W2, Wednesday

[bittybat]

Ok, but don't mind random injuries being added in narration throughout this depending on how... their stupid... breaking into the doctor's office goes...

[Wednesday afternoon, Damian reels Percy in for a little private chat. Manboy to manboy.] Has the Sheriff talked to you at all privately?

Has anyone said anything to you about the Sheriff talking to them in private? [Straight to the point.]

Comments

[bittybat]

Todd was moronic enough to break the window without a plan, and the trap inside spotted him. It shot him with a bolt.

We decided to deactivate the sensor so we could get inside. When I hit it with an arrow in return, it had two self-defense mechanisms. It dropped explosives with timers, and the bolt that hit Todd dropped something that released tear gas.

That's why half the office is destroyed.

[He frowns.] The machine went back under the store or the ground. The opening is so flush you can't tell it is supposed to even open.

[hydrokinetics]

They really went all out. I never thought "tear gas" would be associated with the wild west, but it's not like anything else is really consistent here anyway.

Okay so with that in mind how're you gonna get the thing open? [He might just be surprised that Damian has an actual plan, but it's helping him feel better about this.]

[bittybat]

There may be more traps protecting the mechanism, but I can dig nearby to see if there's something besides dirt below the surface. I can dig through the store floor, too.

I don't think the machine went down into nothing but dirt. There's more at work beneath us.

And if that's the case, I told you already I know how to make bombs.

[hydrokinetics]

So you're going to ask the Sheriff for materials to make a bomb and blow it up to gain access. [He. Can't say that's really a bad idea, honestly.]

Okay. I think I can respect that. You've figured out more than the rest of us so far at least, so if we can gain even a bit of an edge that'd be helpful.

[bittybat]

[If it even works... both getting the materials and blowing shit up.]

If you hear about anyone talking to the Sheriff in private, tell me as soon as possible.

[hydrokinetics]

[...a reluctant nod.]

One thing, Robin. Besides the suggestion box, have you spoken to him in private?

[bittybat]

Yes.

[hydrokinetics]

[...ah.]

Can I ask what he said to you?

[bittybat]

[No, peRCY.]

I have to find someone. He wouldn't tell me who or what they are. If I find them, the game will be over.

[hydrokinetics]

[Oh fuck.]

Really. [That's a pretty heavy thing to handle.] And you thought that person might have been me. [And now he just feels bad that it's not, but on the other hand:] It's one person? Out of the forty of us?

[bittybat]

Possibly. I thought you may have also known who it could have been. [Like... Annabeth, etc.]

It's just one person, as far as I know. Unless there's a catch I haven't considered. A pet, perhaps. I doubt it. That would make the game impossible, and that isn't the point.

They want a show.

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah, I don't think a pet is going to be what ends the game. [But he takes a deep breath to consider it.] We'll play the part for now. But let me help you somehow. I'll start looking around, feel people out, see who else might have talked to him. Can we agree on that?

[bittybat]

[He looks a tad skeptically surprised.] I thought you wanted to stay alive for your girlfriend?

[hydrokinetics]

I do. But that doesn't mean I can't talk to people and keep an eye out that way. What's wrong with that?

[bittybat]

Asking questions might make you suspicious to some people. They could target you, thinking you have a role. Be careful who you talk to at all.

They can threaten your girlfriend to get you to talk.

[hydrokinetics]

[Instead of being worried...he smiles.]

You haven't really talked to Annabeth, have you? I've seen her bring down monsters twelve times her size without breaking a swear. [He's very pleased with his intense barbarian-princess-esque girlfriend, apparently. But he gets the point.] I know it'll make me suspicious, to some people, but not to the ones I'm planning on building an alliance with. Besides, I'm used to people being suspicious of me. It'll feel just like home.

Are you suspicious of me?

[bittybat]

I'm suspicious of everyone. [But he doesn't look at Percy when he says it.] Any one of you could be the person I'm looking for, even Todd.

[hydrokinetics]

Somehow I'm not surprised. [He continues to watch him, mostly curious about his responses.] Have you bothered asking Jason yet?

[bittybat]

Not yet. I didn't want to risk telling anyone at all until I was certain. Especially Todd. We are from similar worlds despite our timelines, and I'm sure it could have been "fun" for the Sheriff's employers to make him my target.

[hydrokinetics]

You're worried about his safety. [Please deny that, Damian, he'll think it's hilarious.]

Here's what I don't understand. Say you find this person. They can end the game, sure, but what does that exactly mean? End it how? I'm guessing he didn't tell you that part either.

[bittybat]

[Quickly:] I'm worried about my safety. [PERCY, STOP. HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT STUPID TODD. OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER.

A few moments pass before he answers, and he's peering uncertainly at Percy:] I have to kill them.

[hydrokinetics]

[Calm down, Satan. But in all seriousness he doesn't say anything to that other than another raised eyebrow. The statement is only met with a disconcerted look. He's a little angry, but it's not at Damian.]

...pretty rotten move sticking you with that job. And what happens if you don't kill them, did he tell you that part?

[bittybat]

He'll kill me, is what he claims. Or, worse, and more preferable: send me to a timeline where everyone I know is dead. [The Sheriff said "love," but Damian will die before he admits anything like that, okay.] My biggest concern is he'll just pick someone else, and the game will continue.

[hydrokinetics]

[What if Percy just punches the Sheriff in the face? What if he does that? He looks really frustrated suddenly, eyes narrowed and jaw clenched even as his hands ball into fists at his side.]

I'm not going to talk about how that's "more preferable", but I want to talk about the part where timelines exist. Multiple timelines. How could he actually do that?

[...so gods and all sorts of other bullshit makes sense, but timetravel and alternate universes still trip him up.] You're sticking with it to make sure nobody else has to make that decision.

[bittybat]

[Damian doesn't answer the last part on purpose. It's a little bit of empathy: no one else should have to do it. And it's also a little bit of pride: he can change it.]

There's different ways. Metahuman or alien powers, technologically advanced gates that open a hole in space-time. Todd is from my universe, but technically from a different timeline. Not in the sense of things are different, but in the sense he is from my universe's past.

Anyone can be pulled through, even multiple people from the same universe.