[on the bright side, Ash isn't a very difficult robot to find! on the down side, he is loitering around outside near the bonfire and sheriff's station like a creeper.]
Are you looking for something particular?
[Milla asks as she approaches, head inclined slightly]
[ oh, it's Milla. He doesn't look as annoyed as he usually does when someone decides to talk to him. Ash shakes his head just slightly as he turns towards her. ]
Opportunities. [ a beat. ] You killed that man today.
Escape. I grow weary of this game. You might be content to participate and do as you're told, but not me. [ who knows what he's really thinking, though... ] Perhaps a little. You're not as soft as I thought.
[she lifts a hand to her chin and frowns, expression pensive]
. . . it's unfortunate that that's how the Sheriff deems this game may come to an end.
[if only because she doesn't want to see anyone else die. but if that's how the game is supposed to end, then. . .]
Though the information Dr. Lecter and you discovered leaves me with a few questions. Can anyone kill those two roles to end the game? If they do, are they deemed the "winner" for the purpose of deciding what happens to those who already died? Is that truly the only two ways for this exercise to come to a close?
[they're all questions she'd like answers to, of course, but she really sounds like she's musing aloud now]
[ as long as he's not dead, he doesn't mind!! gosh.
she might be musing aloud, but they actually are questions he can answer. ]
I'm afraid not. They need to kill one another for the game to end. If I thought I could finish things myself, I would have already begun my attempts. [ how ominous. ] And no, there is no other way.This was a battle between two forces from the beginning - we just didn't know it. Either the Deputies win, or the Bounties. And, to be frank, it doesn't really matter to me who the victor is as long as this nonsense comes to an end.
[she looks a little surprise when he answers her musings, but the surprise is replaced by gratefulness moments later]
I suppose that's true. I had been spending all of this time trying to find a way to escape, and yet--
[she trails off, her frown deepening, before she shakes her head]
How did you come across this information, anyway? [a beat, before she realizes she might be able to answer her own question] Did you discover it when you broke into the Sheriff's living quarters?
[someone here is a bit, uh. computer illiterate!! but she supposes that's not the important part of what he said, and she brushes it off quickly as her mouth twitches into another smile]
I suppose I should have opted to break into the Sheriff's living quarters as well, instead of the gunsmith. [maybe then she wouldn't be, you know. a walking bruise] It is a shame there wasn't anything else to find. . . the solution you and Dr. Lecter cited to end this game quickly seems almost too easy.
[plus, she wants more information on this town, the Sheriff's employers, and the labyrinths underground. these answers continue to elude her, even five weeks into the game, and it's getting a little frustrating]
Not easy enough, considering it took this long to decide what to do about it.
[ he won't comment on her Questionable Life Decision of getting shot with a cannonball. for now. He does turn where he stands, however, to look at her more squarely, expression more serious than usual. ]
Do you understand why I'm telling you this, Milla?
No. It's because I expect you to assist me. I'm of a mind to end this game as soon as possible, one way or another, and I've determined that you're slightly more reliable than the rest of these fools. [ he rests a hand on his hip. ] If you have any idea about who the Deputy or the head of the Bounties might be, you should tell me now.
[folds her arms, and now both eyebrows are raised]
The only roles I knew of were the Bartender and the Madame, as one of them was my roommate. Yuna trusted me with that information, and I held it in confidence until her death.
And unless you were the Deputy or the leader of the Bounties yourself, what good would that information do you anyway?
She didn't, actually. But I imagine if she investigated you and you had come back with a role, she would have told me.
[so that eases her suspicions enough]
If you had the information, I imagine you'd act as a messenger between the roles? Decide which one you'd prefer to win, and then inform them of the other's existence?
[tilts her head]
In that way, you could be the one to decide the outcome of this game.
Not quite. I very much doubt that they would trust me. Instead, I would relay the information to someone else. A face that the humans are more willing to believe in.
[ at least he's savvy enough to know he's not well-liked in the town. ]
I don't care who wins. In fact, I only really need one of their names. That would be enough to finish it all.
Less than half of us remain as active players in this game, but those who have died are not gone. The letters we receive each week are a testament to that.
[if the dead people aren't gone, then they can be retrieved, right??]
I have no reason to believe that either party would use their reward that way at this point in time. But if I knew who they both were, that's how I'd make my choice on whom to assist.
[ fair, but not one he agrees with. The deaths of the people here haven't affected him terribly, and he's not interested in turning back the clock and bringing them to life again. Maybe Nui. ]
It's my belief that the Deputy is the one putting people in the stocks. They're likely an assistant to the Sheriff. We can narrow our selection of potentials from there.
That was my guess as well, simply based on the name and the fact the Sheriff confirmed the stocks were manned by a role. But what kind of person would directly assist the Sheriff like this?
Someone that could be manipulated into believing it was the right thing to do, or someone that could be persuaded into it with rewards. Unfortunately, that describes the vast majority of humanity. They're fickle creatures.
[ it sounds like he's about to throw barnham under the bus again, but, miraculously, he resists the temptation. ]
It isn't me. I can reasonably assume that it's not you or Noctis, either, nor Shinnosuke or Damian, and it's very unlikely to be Percy, considering his... reaction. That leaves Barnham, Jason, Rin, Papika, Lecter, Will, Xion, Natalie, and Okabe as our suspects.
I don't believe it's Xion. [she says simply] She may have connections and know more than what she's letting on, but if she were responsible for the stocks I believe she'd be in a much worse state than she is now.
As for Dr. Lecter and Will-- ah. . . well, Will is a bit suspicious.
[HE DID GOAD A MAN TO MURDER TODAY, AFTER ALL]
So I wouldn't be surprised if he's keeping a lot of secrets up his sleeve as well.
Will claims he knows everyone that's murdered someone. But he doesn't care about this game. On the other hand, Lecter does... and Will probably tells him most everything. So why doesn't he use that information? Because he has his own agenda.
[ he doesn't respond to the bit about Xion - he simply disagrees. Xion has some backbone in her; she could kill and hurt if she had to, he thinks. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 5, sunday, post-execution
Are you looking for something particular?
[Milla asks as she approaches, head inclined slightly]
no subject
Opportunities. [ a beat. ] You killed that man today.
no subject
Opportunities for what?
[another beat, and she nods]
And I did. I was voted executioner, and I merely carried out my duty as such. Does that surprise you?
no subject
no subject
I'm hardly content to participate and do as I'm told. I've been searching for ways to end this game and escape this town since my arrival.
[which is one reason she has cracked ribs now, she guesses!!]
If you're referring to my desire to protect, that doesn't make one "soft." Felix's life isn't the first one I've ever taken.
no subject
[ he sounds decided about this, more than usual. ]
Surely you understand that, as well.
no subject
You're talking about the Deputy and the leader of the Bounties, correct? The roles Dr. Lecter mentioned?
no subject
no subject
. . . it's unfortunate that that's how the Sheriff deems this game may come to an end.
[if only because she doesn't want to see anyone else die. but if that's how the game is supposed to end, then. . .]
Though the information Dr. Lecter and you discovered leaves me with a few questions. Can anyone kill those two roles to end the game? If they do, are they deemed the "winner" for the purpose of deciding what happens to those who already died? Is that truly the only two ways for this exercise to come to a close?
[they're all questions she'd like answers to, of course, but she really sounds like she's musing aloud now]
no subject
she might be musing aloud, but they actually are questions he can answer. ]
I'm afraid not. They need to kill one another for the game to end. If I thought I could finish things myself, I would have already begun my attempts. [ how ominous. ] And no, there is no other way.This was a battle between two forces from the beginning - we just didn't know it. Either the Deputies win, or the Bounties. And, to be frank, it doesn't really matter to me who the victor is as long as this nonsense comes to an end.
no subject
I suppose that's true. I had been spending all of this time trying to find a way to escape, and yet--
[she trails off, her frown deepening, before she shakes her head]
How did you come across this information, anyway? [a beat, before she realizes she might be able to answer her own question] Did you discover it when you broke into the Sheriff's living quarters?
no subject
That's correct. I hacked into the Sheriff's computer. I know all of the roles and how they work. A pity that there was nothing else to find there.
no subject
[someone here is a bit, uh. computer illiterate!! but she supposes that's not the important part of what he said, and she brushes it off quickly as her mouth twitches into another smile]
I suppose I should have opted to break into the Sheriff's living quarters as well, instead of the gunsmith. [maybe then she wouldn't be, you know. a walking bruise] It is a shame there wasn't anything else to find. . . the solution you and Dr. Lecter cited to end this game quickly seems almost too easy.
[plus, she wants more information on this town, the Sheriff's employers, and the labyrinths underground. these answers continue to elude her, even five weeks into the game, and it's getting a little frustrating]
no subject
[ he won't comment on her Questionable Life Decision of getting shot with a cannonball. for now. He does turn where he stands, however, to look at her more squarely, expression more serious than usual. ]
Do you understand why I'm telling you this, Milla?
no subject
[she lifts her head a bit curiously, but doesn't avert her gaze. although she does quirk an eyebrow]
I suppose it isn't just because you're trying to be helpful.
[and she's no mind reader, unfortunately]
no subject
No. It's because I expect you to assist me. I'm of a mind to end this game as soon as possible, one way or another, and I've determined that you're slightly more reliable than the rest of these fools. [ he rests a hand on his hip. ] If you have any idea about who the Deputy or the head of the Bounties might be, you should tell me now.
no subject
The only roles I knew of were the Bartender and the Madame, as one of them was my roommate. Yuna trusted me with that information, and I held it in confidence until her death.
And unless you were the Deputy or the leader of the Bounties yourself, what good would that information do you anyway?
no subject
[ he knows he was investigated by them already... not surprising. ]
There are other things that can be done with that information. Use your imagination a little.
no subject
[so that eases her suspicions enough]
If you had the information, I imagine you'd act as a messenger between the roles? Decide which one you'd prefer to win, and then inform them of the other's existence?
[tilts her head]
In that way, you could be the one to decide the outcome of this game.
no subject
[ at least he's savvy enough to know he's not well-liked in the town. ]
I don't care who wins. In fact, I only really need one of their names. That would be enough to finish it all.
no subject
I would care who won.
[she admits earnestly]
If one of them didn't intend to use their winner's reward to bring back those who died, and one did, then I'd prefer the former defeat the latter.
I've made it my duty to ensure that everyone makes it home alive, after all.
no subject
[ he can't stop being rude?! ]
In any case, what makes you believe that either would use their reward for something like that?
no subject
[if the dead people aren't gone, then they can be retrieved, right??]
I have no reason to believe that either party would use their reward that way at this point in time. But if I knew who they both were, that's how I'd make my choice on whom to assist.
no subject
[ fair, but not one he agrees with. The deaths of the people here haven't affected him terribly, and he's not interested in turning back the clock and bringing them to life again. Maybe Nui. ]
It's my belief that the Deputy is the one putting people in the stocks. They're likely an assistant to the Sheriff. We can narrow our selection of potentials from there.
no subject
That was my guess as well, simply based on the name and the fact the Sheriff confirmed the stocks were manned by a role. But what kind of person would directly assist the Sheriff like this?
no subject
[ it sounds like he's about to throw barnham under the bus again, but, miraculously, he resists the temptation. ]
It isn't me. I can reasonably assume that it's not you or Noctis, either, nor Shinnosuke or Damian, and it's very unlikely to be Percy, considering his... reaction. That leaves Barnham, Jason, Rin, Papika, Lecter, Will, Xion, Natalie, and Okabe as our suspects.
no subject
And what are your thoughts on that list of suspects?
no subject
My thoughts? Xion, Will and Lecter are the most suspicious. Those are my thoughts.
no subject
Why those three in particular? Xion especially feels out of place, considering her nature.
no subject
[ that's all he says, though, before turning a skeptical eye on her. ]
And what about your thoughts? I think I've said quite enough.
no subject
I don't believe it's Xion. [she says simply] She may have connections and know more than what she's letting on, but if she were responsible for the stocks I believe she'd be in a much worse state than she is now.
As for Dr. Lecter and Will-- ah. . . well, Will is a bit suspicious.
[HE DID GOAD A MAN TO MURDER TODAY, AFTER ALL]
So I wouldn't be surprised if he's keeping a lot of secrets up his sleeve as well.
no subject
Will claims he knows everyone that's murdered someone. But he doesn't care about this game. On the other hand, Lecter does... and Will probably tells him most everything. So why doesn't he use that information? Because he has his own agenda.
[ he doesn't respond to the bit about Xion - he simply disagrees. Xion has some backbone in her; she could kill and hurt if she had to, he thinks. ]
no subject
His own agenda. . .
[she frowns a bit]
But what sort of agenda could that be?
no subject
[ he exhales through his nose, closing his eyes for a moment. ]
It's only speculation. But I'd rather act on speculation than wait for some fool to kill me for a pitiful reward.
no subject
Quite frankly, I understand that desire well enough. Especially seeing as this game has gone on longer than it should have.