anyway. ichiro's quiet, too - he also can't even look at lucretia, and anger flickers across his face. god, he fucking hates this place, so much. ]
... We're going to get them all back. [ there's a fierce, angry determination to this, as his good hand curls into a fist. ] We're gonna put an end to this shit once and for all, soon.
No, I-- I'll do what I can. If it's him, then I especially can't just... turn away from all of this, knowing what's going to happen.
[even if it's kind of killing her, a little, thinking about it. but she's always been pretty good at covering up her feelings. a few deep breaths, and she straightens, looking-- more or less okay, if tired.]
Just tell me what I can do for you. I'll help.
[she doesn't quite bring herself to ask aloud, but her thoughts do it for her: who else was it?]
The only thing any of us can do is... Be careful of what we say to others while everyone figures out the bigger picture. And try our sincere best to solve any other murder that occurs.
[ But if they're possessed it's no different from another sacrifice... ]
...Yes. The greatest help we can receive is to solve the real puzzle of this world and end things once and for all. Based on all that we've heard, this place is likely to lash out against us soon. We are nearly there. [ we have to be. ]
[stop. please stop being emo in your brackets, even if Manwol is obviously not having a good time either.]
Considering the last few weeks, someone else will definitely be killed. [...] And if it's anything like Tsuyukusa and whoever killed Sieghart, then they'll probably be compelled too.
[ he exchanges a brief look in lucretia's direction at that. ]
... mm. We don't know anything about that, besides what everyone already knows. [ the compelled killers, anyway. ] ...we really don't know much about anything at all besides this.
[yeah, ichiro gets a brief glance back, a tiny nod.]
...solving the other murder was already my plan, if I could differentiate them, and now I can. I've talked this out with someone else, and-- we're not going to have an alternative option. We just aren't. If anyone tries to volunteer, they're going to be stopped, unless we have absolutely no other choice... and even then, it isn't going to go over well. It's going to be a fight and an argument over whether enough people can accept that outcome, or whether they can convince others to accept it. It's going to drive us further apart when we just can't afford it.
That leaves two options: you, who are performing a necessary if unpleasant role, and... those who are influenced into it. Of the two-- please understand that I don't like this either, I truly don't, but our best option is finding the compelled murderer and voting for them. It's our best hope of maintaining cohesiveness, over catching someone who's been involved with this longer and caused more potential hurt feelings.
I know you don't intend to try to stop anyone from choosing you, but I want you to bear all of that in mind and just... try to be as careful as you can. We'll focus on the other case, and I'll try to defuse any others who are angered by his death so they don't chase you too relentlessly.
The only reason I say that it is better for me to be caught than the alternative is because I am the only one of us that most people already seem to know of. I agree that we are better off not decreasing our numbers if we can help it.
[ it's not like she's wanted to hurl herself in front of people's votes - she just figures with how obvious it already is that she's doing these things... if it has to be one of them, it should be her.
but if it doesn't have to be one of them at all, that's better. not good, or comforting. but probably better. ]
[ he looks torn about the turn this conversation takes. he's not going to run from or towards death, but talk of prioritizing doesn't sit right with him, no matter how right the logic behind it all is, no matter how little malice any of them mean by it. so he just stays quiet, turning his gaze elsewhere for the time being. ]
[Manwol, in turn, looks relieved. This is exactly the kind of logic she'd tried to think and express herself, but failed because she can't talk that eloquently about it.]
I agree. I'm planning on following Luxanna and Dimitri on Thursday too, to help cover up the scene.
[it feels bad to admit, but she's not about to budge]
Or at least try to make it less obvious.
[spoilers: manwol will not be able to do this because she's actually a big weenie]
[ lucretia is saying a lot of the things he did, in a burst of frustration too - he hated it, then, and still hates it now, but the logic of it does make sense.
... and they can't just keep dying, this close to the end, so. he's quiet on his end, too, glancing at manwol, a little surprised? he missed that because she was whispering... he really did get put in hetero baby jail this week no murder crimes allowed.
after a moment's pause. ]
...I'll try to focus on solving the other murder, if there's another one. And.. I can make sure to go investigate locations, too.
...Just a little bit longer. That's what Hugo said.
[dimitri just gets a sympathetic look, when he's quiet like that.]
...this is all that we can do. In the absence of being able to ensure no one dies, we just-- we have to do what we can.
But I can help Ichiro with that, as well. Tell us what you can about where we may need to go, and I'm sure we can manage something.
And-- I know you've planned for this week already, but depending on how long this drags on, I... well, you've seen what I can do, I've used my barrier on both Caleb and Otome before.
I wish there were another way, I truly do. But-- hopefully this is nearly done.
[she exhales a sigh, there.]
Speaking of getting caught, I know you're not very hard to notice, Luxanna, but this week-- if we don't catch the other one, it's going to be a pretty rough decision. If you want anything from me to confuse the evidence a little, give people something to be distracted by in your case specifically...
... I don't think it's wise to draw attention to anyone else within this group.
[ but that isn't a hard no. this group lets her get away with a lot of selfish decisions - so she doesn't think she has the right to keep vetoing every little thing. ]
[ manwol does have a point, even though ichiro's stomach also lurches at the idea that lucretia could implicate herself. he grinds his teeth, a little, looking around the group. ]
... Fine. What if Lucretia-san and I miss stuff on purpose on Saturday when we're all looking around, that you guys leave? Or we pick stuff up when people aren't looking. What about that?
... I still think purposefully leaving anything to draw attention to anyone in this circle isn't...
[ she doesn't want to be rude. ]
I don't mind things being overlooked or things unrelated to the events being placed, but they should not lead anyone to any of you. That is my only concern.
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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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anyway. ichiro's quiet, too - he also can't even look at lucretia, and anger flickers across his face. god, he fucking hates this place, so much. ]
... We're going to get them all back. [ there's a fierce, angry determination to this, as his good hand curls into a fist. ] We're gonna put an end to this shit once and for all, soon.
[ we have to.
i'm so sorry. ]
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[even if it's kind of killing her, a little, thinking about it. but she's always been pretty good at covering up her feelings. a few deep breaths, and she straightens, looking-- more or less okay, if tired.]
Just tell me what I can do for you. I'll help.
[she doesn't quite bring herself to ask aloud, but her thoughts do it for her: who else was it?]
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[ But if they're possessed it's no different from another sacrifice... ]
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...Yes. The greatest help we can receive is to solve the real puzzle of this world and end things once and for all. Based on all that we've heard, this place is likely to lash out against us soon. We are nearly there. [ we have to be. ]
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Considering the last few weeks, someone else will definitely be killed. [...] And if it's anything like Tsuyukusa and whoever killed Sieghart, then they'll probably be compelled too.
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... mm. We don't know anything about that, besides what everyone already knows. [ the compelled killers, anyway. ] ...we really don't know much about anything at all besides this.
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...solving the other murder was already my plan, if I could differentiate them, and now I can. I've talked this out with someone else, and-- we're not going to have an alternative option. We just aren't. If anyone tries to volunteer, they're going to be stopped, unless we have absolutely no other choice... and even then, it isn't going to go over well. It's going to be a fight and an argument over whether enough people can accept that outcome, or whether they can convince others to accept it. It's going to drive us further apart when we just can't afford it.
That leaves two options: you, who are performing a necessary if unpleasant role, and... those who are influenced into it. Of the two-- please understand that I don't like this either, I truly don't, but our best option is finding the compelled murderer and voting for them. It's our best hope of maintaining cohesiveness, over catching someone who's been involved with this longer and caused more potential hurt feelings.
I know you don't intend to try to stop anyone from choosing you, but I want you to bear all of that in mind and just... try to be as careful as you can. We'll focus on the other case, and I'll try to defuse any others who are angered by his death so they don't chase you too relentlessly.
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The only reason I say that it is better for me to be caught than the alternative is because I am the only one of us that most people already seem to know of. I agree that we are better off not decreasing our numbers if we can help it.
[ it's not like she's wanted to hurl herself in front of people's votes - she just figures with how obvious it already is that she's doing these things... if it has to be one of them, it should be her.
but if it doesn't have to be one of them at all, that's better. not good, or comforting. but probably better. ]
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I agree. I'm planning on following Luxanna and Dimitri on Thursday too, to help cover up the scene.
[it feels bad to admit, but she's not about to budge]
Or at least try to make it less obvious.
[spoilers: manwol will not be able to do this because she's actually a big weenie]
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... and they can't just keep dying, this close to the end, so. he's quiet on his end, too, glancing at manwol, a little surprised? he missed that because she was whispering... he really did get put in hetero baby jail this week no murder crimes allowed.
after a moment's pause. ]
...I'll try to focus on solving the other murder, if there's another one. And.. I can make sure to go investigate locations, too.
...Just a little bit longer. That's what Hugo said.
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...this is all that we can do. In the absence of being able to ensure no one dies, we just-- we have to do what we can.
But I can help Ichiro with that, as well. Tell us what you can about where we may need to go, and I'm sure we can manage something.
And-- I know you've planned for this week already, but depending on how long this drags on, I... well, you've seen what I can do, I've used my barrier on both Caleb and Otome before.
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I appreciate your willingness to assist us in a terrible thing. I'm grateful - and sorry to burden you with it.
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...Yes, it is best that we avoid bloodshed at trial. Thank you.
closes eyes bc i lost this notif
That would be helpful. [...] There isn't much Luxanna and Dimitri can say even if they do get caught, so having your help will be useful.
[everyone just sits and stares at luxanna and dimitri as they vibe behind lucretia's bubble]
it be like that
i'm sorry. it feels like that's all he's able to do here, is apologize. he stares down at his fist, curled tight in his lap. ]
...We'll support you guys however we can. [ whatever that means. solve the other case. stay alive. whatever it means. ]
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[she exhales a sigh, there.]
Speaking of getting caught, I know you're not very hard to notice, Luxanna, but this week-- if we don't catch the other one, it's going to be a pretty rough decision. If you want anything from me to confuse the evidence a little, give people something to be distracted by in your case specifically...
[I doubt they'd kill me for it.]
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[ but that isn't a hard no. this group lets her get away with a lot of selfish decisions - so she doesn't think she has the right to keep vetoing every little thing. ]
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[ his thoughts are a more emphatic no. ]
...Luxanna is already practically known, and has not been voted for. It would only put you in harm's way without changing our situation very much.
And consider, if one of us needs to be alive to carry on our knowledge and our tasks, it is best that some of you are anonymous.
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[a bit snappishly,]
She said she'll help confuse the evidence, not write her name in big letters.
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... Fine. What if Lucretia-san and I miss stuff on purpose on Saturday when we're all looking around, that you guys leave? Or we pick stuff up when people aren't looking. What about that?
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[she exhales a breath, shakes her head.]
We should be able to miss things fairly easily, if you tell us where to look. I might be able to look his body over as well.
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[ she doesn't want to be rude. ]
I don't mind things being overlooked or things unrelated to the events being placed, but they should not lead anyone to any of you. That is my only concern.
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