I always put myself in destructive situations [W5, Friday]

[hydrokinetics]

[It took time. Everything took time as it always did. It took time for them to all calm down, it took time to heal physical wounds, it took time to properly remove the evidence of obscene crimes...but in the evening they were able to gather in one place away from everyone else. It hadn't been easy coordinating everything, but it was necessary.

And so here they were. All seven of them.]

...I don't really know where to start. [His voice is tight, but determined.] But we need everybody on the same page. Who wants to go first?

Comments

[insincerely]

Yeah... I got a letter from Annabeth too that mentioned my and Jason's work with the post office, so they're definitely watching us.

[Which is, uh, nice.]

What's her message?

[hydrokinetics]

I told you she probably did. I asked Hal. Annabeth's the one who asked for the TVs.

[Thanks babe. But he's holding up the letter to read...]

"Idiot,

I'm fairly certain you missed most of what I was saying, but I don't know what else I expected. At least you got the most important part. Kind of. Maybe. Not actually really, but I don't know how much clearer I can be without pieces and parts being censored. I didn't get the best look at the letter after the fact, but some of the things that got taken out were ridiculous and wouldn't have helped you much. Others I halfway expected to be missing." Uh. Some other stuff that got censored again...

"Try to eat something healthy for a change. I probably spent everything I could getting you that food, but who knows. I think we were probably the best couple around. Try not to be a complete moron. I know that last request is impossible. It's so frustrating to know things and know they won't get through to you. But I'm writing anyway, and trying anyway, because what else can I really do? Be careful who you adopt, Jackson. Please. I love you. You can do this."

So. A couple of things that I can think of. Her last letter just talked a lot about stuff we did together that usually involved stuff blowing up and a story about my uncle for some reason.

[impulsiveness]

"I think we were probably the best couple around." Does she usually gloat like that?

[it............seems out of place.]

[hydrokinetics]

[And since Noct is translating for Shinnosuke:]

No. Absolutely not. She addressed me as "idiot", what do you think? That's just one of the problems that stood out to me.

[insincerely]

... Think she's trying to hint something about one of the other couples? There's the Walkens, Dr. Lecter and Will...

[hydrokinetics]

That's what I'm wondering myself, yeah. Especially since Chane was one of our victims this week. Not sure what she'd be trying to say about Dr. Lecter and Will though, but that's absolutely something I think we should keep in mind. Annabeth was the one who originally thought of keeping us on the downlow but knew I wouldn't be able to lie about it so she gave up. The whole thing is really, really out of place.

But that's Annabeth. She told me in her last letter that she's doing everything to keep it vague enough that things won't get censored.

[robitussin]

...Will has serious issues. Just throwing that out there.

[hydrokinetics]

I know he does, but I don't know if Will's who we should be worried about. We know he's an asshole. It's the ones who're hiding it that I'm worried about.

[robitussin]

Just because we know he's an asshole, which I'm not sure is a term that covers it... It doesn't mean we shouldn't be worried about him.

[impulsiveness]

[... He can't promise anything, but:]

I know who the Madame is. Assuming they don't kick the bucket during the execution, I could ask them to check out our remaining lovebirds next.
But I don't guarantee they'll listen.

[hydrokinetics]

That might be a good idea.

But they can only check one person a week, right? Or do you think it's more now that the Bartender's down?

[impulsiveness]

Only one a week. If it's changed, I haven't heard about it.
This means we need to prioritize. IF they listen to my suggestion, who do we need to check out as soon as possible?

[insincerely]

[...]

Aside from her, I got a letter from Higekiri. Haven't checked the mail this week.

[He takes some papers out from his pocket, fiddles with them to try and determine which is which, before putting some back. Once that's done, he holds out two sheets: Annabeth and Higekiri's letters to him from last week.]

Xion read them out to me. I didn't pick up on anything especially useful, but maybe you'll notice something that I didn't.

[... Higekiri's letter is a little personal, but only he knows the context behind some of it, so.]

[hydrokinetics]

...do you think Higekiri knew something about you being a Bounty? He says something about believing you...were...something. But that if you died you wouldn't inflict pain on people. Does that mean something?

[insincerely]

... I can't think of anything that would've tipped him off.

[He pauses, looking increasingly awkward.]

He's... probably referring to his general opinion of me. He told me once, after Tiara's execution, that he didn't think that I was bad as I act.

... And, uh... I might've been a little nicer to him than I am to most people when he was on death row.

[god someone kill him now]

[hydrokinetics]

...[...sorry. He's just. Going to start laughing under his breath.]

Is that really such a bad thing? I think I might even be able to believe that.

[insincerely]

Shut up.

[Aka yes, it's horrible!!]

[hydrokinetics]

[Nah he's just laughing harder, sorry. Congrats, Jan, this is the first time I've used this icon ever.]

[insincerely]

[UGGGGGH

he's snatching back his letters and walking away

as if there's room to be anywhere far from percy here]

[thatsthespirit]

. . .

Does she always scold you like that, too?

[Annabeth is Percy's girlfriend-slash-mom???]

[also she's going somewhere with this]

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah, pretty much. [He doesn't seem bothered by that at all.] Annabeth's had my back since we were twelve and she knows that she's way, way smarter than me. It's not that insulting. [He actually just doesn't care, but whatever.]

[thatsthespirit]

The reason I ask is because Higekiri's letter to me mentioned food as well. Thus, it stands out.

[I mean. that's assuming Higekiri's letter wasn't nonsense, of course]

[hydrokinetics]

...[And suddenly a thought occurs to him and he sort of gags. Uh, sorry.]

Di immortales. [WHY.] Is it possible that was a hint about Ana? Damian told me that her death was basically a mockery because she used to cook for people and we found her...pretty much everywhere. With her head in the fridge.

[UGH!!!!]

[thatsthespirit]

[she thinks about this for a moment]

And the reference to couples you're talking about could have meant Chane and Felix.

But what good would warning us about this week's victims be, if we can't do anything to actually stop the killing? It'd be much better if those who have died could warn us about the Bandits instead.

[hydrokinetics]

I don't think it's her fault. I think her letters are being delayed...she told me to stop hanging out at her grave. I haven't been there since about Tuesday. She might be able to see these things but Hal or somebody's delaying the delivery.