week 3 ( saturday );

[reidentify]

[Well, everything is a mess.

But Lief has wanted to talk to Vriska about something all day, regardless of the trial's outcome, and... in the end, the results haven't changed that. (And he has to focus on this, or else he'll be overwhelmed.)

So, as soon as he finds Vriska alone—]

You are the item role.

Comments

[reidentify]

[He sighs. Yeah, he's not surprised.

Likewise, he's suddenly feeling even more tired than usual, his mind whirling with what he's supposed to do from here.]

Indeed. You seem to have Jacopo fooled, unless he, too, is a part of this.

[hypertoxic]

Jacopo is a fucking idiot and I should kick his ass, [ Vriska drawls, with some mild acid. But then she'll huff a soulful sigh. ]

I never told him I was the item role, you know. I told him my job was to save everyone, and he talked himself into believing it. It was convenient, so I let him! I should have done a better job of telling him to keep his trap shut.

[ ... ]

Jacopo is a good person who likes to think of himself as a sneaky manipulator. An operator behind the scenes! But I believe his true intent is to help. He does not have a role. As far as I know, he is a complete innocent in all this, aside from his one execution.

[reidentify]

... I had the same impression. He claimed he did not have a role—though I cannot really take anyone who says that at their word—but for all of his attitude, I believe he has good intentions as well.

And I do not think he would have taken the initiative to risk his neck if he had a role.

[He was the one who outright suggested going into the cavern (the jungle, first), after all.]

[hypertoxic]

Why do you think I didn't go into the jungle? [ Said dryly. ] Not only did I have a general impression of the risks, I knew better than to do anything that would risk my life when so much relies on the five of us staying alive.

[ There's a pause then. ]

Whatever Jacopo's status is, he isn't a Siren, and I won't be revealing any of the other Sirens to you. If the villagers want to lynch someone for our crimes, they'll lynch me. If I have to go down for the other Sirens to stay alive, that's fine. I have been saying since the very beginning that I am fine with being a monster if that's what it takes to get everyone out of here alive.

[reidentify]

[To be honest, that was why Lief went around trying to figure out who suggested the idea among each group, since—yeah. Not likely the murderers would be among them.

Her words echo uncomfortably, as he thinks of his conversation with the Piper, long ago.]

... Why Lelouch?

[hypertoxic]

The reasons you'd expect. He was smart, and a possible threat! We decided to get him out of the way before he could figure out who we were. It wasn't personal. I liked Lelouch, [ she comments, but there's something beneath her casual tone. Something hard to describe, but not happy. ] But I had to do what needed to be done!

[reidentify]

[He feels sick, especially thinking of his friends who could very well fall under that category.

...

Sorry, Vriska. He doesn't hold that thinking against her (if he were in her shoes, perhaps he'd do the same), but he can't say anything right now.]

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska lets him have his moment. She knows what she said, and how heartless it sounds. There ain't nothing she can do about that.

She just sits in the surf and watches the ocean foam swirl around her, letting it run through her fingers and thinking about everything she's ever done that brought her here.

Eventually she'll say: ]

I know how horrifying it sounds to someone like you. But that's why I'm a Siren, and you're not.

[reidentify]

... Indeed. Perhaps.

[He knows that he isn't quite as kind and idealistic as everyone thinks he is, but most likely, he's not ruthless enough for the role of Siren.]

What... precisely do you want with my cooperation?

[hypertoxic]

... I won't ask you to do anything you're not comfortable with, [ she says, with a slight drawl and eyebrows raised. ] Like, I'm not going to ask you to murder somebody on my behalf. At most I'd ask you to back me up in the next trial, if I even make it to next Saturday.

What I will really request is your help in securing a third option if I find out there's a way. I don't know what that will mean, but I know it could be extremely dangerous.

[reidentify]

... If it is my own life to risk, that I can handle. [...] And I can lie, if need be.

[Vriska's already seen a glimpse of that, at least. Lief's nice, but surprise, he can be manipulative when he needs to be.

... Though he certainly doesn't enjoy it when he has to be so against anyone but his enemies.]

[hypertoxic]

Then it sounds like we have a deal.

[ A sigh, and she'll wipe her hands down her front. There is still some corpse goo on her shirt. Gross. ]

I will let you know as soon as I find anything out. Was there anything else you wanted to interrogate me about while we're fuck deep into honesty hour?

[reidentify]

... I suppose I might as well ask if there is anything else you can tell me about your role.

[hypertoxic]

What else do you want to know? Battler was pretty thorough. He stated the facts as the rest of us know them.

[reidentify]

I am not sure. I have no role, remember? I do not know the extent of what rules you have been given.

[...]

Do you know anything about Ruby's disappearance? Or the hallucinations?

[hypertoxic]

No, aaaaaaaand nope. Those things are just as much a mystery to us as they are to the rest of you! We don't have a fucking clue. For the record, I have no idea what happened with Mello, either. I don't think any of us do, and the only person who does wasn't exactly forthcoming.

[reidentify]

[He figured as much, but it was worth a shot.]

... And you will not confirm if—Raven is among you, will you?

[hypertoxic]

I won't confirm any names you give me, Lief. Not because I don't trust you, but because unless it is absolutely necessary, it is their decision whether or not to reveal themselves! If you want to know, you will have to ask her yourself.

[reidentify]

I assumed as much. [...] Though I can hardly ask her myself, in case she is not in fact a Siren.

... Just that if she is, please tell her that I would like to know, should she be willing. Otherwise, if she is not one, then it is obviously nothing to do with you.

[hypertoxic]

[ ....

a sigh. ]

Alright. I will do at least that much.

Anyway, do me a favor and don't go telling the whole fucking village I'm a Siren. I would like to delay my inevitable murder by at least a few days.

[reidentify]

... I have to tell Magilou. She already falsely believes you to be the item role, thanks to me, and if she knows the truth, she will provide her assistance.

If you are asking me to lie to all of my friends here—to people who have told me that they believe in me—as you kill them, then at least give me that much.

jan why is this thread so long

[hypertoxic]

[ ....... ]

I won't say that you can't, but I'm sure you understand how I feel about more people knowing at this point! Just be careful, for both our sakes.

And I'm not going to just start murdering your friends left and right, fuck!

i don't know

[reidentify]

[He gives Vriska a pointed look.]

Magilou swore to secrecy the last time I asked anything of her, and she has yet to lie to me, which makes her more trustworthy than some.

[Himself included, since he hasn't exactly been the pinnacle of honesty (see: lying about his name), but.]

For all intents and purposes, you are, unless you are saying you will go out of your way to avoid them.

[And he knows she has no real reason to do that.]

suffering, probably

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska snarls at him without sound, her expression twisting with a fury that bares her fangs. ]

Fuck you, Lief! You think I'm enjoying this? You think I'm having fun? You think I fucking love watching my friends drop dead around me?! Because I fucking don't, you enormous jackass! I hate this!

[ Her voice breaks, and Vriska ducks her head. She'll start tugging on her hair, the motions short and sharp and more like a tic than anything deliberate. ]

If all you've got left to do is preach at me about what a terrible person I am, get in fucking line.

sounds about right

[reidentify]

[...

He sighs.]

That was not my intention, Vriska. If I am on edge, it is—not at you, personally. [Well, maybe a little personally. Sorry.] I do not think you are that sort of person. But the fact of the matter is that, unless you intend to end the game in this week, you cannot avoid having to target someone I care about.

And all my point was that if I am asked to look the other way and deliberately not do anything to avenge them, then at least grant me the right to confide in one person.