh.

Let's get another day over with.

-V.B.

Day Five ends July 14th, 10PM EST (~120-ish hours).

With 11 alive, it takes 6 to lynch. Softlynch has been abolished.

Livelist (11/19):
OzTheWizard
Mister Visceral
SupahKiven
Garuru
Acionyx
Druplesnubb
Stiqqery
Schazer
Eidolonic
Granolaman
Cat