With everything falling down around me Id like to believe in all the possibilities [W4 Tues Evening]

[hydrokinetics]

[Somehow...this doesn't surprise him. Somehow, finding two connecting pieces on sheer accident doesn't surprise him. It's the demigod way, stumbling into things and figuring it out along the way, and it's for that reason he's a little nervous. He had told both parties separately to meet him back out at the homestead near the water, knowing that one party liked to check the animals there and the other would walk that far if he asked.

His head's spinning with information but he's hoping maybe everything will be solved. He knows it means a lot for them to trust him when he isn't a Bounty himself, but he's doing this to protect them both. He'll do whatever it takes to keep everyone who counts safe.

And so, Mrs. O'Leary and Percy sit on the dock, Percy's feet in the water again as he lays on his back and stares behind him. It's hard to say which of them will appear first, but he's ready and waiting.]

Comments

[thatsthespirit]

The Sheriff confirmed that none of the victims of last week had roles. So if Noctis learned his information from Xion, who learned it from Riku, who heard it from someone else. . .

[she frowns. that's way too many people in a game of telephone]

I trust Xion. [Xion is good people] And while I don't want to be callous, perhaps if we explain to her our motives, she'll be willing to tell us if the letter is relevant or not. If it is, then we can ask to see it.

[POOR XION they're talking about snooping into her private business. at Damien's request, she nods]

I believe Jason trusts me enough for that task, yes. As I trust him. I'd prefer to hope that you don't die anytime soon-- [she says to Damien] -- but a backup plan just in case is a wise idea.

[bittybat]

There's no need. [It's pretty much an interruption, but at least it's a good one.] I've already spoken to Xion about the letter, and I've already read it myself.

Riku claimed there is a system of rewards: trial rewards, and a reward for "winning" the game. I don't know what the trial rewards are; Riku didn't know either. He knew the reward for winning the game: everyone goes home, you go home, or a restart. At first, I thought the choice was obvious. However... if the game is based on participation with the Sheriff making the final choice, then "everyone" may not be everyone.

It's foolish, but I can understand why someone may think restart would provide a different, better outcome.

I don't know if this means Riku was a Bounty or he just heard everything from one. He told Xion he didn't have a role.

He also seemed to think that the forty graves and the bodies inside them could be related to the restart reward for winning. I'm not sure. A lot of what the Sheriff does are scare tactics. This may be one of them.

[hydrokinetics]

[A derisive snort.] Of course you did. [But at the same time there's a twinge of a pleased smile. Somehow, he's still happy that Damian's bullying people besides him for information.]

...I could buy that, given a conversation I had with the Sheriff yesterday. I don't think Riku was a Bounty though, the Sheriff would have told us when Xion and I asked if any of them had roles. Annabeth and Nui are obviously out, too.

Riku also could have just asked him based on merit. The Sheriff told me some stuff as a reward for my work in trials and in getting a horse out of my room. [There's a pause.] Scare tactics or not, he did say there's a way for the game to end and have multiple winners. I got that much out of him.

[thatsthespirit]

[well, Damien saved them a bit of time and snooping, and that's good in Milla's book]

And even if this game doesn't wind up having multiple winners, couldn't the one who does survive until the very end use their "reward" to bring everyone back? Even those who died early or didn't participate?

That would be much preferable to a restart that hopes for a better outcome. [ha] Although, even then that doesn't help us conquer those who decided to run this game in the first place. The Sheriff's "employers."

[because she'd like to take THEM down too, but. focus on one thing at a time]

[bittybat]

That depends entirely on how the Sheriff words the offer. [Which makes Damian frown.] If there's only three options for rewards, no one could bring people back because that isn't one of the options. Besides, your reward has one flaw: he could very well bring everyone back, but back where is the catch.

They would just be brought back here because a) you wouldn't think to specify where, or b) the place of resurrection is a second reward you weren't given. Two parts. He'd uphold the first as promised, but the second he wouldn't.

Essentially, it would just be a restart. That could be what happened before.

[hydrokinetics]

I don't know if it's more about how the Sheriff words the offer, or how people ask. You guys gotta remember he's a robot. He's already kind of made it clear that he's only capable of understanding and doing so much. That's the problem here. I'm not saying not to blame Hal, but it's on us, too, to phrase it just right.

So what we need to do is make this cut and dry to where there's no way it can be a restart. [He licks his lips.] He also said the game could end early so long as the people remaining have zero chance or temptation to kill any of the other survivors. Whatever that means.

[thatsthespirit]

[she thinks about all this for a moment, hand pressed against her chin]

What if you phrase it, "as my reward I'd like you to send everyone home alive?" Do you think that's specific enough?

[and she glances at Percy]

By having zero chance or temptation to kill any other survivors, he must mean. . . well. Say Damien, myself, and the other Bounties are the only ones left. It wouldn't make sense for a Bounty to kill another Bounty, would it?

[bittybat]

I think to ensure the continuation of the game, he will probably try his best to get around giving exact rewards unless we do word it specifically without any loopholes.

[Great.]

And I don't think it would matter to him if Bounties killed each other when they are the only ones remaining. I can ask--if he would extend the reward to each Bounty, or if it would be a group reward. [That would suck.]

We are going to have to find a way to incapacitate everyone.

[hydrokinetics]

You realize that means you or someone else would have to kill me if the Bounties are the only people remaining. [Just. Sort of flatly. He doesn't really feel like dying, friends.] Though I think Damian might have a point that he'd try to get around it unless we're careful.

It's definitely worth asking, but what do you mean incapacitate?

[thatsthespirit]

[JUST. JUST LOOKS AT PERCY]

That's not what I-- i-it was only an example.

[oops now she's a bit flustered. IMAGINE THAT?? it's all she says for now because PErcy has already asked Damian (WHOSE NAME I HAVE BEEN MISSPELLING THIS ENTIRE TIME) the question at the forefront of her mind]

[bittybat]

[IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, IT'S FINE. HE'S STILL A P.O.S. REGARDLESS.]

If we can't win against the odds, we're going to have to change the game. Continuing on a linear path is only going to result in the expected outcome.

If we want to win with the fewest casualties, we are going to have to change how we play.

[hydrokinetics]

[He thinks of saying he's used to beating odds, but that won't help right now. So...a deep breath, and he nods.]

Any ideas then? I'm willing to listen to your lead on this to see what we can do, if you'll let me.

[And if he won't then Percy's going to do things his own way anyway because Percy's a jerk sometimes. He's determined to help? Stop this.]

[thatsthespirit]

I'm willing to listen as well. There aren't any ideas that come to the forefront of my mind, so brainstorming seems to be our best option.

[lay it on them, Damian]

[bittybat]

[Ha ha, jokes on you, Damian has no plan yet...]

The Sheriff is the one who orchestrates everything week by week. If we remove him for at least a while, I'm wondering if it will leave the rest directionless and unable to act or kill.


[He sighs.] This, however, doesn't stop a rogue from killing instead. But incapacitating everyone would take a great deal of planning and, more importantly, cooperation.

Furthermore, there is likely consequences for restricting the Sheriff.

[hydrokinetics]

[GODDAMNIT!!]

I don't think removing the Sheriff is a good idea, Damian. Aren't you the one who told me about Lord of the Flies? It'd make people more likely to act, especially since one of the rules is you have to tell Hal if you're killing anybody. Without someone to tell, people are more free to do whatever they want.

[Although.] It's not a bad idea in theory, but it has way too many traps.

[thatsthespirit]

. . . as much as I hate to say it, Percy is right. And we likely need the Sheriff to be cooperative in sending us home in the first place.

[that idea fills her with uuuugh, but. the Sheriff is a good resource, even if he is terrible]

[bittybat]

Fine. [Look, you both asked for ideas!!] Then people are going to continue to die until we find the Deputy.

[hydrokinetics]

Then we kick it up a notch. I'm pretty sure the Sheriff knows by now that I'm working with you guys, so I think I can get some answers from him. As long as I can confirm I know some things already, he'll answer based on what I know.

...we'll find the other Bounties. That's the first step to minimizing casualties.

[thatsthespirit]

[ideas are good, even if Milla doesn't think them totally feasible!!]

I think that's right. Finding the other Bounties is step one. Locating the Deputy is step two.

[step three is ???? and step four is profit. hopefully]