Thanks. [He mimes a toast before dropping his hand into his lap again. He doesn't object to Wei Wuxian coming closer even as he just stares straight ahead.]
...I don't even know what I could ask for. It's not like I'm the one we're losing tomorrow.
More's the reason to make sure you're getting what you need, whatever that may be. You're still here - you'll be here after tomorrow - and there are people who rely on you.
[His heart goes out to Escha too, of course, but. Well. As he sees it, Escha herself is probably one of the least risky components of this mess considering how she had acted even at the very end. She'll do fine on the other side, he thinks. He's not sure how people on this side will fare.]
So I've heard. [Which is something else weighing on him that he doesn't entirely know what to do with. It wouldn't be the first time, of course. People in the Nonary Game looked to his judgment while going through puzzles and solving what they could. Carlos was the leader of C-Team though, and this ship is a completely different dynamic.]
I need to make sure people are going to keep it together now that the game's introduced new elements we didn't think about. If we can exorcise someone just for defending themselves, we're going to have more innocent blood on our hands. Aren't we?
[Escha still murdered but like. That doesn't count in his opinion.]
[Yeah honestly it doesn't count in his books either. That said, he's also a literal war veteran, and probably pretty far distanced from any place most people would be in regard to having to spill innocent blood.]
We will, and I'm sure our dear friend will be trying to ensure that. Wouldn't be surprised if it let itself be killed by Escha specifically to put us in this kind of situation. Sowing seeds of chaos and mistrust while ensuring there's plentiful negative energy around - sounds like something it might try, hm?
[Because as much as he's fond of Escha, he doesn't think anyone on this entire ship could successfully ambush and kill a demon-possessed person as quick and simple as that.]
Not to mention the possibility of a scenario in which we vote for someone entirely innocent, without so much as a self-defense kill to their name. Easy to see how our predecessors unraveled if these are the circumstances they're up against.
Yeah. [And this is actually a large part of why he enjoys talking and debriefing with Wei Wuxian. He puts things into perspective in a way Junpei can't and allows him time to chew on everything. They have theories to throw around and having an expert in this kind of field makes it much easier to bounce his ideas off of.]
They wouldn't have a reason to trust each other anymore if something like this was allowed to happen. If we can just vote for people at random, it means people will be more likely to point fingers and accuse someone who isn't even involved so long as enough people agree with it. More chaos, more negative energy, more demons to create the hydra theory that you guys heard about.
[He's nodding along as Junpei talks, seeming to find all of this at least plausible. That last question, though... Rhetorical to a degree as it may be, ain't that just the question of the hour?]
Hahaha... That's like asking how you stop the human condition, isn't it?
[DAMN DEMONS really know how humans work and are probably banking on being intimately aware of the ins and outs of emotions. Moreover, he's sure they were picked for a reason - perhaps because they'd fail spectacularly in the most amusing-to-demons-and-demons-only way.]
Seems like a good bet is to avoid doing what it is that they clearly expect from us, but of course that's much easier said than done. [...] Though - to be honest? I'm optimistic about this group.
[Like... just look at Escha herself, who had all the reason in the world to be bitter and angry and upset about how things turned out for her.]
I know...it's a question that can't be answered but I keep asking hoping that maybe somebody will have a good idea anyway. [He can admit that, sheepish though he is. It's the optimism that he finds curious, especially when he himself has trouble knowing when to be optimistic and when to be realistic.]
There are some people who really want to help and want to make sure we don't lose more people. But there are some I think who will do whatever to save themselves at the end of the day. So getting those two types of people to work together is going to take more effort than we think. Especially when...well.
You remember what you told me before that you learned in that room? About those thirteen other people who're different? If we believe that our group is just like the group before us, wouldn't it be reasonable to believe there're thirteen people among us who're different and doing something out of the ordinary?
[He doesn't seem the slightest bit judgmental, at least. Sometimes you gotta ask questions you know you won't get an answer to just for the sake of your own sanity...]
It'd be nice if someone did, someday. [Maybe they'll end up rolling the right percentage eventually. BUT FOR NOW, he just nods along with that.]
Still... I do think the odds skew in a marginally favorable direction, you know? Takes all sorts, of course! But there are a good number of people here who seem to have clear hearts and heads and strong backs. And if anyone decides to cause too much trouble in the face of attempts at cooperation, then there are people here who would be capable and willing to subdue them, too. [HM.] Though I suppose it's another matter if we get people sneaking around trying to strike deals with demons or something like that, haha.
[WHICH LIKE, POSSIBLE!! And even Just One Person can be enough to fuck everything up, so there's a definite thread of realism intertwined with his optimism here.]
—I think that's pretty likely though, yes. But how closely are we mirroring that group? Exactly so? If that's the case, at least one of those thirteen is willing to help, so it can't be an entirely hostile party, whatever it is they're doing and whoever they are. Assuming they're all part of the same group, of course - which might be too easy.
You know as well as I do that people will get desperate the longer they're here. It's the shitty reality of it all. But I agree there're people to help keep order and maybe that's all we need.
[It's still a precarious sort of situation. Nevertheless, he just hums in thought.]
I think it's more like they're all a part of the same group but they might not know it yet? And it's up to the members of that group to try and sway favor. It's a theory I'm working on and I'm hoping to maybe ask Chuuya or Nathan more about it, but they're still censored on what they can tell us anyway. But it's been weeks by now. Someone's bound to be acting weird or to have heard something different. I keep checking the clamshell to see if there's a change, too. What with the missing and distorted profiles and all.
[Precarious is RIGHT AS WELL, but Wei Wuxian lives on a precarious line in all aspects of his life, so he doesn't seem that outwardly concerned.]
We'll have to wait and see, hm? [Unfortunately.]
Ah, hm. So you think they might know it over time? And what exactly do you think they're trying to sway favor for? Do you think they're another, unrelated party to any of the people and entities we have in play so far? Haha, this is going to get even messier so quickly.
[LIKE. HE WANTS A NAP. But also, it's kind of intriguing in a terrible "I don't actually want to be living through this but okay I guess" way.]
I think so. People who are here for longer and longer are going to start finding out more things they're hiding from the group at large. And anyway...I dunno. More answers? What else would we need favor for? There's always someone who knows more than the main group of people. It's just about knowing who to trust to share that information with.
Haha, oh - absolutely more than I should! [HE SAYS IMMEDIATELY AND WITH A SMILE... At least he's honest.]
It gets tiring, being suspicious of people you're fond of. Though that's not to say I'd be surprised if anyone decided to stab me, especially with demons running around!
[Implying he also just expects the possibility that some completely not possessed person may someday find him irritating enough to just mcmurder.]
[Yeah that implication's loud and clear and he just...shakes his head.] I think there might be some bigger problems than you being annoying.
[Just saying! It's a thought. But on the note of trust...there's another nod.] It's the same for me, actually. I don't trust people that easily and it's even harder here sometimes. But, now that we've been here for a while, it's a little less of a problem.
It's why I'm going to tell you there're some theories I'm working on still. You notes you returned with from your break-in really helped a lot more than you think they might've. So thanks.
[Sometimes, though. Sometimes? People are wild. Watch, he's gonna legit end up killed in some petty scrap that doesn't even have anything to do with demons.
Still, he looks pleased, or something close to it. LIKE, FIRST OF ALL--]
I'd have thrown myself overboard if they weren't of any help at all after the trouble we went through and accidentally put everyone else through, so that's good to hear. Mind if I get a peek at what you're working on, or would you prefer to talk after you've worked a bit more?
[God I hate my tablet for some of those typos. Anyway. He grins lightly because yeah you guys sure had a time, didn't you?]
Give me until Monday or Tuesday? I have some leads to follow up on that I want to clear up and then I can tell you everything you need to know. [i.e. things definitely fucking changed and I'll start a new PC with you Aki I'm sobbing.]
Of course. It'll probably be three in the morning like usual. [A joke but also.] ...I should go find Dick so we can see Escha though. More rounds to make, more things to do. Until then?
[Shh it's fine I'll start and link you something in a bit.]
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...I don't even know what I could ask for. It's not like I'm the one we're losing tomorrow.
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[His heart goes out to Escha too, of course, but. Well. As he sees it, Escha herself is probably one of the least risky components of this mess considering how she had acted even at the very end. She'll do fine on the other side, he thinks. He's not sure how people on this side will fare.]
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I need to make sure people are going to keep it together now that the game's introduced new elements we didn't think about. If we can exorcise someone just for defending themselves, we're going to have more innocent blood on our hands. Aren't we?
[Escha still murdered but like. That doesn't count in his opinion.]
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We will, and I'm sure our dear friend will be trying to ensure that. Wouldn't be surprised if it let itself be killed by Escha specifically to put us in this kind of situation. Sowing seeds of chaos and mistrust while ensuring there's plentiful negative energy around - sounds like something it might try, hm?
[Because as much as he's fond of Escha, he doesn't think anyone on this entire ship could successfully ambush and kill a demon-possessed person as quick and simple as that.]
Not to mention the possibility of a scenario in which we vote for someone entirely innocent, without so much as a self-defense kill to their name. Easy to see how our predecessors unraveled if these are the circumstances they're up against.
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They wouldn't have a reason to trust each other anymore if something like this was allowed to happen. If we can just vote for people at random, it means people will be more likely to point fingers and accuse someone who isn't even involved so long as enough people agree with it. More chaos, more negative energy, more demons to create the hydra theory that you guys heard about.
So. How do we stop it now?
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Hahaha... That's like asking how you stop the human condition, isn't it?
[DAMN DEMONS really know how humans work and are probably banking on being intimately aware of the ins and outs of emotions. Moreover, he's sure they were picked for a reason - perhaps because they'd fail spectacularly in the most amusing-to-demons-and-demons-only way.]
Seems like a good bet is to avoid doing what it is that they clearly expect from us, but of course that's much easier said than done. [...] Though - to be honest? I'm optimistic about this group.
[Like... just look at Escha herself, who had all the reason in the world to be bitter and angry and upset about how things turned out for her.]
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There are some people who really want to help and want to make sure we don't lose more people. But there are some I think who will do whatever to save themselves at the end of the day. So getting those two types of people to work together is going to take more effort than we think. Especially when...well.
You remember what you told me before that you learned in that room? About those thirteen other people who're different? If we believe that our group is just like the group before us, wouldn't it be reasonable to believe there're thirteen people among us who're different and doing something out of the ordinary?
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It'd be nice if someone did, someday. [Maybe they'll end up rolling the right percentage eventually. BUT FOR NOW, he just nods along with that.]
Still... I do think the odds skew in a marginally favorable direction, you know? Takes all sorts, of course! But there are a good number of people here who seem to have clear hearts and heads and strong backs. And if anyone decides to cause too much trouble in the face of attempts at cooperation, then there are people here who would be capable and willing to subdue them, too. [HM.] Though I suppose it's another matter if we get people sneaking around trying to strike deals with demons or something like that, haha.
[WHICH LIKE, POSSIBLE!! And even Just One Person can be enough to fuck everything up, so there's a definite thread of realism intertwined with his optimism here.]
—I think that's pretty likely though, yes. But how closely are we mirroring that group? Exactly so? If that's the case, at least one of those thirteen is willing to help, so it can't be an entirely hostile party, whatever it is they're doing and whoever they are. Assuming they're all part of the same group, of course - which might be too easy.
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[It's still a precarious sort of situation. Nevertheless, he just hums in thought.]
I think it's more like they're all a part of the same group but they might not know it yet? And it's up to the members of that group to try and sway favor. It's a theory I'm working on and I'm hoping to maybe ask Chuuya or Nathan more about it, but they're still censored on what they can tell us anyway. But it's been weeks by now. Someone's bound to be acting weird or to have heard something different. I keep checking the clamshell to see if there's a change, too. What with the missing and distorted profiles and all.
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We'll have to wait and see, hm? [Unfortunately.]
Ah, hm. So you think they might know it over time? And what exactly do you think they're trying to sway favor for? Do you think they're another, unrelated party to any of the people and entities we have in play so far? Haha, this is going to get even messier so quickly.
[LIKE. HE WANTS A NAP. But also, it's kind of intriguing in a terrible "I don't actually want to be living through this but okay I guess" way.]
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He does give Junpei a bit of a lingering look at that, though, before humming out a note of agreement.]
Double-edged sword, isn't it? Can't get anywhere without coming to trust and know people.
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And even then, can you really know who you can trust? That's the hardest part about games like these. [...] How much do you trust me?
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Haha, oh - absolutely more than I should! [HE SAYS IMMEDIATELY AND WITH A SMILE... At least he's honest.]
It gets tiring, being suspicious of people you're fond of. Though that's not to say I'd be surprised if anyone decided to stab me, especially with demons running around!
[Implying he also just expects the possibility that some completely not possessed person may someday find him irritating enough to just mcmurder.]
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[Just saying! It's a thought. But on the note of trust...there's another nod.] It's the same for me, actually. I don't trust people that easily and it's even harder here sometimes. But, now that we've been here for a while, it's a little less of a problem.
It's why I'm going to tell you there're some theories I'm working on still. You notes you returned with from your break-in really helped a lot more than you think they might've. So thanks.
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[Sometimes, though. Sometimes? People are wild. Watch, he's gonna legit end up killed in some petty scrap that doesn't even have anything to do with demons.
Still, he looks pleased, or something close to it. LIKE, FIRST OF ALL--]
I'd have thrown myself overboard if they weren't of any help at all after the trouble we went through and accidentally put everyone else through, so that's good to hear. Mind if I get a peek at what you're working on, or would you prefer to talk after you've worked a bit more?
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Give me until Monday or Tuesday? I have some leads to follow up on that I want to clear up and then I can tell you everything you need to know. [i.e. things definitely fucking changed and I'll start a new PC with you Aki I'm sobbing.]
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Mm, of course! You know where to find me, so find me whenever you need.
[ty this tag concerns me]
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[Shh it's fine I'll start and link you something in a bit.]
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[Two people who just DON'T SLEEP except at least Wei Wuxian naps in the morning unlike SOME PEOPLE.]
Mm, of course. Take care until then.
[have fun finding his body on wednesday in the meantime]