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 Percy and Nisha just so happen to be that afternoon and holds out its leg. The message is short and simple:
Got a job for you. Meet me in front of the mine shaft at dusk. No show, no job. Keep it a secret, rewarded very well.
- Hal
P.S. Burn this.
Except Percy's note in particular has an addiction:
Don't tell your girlfriend, kid. I'll disqualify you both and you won't be able to win your way back home.
And that's it. Of course, if they choose to listen to the message, they'll find the Sheriff in front of the mines at dusk. They'll be greeted with a tip of his hat and one word:
"Miners."
And then he holds out two small notebooks. Looks like they've been chosen for one of those roles that were mentioned. Good luck.
Thanks. [First of all. May as well be kind of polite.] So the Madame has two, the Bartender has two...us, obviously, and your bandits. [Counting...] That's only 10. [Plus whatever the fuck Damian's doing, but he chooses not to say so yet.] This is information I can share, isn't it? I've been doing what I can to get people to play along and keep them solving everything, I can make up a reason you told me all of this.
So they do work together. [That was a theory they'd kicked around, but it's good to have that confirmed.] Nine people, and...two others. The Bandits and Bounties? [It's hesitant, but. That almost confirms it to him that the other roles are what Damian and his mystery half are doing.] Got it.
I appreciate it. Can I ask one more question? Or do you need more work from me first?
[This is a tad more selfish, but Damian did want him to ask.]
The stocks. You told Nisha that there's a role for who picks who for the stocks, and I know you told her that you couldn't answer the questions but...again, you can see why I'm personally interested. [A pause.] And I'm sorry I killed a coyote under your porch, it's probably gone by now.
[Percy???] I think...I was just wondering if there's a pattern to how people are picked, or if it's random and whatever they feel like kind of like how you pick who's most wanted in the week. And...you told me a while ago that Jason was supposed to be a witness, but that was messed up when Yuna and Milla sat outside with him. Annabeth was purposefully chosen to die instead of being a witness, wasn't she? [Restraining his barbarian princess girlfriend makes a stupid amount of sense, but he's morbidly curious.] If I had stayed, would it have mattered?
Jason was meant to be a witness but that could be changed. Annabeth, on the other hand, was meant to die. Nothing would've changed if you stayed because you weren't going to be there. Even if you convinced her to let you stay, you would not be there during the moment of her death.
I can't tell you how the stocks are chosen because that isn't my line of logic to follow. I don't ask. I'm only told who is going in.
[ Then, this is an offer -- ]
People in the stocks are made more vulnerable. I'm told before I talk to the Bandits because it's my job to let them know who will be in the stocks Thursday night. They can choose to kill that person or not to.
[Hes arrogant enough to think he could have fought her attacker, but there's something about what he says that doesn't line up.] I wouldn't be there like...someone would have moved me to a jail cell or something, too?
[The fact that she was specifically targeted is disturbing and everything he feared. He sort of looks like he wants to throw up, but at least he won't.] So whoever chose her for the stocks. It's one of the roles to hurt. And the camera and the bear trap, those came from a role to help, didn't they. The bear trap could have been used to catch whoever was around your porch. [A grown.] Unless that was just for coyotes.
[So that's some. He nods though, not quite satisfied but enough to drop the subject.]
Either way we could have done something. The coyote could have been caught so she'd keep her gun, or we'd catch the camera thief if we'd put the trap in the cell like I wanted. [Great.]
...thanks, Hal. [He's not entirely satisfied at all, but it's enough.] One more thing. Is it really our merit that bases how the game ends? Or do you or your employers have the chance to override it if we're not playing good enough?
Yeah, essentially. There's always alternative directions.
[ And the Sheriff considers before shrugging. ]
Ultimately, I want the decision to be up to y'all but I reserve the right to override it if it wasn't achieved with a tremendous amount of effort. If on day one, everyone just revealed their secrets and let it happen like that -- I would've killed everyone, permanently. See what I mean?
Yeah. I understand. I've been following your guidelines, man. Annabeth didn't even know.
[He's guilty about it, but now that she's gone...he's more determined than ever.]
If it's effort you guys want, there's no stopping it. People here are going to keep trying. You say that you randomly chose us. I'm still not sure about that.
[And a beat.] ...that labyrinth that's under the mines. Would it be dangerous to someone like me? It swallowed Nisha, but she was fated to die. What about me?
You realize that I'm already not the same as it is. Unless you mean missing body parts.
[Maybe it's just crazy talk. Or a suicide mission. Or:] Tarvek's still down there, but that's all a part of merit, isn't it. Making his way back. Proving he deserves to live. [He shakes his head.] Natalie told me what was down there, you know. [...and weirdly...] Thank you for at least giving her some tools to survive. Doesn't answer any of my questions, but she's fighting pretty hard to stay alive.
[And speaking of fighting:] With Nisha gone, I'd like to start watching for my own assignments to bring to you. That's still allowed, isn't it?
Tarvek's not coming back, Percy. How well he deals down there is what proves how big his reward for playing is. But he was dead the minute everyone voted for him.
[ He doesn't have anything to say about Natalie's deal though. It is what it is. ]
... Yeah? Sure, why not. I'll listen to them but I can't promise agreement.
[That's fair, he thinks. It'd be reckless to dive down into the labyrinth no matter how much it might help Xion to at least have that stability back...but it is what it is. He does need to stay alive, after all so there's a tentative nod.]
I'm not necessarily asking for agreement. But listening is all I ask for. Consideration, maybe. I can think of a few people already who've stayed quiet and to themselves in this town and that's not what this is about, is it?
[A beat.] The player who hid and killed the last contestants to win their game. Did they earn their reward? Did that count as effort?
[Hal please just tell him to shut up and fuck off, sorry he's like this.]
[ The Sheriff rubs at his beard at the next bit. Well, again. ]
Takes a lot of work to pull off what they did. Making yourself disappear in a small space like this? Ain't an easy thing to do. Setting it up so no one knew the deaths were by your hands until the very last one? I'd say that's even harder. They won, fair and square, I think. Only one of the current participants I'd consider being able to do that.
Someone very clever, you mean. Someone in this round of the game that, really, is a threat to some of the rest of us. [His words are clipped and sharp and he's not having it, suddenly alert and not necessarily bloodthirsty but aware.] Suppose I have to find that person myself?
[Again, not necessarily to kill, but to keep an eye on.] I think you can understand why I need to win more than ever. But when it comes to merit, you've always said it doesn't have to be about killing. If enough merit is displayed by enough people, could it be possible to have multiple winners? If shown off in an entertaining enough way.
That wasn't what I was saying. Damian is the only person capable of doing something like that here and he hasn't.
[ Jesus, calm down, Feral Child. ]
We could. It's quite possible but they'd have to truly be unable to kill anymore. If there's a hint of possibility they might still betray each other, the game has to continue.
[And a frown right back? Percy's dream is to also calm down, apparently.]
You gave the the most important role in this game to a child. How does that not strike you guys as unfair? [Says he who's been fighting to save the world since he was 12, nbd.] Damian's not going to kill anyone. He's too moral for that, so there has to be another option. [He raises an eyebrow.] Since he's been talking to you, too, I'm just taking a leap here and guessing that he told you he spoke with me, too. Or you told him to speak to me. I don't know which.
[Ugh.] This goes right back into trusting each other then. Kill until we have a tight enough group of people that trust each other not to stab each other in the back. [And there's a laugh. It's a little unstable, but hey.] Your employers really, really thought this through didn't they?
[Silence follows.] There's nothing in the rulebook about being disqualified for helping your Bounties, is there? In addition to doing my job.
I didn't tell either of y'all to speak with each other. You just did. I only know you did 'cause it's what I know. And I had my reasons for picking Damian. He was the best choice or the game wouldn't work.
[ And he's... not going to explain that bit, no. ]
Yes. And there isn't anything wrong with it, no. Right now, you're fine.
[He's just keeping his arms folded across his chest and closing his eyes to think this through. Or, more accurate, chilling out so he doesn't start yelling. Yelling won't help? He wants to yell. You put a horse in his room, man. And his girlfriend's dead. And this is bullshit.]
Funny how that works. [He won't pry. He'll find out on his own, he thinks.]
"Right now." Real assuring, Hal. [He cracks open an eye, a wry grin following.] They're going to kill me if they figure out it's me. But you guys are into that, aren't you? Risk. [A soft shake of his head.] I'll figure something out, keep everybody playing and eliminate those who aren't. Simple.
But there are certain people I'll be sharing that part with at least. Those that want to work together. That I trust not to stab each other in the back so far. I'll make something up how I got the information, it's fine. [He's. Talking to himself mostly, but whatever.] Thank you though. That's...way more than I thought I'd actually get from you. There's nothing else you need from me yet, right?
And I'll keep doing it if it gets me these results, I guess. [A nod to convince himself.] Thanks again, man. [And he turns to leave, but he stops at the door not only to make sure nobody will see him leaving, but just to think.]
...say hi to Annabeth for me. [He assumes Hal will do something with her body just like the rest when he gets ahold of it. It's morbid and maybe a little bitter, but it's also something. So with that Percy finally stops talking and leaves. Thanks again, Hal.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sheriffexe) wrote2017-01-13 11:13 am
no subject
Thanks. [First of all. May as well be kind of polite.] So the Madame has two, the Bartender has two...us, obviously, and your bandits. [Counting...] That's only 10. [Plus whatever the fuck Damian's doing, but he chooses not to say so yet.] This is information I can share, isn't it? I've been doing what I can to get people to play along and keep them solving everything, I can make up a reason you told me all of this.
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Madame and Bartender. Nine people.
[ But then he nods. ]
Yeah, that's your reward for the past few weeks of work.
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I appreciate it. Can I ask one more question? Or do you need more work from me first?
no subject
Ask and I'll see if I can answer.
no subject
The stocks. You told Nisha that there's a role for who picks who for the stocks, and I know you told her that you couldn't answer the questions but...again, you can see why I'm personally interested. [A pause.] And I'm sorry I killed a coyote under your porch, it's probably gone by now.
[Percy???] I think...I was just wondering if there's a pattern to how people are picked, or if it's random and whatever they feel like kind of like how you pick who's most wanted in the week. And...you told me a while ago that Jason was supposed to be a witness, but that was messed up when Yuna and Milla sat outside with him. Annabeth was purposefully chosen to die instead of being a witness, wasn't she? [Restraining his barbarian princess girlfriend makes a stupid amount of sense, but he's morbidly curious.] If I had stayed, would it have mattered?
no subject
Jason was meant to be a witness but that could be changed. Annabeth, on the other hand, was meant to die. Nothing would've changed if you stayed because you weren't going to be there. Even if you convinced her to let you stay, you would not be there during the moment of her death.
I can't tell you how the stocks are chosen because that isn't my line of logic to follow. I don't ask. I'm only told who is going in.
[ Then, this is an offer -- ]
People in the stocks are made more vulnerable. I'm told before I talk to the Bandits because it's my job to let them know who will be in the stocks Thursday night. They can choose to kill that person or not to.
no subject
[The fact that she was specifically targeted is disturbing and everything he feared. He sort of looks like he wants to throw up, but at least he won't.] So whoever chose her for the stocks. It's one of the roles to hurt. And the camera and the bear trap, those came from a role to help, didn't they. The bear trap could have been used to catch whoever was around your porch. [A grown.] Unless that was just for coyotes.
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Dunno how it would've happened. You just wouldn't be there to interfere.
[ But, right -- ]
The bear trap could've been used to catch a killer or a coyote. It was up to your behest to use 'em.
no subject
Either way we could have done something. The coyote could have been caught so she'd keep her gun, or we'd catch the camera thief if we'd put the trap in the cell like I wanted. [Great.]
...thanks, Hal. [He's not entirely satisfied at all, but it's enough.] One more thing. Is it really our merit that bases how the game ends? Or do you or your employers have the chance to override it if we're not playing good enough?
no subject
[ And the Sheriff considers before shrugging. ]
Ultimately, I want the decision to be up to y'all but I reserve the right to override it if it wasn't achieved with a tremendous amount of effort. If on day one, everyone just revealed their secrets and let it happen like that -- I would've killed everyone, permanently. See what I mean?
no subject
Yeah. I understand. I've been following your guidelines, man. Annabeth didn't even know.
[He's guilty about it, but now that she's gone...he's more determined than ever.]
If it's effort you guys want, there's no stopping it. People here are going to keep trying. You say that you randomly chose us. I'm still not sure about that.
[And a beat.] ...that labyrinth that's under the mines. Would it be dangerous to someone like me? It swallowed Nisha, but she was fated to die. What about me?
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You'd suffer the same way Natalie and Sei did. You'd most likely come back, but not the same.
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[Maybe it's just crazy talk. Or a suicide mission. Or:] Tarvek's still down there, but that's all a part of merit, isn't it. Making his way back. Proving he deserves to live. [He shakes his head.] Natalie told me what was down there, you know. [...and weirdly...] Thank you for at least giving her some tools to survive. Doesn't answer any of my questions, but she's fighting pretty hard to stay alive.
[And speaking of fighting:] With Nisha gone, I'd like to start watching for my own assignments to bring to you. That's still allowed, isn't it?
no subject
Tarvek's not coming back, Percy. How well he deals down there is what proves how big his reward for playing is. But he was dead the minute everyone voted for him.
[ He doesn't have anything to say about Natalie's deal though. It is what it is. ]
... Yeah? Sure, why not. I'll listen to them but I can't promise agreement.
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I'm not necessarily asking for agreement. But listening is all I ask for. Consideration, maybe. I can think of a few people already who've stayed quiet and to themselves in this town and that's not what this is about, is it?
[A beat.] The player who hid and killed the last contestants to win their game. Did they earn their reward? Did that count as effort?
[Hal please just tell him to shut up and fuck off, sorry he's like this.]
no subject
I suppose it ain't, no.
[ The Sheriff rubs at his beard at the next bit. Well, again. ]
Takes a lot of work to pull off what they did. Making yourself disappear in a small space like this? Ain't an easy thing to do. Setting it up so no one knew the deaths were by your hands until the very last one? I'd say that's even harder. They won, fair and square, I think. Only one of the current participants I'd consider being able to do that.
no subject
Someone very clever, you mean. Someone in this round of the game that, really, is a threat to some of the rest of us. [His words are clipped and sharp and he's not having it, suddenly alert and not necessarily bloodthirsty but aware.] Suppose I have to find that person myself?
[Again, not necessarily to kill, but to keep an eye on.] I think you can understand why I need to win more than ever. But when it comes to merit, you've always said it doesn't have to be about killing. If enough merit is displayed by enough people, could it be possible to have multiple winners? If shown off in an entertaining enough way.
no subject
That wasn't what I was saying. Damian is the only person capable of doing something like that here and he hasn't.
[ Jesus, calm down, Feral Child. ]
We could. It's quite possible but they'd have to truly be unable to kill anymore. If there's a hint of possibility they might still betray each other, the game has to continue.
no subject
You gave the the most important role in this game to a child. How does that not strike you guys as unfair? [Says he who's been fighting to save the world since he was 12, nbd.] Damian's not going to kill anyone. He's too moral for that, so there has to be another option. [He raises an eyebrow.] Since he's been talking to you, too, I'm just taking a leap here and guessing that he told you he spoke with me, too. Or you told him to speak to me. I don't know which.
[Ugh.] This goes right back into trusting each other then. Kill until we have a tight enough group of people that trust each other not to stab each other in the back. [And there's a laugh. It's a little unstable, but hey.] Your employers really, really thought this through didn't they?
[Silence follows.] There's nothing in the rulebook about being disqualified for helping your Bounties, is there? In addition to doing my job.
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I didn't tell either of y'all to speak with each other. You just did. I only know you did 'cause it's what I know. And I had my reasons for picking Damian. He was the best choice or the game wouldn't work.
[ And he's... not going to explain that bit, no. ]
Yes. And there isn't anything wrong with it, no. Right now, you're fine.
no subject
Funny how that works. [He won't pry. He'll find out on his own, he thinks.]
"Right now." Real assuring, Hal. [He cracks open an eye, a wry grin following.] They're going to kill me if they figure out it's me. But you guys are into that, aren't you? Risk. [A soft shake of his head.] I'll figure something out, keep everybody playing and eliminate those who aren't. Simple.
But there are certain people I'll be sharing that part with at least. Those that want to work together. That I trust not to stab each other in the back so far. I'll make something up how I got the information, it's fine. [He's. Talking to himself mostly, but whatever.] Thank you though. That's...way more than I thought I'd actually get from you. There's nothing else you need from me yet, right?
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You been working well so why keep stuff from you? Can't tell you the obvious but if it's something you already know about, I can give something.
And nah, there isn't. Not this week.
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...say hi to Annabeth for me. [He assumes Hal will do something with her body just like the rest when he gets ahold of it. It's morbid and maybe a little bitter, but it's also something. So with that Percy finally stops talking and leaves. Thanks again, Hal.]