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]

[... 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.

[robitussin]

I know. I don't know why he...

[She rubs at her face with her hand.]

Fuck.

[elemancy]

Don't know either. But... nobody here thinks you're lying.

[he's sure of that—the trust in this room definitely overrides what that letter holds.]

[robitussin]

[She pauses, slightly surprised despite herself, but then she nods.]

Thanks, Noctis. Seriously.

[Because... She knows how this looks.]

[elemancy]

...We're a team. We work together, even if things are getting crappier by the minute.

[that's just the way it is.]

[thatsthespirit]

[well dang, that is an incriminating letter]

Why would he assume that it was you?

[robitussin]

I don't know, Milla. [A sigh.] I don't know anything about what went on in his head.

[thatsthespirit]

[she's quiet for a moment, and her eyes slip shut]

Dr. Lecter. . . he was certainly an unpredictable man.

[robitussin]

He was a fucking asshole, is what he was.

[She frowns.]

[impulsiveness]

I believe you. You don't have to convince me.

[fuck hannibal, tbh.]

[robitussin]

[She pauses, but then without a word, she reaches forward to take his hand in hers and give it a squeeze. It makes her grimace slightly, given the injury, but...]

Thank you.

[impulsiveness]

[She sure is pretty banged up, but Jason settled for rubbing his thumb against her hand instead of squeezing it. Please don't aggravate your own injuries, Natalie...

Tapped out, though: We're friends. No need to thank me.]

[robitussin]

[Despite everything, she smiles, shaking her head. It's not a happy expression, really, but maybe it's better than frowning regardless.

There is, though. For a lot of things, Jason.]

[hydrokinetics]

[An irritated snort.]

How do we know he wasn't just saying this to scare you? We already know the truth.

[robitussin]

I don't know why he was saying it, because it obviously isn't true. Probably to freak me out, I don't know. Fuck him no matter what.