Week Four | Near the Jungle | Thursday (early evening)

[sasetai]

[ Another week, another monstrosity that would remind them all of how they've sinned, another night where another one of them would be sacrificed for their misdeeds. The thing that bothers her the most is that she feels no guilt.

She stands in front of the tree house that had once been home to meetings between herself, Yona and Austria. The flowers strung from the trees are all wilting. ]

Good evening.

[ She doesn't quite smile but she's polite, casual. Her hands are folded neatly in front of her and she tries to pretend she doesn't smell Ukyo's blood anymore. ]

Thank you for coming here to meet me.

[ A note left on his pillow on cat stationary. It reminds her a little of high school, and Touma and letters in shoeboxes.]

Comments

[fragmento]

[ what the fuck

jacopo lets a hand rest against his hip, a brow now quirked. ]

Yeah.

[ yeah.

anyways, it's a cute tree house, he'll acknowledge that much -- and smack dab in the middle of a war zone, which seems to suit her relatively well and all. ]

And, [ jacopo mockingly curtsies for a second, his expression stone cold all the while. ] why exactly have I been summoned here on this fine today?

[sasetai]

[ she says nothing of his mocking, doesn't even acknowledge it. Instead she motions for him to follow her-- the tree house is more a tree cave really. It's decorated with knick knacks from the island, palm leaf mats all over the floor, and something of a table that's mostly just a kind of flat rock. ]

Sit down please, I have things I'd like to talk about and I'd prefer to do it where no one can bother us.

[ take a seat at the rock table binch ]

[fragmento]

[ he takes a seat, damn. he doesn't...really know how he should be sitting so he's just? going japanese style. that's what japanese people do, right. idly, jacopo shoots glances at the decor -- he can't help but wonder as to whether or not she made this all herself. ]

Start. I'm listening.

[ well bunch? ]

[sasetai]

[ the polite facade cracks for a moment when she 'tsks' at his bad manners. She absentmindedly brushes something off her dress and finally speaks (ignores the little speckles of red on green fabric) ]

You're not afraid to die, you told me about as much when we spoke before all those weeks ago.. right?

[ she smiles now, but it's really casual. Like she's just making small talk or something. ]

Why are you trying so hard then? Oh! At this game I mean, not dying. .

[fragmento]

[ STOP if she's going to tsk he's half tempted to lay his legs everywhere. he shifts around in place, clearly unimpressed. ]

Because I have a conscience, and would rather a 10 year old's blood not be on my hands.

[ read: i care and don't want to admit it. ]

Next.

[sasetai]

[ she laughs, its quiet, soft and doesn't actually sound facetious at all. You would think he just told a funny knock knock joke except-- ]

Sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh. But it's just such a strange thing to hear you say when you spend so much time trying to convince all of us you don't have one.

[ she props her head up on her palm, eyes a little heavy. ]

Did you know? Vriska isn't much older than Laphicet.. at least I don't think she is. I'm never sure about anything when it comes to the place she's from..

[fragmento]

What? My life depends on his, it's natural that I'd care! There's nothing altruistic about having a sense of self preservation.

[ he's trying to backpedal shut the fuck up ]

3 years, if I recall correctly. And she's already got genocide on her record. Can't imagine that her home's a particularly nice place, but you could very well say the same for Laphicet.

[sasetai]

[ The sleep lifts from her eyes just a little bit, and her mouth curls into a smile. She's too tired to explain but thankfully he doesn't leave her any need to do so. ]

Mhm, you understand then? It's our job to look out for both of them.. even if they're both good at taking care of themselves.

[ and then-- she reaches over, rests her palm on whatever hand Jacopo has put on her makeshift stone table. She shifts onto her knees and leans forward, closing the distance between them as much as she can. ]

I think we spoke about this once before but.. you're not afraid to die, right?

[fragmento]

[ on a list of things he was not expecting, here on murder island--

that is one of them.

immediately, jacopo flinches -- he flushes before jumping back approximately two inches on sheer reflex. ]

What--...what the hell do you think you're doing...!?

[ if he sounds angry, anxious and somewhat afraid, that's because...he likely is! ]

Why...would that matter to you...!?

[sasetai]

[ She places her hands on either side of the table, pulling herself forward so she's barely inches away from his face and practically sitting on the table herself. ]

I care about my partner and you care about yours right? Not just because your lives are linked.. but because you know how I feel. There's nothing left here for people like us.. but Vriska and Laphicet, they still have things they care about.

[fragmento]

[ he is just going to CONTINUE scooting backwards in some attempt to distance himself from her. ]

You can make your point without being a creep, idiot!

[ don't make him start swatting? ]

You're proposing that we become partners, is that it!?

[sasetai]

[ you realize the more he freaks out the more she just gets a kick out of this right??

Whatever, now that he's got the idea she pulls back just a little. She's still sitting on the stupid rock table though. ]

If we can manage it.. then yes.

[ She sighs. ]

Not to be rude, but--

[ Yes, now she cares about being rude. ]

You're a rather suspicious man just.. just in terms of how you behave generally. And with all this talk of murderers being people who you wouldn't expect to kill I think it won't be too hard for people like us to be a way out at trials.