zerotohiro | We're the lifers here till the bitter end, condemned from the start [W2 Post-trial

I don't know how that works, but I'm kind of inclined to believe that. It's...Newt and I have been thinking that this whole island might just be a VR set-up. [But then he remembers he argued with Zuko about armadillos, so.] Virtual reality. The setting might be fake and we might just be uploaded to the program. It might explain some of the things happening like the hallucinations. If we win and we can all go home...then are we really dying?

[He holds up his hands.] I'm not saying we should kill everybody and find out. He said that's how the last game worked but did we ever get a confirmation that's how this game worked? It's something to look into and...I don't know. I wish I could ask them more questions. I'm...kinda better with robots than people sometimes.

[Nerd.] It might not hurt to learn more about how the last game was run, too. We know they made him feel guilty but what did they do during their trials? Stuff like that. That might not be information we have access to but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[ it's a good thing he went on and explained because katara just stared blankly at "vr set-up" and honestly she isn't sure if she quite gets the rest of it, other than the fact that this might be fake and they're not really dying. ]

He also didn't say exactly how they won their game. I mean... going by the rules for this game, you'd assume that to win you have to kill everyone like they told us to. But if the other group was as nice and sad as he claims them to be, that... doesn't that seem weird? The stories don't really match, so there had to have been something else going on.

He told me when we first got here that the last group murdered each other until there was one person left. So I don't know if being nice has to do with whether you can kill someone or not. Like...if someone's threatened enough or they have something to earn from it, a lot of people could be talked into doing unthinkable stuff. Maybe the other group was nice and sad but they were still out for a way to win.

Besides, sometimes people cheat. [Like Hiro, who cheats grown men out of his money and gets arrested.] I want to ask them again this week, see what I can work out from them. It might not be much, but if we keep asking maybe we can put together pieces and a plan.

...if that's not the wrong thing to focus on, I mean.

I'm still curious about whether or not they actually caught the killers though. Since we're all working here under the impression that we have to get it right in order to get everyone out of here safely, but if they managed to win their game without doing that...

I'm not saying that we shouldn't concentrate on finding out who the murderers are. But it's like you said... there could be multiple ways to beat this.

Yeah, that part he didn't really go into. He did say he started going easy on them so I'm gonna guess no? [Whole Ass truly sucked ass, text it.] But okay. Let's pretend that they were just as bad at this as we are. Their game ended when there was only one person left, and when that happened everybody got to go home including all of the dead people.

Following that...look, this is probably going to sound really, really bad. Like so bad. But. Maybe...the game's only won if the killing roles successfully kill all of us? [PLEASE GOD NO.] Hal said they've been running this game for a long time, there's over 300 of them by now. They'd have to shake things up a little between rounds, and we should start looking at things from another angle.

The role is incentive enough. [...] Katara, what if that's really it? What if they really do have to knock the rest of us out without getting caught in order to win and get all of us home?

[ that...

is awful? it's the worst theory she's heard since she's gotten here, and she looks pretty horrified at the thought. ]

That... can't be it. [ it would make sense from the killers' standpoint. that's one of the things that has been bothering her, the incentives. she's aware that there are things people would kill for. and when you're stuck with a bunch of strangers, killing those people in order to achieve your goal may be easy.

but they're going to spend a lot of time with each other, and suddenly, those strangers aren't strangers anymore. but if you're killing them to save them then... okay it's still the worst theory of all time. ]

We can't even risk testing that since the only way to would be to not try to catch the killers! And if that's wrong, then... argh.

And that's what makes the game entertaining. Think about it. Every week, anybody who has a role has to go out there and pretend that nothing's going on and that they don't know anything. They have to talk to us and get us to trust them before stabbing us in the back. Or the front. Or wherever. And the longer we're here, the more we're going to end up feeling betrayed by a ton of people no matter what.

Why wouldn't that be entertaining to somebody who thinks a killing game is fun? [He scrubs a hand through his hair again, frustrated by the possibilities.] I don't know if it's an answer but it is maybe something we should know about. We're not gonna learn any more about the roles until we catch one, but who knows when that'll be with our track record. If the killers are going to keep pretending that nothing's wrong, then...we have to, too. We have to keep doing our best to pinpoint them even if that means we're actually working against them.

The worst part is that...well, you saw what happened with Austria. The longer we're here, the more people are going to defend each other in trial. [Which means they're going to end up with an even bigger mess.] How do we sentence anybody if people are going to argue for them?

[ she's silent for a moment, taking this all in. ]

You heard what people were saying. That there are certain people they wouldn't vote for because they like their partner. What if Laura, for example, ends up killing someone? Even if we end up confirming her as a killer, I'm sure there's plenty of people who wouldn't vote for her just because she's connected to Nino.

[ it's one of the faults of the partner system. well, "fault," in their eyes. it's probably one of the main reasons it even exists from the chief's end; it must be interesting for them to watch people dance around executing a killer just because it'll also condemn someone else that they like. ]

... if that theory is true though, then I think that I was right about them taking Joshua out because he was smart and not because they thought he was a jerk.

I know. I've thought about that, too, especially after what happened today. ...but you know? We haven't actually seen anyone die because their partner was executed. Even tomorrow, Austria's getting an execution instead. Maybe if we catch the right killer, their partner stays safe. The other "fun" thing about this dumb game is the risks we're taking. Having to trust our instincts and stuff, and even worse is that you're left with people who're going to be upset that people they cared about our dead.

[Nobody wants an angry Jaffar?????]

There has to be more to it than that. I mean I don't disagree since one of the first things Joshua told me about was wondering how to break the game. And you heard what Neku said in the trial. But how would someone else already know that? We've been here for two weeks. Besides, there's also a lot of smart people on the island. Look at Akira or Kyouko or Jacopo. [Or. Like. Himself.] Why choose Joshua out of all of those people?

No one's saying that those people might not be future victims. It could just be chance that they chose him first out of them. But everyone was just pretty certain that he was picked because of his personality? And... honestly, I think there are people with worse ones here than his.

[ like... joshua was condescending and arrogant, but at least he didn't actively cheer about people dying like other people have. so. ]

And I don't know how someone would know that... well. Except for the fact that the Chiefs themselves already know a lot about us. Just look at the profiles.

We have to look at everybody as future victims until we narrow down who the killers are. I think it might have had to do with his personality, but maybe not for the reason people thought. Most people thought Joshua was a jerk, right? But at the same time, not a lot of people really had much to say about him besides first impressions.

[There's a point.] Tell me about some of the people you've met on the island. Your favorite people so far, people who've left an impression, whatever.

[ ... hm. give her a moment to really think about it. ]

Newt and Jack keep trying to look after me. It's sweet, I think. [ ... ] The Jack who asked for the alcohol. [ why must she have to specify which jack. why are there three. ] Inuyasha is loud and kind of dumb, but... he doesn't want people to die. His heart is in the right place. Fie's nice, if quiet. Neku seems like the type of person who would take a while to get to know. Keith and I get along really well since we seem to agree on mostly everything. Lief is kind, and keeps watching over people.

Vriska... [ katara frowns. ] I don't know. I agreed with her on a lot of points during the trial, but she also laughed hysterically when Nino got stabbed in the eye. Magilou is always acting out so it's hard to get a good read on her. Jaffar and Nino... if it wasn't for Nino, I'd be more concerned about Jaffar. I think if anything happens to her we may be in trouble though. Prussia is another person who really doesn't like to show how she's really feeling. I've only spoken to Jinah briefly and she seems nice? Yona is actually pretty concerned about what's going on and is doing her best, I think. Mera is very sensible, I think, even though she admitted that if it wasn't for her husband she'd probably be doing things a lot differently here. I'm still on the fence about Lelouch, he seems more like the observing type than anything. Laphicet seems like just a kid but he's pretty smart and... hm. Anyway, Laura is Laura.

[He's nodding along, not quite agreeing or disagreeing with any of that though there are a lot of things he does agree with. It's only when she's finished speaking that he leans forward in his seat again.]

You just told me a lot about a lot of people and it's all stuff that makes them pretty distinctive. But we couldn't come up with any of that stuff for somebody like Joshua outside of people just giving the most shallow trait possible. That he was a jerk.

Let me ask you something else. Since Joshua didn't really leave an impression, do you think him being gone is going to have a huge impact on the island as a whole? Or would it be the same as killing somebody like Nino?

So, you think they took him out because it wouldn't affect the island as a whole?

[ katara actually had a pretty long conversation with him that left her with an impression that was more than him just being a jerk. like... she still thought he was a jerk, but still. she knows that most people probably didn't bother with that though. ]

There are... a few people who might fit that though. Ones who haven't really been helping out as much as everyone else.

[That's because Katara's a nice girl and most people on the island are impatient lbr. But there's a sigh following that.]

Maybe. If they wanted to start out small. But I can't say, it's just a theory. Which other people are you thinking about anyway? If you're bringing it up, you have names.

Hm, well... I guess it's more like people who don't really speak up much during trials? You can't really expect everyone to contribute the same amount, since some people are just naturally more opinionated than others.

[ in this thread: two opinionated people who talk a lot because they can't shut up. ]

Like Ruby seems nice, but I'm not sure if people would be as outraged if someone targeted her versus targeting someone who's been more proactive, if that makes sense? Or with the Jacks, how there's one who talks more than the other. Things like that.

The Jacks confuse me. I can't say I disagree with Ruby, but on the other hand it's like…you'd think they'd also go after people that could threaten to reveal their roles. But maybe that's a whole other game. I'm a little worried about the quiet ones since if we're following that trail then yeah, they "wouldn't be missed." [Air quotes because that's an awful thing to say.]

Serph and Erhard are other people that come to mind that keep quiet. I don't know how we're supposed to protect these people either.

We could think about this a lot of different ways here. We could, technically, put every single person in some kind of category and figure out a reason why that category might be targeted. Like if we're going by the "take out the intelligent people," one, then you could potentially be next.

[ hiro asks a lot of questions? which could potentially be dangerous to someone who's trying to kill them off. ]

We're also assuming that whoever the people who are guaranteed to kill someone each week, like the Chiefs say, are actually working closely together. Or how that even works in general? We know that the Chiefs have some way of enforcing the rule, but we don't really know how it works.

[I'm glad this is the last conversation they'll ever have where Katara has both arms. But he anyway, he doesn't look too bothered by that and instead settles for playing with the drawstring of his hoodie.]

Yeah. Maybe I am. [That should bother him, and yet.] So okay, I get what you're saying. Categories are just about as useful as everything else we have right now.

So what, you think we have a couple of different groups of killers running around on top of each other? Would that be possible?

[ same..... same.... ]

I don't know. That's the thing, we don't have enough information yet to really be able to say either or. Like... um, I wouldn't be surprised if there are people working together, but I also don't think we should ignore the fact that someone might do something on their own just because they want to go home. So with the first thing, we'll more likely to be able to find patterns in who's dead. But with the second one, we might not.

[...]

You ever feel like maybe we're just wasting time since we don't have nearly enough information yet? [It sucks. He hates that.] Like...it could go one way or the other and we're not gonna know right away until we accidentally stumble on somebody who has a role.

But you're right. We shouldn't ignore people who're likely to isolate themselves and act on their own. Somehow that makes it even more dangerous.

If we keep speculating now then maybe at least one of the theories will end up being right?

[ one out of fifty. ]

It would be easier if we at least knew how many there were.

Somebody's bound to crack. We just have to ask people the right questions and they'll spill the right information we need. Just...don't forget to stay focused no matter what happens.

I will. Our first priority is to get everyone home safely. If what Hal said was true and he can bring back those who died, then we need to make sure we at least make the criteria required for that to happen.

Right. Do you...I mean how many other people should we tell to make sure that we meet the right criteria but without starting a massive panic with the rest of the island?

That's... hard to say. Even if the theory is right, it's not going to fly well with the others.

[ i mean it doesn't fly well with her either but she has seen enough bullshit here that she wouldn't be surprised if the chiefs set it up that way for laughs. ]

They can always claim we're actually the killers and made it up so that murdering people will be easier. So the people we talk to about it will probably be ones we know won't just... lynch us, or something. I'll probably mention it as a theory to Zuko, and... I'm not sure how Inuyasha would take it.

I can't tell Yona. I don't want to worry her like that, even if it's a theory. But I have people who might listen. Maybe Newt? He listens to a lot of my theories either way. But we can test how people react and go from there.

[ she nods. ]

We have to start somewhere.

We'll test it out and regroup later. That's about all I can figure. And if that doesn't work, we'll figure out another plan. [A half-smile.] But thanks, Katara.

No problem, Hiro. We have to do what we can here.

We're the lifers here till the bitter end, condemned from the start [W2 Post-trial

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