doublecrows | [Week 5, Friday: Varian]

[ 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. ]

[. . . . . . HE'S A HISTORIAN HOW DID HE NOT FIGURE THIS OUT???]

I see. Then that's even more reason to ensure the remainder of our villains stay alive. Because out of all of the objectives that I know have been completed, only two of them belong to villains.

[Akechi arches a brow]

Depending on their reward, convincing them may not be an option.

[ DO YOUR JOB BETTER, ASKETCHI ]

I know of one villain who's done two, but they... might overlap.

[ shrugs. ]

You said their prize probably wasn't linked to eliminating a faction, right? Either way, I'm not going to go after villains at this time. The numbers aren't in our favor.

They might. The two villain objectives I know of were completed by two different people. One of them being the Vizier.

[also shrugs]

It isn't my plan to go after villains, either. Certainly not with their numbers so low, and certainly not when we need them to complete at least seven objectives.

[SPEAKING OF--]

Considering we're both laying it all out into the open now, why don't you tell me your title and objective? Perhaps I can assist you in the completion of same.

... Hm.

[ there's a half thoughtful, half judgmental look on Varian's face ]

I'll share mine if you tell me yours.

[uGH]

Swan Princess.

[he says blandly]

[ ...honestly he'd make fun but: ]

I'm the Gingerbread Witch, and I have to set someone on fire.

[ just as blandly. ]

[. . . . . . HM]

[easily, without hesitation, or like. any sign of hesitancy]

There are chemicals in the laboratory that can help with that, correct? If you need someone to be a distraction, I don't mind offering my assistance.

You are... seriously gung-ho about murder.

[ just. noting that. he's not surprised? but. anyway. ]

I'd rather keep away from the laboratory, since I'm kind of obviously familiar with everything in there.

[ yeah he's given it some thought himself. ha ha. ]

I'm not "gung-ho" about murder. I simply am willing to do what needs to be done, regardless of how unpleasant the task may be.

[the conversation is so casual for what the subject matter is]

I can understand that. The Crafters do provide materials to those who choose to kill, so perhaps you could ask them for bonfire materials?

Yeah, I know a thing or two about doing things because it's necessary.

[ he's still judging akechi a little for immediately jumping aboard. ]

I'm not burning someone at the stake, that's. That's a bit much.

[what, don't judge him, just DO YOUR OBJECTIVES!!!]

It's merely a suggestion.

Perhaps a flamethrower?

[aKECHI]

... Okay, I get "doing what needs to be done", but torture isn't actually part of the clause.

Oh, no. It isn't about torture. It's just that lighting someone on fire isn't an easy task.

[. . . a thought!!]

Do they have to be alive when it happens?

[ yea he KNOWS it's not easy smh

Varian looks away with a shrug ]

Technically, no.

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