[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.
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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.]
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[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.
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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.
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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?
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—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.
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That's how I feel as well. And I can assure you, that's how our leader feels.
I believe if we work together, we can achieve whatever it is we wish to achieve.
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the assurance is probably needed more than he's even realized.]
Right. I'm... not planning on working against you guys or anything. I want to end this. The right way.
[at least he can say that much with confidence.]