psychedelica | STEPH BELPH HIKAGE POWER HOUR

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.

Have you asked Purple Heart why you have that power?

[ he shakes his head at Belph. ]

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.

... you probably should. Even if you don't like them, we need to get as much information as possible.

We can't just expect everyone else to tell us things, too.

Pretty much. If nothing else, it's good to get clarification on how your ability works.

[ tilting his head curiously. ]

Then you talked to them about yours?

[ she shrugs ]

... I can basically make someone drop a suspicion they have of me.

Like... mind control?

[ hmm. ]

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.

[ she nods. ]

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 ]

[belph

just laughs

because yeah]

[ he cracks a small smile at that. ]

... Well, you are to us.

Rude.

[ she is trying to keep a straight face ]

And yet you love us.

I wasn't trying to be rude.

[ 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. ]

Nope.

[ 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.

[...

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.

I miss my old one already...

[ it was useless most of the time, but when it helped it definitely did help.

but alright, at least they know what they're starting out with. and it's already more than the last time they went through this. ]

Hopefully we won't have to actually use any of these.

Well, we'll see.

[ he does envy Steph's optimism. The moment Hikage saw his ability, he knew this wasn't going to be peaceful at all - not that he'd suspected any less from the start.

A nod. ]

I'm going to hold off on using mine this week. For now, I think waiting is the wisest thing to do. Going out on Thursday night before we understand what the dangers are is too risky.

[ ... ]

And I'll talk to the "purple heart," I guess.

No, that's a good idea.

[ about not using his power. ]

... I would recommend talking to all of them. At the castle, if we didn't talk to both Tiger and Dragon, we wouldn't have figured out how to get them both good endings. So it's best for us to know what we're working with.

So win 'em over with your charming personality, Hikage.

[ the look on his face makes it obvious that he super doesn't want to do that, but he sighs and closes his eyes... he knows she's right. ]

... I'll see what I can do.

[ only for these two!! ]

Great!

[ she beams. ]

And we'll let each other know if we find anything out.

(no subject)

axilium - 2020-06-13 00:36 (UTC) - Expand