Week 3, Saturday, post-trial: Waver.

[thesettingsun]

[Dazai went into that trial knowing that he would be suspected. And he didn't blow up at anyone! Or get overly defensive! He kept his mouth shut just like Waver advised him to!

He isn't exactly looking for Waver, but when he does find him in the hallway, his eyes light up.]

Did I do well in the trial today, sensei?

Comments

[londonstar]

[ waver's barely alert at this point. they caught the wrong person and his relationship with reyna is in trouble. quite honestly, he'd just like something like a long bath or sleep or--

or dazai's voice, sure. ]

Huh? Yeah, sure. Congrats.

[ he's barely Here, but if praise is going to get dazai off his back, then he'll give it quickly. ]

[thesettingsun]

[Sensei praised him! Without tsunning at him! Dazai sparkles.]

I did well~ Pat my head too!

[londonstar]

What are you, five?

[ there's only a limit to what waver will be willing to do, and head pats are past that. ]

Go to Tenshouin if you want more praise-- I'm not in the mood for it.

[thesettingsun]

...Is this because you got Reyna mad at you?

[or is it the condemning innocent people to death and letting the guilty walk free thing]

[londonstar]

No, it isn't.

[ yes it is, but it's not the only thing in his mind. ]

It's been a long day. I'm simply tired.

[thesettingsun]

I can make you some coffee?

[skills he picked up while killing monsters inside books]

[londonstar]

[ waver opens his mouth to refuse, but then... ]

Sure, why not.

[thesettingsun]

Right away, sensei~

[And he's off to the kitchen! To return a few minutes later with a mug of steaming hot coffee. And like five packets of sugar.]

I wasn't sure how many you took, so...

[londonstar]

[ waver follows after dazai, but at a much slower pace. so when dazai comes out of the kitchen, he's maybe three fourths of the way there. ]

Mm...thank you. You can keep the sugar, it's fine.

[ he takes the mug of hot coffee, taking a drink. the warmth and bitterness of the coffee brings some life back into waver, but he still looks somewhat upset. ]

[thesettingsun]

[Waver is so strong to be able to drink his coffee black.]

...Do you want to talk about anything? Any of that trial? I haven't been discussing it much, but it's fine if it would clear your thoughts a little...

[londonstar]

The trial doesn't matter anymore. What happened happened, and that's that.

[ never mind that reyna's pissed at him. never mind that they voted for the wrong person. never mind that no one knows what will happen tomorrow. never. mind. it. ]

I want to finish this stupid thing as fast as possible. Before we end up killing everyone in this castle.

[thesettingsun]

Do you know a way to finish this stupid thing? That isn't killing everyone in this castle.

[Natsuo is not known for great ideas.]

[londonstar]

I've figured out that the amount of ink given at every execution is directly correlated to whether or not the victims and murderers completed their objectives. In other words, completing the objective makes you give more ink to the Crafters which will, in turn, draw us closer to the end of the game.

[ he sighs, stuffing his hands in his pockets. ]

Not only that, but I've learned from another source that there are two ways of finishing this game. Either you kill off an entire faction, or enough people complete their objectives. Depending on which one happens first, we will reach a different 'ending' to our 'story'.

I imagine that the ending where the dead are brought back to life will be the one with least bloodshed. In other words, completing our objectives.

[thesettingsun]

But I can't complete my objective without someone being killed. Even cutting off someone's fingers would be more merciful than what I've been assigned.

If I can't help that way, then... what should I do, sensei?

[Waver is wiser than he is. Waver will tell him what he can do.]

[londonstar]

...What?

[ well that raises some alarm bells inside waver. before he can guide dazai, he first has to find out-- ]

What's your objective?

[thesettingsun]

Tie someone up to either be delivered to a killer or so I can kill them myself.

[There's no wiggle room there. Someone has to die for Dazai to ever complete that objective.]

I don't want to. Even if the objectives are the key, I... don't want to.

[londonstar]

How disgraceful...

[ he clicks his tongue. to think that the crafters would find that necessary-- ]

However, you are not alone. I know a couple that are in the same predicament as you. I do not believe that it is necessary to complete your objective...unless you are chosen as a Blotter yourself.

[thesettingsun]

But if I'm not chosen as a Blotter... then there's nothing I can do to help?

[Aside from asking permission to murder, or finding a way to deliver the victim to a Blotter - is he completely useless when it comes to saving their lives?]

[londonstar]

Don't make such hasty assumptions, idiot.

[ EYE ROLL ]

You can help the others with more...benign objectives. There's many of Narrators with objectives that are less...violent. If you help them in any way, then you're helping the cause.

[thesettingsun]

Right. ...Right, I can still do that.

[The hysteria that was building up in him is quieted. It's such a relief that Dazai - even knowing that Waver won't like it - tries to hug Waver.]

Thank you, sensei.

[londonstar]

[ waver tenses up when dazai hugs him and it takes a great amount of effort to swallow down an insult or seven. ]

Yeah. Anytime. I’d rather you speak with me than make a stupidly rash decision.

[thesettingsun]

[At least Dazai lets go relatively quickly.]

Then, I'll be sure to speak to you all the time!

[Because nearly all his decisions are stupid and rash.]

[londonstar]

Because all your decisions are stupid and rash.

[ SIGH ]

Try not to get yourself killed, at least.

[thesettingsun]

I'll do my best. ...Dying alone would be terribly lonely, anyway.

[Not to mention he can't let Evan be hurt.]