coastal | [ kara & lili are romance, somehow ]

But we should keep going until we've accounted for everyone, somehow... if that's even possible.

[ the limitations are so tight, and there isn't much flexibility to it. they can't risk the consequences, whatever they may be, so instead they're stuck talking in circles - all while the directors keep giving them conflicting instructions. none of it makes sense. ]

...At the very least, we need to know who we've gotten that information from. That way, we won't waste time or chances talking to the same people, and we can narrow things down faster.

[ . . . she looks a little torn.]

I've been keeping you updated, so I can't... say anything for a while without revealing who the Black Shadows member is. Because they'd stand out on my list. And I think it'd be similar for you if you find one.

[so she tilts her head, trying to think of another way out. it's complicated, and she doesn't like it, but figuring out ways to bend the rules has been the only way she's gotten this far.]

How about every end of the week? We'll disclose to each other the new people we've asked or who's spoken to us, and make a plan on who to ask the next week.

We start next week.

...Thursday, before curfew. In case something happens to either of us.

[ . . . . . she doesn't like the sound of it and it's obvious in the way that she hesitates even now - but she nods.]

Mm. Alright. There should be supplies to maintain a list from the Arts and Crafts cabin. I'll be keeping it in Dragon Cabin.

If I don't find another person to tell me their power or team by Thursday next week, I'm not going to disclose the Black Shadows member. [because if the list is just two people and one's unexpected, she thinks it'd be obvious] But I'll include them in the following week.

[she squeezes his hand]

Okay?

[ and kara is clearly dissatisfied by that, but he knows the risks, and doesn't press, just giving a single nod. ]

Are you sure a written list isn't too dangerous?

[she shrugs]

Nothing would be on it but names. We're not going to put any additional information - but if you want us to just rely on memory, that's fine.

[just straight up brain power]

If it continues to just be you, myself, and Ash on Thursdays, we might as well loop him in, too.

...I guess we'll see. Do you think he'd be willing to work with us on this, though? He's not as open about his team or ability as some others.

[she shrugs]

I can ask. The worst thing that'd happen is he'd tell me no. If it's about getting information, I think he'd be willing to talk about it.

You like him enough, right? We could always ask Dimitri...

...I don't hate him.

I think it would come down to who you think would be the most help for it, honestly. I like Dimitri, but I don't know how much information he's been able to find, either.

[ . . . . she tilts her head.]

I suppose it depends on who's the most willing to disclose who's talked to them.

Dimitri hasn't been bad at it - but I think he doesn't want to disclose anything that people have told him in confidence. But if we negotiate with him about why we're looking then... maybe.

[though she can't help but just hum]

I'm glad - that you're finding more people that you don't dislike.

[ he's quiet for a moment, but eventually he shakes his head. ]

You're still the only one I trust.

[well if she's being honest - ]

That's fine. That took time too.

[last game they were so slowburn and she knows it]

Edited 2020-06-29 05:03 (UTC)

[ fuckin immediately: ]

I don't want anyone else, either.

[she's just going to roll her eyes fondly before pressing a kiss to his cheek]

I'm not going to make you get along with anyone else if you don't want to.

As long as it's enough for us to work together with others, that's good enough for me.

[she'll be pragmatic about it.]

If I couldn't work with others, I wouldn't have survived as long as I did in the village. But that doesn't mean I'm going to put my trust in them, either.

...Just as long as we're careful about it. Because if we don't find a solution to this game soon, sharing our teams could be as good as painting targets on our backs - especially yours, since Purple has the lowest numbers. Eliminating one team would bring anyone else closer to winning. But I don't want that to be you.

[ . . . . yeah. she just looks a little bit tired at that - because it's true. her own team doesn't look like it's doing so well.]

There's always the item that Akira mentioned, about switching teams if necessary. If something happens to me, you ought to just switch so that you can take my spot so the numbers don't fall too low.

But I don't plan on making it easy for anything to happen to me. I'll always keep my power in reserve for Thursdays, at least.

This is the only way that we know how to move forward right now, and how to get information. I don't want to let fear hold me back.

...As long as someone else has that item, that's not my decision, Lili.

[ he sighs, and hugs her a little closer. ]

I know. [ both that she won't hold back, and that she doesn't plan on giving in, if she's chosen. ] I have a plan for that, too. It's just something else we have to keep in mind, and be prepared for.

[but she'll let herself be brought closer, and she'll shift her hold on him so that she can let her arms loop around his neck, goes up to her toes to lean up for another kiss, lingering briefly.]

... it'll be okay. I don't want us to be separated - but if we are, the person who gets to see Tsurumaru first will get the chance to hit him really hard.

If they're doing work on the other side, we ought to have people we trust there too. Even if I don't want anything to happen to either of us... if we're going to be prepared for it, then we ought to make a plan for that too.

So don't ignore my messages this time, no matter who ends up where.

...I never ignored you.

I thought you did...

[SHE REMEMBERS WHINING ABOUT IT]

Mm... but if you say you didn't....

I didn't.

[ he kind of did but it was bc he didn't know what to say and ALSO ]

The theater may only be showing the trials and executions, but things were still busy after you died, you know.

[she nods...]

... I know. You had to take care of Kaoru and everything...

[kara's always busy.]

But at least here, make time to answer me with thirty words or I'll be mad.

[she thinks she's allowed to say that]

If I die, sure. But they still haven't given us an option to do that from this side.

Someone has a theory that's what the box in the Arts and Crafts room is for - but they also heard that it might only be once a week from this side too.

I'll try it this week... If we can only write once, I'll probably still make it to Tsuru.

But if it's twice, I'll write to Evan too.

What box?

[ he hasn't looked lmao. ]

...If they only come and go once a week, though, we probably can't rely too heavily on them.We don't have the time to wait around while more of us die.

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coastal - 2020-06-29 06:18 (UTC) - Expand

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