[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]

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.

[spinatalltale]

Mmm. No. Even knowing how to fight won't save a normal human from the monsters on my world.

They're way too powerful. Only Exorcists from the Abbey, malakhim, or monsters themselves can defeat them.

[jokered]

Even more screwed. It must be pretty rough on the Average Joes living like that.

[he would definitly hate it—though akira would probably have pretty strong resonance if he were in her world.]

[spinatalltale]

[yeah he totally would. BE AN OUTLIER WITCH LIKE MAGILOU, AKIRA]

It's part of how the Abbey came to power. The Average Joe can't defend themselves, but the Abbey can do it for them. Most people are totally willing to give into the Abbey's complete control if it saves their lives.

[jokered]

Of course they are. Anything for that semblance of safety and security, regardless of what relinquishing that power might mean in the long term.

[people are too apathetic and selfish in that way, akira already knows it.]