I need to tell you something. [a beat, as he smiles wryly.] Actually, I've been trying to hint it to you all week, but I don't know if you were playing dumb or if you really just couldn't tell.
[ he sounds a little concerned, now, and he's running through all the things they talked about this past week in his head. There's one possibility that comes to mind immediately -- but Hikage simply hadn't paid attention to it, because it hadn't mattered to him. ]
[ it would be ludicrous to Hikage to think that Belph would be afraid of telling him anything. Him - who has made choices in this game solely to throw the group into chaos and disorder for his own amusement. ]
... She didn't really tell me anything, anyway. [ as always. he still doesn't even know the name of her role, and he didn't know what her objective really was until natsuo told everyone yesterday. ] But I'm listening.
[he lets out a breath. he can't disguise the tension in his body; he's still nervous.]
She and I are the two Viziers of this game.
... Which, as should go without saying, is info you should keep to yourself. As far as we know, you should be the only person in this game who knows about her role, and so far, even those who know about our existence believe that the Viziers don't know who the other is.
We're letting that assumption stick, since it's more advantageous to us and helps her stay hidden.
[that's... pretty much the gist of things, he supposes. now, what's left is to see how hikage reacts.]
[ all the talk of who he'd kill, and his self-deprecating looks. Not that it matters either way. Belph could have told him that he was an Editor and Hikage wouldn't really care.
This does elucidate him on what the Viziers are, at least - he's heard the name, but he didn't have a role to put with it. He offers a wry smile. ]
Everyone here is keeping secrets. That's the only way to survive. I'm not naive enough to think that you two would make me an exception... no, if you'd trusted me from the start like that, I'd have called you an idiot.
[ he moves through life assuming everyone is lying to him - moreso than ever here in this castle. ]
Maybe you're still an idiot. You know Akechi thinks I'm an Editor.
... He actually asked me to check you next week, so I was going to lie, but it doesn't matter now. He's figured out that you're the Alchemist—not that I'm supposed to know that he knows just yet.
[so yeah. uh, don't tell him belph spilled.]
I'd advise you not to share too much with him, by the way. I have an investment in keeping your secrets, but he doesn't. Whatever info he has is fair game for exchanging with others.
[ his relationship with Akechi is... weird. Frankly, Akechi probably knows too much about him, at this point. The two of them are too much alike, and before he began to remember, he'd reached out to him for relief in his own way. There's nothing he can do about it now. ]
... Just be careful. I know he's leaked to others, and I don't want it coming back to bite you. If you can, keep your gun with you next week.
[...]
A lot, but I can't tell you all of it. I'm sworn to secrecy when it comes to certain people... Still, what I told you before—about the various endings—is one of the big ones. We're keeping an eye out for possible alternate endings, though—ones the Crafters won't tell us exist.
Other than that... Actually, what do you know? You're the only role I'm in contact with that I haven't been collaborating with.
[ he always keeps his gun with him, so that's nothing new. Belph and Steph are probably the only two people he wouldn't shoot immediately if he thought they intended to attack him.
He frowns a little bit when he hears that last part - but how can he blame Belph for being suspicious of him? He'd be suspicious of himself. ]
... That's a broad question. [ where to start... ] I don't think I know anything that you don't know. I've only been concerned with things that pertain to my own survival here.
Crafters' orders. Those who are considered too unstable, those who are too disobedient and won't go along with this game, etc. The Editors don't have a say in it.
[ too unstable... when Belph says that, he arches a brow, but doesn't say anything. Hikage can't help but wonder if he isn't on their list. Then again, Tiger seemed to like him better before. ]
Please do. I'd rather not see you die, especially at the hands of someone I wouldn't be able to go after.
[...]
On that note, though, you might want to reconsider your kill choices if you ever become Blotter. Varian happens to be one of Steph's favourite people here.
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What do you want?
[ that doesn't mean he'll have a pleasant greeting, though, apparently. ]
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I need to tell you something. [a beat, as he smiles wryly.] Actually, I've been trying to hint it to you all week, but I don't know if you were playing dumb or if you really just couldn't tell.
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[ he sounds a little concerned, now, and he's running through all the things they talked about this past week in his head. There's one possibility that comes to mind immediately -- but Hikage simply hadn't paid attention to it, because it hadn't mattered to him. ]
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hikage is his friend. regardless of everything else, belph doesn't want to break that trust.]
... Back then—two weeks before the break—I was the one who told Steph that she should tell you the truth. [...] Now, I guess it's my turn.
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... She didn't really tell me anything, anyway. [ as always. he still doesn't even know the name of her role, and he didn't know what her objective really was until natsuo told everyone yesterday. ] But I'm listening.
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She and I are the two Viziers of this game.
... Which, as should go without saying, is info you should keep to yourself. As far as we know, you should be the only person in this game who knows about her role, and so far, even those who know about our existence believe that the Viziers don't know who the other is.
We're letting that assumption stick, since it's more advantageous to us and helps her stay hidden.
[that's... pretty much the gist of things, he supposes. now, what's left is to see how hikage reacts.]
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... Is that all? I thought you were a Blotter.
[ all the talk of who he'd kill, and his self-deprecating looks. Not that it matters either way. Belph could have told him that he was an Editor and Hikage wouldn't really care.
This does elucidate him on what the Viziers are, at least - he's heard the name, but he didn't have a role to put with it. He offers a wry smile. ]
Then you definitely need to stay alive.
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You're taking the fact that your partner and I have pretty much been lying to you for weeks awfully well.
[this is... a little anti-climatic? he's glad that hikage doesn't seem upset, but after stressing over this for so long...]
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[ he moves through life assuming everyone is lying to him - moreso than ever here in this castle. ]
Maybe you're still an idiot. You know Akechi thinks I'm an Editor.
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[so yeah. uh, don't tell him belph spilled.]
I'd advise you not to share too much with him, by the way. I have an investment in keeping your secrets, but he doesn't. Whatever info he has is fair game for exchanging with others.
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[ his relationship with Akechi is... weird. Frankly, Akechi probably knows too much about him, at this point. The two of them are too much alike, and before he began to remember, he'd reached out to him for relief in his own way. There's nothing he can do about it now. ]
So? Have you learned anything interesting?
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[...]
A lot, but I can't tell you all of it. I'm sworn to secrecy when it comes to certain people... Still, what I told you before—about the various endings—is one of the big ones. We're keeping an eye out for possible alternate endings, though—ones the Crafters won't tell us exist.
Other than that... Actually, what do you know? You're the only role I'm in contact with that I haven't been collaborating with.
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He frowns a little bit when he hears that last part - but how can he blame Belph for being suspicious of him? He'd be suspicious of himself. ]
... That's a broad question. [ where to start... ] I don't think I know anything that you don't know. I've only been concerned with things that pertain to my own survival here.
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Yeah, I kind of got that feeling. Well, I've mostly been focused on confirming the other roles, since that's my job and I get rewarded for it.
[...]
I'll admit, though, that I'm working with one of the Editors. I'd appreciate it if you tried to leave them alone.
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[ as long as himself, Steph and Belph aren't targeted... it's fine. Shirasu, too, by extension, he supposes. ]
Does that mean you know how they choose who to execute?
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... I'd better watch my back, then.
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[...]
On that note, though, you might want to reconsider your kill choices if you ever become Blotter. Varian happens to be one of Steph's favourite people here.
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Then who would you suggest?
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[he'd rather not see her upset.]
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