The message comes by carrier pigeon actually, which is a pretty weird way to deliver a message but of course, it's thematic. A very pretty looking brown pigeon swoops down out of the sky to wherever Shinnosuke just so happens to be that afternoon and holds out its leg. The message is short and simple:
Got a job for you. Meet me at the farm at dusk. No show, no job. Keep it a secret, rewarded very well.
- Hal
P.S. Burn this.
And that's it. Of course, if Shinnosuke chooses to listen to the message, he will find the Sheriff at the farm at dusk, chewing a piece of tobacco and watching the sun set. He'll be greeted with a tip of his hat and one word:
"Bounty."
And then he holds out a small notebook. Looks like Shinnosuke's been chosen for one of those roles that were mentioned. Good luck.
Shinnosuke reads through the notebook carefully, before reading through it again. Once that's done—well, he laughs for a bit, because he has to, but not long after that, he's looking surprisingly... not-punchable, for once.]
While this is a disgusting role for a disgusting game and I guess that makes me suited for it... seriously? You're picking me?
I mean, it's no secret that I'm a horrible person. After Ash—and please tell me that Ash isn't one of the other Bounties, by the way—I'm probably pretty high on the list of "Potentially Crazy, Murderous Psychopaths". [Not that he's actually crazy, murderous, or a psychopath, but he doubts he's been giving the opposite impression.] If I'm not the first to be killed for being so unlikable, I'm going to be one of the first suspects—unless we're going with the "I'm so obvious that I'm not obvious" route here?
[This isn't stopping him from snapping a photo of the pages with his cellphone—he should probably burn the notebook too, huh? unless he doesn't get to keep it, anyway—but still, he's gotta complain.]
[ The Sheriff just lets Shinnosuke get on with his rant before lifting a shoulder in a shrug. He spits the tobacco out a moment later and crosses his arms over his chest. ]
Doesn't usually go down like that, promise you that. Probably the second is more likely, if it helps any. Since so far what I take from you is that you're a brat but you're curious. You're careful. Probably what other people get from you. Should be well enough an impression to help you through this role. Am I wrong?
[He lets out a sigh, looking tired—more tired than he'd usually let on in public. But given what the Sheriff's employers seem to be capable of, there's probably no point in trying to hide the truth: that, ultimately, he's not as much of a smug ass he'd like to pretend he is.
Though in light of this role (is he really going to do this? is it too late to walk away now? don't do anything idiotic), maybe he should tone that down a little too... Well, he can ponder that afterwards.]
I guess not. Not that I know what others think of me, though. If you're wrong, I'll just haunt you for life. How long is your lifespan as a robot, I wonder?
... Well, that aside, am I allowed to ask a few questions, or am I expected to flail around in the dark here?
Haha, at the expense of not being able to share them, right? Good for selfish ol' me, I guess.
[... This really is disgusting. Of course, it doesn't speak well of him either to be playing this role, but he's always known what kind of person he is, hasn't he? Someone who'll walk over others if it benefits him. Not that he's even sure that any good will come out of this game, regardless of what the Sheriff says, but if there's any chance that the others will take it seriously, he has to play to win—to survive—as well. That's what he's always done, in kill or be killed situations like these.
(He just wishes that he could get rid of the uncomfortable feeling tightening in his chest.)
He holds up his fingers, as if counting off.]
One: what'll happen if I'm selected to kill an unwilling Bandit but I refuse? Am I then going to be on the hit list for the next Bounty, or what?
Two: what counts as a reunion among Bounties? I mean, if someone asks me out of the blue if I'm a Bounty, there's no way in hell I'm just going to moronically go, "Why, yes, I am!" Are fireworks going to go off if we're both telling the truth about our role? How are we supposed to know?
Three: "The leader is needed to win the game." That's one way to end the game aside from "kill 'em all", depending on what the Bounty Leader chooses, but... well, I don't really expect you to answer this, but this other role that the Bounty Leader is searching for—do they win the game if they successfully hunt down each and every Bounty?
[For the fourth question, he lowers his hand and crosses his arms.]
Four: you say that this role rewards well, but please give me specifics. Aside nighttime dalliances with you, apparently, what do I get out of this?
[ The more Shinnosuke seems a little off-footed, the more the Sheriff looks pleased with the outcome. He's not smiling, no, but there's a certain kind of mixed peacefulness and amusement to his face that says enough.
He'll give the answers back just as he received them. ]
One. Both still die, one way or another. Can't tell you how but your clock will be ticking from them on. Only maybe a week or two until you're gone.
Two. Haha, no. Nothing like that. No, just know that I'll know and that's all you need to... uh, know? If two Bounties meet and confirm it with each other, I'll set up a meeting ASAP. If you've revealed it to someone else and I don't speak to you soon after, you've probably told a liar. Then you gotta figure out where to go from there.
Three. Can't quite answer that yet. Maybe later, if you earn it.
Four. You don't have to kill to be rewarded. If I see you actively engaging with the game and the participants within it, with the aim of your role in mind, you'll be rewarded. If you do particularly well at a trial, you'll be rewarded. If you meet another bounty, you'll be rewarded. If you meet another role in general, you'll be rewarded. You can also ask me for more material items if you'd like, might grant ya some without any of the work.
[... He really wants to punch the Sheriff, but aside from telling himself that that's what a goody-two-shoes would do (for the reasons he's thinking of, anyway), he gets the feeling that it'd be pointless at best, a bad move at worst.]
So in other words, in the confines of this role, if you tell me to jump, I should ask, "How high?" or else I could die? Heh... got it.
[That should be all he needs to know, really. He'll have to keep reminding himself of that: he can't afford to die, especially for the sake of anyone besides his sister.
... It's not going to be easy. He can't deny the influence that certain idiots back home have had on him, and some people here—Milla and Yuna come to mind—make it difficult to forget how appealing that dream is; a dream where he's anybody but himself.
How worthless. He's always stuck in this trap, no matter what he does.]
I don't suppose one of my "privileges" could be seeing proof that you can grant these rewards, huh? You couldn't demonstrate in front of... what's-her-face? Nisha? [...] Or that I could ask for a knife now?
[He doesn't actually expect anything to come out of those requests, but eh, worth a shot.]
Suppose that's right. Though, I'm not asking you to do anything but play it and not tell anyone. You ain't my lackey, kid. You just a bounty. A role in the game.
[ At the second part though, the Sheriff scratches idly at his beard and considers. ]
[He's a little bitter over being asked to kill people.]
... Could I ask for my knife from home? [...] Please?
[Not that it's a particularly special knife, especially what with his 《Headphone Fuzz》 (and thus Demon Sword switch) being inactive, but he likes that knife, okay.]
[ There's a roll of his eyes at the argument but he doesn't say anything. Instead, the Sheriff reaches behind him and there isn't quite anything different that happens, but a moment later he pulls his hand back and Shinnosuke's knife is held in it's grip. He holds it out to him, handle first. ]
There you go. Trust you'll do well not to let anyone know you got it from me, hm?
[He blinks in surprise, both because what the and also because he hadn't actually expected the Sheriff to grant his request. Still, he hesitantly takes the knife, before giving it an experimental twirl (nowhere near the Sheriff, no worries) and then concealing it in his clothes (wherever he hides it, idk).
He's not sure how much he trusts the "gift", but it's nice to have his knife back, seeing as how he's definitely not about to defend himself with his cellphone.]
Well, thank you very much. [It's said with his usual flippant tone, though, so who knows how genuine he's being.] This certainly gives me a reason to be nicer to you in the future.
And of course. Like I'll go around telling everyone what a nice guy you are, generously giving this to a shitty person like me for no apparent reason.
[Yeah, he figures he's better off hiding the fact that he has his knife at all. Simon already knows that he has his phone here, after all.]
Hey, more people unknowingly armed, more interesting everything else is. Ain't really my problem, in a fashion. Anyway, is there anything else you need?
A young girl died for the sake of "justice", and the world goes on.
But because the world goes on—and that's absolute, no matter the tragedy—so does Shinnosuke. (... What a familiar story this is, isn't it?) And thus, he seeks out the Sheriff.]
Hello, Mr. Sheriff. I have a few questions, if you would.
[Ugh, he hates himself for this so much right now. :(]
So we'll know who it was, one way or another. Well, it'd be a pretty awkward trial if we weren't even sure of the victim...
[How would that even work?? Actually, better not question that, or it's somehow going to happen.]
Next question: it says in our rulebook that the Bounties don't have to kill weekly, but we'll have to kill the Bandits if they reject their roles. While I can make some inferences from that... can I just have you confirm what the role of the Bandit is?
Bandits are folk picked weekly to kill a person in the group. Their participation is mandatory. If they refuse, you kill them for it. Well, depends on your leader, I suppose. I'd offer it to the leader first, and if they refuse I'll offer it to one of you bounties. Unless you tell me right now you especially want that role the next time it comes up?
[He freezes, making a face because what the fuck, why would you put him on the spot like that?
He doesn't say yes immediately, which he supposes is a good sign, depending on how one defines "good". On the other hand, he also doesn't say no immediately. After a few moments of simply staring, he manages to find his voice again.]
"Offer", huh... even though we'll die as well if we refuse?
[He lets out a light, sardonic laugh, before he continues, sounding far more serious this time.]
... Could I request it if certain people are put up for death?
Suppose I'd give you more chances, as long as you don't spill secrets.
[ And the second question does make him consider for a moment before he nods. ]
If I asked someone to be a bandit and they said no, and were someone on your list of people, you want me to pick you to kill them for their punishment? That it?
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sheriffexe) wrote2017-01-13 11:09 am
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