After handing out personal invites to each of them, Chiron will ask that they meet in a disclosed area of the forest away from prying eyes, and wait patiently for them all to meet at the designated time. He's got his eyesight back at last, so he'll glance in all of their directions with a slight, amused smile, laying down under a tree]
Good afternoon. I presume you are familiar with each other.
[Chiron stop being so amused--]
Please refrain from sharing your teams, but otherwise you should be free to speak amongst yourselves.
[He's just the moderator and won't be speaking unless spoken to, so... go wild, boys.]
he has no shame that he saved emet's life so yeah you can sigh if you want buddy!!! xie lian's still kind of riding the high of his success. ] No, I didn't intend to. Were we not both possessed of these roles, I probably never would have - I need no credit for the actions of helping others. Though, know that I did choose you quite far in advance, based on a hunch, and a conversation that we had. I was quite glad to know that it was correct.
[ a beat, and his smile softens a bit, with a bow of his head. ] I am sorry, that I did not come to speak with you on Saturday evening, and I am sorry that I had to obscure my reasoning for the things I said at trial. But I am not sorry that I kept the attention on Shiro's case throughout the evening, because I knew that you would be fine.
And, the two of you? What are your roles and titles? I would assume you have them, yes? Mine is "The Knight."
[The edges of his lips gets the hints of an amused curl. It can be funny now because Emet is all right. But GOD. He is quiet long enough to give Emet room to respond to the teasing.]
Chess then. [He pauses, glancing between the two of them.] "The Rook."
...I can stay awake on Thursday nights. In order to look for clues.
I consulted others who were aware as to the best rules to enact, in order to encourage the gathering of nova. This was suggested to me, and as I am not required to follow my own rules, I agreed to put it into place; I have no intention of participating.
[don't look at him like that, this is everyone else's problem.]
I agree there must be more-- at least one per team makes the most sense, so as not to unbalance this competition unduly.
I think it's sweet. It was one of the first things I asked my Leader about - if we could generate nova in more positive ways, and they said yes.
[ go get your horse mans, emet!
i mean.
serious! business mode. (you have to deal with him being insufferable forever, now, congratulations.)] I think there are probably six. My own role is quite protective, and Blanca's is as well...and Emet, yours provides an alternate way to gather nova, too. I have wondered if perhaps there would be others that would be designed towards gathering nova in different ways.
I am already aware of Emet-Selch's team, but I do not mind sharing mine with you, Blanca, if you think it is relevant information, so we can attempt to narrow down who the others are.
[Why does mom let YOU get out of following the rules, Emet-Selch? :unamused:]
Convenient.
[But he sounds slightly amused and teasing himself. He nods at Xie Lian afterward.]
So we're looking for our Queen, our Bishop, and a Pawn perhaps. [Hm. He glances up, slowly looking between the two of them... and then also Chiron.] If you don't mind.
I would rather tell you privately. Not that I do not trust Archer, or Emet-Selch, but more... as a safety precaution.
Edited (i knew one day typing chiron in brackets would get me in dialog) 2020-10-27 00:23 (UTC)
I believe waiting would be best, as well. There is no need to take too many risks, even among a relatively small number.
[but he nods to the theory, as well.]
'Twould make the most sense, and if there are loose ties to the pieces, one would anticipate a pawn to be the largest potential problem, due to the nature of the name.
[and then he remembers xie lian just said he doesn't know chess.]
The function of the piece itself matters little, I think, but the names may align more. If a pawn were someone taking orders, but we did not know of what nature or from who...
[He's quiet while Emet-Selch finishes, but there's a pensive and thoughtful look on his face. Afterward, he glances between the two of them again, ending with Emet-Selch.]
Do you think the Pawn may be who the leaders have been supposedly picking to do kills...? We've been wondering if... they've been forgetting, which would explain why they seem to all reject murder so intensely.
But the Pawn, if it takes orders, if they are expendable...
I believe they are promoted, should they survive long enough to reach the other end of the board. But this is all conjecture, until such time as we can locate more of the others; I personally would hesitate to assume anything save for a position belonging to a single team, lest we feel comfortable assuming one team was left at a disadvantage by not having a set piece. Or perhaps one simply does not fit the pattern.
[a shrug! but, anyway:]
I should like to interrupt said conjecture for a moment, though, if I may. Xie Lian, you said you were not sorry for keeping the attention on my case-- did you know anything of the other, then, or were you simply set on preventing any death?
[ ah. xie lian's thoughtful face falls, into something sad. ]
I didn't know anything. [ and he hates that; he knows how fond san lang had grown of yoshizawa, really liked miss yoshizawa himself. such a young, bright flame. ] I didn't know you were going to have to defend yourself, either. It really was just intuition. Had I been successful at protecting anyone before this, you all would have known, because I would have been the one dead.
[ here, he sighs. ] In private, I do not mind telling you a little more of the details of how I was able to do so, since it has already come to light but - please trust me when I say, the less that you know, the better.
I only have speculations to those questions. We'll have to find out more by asking questions. But I warn you both [mostly xie lian :unamused:] to be careful what you say, and to who.
We may want to make a list of people who know about us in case something happens. We'll be aware of who to keep an eye on.
[He glances from Emet-Selch to Xie Lian. His frown grows.]
Are you the one Soo-won knows about? Aside from mentioning he knew a role, he told me "the less I knew, the better."
xie lian nods his head, a little smile on his face...almost a little amused? there's a twinkle in his eyes. ] I assure you, that is not a problem. If you have the assessment of me that I share things easily, then...well, perhaps I am glad that that's what you see.
[ he just looks like his head is empty, no thoughts! as for the last question, he shifts a little, and then nods. ] En, I am. Before today, he was the only person who knew. Soo-won and I have been in close contact since the very beginning of our time in the Realm.
[ he hasn't even told hua cheng. ] The total number of people aware of my role then comes to four - the three of you present, and Soo-won.
Edited (in the forest room? they're outside.) 2020-10-28 15:02 (UTC)
I see. I don't think it's a bad thing. I've been trying to keep my role a secret from Soo-won, however. I didn't want to involve him in things because... he runs himself into the ground so frequently.
I also didn't want to tell any of the women. I didn't want children and women to be a target on my behalf if something happened. But...
[He sighs a bit.]
Aside from the three of you here, Hansa and Lup also know what I can do. I told Lup because I thought I may need a woman to help more thoroughly check the girls, as much as I disliked involving her in something dangerous.
Won came to speak with me over the weekend. Given how unsurprised he was by my actions and the very particular questions he tried to ask, it is likely he suspects Emet-Selch has a role.
[frowning slightly]
Especially if he was aware of the existence of roles before.
I... [Well, he looks extremely apologetic.] I must apologize to Emet-Selch. I've been a hypocrite. I was keeping my own involvement of my role from Soo-won, but I hinted to him that Emet-Selch had a role without confirming it completely.
I didn't think Emet-Selch would be spared, and I knew Soo-won was the best choice to find whoever may potentially take Emet-Selch's place, should that have happened at all. He's very good at getting others to trust him.
If it makes you feel better, Blanca, I think Soo-won and I both had figured it out from the moment Archer spoke up at trial. Compared alongside Shiro's note, Archer seemed impossible as the "culprit"- so I had wondered if perhaps there were reasons besides how much he cares for Emet-Selch.
[ xie lian just casually doxxes the both of them and their feelings.
anyway. if you go back and read the trial and count how many times soo-won and xie lian side glance at each other without saying anything. ]
He has asked me to tell him, if I know of any other roles. We've been trying to find you all, but it was really this weekend that made it possible.
[ a fond huff. ] He really does work himself into the ground, that young man.
[giving them BOTH side eyes, his tail flicking in vague disapproval, but honestly he just sighs]
Moving on-- [don't make dad mad!!]
We are searching for at least the Queen and the Bishop, yes? If necessary, I will plant questions amongst my students until the roles are found, if you like.
[CHIRON IS SO FUNNY. It's fine. Blanca somewhat smiles at Xie Lian, but doesn't tease Chiron for the feelings. He's glad there's "camaraderie" to be found here.]
Thank you, Mister Xie. I do still owe Emet-Selch an apology.
[Then he nods at Chiron.]
I think we could use your help, Archer, but I don't want you to endanger any of your helpers. Though... I guess that can't exactly be helped.
[ that's all for him, too - just a quiet, amused smile, and he moves on. really love this old man club we've got going here. ]
In terms of powers of the Realm, perhaps there is a way to get at such questioning that is more roundabout? Perhaps a lesson in chess could be applied.
[ maybe. that would have to be terribly specific, though... ] Since we truly are grasping at nothing to guess what sort of powers a "queen" and "bishop" for certain may yet have.
I think you're on the right track, Mister Xie. We should absolutely find the Queen, if we're able. Not that the Bishop isn't important. But the queen is the most powerful piece in a chess game.
[A pause.]
If you capture the opponent's king, the game is over. [It's good Xie Lian protected their king?] Though... a pawn can also be promoted to a queen if it reaches the opponent's end of the board.
You're right in that we don't understand how each role will work compared to the similarities of chess. But I'm certain the Queen is likely terribly important.
[ whoa, he's learning (the correct knowledge this time)...he nods, interested. ]
Sometime, when things are less dire, I would love to learn this game. [ it sounds like go, kind of! not that xie lian ever had the patience for go as a child, but he had to learn it when he was cultivating, anyway...
now it might be fun, though. when there's not murder involved. ] So, let's focus on finding the Queen - I'm in agreement with you.
I wonder how, though....Perhaps even just in bringing the idea of teaching others to play chess - if such a thing is done in a way that is public, then perhaps it will alert the others with roles that people are looking?
[ a pause. his brow furrows. ] I wonder if the others are trying to even seek us out.
[ hmmmmm. ] I do have my suspicions of at least one person's abilities of a role, based on some of the things I have seen in the past few weeks, though I know little. I have thought if someone perhaps has a role or ability to lay certain curses upon others.
I had planned to find those most likely to have a role and ask them for a game, to make my intentions clear... though it might be best to cast our nets out wide in order to cover all bases.
[So it's good to know they're in agreement with this.]
Is it possible our Leaders might be able to point us in the right direction? I know they cannot outright speak a name, but even if we were to ask if we're on the right direction; any amount of insight would be helpful.
[A pause]
... and who is it you're suspicious of? Even if you are incorrect, having a name might at least help us eliminate those who do not have a role.
Ah- [ xie lian corrects, quickly ] it's not a who. Of that, I have no clue.
[ a small, apologetic smile. ] I know the week of Shima's trial, he was the one who was able to affect a curse upon other members of the Realm - specifically, he cursed Claude and San Lang, though it seems it may have been random.
However, it seems he also was cursed during the trial itself...someone pointed out to me that he was cursed to have, um, romantic feelings for someone. [ xie lian did not notice this. at all. ] I wasn't sure if that was the same, or if was affected by an item we received, such as those odd little stones.
So I don't know, really, but it has stuck with me as curious since. There's also the matter of the fingerprinting kit that appeared to us, and... if she were telling the truth, the nightmare that Miss Izumo had of Laine and his splintering nova the week he was killed. I don't know if she was, or not, but that could be a possibility. We did receive a hint this week, as well.
We are reaching the point where over-discretion could prove our undoing.
[folding his arms in contemplation]
People will either assume I defended Emet-Selch out of affection or obligation -- and those who assume the latter will start to speculate as to why. I knew that when I made my choice in trial.
[basically there's no stopping this train now in his opinion]
Naturally, I would still have us all be cautious, but word will begin spreading rapidly from this point forward.
[casually hops back to this tag for reasons, which are that he's looked faintly annoyed since blanca first mentioned it.]
Yes, I believe you do owe one. The man's curiosity is already insufferable, as was his attitude when he came to tell me he assumed he had figured me out. He has been sniffing around for my team ever since the weekend's happenings, as well, though I have no intention of giving it to him-- and would much prefer that none of you tell him of that or of what precisely I do here.
I doubt any could blame you for your caution, Blanca. I hadn't considered that the roles would be inherited.
[GENTLY SLIPPING IN HERE, Emet stop being a grump]
That is something I'd want a definitive answer on, if we could all ask our Leaders. While I'd greatly prefer not to lose any among us, it still provides a level of flexibility I had assumed not available to us.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
antaressnipe) wrote2020-10-26 12:13 pm
W4 || Monday
After handing out personal invites to each of them, Chiron will ask that they meet in a disclosed area of the forest away from prying eyes, and wait patiently for them all to meet at the designated time. He's got his eyesight back at last, so he'll glance in all of their directions with a slight, amused smile, laying down under a tree]
Good afternoon. I presume you are familiar with each other.
[Chiron stop being so amused--]
Please refrain from sharing your teams, but otherwise you should be free to speak amongst yourselves.
[He's just the moderator and won't be speaking unless spoken to, so... go wild, boys.]
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without looking at chiron:]
Oh, stop sounding so pleased with yourself, Archer. But thank you for your work.
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Chiron and the two others get a respectful nod of his head. He looks a bit more serious.]
Thank you, Archer. Emet-Selch and I have met, but hello to you, Mister Xie.
[GOD.]
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Hello to the both of you! I am so glad that we're finally able to meet like this. What a delight!
[ yeah im god thats me ] What a curious coincidence, that I've roomed with the both of you in the weeks prior...
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[xie lian stop being so cute about it! he hates it. thanks.
anyway.]
The two of us are already aware of each other's function, but if you would not mind sharing yours...?
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anyway in terms of being cute, xie lian's smile seems to twitch up a little further when emet-selch is the one who asks him.... ]
In fact, you were the one I used it on, Emet-Selch.
[ I WAS THE ONE WHO CUCKED YOU, TEEJ! ]
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[STOP BEING CUTE? Emet is right.
He looks a tad surprised by the news, and then glances at Emet-Selch. Well.]
That would explain it then.
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[he pauses, pinching the bridge of his nose, exhaling a VERY heavy breath.
stiffly:]
I expect you were unable to mention aught of this to me.
[his tone highly suggests that xie lian does not answer otherwise.]
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he has no shame that he saved emet's life so yeah you can sigh if you want buddy!!! xie lian's still kind of riding the high of his success. ] No, I didn't intend to. Were we not both possessed of these roles, I probably never would have - I need no credit for the actions of helping others. Though, know that I did choose you quite far in advance, based on a hunch, and a conversation that we had. I was quite glad to know that it was correct.
[ a beat, and his smile softens a bit, with a bow of his head. ] I am sorry, that I did not come to speak with you on Saturday evening, and I am sorry that I had to obscure my reasoning for the things I said at trial. But I am not sorry that I kept the attention on Shiro's case throughout the evening, because I knew that you would be fine.
And, the two of you? What are your roles and titles? I would assume you have them, yes? Mine is "The Knight."
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Chess then. [He pauses, glancing between the two of them.] "The Rook."
...I can stay awake on Thursday nights. In order to look for clues.
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[they will probably speak of this later. points!!
but, after they've both spoken:]
I am the King, and the shifting rules of the Realm are my own-- though I should tell you I do not decide the accompanying punishment.
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a beat. ] ...That does make today's rule quite interesting.
[ OOOOOOOH EMET-SELCH YOUR FEEEEEELIIIIIIIINGSSSS ]
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The new rule is a bit of a minefield to navigate, I agree.
[Don't "agree," Xie Lian didn't say it was bad.]
I'm wondering if there are more of us then. A Queen? A Bishop?
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[don't look at him like that, this is everyone else's problem.]
I agree there must be more-- at least one per team makes the most sense, so as not to unbalance this competition unduly.
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[ go get your horse mans, emet!
i mean.
serious! business mode. (you have to deal with him being insufferable forever, now, congratulations.)] I think there are probably six. My own role is quite protective, and Blanca's is as well...and Emet, yours provides an alternate way to gather nova, too. I have wondered if perhaps there would be others that would be designed towards gathering nova in different ways.
I am already aware of Emet-Selch's team, but I do not mind sharing mine with you, Blanca, if you think it is relevant information, so we can attempt to narrow down who the others are.
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Convenient.
[But he sounds slightly amused and teasing himself. He nods at Xie Lian afterward.]
So we're looking for our Queen, our Bishop, and a Pawn perhaps. [Hm. He glances up, slowly looking between the two of them... and then also Chiron.] If you don't mind.
I would rather tell you privately. Not that I do not trust Archer, or Emet-Selch, but more... as a safety precaution.
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I will confess, I know nothing about chess. I've never even heard of it, until I arrived here...
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[but he nods to the theory, as well.]
'Twould make the most sense, and if there are loose ties to the pieces, one would anticipate a pawn to be the largest potential problem, due to the nature of the name.
[and then he remembers xie lian just said he doesn't know chess.]
The function of the piece itself matters little, I think, but the names may align more. If a pawn were someone taking orders, but we did not know of what nature or from who...
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Do you think the Pawn may be who the leaders have been supposedly picking to do kills...? We've been wondering if... they've been forgetting, which would explain why they seem to all reject murder so intensely.
But the Pawn, if it takes orders, if they are expendable...
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...Could the pawn move from team to team? If they are truly "expendable", then... if we lose one, can there not simply be another?
Or... what if the Pawn is the person whose nova splinters? I don't know about chess - could the pawn be associated with the Queen?
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[a shrug! but, anyway:]
I should like to interrupt said conjecture for a moment, though, if I may. Xie Lian, you said you were not sorry for keeping the attention on my case-- did you know anything of the other, then, or were you simply set on preventing any death?
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I didn't know anything. [ and he hates that; he knows how fond san lang had grown of yoshizawa, really liked miss yoshizawa himself. such a young, bright flame. ] I didn't know you were going to have to defend yourself, either. It really was just intuition. Had I been successful at protecting anyone before this, you all would have known, because I would have been the one dead.
[ here, he sighs. ] In private, I do not mind telling you a little more of the details of how I was able to do so, since it has already come to light but - please trust me when I say, the less that you know, the better.
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We may want to make a list of people who know about us in case something happens. We'll be aware of who to keep an eye on.
[He glances from Emet-Selch to Xie Lian. His frown grows.]
Are you the one Soo-won knows about? Aside from mentioning he knew a role, he told me "the less I knew, the better."
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xie lian nods his head, a little smile on his face...almost a little amused? there's a twinkle in his eyes. ] I assure you, that is not a problem. If you have the assessment of me that I share things easily, then...well, perhaps I am glad that that's what you see.
[ he just looks like his head is empty, no thoughts! as for the last question, he shifts a little, and then nods. ] En, I am. Before today, he was the only person who knew. Soo-won and I have been in close contact since the very beginning of our time in the Realm.
[ he hasn't even told hua cheng. ] The total number of people aware of my role then comes to four - the three of you present, and Soo-won.
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I also didn't want to tell any of the women. I didn't want children and women to be a target on my behalf if something happened. But...
[He sighs a bit.]
Aside from the three of you here, Hansa and Lup also know what I can do. I told Lup because I thought I may need a woman to help more thoroughly check the girls, as much as I disliked involving her in something dangerous.
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Won came to speak with me over the weekend. Given how unsurprised he was by my actions and the very particular questions he tried to ask, it is likely he suspects Emet-Selch has a role.
[frowning slightly]
Especially if he was aware of the existence of roles before.
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I... [Well, he looks extremely apologetic.] I must apologize to Emet-Selch. I've been a hypocrite. I was keeping my own involvement of my role from Soo-won, but I hinted to him that Emet-Selch had a role without confirming it completely.
I didn't think Emet-Selch would be spared, and I knew Soo-won was the best choice to find whoever may potentially take Emet-Selch's place, should that have happened at all. He's very good at getting others to trust him.
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[ xie lian just casually doxxes the both of them and their feelings.
anyway. if you go back and read the trial and count how many times soo-won and xie lian side glance at each other without saying anything. ]
He has asked me to tell him, if I know of any other roles. We've been trying to find you all, but it was really this weekend that made it possible.
[ a fond huff. ] He really does work himself into the ground, that young man.
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Moving on-- [don't make dad mad!!]
We are searching for at least the Queen and the Bishop, yes? If necessary, I will plant questions amongst my students until the roles are found, if you like.
[Chiron: do I need to mobilize my student army?]
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Thank you, Mister Xie. I do still owe Emet-Selch an apology.
[Then he nods at Chiron.]
I think we could use your help, Archer, but I don't want you to endanger any of your helpers. Though... I guess that can't exactly be helped.
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In terms of powers of the Realm, perhaps there is a way to get at such questioning that is more roundabout? Perhaps a lesson in chess could be applied.
[ maybe. that would have to be terribly specific, though... ] Since we truly are grasping at nothing to guess what sort of powers a "queen" and "bishop" for certain may yet have.
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[A pause.]
If you capture the opponent's king, the game is over. [It's good Xie Lian protected their king?] Though... a pawn can also be promoted to a queen if it reaches the opponent's end of the board.
You're right in that we don't understand how each role will work compared to the similarities of chess. But I'm certain the Queen is likely terribly important.
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Sometime, when things are less dire, I would love to learn this game. [ it sounds like go, kind of! not that xie lian ever had the patience for go as a child, but he had to learn it when he was cultivating, anyway...
now it might be fun, though. when there's not murder involved. ] So, let's focus on finding the Queen - I'm in agreement with you.
I wonder how, though....Perhaps even just in bringing the idea of teaching others to play chess - if such a thing is done in a way that is public, then perhaps it will alert the others with roles that people are looking?
[ a pause. his brow furrows. ] I wonder if the others are trying to even seek us out.
[ hmmmmm. ] I do have my suspicions of at least one person's abilities of a role, based on some of the things I have seen in the past few weeks, though I know little. I have thought if someone perhaps has a role or ability to lay certain curses upon others.
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[So it's good to know they're in agreement with this.]
Is it possible our Leaders might be able to point us in the right direction? I know they cannot outright speak a name, but even if we were to ask if we're on the right direction; any amount of insight would be helpful.
[A pause]
... and who is it you're suspicious of? Even if you are incorrect, having a name might at least help us eliminate those who do not have a role.
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[ a small, apologetic smile. ] I know the week of Shima's trial, he was the one who was able to affect a curse upon other members of the Realm - specifically, he cursed Claude and San Lang, though it seems it may have been random.
However, it seems he also was cursed during the trial itself...someone pointed out to me that he was cursed to have, um, romantic feelings for someone. [ xie lian did not notice this. at all. ] I wasn't sure if that was the same, or if was affected by an item we received, such as those odd little stones.
So I don't know, really, but it has stuck with me as curious since. There's also the matter of the fingerprinting kit that appeared to us, and... if she were telling the truth, the nightmare that Miss Izumo had of Laine and his splintering nova the week he was killed. I don't know if she was, or not, but that could be a possibility. We did receive a hint this week, as well.
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[folding his arms in contemplation]
People will either assume I defended Emet-Selch out of affection or obligation -- and those who assume the latter will start to speculate as to why. I knew that when I made my choice in trial.
[basically there's no stopping this train now in his opinion]
Naturally, I would still have us all be cautious, but word will begin spreading rapidly from this point forward.
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I trust you, Archer. I think the three of us can agree to allow you to do what you think is best. Just please... be careful.
With yourself especially.
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[MUTTERING THAT TO HIMSELF. Do you know how many people have chewed his horse ass out already?]
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CAREFULLY PUTTING HIS NECK ON THE LINE, BUT--]
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Yes, I believe you do owe one. The man's curiosity is already insufferable, as was his attitude when he came to tell me he assumed he had figured me out. He has been sniffing around for my team ever since the weekend's happenings, as well, though I have no intention of giving it to him-- and would much prefer that none of you tell him of that or of what precisely I do here.
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I beg your pardon sincerely. If there is any way to make it up to you, I will accept it.
I was only concerned about you leaving us, and whether or not we would be able to find out if anyone should replace you.
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[GENTLY SLIPPING IN HERE, Emet stop being a grump]
That is something I'd want a definitive answer on, if we could all ask our Leaders. While I'd greatly prefer not to lose any among us, it still provides a level of flexibility I had assumed not available to us.
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He does mean well. [ soo-won, anyway. ] But your concerns will be well taken care of - I have not breathed a word to him, nor will I to any others.
I will check in with my Leader about that when I can. I have been meaning to ask - my own role does put my life in danger, so I have wondered.
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Sorry he is just gonna grin to himself at this news]
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