selfsufficiency | Day 9

Day 9 - Alvin

[There's nothing particularly weird going on today, which after the last couple of days they've had, is pretty weird in and of itself. But it gives Alice plenty of time to catch up to Alvin, and then to speak to him as she passes by.

Last time it was a request. This time? It's an order. Please someone stop this menace.]

Come with me.

[She snaps her fingers and walks ahead of him at a brisk pace, fully expecting him to follow. Should he do so, she'll lead him somewhere quiet they can talk in private.

Should he not? She'll turn around, grab him by the arm, and haul him off anyway. Sorry, Alvin.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...You're in a pleasant mood today, I see.

[he's... joking, really. alvin's not exactly in the best mood either today though, so it's accompanied by a bit of a sigh.

though he is still following her, because he's curious to know what she wants his attention for so suddenly.]

Oh, I'm always pleasant.

[n...o that's not true

But once they're in a sufficiently quiet location, Alice turn to face him, her arms crossed over her chest.]

There's no point beating around the bush, so I'll just say it: you're looking more and more suspicious by the day and even the people I've been working with are starting to wonder about you. Elizabeth and I are pretty sure you're okay, but if there's anything you can tell me that would help me convince the others, that will make everyone's lives easier.

It's not like I'm keeping any secrets, you know. If you want to know something... just ask.

[he's been fairly open about himself when approached, all things considered. but considering people mostly just treat him suspiciously without asking?

he shrugs.]

I don't really know what I can tell you that's suddenly going to be a game-changer. Apparently not doing anything wrong is suspicious these days. Two trials in a row of accusations where we found the guilty party, and I'm more suspicious than the finger pointers, I guess.

Anything you can think of - just say it. I'm trying to help you out here, you know.

[Alice rolls her eyes. She thinks it's dumb too, but it is what it is. The sooner they can work out something to say to convince people to stop looking at Alvin, the sooner they can start investigating other threats.]

Or if there's someone you think is more suspicious, tell me who and why so I can try and redirect with that if it comes up again. People who are suspicious of you might not listen if it comes from you, but people have been listening to me for some reason.

[It's really weird actually.]

I know. I just have no idea what the hell's going to appease people at this point. I'm not looking to give everyone a sob story about my life just to take their eyes off me.

[which is implying that if he revealed more about why he's really considered a traitor, maybe people would lay off him a little, but he hates the idea of having to go that route.]

Who isn't suspicious at this point is the real question. We've got at least two in our numbers that have plenty of blood on their hands. And a couple of them are still missing in action. ...And not dead either, from the looks for it.

[he noticed the extra vote too.]

[She absolutely picks up on that implication, and she shrugs.] It might come down to whether or not you'd rather spit out a sob story or die, you know? [But hey, if he's got that much pride, it's not any of her business...] But we can try making you seem more trustworthy in other ways, too. If you make a deal with me publicly and keep your word, maybe we could convince people that way.

[Real power seems to be coming from the votes - it's at least giving them the power of life and death over the people who attend the trials. The Overseer is another matter entirely, and it's not a development Alice is all that happy about.]

Oh, good, you noticed that too. See, this is why I want to keep you around. [Alice sighs lightly.] Any of the people who disappeared could have been the one to vote. Until I actually see a body, I won't believe they're dead.

...I think it was probably Cici, though. What do you think?

It's not like I won't, but I think you know as well as I do that the sob story could backfire pretty easily when everyone's focused on how much I've betrayed in the past over why.

[he's not whining about it, but it's a pretty simple fact that he's not going to ignore. he knows how it goes; the truth of his circumstances worked on jude and the others because they wanted to trust him despite how shitty he was.] But hey, it's not like I'm unwilling to try what's gonna work. Dying's not really part of my plan, especially not when it comes from some half-baked witchhunt based on blind accusations.

[even alvin hasn't been pointing too many direct fingers because he's not about to send someone to death in the trials unless it's the only way to save his own ass.

either way, he takes a moment to consider what alice is saying. she's had it out for ciel, but it's not without merit.]

Could be him. Could be Jade too—that guy sent off a lot of warning bells when I talked to him. [he's not sure.] The ones who tend to be quiet may be worth keeping an eye on too.

...that's true. You're not a very easy person to make look sympathetic.

[Add that to the fact that most of the people left alive are paranoid shitheads, his chances are pretty low. Still, he does at least have the advantage of a couple of vocal people believing he's not going to betray them just yet.]

Honestly, I think if you were going to kill or betray anyone, it wouldn't be until our numbers are a lot lower. You don't have anything to gain by doing it now. But if we had, say, six people left? I could see you turning on us then.

[And that's enough for her to be willing to let him be until he's more of a threat. It's a shame that probably won't convince anyone else.]

I never really got to talk to Jade, so I couldn't get a read on him. Guy knew him, though. We might be able to get his perspective on it... well, you might. He flinches if I get near him. [it's hilarious]

[he's amazed and a little grateful there are a couple of people who'll stick up for him. he won't even argue about not looking sympathetic—he already knows it, after all.]

I think if it's only six of us left and it's the only chance of getting out alive, most people would be willing betray someone else. I'm not naive enough to think that even a nice person wouldn't turn their back, especially not with who's here. We're lacking too many real "do-gooders" here.

[angel, probably. maybe jeff. but a lot of ugly sides have already come out during the trials, and a lot of secrets too. he trusts alice and elizabeth well enough, but he knows how this game goes.]

Anyway, I can try asking him later if I get the chance. Even though I shared a room with him, I didn't go out of my way to talk to the guy or anything. Guy might know something, so it's worth looking into. I'm not too sure about anyone else at this point, though. We've got some good actors here.

I think you should, if you can. And the sooner the better - you might not have time to talk to him tomorrow if it's as crazy as yesterday was.

[Though hopefully with Rhys gone murderday will be a lot more chill... well, as chill as any murderday can be.]

It's a little surprising, don't you think? They've gathered a lot of good actors into one place. I'm used to seeing a lot more idiots who wear their hearts on their sleeves and are too stupid to act, to be totally honest.

I'll look for him after this and see if I can get anything out of him. Either way, I'm hoping I don't wake up stabbed again tomorrow.

[he's also hoping to wake up in general.]

I can't argue that—there's not a lot of that around here even though that's what I saw the most. Fighting to save everyone instead of throwing the first suspicious person onto the train tracks. I guess it's not a fun game for them if everyone's too nice.

I'm hoping the same thing. It would be boring if you got sent off this early.

[Later is fine though.]

Probably not! I know I'd get bored if I was watching this and everyone got along. It's definitely more interesting this way. [She makes a face.] I just don't like that my life got mixed up in it.

Your concern is touching, Alice.

[even if he expects it from her at this point.]

I don't think any of us are too thrilled for that part. Who the hell would want their lives caught up in this mess?

People with way more problems than any of us have.

[For all that talk of them having chosen to be there, she had a hard time imagining any of them agreed to it. But the staff members - if they're involved with this, orchestrating it, she imagines they chose it.]

The Overseer is a problem. Come to think of it, if you help us catch the Overseer, that would make you look more trustworthy to people, too...

It's not like I don't have any reason to help—I wanna track that bastard down too. Both because he saved Rhys and because that'll be our ticket out of here.

[the latter is more important, but alvin's pretty pissed about how everything went down.]

If we assume they're playing fair, then the Overseer is probably still among us. But...

[Since when have any of the staff members played fair?]

If it's one of the people who went missing, they could be hiding where we can't get at them, too. I asked Judy and she said there is one other place people can vote from, but that door won't unlock until more people are dead. If one of the people who went missing is hiding up there, and voted from there, then...

...Then they're keeping out of our reach to make sure things keep going their way.

[which could very well be the work of an overseer who knows exactly what's at stake on all sides.]

And if it's the Overseer, then we've got next to no chance of actually tracking them down and putting an end to this yet. We already know playing fair isn't the name of the game at this point, especially not with yesterday's stunt.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Day 9 - Alvin

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject