week 1; friday ( shirasu )

[axilium]

[another week alive—provided nothing goes badly at the trial, that is.

either way, whenever shirasu returns, belph is waiting in their room. he appears deep in thought, before he looks up at his partner.]

Hey.

Comments

[wagashis]

[don't count your chickens before they vote, i guess?

okay that one was a stretch.

but shirasu doesn't take too long to return, out just long enough to look over those cases before he heads back.]

Are you well?

[axilium]

I'm not dead. By this place's standards, that's pretty well.

[wagashis]

Especially considering the higher number this time.

How are you by your own standards, then?

[axilium]

... Could be better, could be worse.

[he's quiet for a moment, before—]

Shirasu. If I told you my title, would you tell me yours?

[wagashis]

Right to the point today, I see.

[...he needs to think about that one for a minute.

they're partners, but they've also seen that there's at least one way around that, even if he doesn't know what exactly it is. that doll implies there are more possibilities.]

It's a large thing to ask, so early in this game of theirs. Is yours weighing on you? Or is it that you want some proof of trust?

[axilium]

[belph can't blame shirasu for his wariness. he'd feel the same way in his position—or, for that matter, he feels it now, even as the one initiating this.]

Not so much the former, a bit of the latter, but also that my ability isn't very useful when kept to myself, as I realized last week.

[wagashis]

...I will give you what I can. I can't promise to share my title or ability, but I won't leave you empty-handed either, if there's anything else you would ask in exchange.

[it's as honest an answer as belph is going to get.]

I understand it isn't ideal, but my ability is the opposite of yours.

[axilium]

Are you suggesting there's anything else worth asking?

[hmm. he has to think for a moment.]

[wagashis]

That all depends on what it is you want. You were looking for some sort of security, weren't you?

At the very least... hm.

[give him a second to figure out how much he can share without fully sharing.]

I can tell you what it allows me to do, if not specifically how.

[axilium]

... I feel like I'm still getting the short end of the stick, seeing as how my ability doesn't seem to be as complicated, but I suppose that's the best I can get.

[...]

I can tell exactly when someone died.

[wagashis]

[-oh. well. that's both useful and potentially a problem.]

So you have useful information, but you can't share how you're getting it without making yourself a potential target.

[that's the kind of ability someone who wants to get away with it would probably want out of play...]

As for mine-- it allows me to move freely without being recognized. It could help me keep an eye on you, should you need it.

[axilium]

Pretty much.

But it means that if, in the trial, I come up with "theories" related to the time of death, I'd appreciate some support. Trying to bring up the possibility that Gi-gan was killed before curfew last time was a pain, let me tell you.

[... huh.]

In other words, you're offering to stalk me?

[wagashis]

I'm offering you backup. If you ever need to meet someone and appear to be alone, I can still be present.

[then he gets info, belph gets protection, everyone is satisfied.]

I'll do what I can to support your theories as well. You aren't sharing this with anyone else, are you?

[axilium]

You're really living up to the stealth part of your tapestry, aren't you?

[that gets a vague sound of amusement out of him.]

And paint a target on my back? No.

[wagashis]

I suppose this place thought I could use something in line with my existing skills.

[that gets a wry little smile in return.]

I know I don't have to remind you to avoid it, but it never hurts to be sure. We are tied, after all.

[hm. that reminds him.]

Ah, about that. We may end up needing to consider whether to share that note.

[axilium]

... Because we're likely going to end up with odd numbers by the end of this week, right?

[wagashis]

Exactly. We already have two without partners, and if a third is killed after the trial...

There may be no guarantee anyone will be saved the way they were last time, either.

[axilium]

[it's not an easy decision.]

... On one hand, it might be better to save it. On the other hand, if people realize we purposely hid it, we're going to look pretty bad.

[wagashis]

... couldn't read the message and didn't figure it out in time? If we used ink to obscure the words...

[they can figure something out.]

For now, though-- let's see where things stand tomorrow night.