week four - monday

[sating]

[ At some yet to be determined time because squee is UP TO SOMETHING, Hannibal will be tracking down Percy. As he approaches, it's rather clear that he's been looking for Percy in particular. He gives him a little nod of greeting, but he at least gets to business fairly quickly. ]

Percy— Do you have a few moments? There's something I'd like to discuss with you.

[ Which, depending on where they are when Hannibal finds him, he might add on an "in private" if necessary ]

Comments

I'M STILL YELLIN

[sating]

True, it's what he said, but I have rather serious doubts of his sincerity. False accusations bother him, and yet he not only killed someone, but let another die in his place. It makes that harder to believe. But it would also make the idea that he had done worse things than treason easier to believe.

[ He pauses and holds his hands in front of himself with a light sigh. There's a moment, however brief, where he seems to be watching Percy more than listening, but it's not really an intense gaze. It's more thoughtful, as if Hannibal were considering what bringing Percy down this path would mean for him. He's certain that he would never be the same.

But that was already true. He had already changed with Annabeth's murder. He would continue to do so. Outwardly, he projects that as concern, but inwardly... Hannibal is admittedly interested.

What sort of man would Percy become because of this?

The question is what makes the moment brief, and Hannibal continues. ]

He may know more than we do. A role, perhaps.

fingerguns

[hydrokinetics]

I have doubts about a lot of people suddenly if it's all the same to you. [AND YET SOMEHOW? NOT HANNIBAL? PERCY YOU STUPID MORON. But anyway. He doesn't seem to even care if he's being observed as he's pretty used to this by now. He's used to people assessing him, listening to him, sizing him up to see what kind of threat he is.

It's normal. At least something in this fucking place is.]

Maybe. We don't know who else is hiding around here. [He fixes him with an intrigued sort of look, something almost touching on the edge of a man who has nothing less to lose but still the calculated expression of a strategist.] What do you know about the roles, Dr. Lecter?

[sating]

[ He makes a short sound that's just an exhale of breath, but it's almost a laugh. ]

Technically speaking, it isn't, but I'm inclined to agree. I understand your point.

[ The question definitely piques his interest, though. There's a familiar, light cant of his head that indicates his interest, even though the gesture itself is small. ]

Far less than I would like, certainly. I thought that perhaps our bandits would be the only ones, though it seems that it wouldn't be that simple. [ He's referring to the Coal Miner, though he doesn't say as much. Because he thinks that the name is stupid. ] And there is the camera and the... trap. Considering how our sheriff has reacted to both, I had been assuming that it was perhaps another role, though an odd one. Yet considering Nisha's, perhaps "odd" is the norm.

[hydrokinetics]

[Hannibal might almost be amused or intrigued, but Percy keeps his expression tight and serious, suddenly thinking about this in a more concrete manner. Before...before, it had been ideas. Now that other roles were starting to show up, maybe there truly was more weight in this.]

...the Deputy, the Doctor, the Madame, the Bartender, and the Coal Miner.

[For a time, it seems to be all he'll say. But then:] Those are the ones I know the titles of. Someone I trust told me after the Sheriff told them. Do you really think it's possible Ezio could be one of the ones left?

[sating]

[ Oh. Well, then. Hannibal hadn't actually expected a list of names, so his expression quickly shifts to one of surprise, though it's quickly replaced by a partially exasperated annoyance. ]

...Keeping with our theme, I see.

[ Hannibal laments every day that he ended up in the Old West and not something more to his aesthetic like Europe. :( But. He shakes his head, though his brow knits together in confusion. Now that there's something more, he can at least take it a little more seriously, though despite his joking, the names are a problem. ]

Did they happen to mention what the roles were meant to do? Other than the Coal Miner, naturally.

[ And he can kind of guess at the Doctor, but. The other three are a bit more ambiguous. He doesn't answer the question for Ezio in particular just yet, since he had only been guessing based on his knowledge. Now having names to put to the idea, he has to reconsider it. ]

[hydrokinetics]

It'd be criminal not to stick with the theme. [He couldn't sound more flat if he tried. And yet, he nods. He noticed it was a theme and that's why it's all the more frustrating.]

When they asked, Sheriff wouldn't say. I'm guessing he didn't feel that they deserved to know that part. That's what the whole game's about, isn't it? Merit. Earning stuff. [He's tired of having to prove himself in stupid, complicated ways.] We already know some of the roles are meant to hurt us, but what about the possibility of good roles? [He, too, can kind of guess at the Doctor, but it's hard to say when literally everything in this stupid game is designed to hurt them.]

[sating]

Unless the term "doctor" is a misnomer, it does seem like at least one of them might benefit us. And if giving the camera and the trap was indeed the work of someone with one of those roles, that's a "good" one, if I were to categorize it.

[ Though the idea of merit itself... Hannibal seems thoughtful for a moment, but then asks: ]

I wonder— Do you think that my surgeries might count as "merit"? Saving lives might be against the intention of the town, but at least with two, that would seem like merit to me. [ and then it turns into four so?? what the fuck?? ] At the very least, it might not hurt for me to ask what some of these other roles are meant to do.

[hydrokinetics]

You're sure it's not you, Dr. Lecter? [A wry, almost-teasing smile that's similar to what he might have been able to pull with Annabeth around. It doesn't quite meet his eyes, but he's trying.] Since the camera was supposed to allow us to see things, and the bear trap could have been used to stop the coyotes or the camera thief if we'd been smarter, I think it's save to say we can categorize the item-giver as a good role, too. It's not their fault we haven't figured out how to really use their items yet.

[It's something he still regards with some bitterness, but he won't go into it.]

The rulebook says that each action counts. It doesn't necessarily say it has to be a murder, and he seems more willing to give answers to people who do stuff like ask questions and participate in the trials. I don't think saving lives is against the town's intention when all of the people you've helped so far have been hurt by the town itself, not by actual people. [Both Natalie and Seizaburo were swallowed by Whole Ass, after all.] If anything, it shows that you're paying attention to the game so I think so. [He quirks an eyebrow then.] I know the same person who asked about the titles of the role was willing to go back to the Sheriff to ask what the roles are meant to do, but it's possible the Sheriff might see your contributions as more "worthy" or whatever. Hard to say what he thinks when he's pretty indifferent about everything.

[Stupid robot.]

[sating]

[ The suggestion gets a corner of Hannibal's lip to twitch into a little bit of a smile. ]

That would be fitting, wouldn't it?

[ Which is all he has to say on the matter, apparently. He doesn't leave room for further question or comment, or at least no immediately, because he continues on smoothly. He's inclined to agree about the role with the items, but he doesn't have anything to add. He could only guess at what name it might correspond to, but... He doesn't have anything he could qualify. And in may not matter, really. The thematic name is only that: what really matters are that person's actions. ]

At the very least, I can ask. The worst that the Sheriff would say is what he's said several times before to the effect of not earning it. That, and it could potentially give a better idea of what his criteria actually are. If saving two lives doesn't count, then that's quite telling for how he judges it.

[hydrokinetics]

[...he squints a little, but he says nothing. Fine. He'll accept that, though it's something even he's managed to notice. Still, for now he has zero reason not to trust Hannibal.]

That sounds like him. [He rolls his eyes then.] He gets really touchy if you ask him repeated questions or questions he doesn't feel like answering. [See: some of the past trials that Percy pushed his buttons.] I think knowing what his baseline is isn't a bad idea either. I really hope two lives is all you need to save here, but...I'm kind of worried we haven't seen the last of it.

[Considering. You know. LATER TODAY SHINNOSUKE AND JASON DONE FUCK UP.] Would you be willing to tell me what he says if you got an answer from him?

[sating]

[ Look he's just saying through an infuriatingly vague comment because Hannibal fucking sucks that he's neither confirming nor denying. But. ]

Unfortunately, I'm inclined to agree. We've only been here for a month, and yet...

[ He trails off lightly, since it doesn't really need to be finished. Some people (looks at jason and shinnosuke) are reckless idiots that need the resident doctor on call!! The question gets Hannibal to give Percy an open look of gentle surprise, and he nods. ]

Of course. [ He says it as easily as if the alternative had never occurred to him ] You were kind enough to share what you know with me, and so I would do the same.

[hydrokinetics]

[A lot of things about future conversations sure will make sense, at least.]

And yet there's still twenty-eight of us. You heard what the Sheriff said. [Even if Hannibal trails off, Percy is blunt enough to bring it up. Last man standing.

He seems to relax though when Hannibal obliges. It's all he wants now, information to grapple with what's happening in the game and how to bring it to a close.] I appreciate it. [And then, somewhat awkwardly:] Annabeth would normally be the one doing this, but it's up to me now, I guess.

[With that out of the way though...] So what do we do about Ezio now? Getting him to out himself by insufferable guilt would be for the best, but the other problem is getting people to believe it.

[sating]

[ Hannibal gives Percy a small smile in return, though this one is a touch more sympathetic at the mention of Annabeth. To himself, he's at least glad that Percy has found a purpose, though. He's motivated to do something, and he thinks that's helping him, even if the circumstances leave a lot to be desired. ]

For what it's worth, I feel that you're doing well. So much as one can be.

[ He inclines his head lightly with the compliment, but continues with business. ]

...In truth, that may not be as difficult as it sounds. Considering Nisha was sent to her death for her honesty with her ability to shoot alone, desperation might breed the sway necessary.

[hydrokinetics]

Heh. Thanks. [He doesn't quite look at him then.] This isn't exactly the first time this has happened, but at least then she was with me. I'm figuring it out.

[But business as usual.] So we fish for his skills in relation to whatever comes. And if we can convince everyone in the trial that Ezio is to blame for whatever comes this week, or even openly confess...it's sort of like a high influence. Someone people trust enough starts pointing fingers, people get sentence. [A frown.] Look what happened to Tarvek.