Dreamland - Peko

[murimurimuri]

[It's the monkey that greets Peko, beckoning her toward a secluded corner where Simon is hanging out, looking awkward and nervous as usual.]

Um... hey. I know you're grieving, and I promise I won't take up a lot of your time. I wanted to say something before, but I don't know you that well and I'm totally terrible at this kind of thing... so... so I guess I just didn't.

[He pauses here, fidgeting and staring at his shoes.]

But. But. I know what it's like to lose somebody, and I feel like, even if I don't know what to make of anyone else, right now I can't even imagine you're one of the killers. That's what my instincts are telling me. And it's kind of lonely not having anybody but Money to talk to, so... I thought.. maybe I could help?

S-sorry, this is just coming off weird, isn't it? I don't have much to offer yet, but I swear to you I'm not suspicious! Even if I have to wait for the buddy cops or the real detective to look at me to prove it! I really might be able to help, even if I don't know how yet!

Comments

[perfectstrike]

Levi is lying about being the detective. Your buddy is lying in a note he or she sent in.

Where is the logic in that?

[murimurimuri]

I don't know what Levi's logic is. I still can't figure it out. But my buddy...

My buddy is a really... cynical type. From the beginning, he never doubted that people would end up being killed. But he worried that we'd just end up voting "no one" while we were picked off, or worse, that people would work together with the VIP to make sure that all of their friends were converted, and that people like he and I, who nobody would miss, would be left behind and killed...

That's why he picked Legion — he thought if there were an easy target, somebody who wasn't even human, then things would be set into motion and everyone would think seriously about protecting themselves. He didn't expect it to get so out of hand... and when Levi claimed to be the detective, he got spooked and backed down.

[perfectstrike]

[She's still staring at him. But she's thinking. It's obvious that she's really trying to draw a connection here.]

Your buddy... is a very cold person, to treat even a robot as such. And yet... that logic is sound.

Thus, the only conclusion to draw... is that by claiming people's trust, Levi could divert suspicion from himself.

[murimurimuri]

[Simon cocks his head to the side slightly, and Money follows suit.]

I was thinking about that... but if he's a VIP, what did he plan to do once Legion was... gone? Or is he setting up one of his own to make himself look innocent?

[perfectstrike]

I do not know.

[Her teeth grit, and she makes a bit of a choked, angry noise.]

There are many things that do not make sense here. I will need time to see the truth. Time which we do not have.

[murimurimuri]

I understand. Sorry for dropping such a bombshell on you like that...

[He ducks his head.]

If there's anything else I can do to help you, don't hesitate to let me know. Until then... Money, shake.

[Simon holds out his arm so Money can scamper down it and offer his little paw to shake, for real this time, no monkey business.]

[perfectstrike]

No... I...

[Can you say thank-you, Peko. Can you. She ducks her own head, taking a deep breath, and forces a nod.]

You have been of great help. If you have anything else... please seek me out.

[And then she blinks at Money, a little lost for a moment before offering her hand in exchange. Her touch is... actually surprisingly gentle, for all the callouses on her fingers. Probably because she doesn't know what to do exactly, but it's the lightest touch as she shakes his paw.]

Thank you...

[She did it. Holy hell.]

[murimurimuri]

[Well, if anybody's not going to judge Peko's social awkwardness, it's this loser. He's as unsure on how to be thanked as she probably is thanking him, and smiles slightly in the most awkward way possible while Money climbs back up onto his shoulders.]

It's nothing...