Now we’ve got a big, big mess on our hands tonight [W6, Thursday, Pre-Curfew]

[hydrokinetics]

[Another day, another meeting. This one's more tense than usual especially with the lack of a small bat-child. Percy's right hand is sloppily bandaged up and his jaw is tight as his eyes burn with anger.]

Dr. Lecter knows we know. He's known since Saturday. Hal confirmed with me he's the Deputy, just like Hal confirmed to Dr. Lecter that we were onto him.

[A shaky sigh.] What the fuck do we do now?

Comments

[insincerely]

[... Huh. Well, it's good to know that they're not necessarily doomed if Ash or Hannibal wins the game.]

Does being locked in the stocks count?

[thatsthespirit]

[shakes her head]

I didn't ask, but to be on the safe side I would count it.

The reason I ask is because the Sheriff told me part of the reason why Yuna died that night.

[insincerely]

... I think I know where this is going, but why?

[thatsthespirit]

[another breath]

The town works on a three strike system.

If you stay outside past curfew one night, you get a freebie. If you're out past curfew a second night, you get injured.

If you're out past curfew a third night, then the town kills you.

[insincerely]

... Guess that explains the coyotes, then.

[thatsthespirit]

[yeup]

. . . it does.

[she sounds like she's getting angry again]

[insincerely]

[milla stop]

Nothing that can be done about it now. At least we know who'd be screwed if they go out tonight this time.

[thatsthespirit]

[closes her eyes and nods]

We have to protect Damian.

[she says firmly, although she's acutely aware that everyone knows this already]

With whatever it takes. Even with Natalie using her ability to bring him back, we need to make sure he doesn't die.

[impulsiveness]

But if he's in the stocks tonight, that means Dr. Lecter HAS to know about him.
He could have "picked" him to die tonight. Personally.

[And... when people are "picked" to die...........]

[insincerely]

[...]

He has to get away with it to win the game, though. That's something that's bugging me—the rest of us could probably still form the majority and vote him off.

Just killing Damian like this would be a risky move.

[hydrokinetics]

...that's bothering me, too. That isn't exactly his style from what I've noticed, especially if he's known we're coming for him. [...on the other hand, actually.]

Unless he knew we'd go after Damian, too.

[thatsthespirit]

. . .

[oh. no]

What if he's using this as a move to smoke out the rest of the Bounties? The people he knows would vote against him in trial if Damian were killed?

[impulsiveness]

So he's using Damian as BAIT?

[thatsthespirit]

[she nods, and boy she does not look happy about this suggestion]

There are six people in this room. Six people who would know for certain that Dr. Lecter was the killer if Damian died. Six people who could easily convince the others that Dr. Lecter was the culprit.

But if he eliminates those people, then he could go after Damian without having to worry about our group turning the tides of the trial against him.

[impulsiveness]

[...]

Then whoever goes out there could still die, even if it isn't their third time.

[thatsthespirit]

. . .

[she says nothing in response, because. yeah]

[impulsiveness]

Then maybe he's banking on another one of us dying, too. It took us this long to notice what he's been up to. He's smart.
He could have something else hidden up his sleeve.

[impulsiveness]

You're shitting me

[WHAT THE FUCK]

[thatsthespirit]

[SHE WISHES SHE WAS]

This is the information the Sheriff gave me when I asked him why he had Yuna removed from the game.

[nnnot mentioning the bit about Damian's mistake, but she actually didn't inquire into that part herself]

That's why we couldn't protect her. That's why we were left alive. The town was after her for breaking curfew three times. If either you or I go outside tonight, the same thing will happen to us.

[impulsiveness]

So the town is alive and it has a shitty temper
Great

[UgggghhhhhHHHH]