doublecrows | [Week 5, Friday: Varian]

[ well this isn't something that usually happens ]

Oh. Um. Sure? What is it?

[NOPE. and yet, here he is]

[he exhales deeply, hesitates for only a moment, before he dips gloved fingers into his pocket and pulls out a folded slip of paper]

I took your advice and wrote to Beauty and the Beast this week. I received a prompt reply.

[ varian stares wide-eyed for a second before taking it and reading it over, one eyebrow raised. ]

... Oh, wow. You ... didn't blot out any of that. [ hello, historian. varian looks pensive, hesitating for a while as he stares at the letter before shrugging a shoulder ] I guess you're lucky Beast is mad at you? From what I've heard, she has a bad habit of dropping titles, too.

[ welp ]

[adjusts his tie and affixes Varian with an even look]

With Sousei-san dead, I don't think now is the time for subterfuge.

[aha. . .]

I don't know if I'd consider myself lucky for drawing her ire, but if it prevents her from dropping my title to anyone else, then I suppose that's an unforeseen bonus.

... Yeah, no kidding.

[ why are villains an endangered species. ]

So were you the one who sent me the letter? Or was it-- one of the other ones?

[ he's not sure if they're working together or not, so. ]

Edited (me: wait there are fucking five of them i can count) 2018-07-14 02:28 (UTC)

[that]

[gets a very bemused blink from Akechi]

You received a letter from one of us?

[ ... ah. ]

Well, that answers my question. [ anyway. ] Right. The week the owlery opened, I received a letter from someone I assumed was a Historian? I've still got it on me, um. [ give him a second. he takes out the letter in question from his extensive inventory, showing it to him. the handwriting seems to be from the crafters. ] Here.

[he scans the letter, both brows raised]

This information aligns with the information we as Historians have been sharing among ourselves. I wouldn't be surprised if it came from one of us, but I don't know who would've sent it.

Well. That makes two of us.

[ before he goes on, he might as well ask: ]

Why did you share that letter with me? I mean, I'm flattered, but.

[arches a brow, and smiles a little. it's not really a friendly smile, though]

You were one of two people who encouraged me to write to them.

And I believe this letter should be made public. Considering the sensitive information contained within, however. . . I certainly can't share it myself.

Well, it helped me out when I found out I wasn't the only one with correspondence from them, so.

[ varian is pretty flippant about this blatant reveal that he lied about not writing them, but, honestly, considering what akechi is asking? he might feel better knowing varian can do the whole casual lie thing ]

...So you want me to do it for you. Ha. [ but even though he looks unimpressed, he's not saying no ] I'm guessing you'd need me to take out the parts that incriminate you?

[ARCHES. . . A BROW. . . but yeah, the casual lie thing? actually doesn't bother him at all. wonder why!!]

Preferably, if you don't mind. Not that I believe people knowing I'm a Historian will put me in any sort of danger-- [ya'll haven't killed him yet he's getting cocky] -- but I am prohibited from announcing my title to the public.

So probably the line about you not killing again too. [ now he's being a shit on purpose. ] But I wouldn't be so sure of that. If I'm right, there's one role that's working directly opposite your own for Tiger's benefit.

[ anyway, he frowns a bit as he looks it over ]

... Could you give me a copy of what you wrote them first? I'm going to decrypt as much of it as I can and use that as an excuse for why I've transcribed it. I don't think showing the original copy in trial, censored or not, is a good idea.

Ah, I see. You had that thought too, didn't you? If Tiger-san wishes for the eradication of one faction, and Dragon-san wishes for balance, then naturally Tiger-san would have titles working in her favor.

[arches a brow, and then shrugs]

Admittedly, most of our villains have died due to executions or because they were partnerless. But it's still worrying, if balance is the ending we seek.

[and as for Varian's request. . . Akechi pulls another piece of paper from his pocket and hands it over! seems like he had a copy of his original letter at the ready]

[ wow that sure is convenient. he takes that too!!! all the letters!!! yoinks ]

That's the guess I had, when I learned there were special roles. Though... Since you guys are Historians, I kind of expected you to know what they all were.

[ he sounds more curious than anything. ]

[lol]

We don't.

[EXASPERATED SIGH. . .]

As you can see in that letter, our memories of the previous game we played in were stripped from us. We remember practically nothing, and only receive memories back from it in shattered and contexteless pieces.

... Wow. No wonder Beauty and the Beast kept talking about us sharing information. [ varian hesitates for some time but then he just sighs because he's worked alongside historians since he got that letter in his own way, he might as well. ] Outside of the Blotters and you guys-- and I didn't know the number of Historians before now, so that helps-- there are two Viziers, two Editors, one Alchemist, and one Shield.

[ that said, varian looks into his pockets ONCE AGAIN to share a different note:

"One role holds the power to protect whomever they wish, and may offer another up or themselves as an alternative sacrifice.

One role may inquire into a Narrator's personal business, into their privacy, and receive answers on their allegiance.

One role is tasked with making choices that affect the castle each week.

One role holds the responsibility to answer to the Crafters' assigned tasks, and they cannot be faulted for that."

there's a letter next to each of the lines, in order-- S, V, A, E. ]

[he looks. a bit surprised at that, but then he turns his attention to the letter, understanding washing over his features]

[he points to the first line - S]

I know the Shield.

[and then the second line - Vizier]

And one Vizier. That's all. If you suspect the Vizier role may be the one in Tiger-san's employ, I'm not so certain about that. . .

You do? Who, who is it?

[ he's looking wide eyed at that, though he frowns at the rest ]

Of all of them, Vizier is the only one that makes sense? Editors are working for both, to-- kill people, from what it sounds like-- and I ... can't quite figure out what exactly the Alchemist affects around the castle weekly.

[gives him a Look]

I know I shared this letter with you, as well as some information I know as a Historian, but I can't share everything.

[PAY HIM FOR THOSE DEETS, VARIAN]

I doubt the Vizier is meant to eradicate the entire villain faction, becasue the Vizier I know is a villain.

[ ........... okay he can bargain. ]

Not for free, right? This thing isn't the only info I had.

[ but then there's the vizier reveal and varian hums ]

I don't think Viziers necessarily have to eliminate villains. Any faction will do. Like you said, most villain deaths so far have been ... incidental.

[ as in incidentally we all fucking suck at guessing ]

[. . . . . . . . . . damn it]

Share with me what else you have, and I'll consider it.

[Akechi arches a brow at that second part]

There are two Viziers, correct? I imagine they don't work together. But the one I know mentioned nothing of having to eliminate a faction, and even stated that they receive rewards for simply correctly identifying someone's title and whether they have an extraneous role.

Well. I know the exact amount of ink we need so we can get the so-called happy ending to this game.

[ that's an h bomb! anyway. varian frowns a bit ]

For correctly identifying...? Do they have to guess? [ that's not much of a role???? ] I don't know that they have to eliminate a faction, I just know that's Tiger's preferred ending. But think about it: why would they need to learn people's titles and roles? For what purpose? This entire 'war' plays out like a Game. If Dragon has people like you guys who are helping out her preferred ending, wouldn't it make sense for Tiger to have some too? And if hers necessitates the death of any faction...

[ but he shrugs ]

I might be completely off. It just strikes me as weird to not have anyone to facilitate that for her, since otherwise her win is random.

[what the FUCK Varian??? Akechi's confident expression fades into a scowl]

I don't particularly care about "happy" endings. [aha] . . . but nevertheless, my role here is to encourage balance through the completion of objectives.

Eichi is the Shield.

[there are you happy. . .]

And I don't believe it's a guess as much as it is them approaching the person they checked and asking them about their title. At least, that's how it worked for me.

[aha]

That fact struck me as odd, too. Especially after today. But even if it's true, and the Viziers are working to eradicate at least one faction, as I stated the one that I know is a villain.

It wouldn't be wise to take them out now.

[he goes straight for the murder option b/c of course he does]

[ he's very happy! thanks. ]

Well, you're in luck, because objectives are involved. Each faction has to complete seven of them at least. ...The other, less fun part is that all three factions must have three survivors. No more, no less.

[ ha ha, horrible math numbers. anyway! ]

I wasn't thinking of taking out the Viziers. Convincing them otherwise would work better for my purposes, since knowing titles is a pretty nice advantage. ... Though if all they're doing is asking people, maybe it's not that nice.

[ he's not even surprised at the murder option. it's fuckin akechi. ]

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