[week four - tuesday]

[hypertoxic]

Hiiiiiiiiro.

[ Uh. Where is that voice coming from?

If Hiro travels the path up to the oasis today, about halfway there he'll hear a voice coming out to him. But there's no one on the path before or behind him. What the hell?

Well, if he looks up, he'll find a spidery girl sitting on the branch of a tree that borders the path, idly swinging her legs and grinning down at him like a hyena. ]

I've been meaning to find you! I heard from a reliable source that you might be looking for me, so I thought I'd make myself findable!

[ ... she doesn't hop down, though. she seems content to stay up there. why is she in a tree???? ]

So let's talk! I think we have a lot to discuss.

Comments

[hypertoxic]

[ A small smile. ] I have tried my luck with enough gambits to know when they are getting out of hand! And I lost control over this one. Once that happened I knew it was only a matter of time until someone figured me out, so I've been taking precautions. Don't worry, I have a story. And it's mostly the truth! [ she's very proud of her story. ]

So, look, I'd really like to talk about this? But you're not repaying me the trust that I've shown you. I need you to confirm your role, or we stop here.

[zerotohiro]

Mostly. Somehow people aren't suspicious of you yet and you saw how last week went. People will defend you. You've got friends in high places, you know?

[But there's a strange pause and he shakes his head.]

...Jacopo talks too much and kinda like how he assumed you were the item role, he assumed I had a role at all. I just didn't bother correcting him to gain some leverage and figure out what to do next. [A shrug.] So there you go. Now you know the truth, and you absolutely just confided in a random schmuck. [He squares his shoulders though, ready to defend himself.] Still interested in bringing me in?

[hypertoxic]

Yeah, I know. To be fair, I have Jacopo to thank for that in the first place. [ shrug!!

....

....

vriska BURSTS OUT LAUGHING. like legit cackling. ]

That fucking moron! He could talk himself into believing gravity didn't exist. He thinks he's so smart with his assumptions and his sneaking and his double dealing! But he is just a clueless chump who thinks he's more important than he actually is. I can't believe he totally concocted roles for both of us out of thin air. Incredible. What a dumbfuck.

[ A sigh. ]

It makes you less useful to me than I had hoped, but I could still use your influence and your smarts. But, for the record, I still don't consider you a random schmuck, Hiro. [ She'll smile a little, and it's sort of crooked and almost a little sad. ] With Newt out of the picture, you're the only real brainiac I have left.

[zerotohiro]

He's not a bad person, even if I can't really tell what he's doing. [He can't help but grin the moment she bursts into laughter.] Don't say that. I mean yeah, it was pretty dumb but he's lucky it's you and me who aren't going to do anything to him. I do kinda worry about who else he's talking to but there's nothing that can be done for that. He seemed to think pretty highly of you though and that I should probably watch my back.

[Which is true. He frowns though.] I know. I'm looking for the last Wickie, too, but I'm doing my own acting as it is. Just because I can't actually do what the Wickie does doesn't mean I can't check on people and start creating my own lists. It's all I can do right now. [The frown grows a bit.] I...yeah. With Newt gone it's...we had a theory a while ago that this whole place was a VR set-up. He said that he'd figure out how to tell me if it was but I'm not totally counting on it. Seems too easy. But I'm not quitting yet, so I'll do whatever it takes.

[Wait.] Besides murdering. I'm not sure I can do that part here. But brainstorming, analysis, figuring out how to maybe reprogram Hal and Pal? That I can do.

[hypertoxic]

Ahahahahahahaha. I'm not saying any of this because I dislike Jacopo, don't get me wrong! But he is a stupid dumb easily influenced idiot. It is sort of charming in a weird way.

[ Vriska will thumb at her own chin, her eyes narrowed in thought. ]

This makes things harder. If you were the last Wickie, you would have had critical information that I need. Now I have to restart my search! I have a hunch who the remaining Wickie might be, but if I'm correct, it will be difficult at best to get the truth out of them.

[ Vriska will wave a hand. Very, very dry: ]

Yes, Hiro, I was going to ask you to start murdering people left and right as my own personal hire-out assassin. Get a clue!!! I'm not coming to you for that, dork. I need the rest of what you said. Also, whether or not this is all some sort of incredibly complex VR simulation doesn't really matter to me! Sure, if we can deconstruct reality as we know it that would be great and all, but if we can break the rules of the game to our advantage that should be all we need! We can work together towards our separate goals and each get what we want out of the deal. I think that sounds fair, don't you?

[zerotohiro]

Seems to be a lot of people on the island who're like that, but he's taking it a step further.

[Now he just looks disappointed? Sorry Vriska!!!] I know. Trust me, I know. But think about it this way. You have an extra set of eyes to help with the search. Give me an idea where to start and I'll see what I can do. ...I already worked out a deal with someone else, so I don't see why I can't do the same here when we both have similar goals. What's your hunch anyway?

[He rolls his eyes.] Hey, you never know. But I can do the rest. I'm just saying if it were VR I'd have a better idea how to pull the game apart at the seams but as it is, breaking the rules is a good enough goal. They're pretty much the same anyway at the end, aren't they? Getting out of here with as few casualties as possible? I don't see why not.

...you've got a deal. But I'd also like to see that rulebook you were talking about if that's possible. Not right now since we're in a tree but later.

[hypertoxic]

... Akira. I think Akira is the remaining Wickie. [ Said with some grimness. ] I will be trying to get the truth from him myself, but I can only push so far. If I have you helping me, we might just learn something. We can try pressing Jacopo for information, too, but it can't seem suspicious!

And yeah, basically! Either you break reality as we know it or I break the game. In the end, we both win, so who cares? I think this is the beginning of a fruitful partnership.

[ His request will get half a smile and a nod. ]

Yes. I was planning on it. Just not now, like you said. We will have to sneak away from the village sometime this weekend. If we both make it through this week's trial, Saturday night or Sunday morning will be the best times for us to slip away and work on it.

[zerotohiro]

After what just happened and what I told you, you still want to really trust Jacopo? I...talked to Akira on Sunday. I sort of started feeling him out and he says he isn't doing anything but at the same time the guy's everywhere. He either knows something or...you know. Who knows? Even if he isn't the Wickie, we could use his help, too.

This sounds fine by me. And I'd like to speak to another business partner of mine between now and then. [He holds up his hands.] You'll be protected, I'm not gonna blab about your role. But I think they might be useful to us, too, if I explain part of your plan.

So that's it. You, me, Saturday night if we both live and the rest of the island's too distracted to notice. I think I can do that.