[If the doctor looked worn down, it was no longer remarkable. Even the nurses have exhausted themselves with offers to help, coming to accept the lethargic mess of a man as a new and static state of being.
The rate of deaths had dropped significantly.
The ease that brought to villagers who heretofore deigned not to acknowledge the trend out loud was more nerve wracking than the unspoken pressure upon him to fix it. It only meant that they were biding their time; bringing in such showy support was the equivalent of declaring war. Without a doubt, they were only preparing...
Waiting was the most tiring thing. When they did attack, what would they do and how? They wouldn't slow their assault only to eventually trudge on in the same matter.
Was it going to be a slow battle, plucking them off at a not-quite-as-alarming rate?
No, as numbers grew, they should need to devour more.... Then, outside of the village? That would be a way to create reinforcements, a great number to swarm in and...
Ah. Speaking of an outside invasion... Pacing the clinic grounds, he reconsiders his trip to the veranda seeing the two of them.
It's a habit, now, to dodge her. The bruise he had mostly forgotten besides when remembering to shave throbbed. Would he be asked about that? Would he be asked about that entire situation? It was none of anybody else's business...
None of this was anybody's business. He considered just slipping back inside, trying to go unnoticed.]
[Damn it. He tenses visibly, as if caught doing something wrong before pulling the cigarette from his mouth and sighing in defeat. He trails over, eyes darting to the girl and away quickly enough, a single instant behind her own deflection before settling his stare more derisively on Kefka.] ...Things have slowed down. But, it'd be too convenient to believe there isn't more to it.
They're probably preparing for an assault. Taking stock of things, preparing for an all-out attack, trying to find a way to get to the three of us.
[They're acting strangely. Why aren't they looking at each other?]
[...he's too tired from dealing with Scratch and the fallout of it. He'll figure them out later.]
I'd suggest moving to take them out now, while they're planning. They'll probably be closer together than we'll find them otherwise, and it'll minimize human casualties.
[Dead Master looks up not at either of the two men, but at some unassuming tree in the distance as to not make eye contact.] I know who a number of themare. If we kill them in silence,those that command them will not know how their ranks thin until many have been gone missing.
We don't know anything about them. This means that we can't tell anyone a thing about them. [With a final drag, he flicks the cigarette butt off to the side, smothering it out, keeping his eyes on it rather than anything else.] Think of how many have died; those are their numbers. The minute that they feel cornered, they'll lash out recklessly. The best thing for the okiagari, if under seige would be a town-wide panic. Even that would cost them more lives than the current stalemate... And, a panic would be the worst thing for us, under any circumstances. For the time being, we're at a Nash Equilibrium; the end result of rushing into anything without more information is just mutually assured destruction.
Not if we get them all at once! What if we set their house on fire? Death Master and I can take out anyone who tries to leave the house! Wham, bam, thank you ma'am, they'll all be dead! That'll put the fear of humans into them!
I am a soldier, you know.
[It's the most efficient way of doing it. If he wanted to end things, he'd do that now. He's powerful enough to take most of them out. There's always collateral damage; better one or two than the whole town. But he's letting Ozaki be in charge, and...]
[...why aren't they doing eye contact? He can understand why they wouldn't look at him, they like each other better and he talks morbidly, but they're not looking at each other. Did he miss something? He was out for like a week writing love letters during that virus a few weeks ago. Maybe something happened? Weird.]
[Both DM and Ozaki are getting confused looks from Kefka.]
[While she agrees with Kefka, she thinks over Ozaki's words. What other information do they need? Who they are and where they are should be enough to take them out. If they wait there will be damage, if they don't wait there will be damage. She thinks Ozaki is stalling, but her best chance is to let Kefka do the talking. Under Kefka's gaze, she shifts her weight from one leg to the other. He may be giving them a weird look, but it is nothing compared to uncomfortableness of standing this close to the doctor. It is ridiculous how this developed into merely looking away from one another. She still has to apologize while not in a virus'd state, but she thinks that he wants this kept between them. They must talk when they are left alone--but that will never happen so long as they avoid each other.]
[Dealing with Kefka is easier than being confronted by her, now. He focuses his gaze on the other man, cocking a brow as if daring him to comment on the oddity between them that he's noticed; surely, Kefka won't want to detract from talk of battle and destruction to delve into personal affairs.] We don't know how or if fire effects them. Has it even been confirmed that they're all in one base?
It'd be easier if we had one to test it on, but we don't.
[Kyoko. He'd noticed when they came back from the haunted house. Pale and tired; the three of them were all gone, a perfect opportunity for vampires. And they had taken it. Or so he suspects. It's good enough to try.]
[For science, right? People will do anything if they think it's the Right Thing to do. That zeal keeps them going even as they soak themselves in blood. It's hilarious! As much as he likes Kyoko, she'd make a great turning point for Ozaki. Besides, once Ozaki was done, Kefka could snag her and let her live out her true, evil potential on his world. Good trade, right? Or she'd die and get to the afterlife. Eh, he'll see.]
Besides, pretty much everything is flammable! If that doesn't work, a spike of ice through their spines would also do pretty well. Master, what's the status of their location?
[-Insert approximate location of okiagari here.- Which, in addition to the castle, may include caves, closets, and somewhere underground; bascially--] Wherever there is nolight during the day, they seek refuge. [If they did not like sunlight all that much, it seems reasonable enough to her to think that something like fire would work against them.]
[Fire does sound like a solid enough plan. His eyes flicker to Dead Master, struggling to hold eye contact as if it would become normal with that. His lips press into a thin line before he closes his eyes, making it look like an act of thought rather than cowardice.] Mm...
[The smell of nicotine, the thought of burning triggers another concern. He isn't sure now if he's making excuses or not; the fact that Kefka is supporting the plan, the fact that he's seen not so much as a single subversive motive or move from him is still suspicious.]
...But, we're in a dry season, in the middle of the woods. Being reckless with fire is dangerous.
[The Kirishiki mansion, the stronghold, is practically visible from all areas of town. He turns his eyes towards that high hill.] They've got money. Even if the Okiagari are a legend mostly from this village, whatever they are, they've started someplace else... Probably, if things break down, their leaders will make an escape. And want to take care of the evidence... [There's a pause as his eyes widen at that.
Ishida, his contact at the records office, had gone missing. He'd written plenty of death certificates himself. Would they be able to leave something like that alone? If they seemed to be slowing down on outright murder, there were still other moves they could be making.
His tone is distracted, realizing the enemy's potential plan, but more interested in checking in on it than explaining it.]
...I want to check something at the records office.
Do you think so little of me that I can't control a fire? They're on a hill. There isn't any wind. I can make water. And money can't save someone from a sword.
[What happened to using resources well? Which is pretty funny, granted, but frustrating as well. He's an amazing killer. Why not use it against "inhuman beings"?]
Sounds good. I can keep guard while you and Dead Master go. Or should I go, since you two apparently did the great dance of life and can't keep your eyes on each other?
[She should go and be the one who protects Ozaki, to show that she can protect him, but also to show him that she can be trusted now, despite the virus....'Great dance of life'--? He must mean--she should correct his assumption.] I did not fuck him, Kefka.[Excuse her language; crude terms for such a thing are all her world has led her to know.]
[He wonders if he should protect her honor in this instance, but time spent thinking is time she spends clarifying the situation herself. He'd glare harder at Kefka if he still had the energy in him. He of all people immediately jumping to a perverted assumption; did he forget that he had met his wife not long ago?] .... [He makes yet another face, absently thinking that he had an easy enough time forgetting he was married. Kyoko'd been oddly compliant and unobtrusive lately. No complaints from his mother about her, either.
Well, that's not important.]
It isn't money protecting them that I'm worried about. It's the fact that if there is an escape route, the heads will definitely take it and plant themselves someplace else. This epidemic needs to be stopped here completely.
I don't mind being accompanied, but... as long as we move in daylight, at least, it should be fine.
The rate of deaths had dropped significantly.
The ease that brought to villagers who heretofore deigned not to acknowledge the trend out loud was more nerve wracking than the unspoken pressure upon him to fix it. It only meant that they were biding their time; bringing in such showy support was the equivalent of declaring war. Without a doubt, they were only preparing...
Waiting was the most tiring thing. When they did attack, what would they do and how? They wouldn't slow their assault only to eventually trudge on in the same matter.
Was it going to be a slow battle, plucking them off at a not-quite-as-alarming rate?
No, as numbers grew, they should need to devour more.... Then, outside of the village? That would be a way to create reinforcements, a great number to swarm in and...
Ah. Speaking of an outside invasion... Pacing the clinic grounds, he reconsiders his trip to the veranda seeing the two of them.
It's a habit, now, to dodge her. The bruise he had mostly forgotten besides when remembering to shave throbbed. Would he be asked about that? Would he be asked about that entire situation? It was none of anybody else's business...
None of this was anybody's business. He considered just slipping back inside, trying to go unnoticed.]
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[No escape. He'll have to deal with this on his own.]
We need to talk.
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[They're acting strangely. Why aren't they looking at each other?]
[...he's too tired from dealing with Scratch and the fallout of it. He'll figure them out later.]
I'd suggest moving to take them out now, while they're planning. They'll probably be closer together than we'll find them otherwise, and it'll minimize human casualties.
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If we kill them in
silence,those that command them
will not know how their
ranks thin
until many have been gone missing.
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We don't know anything about them. This means that we can't tell anyone a thing about them. [With a final drag, he flicks the cigarette butt off to the side, smothering it out, keeping his eyes on it rather than anything else.] Think of how many have died; those are their numbers. The minute that they feel cornered, they'll lash out recklessly. The best thing for the okiagari, if under seige would be a town-wide panic. Even that would cost them more lives than the current stalemate... And, a panic would be the worst thing for us, under any circumstances. For the time being, we're at a Nash Equilibrium; the end result of rushing into anything without more information is just mutually assured destruction.
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I am a soldier, you know.
[It's the most efficient way of doing it. If he wanted to end things, he'd do that now. He's powerful enough to take most of them out. There's always collateral damage; better one or two than the whole town. But he's letting Ozaki be in charge, and...]
[...why aren't they doing eye contact? He can understand why they wouldn't look at him, they like each other better and he talks morbidly, but they're not looking at each other. Did he miss something? He was out for like a week writing love letters during that virus a few weeks ago. Maybe something happened? Weird.]
[Both DM and Ozaki are getting confused looks from Kefka.]
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[Kyoko. He'd noticed when they came back from the haunted house. Pale and tired; the three of them were all gone, a perfect opportunity for vampires. And they had taken it. Or so he suspects. It's good enough to try.]
[For science, right? People will do anything if they think it's the Right Thing to do. That zeal keeps them going even as they soak themselves in blood. It's hilarious! As much as he likes Kyoko, she'd make a great turning point for Ozaki. Besides, once Ozaki was done, Kefka could snag her and let her live out her true, evil potential on his world. Good trade, right? Or she'd die and get to the afterlife. Eh, he'll see.]
Besides, pretty much everything is flammable! If that doesn't work, a spike of ice through their spines would also do pretty well. Master, what's the status of their location?
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they seek refuge.
[If they did not like sunlight all that much, it seems reasonable enough to her to think that something like fire would work against them.]
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[The smell of nicotine, the thought of burning triggers another concern. He isn't sure now if he's making excuses or not; the fact that Kefka is supporting the plan, the fact that he's seen not so much as a single subversive motive or move from him is still suspicious.]
...But, we're in a dry season, in the middle of the woods. Being reckless with fire is dangerous.
[The Kirishiki mansion, the stronghold, is practically visible from all areas of town. He turns his eyes towards that high hill.] They've got money. Even if the Okiagari are a legend mostly from this village, whatever they are, they've started someplace else... Probably, if things break down, their leaders will make an escape. And want to take care of the evidence... [There's a pause as his eyes widen at that.
Ishida, his contact at the records office, had gone missing. He'd written plenty of death certificates himself. Would they be able to leave something like that alone? If they seemed to be slowing down on outright murder, there were still other moves they could be making.
His tone is distracted, realizing the enemy's potential plan, but more interested in checking in on it than explaining it.]
...I want to check something at the records office.
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[What happened to using resources well? Which is pretty funny, granted, but frustrating as well. He's an amazing killer. Why not use it against "inhuman beings"?]
Sounds good. I can keep guard while you and Dead Master go. Or should I go, since you two apparently did the great dance of life and can't keep your eyes on each other?
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fuck him,
Kefka.[Excuse her language; crude terms for such a thing are all her world has led her to know.]
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Well, that's not important.]
It isn't money protecting them that I'm worried about. It's the fact that if there is an escape route, the heads will definitely take it and plant themselves someplace else. This epidemic needs to be stopped here completely.
I don't mind being accompanied, but... as long as we move in daylight, at least, it should be fine.
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