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.
[Like last week, Percy makes sure no one's really paying attention as he heads for the Sheriff's station, letting himself in and seeking out Hal. For once, he's not as annoyed or hostile as he usually is in these situations. Instead, he's thoughtful.]
...how are you?
[...what the fuck, Percy. (Sure, all right, this visit has purpose but that seemed like a nice thing to ask?)]
Takes the fun out of it, doesn't it? [He drums his fingers on his elbow from where his arms are crossed, but he continues to be contemplative.] Do the people who pushed toward a confession earn merit, or is that like a double-negative?
[He does frown slightly.] I have a couple of new questions for you, if you have time and if I've earned answers. With our numbers dropping like crazy, time's starting to be a little more crucial, don't you think?
It does but I don't blame those who pushed for it. You earned merit, yeah. You convinced someone to kill himself, effectively. Can't take that from y'all.
[He blinks in surprise, if only because he didn't realize how it was coming across. He also doesn't want to think about the fact that Hal might be able to read his mind, given his conversations this weekend. So there's a soft shake of his head as he leans against a wall.]
Not exactly. I just wanted to clarify that my method's still helping the game but also earning me merit. I can still effectively do my job this way without actually incriminating myself. Nothing in your rules says I can't go after people in trials and get rid of them by the popular vote. Still counts as a kill, I just don't have the weapons available to me. I'll do better next time in trial to root out the problems.
[On the other hand...] Hal. Like I said, I have a few questions, but I wanted to ask about Nisha's corpse first. That wasn't you, was it?
That's reassuring. [And by reassuring he means "holy fuck."] Which means someone else went down to the mines, didn't get swallowed by the skeleton pit, ripped apart her torso, filled it with coal, and left her innards elsewhere. Which means that the same might happen to me if anyone's even halfway on the right track. You see my concerns, right?
[...a soft sigh.] When I took this job, it was because I had someone to protect. Your Deputy took her away from me, and now I want to find your Deputy. [More than that:] ...there's still nothing against playing both sides, is there? Working for you but doing everything I can to help the Bounty.
There are a few people that aren't playing right. Or they're not playing smart. Am I right to assume those people don't have roles in this game? Or is that asking you too much?
Ain't gonna happen to you, kid. And they're not spit up back in the mines. They're spit back up where I can grab the corpses.
[ A shrug here. ]
I ain't on anyone's side. Performing your role ain't against or for the Bounties. Perhaps, personally, they morally object but it ain't against the role.
But the coal...? [Hal?? It doesn't make sense to him and it's genuinely freaked him out. Despite that.]
I want to do what's right. Objectively speaking, I still think this whole game is stupid, but I'm also not stupid enough not to play along. I understand that I need to play and earn merit and stay alive to either win the game myself, or make sure Damian wins. Ideally, I'd like the latter. That's how this goes, isn't it? Deputy versus the Leader of the Bounties. Knowing your sense of humor, the Deputy's either another child or someone you knew we'd have a hard time killing.
The Bounty and my friends will morally object, but...I want to do what's fair. I need to guide that kid to winning, and if there are obstacles in his way I'd like to see about fixing that. [This whole conversation makes him nervous. He's fidgeting still, trying to figure out what it is he wants to do.]
Off the top of my head? Ana, Elizabeth, and that guy Rintaro? Elizabeth doesn't seem to be paying attention to how the game works. I can't get a read on Rintaro, and it's a little suspicious for Felix to say that Ana will vouch for him and she never says a word. I think this happened last week, too. And anyway, you were in this trial. Ezio stayed quiet in weeks two and three and chose to elect himself sacrificial this week. The quiet ones are the people I'm worried about.
They got it from the mines to put in her stomach. Simple as.
[ Still, he listens to Percy's explanation and nods along to it. ]
Well, it ain't a real Western if there's no showdown between the Good Guy and the Bad Guy at the end, is it, Percy?
[ Come on! Thematic. Thematic. The Sheriff notices his fidgeting and sits there, considering for a while with his eyes on Percy. It'll seem a little weird after a minute or so but he eventually does speak, offering -- ]
You are right about those three. I wanted to have 'em killed by a miner but it's too many to go all at once and will throw off everything. I'd be giving you Elizabeth to kill anyway, but I thought about it and I would like you to kill her as an independent kill on Thursday night. That would be better for the progression of the game.
[ And he holds up a hand then, as if to stop Percy before he can say anything. ]
Before you object, consider. You're going to kill her anyway. I would request you to kill her anyway. What's the difference of venue going to change?
[But the skeleton pit--oh forget it. He just doesn't want to be carved up, end of story. There's a derisive snort though.]
Of course not. Can't forget that this is all about entertainment for you guys. I'm still looking for the rest of the Bounty to help him. I can't fight for him, but I can help. I'm sure that'll help your ratings, having someone like me helping out the Good Guy while technically being one of the Bad Guys.
[There's a small breath when Hal finally speaks. Thanks for the stare-down, robo-Sheriff. And Hal's correct, he does start to object and he's left with his mouth partially open before he decides to shut up and listen.]
The difference of venue is going to change in the fact that I don't actually know how to kill anybody, maybe? Not in a way that isn't blatantly obvious it's me. You took my powers and my sword, and I wouldn't use my signature for something like this. I appreciate you not making me take out three people at once, but. [He bites the inside of his cheek.] The difference is the mines also have a ton of weapons and the dark on my side. An independent kill is a little more risky.
Which...I guess is exactly why you'd want that. [...hmm...] There's nothing off the table for framing someone, is there?
[And he seems to have second thoughts because he's suddenly shaking his head, a hand running over his face and muffling the "what am I doing" that escapes.] She's technically innocent. Would she be revived if Damian wins and chose the revive option?
[ But that's all he'll say, continuing from there. ]
Here's three things. One, that's the reason why no one has powers, Percy. All the kills can happen just the same way here as the person standing next to you. You finally get that? You used your hands, no advantages. Your brain too, if you want to frame someone.
Two, she would, yeah.
And three, if you do it I'll tell you who killed Annabeth as your reward.
--wait, what? That's...impossible. Hal, the Deputy's who keeps putting people at risk. How is that someone good?
[He has a lot more to say, room to argue about his powers and the state of Elizabeth's revival, but it's that third item on the list that renders him speechless. The air disappears from his lungs and his vision seems to sharpen. He stares for a moment, fearless and calculative as though looking for a loophole. When he speaks, the tone is a low sort of timber.]
...really. [Will had told him it was a man. He didn't want to ask Will further because that wouldn't be fair to Will. On the other hand, he hasn't been able to shake it off for days.] Can I be sure you'd tell me the truth and not the name of someone else you want me to convict?
The role is the Good Guy role, Percy. The Bandit role is the Bad Guy role. Doesn't take account the character of people put in the roles.
[ A shrug. But then when Percy asks, he nods. ]
How do my rewards work, Percy? You complete the task. You succeed at the task. You earn the reward. S'how it goes. This is outside your usual work so I am willing to give you a bigger reward for it.
[Just. He's rubbing his temples because how the fuck did this get even more complicated.] How.]
But you somehow think that Damian's the right person for the Bandit and whoever your Deputy is is right for that job. Hard to follow when they haven't chosen to protect anyone.
[But he's on the Annabeth train, following logic and desperate for an answer. In the same way he'd been desperate and trying not to show it with Will and Hannibal, it's here now in his eyes as he keeps his full attention on Hal.]
You have a point. [He flexes his fingers a little just to expel some excess energy.] But what about if I had the name of her killer and framed Elizabeth's death to sync up with his style? That would count, wouldn't it? Especially if we were about to work the trial to out him and vote for him the way we voted for Ezio. Wouldn't that fall in the guidelines? I'm still using my own hands and my own brain.
[ A shrug here, he won't explain the logic for the roles. It fits the theme a far as he cares.
But he will correct Percy on a few things. ]
The stocks will be in use that evening and you haven't earned the right to his name yet, kid. You can set someone on fire without knowing who Annabeth's killer is.
That's also implying that Elizabeth would even be in the stocks at that point, Hal. That's not a guarantee, so I can't exactly light someone on fire. Also I don't know if I could? What's wrong with you?
[Even Percy has his limits...despite...the fact he seems to be considering something anyway.] Unless she was already poisoned and then lit or something. Like a funeral fire. [Whywhywhywhywhy.]
No, it ain't. I could only request it but it's the Deputy's decision.
[ He remains indifferent to the exasperation but then Percy continues and there's a hint of satisfaction there. ]
I could only give you the poison or the gasoline, not both. But you can find sleeping pills in town as someone's recently requested them from the Suggestion Box.
Good to know your Deputy hasn't made a decision yet.
[...satisfaction is good. He likes that.] That box sure does come in handy, doesn't it. Okay so...let's say I had these sleeping pills. I don't know Elizabeth, never really bothered to talk to her much. Getting her to swallow these things is gonna be a pain in the ass, but if I could rig it so that someone else gives them to her and then lit her up? [He's shaking his head.]
The thing about lighting her on fire is that would still have the potential to trace back to me. Can't I just release a coyote on her or something easier? She's prone to wandering, isn't she? If I can't perfectly frame someone without incriminating myself, I can make it look like an accident. [THIS FUCKING SUCKS, GODDAMNIT HAL.]
[ This is when Percy finally gets a sigh and the Sheriff places a hand to his forehead. ]
Percy, I ain't gonna plan your murder for you. I can give you her, you can knock her out, you can set her on fire. Why would anyone pin the fire on you? What possible evidence or reason would they have to unless you wrote your name in her god damn ashes?
Anyway, Natalie Goodman has sleeping pills. Otherwise, use a shovel.
Dude, I don't know what I'm doing! [Like. That's obvious. But the other parts make sense...a shovel isn't a bad idea though, because he doesn't want to get Natalie involved at all. Natalie isn't allowed to get involved. He has to protect her, too.]
If you follow some people's stupid logic, they could pin it as a revenge murder that I did. But...that's also stupid logic, isn't it. [Ughhhhh.] ...if she's in the stocks this week, I'll take care of it there. Otherwise I'll find somewhere to store the body out of the way.
I have one more question for you. Maybe more like one request that you may or may not be able to grant.
Well, yeah. I mean, I didn't really think about it but then Annabeth asked me if she could watch y'all so I was like, why not? And I let them have a bunch of TVs.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sheriffexe) wrote2017-01-13 11:13 am
MONDAY
...how are you?
[...what the fuck, Percy. (Sure, all right, this visit has purpose but that seemed like a nice thing to ask?)]
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I'm okay. Not a fan of confessions though, so pretty annoyed about that. Hrm.
[ ... ]
Anything you need, Percy?
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[He does frown slightly.] I have a couple of new questions for you, if you have time and if I've earned answers. With our numbers dropping like crazy, time's starting to be a little more crucial, don't you think?
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[ But. Ah. ]
... Uh-huh. You wanna kill for me, Percy?
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Not exactly. I just wanted to clarify that my method's still helping the game but also earning me merit. I can still effectively do my job this way without actually incriminating myself. Nothing in your rules says I can't go after people in trials and get rid of them by the popular vote. Still counts as a kill, I just don't have the weapons available to me. I'll do better next time in trial to root out the problems.
[On the other hand...] Hal. Like I said, I have a few questions, but I wanted to ask about Nisha's corpse first. That wasn't you, was it?
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Makes sense. Not a guarantee but it makes sense.
[ And -- ]
Nah. I only killed Sakyou and Lissa. Ain't touch anyone else this whole time.
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[...a soft sigh.] When I took this job, it was because I had someone to protect. Your Deputy took her away from me, and now I want to find your Deputy. [More than that:] ...there's still nothing against playing both sides, is there? Working for you but doing everything I can to help the Bounty.
There are a few people that aren't playing right. Or they're not playing smart. Am I right to assume those people don't have roles in this game? Or is that asking you too much?
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[ A shrug here. ]
I ain't on anyone's side. Performing your role ain't against or for the Bounties. Perhaps, personally, they morally object but it ain't against the role.
[ He considers this before shrugging again. ]
Depends on who you're referring to.
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I want to do what's right. Objectively speaking, I still think this whole game is stupid, but I'm also not stupid enough not to play along. I understand that I need to play and earn merit and stay alive to either win the game myself, or make sure Damian wins. Ideally, I'd like the latter. That's how this goes, isn't it? Deputy versus the Leader of the Bounties. Knowing your sense of humor, the Deputy's either another child or someone you knew we'd have a hard time killing.
The Bounty and my friends will morally object, but...I want to do what's fair. I need to guide that kid to winning, and if there are obstacles in his way I'd like to see about fixing that. [This whole conversation makes him nervous. He's fidgeting still, trying to figure out what it is he wants to do.]
Off the top of my head? Ana, Elizabeth, and that guy Rintaro? Elizabeth doesn't seem to be paying attention to how the game works. I can't get a read on Rintaro, and it's a little suspicious for Felix to say that Ana will vouch for him and she never says a word. I think this happened last week, too. And anyway, you were in this trial. Ezio stayed quiet in weeks two and three and chose to elect himself sacrificial this week. The quiet ones are the people I'm worried about.
...unless I'm way off-base, then I'm pretty lost.
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[ Still, he listens to Percy's explanation and nods along to it. ]
Well, it ain't a real Western if there's no showdown between the Good Guy and the Bad Guy at the end, is it, Percy?
[ Come on! Thematic. Thematic. The Sheriff notices his fidgeting and sits there, considering for a while with his eyes on Percy. It'll seem a little weird after a minute or so but he eventually does speak, offering -- ]
You are right about those three. I wanted to have 'em killed by a miner but it's too many to go all at once and will throw off everything. I'd be giving you Elizabeth to kill anyway, but I thought about it and I would like you to kill her as an independent kill on Thursday night. That would be better for the progression of the game.
[ And he holds up a hand then, as if to stop Percy before he can say anything. ]
Before you object, consider. You're going to kill her anyway. I would request you to kill her anyway. What's the difference of venue going to change?
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Of course not. Can't forget that this is all about entertainment for you guys. I'm still looking for the rest of the Bounty to help him. I can't fight for him, but I can help. I'm sure that'll help your ratings, having someone like me helping out the Good Guy while technically being one of the Bad Guys.
[There's a small breath when Hal finally speaks. Thanks for the stare-down, robo-Sheriff. And Hal's correct, he does start to object and he's left with his mouth partially open before he decides to shut up and listen.]
The difference of venue is going to change in the fact that I don't actually know how to kill anybody, maybe? Not in a way that isn't blatantly obvious it's me. You took my powers and my sword, and I wouldn't use my signature for something like this. I appreciate you not making me take out three people at once, but. [He bites the inside of his cheek.] The difference is the mines also have a ton of weapons and the dark on my side. An independent kill is a little more risky.
Which...I guess is exactly why you'd want that. [...hmm...] There's nothing off the table for framing someone, is there?
[And he seems to have second thoughts because he's suddenly shaking his head, a hand running over his face and muffling the "what am I doing" that escapes.] She's technically innocent. Would she be revived if Damian wins and chose the revive option?
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Deputy's the Good Guy, Percy.
[ But that's all he'll say, continuing from there. ]
Here's three things. One, that's the reason why no one has powers, Percy. All the kills can happen just the same way here as the person standing next to you. You finally get that? You used your hands, no advantages. Your brain too, if you want to frame someone.
Two, she would, yeah.
And three, if you do it I'll tell you who killed Annabeth as your reward.
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[He has a lot more to say, room to argue about his powers and the state of Elizabeth's revival, but it's that third item on the list that renders him speechless. The air disappears from his lungs and his vision seems to sharpen. He stares for a moment, fearless and calculative as though looking for a loophole. When he speaks, the tone is a low sort of timber.]
...really. [Will had told him it was a man. He didn't want to ask Will further because that wouldn't be fair to Will. On the other hand, he hasn't been able to shake it off for days.] Can I be sure you'd tell me the truth and not the name of someone else you want me to convict?
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[ A shrug. But then when Percy asks, he nods. ]
How do my rewards work, Percy? You complete the task. You succeed at the task. You earn the reward. S'how it goes. This is outside your usual work so I am willing to give you a bigger reward for it.
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But you somehow think that Damian's the right person for the Bandit and whoever your Deputy is is right for that job. Hard to follow when they haven't chosen to protect anyone.
[But he's on the Annabeth train, following logic and desperate for an answer. In the same way he'd been desperate and trying not to show it with Will and Hannibal, it's here now in his eyes as he keeps his full attention on Hal.]
You have a point. [He flexes his fingers a little just to expel some excess energy.] But what about if I had the name of her killer and framed Elizabeth's death to sync up with his style? That would count, wouldn't it? Especially if we were about to work the trial to out him and vote for him the way we voted for Ezio. Wouldn't that fall in the guidelines? I'm still using my own hands and my own brain.
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But he will correct Percy on a few things. ]
The stocks will be in use that evening and you haven't earned the right to his name yet, kid. You can set someone on fire without knowing who Annabeth's killer is.
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[Even Percy has his limits...despite...the fact he seems to be considering something anyway.] Unless she was already poisoned and then lit or something. Like a funeral fire. [Whywhywhywhywhy.]
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[ He remains indifferent to the exasperation but then Percy continues and there's a hint of satisfaction there. ]
I could only give you the poison or the gasoline, not both. But you can find sleeping pills in town as someone's recently requested them from the Suggestion Box.
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[...satisfaction is good. He likes that.] That box sure does come in handy, doesn't it. Okay so...let's say I had these sleeping pills. I don't know Elizabeth, never really bothered to talk to her much. Getting her to swallow these things is gonna be a pain in the ass, but if I could rig it so that someone else gives them to her and then lit her up? [He's shaking his head.]
The thing about lighting her on fire is that would still have the potential to trace back to me. Can't I just release a coyote on her or something easier? She's prone to wandering, isn't she? If I can't perfectly frame someone without incriminating myself, I can make it look like an accident. [THIS FUCKING SUCKS, GODDAMNIT HAL.]
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Percy, I ain't gonna plan your murder for you. I can give you her, you can knock her out, you can set her on fire. Why would anyone pin the fire on you? What possible evidence or reason would they have to unless you wrote your name in her god damn ashes?
Anyway, Natalie Goodman has sleeping pills. Otherwise, use a shovel.
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Dude, I don't know what I'm doing! [Like. That's obvious. But the other parts make sense...a shovel isn't a bad idea though, because he doesn't want to get Natalie involved at all. Natalie isn't allowed to get involved. He has to protect her, too.]
If you follow some people's stupid logic, they could pin it as a revenge murder that I did. But...that's also stupid logic, isn't it. [Ughhhhh.] ...if she's in the stocks this week, I'll take care of it there. Otherwise I'll find somewhere to store the body out of the way.
I have one more question for you. Maybe more like one request that you may or may not be able to grant.
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I'm giving you the gasoline and the body and maybe you won't overthink it enough to actually do the deed. Lord.
[ Come on, Percy. ]
What do you want?
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…the people who're dead. They can see us, right? Can they see what happens on Thursday nights?
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[ wtf sheriff ]
Ain't allowed to tell you anything though.
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I don't want to know anything. I'll write to her myself, but I just...don't want her to see me do this. Is there any way to block that out?
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