hydrokinetics | Don't think you're more than this, or above all this [W6, Monday Afternoon]

I'm not letting more kids die. [He stands upright, turning to lean against the mailboxes and folding his arms over his chest.] So okay. They go together. It's what we did for Chane and Felix, it's exactly the same situation only ten times worse.

That's not a bad idea. Asking Hal if there are other options. You think you have enough merit built up from him to get a real answer? I still don't even know how he judges that.

[He sighs to himself.] Why can't we just elect a new Deputy or something? I mean besides the fact that Hal told me roles don't get replaced, but maybe there's some kind of loophole to that.

Yeah, I don't think any of us are particularly interested in that option. [She sighs.] Once I have confirmation about whether this can end early if Hannibal is dead, I'll let you know, but... Do you think we should tell the rest of the group what we're thinking? I know Milla and Damian would probably be against it, but it seems like the best solution we have if it's available to us.

I think I do, yeah. Most of the answers he's given me, he's given me willingly without me telling him I'm getting the information as a reward. [She scoffs.] I doubt there's a loophole. He told me if I died that would be it, no more items.

We're meeting again on Thursday. I think it's something we should at least talk about as soon as we know if Dr. Lecter has to be alive. I know Milla and Damian will object, but we can't ignore it. I want it out there to see what we can figure out. I know a lot of us are asking questions now from Hal and the dead. Something's gotta give.

[He hopes. He's also strangely quiet for a moment.] ...yeah. That makes sense. But that's only part of the reason we're going to fight to keep you alive. And Jason should have an option to keep living, given...[That he's dead. He shakes his head.] Hal gives information based on what we already know. Guess we just know a lot combined.

...I guess so. My concern is that they'll try to stop us, I guess, and if we're right about him not needing to be alive - it's too important. They're both dangerous.

[A snort.]

Don't worry, I'm not feeling particularly suicidal. I'll be fine. But... Jason's more important than I am, even with the items. [She nods.] I think we've gotten a lot better at figuring out the right kind of questions to ask him to get as many answers as possible.

We'll have an answer before then. We can counter it with an argument. We have to. We have to work together on this but we can at least be prepared to talk it out.

[...] You're both more important than me, items, no items, everything. Let me just do what I'm doing and we'll be okay. I think you're right though. Hal's arguing with us less. Maybe he thinks the whole thing's funny.

[She takes all of that into consideration, but—]

No. If we're doing this, we're doing it together. You're not running off to get yourself killed.

Natalie, please. [There's a deep inhale.] I'm not trying to die, but if one of us has to, it has to be me. Okay? Trust me. You trust me, don't you?

I trust that you want what's best for all of us, but you think you're more expendable than you are. If all of us work together, the chances of something horrible happening go way down.

[A pause, and it's quieter when she speaks.]

I'm not losing you or Jason. I fucking refuse.

[...she's right, of course. But he has so much to say, so much he needs to make her understand. But maybe now isn't the right time? It's confusing.]

We'll work together as long as we can. I promise you that. [But...there's a sad look before he turns, gesturing for her to follow him out.] You're not going to lose Jason. And like I said, I'm not trying to die.

[Still will though.]

There's no such thing as as long as we can. We're all making it out, Percy.

[She follows him out obediently, though.]

Is there something else up, though?

Yeah. I know we are one way or another. [His hands are in his pockets, and there's a small, funny little grin even as he keeps his eyes forward. Mrs. O'Leary's still following dutifully as well, as one does as an NPC dog.]

I'm just a little tired of dealing with corpses, I guess. [Well.] I might go lay down for a while? I don't know. I feel like that's like giving up. Now that we know who our target is we can't slow down.

[Another pause.] You ever feel like you've broken apart so much there's no point in holding pieces together all the time?

Edited 2017-02-20 21:10 (UTC)

No, not one way or another, I'm not letting you die.

[He might be looking straight ahead, but he can probably tell from her tone that she's glaring at him.]

...Yeah, I know. But resting isn't giving up, seriously. [A sigh.] Probably not as much as you. But that's what we're all here for, if you let us.

I think you're going to regret saying that. [Kind of like he regrets saying that? But he stops again.]

...Mr. Barnham got on my case about needing to let people help sometimes. And I'm used to working with a team and I know that. [He chews his lip thoughtfully.] I think I need to talk to Hal about some stuff. Maybe that'll help.

[It's not even remotely close to an explanation, but he's also fairly sure he'll break everything if he tells her any of what he's thinking.]

Shut up, Percy.

[She tilts her head. Even for him, he's acting strange.]

...If something's up, you know you can tell me, right?

[she says, after just telling him to shut up]

Edited 2017-02-20 23:40 (UTC)

[Yeah that happens. He still can't look at her.]

It's pretty shitty, isn't it? Telling everyone that we have to trust each other and getting people to trust each other when I have my own doubts? How's that fair? Fuck. [He laughs, not at all amused.]Fuck!

[Just. Fuck. He shakes his head then, quelling his anger slightly.] I hate this. I hate doubting people. I can't doubt or everything's going to fall apart. [And yet.] Do you trust everyone else? Damian, Milla, Noctis, Shinnosuke and Jason. Do you trust them?

Edited 2017-02-20 23:51 (UTC)

[She stops in her tracks, staring at him in clear alarm.]

...Tell me what happened. Something must have happened.

[He's probably still walking, shoulders tight and tense.]

Of course it did. Something always happens in this fucking place. But answer the question. Do you trust the rest of them?

[She sighs harshly before continuing to walk, looking at him once she catches up.]

If I answer, are you going to tell me what the hell is up?

[He's staring ahead, but there's a short nod once he's sure nobody else is around.]

Yeah. Sure. [Of course he trusts Natalie. That doesn't mean he isn't terrified now that he's backed himself into a corner.]

I trust you to be thinking of everyone's well being but your own. I trust Milla to be strong, I trust Jason to be there for me, I trust Shinnosuke to be pragmatic, and I trust Noctis to be almost too good sometimes.

[A sigh.]

So yeah, I do. We make a pretty good group, I guess.

[...how many times in this game is Natalie going to see him completely defeated? His shoulders slump and he looks at his feet instead, nodding. He's satisfied with that answer.] I can agree with all of those, I think.

...did you know that now that we know Dr. Lecter's the Deputy, we know all of the roles and players in this game? We're a good team that way, figuring stuff out like that. [Yeah. A real fucking good team. Sure.] It'll be easier now that we don't have to do guesswork.

[She pauses for a moment.]

Percy, you realize we don't know the—

[Oh.]

...Holy shit.

[There's a very long pause.]

Yeah. [His voice is small, but firm.] …you can punch me if you want. [He'd say she could kill him, but he's not sure how well that'd go over.]

I don't want to punch you.

[She pauses, uncertain how to move forward.]

...When Sara was talking about why she accepted the Bandit thing, she said the Sheriff was threatening her with a bunch of awful shit. Did he do that to you?

[There's a low sigh. Okay...this...isn't as horrible? It's awful, naturally, but.]

...Hal said if I didn't accept the job and if I said anything, Annabeth and I would be disqualified and never get back home. [A bitter sort of chuckle follows.] A lot of good that did, huh? Pretty sure he doesn't even care now since he's giving me information to help you guys.

[A pause.] That's how I'm getting my information, by the way. My merit. The Coal Miner job.

Edited 2017-02-21 00:38 (UTC)

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