[ yeah, he doesn't know exactly what happened, but he is Aware. it's something he's been keeping in mind for all of his conversations with people and everything he's been trying to sort out since they woke up. he doesn't reply immediately, settling for a drag of his cigarette and letting the smoke drift from his lips silently. ]
...I'm not letting anything happen to us. [ he will just come out and say this. ] Not after everything that already happened. If whoever joins our team doesn't get it, then we'll make sure they do.
I don't know about that. I was talking to someone yesterday who told me she was turning down team offers because she didn't want to tie their fates to her. I don't think she's the only one who feels that way either.
[ it's not like alex doesn't get it? because as far as she was concerned she had already signed away her life. so. this has been weird.
... ]
But she'll have to team up with someone anyway, won't she? [ a more aggravated sigh this time, because an us vs them mentality doesn't come easy to her, so this is just concerning. ] Unless there are, like, exactly four people that feel that way.
Yeah. I think maybe she understood after I pointed it out, but...it's a little scary that people would just think that way without realizing what it means for other people. [ like fine, you do you, but try not to fuck over other people unintentionally in a situation like this. not this soon. ] It has to be exactly four or it's an even bigger problem. But if they already have our information and we're in their system or whatever, they probably won't let us get away with not playing in the first place.
...yeah, probably. [ just flat out saying it! ] Why would they delay it if they could just take care of the problem?
[ he doesn't sound happy about it, or like he entirely believes it, but he's under no impression that they aren't under someone else's will right now. it's all the more reason he's focusing on playing. ]
It'll be a really easy screening question for teammates.
[ she still hates the idea of leaving anyone to the proverbial sharks but sometimes you just have to say things confidently. and. do whatever needs doing. ]
I... think pretty much everyone here is interesting.
[ she like counts off on her fingers, here. ]
But for teammates—I don't know. Nahri seems cool? Wolfwood too, but he'd have, uh.[ how to say this kindly? ] Baggage? Since he can't be on a team with both the people he came here with.
Or it might be good to have people around our age, and Rin was okay to talk to?
Of course you do. [ no surprise, and he kind of thinks it's funny. he's letting her count and nodding along with this. ]
Maybe...not Nahri. I'm sure she's fine, but let's reconsider that. [ he does not explain why. ] I talked to Wolfwood yesterday and he told me about Vash and Livio. I was going to try and find him again tomorrow, see if he figured out what to do. It's kind of a crappy situation for him though, you're right.
[ hmmm. ]
Rin told me he met you. I know he has someone he's familiar with from home, but sounds like they don't get along or something? I didn't really ask. He seemed okay though, yeah. Nahida's nice, but if Wolfwood's right then she's got a couple of people from her world to look after, too.
[ she frowns because what was wrong with Nahri? wow! but she doesn't actually ask and just takes his word for it. ]
It could just... cause problems, down the road. [ but she doesn't want to condemn the idea of potentially trying to protect other teams. so? ] Aaand on the flip-side, yeah—I can't imagine not wanting to be on a team with anyone familiar. But that could get messy, too.
[ and nahida's part of a trio as well, so... welp ]
Those were my first thoughts. What about you? [ any Scouting Thoughts? ]
[ NO ONE HAS TO KNOW IT'S FINE. also don't just take his word for things, god. as if he wouldn't do the same. ]
We'll see. We still have time, so it doesn't hurt to ask. If I see Rin again maybe this time I will. We were talking a little about picking teams anyway. [ mostly that it's hard to trust strangers.
he takes his phone out then, leaning back to use one hand and scroll the profiles. ]
Uh. Some of the same as yours. If we're thinking people closer to our age, Kazuki offered food before I even spoke to him. Not entirely sure what his priorities are yet though. There's also Setsu. We kind of had a long conversation yesterday about some stuff, and I think they're pretty smart about how to play the game. [ scrolling. ] I talked to a lot of these people yesterday and there's first impressions, but I still think it's too early for anything definite.
[ a pause. ]
Shenhe is the one who told me she was turning down teams. But I think I understand why she said it now. She'll play along.
Okay. [ a little nod. she is also scrolling through profiles... ]
Kazuki's alright. We didn't talk long, but he tried to offer me directions. [ so that's points for being helpful. ] I talked to Setsu a little too and—yeah. They seemed smart.
[ hmm. ]
I do like Shenhe. She's... [ she pauses because she. already said she thinks everyone is interesting, but!!!! ] She's interesting. I wonder if we'd be able to work well together, though?
[ liking someone and finding them interesting doesn't necessarily translate to working well together. ]
[ they seem to overlap in their opinions for the most part which is helpful. he appreciates that. ]
You left a pretty good impression on her. She said you were reliable. [ he did not disagree either. ] I don't dislike her. But I wonder the same, especially since she already told me she thought it'd be better if she stayed here instead of going back.
My thoughts exactly. I don't dislike her and I wouldn't mind working with her, but...maybe on two different teams. Nothing says we can't form alliances with other teams made of people we're okay with but wouldn't team up with ourselves. Rules didn't say otherwise.
Yeah. Ugh. [ he agrees because... ] ...even the people I'm not that impressed with aren't that bad. Everybody has their own reasons to play. Plus, it's better to have alliances anyway and give these people less reason to try and erase us for points.
[ it's okay alex this is why jonas is here. maybe. ]
Not that anybody has said out loud, but it'd be stupid to show your cards this early. But...no. As far as I know nobody has jumped straight to the idea of eliminating the competition. Most everybody I've talked to thinks it's a messed up idea.
[ it's fine, he is looking back and also thinking. there is a highkey chance they are not thinking about the same thing, but it's probably the same outcome.
"do what it takes to get the other person back." ]
...you have to wonder if there'll be bonus tasks, too. The rules talk about doing more than the bare minimum, so it sounds like there's more, doesn't it?
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...I'm not letting anything happen to us. [ he will just come out and say this. ] Not after everything that already happened. If whoever joins our team doesn't get it, then we'll make sure they do.
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Yeah, no, of course. I'm getting you out of here.
And I doubt there's anyone here who won't be pulling their own weight.
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... ]
But she'll have to team up with someone anyway, won't she? [ a more aggravated sigh this time, because an us vs them mentality doesn't come easy to her, so this is just concerning. ] Unless there are, like, exactly four people that feel that way.
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Yeah. I think maybe she understood after I pointed it out, but...it's a little scary that people would just think that way without realizing what it means for other people. [ like fine, you do you, but try not to fuck over other people unintentionally in a situation like this. not this soon. ] It has to be exactly four or it's an even bigger problem. But if they already have our information and we're in their system or whatever, they probably won't let us get away with not playing in the first place.
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What are they gonna do to people who don't wanna play, Jonas? Kill them?
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...yeah, probably. [ just flat out saying it! ] Why would they delay it if they could just take care of the problem?
[ he doesn't sound happy about it, or like he entirely believes it, but he's under no impression that they aren't under someone else's will right now. it's all the more reason he's focusing on playing. ]
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It'll be a really easy screening question for teammates.
[ she still hates the idea of leaving anyone to the proverbial sharks but sometimes you just have to say things confidently. and. do whatever needs doing. ]
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...did you talk to anybody yesterday that might make a good match? Or even anybody interesting?
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[ she like counts off on her fingers, here. ]
But for teammates—I don't know. Nahri seems cool? Wolfwood too, but he'd have, uh.[ how to say this kindly? ] Baggage? Since he can't be on a team with both the people he came here with.
Or it might be good to have people around our age, and Rin was okay to talk to?
And Nahida is nice.
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Maybe...not Nahri. I'm sure she's fine, but let's reconsider that. [ he does not explain why. ] I talked to Wolfwood yesterday and he told me about Vash and Livio. I was going to try and find him again tomorrow, see if he figured out what to do. It's kind of a crappy situation for him though, you're right.
[ hmmm. ]
Rin told me he met you. I know he has someone he's familiar with from home, but sounds like they don't get along or something? I didn't really ask. He seemed okay though, yeah. Nahida's nice, but if Wolfwood's right then she's got a couple of people from her world to look after, too.
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It could just... cause problems, down the road. [ but she doesn't want to condemn the idea of potentially trying to protect other teams. so? ] Aaand on the flip-side, yeah—I can't imagine not wanting to be on a team with anyone familiar. But that could get messy, too.
[ and nahida's part of a trio as well, so... welp ]
Those were my first thoughts. What about you? [ any Scouting Thoughts? ]
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We'll see. We still have time, so it doesn't hurt to ask. If I see Rin again maybe this time I will. We were talking a little about picking teams anyway. [ mostly that it's hard to trust strangers.
he takes his phone out then, leaning back to use one hand and scroll the profiles. ]
Uh. Some of the same as yours. If we're thinking people closer to our age, Kazuki offered food before I even spoke to him. Not entirely sure what his priorities are yet though. There's also Setsu. We kind of had a long conversation yesterday about some stuff, and I think they're pretty smart about how to play the game. [ scrolling. ] I talked to a lot of these people yesterday and there's first impressions, but I still think it's too early for anything definite.
[ a pause. ]
Shenhe is the one who told me she was turning down teams. But I think I understand why she said it now. She'll play along.
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Kazuki's alright. We didn't talk long, but he tried to offer me directions. [ so that's points for being helpful. ] I talked to Setsu a little too and—yeah. They seemed smart.
[ hmm. ]
I do like Shenhe. She's... [ she pauses because she. already said she thinks everyone is interesting, but!!!! ] She's interesting. I wonder if we'd be able to work well together, though?
[ liking someone and finding them interesting doesn't necessarily translate to working well together. ]
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You left a pretty good impression on her. She said you were reliable. [ he did not disagree either. ] I don't dislike her. But I wonder the same, especially since she already told me she thought it'd be better if she stayed here instead of going back.
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[ let's just play that off because she doesn't really know how to take praise from a near-stranger. ]
But it's scary to have to count on someone changing their mind like that.
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My thoughts exactly. I don't dislike her and I wouldn't mind working with her, but...maybe on two different teams. Nothing says we can't form alliances with other teams made of people we're okay with but wouldn't team up with ourselves. Rules didn't say otherwise.
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[ she wants to just? be on an alliance with everyone? ]
Ugh.
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... ]
It'll... It'll work out.
[ alex is having the hardest time switching gears from 'i'm saving everyone' to 'i'll save who i can.' ]
It's not like any of these people want to erase anyone else, right? Like, no one is jumping to that being a great idea.
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Not that anybody has said out loud, but it'd be stupid to show your cards this early. But...no. As far as I know nobody has jumped straight to the idea of eliminating the competition. Most everybody I've talked to thinks it's a messed up idea.
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Good. Because I'm not—doing that. To anyone.
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but...this doesn't surprise him either. ]
You won't have to. We'll figure out something else to get points and stay ahead. Alright?
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she looks at him for a moment, just. thinking. ]
Yeah. Whatever else we need to do.
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"do what it takes to get the other person back." ]
...you have to wonder if there'll be bonus tasks, too. The rules talk about doing more than the bare minimum, so it sounds like there's more, doesn't it?
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