[WEEK 4, FRIDAY POST-INVESTIGATION: Akira]

[spinatalltale]

[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.

Comments

[jokered]

[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.

[spinatalltale]

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

You do? Why--?

[jokered]

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.

[spinatalltale]

[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.

[jokered]

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.

[spinatalltale]

[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.

[jokered]

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?]

[spinatalltale]

[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?

[jokered]

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.]

[spinatalltale]

[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?

[jokered]

[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.]

[spinatalltale]

[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]

[jokered]

....What....

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

[spinatalltale]

[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.

[jokered]

[....cute.

he won't fuss, though.]

Well. Thanks for telling me what you do know. Maybe it'll bring us another step closer to figuring it out.

[spinatalltale]

Hey, who knows at this point? We're all running around so blind that we really need some seeing-eye dogs. You know?

[jokered]

Maybe you should see what the man with the dog can do for us.

[spinatalltale]

Oh, I didn't tell you? His dog turned into a werewolf.

He is now "man with werewolf."

[jokered]

Dangerous. You better be careful in case there's a full moon tonight.

[spinatalltale]

Please! I'm a witch! I never go anywhere without my wolfsbane.

[jokered]

Of course you don't. Now I know you'll be safe.

[spinatalltale]

I've actually lost track of how many werewolves I've defeated. They're one of the most common monsters on our world.

[since this is pre-malevolence talk she doesn't call them daemons]

They're pretty weak, too.

[jokered]

...Your world sounds kind of like hell if werewolves are commonplace.

[just saying.]

[spinatalltale]

[. . .]

[another time, she thinks]

It's not so bad. When you're a witch armed to the teeth with malak and hidden artes, a werewolf is nothing you can't handle.

A normal human, on the other hand. . .

[jokered]

They'd be pretty screwed, I imagine. Unless they really knew how to fight.