[ Yeah, Claude's a good friend to have. She sits, carefully dusting off any sand from the docks before she does so. ]
Do you... know why he did it? I've been trying to understand, and it just doesn't make sense. Even if it's a competition, even if maybe he was more cold-blooded than we thought—something just isn't right, you know?
Yeah. It's not something that should have happened. [but he seems pretty forthcoming with the information.] Virid told me he was asked to do it. He wouldn't tell me who, but some of us have heard from our leaders that it was probably his own leader. Whoever that is.
Virid said he didn't really disagree with the reasonings behind it, and that if he didn't do it there'd be a different enemy we'd have to deal with. Hajime was a specific target. He said it had to be her.
So...knowing that, the same thing might've happened this weekend. But I don't have proof of that yet.
[ Her expression falls to something more troubled as he speaks. This honestly makes more sense than a random killing, but... well, it's no less disheartening. ]
Another enemy?
[ Hm. ]
Can I ask why your leader thought so? I can probably ask mine too.
All of the leaders have a connection to the Realm. I've heard from them that the Realm has all kinds of defense mechanisms in place, so it's likely that whoever asked Virid to do this found a way around them or just worked with the Realm to put up other defenses and disable others.
When I talked to mine, they said none of this was supposed to happen. Nobody was ever supposed to die, and they seemed to think Virid was manipulated into doing it. If it really was one of the leaders doing this to go full speed ahead and cheat their way through, that would explain why the Realm's all messed up still, too.
Possibly. Or two people decided they wanted their memories back like Virid badly enough they decided to take matters into their own hands. We still don't know if there's another way to get them back besides taking someone's life. It's just one of the things I want to ask.
[...then again.] To be honest? It's probably all of the above. [multiple people involved and it's more complicated.]
Yeah, it feels so early to be moving on something like lost memories... We could probably get those back normally, you know? Isn't that why we're here to begin with?
[ But for some people, that sort of thing might be important enough to kill over. She doesn't doubt it. ]
I think you're right. Virid must have been given some reason to murder—though I'm not sure how to feel about that. It still makes sense that people are upset.
Yeah. But maybe people aren't as patient, or...I dunno. Maybe whatever they're losing is really, really important to them. Even if you can't remember what it is, you can always remember how it made you feel.
[he also has no doubts here.]
The thing is now that Virid's started us, it's going to keep going. We can't exactly turn around and change things, and the more people we lose the more upset people will be. And the other problem with that is that it creates a lot of nova. If I'm understanding it right.
Yup. I've been trying to see if there's a way to collect enough of it through strong positive emotions, but it's way harder when I don't even know what I'm looking for. The leaders aren't totally sure either.
[ Though she's having a harder time believing they'll finish this without any more tragedy lately.
But after a moment, she gives him a little hum. ]
Thanks, Sora. That's all helpful, though there's a lot I don't understand... Can I tell you what I've learned since Saturday too? Maybe you can make some sense of it.
[ she gives him a little nod in thanks, her voice turning thoughtful. ]
From all that I've learned... Sharon's death was in self-defense. I'm pretty certain it was just personal for her, like maybe she wanted her memory back? As for Cater's death—I've heard that was to stop something bad from happening. Another case where someone specific was called out to die, but from what you've said, I don't know that it's connected to what Virid did or not.
[ again, it's getting complicated. she taps her cheek, sighing. ]
All I know is that we're not going to get anywhere looking at these deaths like they're as simple as they seem. People keep harping about trials and getting stuff wrong or right, but I think it's distracting us from the real issue.
...yeah? [somehow that gets him to frown a little, not entirely sure he likes that answer. he liked sharon is the thing, but for someone to just go and try to kill someone...
...but then hilda's talking about cater's death and he blinks in surprise.]
It's possible that it was if Cater's killer's leader asked them to enact the kill. Virid seemed to think there was something bigger out there that would be held back if he did this kill, and from what I've heard...there's a monster that's eating the nova. I don't know if the leaders knew that before this started though. They told me they just found out.
But that doesn't mean somebody wasn't lying. [which yeah. it's complicated!]
We have to go through the trials because we still don't know what'll happen if people don't vote. Voting gets us nova anyway. But...if this really is something to distract us, what are we supposed to do?
[ that's a lot to process, and she does so with a minute frown. thankfully, she's not that close to anyone involved, which makes it a little easier to keep her emotions in check. ]
From what someone told me, Cater... her nova was splintering apart, and the issue would've spread if she wasn't killed.
[ so maybe there's more than one issue going on, here. maybe they're related. ]
I think we're just going to have to keep trying to figure stuff out, you know? Whether someone's trying to cheat the system, whether there's some horrible monster on the loose—we just have to keep an eye out for the signs. Honestly, I'm already worn out trying to keep up with it all....
Splintering apart? But what would cause something like that? There has to be another way to stop that besides killing her.
[...right?]
...you're right though. We have to keep going and we have to keep looking. It's a lot, but that's why we're doing all of this together, right? If anyone sees anything suspicious or hears about it, they can tell people and we'll figure it out.
[but hm.] I suppose you can't tell me who told you that?
I don't know much about what causes it... but hopefully if it comes up again, we can find a different way to fix it. Until then, maybe keep an eye out for anyone with really bad memory loss? Like, unusually bad, even for us. From what I know, that's a sign that things might be splintering again.
[ she looks a little troubled by the prospect, but ultimately smiles at sora's question. it's a natural thing to ask. ]
And nope, sorry, can't tell you who told me any of this stuff. I'd appreciate if you didn't direct people to me, either—I have noooooo interest in everyone hounding me about who killed who when I don't even know that much.
...I don't mind telling you when I hear anything new, though.
[hm. he looks a little bothered about that but he doesn't explain why.]
Like if something significantly huge is missing or they have trouble remembering things at all? That'll be easier to spot.
[siiiigh. he kind of deflates but also this does not surprise him.]
It's okay. I'm not going to tell anybody who I heard things from, but I have a few people looking for answers, too. I'll tell them a little of what I know and we'll keep an eye out. Thanks for telling me though.
And if I find out anything new, I'll keep you updated, too. It's only fair.
I think it's... some of both? A lot of us have already forgotten pretty huge stuff here and there, but this would be more sudden and extreme. So I bet their retention of basic stuff wouldn't be very good either...
[ that's about all she's got apparently, because she shrugs. ]
I could always ask around for you if you need to know more. But I figure a little discretion couldn't hurt, right? I appreciate it though, Sora. I get the sense that I can trust you with this stuff—I mean, you sound really understanding about all the things I've already told you.
Yeah...it's something to keep in mind at least. So we'll just have to keep an eye out. But then I guess the question is...if the splintering goes unfixed and something worse would happen...what's the answer here? [do they let someone suffer? or do they kill someone?
hate this.]
I've been asking around myself, but it never hurts to hear things from a few sources. Your secret's safe with me though. I don't think people expect me to tell them where I hear things anyway. [he has recently been made aware that he's very much a younger teenager.] So don't mention it.
[there's a pause.] I think it's just because I can't say I'm completely surprised. I wish it wasn't like this, but now that we know this much maybe we can figure something out. Starting with what causes the splintering, and what that monster really is.
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no subject
Do you... know why he did it? I've been trying to understand, and it just doesn't make sense. Even if it's a competition, even if maybe he was more cold-blooded than we thought—something just isn't right, you know?
no subject
Virid said he didn't really disagree with the reasonings behind it, and that if he didn't do it there'd be a different enemy we'd have to deal with. Hajime was a specific target. He said it had to be her.
So...knowing that, the same thing might've happened this weekend. But I don't have proof of that yet.
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Another enemy?
[ Hm. ]
Can I ask why your leader thought so? I can probably ask mine too.
no subject
When I talked to mine, they said none of this was supposed to happen. Nobody was ever supposed to die, and they seemed to think Virid was manipulated into doing it. If it really was one of the leaders doing this to go full speed ahead and cheat their way through, that would explain why the Realm's all messed up still, too.
no subject
But two people died last week. If there were two murderers, that means two leaders could've been in on it, right?
[ Or it could've just been a fluke, and someone went killing for the hell of it. It's hard to say what team Virid was on, too. Lots of unknowns. ]
Or maybe things have gotten more complicated.
no subject
[...then again.] To be honest? It's probably all of the above. [multiple people involved and it's more complicated.]
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Yeah, it feels so early to be moving on something like lost memories... We could probably get those back normally, you know? Isn't that why we're here to begin with?
[ But for some people, that sort of thing might be important enough to kill over. She doesn't doubt it. ]
I think you're right. Virid must have been given some reason to murder—though I'm not sure how to feel about that. It still makes sense that people are upset.
[ She certainly wasn't happy. ]
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[he also has no doubts here.]
The thing is now that Virid's started us, it's going to keep going. We can't exactly turn around and change things, and the more people we lose the more upset people will be. And the other problem with that is that it creates a lot of nova. If I'm understanding it right.
no subject
Right... because nova is made through strong emotions?
[ What a lousy way to generate it. ]
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[ Though she's having a harder time believing they'll finish this without any more tragedy lately.
But after a moment, she gives him a little hum. ]
Thanks, Sora. That's all helpful, though there's a lot I don't understand... Can I tell you what I've learned since Saturday too? Maybe you can make some sense of it.
no subject
I can try, sure. What have you learned?
no subject
From all that I've learned... Sharon's death was in self-defense. I'm pretty certain it was just personal for her, like maybe she wanted her memory back? As for Cater's death—I've heard that was to stop something bad from happening. Another case where someone specific was called out to die, but from what you've said, I don't know that it's connected to what Virid did or not.
[ again, it's getting complicated. she taps her cheek, sighing. ]
All I know is that we're not going to get anywhere looking at these deaths like they're as simple as they seem. People keep harping about trials and getting stuff wrong or right, but I think it's distracting us from the real issue.
no subject
...yeah? [somehow that gets him to frown a little, not entirely sure he likes that answer. he liked sharon is the thing, but for someone to just go and try to kill someone...
...but then hilda's talking about cater's death and he blinks in surprise.]
It's possible that it was if Cater's killer's leader asked them to enact the kill. Virid seemed to think there was something bigger out there that would be held back if he did this kill, and from what I've heard...there's a monster that's eating the nova. I don't know if the leaders knew that before this started though. They told me they just found out.
But that doesn't mean somebody wasn't lying. [which yeah. it's complicated!]
We have to go through the trials because we still don't know what'll happen if people don't vote. Voting gets us nova anyway. But...if this really is something to distract us, what are we supposed to do?
no subject
[ that's a lot to process, and she does so with a minute frown. thankfully, she's not that close to anyone involved, which makes it a little easier to keep her emotions in check. ]
From what someone told me, Cater... her nova was splintering apart, and the issue would've spread if she wasn't killed.
[ so maybe there's more than one issue going on, here. maybe they're related. ]
I think we're just going to have to keep trying to figure stuff out, you know? Whether someone's trying to cheat the system, whether there's some horrible monster on the loose—we just have to keep an eye out for the signs. Honestly, I'm already worn out trying to keep up with it all....
no subject
[...right?]
...you're right though. We have to keep going and we have to keep looking. It's a lot, but that's why we're doing all of this together, right? If anyone sees anything suspicious or hears about it, they can tell people and we'll figure it out.
[but hm.] I suppose you can't tell me who told you that?
no subject
[ she looks a little troubled by the prospect, but ultimately smiles at sora's question. it's a natural thing to ask. ]
And nope, sorry, can't tell you who told me any of this stuff. I'd appreciate if you didn't direct people to me, either—I have noooooo interest in everyone hounding me about who killed who when I don't even know that much.
...I don't mind telling you when I hear anything new, though.
no subject
Like if something significantly huge is missing or they have trouble remembering things at all? That'll be easier to spot.
[siiiigh. he kind of deflates but also this does not surprise him.]
It's okay. I'm not going to tell anybody who I heard things from, but I have a few people looking for answers, too. I'll tell them a little of what I know and we'll keep an eye out. Thanks for telling me though.
And if I find out anything new, I'll keep you updated, too. It's only fair.
no subject
[ that's about all she's got apparently, because she shrugs. ]
I could always ask around for you if you need to know more. But I figure a little discretion couldn't hurt, right? I appreciate it though, Sora. I get the sense that I can trust you with this stuff—I mean, you sound really understanding about all the things I've already told you.
no subject
hate this.]
I've been asking around myself, but it never hurts to hear things from a few sources. Your secret's safe with me though. I don't think people expect me to tell them where I hear things anyway. [he has recently been made aware that he's very much a younger teenager.] So don't mention it.
[there's a pause.] I think it's just because I can't say I'm completely surprised. I wish it wasn't like this, but now that we know this much maybe we can figure something out. Starting with what causes the splintering, and what that monster really is.