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 Milla 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 Milla chooses to listen to the message, she will find the Sheriff at the farm at dusk, chewing a piece of tobacco and watching the sun set. She'll be greeted with a tip of his hat and one word:
"Bounty."
And then he holds out a small notebook. Looks like Milla's been chosen for one of those roles that were mentioned. Good luck.
I have to admit, I'm not too fond of the idea of cashing in my hard work for a "reward" when the only reward I want is for this game to end with no more casualties.
[but all the same, she recognizes an opportunity when she sees one]
What sort of things can you give me?
["boys," is it. . . she lapses into silence as she chews on an orange slice]
As for the other Bounties, none of them have sought me out just yet. Or at least, not that I know of. I have a few suspicions though-- I'll see if I can smoke them out in the week to come.
[actually renders her speechless for a few good minutes. despite the information contained on the wanted posters, she had no idea the Sheriff and his employers knew that much about her. knew that much about the sacrifice she made back home-- the decision to abandon her human form and leave her comrades behind so she could live in the spirit world as Maxwell]
[she thinks it'd be nice to return home. return to Jude, to Alvin, to Elize and Rowen and Leia. . .]
[. . .]
[but Milla is a woman of duty. and right now, her duty is to play this game to the best of her ability in order to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. she closes her eyes, inhales and exhales deeply, and when she opens them again the shock is gone]
Could I cash in my reward for game information? For example, I'd like to know more about the role that places people in the stocks every Thursday morning. What purpose do those stocks serve?
[ The Sheriff watches her for a second before nodding. ]
Stocks make folk more vulnerable. Deputy puts them in the stocks and Bandits are more likely to kill 'em that day if they haven't picked anyone else yet.
[. . . it's an obvious answer, but for some reason having confirmation that the stocks were manned by the Deputy makes her clench her jaw in irritation]
A Deputy-- a role that is usually associated with upholding the law and protecting the innocent-- works in tandem with the Bandits? The weekly killers?
No. Deputy ain't helping the Sheriff. Deputy can either send someone out to the stocks to make vulnerable or keep them in the cell to protect. Deputy's only been using the stocks so far. I relay the victim since it's help or hurt. Bandits can choose whether or not to leave them there or not.
A person like that likely wouldn't be willing to work with the Bounty Leader to come to an amicable and creative solution to ending this game.
[a pause]
Which is the point. Isn't it? You pitted a young child who doesn't wish to kill against someone who prefers to make people vulnerable over protecting them on purpose, didn't you?
[poor Hal gets the brunt of her indignant rage at the Deputy]
[she falls silent again as she thinks, because honestly there are a MILLION questions she could be asking right now. questions about the other roles-- Doctor, Bartender, Madam-- to clarify their purpose and how they fit into the game. questions about previous rounds, and how they were brought to an end, if any of them ended on a non-murderous note]
[but in the end, she asks for something simple but, in her mind, incredibly useful]
May I request privileges for everyone to examine the body. . . or bodies. . . in the upcoming week's murder? At the trial?
[ Just the blanket of expressions before he looks irritated. ]
Why do people keep asking me that? I like everyone here. The only person I don't like is Ash because he killed my cat. Everyone else, including you, I like quite a lot. Why wouldn't I like you?
[ HE. JUST EXPLAINED THIS. EARLIER TO SOMEONE ELSE!!! ]
[THE WHOLE OF WHOLE ASS JUST WANTS YOU TO NOTICE THEM SHERIFF SENPAI???]
That's what I thought! But Percy was insistent that you seemed to have a particular soft spot for me. I couldn't imagine why. Perhaps he just doesn't know how to approach you in a way that gets you to answer questions.
You're nicer to me than Percy and don't throw a fit about the way my logic works. Why wouldn't I be nice to you in response? I'm nice to Percy too but he's always too angry to notice.
I know that. I only get angry back when what he's asking doesn't make any sense and I repeated myself. Like the powers. How hard is it to get that you're being put on an even playing field as everyone else? Unless you're an arrogant shit.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sheriffexe) wrote2017-01-13 11:11 am
WEEK FIVE
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[anyway!! she requests another meeting at the usual spot. she's peeling an orange when he arrives]
Sheriff.
Are there any updates on the other two Bounties? It seems I've managed to locate our leader.
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[ But, right. ]
Eh, not really? Boys decided to keep their head down, I suppose. Or were just too busy. They really ain't seek you out yet?
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I have to admit, I'm not too fond of the idea of cashing in my hard work for a "reward" when the only reward I want is for this game to end with no more casualties.
[but all the same, she recognizes an opportunity when she sees one]
What sort of things can you give me?
["boys," is it. . . she lapses into silence as she chews on an orange slice]
As for the other Bounties, none of them have sought me out just yet. Or at least, not that I know of. I have a few suspicions though-- I'll see if I can smoke them out in the week to come.
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[ A shrug. ]
Stuff like that, something within the game too. Just can't stop the game.
[ Ah. ]
Alright, you got it. Let me know if you need anything.
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[actually renders her speechless for a few good minutes. despite the information contained on the wanted posters, she had no idea the Sheriff and his employers knew that much about her. knew that much about the sacrifice she made back home-- the decision to abandon her human form and leave her comrades behind so she could live in the spirit world as Maxwell]
[she thinks it'd be nice to return home. return to Jude, to Alvin, to Elize and Rowen and Leia. . .]
[. . .]
[but Milla is a woman of duty. and right now, her duty is to play this game to the best of her ability in order to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. she closes her eyes, inhales and exhales deeply, and when she opens them again the shock is gone]
Could I cash in my reward for game information? For example, I'd like to know more about the role that places people in the stocks every Thursday morning. What purpose do those stocks serve?
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Stocks make folk more vulnerable. Deputy puts them in the stocks and Bandits are more likely to kill 'em that day if they haven't picked anyone else yet.
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A Deputy-- a role that is usually associated with upholding the law and protecting the innocent-- works in tandem with the Bandits? The weekly killers?
That's a reversal of common expectations.
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No. Deputy ain't helping the Sheriff. Deputy can either send someone out to the stocks to make vulnerable or keep them in the cell to protect. Deputy's only been using the stocks so far. I relay the victim since it's help or hurt. Bandits can choose whether or not to leave them there or not.
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You're telling me that whoever occupies that role has the choice to protect people. . . and has been choosing to make them vulnerable instead?
[WHAT KIND OF PERSON??? DOES THAT???]
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A person like that likely wouldn't be willing to work with the Bounty Leader to come to an amicable and creative solution to ending this game.
[a pause]
Which is the point. Isn't it? You pitted a young child who doesn't wish to kill against someone who prefers to make people vulnerable over protecting them on purpose, didn't you?
[poor Hal gets the brunt of her indignant rage at the Deputy]
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Well, yeah. The hell kind of reason would I have to do otherwise?
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. . . I suppose you wouldn't have any other reason to do otherwise.
[okay. calm yourself, Maxwell. getting indignant isn't going to help here!!]
At any rate, thank you for the answers to my questions. Does that use up the entirety of my reward?
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... Mm, no. Finding the Leader's a big deal. Like getting away with murder big. You can ask another question.
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[but in the end, she asks for something simple but, in her mind, incredibly useful]
May I request privileges for everyone to examine the body. . . or bodies. . . in the upcoming week's murder? At the trial?
[SOMETHING. . . TO HELP THEM SOLVE THESE CASES!!]
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You got it.
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-- I almost didn't expect you to say yes to that request.
[but!! she's a little pleased. the Sheriff's reasonableness strikes again]
I do have. . . one more question, unrelated to the game or this town in general.
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What is it?
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[suddenly she seems a bit. embarrassed?? this doesn't happen to Maxwell often]
I'm only asking this because Percy and a few other people have brought it up to me, but-
[ahem]
Do you have. . . a particular fondness for me?
[do u liek me circle y/n THANKS PERCY FOR PUTTING THIS THOUGHT IN HER HEAD]
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Why do people keep asking me that? I like everyone here. The only person I don't like is Ash because he killed my cat. Everyone else, including you, I like quite a lot. Why wouldn't I like you?
[ HE. JUST EXPLAINED THIS. EARLIER TO SOMEONE ELSE!!! ]
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[THE WHOLE OF WHOLE ASS JUST WANTS YOU TO NOTICE THEM SHERIFF SENPAI???]
That's what I thought! But Percy was insistent that you seemed to have a particular soft spot for me. I couldn't imagine why. Perhaps he just doesn't know how to approach you in a way that gets you to answer questions.
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You're nicer to me than Percy and don't throw a fit about the way my logic works. Why wouldn't I be nice to you in response? I'm nice to Percy too but he's always too angry to notice.
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He has been through a lot. You can't exactly blame him for being angry.
. . . you can't blame most of us here for being angry, actually. It's just-- some of us are a bit better at keeping that anger underneath a tight lid.
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But he just nods in reply then. ]
I know that. I only get angry back when what he's asking doesn't make any sense and I repeated myself. Like the powers. How hard is it to get that you're being put on an even playing field as everyone else? Unless you're an arrogant shit.
[ smh. ]
Point is, I don't dislike anyone.
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