week 2; saturday post-trial w/ fane

[alchemenace]

[ here they are once again in the dorm room after a trial, though this time varian has only one thing to say: ]

Okay, but corpse kissing aside, are we going to have a confession like this every week? Because they could just make things easier for us and write a note on the ground instead.

[ why do they waste eight hours every week ]

Comments

[faceripper]

Honestly. What an utter waste of time! At least I had something to occupy my mind throughout the inane dramatics and waterworks, but that's not saying much.

[ Fane sure was quiet this trial!! Weird!! Because the reason I'm going with is that he latched onto that code and didn't let go. Unfortunately, he also didn't figure it out. sucks 2 suck ]

...Well, the thing about objectives was interesting, I suppose. Though it's only one clarification that led to a new set of questions.

[alchemenace]

[ ... hm. varian hesitates for a second before admitting: ]

I already knew about the objectives. I, well, I talked to the Crafters earlier this week. Privately. They said the only way to end this game is to get ink, and I already knew objectives were one of two ways to get them.

[faceripper]

Hmph. I'll just assume you didn't share this because you were occupied this week...

[ His voice is somewhat petulant, funnily enough, but he's definitely not as annoyed by that as he could be. If it were longer than this week? Most definitely. But as it is, he can just swallow that pang of displeasure and move on. ]

I take it the other way is the obvious. Murder.

[alchemenace]

I haven't talked about it with anyone because... people freak out if you're asking the Crafters for one on one time.

[ which isn't the only reason, but. varian is still a little bit reluctant to share. with anyone ]

But you're right. It's murder. It doesn't have to be designated murder, either. Anyone killing or being killed gets ink.

[faceripper]

[ He scoffs dismissively ]

And presumably, I imagine they didn't tell you how much ink was needed, did they? Between the murder and the objectives, I daresay that murder is far easier though far less palatable. My own is stupid and extraordinarily ill-fitting, and it's the same for others I've heard.

[alchemenace]

And yet, there's an entire group of us dedicated to make sure the objectives happen. They're even more important than I thought.

[ ... though okay listen since fane said, Varian can't help but ask: ]

What's yours?

[faceripper]

[ Flatly, and with no hesitation whatsoever: ]

To spread rumors. Which is absolutely deplorable behavior that I refuse to stand for. The Crafters are positively mosquito-buggerers, and I'm not sure if they thought assigning that task to me would be a funny joke or they truly thought so little of me that I would stoop as low as petty gossip.

[ Wow, that sure got heated. Fane seems to get passionate about, well, a lot, but this one he seems to find particularly insulting. ]

...Though this group of people are little better. Keeping that goal secret is idiotic. Why, if people were just quite upfront about what they were supposed to do, then we could get this done with all the quicker.

[alchemenace]

[ honestly varian is trying not to laugh at the idea of fane spreading rumors. it takes him a bit. it would be ... really funny. ]

... I know some objectives are a lot more dangerous than others, but yours... [ he thinks about it ] Fane, is your title Puss in Boots?

[faceripper]

No. It's the Magic Mirror. It's absolutely bloody useless.

[ He sounds sour about that too, but not nearly as much as the objective. It really is just dumb and useless and he hates it, but intentionally or otherwise, he doesn't elaborate on what it is before asking: ]

Well? What's your objective supposed to be?

[alchemenace]

That was the other one that fit my theory. [ he seems proud of himself regardless of him being wrong.

there's a long pause on Varian's side, though, when asked what his objective is. when he says it, it's with a clearly detached tone ]

I have to set someone on fire.

[faceripper]

[ A normal person would feel bad about complaining about their objective in the face of that. However, since this is Fane, well— ]

...Completely? Well, to the point of death, I mean.

[ you can almost hear the muffled theme song in the distance ]

[alchemenace]

[ why is fane like this ]

I asked. [ why did he ASK ] It's completely if it's a corpse, but "horribly disfigure" is fine for the living at minimum.

[faceripper]

[ because any science nerd would ask. This is clear by the fact that Fane doesn't even question it. He just nods along, though it comes with a disappointed sigh. ]

I should have known... A shame. If it wereless so, I would have offered myself for the—ahem—cause.

[alchemenace]

... Oh! That's true, you wouldn't be affected by most fires. It's too bad horrible disfigurement of a skeleton would probably kill you, since we are kind of avoiding that.

[ bummer. ]

[faceripper]

[ Fane nods and sighs like this is something truly lamentable... they're freaks ]

Honestly. Alas... I suppose I shouldn't wish you luck with your venture, so instead, I'll simply say I understand the conflict.

[ He shrugs ]

Really, if there are more objectives like your own, then the two ways to collect ink amount to one and the same.

[alchemenace]

I believe the objectives are linked to the titles. Or, at least that's what I figured out when I read the books in the library. I think, going by that logic, at least one third of the objectives are similar to my own. Which... explains the Historians. If they were all as easy as Miss Bunch's [ or. fane's. if it was anyone else. ] they would have no reason to try to force it somehow.

[faceripper]

Considering the objectives I've heard, I would say that's a reasonable assumption.

[ ...Though all the ones he's heard he also thinks are super dumb, so. Mixed results. ]

Though I may as well say it. [ He waves a hand idly ] I don't know what to think of these Historians in the first place, but I imagine Akechi is one of them. I mentioned my objective to him, and he was surprisingly enthusiastic to assist me with it.

[alchemenace]

[ ... hm ]

You think so? According to what we've been told, the Historians know more about the true nature of this place than anyone else here. Akechi... [ lost his shit during his trial ] I guess he has been proven to have lied about things previously. A lot. I'll keep it in mind.

[faceripper]

Oh, I agree. It seems quite strange, all things considered, but I can't help but consider his helpfulness differently now.

[ He shrugs ]

If he isn't one himself, then perhaps a good friend of his is.

[alchemenace]

... The good news is, if that's the qualifications, that brings the potential Historian to approximately five people.

[ he's being generous. ... or, wait. ]

... Including Natsuo. Could his death have been the catalyst to why information about the Historians was given to us?

[faceripper]

[ Fane makes a thoughtful noise, though it's definitely positive. This hadn't quite occurred to him, so he shifts to a thoughtful posture with a nod. ]

That would make sense. I doubt that it was given simply out of the kindness of the Crafters' hearts. Should they have any.

[alchemenace]

Even if they do, I don't think doing anything out of kindness is high priority for them. They said something came to pass that caused them to share this information, not to mention he apparently really wanted to help Miss Bunch with her objective, so, maybe... ?

[ but then again. it's natsuo. ]