Huh. Does your job have a title? [It makes sense.] I asked the other person and he didn't have a specific title. Just said Bandits and Bounties, we've been trying to make sense of it since then.
...you think that'll work? [Considering who it is, he has some concerns, but it can't hurt.] Never mentioned there were multiple people but I also don't know if I got the whole story.
It does. [. . .] As far as I know, the other person should have a title as well. One similar to mine.
[which, briefly, makes her wonder if her hunch was wrong, or if the other person is just being coy and avoidant. but she's already come this far, hasn't she? Percy's the only person to whom she has dared give this much information]
If I'm right, it should work. [she sounds certain of it] But if I'm wrong, it might just confuse them and expose myself to unnecessary danger.
. . . but unless there are two people who can kill to end the game-- which I don't think there are, according to the answers I've been given-- then I should be right.
[Give him a moment to puzzle something together what he knows.]
The only roles that really work together are the Madame and the Bartender. [He won't explain how he knows yet.] Are you one of those?
[He wants that answer, first, before he'll explain the rest. He kicks a stray pebble out of his path.] I won't even mention this to our group from Sunday, by the way. There's no need to unnecessarily freak everybody out.
And the Bandits don't count in the roles. The Sheriff told me there's eleven people. Two Coal Miners, The Deputy, The Doctor, The Madame and the Bartender which work together...which leaves five extra people, which is what you are and what this other person is. A Bounty.
[He's doing a lot of guesswork thanks to a bunch of conversations and information, but it feels as vague as ever.]
I get it. We trust people here a lot but this game is still really, really dangerous. And I think I completely misunderstood what they were trying to tell me. [He now feels like a moron, but what else is new.] The other one I spoke to. I think he's a Bounty, too. Prior to me telling him, he only knew about Bandits and Bounties and obviously he's not a Bandit. That has to be it, right? The other five people are the Bounties.
[she inclines her head slightly, her mouth twisting upward into a smile. Percy can see a few hints of relief in her expression]
[she feels like she chose well, trusting him. and as such, she drops the vague hints and opts for honesty]
That's correct. The other five people are the Bounties. Four of them now; one of ours was killed by a Coal Miner.
Our job is to keep our heads down and find each other. There is one of us in particular-- let's call them the leader-- whose job it is to kill the role that is specifically searching for us. If they get away with it, then they can choose to end the game, keep it going, or leave the game themselves.
While I am, of course, not fond of that method of ending the game, our leader may have another option entirely.
[props a hand on her hip]
This news came directly from the Sheriff's mouth yesterday.
[It's clear that this is all very brand new to him and yet his eyes light up with something...that looks...weirdly like hope. It's the first sign of something positive for days and he laughs softly, like he can't believe this is real.]
I think...I might know your leader. [Oh gods what the fuck.] Came to me a few weeks ago because he thought I might be one of you, or that I might know of the others. And while that's flattering, that's unfortunately not the case. I was just as clueless as most of this town until Natalie told me about the roles at all.
He said..."I have to find someone. If I find them, the game will be over." The Sheriff wouldn't tell him who or what they were, but he had to find them. And kill them.
[the hope that lights up in his eyes is much, much preferable to the expression he wore when Annabeth was killed. it energizes her, causes her to unconscious square her shoulders and lift her chin in a stance that says we can do this]
[she also lifts a hand to her mouth and laughs]
The Sheriff did just say yesterday that our leader has. . . ah. "Got their knickers in a twist" trying to find us. It's a strange expression, but I think I understand its meaning. [ha] So yes, that sounds exactly right.
[her hand drops to her side as the laughter fades, but the smile remains]
I do know what role our leader is looking for. Unfortunately, I don't know the person who occupies it. But that's why I'd like to meet them.
[This is almost too good to be true. He remembers past conversations, feelings of knowing that it's possible to save everyone if they really can figure this out. The game itself is completely unfair, of course, but somehow knowing where Milla stands helps him a lot.
It's something to hold on to.]
Considering who it is? I can see why. [There's a more genuine smile.] The role I think is important. The leader doesn't even know that part. [And his smile fades.] I...would be willing to bring you to him, but I'd like to stay if that's okay. It's important to me to keep them safe, too, even if I'm not a Bounty.
Considering...you'll see why when you meet him, Milla. [He looks worried suddenly.] I'm kind of mad at the Sheriff for it, but obviously I can't tell your leader that. So we'll just have to do what we can. And...it kind of worked, right? I wasn't expecting to find you at all.
[but that's more of a rhetorical question than anything, and she gives her head a shake]
Either way, I'm glad Natalie gave you my name as someone who can be trusted. Otherwise, it may have been several other weeks before the bounty lead and myself found each other. I'm grateful for your assistance.
Maybe. Either him or his employers. They screwed up pretty big with this. [Rhetorical though it may be, he answers. It's bothered him for some time now. But he ducks his head, grinning a little wider.]
I told the leader I would help as I could. And Natalie suggested you and Jason when we were first planning this. Since she's one of the only people here who knows what I am and she hasn't run away screaming yet, I gotta trust her judgment a little. Besides, you've been nothing but helpful during the trials. It felt like the right decision.
[well now she's almost afraid of who the Bounty Leader is, but. . . that can wait for later]
Helpful. . . [that means a lot, because the sting of her fuck up this past Saturday which resulted in Tarvek getting convicted is still fresh. she gives her head a small shake]
There was something else I noticed during that meeting. Noctis. [and they're launching straight back into business] He seemed to know exactly how the Bounty and the Bounty Leader roles worked. I couldn't tell if he got the information from a third party or directly from the Sheriff, though.
You think maybe Noctis is a Bounty, too? [He sort of wondered the same, idly, now that the conversation's open.] ...I didn't even think about it, but you're right. I know I didn't tell him, and I don't think the Bounty leader did since he's been kind of drowning by himself from what I can tell. So how would Noctis know?
[Who the fuck else has Noctis been speaking to?] I almost wish I'd thought to ask, but there was so much going on. But wouldn't the third party have to be another Bounty, too?
The thought crossed my mind. But he may also be the role the Bounty is supposed to kill. Or perhaps he knows a Bounty, yes.
[it's difficult to say at this point, but Noctis has made his way onto her radar. she's going to keep an eye on him]
There isn't anything I want to do about that now, but perhaps our leader could pursue it. The Sheriff said the leader can ask one question about the identities of the other Bounties each week, after all.
I can't believe none of you know who the other Bounties are. [That's pretty annoying honestly.] ...Noctis is one of my closest friends here. I'll do my best to keep an eye on him, too.
I think that explains why your leader came to me. He was guessing and taking a shot in the dark when he asked me if I'd ever spoken to the Sheriff or knew anyone who had. This was about a week and a half ago? Maybe two weeks by now. What exactly has the Sheriff told you guys?
Finding each other is part of the game. It forces us to get out and talk to people. To take "leaps of faith" when it comes to trusting others. That must be what counts for "entertainment."
[she almost spits the word out, but anyway. internally, she's grateful Percy has offered to keep an eye on Noctis. she's already resolved to do the same]
Do you wish to know what the Sheriff has told me regarding my role, or the town as a whole?
['cause she's been asking him a lot of questions and he has told her a lot of stuff by now]
Guess that explains why he told us not to shoot each other right away. [It's a grumbled response, more annoyed now than ever. It's a dangerous stupid game.] Games of risk and chance are always more entertaining. The problem is that you have a lot more to lose if you trust the wrong person, too.
[He doesn't say anything for a moment, though he fixes her with a curious look that's too hard to hide.]
Milla, I think I'd like to know whatever you think is okay for me to know. You already know I'm not a Bounty. [That is to say she really doesn't have a reason to tell him anything more than she has.] I wouldn't mind learning about both, but I think I'd understand if you said no, too.
[it is a dangerous game, but for some reason Percy's response just makes Milla chuckle wryly. he's right; games of risk and chance are always more entertaining. Milla doesn't shy away from risk, but she hates having to take it at the command of some unknown group of people]
I believe I've told you everything there is to know about my role. [everything she knows about it, at any rate] But I can also tell you why I'm completely certain that the Sheriff wants us to snoop around the town as much as possible.
It's because he told me snooping was part of the point of this charade.
We're supposed to be breaking into these places and poking around where we shouldn't? [That sure does sound a little bit dangerous, shit.] Why? Some other reason outside of risk?
He only mentioned that this town is full of secrets. He said if we didn't brown nose them-- [she means "stick their noses into them," god Milla and her failed idioms] -- then what was the point?
[...] I don't think Hal knows what that means, but I get the point. [Yeah he's just sort of assuming Hal screwed up and not Milla, whoops.]
Pretty sure the point is to maybe not get ourselves totally destroyed, but maybe that's just me. But there's still a lot of buildings left. How are we supposed to get all of them open when we're starting to lose so many people?
Shinnosuke and Jason opened the post office yesterday. [THAT WAS A DISASTER] Xion and I plan to open the gunsmith later this week.
That will be three buildings. We'll still have nine more to go. It's an impressive task, but if we all split up into groups who then each search a different building. . .
[yeah that's a good way for almost the entire population to get wiped out]
Yeah, I heard. [He's very unhappy about that to be honest!!! And he's even unhappier because...]
Wait, what? [UH.] Milla, take somebody else. Why Xion? [THIS SMALL BEAN?] Or send somebody besides you two? Have you not noticed what kind of stuff happens when we break into these buildings?
[...like, he sounds panicked but at the same time he's a little interested because those buildings are, in fact, tempting.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
...you think that'll work? [Considering who it is, he has some concerns, but it can't hurt.] Never mentioned there were multiple people but I also don't know if I got the whole story.
no subject
[which, briefly, makes her wonder if her hunch was wrong, or if the other person is just being coy and avoidant. but she's already come this far, hasn't she? Percy's the only person to whom she has dared give this much information]
If I'm right, it should work. [she sounds certain of it] But if I'm wrong, it might just confuse them and expose myself to unnecessary danger.
. . . but unless there are two people who can kill to end the game-- which I don't think there are, according to the answers I've been given-- then I should be right.
no subject
The only roles that really work together are the Madame and the Bartender. [He won't explain how he knows yet.] Are you one of those?
[He wants that answer, first, before he'll explain the rest. He kicks a stray pebble out of his path.] I won't even mention this to our group from Sunday, by the way. There's no need to unnecessarily freak everybody out.
no subject
[she answers without hesitation, and she already can venture a guess as to how he knows]
Remember: there were two Coal Miners. There is one other role, other than the Bandits, that I know for certain is filled by multiple people.
[as for the second part, she lets out a breath as her eyes slip shut]
. . . I was afraid you might think I didn't bring it up with them because I didn't trust them. That's hardly it. So. . . thank you for the discretion.
no subject
And the Bandits don't count in the roles. The Sheriff told me there's eleven people. Two Coal Miners, The Deputy, The Doctor, The Madame and the Bartender which work together...which leaves five extra people, which is what you are and what this other person is. A Bounty.
[He's doing a lot of guesswork thanks to a bunch of conversations and information, but it feels as vague as ever.]
I get it. We trust people here a lot but this game is still really, really dangerous. And I think I completely misunderstood what they were trying to tell me. [He now feels like a moron, but what else is new.] The other one I spoke to. I think he's a Bounty, too. Prior to me telling him, he only knew about Bandits and Bounties and obviously he's not a Bandit. That has to be it, right? The other five people are the Bounties.
no subject
[she feels like she chose well, trusting him. and as such, she drops the vague hints and opts for honesty]
That's correct. The other five people are the Bounties. Four of them now; one of ours was killed by a Coal Miner.
Our job is to keep our heads down and find each other. There is one of us in particular-- let's call them the leader-- whose job it is to kill the role that is specifically searching for us. If they get away with it, then they can choose to end the game, keep it going, or leave the game themselves.
While I am, of course, not fond of that method of ending the game, our leader may have another option entirely.
[props a hand on her hip]
This news came directly from the Sheriff's mouth yesterday.
no subject
I think...I might know your leader. [Oh gods what the fuck.] Came to me a few weeks ago because he thought I might be one of you, or that I might know of the others. And while that's flattering, that's unfortunately not the case. I was just as clueless as most of this town until Natalie told me about the roles at all.
He said..."I have to find someone. If I find them, the game will be over." The Sheriff wouldn't tell him who or what they were, but he had to find them. And kill them.
Sound about right for who your leader could be?
no subject
[she also lifts a hand to her mouth and laughs]
The Sheriff did just say yesterday that our leader has. . . ah. "Got their knickers in a twist" trying to find us. It's a strange expression, but I think I understand its meaning. [ha] So yes, that sounds exactly right.
[her hand drops to her side as the laughter fades, but the smile remains]
I do know what role our leader is looking for. Unfortunately, I don't know the person who occupies it. But that's why I'd like to meet them.
no subject
It's something to hold on to.]
Considering who it is? I can see why. [There's a more genuine smile.] The role I think is important. The leader doesn't even know that part. [And his smile fades.] I...would be willing to bring you to him, but I'd like to stay if that's okay. It's important to me to keep them safe, too, even if I'm not a Bounty.
no subject
Of course. I think, at this point, it's important we take any help we can get in keeping him safe.
no subject
no subject
Should I be angry at him, too?
[but that's more of a rhetorical question than anything, and she gives her head a shake]
Either way, I'm glad Natalie gave you my name as someone who can be trusted. Otherwise, it may have been several other weeks before the bounty lead and myself found each other. I'm grateful for your assistance.
no subject
I told the leader I would help as I could. And Natalie suggested you and Jason when we were first planning this. Since she's one of the only people here who knows what I am and she hasn't run away screaming yet, I gotta trust her judgment a little. Besides, you've been nothing but helpful during the trials. It felt like the right decision.
no subject
Helpful. . . [that means a lot, because the sting of her fuck up this past Saturday which resulted in Tarvek getting convicted is still fresh. she gives her head a small shake]
There was something else I noticed during that meeting. Noctis. [and they're launching straight back into business] He seemed to know exactly how the Bounty and the Bounty Leader roles worked. I couldn't tell if he got the information from a third party or directly from the Sheriff, though.
no subject
You think maybe Noctis is a Bounty, too? [He sort of wondered the same, idly, now that the conversation's open.] ...I didn't even think about it, but you're right. I know I didn't tell him, and I don't think the Bounty leader did since he's been kind of drowning by himself from what I can tell. So how would Noctis know?
[Who the fuck else has Noctis been speaking to?] I almost wish I'd thought to ask, but there was so much going on. But wouldn't the third party have to be another Bounty, too?
no subject
[it's difficult to say at this point, but Noctis has made his way onto her radar. she's going to keep an eye on him]
There isn't anything I want to do about that now, but perhaps our leader could pursue it. The Sheriff said the leader can ask one question about the identities of the other Bounties each week, after all.
no subject
I think that explains why your leader came to me. He was guessing and taking a shot in the dark when he asked me if I'd ever spoken to the Sheriff or knew anyone who had. This was about a week and a half ago? Maybe two weeks by now. What exactly has the Sheriff told you guys?
no subject
Finding each other is part of the game. It forces us to get out and talk to people. To take "leaps of faith" when it comes to trusting others. That must be what counts for "entertainment."
[she almost spits the word out, but anyway. internally, she's grateful Percy has offered to keep an eye on Noctis. she's already resolved to do the same]
Do you wish to know what the Sheriff has told me regarding my role, or the town as a whole?
['cause she's been asking him a lot of questions and he has told her a lot of stuff by now]
no subject
[He doesn't say anything for a moment, though he fixes her with a curious look that's too hard to hide.]
Milla, I think I'd like to know whatever you think is okay for me to know. You already know I'm not a Bounty. [That is to say she really doesn't have a reason to tell him anything more than she has.] I wouldn't mind learning about both, but I think I'd understand if you said no, too.
no subject
I believe I've told you everything there is to know about my role. [everything she knows about it, at any rate] But I can also tell you why I'm completely certain that the Sheriff wants us to snoop around the town as much as possible.
It's because he told me snooping was part of the point of this charade.
no subject
no subject
He didn't say.
He only mentioned that this town is full of secrets. He said if we didn't brown nose them-- [she means "stick their noses into them," god Milla and her failed idioms] -- then what was the point?
no subject
Pretty sure the point is to maybe not get ourselves totally destroyed, but maybe that's just me. But there's still a lot of buildings left. How are we supposed to get all of them open when we're starting to lose so many people?
no subject
Shinnosuke and Jason opened the post office yesterday. [THAT WAS A DISASTER] Xion and I plan to open the gunsmith later this week.
That will be three buildings. We'll still have nine more to go. It's an impressive task, but if we all split up into groups who then each search a different building. . .
[yeah that's a good way for almost the entire population to get wiped out]
no subject
Wait, what? [UH.] Milla, take somebody else. Why Xion? [THIS SMALL BEAN?] Or send somebody besides you two? Have you not noticed what kind of stuff happens when we break into these buildings?
[...like, he sounds panicked but at the same time he's a little interested because those buildings are, in fact, tempting.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)