[Week 5, Sunday: Varian]

[doublecrows]

[aaaand as promised? Akechi seeks Varian out when the execution is over. he seems pretty calm for as, uh. gory as that execution was?]

[he gets right to business]

And what do you think of where we stand now, Varian-san?

Comments

[alchemenace]

[ ... ]

A nuisance how?

[doublecrows]

[. . .]

He reminds me of myself.

[and nobody hates Akechi more than. . . Akechi?]

[alchemenace]

[ . . . one concern ]

Uh. So you want him dead because of your ... self-esteem issues?

[ listen he has to point it out. ]

[doublecrows]

[JUST]

[GIVES HIM A SHARP LOOK]

[the answer is yes]

He may also be a threat to Eichi in the future. [something more understandable?] Since apparently he believed Eichi, although incapable, committed one of the murders this week.

[alchemenace]

[ listen varian lives in denial of his own guilt and self-hatred and just moves blame to other people and yet he still feels weirded out by akechi's statement. still, that point. ]

Hikage's suspicious of everyone. For ... everything.

[ he is the most paranoid person in the game. ]

... You're absolutely certain a wish on the well would work to save a partnerless on execution day?

[doublecrows]

[he sure is. Hikage is a mess]

Yes.

[he says with absolute certainty]

I confirmed as much with Dragon-san and Tiger-san myself, when I was-- asking what I could use wishing well tokens for.

. . . and Eichi has already wished for my life to be spared should he die.

[alchemenace]

...I kind of thought that might've been the information you requested for fulfilling your duty as a Blotter.

[ he has been trying to guess what akechi used it for since fitzgerald said they could do that tbh. anyway. well that's-- interesting information. varian is obviously internally debating this, looking at the floor with a concerned expression. he knows hikage is a very real threat to being found out, since unlike a lot of people here, he wouldn't be dissuaded by things like age or logical probability of capability. still. it's steph's life he might be gambling with.

but ... he wants ... more than anything else... above anyone else-- he has to-- needs to-- ]

Alright. [ it's a bit shaky, and varian lets out a breath before trying again, firmer: ] Alright. I'll do it. I'll help you kill Hikage.

[doublecrows]

[a chuckle]

No. As a Historian, I didn't need to use my Blotter privileges to obtain that information. I'm allowed to ask questions whenever I'd like. That is, after all, the point of our role: to pass out information.

[PRIVILEGES, GET!!]

[at any rate. . . at that agreement, Akechi merely smiles]

Very well. [good. another villain objective accounted for] With your assistance. . . we'll be one step closer to ending this war game.

[alchemenace]

[ that's ... curious. he tilts his head with a frown ]

So what information have you guys used that for so far?

[ tell him your privileges binch. anyway. ]

That's... what I'm hoping for.

[doublecrows]

Remember your letter? It didn't come from a Historian, but that's part of the information we gleaned directly from the Crafters.

. . . and speaking of information, you never told me where you learned that seven objectives and three survivors were required for a "happy ending."

[HM]

[alchemenace]

... It didn't?

[ then who was phone???? as for the other half, varian smirks a bit ]

Well, they're the requirements for what Dragon called the happy ending, at least. Worried about my sources? [ he doesn't have to be a shit on purpose but there he is anyway. ] ...After finding those numbers, we used a wishing well token to figure out what they meant. The exact wording was that one set "must remain" and one set "must be completed".

[doublecrows]

It didn't.

[WHO WAS PHONE INDEED?? Akechi scowls a bit at that answer, though]

. . . and I see. I suppose the well has been more reliable as of late.

[alchemenace]

[ varian is definitely going to be thinking about who phone was for the rest of his time here thanks ]

I believe us getting the first coins for free made the well pickier. [ which is. ridiculous, but here we are. ] Though it was still vague enough that it didn't precise which set was which, of 333 and 777, but someone already knew what the former stood for.

[ whomst? mystery. ]

[doublecrows]

. . . oh? And who was that?

[or is he not getting a name]

[alchemenace]

I'm not giving that away for free.

[ HOW DOES IT FEEL!!! ]

[doublecrows]

[RUDE!!!!]

Then what do you wish for in return?

[alchemenace]

Well, that depends on what you have to offer, doesn't it?

[doublecrows]

[deep sigh]

I don't think I have much more that I'm able to give you, truthfully.

[alchemenace]

Heh, then I guess it'll just have to stay a mystery source.

[ he sounds surprisingly okay with that. the shit. ]

[doublecrows]

[BINCH!!!]

You think you'd be willing to share more information with the Historian assisting you in the completion of an objective.

[alchemenace]

Don't act like you're not getting something out of assisting me.

[doublecrows]

[MEH!!]

. . . very well then. I won't press.

[alchemenace]

At this point, the sources matter less than the information, unless you've got reason to believe otherwise?

[doublecrows]

No, you're right.

[he just hates BEING KEPT IN THE DARK!!]

[alchemenace]

[ :) tragic ]

So there we go. I'll tell you if it ever becomes relevant.

[doublecrows]

Fair enough.

At this point, with our objectives secured, I suppose all we can do is wait until the weekend.

[alchemenace]

... Right.

[ this is a lot more thought to killing a person than he ever thought he'd have to give tbh. instead of just. doing it. ]

I'm, I'm assuming you've got a plan already?

[doublecrows]

[you gotta be calculating Varian, let Akechi draw you into his villain bosom]

I do. It seems gauche to use the lake two weeks in a row, but I'm afraid I have little choice in the matter.

[alchemenace]

[ he can be plenty calculating but usually it's towards people he hates!! god!! ]

It's too bad the ballroom pool didn't stick around.

[doublecrows]

[it's fine!!]

It certainly is. But the lake will suffice.

Ah-- and unrelated to our plans for this Thursday night, I have another letter I need to share with you. It's from us Historians as a whole, and we were hoping you would disseminate the information in same to the rest of the manor for us.

[alchemenace]

[ hm. unsure. ]

And... what letter is that?

[doublecrows]

[pulls a folded sheet of paper out of his pocket! and hands it to Varian. it says:]

To the Narrators:

We are the group known as the Historians. We understand the Dragon made you all suspicious of us when she announced our existence. Despite that, we're asking you to trust us. We're here to help you reach your happy ending.

One of us has been in contact with Beauty and the Beast. We want to share part of the letter they wrote to them with all of you, to stress the importance of completing objectives. Here is what they said:

"To achieve a happy ██████ and ████ ██ from the █████ ████, each faction ████ complete ██ █████ seven objectives."

As Historians, we're aware that the Hero faction has completed a lot more than seven objectives. Civilians and Villains, you guys need to step it up! We know your objectives might suck, but we need you to work with us. Our objective is to get you your happy ending.

No matter what your suspicions towards us might be, please at least trust our intentions. Thank you for your time.

Good luck, everyone.

[and, after Varian has read it. . .]

We understand that we're lying about Beauty and Beast's role in providing this information. But we're hoping using their names will make people believe what we say, considering the frosty reception the manor had to the existence of the Historians in the first place.

[alchemenace]

[ ... wow you're welcome for that info historians. varian is literally staring deadpan at akechi after he finishes reading it ]

So you're asking me to share this letter on behalf of the Historians, containing information you got from... well, me, and are pretending is from Beauty and the Beast? Is that right?

[ he raises one hand in a "seriously" motion ]

[doublecrows]

[a beat]

Yes.

[AHA. . . HA. . .]

[alchemenace]

[ oh my god? varian is so tired. ]

... Alright. I guess I'll figure out the best time to share this publicly with everyone. [ jesus. ] Since I don't think waiting until trial again is a good idea.

[doublecrows]

Likely not. But I'll leave that judgment up to you.

Thank you for your assistance, Varian-san.

[alchemenace]

Well ... I want this information out as much as you guys, so. It's probably better that people don't think it originally comes from me anyway. They wouldn't listen.