This is the road to ruin and we're starting at the end [W4, Tues]

[zerotohiro]

[After the events of yesterday Hiro sits on the information for a while before he wakes up bright and early, heading for Kyouko's hut and scouting the area. Erhard doesn't seem to be around and so he knocks on the door, patiently waiting for her to answer. By the time the door swings open he's immediately grabbing her arm to drag her outside.]

Found out some stuff, dangerous to talk about here, we're going for a walk. [A beat.] I have breakfast?

Comments

[zerotohiro]

[THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO, ACTUALLY.]

So am I sharing first or are you? You did make a deal with me that you'd tell me what you picked each week.

1/2

[evidentiary]

[ ...

UGH, SHARING ]

[evidentiary]

...My initial choice didn't carry through - I was given a list of numbers, and chose a delivery location that would be impossible deliberately.

[ bECAUSE SHE DOESN'T TRUST THE ROBOTS. ]

The second was "two truths and a lie" - and I played one round. At the trial, we should be able to play it three times with them, although each of those times has to be approved by at least ten people, so it can't be squandered.

[zerotohiro]

Numbers? [He understands numbers, goddamnit robots what are you up to? He listens to the rest though and as they're walking he also pulls out...a banana? And offers it to her? Breakfast, apparently.]

What exactly does that mean, Kyouko? How did that go when you have a robot who tells the truth and a robot who lies?

[evidentiary]

They promised to play fair, for whatever that's worth. Hal was the one speaking to me. But it seemed better than "truth or dare" or "scavenger hunt". The first might injure someone, and the latter...

[ she takes the banana though she doesn't. do anything with it immediately. ]

...The latter, we do enough of. "Never have I ever" simply didn't seem useful. At least this way, there will be two true facts. Supposedly.

[zerotohiro]

This really is just a game to them. If there's supposedly two facts...we have to use it wisely, you're right. But how are we going to get people to play the game without revealing who you are? Are Hal and Pal arranging all of this?

[evidentiary]

I believe they're simply going to offer the game at the trial, and specify the item role gave it if they bother to explain at all.

[ as far as she knows she doesn't have to be involved. ]

They seemed...bored? Annoyed? Displeased with how things had gone to date. And my test run wasn't completely pointless...but you said you uncovered something?

[zerotohiro]

As long as they aren't outting you, I guess that's fine.

But what the hell do they have to be bored about? This is their game. [But oh, right. He blinks suddenly and reaches into his pocket for another banana.] But yeah, about that. Uh. I found one of the Sirens. Or I guess it's more accurate to say they found me. So that's something.

[evidentiary]

[ immediately giving him a closer once over - ]

After you spoke to Jacopo? What happened?

[zerotohiro]

Jacopo thought that the Siren was the item role and gave me the idea to talk to them. But they found me instead...in a tree? So that was weird. But we talked...I don't think they want to keep playing this game either, Kyouko. We talked about forming an alliance of some kind and I was going to see what you thought about that. If we were all working on the same side to break the game itself and get us out of here, don't you think that's better?

[evidentiary]

Honestly, I'm not certain I wish to work with either side. I have leads on alternative options, but...the fact of the matter is that they are indiscriminately killing, or killing off anyone who seems to be of use. They killed Lelouch, didn't they? If they were interested in an alliance of people breaking the game, it would have been wise to pull in those who were more actively participating to its destruction.

...How on earth did he assume someone else had my role, though?

[zerotohiro]

What kind of alternative options? And maybe they didn't think Lelouch would be as useful to their end goal. I don't really know, I'm still...the Siren won't tell me who the others are, but says they're all reasonable. Make of that what you will.

I do know they're trying to find the last Wickie. And I know I've been letting people believe that's me. If it'll help keep the real Wickie safe for longer, then...okay.

Anyway, Jacopo assumed the Siren had your role because the Siren knew what you put in my pocket. They told him, he told me. It was a whole chain of events.

[evidentiary]

You keep saying "the Siren".

[ eyebrow raise. ]

But that confirms that they did know...which was obvious, given the body layouts.

[zerotohiro]

Because I'm protecting them the same way I'm protecting you. At least until I know more about what's happening.

It makes me wonder what the Chiefs are telling the Sirens then, too.

[evidentiary]

...Is that so. Well, I need to get going.

[zerotohiro]

Just for now. I want to bring you guys together if you'll let me. But it's up to you. I never told them who you were or any indication it was you.

[But he nods.] Be careful, okay?

[evidentiary]

...What you do is up to you. I don't intend to ally with those who are killing, on either side. If you intend to condone their actions and support them, that's your choice. That isn't to say I intend to do away with any role I find, as I've stated I don't intend to kill, but...

...Anyway, I don't think I have anything further to say if this is how things are. As I said, I need to go.

[zerotohiro]

That's not what I said! [Why is this such a big deal?] They're looking to find another route, too. The Siren I talked to wants to stop killing and figure out a third option and I thought that you would, too.

[He's not letting her go until she understands that, at least.]

[evidentiary]

...That isn't the point. You asked me to tell you everything. That isn't something I take lightly or even enjoy doing. I certainly don't like it when I don't receive the same in return.

[ @ makoto naegi: tell her about sakura oogami or risk being ignored for an entire chapter

why was that a thing ]

I'm already looking for a third option. I'm capable of doing so on my own.

[zerotohiro]

Kyouko, stop. [WHY IS DANGAN RONPA SO HARD.] I don't want to give either of you each other's names until I can know I really can trust the Siren not to betray us and I can know you'll be safe, what is so hard about that?

What do you want to know? The Sirens have a handbook, they're going to start looking at it because it was written by both Hal and Pal which means half of the rules are lies. They're hoping to find the loophole in that in order to break the game and they're looking for the last Wickie who's going to have information they need in order to break the game! Okay?

[evidentiary]

I should think it's obvious what I want to know.

[ i.e. anything she isn't being told. ]

Loopholes or whatever - I'll look into my three options and I will decide which is "true". That's all you need to know.

[zerotohiro]

So that's it. Because I'm not giving you a name even though I've given you everything else, that's "all I need to know"...?

[evidentiary]

...I asked you to be my ally. However, you're not the sort of ally I can "trust" over others, are you? Once again, I made the wrong choice. And I am sorry for that.

Be careful. As it is now, you've chosen a course that will require you to kill to proceed.

[zerotohiro]

...this isn't fair. I'm doing what you asked me to do, and that's seeking people out, getting information, and bringing it back to you. I went to talk to Jacopo and he told me that he thought the item role belonged to Vriska and I didn't correct him because I wasn't going to out you to him. I lied to him that I'm the last Wickie to keep him off my back while I find more information. And the Siren found me and spoke to me about a deal, and I came back here to talk to you.

I'm not doing this to get more people killed, don't you get it?

[evidentiary]

I understand your motivation. However, the only way to ally with the Sirens is to knowingly vote for those who do not have the killing role; that is what I meant by that. To work with them, it means killing two people every week to buy them time. It may be for the best - I don't know. It's why I'm uncertain about working with that side, or the other.

[ granted, she'll have to do the same with that name - because it isn't like she'll reveal her sources. ]

Because even if they wish to break the game, they will still kill every week. The Wickies may or may not be the same; Jack was our only source there. I suspect the best way to end things would require more "trust" than any of us have. But it is hard to say, knowing so little.

Perhaps the sacrifice of two lives per week really is the best way to minimize deaths. We'll see; hopefully those who are acting outside of their roles will cease to do so, though I wouldn't give that too much credit. I...am trying to act by the moral compass I should have.

[zerotohiro]

I understand what you're saying. Really, I do. But at the same time I want to think that the Sirens want to figure out a way to stop killing weekly. That was the impression I got from talking to the Siren I found. So...give me some time, I can figure out a plan.

But I won't give them your name. I won't give them a reason to go after you in case any of them turn. And I'm going to keep pretending I'm the Wickie and I'm going to keep everything you've told me to myself until I end up dead.

Okay? Is that good enough? [...] What do you mean "should have"?

[evidentiary]

...You already slipped up, you know.

[ he said her name already. ]

And I mean I am not as good a person as the people I set my course by. Even doing that, they're better. They'd try what I have narrowed it down to as more than a final option.

[zerotohiro]

...that wasn't confirmation. [Fuck.]

What people? Your classmates? People here?

[evidentiary]

It doesn't matter now. I have to be going...I have some decisions to make.

[zerotohiro]

...okay. Take your time but...be careful. [And before she can leave he'll head off the path on his own. Sorry about everything, Kirigiri.]