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!

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Day 3

[murimurimuri]

[Simon approaches again, looking paler and shakier than ever.]

Peko. Um. You didn't... tell anybody, did you? What I told you. It's okay if you did. It's okay, but...

But Charles was my buddy. It was Charles. And now...

[He trails off, just shaking his head. Money pats him on the back.]

[perfectstrike]

I did not.

[Peko looks absolutely exhausted, as if she hadn't slept at all the previous night. And who could blame her, really, after everything that had happened? She can't even seem to muster the emotion to be properly shocked and concerned, her face staying in its customary thin line.]

This... is only good for you, is it not? If your buddy has been removed, as his hand would imply, then you are freed from being bound to him. As we saw today... buddies are killed at the same time.

Do you know anything about the circumstances around his removal?

[murimurimuri]

[In a weird way, her lack of reaction is actually calming.]

I don't know a thing. I didn't see him all day yesterday.

Should I admit it was me? I tore of a little piece of that letter to prove it, in case anybody asks... but it looks bad, right? It definitely looks bad.

[perfectstrike]

Mm...

[Maybe it's another sign of how tired she is, but after a moment of trying to think about it, Peko actually brings both hands to her head to hold her temples.]

After the reaction to Levi... I would be less concerned about backlash from Legion himself than from the group as a whole. Admitting that -- Macaulay was the one who had done it, and you are aware of that because he was your buddy... that may be enough. To clear up the mystery behind the notes, while still keeping you safe from the repercussions.

Though I cannot say whether that will aid you or harm you, when it comes to how the VIPs select their targets. Forgive me.

[murimurimuri]

Ah... I meant that I was his partner. There was a letter that came with the hand, and since I found it, I tore off the corner. I'm just lucky I fainted instead of screaming... Afterward I panicked and just kinda dumped it...

But I do know the symbol he used. I... I might have helped him a little bit. A monkey can deliver a letter much more quickly than a person.

[perfectstrike]

...Ah.

[She's silent again as she thinks it over. Really, this kind of thing isn't her specialty. This is more something that Kuzuryuu would know exactly how to handle, while she stood beside him. But... if she'd been beside him all this time, surely she'd know what he would do, right?]

In that case, yes, I think that you should. It will answer one mystery, and make people more likely and willing to trust you for coming forward. [Since he can still blame Charles for anything that people don't like... Peko no...]

I would not simply go through the newspaper again. I am not certain how much I trust it.

[murimurimuri]

Yeah. I still can't believe that reporter girl never outed Levi. Maybe I'm just as guilty for not saying anything, but people were actually counting on her.

[perfectstrike]

People may come to count on you, as well.

But Levi... reminds me of one of my classmates. We are fortunate that particular individual did not arrive here with the rest of us. He is... somewhat unstable. Willing to kill just to force us to rise to a greater "hope."

[She just sounds disgusted, talking about that particular classmate.]

[murimurimuri]

[He seems a bit stunned at the idea that people might count on him, but does not comment on it.]

...That doesn't even make sense.