spinatalltale | [WEEK 4, FRIDAY POST-INVESTIGATION: Akira]

[WEEK 4, FRIDAY POST-INVESTIGATION: Akira]

[it's actually somewhat later in the day when she seeks him out. early afternoon or so, when things from the morning have calmed down somewhat]

[wherever she finds him, she reaches out to knock her knuckles against the back of his head to get his attention]

Hey, Trickster. Mind giving me five minutes of your time? I promise I'll pay it back in kind.

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[he shakes his head.]

Battler was the first I heard of that, and really... the last. [does anyone even know about it or how they can exploit it?]

[. . .]

[a very conflicted look suddenly crosses her expression.]

-- well, anyway! It's something to keep in mind, hmmm?

[and it's gone in an instant]

[...]

What was that about?

[yeah, he caught that look, so what the fuck magilou?]

[guh]

. . . haven't you ever found yourself in a situation where you'd like to say more, but you can't?

[. . .]

Sigh! And usually I'm way more loose-lipped with information than this.

[she says in a purposefully nonchalant way]

...

[yeah, that's not helping.]

Is that all, then?

[his tone is definitely a little chillier at that. sorry, magilou, but he's so exhausted with secret keeping and her holding things back from him right now isn't a great feeling?]

[oh--]

[. . . ah. . .]

[. . . no. isn't this where it was always going to lead? everything else be damned. in the end, she is still herself. someone distant, someone untrustworthy, someone very much undeserving of the kindness he's shown her]

[. . .]

[she rocks back on one foot. her tone is quiet, her words careful. every inch of her demeanor is closed off]

Hm. . . you really are my critical weakness. . .

[. . .]

It doesn't have anything to do with tomorrow's trial. Just the game as a whole. A possible path to a desirable ending.

Can you-- can you wait? Until after.

[she wants to give him more. but she isn't sure she can break the promises she's made]

[it's a moment where they're both definitely much more closed off—it's a huge step back from last night.

and it stings a little, even if akira always knew this was a likely outcome.]

It's not like I can force the information from you.

[he says it dryly, uncharacteristically cold for him. it's been a pretty awful week for him, and the one thing that had looked like a bright spot clouding over is just—well, it's not something he's up for.

truthfully, he could force it from her, but that's not akira. that's not who he is, even at the worst of times. if he does something like that, he might break.]

But I can't help if I don't know how.

[it's really as simple as that.

magilou can take what he says and how he says it however she wants, because obviously... he's not forcing her even if his ego is taking a critical blow for it.]

[it's a very stark difference, and she doesn't-- she doesn't like it at all]

[she wasn't lying when she called him her critical weakness, either. she steels herself, lifting her gaze to meet his]

My source is in contact with a Siren. [oh. . .] The plan to confront the volcano spirit directly is theirs. I don't know how viable of a plan it is, but it's there.

Even so. . . it's the Siren's secondary plan.

The first is to locate the Wickie. To their understanding, the Wickie knows every possible way to end this game-- for better or worse. The Siren believes there's a chance the final Wickie doesn't have our best interests at heart.

[for a long while, akira is quiet. he's definitely processing what he's hearing. his shoulders slump after a moment, though.

relief?

there's honest relief, because she tells him. and that could seem underhanded, if it wasn't for the fact that this all has to do with personal feelings and not so much how the information may or may not affect them. he wants to help. he wants to end this game and save everyone both living and dead.

it feels like a duty at this point, to atone for how badly he's fucked up in so many ways.]

I don't know about appealing to the volcano spirit if they don't have leverage.

[...] But I think you might be right about the Wickie role.

[and her brows shoot up immediately, not bothering to mask her surprise]

You do? Why--?

Because it's a game.

[...]

Good vs. Evil, clashes of morality. They're what keeps a game, or any plot interesting. If the people in the roles exist to fulfill that, with the Sirens being "good," and the Wickies being "evil," it makes sense.

It doesn't mean the person in the Wickie's role is inherently bad, but if they have to play by the rules the Chiefs gave them, it would make for more "entertainment" to pit them against each other with everyone else acting as the pawn and collateral damage.

[an exhale]

Mmm.

It'd be the most "entertaining," wouldn't it? And while you're right that the final Wickie might not necessarily be inherently bad, the fact that they may know every way to end this game-- for better or worse-- and they haven't told anyone about it is. . . telling.

It is. But we also don't know what's at stake for them—

[a breath, and:]

Because I don't doubt there are some kind of bullshit conditions in place for the roles so they comply.

[she tucks her hands behind her back. links them together, before she hops forward a bit, eyes flicking towards the ground]

We know how the Sirens are forced to comply.

[kill at least one person a week or the volcano erupts]

. . . I can't imagine what the Wickie's are.

I can't either, but... it's probably something big. I'm sure every role is like that, probably depending on the role or who is in it.

[it just sounds like something they'd do, doesn't it?]

[it sure does. and it gets her thinking]

What roles do we even know about now? The Sirens, the Wickies, the item role, the role that can swap partnerships. . .

That's-- [she does the math in her head. five sirens. two wickies. one item role. one partnership role]</small Nine roles accounted for. What are the final two?

Nobody's said anything about what's left.

[that he knows of, at least.]

I guess that means they're still... among us too. [since the chiefs haven't said anything about any other roles.]

[hey thanks for fucking up on me in that tag, html]

Yeah. But I don't have any leads on them.

[another step forward]

[. . .]

Hey. Are you still scared?

[it's.. kind of a strange question at a time like this. but he draws in a breath and nods.]

Most people would be.

[not all. but most. in his position.]

[it's sort of a bookend. they're getting back into "shooting in the dark" territory, now that she's told him all the information she has. except for names, which. . . thank god he isn't asking for those]

[another step forward, and she's in his personal space now, arms extended and hands reaching up to cup his cheeks in both of her palms]

[. . .]

[she says nothing]

....What....

[??????????? he doesn't mind this but?????]

[look just. let her. do a thing!! she's trying to do a thing!!]

[she stands up on her tip toes]

[leans forward]

[and]

[. . . presses her forehead against his]

[for all of five seconds before he pulls back again]

Nothing.

That's all I have-- for now. It's the most information I've gotten from someone other than the Chiefs in four weeks.

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