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monday, week one
[He has to check the graves.
He's been avoiding it, as if it were unjust and wrong for him to go to the graves of two young girls who deserved better than their fate. They should have been able to do something to save them--
But they couldn't.
That's their guilt, and he can't avoid it by avoiding the graves.
He wasn't expecting to see a figure there already, though.]
...Ah. Young Noctis.
[Whoops. Didn't mean to interrupt your mourning your dead girlfriend time.]
He's been avoiding it, as if it were unjust and wrong for him to go to the graves of two young girls who deserved better than their fate. They should have been able to do something to save them--
But they couldn't.
That's their guilt, and he can't avoid it by avoiding the graves.
He wasn't expecting to see a figure there already, though.]
...Ah. Young Noctis.
[Whoops. Didn't mean to interrupt your mourning your dead girlfriend time.]
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but really, he's just leaving flowers at each grave after having found some and picked them. really, he wishes they could have been sylleblossoms for a plethora of reasons, but he makes do with what they've got.
he's not expecting company, though, figuring that most have probably already come by once they were taken care of. so the sound of barhnam's voice startles him a bit. it shows on his face when he sees who is company his before his shoulders slump a bit.]
Oh... hey.
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Barnham's major issue here is that it was beyond unjust and cruel--but he did not know the girls, and so doesn't have the emotional impact. Noctis, however...]
I apologize for my interruption.
[Especially with how deep in thought Noct looked.]
Mourning should be done in peace.
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[it may sound like he's shrugging it off, but he's not. he's been there for a few minutes and the more time he spends alone...
the more upsetting it is, honestly. the helpless situation makes it easy to wallow, and that's something he knows he can't do. if he couldn't do it at home, he can't do it here.]
It's somethin' we're all dealing with here, right? [even if to different extents.]
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[Even so...]
But there were some of us who were closer to her--to them--than others.
[...]
We shall correct this injustice.
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[for some people, it definitely does. probably more for people like yuna, noct thinks.
he's not taking it the best himself, but it's hardly the first loss he's experienced. even if it's the first one in this particular situation.]
Wonder how many more times this is really going to happen before we can stop it.
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[He sighs, shaking his head.]
... Too many times. Even if it is once more--it will have been too many times.
And I fear... it shall not cease at once.
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[he can recognize it, but boy. maybe part of him just wants to believe a bit in the good of others, even if he knows that's a terrible mistake when lives are on the line.]
There's gotta be a way to end it though. To put a stop to this sick game— [noct's at least, not going to settle for just completely accepting it, if nothing else.]
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And they didn't get it.
This is unjust.]
Of course there is. The False Sheriff has made that plenty plain himself. He stated that the game would end should only one person remain--but not that that was the sole method of ending the game.
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[which isn't going to be easy, he's sure.]
Too bad I haven't figured out that part yet.
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[He nods, certain, expression grim.]
It shall require effort from all of us--but I do believe there is a way.
[They can't just give up hope, after all.]
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[listen, barnham seems like he's the kind of guy who would probably already have some. noct's not so seasoned on taking the lead and coming up with any kind of tactical plan.
(where's ignis when noct needs him, dammit...)]
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[Noctis isn't wrong. Barnham's not the sort of person to have no plans on the mind, if nothing else.]
The simplest method that I see would be to make this "game" enjoyable for them in any way--or to make it too costly for them to continue.
It has been made clear, if nothing else, that we are here for other's entertainment. In that case--we must make this an unsuccessful venture.
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[here's noctis, here to oversimplify the plan in a few short words. no need to use so many words to state what they both already think, right?]
I just wonder how the hell we'll pull that off. Don't think "ignoring the game" is going to be much of an option here. Scrap heap's pretty big on following the rules.
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Indeed--but not all of the rules require murder. [There's gotta be a way...] I do not have the answers you are seeking, not yet.
But do not give up hope. A possibility exists.
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[the less they can get their way with this crap, the better. he wants no part in actually giving them the satisfaction of winning.
fuck them, basically.]
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["Don't give up." "Don't despair."]
I, too, give you my word that I shall not give up on interrupting and derailing this wretched game.
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but barnham does seem to be the sort that's interested in upholding some semblance of dignity here.]
Let's find a way to beat them at their own game. Even working in their parameters... there's gotta be some way. [they're just going to have to be vigilant, he guesses.]
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Agreed.
[Barnham is quiet for a moment, before--]
The answer may yet lie in one of those boarded up buildings, or the False Sheriff's office. However, we must not risk too much just yet for the sake of a "perhaps".
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[it's not a risk he's willing to take just yet. maybe in coming weeks, there'll be a good and safe way to do this, but he's not about to just throw his life away, either.]
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Indeed. That is correct. We cannot change this situation if we are dead.
Watch yourself, first and foremost. The rest... we shall do what we can.
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You got it. I'm not planning on getting too reckless. You, uh... make sure you look out for yourself, too.
[though...] Not... that you needed me to tell you that, I guess.
[he's trying here.]
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He snorts softly despite himself, amused.]
Indeed. I thoroughly intend to survive--there are tasks I must accomplish in my home as well, that cannot wait for much longer.
[So them's the breaks.]
You may certainly trust me to be cautious, if nothing else.
[Except... in trials?? Where he's loud.]
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[it's .... said jokingly.
kind of.
because it's true, noct really doesn't want to have to leave flowers at barnham's grave because he's really dead. he believes that barnham will be careful, but it's definitely the sort of thing he feels like he should be saying anyway.]
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[At least he sounds confident. He nods simply, arms crossed.]
It is the duty of a knight to protect those who cannot defend themselves. However... a knight who cannot defend himself can defend no one.
[He'll look after himself as best he can, don't worry.]
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[he gets it. he may not be knight, but it's not like he doesn't know people like that. he gets it—it's a duty and a lifestyle, and one that someone like barnham would take a lot of pride in upholding.
gladio may have taught him a lesson or two about how that works.]
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[not that he's...probably a knight anymore in name since he's got the whole prison sentence thing but... you can't take the knight out of a person.]
I do like to believe I am the trustworthy sort--though I am aware this, at the very least, requires proof more than words.
[So he'll try not to be dead.]
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[actions speak louder than words and all that. besides, knightly types really do just have that sort of integrity that shows, no matter what words they say.
he gets it all too well.]