week three - saturday, post trial (lief)

[eisenundblut]

...

[Prussia disappeared immediately after the trial. She doesn't come back until after Lief's returned to their shared hut, which she just enters without ceremony.]

We need to talk.

[She looks... rough. Her eyes are clear, there's no red to indicate that she might have been crying. If anything, she looks calm, drawn taut like a bowstring.]

Bitte.

Comments

[reidentify]

[... Honestly, he's so relieved that she is talking to him. It's a better sign than her disappearing for the night, left to grieve who-knows-where.

Tonight has been a whirlwind of revelations, but above all, he's been concerned for her. With that said, he knows that sympathy isn't what she wants, and os he carefully ensures that his voice remains calm.]

What is it?

[eisenundblut]

The robots. Went to talk to them about tomorrow.

The fuckers hinting at me about reassigning partners, you remember? Got more out of them. Guess they're giving me a consolation prize for how badly I've fucked it up.

[She crosses to sit on her bed as usual, though again, she doesn't relax.]

Can reassign partners, and break another set. Two shitty jobs, and they don't even pay me anything.

[reidentify]

[...]

Can you reassign Keith and Hayner?

[eisenundblut]

Natürlich. That's the easy part.

...

If you had my role, who would you break?

[reidentify]

... You wish to break Jack and Newt's, do you not?

[eisenundblut]

...Course.

[She ducks her head finally, rakes her hands through her hair and clutches her scalp.]

He's one of my people. Or... one of West's, anyway. Him and Erhard, I...

I do that, people will know it's me.

[reidentify]

[He looks up, thinking.]

Out of those set to die tomorrow—it would be unwise to break Laura's or Jack Vessalius's, perhaps. Nino and Jaffar would... not be able to stand living without one another. It is then a matter of saving Battler or Newt.

... It could seem as though your role simply did not wish to save a Siren. And Newt is relatively liked, I think. But you are right—it may point to you as well.

[eisenundblut]

Anybody who got voted for to get executed, I can't do anything for them. Ja, it'd be... it'd be Newt, Battler, Nino, oder...

[She scowls, staring down at the floor.]

I don't want to put you at risk.

[reidentify]

[He's touched, but...]

... Newt is a good friend of yours, correct? I am here for you, always, but I know that that is not enough. I do not want you to feel as though you are alone in this place.

[Will Newt help keep her grounded? in other words.]

[eisenundblut]

You're a good kid, Lief.

[She doesn't even know he's royalty?? If she did it'd make this a lot easier tbh.]

...Ah, you know? If we're right about our killers being good people, then... even if they know it's me, maybe they won't do anything. Ja? Like insurance.

[reidentify]

... Indeed. It is hard to predict whom they will target, especially after this week... [because most of the assholes are dead now??] ... but from the sound of things, they wish to minimize the number of casualties.

Revealing yourself would still be an unwise decision, I think. However, perhaps we can afford to take a risk.

[... He's a little worried about using up her role's purpose for the next week, depending on who dies then, but it might be unfair to consider that.]

[eisenundblut]

You and Newt are the only ones who know about it right now.

...Maybe the robots will change the rules on me again. I dunno. But tomorrow... ja. I'll take the closest thing to a guarantee I've got on this island.

[She pushes herself to her feet, exhaling quietly through her nose. She just looks very old, very tired.]

You know... I'm not used to having individual's lives in my hands. It's a lot easier when it's an army.

[reidentify]

... Yes, the Chiefs will most likely disapprove if they feel you are abusing your role. [And who knows, maybe the Sirens will kill Newt next week because he's alone.] But as you have said, it may be worth trying nevertheless.

[He listens, before swallowing a lump in his throat. Although he still doesn't quite the understand the whole country thing—]

I know what you mean. When it feels as though we are picking lives like this—it makes it even harder.

[eisenundblut]

Maybe this time I'll make the right choice.

[She's done a pretty bad job of it so far!! Which is to be expected but it still makes her feel like shit, because she expects nothing less than perfection from herself. She pauses with her hand on the door.]

Thanks, Lief. Think I know what I have to do.

[reidentify]

[...]

Stay strong.