Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out? [W3-post Execution]

[zerotohiro]

[The execution was...it's hard to say, and he tries not to think of it too much. He tries not to think of the way Prussia's obviously putting on a front and tries not to think about how impersonal the whole thing feels. The Chiefs rigged everything so they had to be present for the whole execution and in a way it just made him angrier.

On the other hand, he can't help but glance across the crowd to everyone else and he's allowing his mind to wander. It's only when it's over that he decides he has other things to do.

With that, he darts across the sand, carefully reaching out to grab Akira's arm before the older boy gets too far away.

...and promptly stands there unsure of what to say. Think fast, Hiro.]

Uh. Hey! Can I...[Um.] Are you busy right now? [He has his reasons but also he knows that Akira probably has a lot on his mind, too.]

Comments

[jokered]

[he's always got a lot on his mind—but who doesn't at this point? the execution was sad to watch... despite austria's intent to make enemies at the last minute and prussia's constant posturing, he knows how much it sucks to lose someone you care about in this unfair game.

and there's the matter of not catching the one responsible for joshua's murder.

there's a lot. there's so much.

he doesn't really expect anyone to grab his arm, so akira whips around almost reactively—his reflexes are too sharp and he's so used to having to do that, he does it on instinct.

whoops.]

Ah—sorry. I didn't expect that.

[his bad. he ruffles his hair a bit, sheepish before shrugging his shoulders.] According to my day planner, schedule's all clear.

[you don't even have a day planner here, akira.]

[zerotohiro]

[He doesn't seem to mind, though he immediately lets go and bounces back a step. His expression isn't one of surprise since. Yeah. He sort of caused this and he immediately slips his hands into the pocket of his hoodie before there's a half-smile.]

Cool. Same for me. I wanted to talk to you and sort of get your feedback on some stuff since...I don't know. You sort of seem like you know what you're doing more than some of the other people here. And I think maybe if we have more people on the same page that'll help us.

[jokered]

[it's all good, it seems. akira eases up almost immediately, shoving his hands into his own pockets with an easy nod.]

I don't really know if I know what I'm doing. I'm just trying to keep us on track when it seems like we need it.

[but it's cool, he clearly seems okay with discussing it.]

[zerotohiro]

That's more than I can say for about half the people who spend time arguing whether we're going to strip or not. [Hiro you could have some chill. That'd be cool.] You're good at commanding people whether you notice it or not. It's...kind of really helpful. We'll need something like that.

[Before that though...] ...how're you doing? [Haru's death was...really recent. He's not sure how all people function when it comes to stuff like this, but it can't hurt to ask.]

[jokered]

I'm not usually the commanding type... I just want to help how I can.

[says joker, leader of the phantom thieves who is definitely good at commanding. it's fine? in any case...

he just kind of nods.]

I'm getting by. It's all I can do—try to help everyone else so maybe we can avoid too much more of this.

[zerotohiro]

Yeah. That's about where I am, too. [A half-hearted shrug before he gestures. Follow him, bro, he doesn't feel like milling around in the open.]

There are a lot of people who want to help, I think, but not everybody wants to do it the same way. That's why I want to talk to people and see what kind of ideas they have. And...you seem smart, and Raven seems to trust you. So I thought you might be a good place to start. [It's a very tentative olive branch to see how Akira responds. Some people will and won't take him seriously or have their own agendas. He's not stupid. He knows he has to start making allies at some point.]

[jokered]

I'm going to have problems if Raven doesn't trust me, we're supposed to be teammates here.

[not milling in the open is fine, that's not really akira's style either when the conversation gets serious.

(okay, maybe it is a little, but whatever.)]

It's a good idea, though. Maybe if we pool our ideas a bit, we can figure something out.

[akira doesn't seem to mind. he's going to take hiro more seriously than some of the adults here, honestly.]

[zerotohiro]

We've been told that the whole point of this game's round is "bonds" anyway, so...sharing what we know with each other can't hurt. [Until they share with the wrong person, but they'll figure that out later.] I want to believe that everybody's working toward the same goal, but after what happened this weekend I'm starting to think that's definitely not true. Even taking roles out of the equation.

[jokered]

I think a lot of us probably are. But you're probably right.

[he pauses, and:] Realistically, better "conflict" comes from everyone not working toward the same goal. And they want conflict. Bonds and trust are important and also deadly—everything here is a double-edged sword.

[zerotohiro]

Because with trust comes betrayal. I know, I know...but we don't even have a way of guessing how many goals there might be either which doesn't help. I think that's important for us to remember. But...do you think there's more than just the two? Us versus them, I mean.

[jokered]

There might be.

[he shakes his head, sighing a little.]

38 of us, and we don't know how many roles there are, how they operate... or if anyone is just going to act on their own, separate of even what we know.

[zerotohiro]

So here's our next question following that same logic. If somebody were to act on their own...do you think the Chiefs would reward them higher for something like that?

[jokered]

If it entertained them? Probably. I don't put much past them.

[zerotohiro]

Then...who are our risk-takers that we should start keeping an eye on?

[jokered]

[he pauses, thinking for a moment.]

Probably anyone who didn't really deny they'd kill? [frowns.] It's hard to start pointing fingers, though.

[there are some that fit the criteria—] People like that might be making targets of themselves before they can strike, though.

[zerotohiro]

Which means that the problem might take care of itself, especially if there are a few groups of people working around each other or something. I hate the idea of starting to blame each other, but isn't that what this whole thing boils down to anyway?

[A beat.] For all we know, the people who won't deny they'd kill could just be lying to protect themselves, too. But I mean...we can rule you and me out of that equation, can't we?

[jokered]

People are going to start blaming each other. People might point fingers at us, too. I don't think there's any getting around it, because everyone has different criteria for what's suspicious. Someone who won't deny they'd kill could be lying, but they could be absolutely honest to... deter someone from targeting them in the hopes that knowing they'd actually defend themselves lethally is an option.

[a pause.] Different people, different worlds, lives and backgrounds. It's always going to be tough, even if we do our best to trust thanks to cultural differences alone.

[he's already learned that lesson, talking to people that have to kill, or are exposed to it because their world is just that way—different from his own, and it changes the moral stakes. in any case.]

I don't think killing people is ever really a good solution. [to answer his question.]

[zerotohiro]

[There's a very long pause.]

...yeah. Me either. [Like. He believes that now, at least.] It also goes back to why did they pick our worlds and why did they pick us. We're all way too different and not everybody's going to think the same way.

Since we have four or five days between trials, we should maybe use that time to start sorting out where everybody's heads are at. Listen to who they talk about the most. Get to know more about their worlds? It's the only solution I have and I'm not even sure it's the right one.

[Which...is why he's asking Akira. He's already assuming that maybe Akira has a better plan, or at least he can work with him to create a third plan.]

[jokered]

[the pause catches his attention, but akira doesn't say anything—even if he does look a bit questioning until he finally speaks.

ok.]

I think the fact we're all so different is probably part of it. Building trust with people that you're fundamentally different from can be hard.

[even akira struggles with it, considering how many adults are here that he has no reason to trust because he assumes they'll probably throw him under the bus to save themselves at some point.]

But getting to know people is a good start. We can't figure out more about others if we don't put forth the effort, anyway.

[zerotohiro]

They've never really explained why the game's theme is "bonds" anyway. Or what the last theme was. Maybe knowing that and how the last game did in their trials and stuff would help us, too. A bit of inspiration or something.

[Learn by example, he thinks.] I think you've probably talked to more people than I have, so that was the other reason I wanted to talk to you about this specifically.

[jokered]

I'd say we could ask, but it's not like they'll tell us.

[a pause, and.] Yeah. I guess I've talked to a lot of people here by now.

[huh. he hadn't really thought about it because it's just kind of what he does.]

[zerotohiro]

Depends on how we ask. Outsmart a robot, you could get the answers you want.

[There's a lift of his eyebrows. "You guess", Akira?] I would say so, yeah. And we need people like you who can talk to people and get them moving instead of arguing with each other and making zero progress.

[jokered]

[look, he doesn't think that hard about how many people he's talked to?]

Well. It's not like I've had much luck in that department either, you know.

[zerotohiro]

Name somebody among us who's had better luck.

[jokered]

I can't say I'm keeping track. I wouldn't call any of our endeavors successful.

[zerotohiro]

Then we just keep trying, I guess. [A shrug.]

Anyway...that was about it. Just a place to start. We should take today to regroup and start over tomorrow.

[jokered]

[he tilts his head a bit, since he'd thought hiro had more to say than just that.]

Alright. Let's do our best this week, then.

[zerotohiro]

[He did, but Hiro's backing off for now because of Hiro reasons.]

We will. I should...get back to Yona, I guess. Make sure she's okay. Thanks, Akira. [And with that he's turning and bounding down the beach toward his hut. Sorry bro!!]