[ luckily, it's not too difficult for them to meet - it's early enough that nobody knows what's going on yet, and everyone's left milling around. Hikage, at least, is drowning in free time, and while it's pleasant enough that he gets to be outdoors this time instead of locked inside a manor or confined (largely) to a castle, a prison is still a prison. If he lingers too long, he can feel the doubt crawling under his skin again the way it used to.
So he tries to focus on working. And for right now, the only thing he's working on is getting out of here - making sure Steph and Belph do, at least, if nothing else. He doesn't trust anybody else here; he's taken them behind the residential area, off to the side, hoping they won't be bothered. ]
... I'm guessing yours changed, too, [ he says, holding up the travel guide. ]
[ it really is exactly like the castle... SIGH! At least they're well-prepared compared to the others. Hikage tucks the brochure back in one of his pockets. ]
... I'm going to tell you everything. I don't care if you want to return the favor. I just want to help you. [ blunt as ever. He has the scrunchie around one wrist, which he holds up. ] Mine's purple. It's "Resisting a Rest." There's a chance I can stay awake on Thursdays.
Staying asleep is more dangerous, anyway. But you're right. This essentially confirms that it's the same as the last one... Those guys are lying to us, too.
I don't know if we can say they're outright lying... definitely not telling us everything though.
[ she rubs the back of her head. ]
Listening to everyone yesterday, it sounded like there were groups where the hosts genuinely were learning about what was going on as time passed along with the people stuck there. Or that the hosts were actually trying to help them, but it was some other power that was keeping them there.
So I guess the options are that they are completely lying, or they really don't think there's going to be murders like they've been saying, but they have to go along with us being here for whatever reason. Or they know something but can't tell us at the moment.
That might be hard to use effectively with this number of people. Unless you find out you're being suspected before that person has the chance to announce it.
[ he was being literal... he'd never suspect her because he's given her basically everything at this point. Belph, too, but Steph even more. She could betray him and he'd probably still go along with it because the alternative of being alone is worse...
he pauses, somewhat hesitantly, before continuing. ]
... Have anything else to share?
[ he doesn't expect them to trust them; simultaneously, he feels anxious about them not being forthcoming with information towards him. Anxious - or just a little sad, a sadness he's already prepared to resign to. ]
he smiles wryly, because isn't this nostalgic? it's how their first vizier meeting went, essentially.
belph can't say it isn't tempting to be secretive. it always is. but in the end, when they knew each other far less well back then and yet he answered to start off on the right foot, it seems cold to stay quiet now.]
Black Shadows, so I guess we have all three covered between us, huh?
I can create one temporary item each week, used only by me, for me.
[ and, once again, the two of them exceed his pessimistic expectations. A blink, and then he smirks, barely, to himself. He really is a pathetic guy. ]
One of each, huh.
[ will they be forced to turn against each other, or is it good that they're already working together? He has to wonder how the pieces will fall this time around. One month ago, he wouldn't have cared at all; now, though, he has to actually think about it. Hikage looks over at Belph. ]
Yours is something like what I had last time. It might be the most useful one here.
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week 0, wednesday evening
So he tries to focus on working. And for right now, the only thing he's working on is getting out of here - making sure Steph and Belph do, at least, if nothing else. He doesn't trust anybody else here; he's taken them behind the residential area, off to the side, hoping they won't be bothered. ]
... I'm guessing yours changed, too, [ he says, holding up the travel guide. ]
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but she nods her head at the question. ]
Yup! Gotta love it.
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War flashbacks... terrible war flashbacks...
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[ it really is exactly like the castle... SIGH! At least they're well-prepared compared to the others. Hikage tucks the brochure back in one of his pockets. ]
... I'm going to tell you everything. I don't care if you want to return the favor. I just want to help you. [ blunt as ever. He has the scrunchie around one wrist, which he holds up. ] Mine's purple. It's "Resisting a Rest." There's a chance I can stay awake on Thursdays.
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takes in what he said. ]
That's useful, but you... really would have to be careful with that.
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[ are you, Hikage ]
Staying asleep is more dangerous, anyway. But you're right. This essentially confirms that it's the same as the last one... Those guys are lying to us, too.
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[ she rubs the back of her head. ]
Listening to everyone yesterday, it sounded like there were groups where the hosts genuinely were learning about what was going on as time passed along with the people stuck there. Or that the hosts were actually trying to help them, but it was some other power that was keeping them there.
So I guess the options are that they are completely lying, or they really don't think there's going to be murders like they've been saying, but they have to go along with us being here for whatever reason. Or they know something but can't tell us at the moment.
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They haven't convinced me talking to them is even worth the air it wastes.
[ he's tired of aloof demiurges pretending to be his friend after locking him in their torture chamber. maybe later. ]
Whatever their reason is... I doubt it's good enough to make this worth it.
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We can't just expect everyone else to tell us things, too.
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Then you talked to them about yours?
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... I can basically make someone drop a suspicion they have of me.
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That might be hard to use effectively with this number of people. Unless you find out you're being suspected before that person has the chance to announce it.
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Pretty much. I'm already the least suspicious person here?
[ it's both a joke and also not because no one fuckin suspected her of anything in grimm ]
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just laughs
because yeah]
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... Well, you are to us.
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[ she is trying to keep a straight face ]
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[ he was being literal... he'd never suspect her because he's given her basically everything at this point. Belph, too, but Steph even more. She could betray him and he'd probably still go along with it because the alternative of being alone is worse...
he pauses, somewhat hesitantly, before continuing. ]
... Have anything else to share?
[ he doesn't expect them to trust them; simultaneously, he feels anxious about them not being forthcoming with information towards him. Anxious - or just a little sad, a sadness he's already prepared to resign to. ]
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[ wait. she thinks back to what she had already said. ]
Winter Wizard.
[ she realizes she had only brought up her power and not who she was with.
... and then she glances at belph. ]
You don't have to say anything.
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he smiles wryly, because isn't this nostalgic? it's how their first vizier meeting went, essentially.
belph can't say it isn't tempting to be secretive. it always is. but in the end, when they knew each other far less well back then and yet he answered to start off on the right foot, it seems cold to stay quiet now.]
Black Shadows, so I guess we have all three covered between us, huh?
I can create one temporary item each week, used only by me, for me.
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One of each, huh.
[ will they be forced to turn against each other, or is it good that they're already working together? He has to wonder how the pieces will fall this time around. One month ago, he wouldn't have cared at all; now, though, he has to actually think about it. Hikage looks over at Belph. ]
Yours is something like what I had last time. It might be the most useful one here.
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