18x0 | week 5, wednesday

[He nods, becoming just as serious.] Certainly. We can talk in Dirk's old bedroom if you like?

[Since Dirk no longer has roommates, it's a fairly safe room to use.]

Yes, that should work. Let's go.

[And she's hurrying there as fast as Jake can go.]

[At least Jake has gotten good on his crutches by now. And after he shuts the door he'll sit on one of the beds.]

Did... you talk to Andersen?

[Even hazarding that much worries him, not wanting to out what Andersen did, but Akane isn't on the Hunters side as far as he knows, so he trusts her enough to ask it.]

[She nods.]

I did. He told me he'd already spoken with you, so I thought we should have a little discussion about what happens next.

Good idea. I... I'll be honest that I don't trust them to make this decision for me. Or, rather, because they locked us out of making the decision for ourselves, I want nothing to do with them.

[It's harsh for him, considering how much he tries to befriend everyone, but it's cruel and unneeded suffering despite their goal.]

I mean, I don't know, maybe it's the plan we would have all settled on but we weren't even given that choice.

That's exactly how I feel. Even if they're trying to help people, they had no right to make that decision without all the rest of us.

[Of course, Akane has made plenty of decisions like that in the past. Spoilers she is a huge hypocrite.]

[It's all right since Akane isn't the one doing it this time!]

I don't even know if they tried to think of another plan. Andersen made it sound like they didn't. And while I wouldn't be surprised if there were no alternatives, that should be something we all look at together. And, frankly speaking, I'm still rather miffed they would have killed me this week but left Dirk alive to suffer that loss with no explanation. It just all seems so... pointless and wrong. As if they're not thinking clearly at all.

For a group supposedly chosen for their selfless and kind nature, the Hunters aren't being very heroic, are they. They don't seem to have any consideration for the suffering they're causing for the sake of their happy ending.

[He gives a rueful smile.] I feel Craftly may have chosen poorly. And if they go through with these murders this week as cruelly as Andersen suggested they would— [Like seriously a chainsaw?] —then I absolutely refuse to trust them with this decision. I was thinking... since we'll all basically know what's happening at the trial, barring any changes, it may be a better use of our time to openly discuss what we want to do. We'll... know who the murderers are, after all.

They'll be trying to obfuscate the truth and turn everyone against each other, so we should try to do what we can to prevent that. As long as we can use the evidence to point out the truth, we should be able to weaken them, at the very least.

Dirk and I informed Percival, Dipper, Mabel, Emily and Clementine at least. Dipper and Mabel needed further convincing, so we sent them to Andersen. Hopefully that helped. [He's worried but he's hopeful, too. Andersen should have been able to get a recording by now.] Percival, Emily and Clementine believed us right away, though. Percival also agreed to break all the mirrors Thursday night right before curfew. That should help make the murders, if they still occur, more solvable than before, even with their access to impossible weapons.

You told them all? [Hrm.] I wasn't expecting that, but it's good. It means our votes will easily outnumber theirs. We should have no problem arranging a tie and taking out at least two of them. Maybe three, depending on how many people are murdered and how many we can convince.

I thought it best to tell at least some of us, to be prepared for the terrible things that will no doubt happen at the trial. We'll need to use our time wisely to come to a decision and arrange it. [He is really not against her idea at all at this point.] Did Andersen give you the list of victims this week?

He did.

[And about that...]

As much as I hate to say it, I don't think there's much point in trying to stop the murders. They have an overwhelming advantage, so we'd only end up giving away our position.

I know. [He hates how pointless it is, but...] We're going to break all the mirrors Thursday night, right before curfew. Even if it won't stop them, we can at least make it more difficult on them. It might help us prove what we're saying easier to the rest of the group left.

It's something, at least. We need every advantage we can get, no matter how minor.

I agree. [He hesitates but there's something he wants to say, so.] I'm really glad you're on our side, Akane. I always had a good feeling about you, even though we didn't talk much.

[She blinks.]

Um, thank you? I'm just trying to do what's right.

Sorry, was that weird? [He flusters.] You just seem awful clever and strong-hearted, so I'm glad, I guess? Is what I mean... [He's seen her act in the trials after all. Though he knows the thing with Mira was personal, even if he doesn't know what, he's just glad she feels the same about all of this.] I'm sure we'll come up with the best solution, whatever it is we decide. I just... can't forgive them for going about it this way.

Oh my gosh, you're giving me way too much credit! I'm not really anything special. [She's a little flustered herself, but there's determination in her gaze when she smiles at him.]

The thing that's really going to get us through this is unity. We're all going to work together to stop what's happening, and we'll support each other no matter how hard it gets. Right?

Right! [He smiles back.] Hope is my aspect, after all. I refuse to give up until we've exhausted every possible option. And maybe not even then.

And that's why I'm really glad we have you on our side. Remember what we talked about that one time? If you believe in something strongly enough, you can definitely make it come true.

Yes, I agree. That's what real hope is. Faith in others is what creates a powerful hope.

week 5, wednesday

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