week 4; wednesday morning (Ion)

[discardia]

[ This isn't typically a person she seeks out on her own, but given how things have progressed... he's definitely one of the first ones on her mind.

Though it takes a stupid amount of time for her to locate him, she does finally think to check the stables. And-- aha. ]

Ion?

Comments

[fonlines]

... Yes?

[ He seems somewhat surprised to be addressed by her, the curiosity clear on his face, but schools his expression into something acceptably pleasant and agreeable fairly quickly. ]

Is there something I can help you with, Miss Beckford?

[discardia]

Actually--

[ well, yes. She's holding out her hands, which contains a whole bunch of torn... parchment pieces. ]

I wanted to show you something.

please stop eating my comment dw

[fonlines]

[ That nets a visible change in his expression. He glances back toward one of the stalls for a moment, to make sure that Scott is well occupied with catching up with the other ponies of the stable and hasn't run off anywhere, then turns back to her and the torn scraps of parchment with a clear look of consideration. ]

You received something as well, then.

that's rude

[discardia]

I did, yesterday. I was busy assembling it, since it showed up like this, but I memorized it.

I don't know if it will help, but...

[fonlines]

[ ... A small attempt at a reassuring smile. ]

I can't very well judge that without knowing what it is. It might, depending on what it is, and I'm thankful you thought of me, but...

If I may, what made you think to bring it to me? There are others you trust, aren't there?

[discardia]

There are.

[ She won't deny that. ]

But you were the one to first bring up that letter. You've been searching for a way to end this game too, haven't you?

So I thought I should at least share what I found with you.

[fonlines]

Not at first. [ He might as well be honest about that. ] But I was too cautious, and I believe that now to have been my mistake.

In any case, yes. For all of us, not just those remaining. [ he says, deliberately. ] I hadn't intended on bringing up the letter in the way I ended up doing so, but... [ given that his fate at the trial had been up in the air, ] I thought it best to get it out there. And there are still other things my partner told me that I'm not sure where they fit in, yet.

[ He doesn't really indicate whether he means Souji or Fitzgerald. But he inclines his head, respectfully, and; ]

Thank you trusting me with this. Please, go ahead.

[discardia]

I also want to help those we've already lost.

[ That much she won't budge on, and when Ion nods, Cardia kneels to set the pieces on the ground. They look like absolutely nothing at first, but she'll start arranging them silently, until--

This remains. ]

[fonlines]

[ That's... cryptic. Code, of some sort?

... It's easy enough to memorize, at least. ]

Thank you, Miss Beckford.

[ ... ]

You don't have to answer if you would rather not, but... What are your thoughts, on this?

[discardia]

... I don't know. I thought maybe it had to do with the titles, since there are three categories and these numbers also come in sets of three...

[fonlines]

The third and seventh titles of every category, perhaps...?

[ He hopes not, because he thinks- wasn't the third hero 'Cinderella'? He'd have to check, but... ]

Three, three, three; seven, seven, seven... Or three sets of ten?

[discardia]

[ ... ]

Someone mentioned to me that one of the victory conditions might be how many of each title would be left. Could it be seven or three per category?

[fonlines]

[ . . . ]

Someone--else? May have mentioned to me that one of the ways to end the game... but likely in a way we would rather not prefer, was to eliminate all of any single category of title. It might still be possible, but a condition like that sounds like it's dangerously close to the same.

[discardia]

I heard something like that, too. I'd protect the villains if I could, but I don't actually know a lot of people's titles...

[fonlines]

I'm afraid I wouldn't be of much help in that, Miss Beckford. Unfortunately, I am only aware of a few titles, one of which was my partner's own.

[ was, so. ]

But how would you intend to protect them even if you knew?

[discardia]

[ that's... a great question. ]

I don't know.

[ And her shoulders slump. ]

I don't really have the ability to prevent a murder.

[fonlines]

But we know that there must be someone who does, because of Natsuo...

[ even if he hadn't been expecting it to be so easy, he still looks a little crestfallen at the admission. regardless, he schools his expression when her shoulders slump. ]

... please don't look so down because of this. This is progress. We are making progress, all the same, even if it's only a little at a time.

[discardia]

... Right.

[ With a small, tired sigh. ]

I wish we could make progress faster, but... you're right.

[fonlines]

Mhm. [ he wishes so, too. ] Those of us who aren't...

[ one of the Historians. one of the others... hm. ]

We will only have to do the best we can.

[ an appraising, concerned(?) look. ]

... Is this something you would rather me keep silent on the source of, Miss Beckford? In the case that I ever have to share this with anyone else.

[discardia]

... Please. For now, I'd rather stay anonymous about this.

[ Just in case. ]

[fonlines]

Then, it shall be done.

[ ... well, favor for favor, since she was the one who came to him with this, ]

Was there anything you wanted to ask me in return?

[discardia]

Oh--

[ well yes, but... ]

... It's all right. If you tell me anything, I'd prefer if it was because you wanted to and not because you felt obligated to.

[fonlines]

Call it a gesture of good faith. [ another small, mild smile. ] Admittedly, I am not quite as personable as my counterpart, but...

In any case, it isn't an obligation. If it is something I would rather not say anything about then I will refrain from answering-- simple as that.

[discardia]

... Your objective.

Is it anything I can help with?

[fonlines]

[ a brief flicker of surprise, then a muted hum of contemplation. ]

... I am to convince others here of something. But... I am unsure of what that something should be.

[discardia]

... Um. Is it something that has to be false?

[fonlines]

... it is. You can imagine, then, why I might want to try to be careful about it.

A harmless, if convincing lie is one thing. Something dangerously misleading, at this point in time, is another thing entirely.

[discardia]

I see... in a sense, that's a very heavy burden you've been given.

[fonlines]

[ ... He just smiles, something tiny but not quite sad, not quite meeting her gaze. ]

It's not the heaviest I've had to wear, I'm sure. I do want to save everyone here. So if the objectives are important to that, like we seem to have agreed... I'll figure something out, perhaps.

[discardia]

All right. If I can help, please let me know.

[ She won't press any further. ]

[fonlines]

It's all right. That you believed in me enough to come to me with this... well, I truly appreciate the faith, and I would be glad if you could continue to do so, despite our circumstances.

[discardia]

If I can continue to be of help, I will.

[ And this she'll say firmly. ]