[ akira & lili are 2rebellious ]

[coastal]

Comments

[coastal]

[at the very least the bluntness is fine with her - and she just imagines she'll hear what his answer is tomorrow. as for the question she scoffs, crossing her arms]

We're in a place where all of us came from various murderous situations, we've seen the dead revived, and to begin with we're all from different worlds and eras. And they want me to think that there's anything left that's impossible?

[she thinks that's pretty clear on what her response to that is]

If that's not the answer, we just need to find out what is. Easy compliance isn't really my strong suit. We just need to slam every door until one opens.

[survivaltricks]

Or slam hard enough until we force one open ourselves.

[he likes that metaphor]

I'm all for carving our own path through this bullshit. But. . . I guess you knew that already.

[he isn't exactly quiet about it, and part of that is due to her being extremely vocal in his direction]

[coastal]

[she nods, echoing:] If a path doesn't open, all we need to do is forge one.

[she looks a bit amused - ]

Who knew I'd agree so much with a - what did you say? Average city kid?

[her tone makes it clear how much she believes THAT shit]

[survivaltricks]

Yep.

[popping that 'p' as he gives her a two-fingered salute]

And who knew I'd have so much in common with an exiled noble?

[coastal]

[she rolls her eyes]

Maybe because you're a brat.

[no]

[survivaltricks]

Birds of a feather?

[AKIRA???? can't believe he feels comfortable enough to indirectly cal her a brat already!!]

[coastal]

[UGH]

Hush, you.

[EVEN THOUGH SHE CAN'T ARGUE THAT SHE'S NOT A BRAT]

At least pretend to hesitate!

[survivaltricks]

[a hum]

I thought you didn't like it when people hesitate

[coastal]

Making fun of me is different from rebellion!

[is it]

[survivaltricks]

It's just some light teasing. I'll relent if you want me to.

[FOR NOW]

[coastal]

[to accept him RELENTING is a LOSS

to which she just looks a bit annoyed before huffing]

It's not - .... I don't care.

[she does care but also she can take it, and also she deserves it for being a bully]

The other thing I wanted to hear from you is if you got your vouchers or anything else today.

[survivaltricks]

[that's Akira for you, he GIVES AS GOOD AS HE GETS!!]

Yes and yes. And it feels good to get paid.

[coastal]

[get that paper, akira]

Did you receive a note and a harmonica as well? Or something else.

[survivaltricks]

A note, yes.

[but as to her second question. . . he pauses]

But I'll keep what else I got a secret for now.

[he shoots her an apologetic look at that]

If only because I get the feeling the items we received could be used to determine which teams we're on.

So ask me that again tomorrow, okay?

[coastal]

[ . . . she looks thoughtful at that]

You think?

[hm.]

I suppose I accept.

[survivaltricks]

Yeah. Think about it.

[leaning back on one hand, giving her a thoughtful look]

If all people on the same team got the same prize, then it'd be easy to pick out who is who just by asking them about that prize.

And even if they didn't get the exact same prize, grouping them together by "prize type" might have the same effect.

[coastal]

I'll consider myself lucky that you're only the second person I've asked then.

[given that lili literally did not question fucking anything about the prizes. long term planning? don't know her.]

Everything just seems stupid to me.

[survivaltricks]

[LILI PLEASE!!! it's okay that's what he's here for, long term planning]

That's because it is stupid. Making us compete against each other like this is just dumb.

[coastal]

They really just want us to turn on each other...

[exhausting!!]

Whoever 'they' are, I guess. No one seemed to recognize the voice today, but I'm guessing that's our primary target.

[survivaltricks]

I asked Winter about those voices during the trial. They said that they were more "residuals." That is, the people those voices belonged to aren't really in this world.

[the pink voice, however. . .]

If nobody recognized the one we heard today, then it's probably different. It's probably an actual being that we can speak to and target. [and punch in the face] Did you talk to that masked person who came through here on Thursday?

[coastal]

I did.

They didn't have a face.

I'm still trying to process how I feel about that.

[at least she's honest]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . I mean]

The other three don't have faces, either.

[just saying]

But the voice who spoke today might be like them. Though when I asked Shadows about them, they weren't able to give me a firm answer.

[coastal]

You've asked them to take off their masks and hoods?

[lili will probably have to do that next,]

Is that so... Why do you think there's a fourth one that we can't contact? I asked them if they were here to help us, and they said yes - but I wasn't able to get a clear answer on how.

[survivaltricks]

No, but if you get close enough to them you can see that their faces kind of. . . change?

[or. well]

Winter's does, anyway. Shadows kind of has a void where their face should be.

And yes; I think so. There might even be five: the three we knows, the jade mask, and the voice we heard today.

[another pause]

Did they give you any clues on how they were going to help?

[coastal]

[she can't help but comment - ]

How close do you get to people's faces.

[anyway,]

No, but I've been given the advice to act kindly toward them when they next arrive and that might be even more useful to us than the vouchers. I'd thought they would appear on Thursdays, but apparently that wasn't it...

[what does that mean]