Let's end this spiral down, pick ourselves off the ground [W5, Sunday]

[hydrokinetics]

[It's early evening when the Bounty group gathers again. There's more to discuss now that they've had time to cope and pick themselves up again, ready to get back to work. Time is still marching on and it's nothing that they can waste.

Together again, they settle. The room is quiet for a time as they all gather their thoughts. With everything that came up this weekend? They need a new plan of action.]

Comments

[elemancy]

...Yeah.

[and.]

And if you guys are chosen... you can pick me to kill instead of someone innocent.

[thatsthespirit]

[NOCTIS. . .]

[exhales sharply, which hurts her ribs, although she suppresses the instinctive wince]

If I'm chosen as a Bandit, I won't choose you as my victim. [simple as that]

. . . however, if you are chosen and refuse to follow through, then I will-- [mrrrrgh stay strong, Maxwell] I will respect the choice you make and do the duty that is required of me.

[elemancy]

[milla, please don't cause him extra worry by exacerbating your injuries! even if it's kind of his fault for being a punk and suggesting it.]

I can't make you. I just... want everyone to know it's an option. If it's what we need to do to carry on—

[he draws in an uneven breath of his own. it's not like he wants this either, not even a little bit.] I trust you guys.

[thatsthespirit]

[NOCTIS THE BUTTHEAD]

[she feels that pang of fear again, that fear of loss that she felt the week of Yuna's death. this time, she quashes it quickly. this is his choice, she can't take it from him]

[she made a similar decision once herself, after all]

If you trust us that much, then if you die, we'll make sure we can bring you back so your country-- your world-- doesn't fall apart without you.

[he's needed, and even if he isn't driven by duty the same way she is, she won't betray that trust he's placed in them]

[elemancy]

[HE'S SORRY, MILLA. he really is, he doesn't want to upset her any, either. it's not like he feels good about it.

but yeah, he's a butthead.

either way, he lets out a bit of a weak, hollow laugh.]

Isn't that exactly why I trust you? [because he sincerely believes in their efforts, should it come to that.]

[thatsthespirit]

[he's a butthead and she's a hypocrite, it's all good]

I would hope so.

[she gives a little chuckle at that, and a smile returns to her face]

[elemancy]

No need to hope. I'm not really much of a good liar, anyway.

[but he can smile in turn, even if... well, it's kind of all shitty anyway. she deserves that much for the hellish circumstances he could potentially be thrusting on her with this suggestion.]

[thatsthespirit]

[she's Maxwell. she can handle it, and she knows she can. even if she doesn't particularly want to. it's her duty, after all. it all comes back to duty]

Perhaps that's why the Sheriff made you a Bounty? He thought it might be funny to put your lying skills to the test?

[she teases]

[elemancy]

[she's a good, quality spirit lord!]

Sounds like something he would do, doesn't it? Joke's on him, since I did pretty good with his stupid secret.

[he only got found out because he purposely dropped hints.]

[thatsthespirit]

You did. And the hints you gave that allowed me to find you were just right.

[ain't nothing like displaying surprisingly specific knowledge from the Bounty handbook to draw out fellow Bounties]

[elemancy]

Probably could've done without the little extra scare, but I survived it.

[it's fine, they're fine.] Probably better it was you that found me instead of Shinnosuke.

[insincerely]

...

[Shinnosuke doesn't say anything, since Milla's saying enough for the both of them, but...

Damn it, this sucks.]

[elemancy]

[it does. he hates it too—he hates it so much, but it's the only option he can come up with that will save them for at least a little longer.

besides, he'd try to help from the grave if he could.]

[hydrokinetics]

[...on the other hand.]

Wouldn't it be better to pick me since I don't have a huge part in any of this?

[thatsthespirit]

[WHY ARE YOU ALL SO WILLING TO DIE]

That's not true, is it? After all, you're the main reason I found Damian and Noctis.

[remember what she said about you being a compass, Percy!!]

[elemancy]

[+1 you're not allowed to be the martyr, percy.]

[hydrokinetics]

[Sorry, Milla, he's just exhausted at this point.]

I know. But at the same time, that means my work here is kind of done, right? We're all together now. And if I can I want to keep all of you alive to keep Damian safe and win the game. That's been my goal since Damian and I spoke.

There are deaths in this game that are going to matter and change the entire course. But I don't think mine is one of them. [He's not ready to die, but he knows he has to offer. It's loyalty rearing its ugly head, blinding his judgment a bit. But he will do what it takes.]

[insincerely]

You're well connected to both Xion and Dr. Lecter, two of our main suspects. We need you alive for a bit longer.

[hydrokinetics]

[A twitch of a smile.]

Just a bit, huh? [That's a good point.] Natalie is too, you know.

[insincerely]

Just a bit.

[:T]

Then we need the both of you alive. People are dying here pretty quickly now, after all.

[hydrokinetics]

[He closes his eyes. He wants to be hopeful still, and it's easier to be when he doesn't have to look at Shinnosuke's face.]

We have Bandits to worry about and serial killers. It's why I think we should also be looking out for each other on Thursdays, too.

[thatsthespirit]

[she'd respond, but tbh Shinnosuke said it for her. and admittedly, as frustrated as she is with Percy and Noctis being so willing to offer themselves up on the self-sacrifice platter, she. . . can't really blame them]

[if that's the road their hearts wish to take, then she can support it. she understands their logic, after all]

You may not have a role, but you're still vital to us. As I said with Noctis, I won't choose you as my victim if I'm chosen as a Bandit.

But I will do my duties as a Bounty if you are chosen and refuse.

[hydrokinetics]

[Somehow, he wonders if he really ever will be chosen. That'd be shitty, wouldn't it?]

...then I'll do my best for the time I have left. And we'll hope we can brainstorm a good answer to this. Hal seems to be willing to give us hints on past murderers, at least. That's why Sara chose Russell.

[robitussin]

Shut up, oh my god, it's not like I'm any more indispensable than you.

[hydrokinetics]

You're our Doctor, are you kidding me? [Ugh. But there's something in his tone that Natalie may pick up on. There's something more to it. He won't explain it now, but it's there.] I don't have the power to bring somebody back.