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[oraculi]

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[oraculi]

Nothing more than you do.

[God, but he wishes he did. He takes a seat next to her, leaning back against the arm of the couch.]

They don't tell us shit unless we sleep with them for it, and even then, it isn't much.

[polyapathy]

[She balks. That's disgusting.]

What's the fucking point, then? Can you learn shit that'll actually help us?

[oraculi]

[He waits for just a moment.]

You gonna actually listen, or you gonna keep acting like a brat?

[polyapathy]

[Her nose wrinkles.]

I'm listening. It's an honest question.

[She shoves at his leg.]

You're the one that said you can't learn much, and it's not something to do with the demon. You're working with Chuuya, but all I know about him is that Nathan says he's a dick, so that doesn't help me. But, Beck told me she's only talked to Carlos, so if you're all sorted into little teams... Nikkari's likely with Nathan based on what he can do, and Polly's probably heading up the ones who can learn shit about demons...

So, you're with Junpei, given he's the one that got your attention. It's got something to do with people and information, and you're not sold on how useful it is, meaning it's a crapshoot, likely in that you've got to pick, what, one person to use it on?

[She pauses to chew on her lip. There's got to be a hole in that list he gave her. What the hell else would be useful, but not that useful?]

You can tell who someone's slept with each week.

[oraculi]

[Ahh . . . that gets him to smile, however briefly. Good.]

Yeah. That's not the only only thing, though. So keep going.

[polyapathy]

[Oh, she sits up a little straighter, quite pleased with herself. But, hm, what else is there to that?

She squints at him like that'll help. The view is nice, though.]

...You can tell who someone's hung around with each week.

[She's bristling with confidence over this guess (she's not, that kind of just sounds like existing in public while having eyes).]

cw: implied incest

[oraculi]

Two for two.

[And thank god, now he can talk about it fully.]

Past two times I could only see who people talked to. This week, turns out if you . . .

[He scowls, and it's genuinely uncomfortable.]

Anyway. First week I asked for Dick Greyson. Second week it was Edelgard. This week I asked about Higekiri, who slept and talked with a lot of people.

[He passes her a piece of paper, because like fuck is he remembering all this. SPOKE WITH: Shiraishi, Grune, Junpei, Zero, Beck, Taako, Hizamaru and Dick, Hizamaru and Junpei, Tamamo, Kagachi, Wei Wuxian-- and then Hizamaru and he talked to Chuuya, he talked to Chuuya himself, and Carlos too.

He slept with Kagachi, Grune, Beck, Taako, Chuuya, Dimitri, Shiraishi, Tamamo, Illumi, Hizamaru, Dimitri and Hizamaru, Chuuya and Hizamaru, Illumi and Hizamaru, and Wei Wuxian.

Gross.]

We also know that Muzet isn't host this week, and Zero bought a scythe recently.

[polyapathy]

[She notes the discomfort and her mouth tightens briefly, but she won't ask about it. That's not a reaction she's seen out of him before, which means it's something serious. So. Moving onto this fucking list good lord.]

Jesus. And I thought I'd been busy.

[Wait.]

Hizamaru? Are you shitting me? Eugh.

[That creeps her right the fuck out, so, moving on in a hurry. She passes the paper back.]

Are there any other roles out there you guys haven't found yet?

[oraculi]

[He grimaces right back at her.]

Yeah. Not too many more, though. That's eight out of thirteen total.

[polyapathy]

[She nods. Not bad.]

What's the point of keeping this shit behind closed doors? We'd have an easier time of finding the demon if we were all on the same page.

[oraculi]

Who says they want us to be?

It's a game, Katy. Just a game. And it's more interesting to see who can figure out what and when than to give us all the facts-- hell, you might as well not even play at that point.

[polyapathy]

A game for who? And who gives a shit? This isn't the Hunger Games, Haymitch. It's just a bunch of us literally in the same boat with a demon on board. Seems to me we ought to be making our own rules.

[oraculi]

Like hell it isn't like the Games.

[Ooh, that comes out as a growl, low and intent, as he leans in closer.]

Listen to me. It's us on a boat, sure, but there are rules, and shit happens if you don't obey. Bitemarks and bruises? They broke the rules a little. You know what happens when you break the rules a lot? People die, Katy. Believe me when I say I know that, all right?

[polyapathy]

[She's quiet for a moment, studying him.]

I got it, okay?

[She... thinks she does, anyway. What's not to get? There are stakes here. That's been made clear ample times.]

But what's to stop us from trusting each other with this info? Why are you dragging me off like this is some big secret?

[oraculi]

Because I care about you, girl. First and foremost. And you know what keeps people safe? Being two steps ahead of the others.

[polyapathy]

[There's a lot to unpack in what he says, but she shelves most of it for later.]

The others aren't our enemies, Haymitch.

[oraculi]

No. But I've got two people I aim to keep alive. That's more than I usually manage, so let's hope I can do that much.

[polyapathy]

Hey, now you listen. I already said you weren't responsible for me. How the hell do you think we're supposed to get out of here if we close ranks?

[oraculi]

Like hell I'm not.

[They've been doing this for weeks now; there's no way he's not responsible for her. Sure, she'd made him promise that he oughtn't think that way, but who the hell were they kidding?]

Look, I'm not saying we can't collaborate with them on some shit, but you really think they won't turn on you? They did already, remember?

[polyapathy]

[She gives him a look, the kind of look she'd give Wayne for going too far trying to protect her.]

No, they didn't. Monika was possessed, and she didn't convince anybody. Besides, that was the first week we had to deal with this demon shit. We know better now.

[oraculi]

You got a nicer outlook on them than I do.

[She has a good point, though. But like hell he'll concede.]

Look. I won't sell them out. But I'm also gonna prioritize the two of us.

[polyapathy]

[OH COOL COMING BACK TO THIS THREAD AFTER THE TRIAL SURE IS SOMETHING. HAYMITCH LITERALLY PREDICTS THE FUTURE ALWAYS?]

...Fine. Any other dramatic reveals I ought to know about?

[Because if not, quick thing.]

[oraculi]

[He sighs softly. I HOPE I'M NOT FORGETTING SOMETHING, I THINK OOCLY, because he sure would tell her but no there's nothing.]

Nah. But I'd appreciate it if we went and did something pointless. I could use the distraction.

[polyapathy]

[She grins.]

I've got something in mind. What say we take a stab at busting into one of the locked rooms around here?

[She's always wanted to try breaking a door down?]

[oraculi]

[God, there's times when he forgets their age difference, and then again there's times like this.]

Y'know, I kinda meant a drinking contest or something. You really want to bust down a door?