alchemenace | catchall for the scooby gang

[Haha. Mood, Steph. Veronica looks pretty wrung out, her eyes puffy from crying. She's... emotionally drained, and while she puts a little effort into sounding normal, it's still noticeable.]

This isn't what we told them to do. We didn't, we... [They didn't mutilate three people's bodies beyond recognition. God. She feels like crying again.] We can't afford to think it is, anyway. Stephanie's right. We have to move forward and focus on our plan for tomorrow.

[ ... he hums in acknowledgement to everyone, but doesn't comment on that train of thought further. ]

Do we have a plan? We can't even figure out one killer when there's three bodies, never mind-- five. [ and like half of them in pieces. ] ... I should tell you, Akechi thinks they deliberately targeted Historians. I don't agree, but. It's not completely out there as a theory.

[ unlike some others. ]

That would require a great deal of coordination and premeditation.

[ but it isn't something that can be entirely put off the table, it's true. ]

None of us told the others they had to kill. But... as far as planning goes-

[ a shaky, deep sigh. all right. so he isn't as unaffected as his compartmentalizing would have him appear. ]

We can only feasibly convict one person. And, that said... I don't think that aiming for a killer alone is necessarily a good idea anymore. Blotters are merely doing what they are forced to. If we convict on that alone, chasing retribution, and lose sight of the bigger picture...

[ there are so few of them left, all of a sudden. they're so close to that ominous limit. ]

So, no matter what, we should aim for someone in the Heroes category?

[ it's a little tough to stomach that, but in the end... it's about the bigger picture.

she really hates even thinking that. ]

... It's what we have to do if we want to save the dead. We can't lose more civilians at this point.

[And we all know the dead are fucked, so.]

By the way, Ion left four letters for his friends. Whoever killed him approached him earlier in the week and got his permission to do it.

... [ Varian just. Stays quiet after that announcement, upset. Sry y'all he'll contribute in a second ]

We aim for someone whose loss will do the least harm. If one of the killers is a danger to us all-- if we find out that they are a loose cannon, then it's fine. If not. We still have the option of an Editor vote, if we can find out who they are.

[ ... ]

He refuses to let them be blamed for it. He told them his objective... and wants my partner and I to protect whomever it might be.

[ He pockets the letter with a snap and flourish of his sleeves. Despite everything, he looks ... better, than he's been as of late, the shadows under his eyes not as pronounced. ]

We kept telling him... but I suppose it is simply his nature. Self-sacrificing to the end.

He was the same with his title power, too...

[ it really feels like a cruel joke, that after he realized he wanted to stay alive...

well. that's just like this castle, isn't it. ]

I-- have some news. The letter that was found addressed to Evan? It's fake. He never received it, so it had to be planted after.

... What? Are you serious?

[whomst the fuck, thinks veronica from the land of backtags.]

[ varian blinks at steph, slowly, and swallows ]

... Wait, fake? Why?

[ yea varian why. i wonder. so mysterious! ]

[ that just nets an easy, elegant shrug from ion. ]

Misdirection, of course. They wanted to cast suspicion and doubt in the wrong direction.

Even if it does not hold under scrutiny, it is still time wasted.

Right. If it comes down to it, I'll probably just out what I know if it makes people move along faster.

[ which she does and then afterwards regret just a tiny bit because VARIAN!!!!!!!!!!!! ]

catchall for the scooby gang

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tags this knowing what varian's real gift was and dies

lmao welcome to hell

here we are

i hate this