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

[impulsiveness]

[...]

If Dr. Lecter is the Deputy, we'll need to deal with Will as soon as possible. Maybe before we close in on Dr. Lecter, or at the same time.
You all saw what happened to Eliot. The same will happen to us if we make the wrong move.

[robitussin]

...If we all vote for him at the next trial, we could do it.

[insincerely]

We'd have to move quickly after that, then. I can't imagine Dr. Lecter reacting well to losing his boyfriend or whatever.

[impulsiveness]

We could. But is it a good idea?
If we're right about Dr. Lecter being a complete and utter nutbar, he could nail all our asses once Will bites it. We don't know enough of how their relationship works.

[PEOPLE ARE CRAZY???]

[robitussin]

Fair enough, but I'm blanking on a good alternative that keeps everyone safe from them.

[impulsiveness]

How about throwing both of them to the coyotes? That seems like a good alternative.

[He's joking but also

yikes.]

[robitussin]

I mean... Will kind of hates him and said he would strangle him and that he's the worst person here? I don't know, they have a weird thing. Maybe he wouldn't completely murder the rest of the town if something happened to Hannibal.

[hydrokinetics]

[He bites on his lip. He doesn't like this? But.]

Natalie. You take Dr. Lecter, I'll take Will. We can see what we can get and compare notes to figure out our next step.

[robitussin]

[deep breath in, and a nod.]

Be careful, Percy. So, handwriting sample, what else am I looking for?

[hydrokinetics]

I should say the same to you. [He lifts his eyebrows.] ...I like Will. I think despite everything he's still a decent enough person, so...[A shrug.] It won't be suspicious if I pop up to say hi, I went to go see them last weekend.

[But. Hm.] I'd like to see if we can figure out where Dr. Lecter's getting his information. See if he'll stick to the story that it's just his surgeries and stuff.

[robitussin]

Any information I should be asking him about, specifically, or just in general?

[hydrokinetics]

...he mentioned it in the trial, but I'd like to know how he knows the Bounties have a leader. I don't remember that coming up when I talked to him.

[robitussin]

[She nods.]

I'll try to make it seem natural when I bring it up. What are you going to say to Will?

[hydrokinetics]

I'll improvise. That's the best way to do this because it'll be as natural as possible.

[robitussin]

Okay.

[She nods.]

When I came and asked him to talk to him alone, Will was in the room, but he didn't say anything about it even though he probably knew I was lying. So - maybe there are limits to his empathy, or maybe he assumes everyone has ulterior motives and doesn't care much. Just something to keep in mind while you talk to him.

[hydrokinetics]

[...]

Natalie, he knew exactly how Annabeth died. [It's a quiet tone because he's hesitant to say so.] And he knew Ezio killed Manfred. And he told me Annabeth's murderer was a boy last weekend. I'm more leaning toward he doesn't care much than him having limits.

It'll be fine. I'll be careful, just...be careful with Dr. Lecter. We already know he has a way of talking to us that meant we're just now finding things suspicious.

[robitussin]

...Okay. But, uh, Dr. Lecter doesn't also have something closely approaching a superpower, so I think I'm getting off easy compared to you.

[hydrokinetics]

A human and a human versus a non-human and a non-human. I think that's probably why this will work well.

[robitussin]

Let's save the whole that worked well thing for when we're actually done and it's certain that we haven't fucked up.

[hydrokinetics]

Have you ever known me to fuck up? [That's a joke. The expression on his face says as much.] Fine. We'll bring back results by Thursday.

[robitussin]

Sounds good.

In the meantime, if you have any ideas as to how to get a handwriting sample, let me know. [A pause.] Could always pretend I'm left handed and need to write something down.

[hydrokinetics]

[...a shrug.]

If all else fails, I'm dyslexic. If you can't figure something out, I can probably ask Dr. Lecter to proofread something for me and have him write on my notes. But your idea might actually work so long as he doesn't already know otherwise.