The future's in doubt, you're on your own [Week 6, Friday]

[hydrokinetics]

[Silence fills the room. They've lost one of their own and their biggest chance to end the game. It's no surprise no one's in a good mood, but they all know they have to be here.

So...who will speak first?]

Comments

[impulsiveness]

[Haha, does anyone want to speak up first? Probably not. Not with both Shinnosuke and Xion dead, shot down by someone they're most definitely going to fail to catch tomorrow. And with Natalie being found in the most suspicious position imaginable... well. They don't have the majority vote now, he thinks.

Exhausted as they all are, though, Jason writes something down and presents it to everyone else.]

I got a letter from Hannibal. What about you guys?

[... Not Dr. Lecter. That implies respect. Fuck him.]

[elemancy]

...Yeah, I got one too.

[wow. it sure feels even quieter and more terrible now that he doesn't have to read jason's letters out loud anymore.

this sucks, what the fuck.]

[impulsiveness]

[It does. Jason really wishes he had his tongue back now, because then he wouldn't have to be keenly aware of the fact Shinnosuke is super duper dead. Hah.]

I guess this is his parting gift. One last screw you to all of us.
Do you have yours?

[elemancy]

[they're both noticing this all too keenly right now, and noct is really trying his best to bite back how much it's bothering him.

there's a shinnosuke-shaped hole in this room now, and they know it.]

Yeah, I have it.

[he'll pull the still neatly folded letter from his pocket. he's got no problems with reading it aloud, either.]

[impulsiveness]

[Jason gestures at him to proceed, in that case. With nothing written down... There's really no need for Noctis to read aloud, is there? No Shinnosuke-shaped hole in that.

Hah.

But, anyway. Go on, Noctis. The gesture is pretty easy to understand: What does the letter say?]

[elemancy]

[he'll read it out loud, of course. not because he needs to, but because it's just easier for everyone like this.]

"Noctis,

We never spoke much, but you strike me as a principled, reasonable young man. Truly, that makes it a shame you would end up here, of all places. If only principles were what the trials were truly for.

It's rather unfortunate that you caught the attention of one of our resident robots, though at the same time, I believe he owes you quite a lot. If not for your word, I think he would be dead. But if it's any comfort for you, I can at least say with certainty that your trust is not entirely misplaced. At least upon writing this, his only victim is the Sheriff's cat.

Good luck. Things will be more difficult, though in a different way. I believe you'll all be making quite difficult choices in time.

Sincerely,
Hannibal Lecter"

[impulsiveness]

[The tone is distinctly different from the letters he's seen so far, so Jason is slightly relieved. Kind of.]

No mentions of suspicions, guesses or "wondering." Depending on when THAT was written, I think it's confirmation. He didn't know who the Bounties were.

[thatsthespirit]

[she lifts up a piece of paper with fancy writing on it]

I did as well. I brought it to share.

[impulsiveness]

[He nods at her, looking at the paper with interest.]

What does it say?

[thatsthespirit]

[she unfolds it and reads it aloud, although she feels a slight pang at the knowledge that she no longer has to. damn it, Shinnosuke. . .]

"Milla,

Admittedly, I wouldn't consider the ideal situation to get to know someone a bit better to be when they are my patient because of injury. Yet through that and through interactions after, I can say with certainty that your strength and your earnest nature are both your asset and your flaw. I think you know this well with each breath you take. That path to recovery will be an admittedly slow one, though as I say each time, you're quite lucky to have not been hurt more seriously. If anything had ruptured, you would have died.

Which, considering what I've been wondering about you, that may have suited me better. It would have been a terribly boring way to go, though, and I don't think it would have counted, besides. So I will instead be grateful for your strength in the literal sense rather than the metaphorical.

I wish you luck in the remaining time. I'm not sure if it will be needed, necessarily, but I don't think that things will be easy. Unless you're the one to have killed me, I suppose, but if so, then you will not be alive much longer.

Best of luck,
Hannibal Lecter

P.S. The answer would have been "No" regardless, if my guess is correct. If you don't know what this is referring to, then you don't need to worry at all."

[impulsiveness]

[Well, then. "Considering what I've been wondering about you" could be taken to mean that Hannibal didn't know who the members of the Bounty were. That's a relief in itself, but... It makes Jason wonder. Was it a coincidence that Damian was placed in the stocks while Shinnosuke was picked to die?

...

He doesn't know. He's not sure which answer would be more upsetting, though.]

That last line. Do you know what he was referring to?

[thatsthespirit]

[she shakes her head]

I assume it's in reference to Damian's request for a duel. I almost want to say he thought I was the Bounty Leader when he wrote this, but I'm not completely certain about that.

[impulsiveness]

It makes sense. More than Hannibal knowing the 10-year-old is your leader, anyway.

[robitussin]

[Quietly, staring straight at the ground.]

Yes.

[impulsiveness]

[... Natalie. As if he wasn't concerned enough already, now all of this is happening. He'll try placing a hand on her arm, trying to be comforting — but he still taps out for her:

Will you show it?]

[robitussin]

[She pauses for a long moment.]

...Why?

[impulsiveness]

[We have to trust each other, is what he taps out first. This is followed by: Lay all our cards on the table.

They're your friends, Natalie? Please.]

[robitussin]

[She pauses. She doesn't have it with her; she recites from memory.]

This letter may not reach you. I realize this upon writing it, because I already know. I have written these letters with the certainty that I will die, and because of the Sheriff's always forthcoming nature, I at least know it will come from a woman. It is nothing more than my guess and intuition, but I believe it will come from your hands. At times, you have reminded me of another young woman I held very dear because of the strength I've seen in you. There was blood on her hands. I see the capacity for you to bear the same. After all, you fought your way from the very gates of Hell (or so I would assume, considering the descriptions I have heard), and that does not come without a great want to survive.

However, are you killing me because you want to survive? Or are you killing me because you find that I've betrayed your trust? Neither matters. My blood will still be on your hands. Embrace it. I will not begrudge you for my passing.

Though in the event that I am mistaken, I will say this: I hope that you will play once again. You may look upon our conversations with scorn by now regardless, but you should not. It is my earnest wish that you will return to music. There is little more tragic than an artist losing their art. You have been transformed by what has transpired here, and you will never be the same for it. Take it not as tragedy, but strength. You have overcome much. You can continue to do so. Those are my final words to you as a psychiatrist, because through this letter, it seems safe to say that I can no longer consider you my patient regardless of the circumstances that bring you to this moment.

Perhaps I shall see you soon. But until then, best wishes, Hannibal Lecter.

[A pause, a thick swallow.]

I didn't kill him.

[elemancy]

[he believes natalie, but he's mostly just "what the fuck" at the presumptuous nature of the letter.]

That's one hell of an assumption for him to make.

[thatsthespirit]

[well dang, that is an incriminating letter]

Why would he assume that it was you?

[hydrokinetics]

[He's curled up in his own space, staring blankly in front of him and only partially listening to the others. However, he can see what Jason's written and he nods slowly.]

Pretty sure he wrote to all of us at this point. He knew he was dying this week.

[impulsiveness]

If he was warned we were onto him, he must have assumed at least ONE of us would come after him.

[... He wasn't wrong. But. God.]

[hydrokinetics]

He was writing these on Wednesday, I think. [Which is scary.] When I went to see him, he had a whole stack of papers on his table that he moved as soon as I showed up. It's the only reason I think he wrote to maybe everybody who was left in town. He definitely wrote to all of us, right?

[impulsiveness]

It seems like it. I got one, you got one, Natalie, Milla and Noctis got one. He was busy.

[... Which makes him wonder if there were any for Shinnosuke and Xion, but. He doesn't want to linger too long on that thought.]

Do you have yours with you?

[hydrokinetics]

Uh, yeah. [He fishes it out of his pocket, unfolding it and squinting a little at the scrawling, loopy writing.]

"Percy,

In truth, when you came to visit, I had already written another letter addressing in fewer words what we spoke of. I already knew that I was going to die, as the Sheriff is quite forthcoming. It's all in the name of entertainment, and so knowing that I would not survive until next week is surely fitting to that end. There was unfortunately never any hope that I would make it to next week to speak with the rest, I imagine despite your best efforts.

Though away from practical matters, I would like to express that I'm thankful that you did come to speak with me. Perhaps if it had come earlier, that more peaceful resolution may have been possible, but I would say you shouldn't dwell on this. Instead, you had courage and respect that I have seen lacking in seasoned adults. It is refreshing, naturally, but it also speaks well to your character. You might find it ironic that I would speak of character, but it's something I value quite highly. I have had my doubts about the word "hero" being used to describe oneself, since this is a title bestowed, not taken, but upon further reflection, I believe you are one that can bear the word in all its virtue and all its weight."

[He stops reading for a minute because...it's kind of a lot, now that he thinks of it.]

"This weight is important, after all. You are not Achilles, who fights in glory and praise, untouchable minus a fatal flaw. You are Aeneas, the survivor, and from the ashes of this war, you are a hero that will do more than rest upon your laurels. I don't know if you will lead to the next founding of Rome, but considering the comparison to uniting armies both Greek and Roman, it would be apt. I hope you will continue that effort all the same. They may not need to unite to find common ground with me any longer, but they will need to unite to find it with each other. The peaceful way is lost, and so now, only blood remains.

I truly wish you in particular the best of luck with this task. It is not one I envy, since the town is impulsive and reckless at best. As is evidenced by this letter. Though if it may help, I do leave you with a final gift: I have given you all the "merit" left that I had accrued. I certainly have no use for it anymore, so it's yours to do with as you wish.

And finally, I will at least apologize to Annabeth. Considering your bond with her, I do believe I owe her one.

Best of luck, Hannibal Lecter."

[A long silence.] So. That's mine.