[oh my god. she tries not to laugh, because laughing too hard can hurt her ribs. also: it's dark humor, she shouldn't laugh at someone losing a leg!]
We won't know until we try it, at any rate. [and, slightly frustrated] But I'm unable to explore any other buildings myself this week. Perhaps the next, too. I have to leave the task to those much more capable than I.
[he knows that won't really stop her, but noct doesn't want to see milla getting herself killed. he doesn't want to see anyone die, but he knows that she really can't afford to.
the whole lord of spirits thing and all.]
Wonder who's gonna be the one to take the plunge this week, though.
[it. . . won't stop her, but she made her intention clear from the very beginning. she knows she can't afford to die, and even in taking risks she'll fight tooth and nail to stay alive]
And whoever it is, for Dr. Lecter's sake I hope their injuries are superficial at best.
[Noctis is too kind!! she is definitely moving much more slowly than usual, but the walk is still good for her. she can't stay in bed forever]
Do you remember the meeting we had last week? With Percy, Natalie, Harry and Jason? And the discussion we had about the role which could end this game?
[the pace is fine, he's not really in the mood to walk too fast.
though when she speaks up, he quirks a brow. honestly—he's not surprised entirely that this is coming up. more than once, he's been approached about things from that conversation, so the only thing really left to wonder is what she wants to know.]
Yeah—my memory's not shot to hell even if my nerves might be, you know. [it's just a response to lighten things a little, even though he's obviously taking it seriously enough.]
Kind of a tough spot to ask where I learned it and say I don't have to name names, you know.
[it's... definitely something he doesn't feel the best about talking about—and though it makes him uncomfortable, he doesn't completely hold back either.]
Might make some trouble if I said where I heard it from first. [but!] I think it was getting around anyway. Someone else mentioned it to me, and they'd heard it from someone else, too.
[for whatever that may be worth, but even noctis knows it's not worth very much at all.]
[she knows she's putting him in a tough spot. that's why she's trying to allow him to remain as vague as possible]
As I thought. It seems we're all playing a complicated gossip game. Word spreads fast, but no one is willing to name any names or help guide the people who need to be together to each other.
. . . a fact I understand, of course, considering how careful we all have to be about handing out our trust.
[still. . . perhaps she'll have to approach Noctis like she did Percy]
Trust... and not wanting anyone to get killed who doesn't deserve it.
[that's more his problem than anything else. he doesn't want to incriminate other people, nor does he wants to incriminate himself.
but he also knows that he doesn't want to break trust with people he ideally wants to be on the same side as—people he thinks are good. noct's not good at this sort of thing, tough.]
Figured there was a reason—questions like that don't come without 'em. [what that question is, though.
[that's another thing Milla understands. she, also, doesn't want to get anyone killed who doesn't deserve it. she had said it before and she'd say it a million times, to anyone who would listen. . . this was a game in which trust was a commodity both hard to give away and to receive from others]
[she doesn't answer his question directly. her next comment almost makes it seem like she's changing the subject. . . a little bit]
I suppose when you think about it, this role you heard about. . . it's their job to strike out only when absolutely necessary. Isn't it?
[there's something purposeful about her choices of words, and she's watching Noctis to see how he reacts]
[it's not that much of a subject change—and noctis knows that. even if milla tries to frame it that way that makes it seem like that...
her very purposeful word choice is one that he's aware of.]
...Sounds like you know more than you're letting on, too. [which.
is an indirect confirmation of what she's asking, but noct isn't really much of a liar, and he knows he's being put on the spot to confirm or deny just how much information he knows by saying that.]
[there's a small sort of smile twitching at the corners of her lips and a bit of a twinkle in her eyes. even so, she isn't looking directly at him, choosing to focus her attention on the road instead]
Perhaps.
[. . .]
I think there may be a chance, if you've been given a role in this game-- one that requires you to keep your head down and your presence almost unnoticeable-- that you and I are looking for each other.
[SHE SURE IS STRETCHING OVER THAT TREE LIMB NOW--]
there's a pause, a moment of quiet as they walk—and an exhalation of breath that comes with hearing that instead of the myriad other things that could have been.
though he doesn't seem to be totally off his guard just yet—just in case of anything worse that could come of this, but he does believe in milla and trust in her enough to think that she wouldn't deceive him.
if she really means what she says.]
It... might just be like what you're saying. [but he still doesn't say the role; he can't turn off that feeling of having to remain on edge and small truths seem to be coming to the surface.]
[it's almost appropriate, for Milla to be the risk taker, the one who sticks her neck out like this. but every reaction from Noctis in this conversation so far has her believing that her suspicions were correct. leaps of faith, someone had told her, way back at the end of the horror week that was week three. and so, she leaps]
"In most old Westerns, there is a criminal hiding out and laying low, biding their time because the bounty set on them is just too high to risk their freedom for. These are the criminals whose legends fade over campfire stories as they settle into a quiet life, shedding any connection to their histories in the process."
[she's repeating these words from memory, like she's reading from a book]
"The Sheriff has picked five people to fill this role during the course of the game, five different "criminals" whose job it is to keep their head downs and only strike out when absolutely necessary.
At the start of the game, these five people will not know who each other are but will know this: there is one leader. The leader is needed to win the game."
[well, there it is. clear as day—and noctis definitely can't deny in the least that milla is bold.
admirably bold.
there are so few situations where he could see himself reciting the bounty rulebook so openly to draw someone else out.]
I wish it didn't. [which is certainly to say that he wishes he didn't know that rulebook so well. he's kept his head low, listening and trying to discern who knew what they did from direct contact with the sheriff and who wasn't—but it's not something he's good at.
keeping his head down is just about the only part of this that he's got down.]
[DON'T HALF-ASS TWO THINGS, WHOLE-ASS ONE, etc etc. Milla never did anything halfway]
[nevertheless, she feels an intense sense of relief. this could have gone the complete opposite way, so she's glad her judgment and her trust paid off]
I am Milla Maxwell, and I am a Bounty in this game, alhough I'm not the leader. I've been spending the past few weeks trying to figure out who else might have been given this role.
[hearing her say that definitively is a sort of strange relief. there's a tension that drains from his shoulders. it's almost like a balloon being deflated.]
Well, I guess—
[it's time for him to own up to his role as earnestly as she did.]
I'm... Noctis Lucis Caelum, and I'm... also a Bounty. [much as he hates to admit it, both in that he has to be one at all, and in... actually saying it out loud.]
Not our dear leader either, though. Just a guy who definitely didn't sign up for this job.
[aaaw, Noct. she can read the frustration and hesitancy in both his face and his words, and she gives him a sympathetic look. she understands-- this role isn't an easy one]
I met our leader last week, actually. That's why it took me so long to approach you after Percy's meeting, although I suspected you were a part of this ever since then. Naturally, I'd like to take you to meet him, too. But first--
[she reaches out to take one of Noctis's hands in both of hers. she's so touchy feely!1]
We've been put in a fortunate position. One with enough leverage to end this game before most of its participants are killed. One where, if we can achieve victory, the Bounty Leader can use the reward to make sure everyone leaves this town alive.
For all the drawbacks this role may have-- [like the duty to dispose of non-cooperative Bandits, which Milla hasn't been called on to do just yet and boy is she grateful] -- that, at least, is reason to hope. Isn't it?
[ah, so she knows who the leader is—honestly, it somehow doesn't surprise him. maybe it's because milla is so bold and good at chasing the information she wants (or needs) that it makes sense she'd be able to suss out that much.
—though he doesn't really get very much of a chance to respond and ask about the leader. before he can, she's taking one of his hands in his and that...
sure is a lot for a pretty shy kid like noctis. try as he might to play off being cool and kind of aloof, he's really not. he's just kind of awkward in situations like that, so he dips his head a little.]
Yeah. I, uh...
[okay, so he's fumbling on his words a bit, too. he's trying, though—at least now that reluctance just comes from his personality rather than being cagey and avoiding the topic.] It is. That's what I want too, anyway.
I'm... not really interested in doing what he wants, anyway. Getting everyone out of here alive, that's what I want too.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[funny too, because he was the recipient of a letter as well. one that was also heavily censored.]
I wonder if there's really anything else that'll come from the other building like that. It's... pretty weird.
no subject
[she doesn't know, it's just a thought]
I'm not really sure about the cinema and the restaurant, though. Or the unmarked buildings.
no subject
[that... doesn't seem like a worthwhile endeavor.]
The other stuff seemed practical... not really sure if a restaurant or a cinema's gonna give us much.
no subject
We won't know until we try it, at any rate. [and, slightly frustrated] But I'm unable to explore any other buildings myself this week. Perhaps the next, too. I have to leave the task to those much more capable than I.
no subject
[he knows that won't really stop her, but noct doesn't want to see milla getting herself killed. he doesn't want to see anyone die, but he knows that she really can't afford to.
the whole lord of spirits thing and all.]
Wonder who's gonna be the one to take the plunge this week, though.
no subject
[it. . . won't stop her, but she made her intention clear from the very beginning. she knows she can't afford to die, and even in taking risks she'll fight tooth and nail to stay alive]
And whoever it is, for Dr. Lecter's sake I hope their injuries are superficial at best.
no subject
but he can't really argue that any further anyway, so he lets it drop.]
Yeah, me too. I think we've had enough of the serious, life-threatening injury stuff already.
no subject
[even she's able to admit to that, and her hand ghosts over her bruised ribs, the skin black and blue underneath her fingertips]
At any rate-- I was looking for you because I had some questions to ask. Would you mind taking a walk towards the homestead?
[so they can have some peace and quiet]
no subject
[he's completely okay with it, and he'll definitely keep a bit of a slower, lazier pace so milla doesn't end up exerting herself too much here.]
What kind of questions, anyway?
no subject
Do you remember the meeting we had last week? With Percy, Natalie, Harry and Jason? And the discussion we had about the role which could end this game?
no subject
though when she speaks up, he quirks a brow. honestly—he's not surprised entirely that this is coming up. more than once, he's been approached about things from that conversation, so the only thing really left to wonder is what she wants to know.]
Yeah—my memory's not shot to hell even if my nerves might be, you know. [it's just a response to lighten things a little, even though he's obviously taking it seriously enough.]
no subject
Please understand that I'm not asking you to name any names or betray any bonds of trust you might have with someone else. But. . .
Where did you learn the information you gave to the rest of us? It seemed as though you had already heard it from someone else before the meeting.
no subject
[it's... definitely something he doesn't feel the best about talking about—and though it makes him uncomfortable, he doesn't completely hold back either.]
Might make some trouble if I said where I heard it from first. [but!] I think it was getting around anyway. Someone else mentioned it to me, and they'd heard it from someone else, too.
[for whatever that may be worth, but even noctis knows it's not worth very much at all.]
no subject
As I thought. It seems we're all playing a complicated gossip game. Word spreads fast, but no one is willing to name any names or help guide the people who need to be together to each other.
. . . a fact I understand, of course, considering how careful we all have to be about handing out our trust.
[still. . . perhaps she'll have to approach Noctis like she did Percy]
There is a. . . reason, I'm asking.
no subject
[that's more his problem than anything else. he doesn't want to incriminate other people, nor does he wants to incriminate himself.
but he also knows that he doesn't want to break trust with people he ideally wants to be on the same side as—people he thinks are good. noct's not good at this sort of thing, tough.]
Figured there was a reason—questions like that don't come without 'em. [what that question is, though.
well, that's the issue here, right?]
no subject
[she doesn't answer his question directly. her next comment almost makes it seem like she's changing the subject. . . a little bit]
I suppose when you think about it, this role you heard about. . . it's their job to strike out only when absolutely necessary. Isn't it?
[there's something purposeful about her choices of words, and she's watching Noctis to see how he reacts]
no subject
her very purposeful word choice is one that he's aware of.]
...Sounds like you know more than you're letting on, too. [which.
is an indirect confirmation of what she's asking, but noct isn't really much of a liar, and he knows he's being put on the spot to confirm or deny just how much information he knows by saying that.]
no subject
[there's a small sort of smile twitching at the corners of her lips and a bit of a twinkle in her eyes. even so, she isn't looking directly at him, choosing to focus her attention on the road instead]
Perhaps.
[. . .]
I think there may be a chance, if you've been given a role in this game-- one that requires you to keep your head down and your presence almost unnoticeable-- that you and I are looking for each other.
[SHE SURE IS STRETCHING OVER THAT TREE LIMB NOW--]
no subject
there's a pause, a moment of quiet as they walk—and an exhalation of breath that comes with hearing that instead of the myriad other things that could have been.
though he doesn't seem to be totally off his guard just yet—just in case of anything worse that could come of this, but he does believe in milla and trust in her enough to think that she wouldn't deceive him.
if she really means what she says.]
It... might just be like what you're saying. [but he still doesn't say the role; he can't turn off that feeling of having to remain on edge and small truths seem to be coming to the surface.]
no subject
"In most old Westerns, there is a criminal hiding out and laying low, biding their time because the bounty set on them is just too high to risk their freedom for. These are the criminals whose legends fade over campfire stories as they settle into a quiet life, shedding any connection to their histories in the process."
[she's repeating these words from memory, like she's reading from a book]
"The Sheriff has picked five people to fill this role during the course of the game, five different "criminals" whose job it is to keep their head downs and only strike out when absolutely necessary.
At the start of the game, these five people will not know who each other are but will know this: there is one leader. The leader is needed to win the game."
Does that sound familiar?
no subject
admirably bold.
there are so few situations where he could see himself reciting the bounty rulebook so openly to draw someone else out.]
I wish it didn't. [which is certainly to say that he wishes he didn't know that rulebook so well. he's kept his head low, listening and trying to discern who knew what they did from direct contact with the sheriff and who wasn't—but it's not something he's good at.
keeping his head down is just about the only part of this that he's got down.]
no subject
[nevertheless, she feels an intense sense of relief. this could have gone the complete opposite way, so she's glad her judgment and her trust paid off]
I am Milla Maxwell, and I am a Bounty in this game, alhough I'm not the leader. I've been spending the past few weeks trying to figure out who else might have been given this role.
Percy's meeting has certainly been very helpful.
no subject
Well, I guess—
[it's time for him to own up to his role as earnestly as she did.]
I'm... Noctis Lucis Caelum, and I'm... also a Bounty. [much as he hates to admit it, both in that he has to be one at all, and in... actually saying it out loud.]
Not our dear leader either, though. Just a guy who definitely didn't sign up for this job.
no subject
I met our leader last week, actually. That's why it took me so long to approach you after Percy's meeting, although I suspected you were a part of this ever since then. Naturally, I'd like to take you to meet him, too. But first--
[she reaches out to take one of Noctis's hands in both of hers. she's so touchy feely!1]
We've been put in a fortunate position. One with enough leverage to end this game before most of its participants are killed. One where, if we can achieve victory, the Bounty Leader can use the reward to make sure everyone leaves this town alive.
For all the drawbacks this role may have-- [like the duty to dispose of non-cooperative Bandits, which Milla hasn't been called on to do just yet and boy is she grateful] -- that, at least, is reason to hope. Isn't it?
no subject
—though he doesn't really get very much of a chance to respond and ask about the leader. before he can, she's taking one of his hands in his and that...
sure is a lot for a pretty shy kid like noctis. try as he might to play off being cool and kind of aloof, he's really not. he's just kind of awkward in situations like that, so he dips his head a little.]
Yeah. I, uh...
[okay, so he's fumbling on his words a bit, too. he's trying, though—at least now that reluctance just comes from his personality rather than being cagey and avoiding the topic.] It is. That's what I want too, anyway.
I'm... not really interested in doing what he wants, anyway. Getting everyone out of here alive, that's what I want too.
(no subject)
(no subject)