W4, Thursday night

[bittybat]

[While Shinnosuke is in the stocks, Damian comes to the stocks just after dark with an armful of wood and a hatchet in a free hand. He drops the wood in front of the stocks, and then he gets to work without saying anything quite yet to Shinnosuke personally.]

Comments

[bittybat]

No. Not for yourself.

[Damian hammers a few more stakes into a few more places in different area around Shinnosuke's location. The sound changes periodically.] I'll be back.

[And then he leaves. But he doesn't stay gone long, and the same quiet-like footsteps return with the sound of something being dragged behind. His breathing is heavier.] Don't move too much.

I'm setting a trap for coyotes. If you move too much you will activate it, and then it will be useless.

[insincerely]

Coyotes, huh... Don't suppose it'd catch the murderer too if I get unlucky tonight?

[Okay, this is still a little disconcerting. He doesn't disagree with what Damian's doing, but it's still a little nervewracking just casually being in the middle of it all.]

Also, while I don't plan on triggering any traps, and as much as I hope someone dissuades her, you do realize Yuna is almost guaranteed to be camping out here, right? You might want to make sure she gets the memo too.

[bittybat]

No. You can't contaminate the experiment by telling someone. I don't want her injured, but she could be one of the killers. Don't tell anyone who approaches. The trigger is in the front.

[It's quiet while he works, only the sound of his breathing and the log he is latching and bending around behind Shinnosuke's legs at the back of the stocks.] When something bumps the trigger and it is jostled loose, a log with stakes will swing around. It's low for the coyotes. For a human, it'll hit near thr legs depending on their height.

[insincerely]

[Shinnosuke's silent, but after a few moments, he lets out a sigh. You're lucky it's Shinnosuke in the stocks, Damian, and not someone more soft-hearted.]

Fine. I get it. If she somehow dies from this, though, it's on you, not me.

[Sorry, Yuna.]

Any chance I'll get caught as well?

[bittybat]

[He knows... And he prays it isn't someone like Yuna.] No. You are safe.

The stocks may sway when the log swings, but nothing will hit you. It won't seing completely across, just enough to hit the target in front. It isn't completely hidden, so if it's a person and not a coyote, make sure they are somewhat distracted if you can.

[insincerely]

[Well, good to know this week isn't going to get worse for him (unless he gets offed by the murderer, anyway).]

Well, I can be myself, at least. I've been told my attitude's a little distracting.

... So what are you going to do tomorrow when everyone wonders what the hell this all is?

[bittybat]

Pretend like I don't know who did it.

[He pauses to look at Shinnosuke, but of course that can't really be seen. The pause is enough, though.] Which means you're going to keep quiet.

[insincerely]

[He just lets out a snort at that.]

Yeah, yeah. Be glad that it's me in here and not someone more honest.

[bittybat]

I wouldn't have spoken to anyone more honest if they had been blind.

[And he wouldn't. The fact that Todd went with Shinnosuke to open a building builds Shinnosuke a lot of credit even if Damian won't admit it.

The stock rattles gently as Damian fastens the log into place behind Shinnosuke's legs, making sure the log and the legs don't touch. Then he works on setting the trigger.]

[insincerely]

I'm special, then? What an honour.

[Aww, Damian, you little tsun towards Jason.]

... You'd better hope that Mr. Sheriff doesn't have any more cats wandering around, though.

[bittybat]

He doesn't. [Damian's voice has moved back to the frontside of Shinnosuke. The hatchet is hammering something somewhat into the ground.] Ash is the one who killed his cat.

Its name was Creamsicle.

[insincerely]

Ash, huh? Why does that not surprise me... but how the hell do you know that, anyway?

[bittybat]

I asked him. [The hammering stops, and there's some fiddling. Something that sounds like rope and wood.] He said Ash broke into his apartment. The cat tried to be friendly, but Ash kicked it across the room.

[Damian doesn't sound very fucking happy.]

[insincerely]

... That really does sound like Ash.

[Sure, Shinnosuke's a douche and not exactly an animal lover (unlike someone here), but even he wouldn't randomly kick a cat.]

Geez... you have any idea how Mr. Sheriff punished him?

[bittybat]

The Sheriff didn't. [Damian's voice is higher than it had been, not ground-level. He's standing upright, and he's clear enough that he's probably facing Shinnosuke head-on.]

He said the cat wasn't a part of the game; therefore, he couldn't act on his anger.

[insincerely]

[Okay, it's really weird talking to Damian like this.]

Makes sense. You don't seem very happy about the entire thing, though.