week 2, saturday

[vigilantics]

[ like all the other trials, this one was kind of a rollercoaster. it was... admittedly a little more so, considering the victim and the confessions, along with the uncertainty of what might happen the next day.

luckily, nico and steph share a dorm, so when she... slowly makes her way back to it, she'll run into him. ]

Hey Nico.

[ she's tired. ]

Comments

[vigilantics]

Shared trauma.

[ it sounds like a joke, but she just sounds... a little bitter, but mostly sad. ]

I would appreciate if they were a little closer though.

[resumed]

Are you going to be alright getting back to the dorm? [...] It'll be worse to put a higher amount of stress on your leg as it is.

[vigilantics]

I... [ she almost says that she's fine, but then she sighs. ]

I won't always have someone around to help with this kind of thing.

[resumed]

I know. [But...] Until you build strength and balance back up, I think allowing help when it's available is alright. Plus I think my doctor would freak out if I let someone aggravate their injuries when I'm standing right here.

[vigilantics]

... okay. But only because you were such a gentleman about it.

[resumed]

Thank you. [For agreeing. But he shifts mostly to flank her side should she need to let her weight rest on him as they move.] ...on top of Natsuo's death, we've had way too many people making themselves vulnerable.

[vigilantics]

Sorry.

[ she knows she's one of them. ]

Although I'm a little surprised other people went into the woods after what happened to me and Varian.

[resumed]

I don't know why those three went into the maze again after knowing there's a minotaur in there, but...the other two were looking for rabbits. [He's mildly annoyed, but they're also his two favorite people here, currently.] I suspect people didn't think it would be that bad if they didn't travel too far.

There's still a lot about this place we're clueless about.

[vigilantics]

An entire third floor just sprung up out of nowhere this week, so... yeah. It makes me wonder what else might show up?

[resumed]

More floors, I imagine. The castle's too large to only be three floors total. And even the boundary lines are expanding. The jousting grounds showed up, and we don't know how far the woods really stretch.

I already suggested to Okita maybe we should just start sleeping outside so people can't murder so easily.

[vigilantics]

Weren't there like, hallucinations involved with the first murder? Sousei thought Gi-gan was with him, but she actually wasn't.

That might happen again.

[resumed]

There might be hallucinations in the other murders as well. It would explain how Akechi didn't see whoever murdered Dave Strider. But unless you have an idea how to see past that...?

[vigilantics]

None. We haven't really found a way to counter any of this place's magic yet.

[resumed]

We haven't, though it explains the exact reason they took all of our abilities. If they hadn't, several of us could see through the illusions they've set up. But it's then a question of if we think there is a way.

[vigilantics]

We should probably operate on the assumption that we can unless proven otherwise.

[resumed]

There are too many questions about the castle that aren't getting answered besides that. Like...where are the goddesses taking the dead? How are they binding us to our partners? Stuff like that.

[But.] ...not to mention the well wishes.

[vigilantics]

See, the thing about the well is, they have to give legitimate wishes, right? Because no one would use them if they mess up that badly every time. The only wish I know of that got granted normally, it only did because the wish itself was dumb.

[ ION!!!!!! ]

So, what is it? Is it that you have to be very specific of your wish, or is it only wishes that you've earned through a specific means that work?

[resumed]

I don't know, you would think so. [A pause.] When I made a wish, it kind of backfired on me, too, but if it's possible to have more than one that would make sense why it keeps being used. What was the dumb wish?

[On the other hand...] I don't see why it can't be both though. If a wish is vague, the well will do whatever it wants. But each wish requires a token, doesn't it? Where are people getting those?

[vigilantics]

... someone wished that they couldn't feel pain. I'm sure you can see why the well would grant something like that.

[ because it's dumb and will probably get you killed. ]

Good question. We haven't gotten any since that first week, right? At least, as a group.

[resumed]

You're right, that was a dumb wish. [What the hell. There's a confirmation nod though.] As a group we haven't received anything. That doesn't mean people aren't receiving them individually, but without knowing who or how it's harder to say.

And I think we've learned that throwing other things into the well probably doesn't work out so great.

[vigilantics]

I know that someone's objective was to find someone.

[ well, he said it was his title, but that doesn't make sense with how titles work. ]

If they succeeded then they would have been granted a wish. Now I know that's probably have to do with the well.

[resumed]

So objective met, you get a token, in theory, because you can get a wish. [There's a thoughtful nod like he's considering something.]

If you got another wish, what would you wish for?

[vigilantics]

... at this exact moment I would ask for actual, real medical supplies.

[resumed]

...I'll see what I can do.

[vigilantics]

[ she smiles weakly. ]

We're definitely going to get more people injured during the week.

[resumed]

Of course we are. We're a bunch of people without a lot of self-preservation. [A light smile and then it's serious again.] If I have to use a wish, it may as well be for something useful.

[vigilantics]

Oh. You have a token?

[resumed]

[Ah. Here he falters a bit.]

Not yet. But if the theory of meeting your objective to get a token is true, then I have one coming to me.

[Why is he telling her this?]

[vigilantics]

[ she nods her head. stephanie doesn't ask what the objective was, at least. ]

If it works, tell me, okay?

[resumed]

Sure. I'll see what I can do in that regard. [...] Until then, maybe coming up with a new plan isn't that bad. Especially since the castle's breaking most of the laws of life and death.

[vigilantics]

If Sandalphon's ability works, do you think there might be someone else with something even vaguely similar to it?

[resumed]

Maybe. A lot of fairytales overlap, so why wouldn't they? I can't think of any others who bring people back to life, but you hear all the time about true love's kiss breaking curses and spells. Isn't that how it worked in Sleeping Beauty, too?

[vigilantics]

Yeah... and we have a Sleeping Beauty here, as well as a Maleficent.

[ ... ]

Although I assume the latter might not have a power too helpful here?

[resumed]

[He hesitates.] Wasn't Maleficent the witch who tried to kill the baby princess in the first place? I'm not sure how helpful that'd be to the cause. Then again...Sleeping Beauty's power isn't going to help us either now that I think about it. But something like that.

[vigilantics]

[ hmmm. ]

It's hard to guess even with the names, honestly.

[resumed]

You think some of them really don't match even a little?

[vigilantics]

No, it's not that. It's that even if we know the fairy tale it's still difficult to guess what exactly they do. It's easier when we know what the actual ability is, and then we can match it up with the title that fits best.

[resumed]

So what we need to do is start asking people for their abilities and then we can start matching. That might be easier if people will trust us with that.

[vigilantics]

I do think it's possible, it will just be... a very slow process.

[resumed]

What about something anonymous? Like leaving a sheet of paper in the library where people can write their titles and abilities so we at least know what goes to what.

[vigilantics]

Hm... we could try. It might take a while for people to use it, but I think that eventually some will realize it's better to have the information out.

[resumed]

A while is better than not at all. If people start it and more people are encouraged, we'll get somewhere. I'll see if there's something I can do in that regard as well. I don't mind if people find me suspicious.

[vigilantics]

Tell me anything I can do to help out, Nico.

[resumed]

Take it easy. The last thing we need is more damage. [A beat.] If you learn anything else useful...will you share it? [He's not even really specifying himself.]

[vigilantics]

Yeah. I will.

[ there's not much point in hoarding information. ]

[resumed]

Then that's all I can ask. There are some things I'd need to check on myself and if I get the answers I want...I'll let you know as well. For now though, please stay off of your feet.

[Ah yes. They're finally at the dorm, it seems.]

[vigilantics]

[ i completely forgot what they were even doing here so bless you ]

Right... I'll talk to you later then?

[resumed]

Until later. [A slight smile and then he disappears to who knows where.]