[ ichiro comes to fetch lucretia a little while before the town meeting. he's had a rough day, but his expression seems pretty determined and serious, and when he asks her to come with him, it's off to a different classroom building than where the usual town hall meeting is held, in a different classroom entirely.
he pauses at the door, looks back at her, and then takes a deep breath. ]
...okay. Watch the door, Streusel might be hanging out.
[ here we go, he thinks, and then pushes open the door. there are a couple other people already inside.
also there's a cat? that must be streusel. maybe. ]
[she looks so confused about all of this? but her thoughts spill over a bit, a quick hint of well, it's fine if it's Ichiro. whatever he's dragging her here for, she has some implicit trust in it.
so! she steps inside when he opens the door, giving him a brief glance at that thought-- here we go for what! for what, ichiro-- and just. gives whoever else is already here a wave.]
[ lux is here, sitting on top of a desk. but politely, somehow. she's a polite young lady. ]
... We have some information that we would like to share with you. But it is with a caveat that you may not repeat it to anyone outside this room. You've seen what can happen when people speak the truth, after all.
[ streusel is indeed hanging out. he is a big fluffy cat chilling on one of the desks. dimitri is also here, but much less important, leaning up against one of the walls. ]
—Lucretia. [ it's just that and a slight bow from the shoulders in greeting for now. ]
[everyone's expressions are all pretty calm, but Manwol's face is -- glad? Relieved? There's definitely relief on her face, but she's trying not to show it that much, wow.
Finally. is her only probably somewhat ominous thought,]
We'll try to explain, but you'll probably just have more questions than answers.
[ ichiro's like almost visibly rattling in place? he is trying very hard not to jitter out of existence like a bad jpeg, and he has to sort of take a half lap before he comes back to actually talk, standing by one of the desks. ]
... last week, on Saturday, these guys came to grab me like I came to get you. We're only allowed to talk to one person per week about this stuff, and - this week, it was you, Lucretia-san. You can listen to everything that we say, and if you want to turn around and leave after and pretend you didn't hear anything, you can do that, too. You don't have to join up.
...but, I did. [ ... ] You saw the marquee message this week, right? The "sleep, sleep, ghost" one?
[ lux leans over and pats the desk beside her as an invitation for ichiro to sit? please, you're worrying your mother. ]
... Each week, this world tries to assimilate three people. If none of them have their ties to this world severed - by being killed - all of them lose their souls forever.
...I believe some of you have skirted the correct theory behind our motives a few times. But we cannot confirm or deny it without facing consequences. Like you saw with Adora.
[ he will come sit, yeah, looking a little scolded at least, dropping onto the desk in a heap of limbs. ]
There's not any pattern to who assimilates, either. It just kinda happens. They told me the person they pick to get killed - it has to happen before the weekend, and it just has to be one of the three. Anybody who's been outside was starting to assimilate, too.
Like they said, you probably have a lot of questions. I know I did.
[oof. she just- exhales a slow breath, rubs at her face with her good hand.]
Well, good to know I've been avoiding you in largely the right direction, then-- I may as well start off by saying I don't have any intention of going after you. I haven't for a while, not since we knew we weren't going to be able to truly learn anything by finding you, but-- I'm sorry this all fell to you, and that you've been so restricted in it.
[We wouldn't be able to confirm there was ever a third per week on our own, I hate this place. god. okay. focusing. she glances to manwol, there.]
Even if you haven't confirmed it for sure-- given the only way to be certain is to let it happen, I don't blame you for not risking it. Three souls at risk versus one death is... it's bad odds.
[and to ichiro, sympathetic:]
You don't have to say you would have, I know. You've said what you can.
But you're all right, I do have questions, I-- it sounds like you find out beforehand, and you just have to... make a decision on which of those three you're willing to target?
[she looks pretty troubled, at that, but it's more because-- It's a horrible decision to have to make.
and a briefer, quieter thought also says it could've been him, that first week, it's a relief that-- before it cuts off.]
[ lux nods, and looks down to her lap. having people look away from her - even people she barely knows? on one hand it feels worse, knowing it isn't really even born of trust in her, but of pragmatism. on the other hand, hiding in plain sight like this in general, is...
Just like home.
... ]
Yes, that's right. We have done our best to protect women and children, and to pick those best able to fight back, but... We are working with very limited options.
Many are averting their eyes, but I do not demand it. We are still responsible for the things that we do, and losing one of our numbers is no worse than losing someone from the rest of the group at large.
[ streusel goes to bump his head against lucretia while the rest of them mull over how terrible this situation is. he lets out a breath and nods. ]
We are not compelled to act. Ultimately, if people decide to look away, or to vote for us to be executed—that is their choice.
[ he doesn't sound resentful about it, though his thoughts are more morose. otome, i'm so sorry. ]
...However, you do not need to join us for this process, if you would rather turn away. We want to arm you with this knowledge, but making these choices and fulfilling these duties are something none of us would foist on anyone.
[wow excuse me manwol's not nearly as depressed as everyone else here, she just does look admittedly tense though because it IS a bad situation.
this is their kindness, she thinks, but she already has a feeling that Lucretia won't turn away. it's almost to whatever climax the voice and this place has prepared for them.]
...We've already decided who to kill this week, and Luxanna and Dimitri have decided to go.
[she glances at Ichiro, then at Lucretia. she said she wouldn't reveal them, and manwol trusts that, but she thinks too... they'll just accept it, won't they?]
[ ichiro just kind of Looks at lux while she's talking, brows knitted together, but is pretty much forcing himself to be no thoughts head empty. he opens his mouth to say something and then shuts it, focusing his attention on lucretia, instead. the thought she cuts off from makes his expression soften just a teeny bit, a little fond, and it works nicely as a distraction.
he nods along with the others after, though. ] Manwol-san and I are staying behind. [ and sort of gestures at his general state of being at the moment which is still pretty injured. ]
...I wasn't here for it last week, but I was here for the decision yesterday. [ so, i'm just as implicit, and will be from now on. ]
--no, if you're willingly sharing this, then of course I'm not going to turn away from it. You've been given a pretty difficult load to bear, here, and... I know none of you are exactly aware of my own history, but I'm not a stranger to making difficult decisions. Ones people shouldn't ever have to make.
[the thoughts at that are-- it's complicated. they probably catch how many were lost because of those decisions, in there.]
I'll help however you need me to. But-- are you able to tell me who?
[ lux was politely not looking at ichiro because they already had this argument, but none of them really changed their stance on it, so. it's tense.
but at lucretia's question, she glances around the room. she doesn't know who lucretia is and is not close to, so she doesn't want to be the one to say. ]
[unlike the others, Manwol almost immediately speaks up. She fixes her gaze on Lucretia,]
It's Sakyou.
[she doesn't add anything else to it. not he was our best choice, or he was the most fitting option. she doesn't say anything because the telling hurts her all over again, and how much worse would it be for the rest -- for Lucretia, who's in his dorm?
there's just an absence of thought from here, maybe a flicker of an image of Sakyou smiling openly at her, and then it's gone.]
[ ichiro's mouth pulls into a tight, miserable line. he looks at lucretia, and looks away, as all of that jittering finally stops, and his expression shifts into some mix between angry and sad. sakyou is his friend, one of his favorite people here, but - aren't they all, now? is there a single loss that doesn't hurt? how cruel, that they get to bring lucretia here, and this is the first thing he has to say.]
I'm sorry, Lucretia-san.
[ ...
and that's really all his thoughts reflect, too. i'm so sorry. ]
she's struck silent more or less immediately, just. looking down at her hands. manwol's image doesn't help, and there's something of an echo, of sakyou outside, a whisper of his voice asking how do you know who to trust?
it's followed by all the trust he's given me, and--
....fuck. she just puts her face in her hands. she's quiet for several long moments, and her voice is equally soft as she speaks.]
...I can-- try to get him his other sword. Before this happens. He hasn't obtained it himself, but if he's going to fight any of you, it shouldn't be with...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 6, tuesday
he pauses at the door, looks back at her, and then takes a deep breath. ]
...okay. Watch the door, Streusel might be hanging out.
[ here we go, he thinks, and then pushes open the door. there are a couple other people already inside.
also there's a cat? that must be streusel. maybe. ]
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[she looks so confused about all of this? but her thoughts spill over a bit, a quick hint of well, it's fine if it's Ichiro. whatever he's dragging her here for, she has some implicit trust in it.
so! she steps inside when he opens the door, giving him a brief glance at that thought-- here we go for what! for what, ichiro-- and just. gives whoever else is already here a wave.]
Hello?
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[ lux is here, sitting on top of a desk. but politely, somehow. she's a polite young lady. ]
... We have some information that we would like to share with you. But it is with a caveat that you may not repeat it to anyone outside this room. You've seen what can happen when people speak the truth, after all.
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—Lucretia. [ it's just that and a slight bow from the shoulders in greeting for now. ]
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Finally. is her only probably somewhat ominous thought,]
We'll try to explain, but you'll probably just have more questions than answers.
[team tags ichiro]
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... last week, on Saturday, these guys came to grab me like I came to get you. We're only allowed to talk to one person per week about this stuff, and - this week, it was you, Lucretia-san. You can listen to everything that we say, and if you want to turn around and leave after and pretend you didn't hear anything, you can do that, too. You don't have to join up.
...but, I did. [ ... ] You saw the marquee message this week, right? The "sleep, sleep, ghost" one?
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You don't have to worry about oversharing, I like to think running a secret organization tends to be pretty good practice.
[just a little bit of lightness, here, because genuinely what is the deal. and before he really gets into it she says-]
-Ichiro, please, just sit, watching you is going to make me nervous.
[she listens to what he has to say, though, considering for a few moments.]
I did. I had a theory or two in general, but nothing too certain.
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... Each week, this world tries to assimilate three people. If none of them have their ties to this world severed - by being killed - all of them lose their souls forever.
We are the ones who carry out this task.
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...I believe some of you have skirted the correct theory behind our motives a few times. But we cannot confirm or deny it without facing consequences. Like you saw with Adora.
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[sorry guys she's just trying to be real here with lucretia]
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There's not any pattern to who assimilates, either. It just kinda happens. They told me the person they pick to get killed - it has to happen before the weekend, and it just has to be one of the three. Anybody who's been outside was starting to assimilate, too.
Like they said, you probably have a lot of questions. I know I did.
[ ... ]
I would've told you, if I could. 'm sorry.
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Well, good to know I've been avoiding you in largely the right direction, then-- I may as well start off by saying I don't have any intention of going after you. I haven't for a while, not since we knew we weren't going to be able to truly learn anything by finding you, but-- I'm sorry this all fell to you, and that you've been so restricted in it.
[We wouldn't be able to confirm there was ever a third per week on our own, I hate this place. god. okay. focusing. she glances to manwol, there.]
Even if you haven't confirmed it for sure-- given the only way to be certain is to let it happen, I don't blame you for not risking it. Three souls at risk versus one death is... it's bad odds.
[and to ichiro, sympathetic:]
You don't have to say you would have, I know. You've said what you can.
But you're all right, I do have questions, I-- it sounds like you find out beforehand, and you just have to... make a decision on which of those three you're willing to target?
[she looks pretty troubled, at that, but it's more because-- It's a horrible decision to have to make.
and a briefer, quieter thought also says it could've been him, that first week, it's a relief that-- before it cuts off.]
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Just like home.
... ]
Yes, that's right. We have done our best to protect women and children, and to pick those best able to fight back, but... We are working with very limited options.
Many are averting their eyes, but I do not demand it. We are still responsible for the things that we do, and losing one of our numbers is no worse than losing someone from the rest of the group at large.
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We are not compelled to act. Ultimately, if people decide to look away, or to vote for us to be executed—that is their choice.
[ he doesn't sound resentful about it, though his thoughts are more morose. otome, i'm so sorry. ]
...However, you do not need to join us for this process, if you would rather turn away. We want to arm you with this knowledge, but making these choices and fulfilling these duties are something none of us would foist on anyone.
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this is their kindness, she thinks, but she already has a feeling that Lucretia won't turn away. it's almost to whatever climax the voice and this place has prepared for them.]
...We've already decided who to kill this week, and Luxanna and Dimitri have decided to go.
[she glances at Ichiro, then at Lucretia. she said she wouldn't reveal them, and manwol trusts that, but she thinks too... they'll just accept it, won't they?]
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he nods along with the others after, though. ] Manwol-san and I are staying behind. [ and sort of gestures at his general state of being at the moment which is still pretty injured. ]
...I wasn't here for it last week, but I was here for the decision yesterday. [ so, i'm just as implicit, and will be from now on. ]
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[the thoughts at that are-- it's complicated. they probably catch how many were lost because of those decisions, in there.]
I'll help however you need me to. But-- are you able to tell me who?
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but at lucretia's question, she glances around the room. she doesn't know who lucretia is and is not close to, so she doesn't want to be the one to say. ]
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but he's left silent for a moment, too. ]
I do not think telling you would be an issue, but... [ are you certain you want to know? ]
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It's Sakyou.
[she doesn't add anything else to it. not he was our best choice, or he was the most fitting option. she doesn't say anything because the telling hurts her all over again, and how much worse would it be for the rest -- for Lucretia, who's in his dorm?
there's just an absence of thought from here, maybe a flicker of an image of Sakyou smiling openly at her, and then it's gone.]
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I'm sorry, Lucretia-san.
[ ...
and that's really all his thoughts reflect, too. i'm so sorry. ]
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[oh, boy. that's--
she's struck silent more or less immediately, just. looking down at her hands. manwol's image doesn't help, and there's something of an echo, of sakyou outside, a whisper of his voice asking how do you know who to trust?
it's followed by all the trust he's given me, and--
....fuck. she just puts her face in her hands. she's quiet for several long moments, and her voice is equally soft as she speaks.]
...I can-- try to get him his other sword. Before this happens. He hasn't obtained it himself, but if he's going to fight any of you, it shouldn't be with...
I'll see what I can do.
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Thank you. And... I'm sorry. Truly.
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[ his voice comes out hoarse and quiet. ]
If you cannot, it's—we will be all right. [ she shouldn't have to be a part of this when she didn't even help make the choice. ]
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Manwol turns her gaze away, gritting her teeth.]
...The bracelet should help even if he does.
[but she knows what lucretia means]
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closes eyes bc i lost this notif
it be like that
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