Connor's out in the hallway, and Cunning is probably heading into the cell. Ambition's... been waiting, honestly, so she takes advantage of the fact that the guards are out of the room to answer Guy's prayer.
I have a guess, yeah. [Cunning folds his arms over his chest, leaning against the wall and glancing at Guy.] Unless you've got something else major to talk about.
[Ambition glances off to the side. She doesn't look directly at Guy or at Cunning when she speaks, and her voice is low and a little mumbly, because she's not good at apologizing, but...]
No. It was my fault. You wouldn't have done any of that... if I hadn't asked.
You offered. I said yes, and I followed through. You presented an idea. That's not a crime.
If it bothers you that much, find a way to make it right. Help your followers, or the players you think will make the difference you actually want.
Apologizing's important, you know? But the greater the loss, the more people need someone to hate for it. I'd rather they let their hate stay on the one who actually drew blood than the one who was trying to save someone's life.
[...] You know they didn't find Ray's killer yet? They're probably going to start focusing on that since you were outted as Zoe's killer. [It's equally quiet, but thoughtful.]
Somebody wanna explain to me what exactly this deal was supposed to do? [He turns to look at Ambition though.] ...I'm sure it'll still be honored even though you were caught.
Yeah. Here's hoping they stay focused on that. [Anyway.]
One death meant keeping Ambition's followers from using Advancement Opportunity on Piety's followers. The other extended your boon to become a mandatory performance by one of her followers in my stead, under the same guidelines, should I ever be removed from the competition.
[...]
In other words, I did it to extend the reaches of my wish past what I can do on my own. That's why I went through with it.
[Cunning looks back and forth between the two of them for a moment.]
...you were--[...] I need to talk to you later. [This is to Ambition.]
But I wish you'd both talked to me before all of that happened. It might've gone better and less...that. Zoe was clever to use her power at the last minute, but it makes me wonder if you would've gotten away with it otherwise.
[His expression twists, but the sudden emotion should be notable by the two of them now, given that Cunning just mentioned Zoe. WHEN WILL MONDAY BE HERE SO HE CAN JUST STOP THIS WITH THE SWEET STROKE OF DEATH]
...I can't exactly take it back now. She did what she had to, to try and survive. As much as I could have planned for that... maybe it would have been better for her had she worded things differently. [He flinches, shaking his head. NO NO THAT WORDING IS STUPID. But try as he might, he can't force out what he'd rather say. Urgh. WHATEVER MOVING ON.]
Still. If this hadn't happened... I don't think Luke would have learned as much as he did. I only spilled because he caught me right after the vision... [He squirms visibly, hands fidgeting wildly the same way they had in trial.] ...It was all I could do not to immediately try to go to the courtyard. He stopped me. We fought. And the way he worded things just... [A laugh, tired and empty.] I couldn't stop talking once I started. I needed someone to know. I needed to do something or I wasn't helping her enough.
[And he's SO MAD...........]
...The end of the trial could have gone a little better, as well, but... even with things the way they were, I... I think if Luke hadn't spoken up, I might have been fine.
But I don't know how the votes aligned. They whittled it down a lot. So I could be wrong.
[She flinches when Cunning speaks, but nods. Yeah, okay. That's fair.]
Is he going to be...
[Okay? Obviously not. She looks down at her feet again. See, this is why she shouldn't bother helping! It always goes badly when she does. It's canon.]
[He shakes his head.] It maybe doesn't matter right now. The only thing you should be doing is planning for the future which you've already started to cover. There's a lot that could have changed, and I've been thinking about it myself, but...doesn't change that we're in this situation now.
[...] One of us could probably check on him for you. Probably her, not me. I doubt he'd want this to be our first meeting.
Not sure how much planning I can do at this point. My options are very, very limited. Beauty's only got one follower left who isn't at all guaranteed to use a power on me, and the chance I'll get someone to advocate for me... [He trails off. Is it Hopelessly Devoted's fault for staying his tongue this time? Maybe not.]
...Anyway.
As far as Luke goes... it's up to you. I won't ask either of you to do anything more than what you've been doing. I can't exactly offer a favor in return for the sake of the rules, anyway.
So I'll leave it to your discretion. [Even though he's literally gonna come talk to Guy the next morning but SHRUGS.]
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WEEK 5
Connor's out in the hallway, and Cunning is probably heading into the cell. Ambition's... been waiting, honestly, so she takes advantage of the fact that the guards are out of the room to answer Guy's prayer.
...
Only, whoops, Cunning is there too.]
...I guess you prayed to us both?
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I did. You're both smart enough to know why, right?
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I wanted to apologize to the both of you.
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[Ambition glances off to the side. She doesn't look directly at Guy or at Cunning when she speaks, and her voice is low and a little mumbly, because she's not good at apologizing, but...]
No. It was my fault. You wouldn't have done any of that... if I hadn't asked.
[...]
I'm the one who should be sorry.
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You offered. I said yes, and I followed through. You presented an idea. That's not a crime.
If it bothers you that much, find a way to make it right. Help your followers, or the players you think will make the difference you actually want.
Apologizing's important, you know? But the greater the loss, the more people need someone to hate for it. I'd rather they let their hate stay on the one who actually drew blood than the one who was trying to save someone's life.
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Somebody wanna explain to me what exactly this deal was supposed to do? [He turns to look at Ambition though.] ...I'm sure it'll still be honored even though you were caught.
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One death meant keeping Ambition's followers from using Advancement Opportunity on Piety's followers. The other extended your boon to become a mandatory performance by one of her followers in my stead, under the same guidelines, should I ever be removed from the competition.
[...]
In other words, I did it to extend the reaches of my wish past what I can do on my own. That's why I went through with it.
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[she is very determinedly not meeting either of their eyes]
I just didn't want to see Luke dead either, okay. Or Piety. I never meant for it to be... like this.
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[His voice softens, at least.]
I wouldn't have agreed if I thought your intentions were wrong.
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...you were--[...] I need to talk to you later. [This is to Ambition.]
But I wish you'd both talked to me before all of that happened. It might've gone better and less...that. Zoe was clever to use her power at the last minute, but it makes me wonder if you would've gotten away with it otherwise.
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...I can't exactly take it back now. She did what she had to, to try and survive. As much as I could have planned for that... maybe it would have been better for her had she worded things differently. [He flinches, shaking his head. NO NO THAT WORDING IS STUPID. But try as he might, he can't force out what he'd rather say. Urgh. WHATEVER MOVING ON.]
Still. If this hadn't happened... I don't think Luke would have learned as much as he did. I only spilled because he caught me right after the vision... [He squirms visibly, hands fidgeting wildly the same way they had in trial.] ...It was all I could do not to immediately try to go to the courtyard. He stopped me. We fought. And the way he worded things just... [A laugh, tired and empty.] I couldn't stop talking once I started. I needed someone to know. I needed to do something or I wasn't helping her enough.
[And he's SO MAD...........]
...The end of the trial could have gone a little better, as well, but... even with things the way they were, I... I think if Luke hadn't spoken up, I might have been fine.
But I don't know how the votes aligned. They whittled it down a lot. So I could be wrong.
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Is he going to be...
[Okay? Obviously not. She looks down at her feet again. See, this is why she shouldn't bother helping! It always goes badly when she does. It's canon.]
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I don't know.
We've been separated since then. I don't know anything beyond what's been going on in this room.
Sorry.
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[...] One of us could probably check on him for you. Probably her, not me. I doubt he'd want this to be our first meeting.
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...Anyway.
As far as Luke goes... it's up to you. I won't ask either of you to do anything more than what you've been doing. I can't exactly offer a favor in return for the sake of the rules, anyway.
So I'll leave it to your discretion. [Even though he's literally gonna come talk to Guy the next morning but SHRUGS.]
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[just. staring at the ground.]
...if he finds out I was involved he'll probably tell me to go away, but I can try...