[Flayn glances between the three of them - Dimitri, Taako, and Tonbo - and bites her lip. She looks a little uncertain and a lot uncomfortable (mainly because she knows that there will be only three of them walking away from here, tonight, and she doesn't particularly want to lose any of them), but...
...she doesn't look as though she expects Dimitri to shank them, either.
He doesn't. He asks a question, instead.]
I cannot say. [...] But, speaking solely of tonight... to avoid everyone here being killed, someone does need to... they need to...
[Her voice shakes - she can't bring herself to say it. She shakes her head.]
...it only has to be one of us. It does not necessarily need to be any of you. It could—
[This is probably the point where she gets told to shut up.]
This is definitely not how it usually goes. But I kinda wish it did?
[Taako leans back in his chair, because he definitely knows he’s being sized up. He doesn’t seem that concerned, though. I mea. . . Tonbo is here.]
Can you just— We’ll start from the beginning. I’m sure you heard everything we’ve talked about in public this week so far? The scrunchies, the plan to get everyone on the same team, how we’re getting closer.
[ for one, tonbo doesn't have his spear on him (it's tucked just out of sight where he can grab it if he needs) and he looks Dimitri straight on, unflinching away from his duty. ]
It certainly is much easier this way.
[ despite so, his voice is at ease as if they were truly having tea and he pours the cups as he speaks, noticeably wearing gloves with his evening ensemble. it's fine. clearly, it's just chilly this late. ]
The tale is quite long however, given how much of it there is to go through. There are, of course, portions we cannot speak of due to our own restrictions but we will explain as much as we can.
[ He won't shout Flayn down, but he does shake his head at the suggestion. If she brought him here, then the point isn't for her to die. There's a knife, Tonbo is armed, they have however many items and skills between them all, so—it's clear they don't entirely trust him not to lash out. Would it be so strange if he did? How many people have they killed already?
For now though, he sits, spear still set over by his side and snacks untouched. They can talk. The tension hasn't dropped from his shoulders entirely, but he'll hear them out. ]
Yes, we've been making good headway. [ Tonbo running out with Flayn in the middle of his announcement suddenly makes more sense, though. ] Speak your piece.
[Her piece, at this point, has become "maybe kill me instead" - more than it would have been to begin with, frankly. She glances at Taako and Tonbokiri. If they are going to have to fight the... Pink Snake, it makes much more sense for Dimitri to stay alive, doesn't it?
He is hardier in a fight than her.]
If we are lucky... we are the only ones awake tonight. [...] I believe that we likely are. I cannot think why anyone else would...
[Well.]
...we need to cooperate with each other, I think. All of us, so that we can save everyone. And that means... well, it may mean that if a life must be lost tonight, it may be best for it to be someone who is willing to lay it down for the sake of escaping this place.
[He gets what Flayn is driving at and likely the others will too, but Taako’s just ignoring it. Her attempts to die go unremarked on. He’s made more than one promise to see Flayn out of this and he doesn’t have it in him to do that to her, himself. Not at this point.]
I guess what we’re dancing around here is pretty simple. We want to ask you to die.
[And before anyone can react violently:]
We’d offer ourselves, honestly, and most of us have, but know that . . . we’ve gathered every role in the camp. When we first started, the scrunchie sequins started turning gold, because I think we were doing something right. If we start losing our group again, we have to start over. Find our replacements, gather them again, and as it is I think we’re on the verge of fixing it. You saw the Director’s, uh . . . engagement. We’re both Shadow’s team now, so clearly it worked.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think— I’m not an optimist, Tonbo can tell you that, but I don’t think you’ll be gone for very long. I know that’s not much, um, comfort, or whatever, but we’re working really hard to fix it.
[ Flayn is practically setting herself up as a target here—he's ultimately grateful that Taako gets them back on track. He doesn't flinch or baffle at the request, just blinking in surprise, bristling slightly, but otherwise quiet and still through his explanation. No big show of violence.
If anything, after this week, he's amenable to conversation, even if his tone is less than warm. He's not touching the comforting bits—it's not necessary. ]
I asked Purple Heart if the sequins changing were a necessity for success—they are not, but they are indicators that you're heading the right direction. That you should continue along that path.
[ Even if that involves killing. It's a sour thought, one he avoids like the plague... but there's no getting around it, is there? No matter how much progress they've made, there's no way forward without it.
Still, it sounds like they're not planning on taking responsibility for this, so he has to ask: ]
Are you saying you need to avoid detection during the trials as well? Because it would set us back from figuring out how to end this 'game' entirely?
[ Is that what their scapegoats have died for? Do they intend to have another? ]
[flayn's expression has definitely not been cheery to start with - and somehow, it falls even further at that question. it's a fair inquiry, one that dimitri deserves an answer to, if he's going to give up his life for this, and she wishes desperately that she could say no.]
...it might be... possible, for us to stay on the right track, if one of us was to be caught.
[but is that a risk they can afford to take, when they're so close?
she really isn't sure.
she wishes they had more certainties than this. the only certainty they have is that someone is going to die.]
But... if it is not, and the time must be spent to find our replacement, and bring them up to speed before we can end this - if we must go another week before we can free everyone...
[her brow furrows]
...I hate the idea of anyone else paying for what I have done, but I want to limit the number of deaths as much as possible.
Right, yeah, no they’re— quest markers, basically, I think. But I think next week is gonna start being critical.
[He scratches at his cheek for a second at the second question, casting a sideglance at Flayn.]
What she said. But if it helps, avoiding detection isn’t really the main, um, goal here. I just want to delay them long enough they have to think about why we might be having to do this instead of just frantically searching for someone - anyone - to kill in a nasty arena battle for sport. I’m the last person who’s out here ready to fall on a sword, but if it comes down to it, fine.
[ Everything they're saying does make sense, in an awful sort of way. They've all been talking about it this week, haven't they? They're making progress.
He's about to ask something else along this vein, but pauses, lips thinned together. At the talk of replacements... ]
...Were you working with Kocho as well? I know she killed Yu. I'd assumed she had some sort of role to do so.
[ Could they even say? He has to ask. It matters. ]
[ ...That nets Taako an irritable look, but he gets the point. In the end, maybe she was working on her own. Maybe she wasn't. But the idea behind what she'd done and what they're accomplishing is the same.
His gaze droops to the table dressings for a second, distant, before he sighs. ]
...I do not know. Not much, I hope. If the way to end this truly is to combine the three teams into one, then...
[If Flayn is being entirely honest, she had hoped they could end this entire experience this week. There isn't any changing what has happened already - and what if it had ended disastrously to try and merge all three teams at once? - but selfishly, she wishes that they could have finished it before it came to this.]
If the directors are able to recover quickly enough to have another item used quickly... perhaps this will be our last trial.
[ Considering how things went the last weekend for both of them, the caution is warranted. How much could they even say to each other? In truth, he'd probably just have to make his best judgment.
Either attack one of them instead, or all of them, or just however many he can cut down before Tonbo manages to wrangle him down—or put his faith in them and die. ]
Hm.
[ He looks briefly to Flayn. He thinks of what Kocho had told him, weeks ago while they sat in front of the clay effigies of people they'd lost. The last thing she'd asked of him, when she was alive. He thinks of the memories he's seen, of what Beau gave him. He considers, for once, the people who are still alive rather than the dead, and all they've asked of him recently. His eyes flutter closed, a second passing in thought, and that's that. ]
All right. I'll buy you another week.
[ In the end, it's not a hard bargain to drive anyway—asking Dimitri to die for someone else is an easy thing. He sets his spear aside and speaks calmly, now. ]
I told Ookurikara and Lili that I would mark my killer, if given the opportunity—if it's clear I did not do so, then maybe it will give people reason to pause and consider what is going on. [ He's sure he's not the only one who thinks obligation killers exist. If they can prevent people panicking and killing more than necessary... ] What else do you need from me?
She knows it's necessary. It's the whole reason why she's awake now, to have brought him to Taako and Tonbokiri, so that he would agree without a fight. But still, selfishly, she had wanted him to live.
She feels tears sting at the corners of her eyes, and she ducks her head so the others can't see them. He's doing them a favor - she shouldn't be crying about it.
Taako or Tonbokiri will need to be the one to speak next, though. She needs a moment.]
[ tonbo- who for the most part have let the people who can speak without tripping over their words halfway through, gently nudges flayn's foot with his first, a quiet moment of support while other things are occurring. ]
Our thanks, Dimitri-san. I promise it will not be in vain.
[ there's a pause here, tonbo glancing at taako for help before continuing ]
I for one know there is plenty of information we would like you to carry to the others, things we could not fit into the limits we are bound to.
If they aren’t getting it by Saturday, I’ll lead them to it by the nose, yeesh. I think I’ve, uh, proven I can do a pretty good dramatic speech if I have to.
[His words seem a little harsh but. He mostly just seems tired.
He sighs out, glancing at Flayn again, and his mouth twists to the side. He’s also a little tired of seeing her hurt, taking on every bit of pain and thinking she needs to answer for all of it. He can’t really do anything about it right now except push forward. Guilt is tomorrow’s problem.
Luckily, it isn’t her decision. And he seems a bit obviously relieved when Tonbo is able to step in there.]
I wouldn’t be doing this at all if I didn’t think everything would be alright in the end. I’m not— I’m not out here in the business of gambling it all on making people cry and then fumbling the ball and losing. Fuck the house Rules. Fuck this place, and fuck their “pick your three favorite people” ending. We’re not accepting it— I— I won’t even accept it as an option, you know? If it makes you feel better, my alternative is going back to a dimension run by demons and turning into one slowly and painfully. Let’s call me very motivated for expedited success.
And, thanks, I guess. You’re braver than, uh, me, for one.
[ It isn't about bravery. He doesn't need thanks for something like this—it's kind of awkward, pretending there's any noble sacrifices in a game like this. He doesn't look terribly upset to begin with, now that he's found some resolve.
He needs to hold onto that resolve, so he doesn't look at Flayn, either. ]
Tonbokiri, tell me all that you can. I will carry over whatever is necessary.
[ They have a little time to go over everything, at least. ]
...For what it's worth, I agree. There's never been any winning in playing by rules set for us by someone who only seeks our misery. [ He's never been satisfied with anything less than saving everyone. He'll live and die with that conviction. ] It's all I can do to believe in a better ending than the one we're being handed, so long as we work together and not against one another. More than anything, I think... this week gave people that hope. I hope you all will do whatever you can to continue fostering it.
[ He doesn't presume that people will grieve for him, but if they do, they can't lose heart. It's too late for that. ]
We haven’t exactly been slouches on the working together front, you know. I— I’m hoping tomorrow will prove that. We were losing so many people every week, the amount of people that was gonna drive us over the edge of a cliff, and we fixed it. So . . .
[he seems tetchy, but, it’s probably because he’s trying to talk around a million things.]
[flayn finally speaks up once the explanations are as complete as they can make them.]
I wish there was a better solution to this. But... please believe us, we will do everything in our power to free everyone from this. Whatever it takes.
[ He nods firmly at the end of the explanations... but his voice is a softer now that they've managed to talk through business. ]
I know. Everyone is doing all they can. We're only lacking for time, not effort.
[ He has to do his part. Better him than anyone else, anyway. That just leaves the details of his death, perfunctory as they are. ]
I'll leave my weapons and plush toy unused—Lili may look at everyone's scrunchies or the backs of their necks to see if I've left a mark on them. Flayn is aware of my ability, so please do not let it lead anyone off-track. If there is another death this week besides mine... [ and that—that one possibility does make his voice run cold for a second. ] hopefully this will be enough to discourage any further carnage, along with whatever Taako can say. Flayn, the paper I received from the music room—I don't know if we will be able to use it to communicate with each other, but do not forget about it. The poison syringe, I suspect, will vanish with me.
[ So no one should get the opportunity to use it. He takes a sip of his tea, hands steady. The chamomile is nice, even if it's lost its warmth by now. ]
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fishingforcompliments) wrote2020-07-15 06:15 am
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...she doesn't look as though she expects Dimitri to shank them, either.
He doesn't. He asks a question, instead.]
I cannot say. [...] But, speaking solely of tonight... to avoid everyone here being killed, someone does need to... they need to...
[Her voice shakes - she can't bring herself to say it. She shakes her head.]
...it only has to be one of us. It does not necessarily need to be any of you. It could—
[This is probably the point where she gets told to shut up.]
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[Taako leans back in his chair, because he definitely knows he’s being sized up. He doesn’t seem that concerned, though. I mea. . . Tonbo is here.]
Can you just— We’ll start from the beginning. I’m sure you heard everything we’ve talked about in public this week so far? The scrunchies, the plan to get everyone on the same team, how we’re getting closer.
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It certainly is much easier this way.
[ despite so, his voice is at ease as if they were truly having tea and he pours the cups as he speaks, noticeably wearing gloves with his evening ensemble. it's fine. clearly, it's just chilly this late. ]
The tale is quite long however, given how much of it there is to go through. There are, of course, portions we cannot speak of due to our own restrictions but we will explain as much as we can.
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For now though, he sits, spear still set over by his side and snacks untouched. They can talk. The tension hasn't dropped from his shoulders entirely, but he'll hear them out. ]
Yes, we've been making good headway. [ Tonbo running out with Flayn in the middle of his announcement suddenly makes more sense, though. ] Speak your piece.
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[Her piece, at this point, has become "maybe kill me instead" - more than it would have been to begin with, frankly. She glances at Taako and Tonbokiri. If they are going to have to fight the... Pink Snake, it makes much more sense for Dimitri to stay alive, doesn't it?
He is hardier in a fight than her.]
If we are lucky... we are the only ones awake tonight. [...] I believe that we likely are. I cannot think why anyone else would...
[Well.]
...we need to cooperate with each other, I think. All of us, so that we can save everyone. And that means... well, it may mean that if a life must be lost tonight, it may be best for it to be someone who is willing to lay it down for the sake of escaping this place.
[She is! Very willing!]
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I guess what we’re dancing around here is pretty simple. We want to ask you to die.
[And before anyone can react violently:]
We’d offer ourselves, honestly, and most of us have, but know that . . . we’ve gathered every role in the camp. When we first started, the scrunchie sequins started turning gold, because I think we were doing something right. If we start losing our group again, we have to start over. Find our replacements, gather them again, and as it is I think we’re on the verge of fixing it. You saw the Director’s, uh . . . engagement. We’re both Shadow’s team now, so clearly it worked.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think— I’m not an optimist, Tonbo can tell you that, but I don’t think you’ll be gone for very long. I know that’s not much, um, comfort, or whatever, but we’re working really hard to fix it.
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If anything, after this week, he's amenable to conversation, even if his tone is less than warm. He's not touching the comforting bits—it's not necessary. ]
I asked Purple Heart if the sequins changing were a necessity for success—they are not, but they are indicators that you're heading the right direction. That you should continue along that path.
[ Even if that involves killing. It's a sour thought, one he avoids like the plague... but there's no getting around it, is there? No matter how much progress they've made, there's no way forward without it.
Still, it sounds like they're not planning on taking responsibility for this, so he has to ask: ]
Are you saying you need to avoid detection during the trials as well? Because it would set us back from figuring out how to end this 'game' entirely?
[ Is that what their scapegoats have died for? Do they intend to have another? ]
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...it might be... possible, for us to stay on the right track, if one of us was to be caught.
[but is that a risk they can afford to take, when they're so close?
she really isn't sure.
she wishes they had more certainties than this. the only certainty they have is that someone is going to die.]
But... if it is not, and the time must be spent to find our replacement, and bring them up to speed before we can end this - if we must go another week before we can free everyone...
[her brow furrows]
...I hate the idea of anyone else paying for what I have done, but I want to limit the number of deaths as much as possible.
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[He scratches at his cheek for a second at the second question, casting a sideglance at Flayn.]
What she said. But if it helps, avoiding detection isn’t really the main, um, goal here. I just want to delay them long enough they have to think about why we might be having to do this instead of just frantically searching for someone - anyone - to kill in a nasty arena battle for sport. I’m the last person who’s out here ready to fall on a sword, but if it comes down to it, fine.
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He's about to ask something else along this vein, but pauses, lips thinned together. At the talk of replacements... ]
...Were you working with Kocho as well? I know she killed Yu. I'd assumed she had some sort of role to do so.
[ Could they even say? He has to ask. It matters. ]
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[Flayn has nothing to say to that.]
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Who . . . ?
[He doesn’t seem that questioning about who he’s referring to. He hasn’t got much to add either.]
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His gaze droops to the table dressings for a second, distant, before he sighs. ]
Don't be rude to her.
[ Anyway. ]
How much more time do we need?
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[If Flayn is being entirely honest, she had hoped they could end this entire experience this week. There isn't any changing what has happened already - and what if it had ended disastrously to try and merge all three teams at once? - but selfishly, she wishes that they could have finished it before it came to this.]
If the directors are able to recover quickly enough to have another item used quickly... perhaps this will be our last trial.
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[And even that little statement might be pushing it? He puts his cup down.]
Kinda hoping it’s our last too. Don’t know any way to prove that, though.
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Either attack one of them instead, or all of them, or just however many he can cut down before Tonbo manages to wrangle him down—or put his faith in them and die. ]
Hm.
[ He looks briefly to Flayn. He thinks of what Kocho had told him, weeks ago while they sat in front of the clay effigies of people they'd lost. The last thing she'd asked of him, when she was alive. He thinks of the memories he's seen, of what Beau gave him. He considers, for once, the people who are still alive rather than the dead, and all they've asked of him recently. His eyes flutter closed, a second passing in thought, and that's that. ]
All right. I'll buy you another week.
[ In the end, it's not a hard bargain to drive anyway—asking Dimitri to die for someone else is an easy thing. He sets his spear aside and speaks calmly, now. ]
I told Ookurikara and Lili that I would mark my killer, if given the opportunity—if it's clear I did not do so, then maybe it will give people reason to pause and consider what is going on. [ He's sure he's not the only one who thinks obligation killers exist. If they can prevent people panicking and killing more than necessary... ] What else do you need from me?
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She knows it's necessary. It's the whole reason why she's awake now, to have brought him to Taako and Tonbokiri, so that he would agree without a fight. But still, selfishly, she had wanted him to live.
She feels tears sting at the corners of her eyes, and she ducks her head so the others can't see them. He's doing them a favor - she shouldn't be crying about it.
Taako or Tonbokiri will need to be the one to speak next, though. She needs a moment.]
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Our thanks, Dimitri-san. I promise it will not be in vain.
[ there's a pause here, tonbo glancing at taako for help before continuing ]
I for one know there is plenty of information we would like you to carry to the others, things we could not fit into the limits we are bound to.
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[His words seem a little harsh but. He mostly just seems tired.
He sighs out, glancing at Flayn again, and his mouth twists to the side. He’s also a little tired of seeing her hurt, taking on every bit of pain and thinking she needs to answer for all of it. He can’t really do anything about it right now except push forward. Guilt is tomorrow’s problem.
Luckily, it isn’t her decision. And he seems a bit obviously relieved when Tonbo is able to step in there.]
I wouldn’t be doing this at all if I didn’t think everything would be alright in the end. I’m not— I’m not out here in the business of gambling it all on making people cry and then fumbling the ball and losing. Fuck the house Rules. Fuck this place, and fuck their “pick your three favorite people” ending. We’re not accepting it— I— I won’t even accept it as an option, you know? If it makes you feel better, my alternative is going back to a dimension run by demons and turning into one slowly and painfully. Let’s call me very motivated for expedited success.
And, thanks, I guess. You’re braver than, uh, me, for one.
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He needs to hold onto that resolve, so he doesn't look at Flayn, either. ]
Tonbokiri, tell me all that you can. I will carry over whatever is necessary.
[ They have a little time to go over everything, at least. ]
...For what it's worth, I agree. There's never been any winning in playing by rules set for us by someone who only seeks our misery. [ He's never been satisfied with anything less than saving everyone. He'll live and die with that conviction. ] It's all I can do to believe in a better ending than the one we're being handed, so long as we work together and not against one another. More than anything, I think... this week gave people that hope. I hope you all will do whatever you can to continue fostering it.
[ He doesn't presume that people will grieve for him, but if they do, they can't lose heart. It's too late for that. ]
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[ it's a good thing they have the time to discuss because it is a lot.
i, however, have a memory like a leaky sieve especially right now so [ ONE HOUR LATER ] goes here. yay! we'll figure the deets out in chat ]
I believe that is everything we are allowed to talk of?
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[he seems tetchy, but, it’s probably because he’s trying to talk around a million things.]
I guess that’s everything.
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[flayn finally speaks up once the explanations are as complete as they can make them.]
I wish there was a better solution to this. But... please believe us, we will do everything in our power to free everyone from this. Whatever it takes.
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I know. Everyone is doing all they can. We're only lacking for time, not effort.
[ He has to do his part. Better him than anyone else, anyway. That just leaves the details of his death, perfunctory as they are. ]
I'll leave my weapons and plush toy unused—Lili may look at everyone's scrunchies or the backs of their necks to see if I've left a mark on them. Flayn is aware of my ability, so please do not let it lead anyone off-track. If there is another death this week besides mine... [ and that—that one possibility does make his voice run cold for a second. ] hopefully this will be enough to discourage any further carnage, along with whatever Taako can say. Flayn, the paper I received from the music room—I don't know if we will be able to use it to communicate with each other, but do not forget about it. The poison syringe, I suspect, will vanish with me.
[ So no one should get the opportunity to use it. He takes a sip of his tea, hands steady. The chamomile is nice, even if it's lost its warmth by now. ]
Do you need me to do anything else?
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