Day 3

[collateraltsunage]

[During a lull during the trail after Ema's expulsion, Meryl is once again pulling Wolfwood aside]

[This time, it's only Wolfwood]

... Mr. Wolfwood. If you have a moment, I'd like to speak with you.

[SHE ALREADY FEELS A HEADACHE COMING ON]

Comments

[collateraltsunage]

[Okay but even manga Meryl wouldn't know about your little deal with Knives, l'Oreal commercial edition]

Do you think you can manage that?

[Stop giving her looks.]

[s2g]

[ make him. ]

You the other detective?

[collateraltsunage]

[She may be short, but all the better to nutpunch you with]

No.

What is your role?

[s2g]

[ so much for getting information. he realises he didn't actually have anywhere to go with this topic if she said "no", and shrugs. ]

Like I said before, I ain't against ya. If anyone starts gettin' ideas about knocking you or needlenoggin outta the race, I'll scatter 'em. That's my role.

[collateraltsunage]

[She hopes he doesn't mean that in a literal sense, considering the amount of teenagers and children present.]

What exactly do you mean by that?

[s2g]

Exactly what I said.

[ #helpful ]

[collateraltsunage]

[SQUINTS SUSPICIOUSLY]

You have the ability to do this?

[s2g]

[ he needs this. he needs someone to watch his back, even if it's this watchdog of a girl. he needs it, now, even if he might not later. and he's already stuck his neck out, so.

stressing, ] I ain't against ya.

[ but. ]

[collateraltsunage]

So you're a spy. [Bluntly, still squinting. She can put two and two together!!]

The magician spy?

[s2g]

[ god, say it a little louder, why don't you.

shrugs. ] You've heard what you needed to, girl.

[collateraltsunage]

[This is a locked post, you weenie]

...The other spies. Who are the other spies?

[s2g]

[ ohhhhh, girrrrrl ]

You'll find out eventually.

[collateraltsunage]

[A little too sharply:]

I thought you were on our side?

[s2g]

[ he knows full well she knows that isn't what he meant ]

For the last time, I said I wasn't against you. [ and if he was, he wouldn't have slapped a big ol' do-not-touch sticker over her the other night. but since she's being troublesome now, he isn't gonna bother mentioning that he did. ] Count your blessings, short girl.

[collateraltsunage]

[There's a brief moment of silence in which she softens, as if in deliberation, and then she sighs and rubs her temple]

I meant what I said, Mr. Wolfwood. I don't trust this so-called game and our so-called host. I would like to work with you. [Not that she particularly trusts him, but if things go south as she suspects they well, she would feel better with him around. Especially with the amount of children and naive teenagers present]

For that reason, I'm telling you this much: you're currently under suspicion.

[s2g]

[ she doesn't want to see him when he's not cooperating with someone.

in a tone of "oh, well then": ] Guess that means you'll have to help me get out of it.

[ now, doesn't it ]

[collateraltsunage]

[She doesn't want to see him at all!!!]

Heavy suspicion. I've been trying- [Her defense was basically "this guy is always shady"] -but there's only so much I can do.

[And here he's getting a pointed look] If I had more information I could do more.

[s2g]

[ shoulda figured she wouldn't be above blackmail.

he can't lose here. he needs that wish, that second chance to put a hole in that fucker's head, for real this time. ]

An eye for an eye.

[collateraltsunage]

[She's not actually trying to blackmail him, she's being honest. The only way she sees them putting off scrutiny of him is to offer up someone else to scrutinize]

[She sighs, again]

I can't do that.

[s2g]

[ no everyone is down for blackmail ]

Then off the clown.

[ no one likes him. literally no one. ]

[collateraltsunage]

Are you referring to.... Ms. Hisoka? [She says "mister" dubiously]

1/2

[s2g]

The one with the face goin' on.

[ wonderful elucidation ]

now you can't fix your ms hisoka typo nyah nyah

[s2g]

[ but then the clouds draw back in between his brows and he straightens some. stuffs his hands into his pockets. veins are alive with adrenaline, and it's been a while since he's gotten that kick without a gun in hand.

seriously, now, ] Listen. I can't give ya names. Not for spies, not for villagers. Sooner or later, everyone'll start turnin' on each other. Might as well throw my own damn name into the fire if I rat out my own.

[ what a term, "his own". like hell. ]

And if I did, and turns out they ain't a spy, then we're both on the choppin' block. So think of somethin'.

CLOSE ENOUGH

[collateraltsunage]

[He does a have point, considering. No one likes Hisoka.]

[The rest of his little speech, on the other hand:]

...Your own. You've grown attached to them? [She rubs at her forehead, but really, she doesn't see much alternative] You're one of three. But you're the one who stands out most. I can defend you to the best of my ability, however... I'm not sure how effective that'll be.

[s2g]

[ grown attached to, see usefulness in. different branches of the same tree. and a vague, intrinsic protectiveness over, but they're kids, some of them.

listening to her without interrupting. almost without moving. then Wolfwood pulls his hand back from his pocket and slides those dark glasses of his over his eyes. ]

Do what you can. But your wish had better be worth it, if any of this turns out to be true.