Dr. Newton Geiszler (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
completelycrazy) wrote2018-04-11 02:49 am
completelycrazy) wrote2018-04-11 02:49 am
Entry tags:
week 5 - lenka - wednesday
[Ughhh, Newt is so tired this week. He's moving a little slowly today, but he does eventually track Lenka down in Bloodbath and Beyond. If he was in a better mood these days, he would laugh a lot at that name.]
Hey. You got a minute?
[Lenka also might be able to smell the faintest hint of blood on him. Hm!]
Hey. You got a minute?
[Lenka also might be able to smell the faintest hint of blood on him. Hm!]
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Thank you.
[He should probably feel like more of a dick than he does for arguing that his life is essentially more valuable than some of the others here... But it is, isn't it? There's no one left that can do what he does. If his survival would ensure the survival of everyone else in the game eventually, that should be worth it.
That's what he's telling himself, anyway.]
They know more than me, I think. I got the vibe that they were working directly with Monika and Jacopo before everything blew up. They, uh... They had Izaya's phone. They... [He lets out a shaky breath.]
I know they think they're doing the right thing too, y'know? I think--I mean, I don't hold this against them. They really do think they're going to save people this way, so don't... They're allies, despite everything.
[He drops his eyes, runs a hand through his hair as he thinks about how to say this.]
They thought Hermann and I killed Jacopo together. When I wouldn't cop to it, they threatened to go after Hermann instead. I, um, I couldn't have that, so... I made up a story about killing him. Jacopo, I mean. I told them I did and that I did it alone, and they recorded it on the phone. That's why they're so sure that I did it. I got them to turn the recording off after a while so we could talk without putting anyone else at risk, but... I don't know. If things get bleak at the trial, they might try to use that against me.
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But knowing them, they probably could pull it off.
They have a few options -- he could list out all of them, but he's going to go with the ones that work best for him first.]
I'm not going to hold it against them. We're... The next three weeks aren't going to be good.
[Understatement of the fucking year. He really doesn't want to fight them, in trial or out of it. Not out of lack of confidence or unwillingness to throw himself in -- well, okay, he'd actually have quite a bit of trouble raising a paw against his fellow Players, even if he hadn't run into the hell of all revelations this week. But they need to think this through. They need to think about the rest of the Players, and what the Game will look like. He still believes that this needs to be about trust and cooperation, rather than lies and a race to the bottom. Newt's story is... bleak, but Lenka is too busy searching for holes in the walls they'll need to climb.]
Okay. First: we could talk to them. I'm not as easy to threaten as you and Hermann. [and that goes for physically or in terms of credibility and Partnership] Second: we get a polygraph, or something else that can help the way it helped Hermann last week. They can't use dirty evidence if we have enough failsafes. Three: we find someone with a trial hint, or we buy enough trial hints to cover you.
Those are the ideas I can think of, right now. I'd still rather talk to them first, I think.
[If he was unsteady and afraid through most of their previous conversation, he's perfectly steady now, eyes flinty. He can't put together trial hints as well as some of them, exert the same influence as the pair they're facing, or provide scientific analysis, but he can come up with strategies on the fly if he needs to. Call it a job skill.]
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But...]
I don't think talking to them is going to do much good. To be clear, I don't think this is their first choice. I doubt they're going to whip out the recording at the first opportunity and try to argue for my death. They know I'm useful too, and, um... They seemed apologetic, kind of. I don't know... They were close with Monika. I think they're still reeling from the execution. This was a misstep, y'know? But I still trust them. Maybe they were bluffing about going to Hermann, anyway. I, uh, wasn't exactly coming in with my A game once his name came up. I panicked.
[He's not holding a grudge, is what he's saying, and he wants to make sure Lenka won't either.]
But, um, I did tell them I'd keep quiet about it, y'know? I don't want to break their trust. It was hard enough to earn as it is.
[Also: He would prefer to avoid getting punched to shit by Magnus again, if possible.]
The polygraph isn't a bad idea. We still have the fingerprinting kit, too. And, uh, as far as a trial hint...
[He digs around in his pocket for a moment, and then hands Lenka a fuckload of ripcoins. i gotta check to see how many he actually has but for now it's a vague few hundred...]
Use that if I'm, uh, not around to chip in. That's worry number one for the week, honestly. [...] I don't think Taako or Magnus will come after me, but, um. I've gotten some warnings about Assassin...
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He's still kind of, sort of of the mind that he should see what they have to say about everything they're dealing with right now. The Game. The Reapers. The... sacrifices.
Newt is doing a lot of back and side-pedaling in the meantime, though, so he finally shakes his head.]
I think we can trust that they want to do the right thing. I just don't think this is the right thing. Not for the rest of the Game.
If it were to come out, they'd lose trust, too. I don't think any of us want that.
[They're all already divided enough as it is. He wants to be able to work with both Newt and Magnus and Taako -- they'd be able to do better together, he's pretty sure, at least at protecting the remaining Reapers. They can't mess this up.
He does accept the... pile of ripcoins, though, looking dubious about it. It might in fact be safer with him, if pickpockets was what they were worried about, but...]
Assassin... [He's... honestly worried about the guy, has been for a while. He doesn't want anything to happen to him or the people he keeps threatening; he's pretty sure it would make Mary cry if they had to go after him at some point.] You really need to be careful. You and Hermann can stay with me and Mary, if you want.
[They're not really like, staying anywhere, but the mattress store is big and useful and all.]
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I'm glad to hear that. I don't think it is either, obviously. But I'd say that about trying to scapegoat anyone, including a confirmed killer. A lot has changed this week, y'know? Like, Caren and Chuuya? I knew Caren. I'm sure she thought she was acting in everyone's best interest too. I don't know. And, I guess... If this trend continues, we'll have, um... More than just the Reapers to pick from.
[He's hoping that's not the case, but it's probably going to happen.]
You're right, though. This kind of thing coming out would just break trusts all around, even if people believed that I did it. It's tough to say for sure, I guess, but I think people trusted us before this. I don't want to make everyone unnecessarily suspicious.
[As for the offer, he gives Lenka a sad but appreciative smile.]
I wouldn't want to put you guys in danger. Besides, it's not like... You couldn't stop it anyway. I don't want Mary waking up to that. [...] But, thank you.
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[They're going to have some hard choices to make, and he can't mince words about that anymore. He wouldn't agree with taking out the Reapers at this stage, obviously, but nobody so far has been able to come up with workable alternatives that don't involve the runaround like Magnus and Taako are doing. There are ways to be more straightforward and ways to minimize damage...
But he's not sure how well that would go over with himself, never mind the rest of the Players.
He'd been frustrated at the lack of answers, once. They still don't have the real answers -- none of the ones they want -- but according to Max and perhaps the others watching the Game... they're doing better. They're taking steps forward.
He wants to save those important to him. It might be a little selfish. But he's willing to do everything he can to save as many as he can. Just--]
I also don't like that... Magnus was the one talking about honesty, last trial. I don't want him to do this.
[Were he human, he'd be biting his lip or otherwise resorting to habitual fidgets right now. As an Aragami, he absently bats his tail a little with one paw.]
You're thinking Friday is the only dangerous day. [he just told you to be careful, bro] But you know where to find us, if you need us.
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[Which... ultimately would've backfired on him anyway, if it led to his execution. That would mean Hermann's execution, too. He panicked, okay?]
He didn't exactly twist my arm is what I'm saying. I offered that up.
[But, as for the rest.]
I... I'll be fine, okay? I appreciate the concern, though. Maybe I'll take you up on it if I live through the week.
[He shrugs. Clearly he's not sold on that being a thing that happens.]
But, uh... Thanks for telling me what you found out. This is helpful.