cradleproject | WEEK 6

[#friendship. He knows Adam has a point though.]

At least chaos was easier for me to deal with. In case you haven't noticed I'm not that great with analytical thinking. [Which is also a lie, seeing how he can be sort of useful during trials.] I know we keep talking about the third parties but...what does that really mean? Just somebody who might be running around telling people where other people are? Spies? Whoever's killing people who abstain from voting?

[Yeah, he's mostly spinning in circles with a bunch of thoughts. But it's better than dwelling on the motive.]

I haven't noticed, because you seem pretty good at coming up with ideas, Castellan. [ More exasperated like don't dumb yourself down because I'm onto you. ]

It's possible they're responsible for those deaths, but the AI seems pretty upset whenever it happens. I think there are at least a few different roles going around. Most likely spies... Ever since the first trial, I've been wondering if there's people who are trying to get us off track. [ He gives Luke a wry, tired smile. ]

Kazuma actually suspected you when I talked to him about it. It could be he was one of them.

[Adam needs to stop actually being right, it's very unnerving. Of course, the other unnerving thing is what he said after that.]

Kazuma thought I was actually part of this? [There's an irritated noise.] I'd like to hear his logic for that one. But you're right. When Dave, Roxy and I found Todd Alice didn't know that the doors to the cafeteria were blocked. Either she's a real good actor, or she really didn't know what was going on. [He pauses then, looking over his shoulder briefly even before lowering his voice.] ...and just so we're clear, if you did know something about a third party you'd tell me, right?

Wasn't that the whole point for creating a partner system? I would. I want to know what's going on as much as you do. [ He scowls. ] And I think the people who do know something and aren't making an effort to communicate it to us are traitors. So I'd like the same from you.

[ He puts a book back. ] The AI would handle the third parties, right? They wouldn't be controlled by someone else, who can maybe override the AI's access?

You should be expecting that question from me for the next week at least, by the way. [Luke Castellan and the plethora of trust issues...] But I know. I kinda agree with that. If people aren't answering questions it makes them look way more suspicious than if they just played along or even told the truth. It'll be easier to talk to people in the upcoming weeks. Maybe then we'll have a better lead.

[You know. When more people are dead.] But I don't know about that. ...when I was working with Kronos, I was sort of in charge of the third party we were using to spy on Camp. She was mostly just listening to me and didn't even get involved with him until the end. ["When Kronos and I were the same person."] So you tell me.

Edited 2016-07-15 07:00 (UTC)

Then expect the same answer. [ But he gets it. Maybe their trust issues will cancel out one day. ] What makes you think it'll be easier? They'll get more desperate?

[ There has to be a point where some people begin to break down. He's surprised it's taken this long, really. ] No, I think you're right. But somehow someone is committing murders without the AI's knowledge. I don't know if we should focus more on that or the third parties.

They'll get more desperate and we'll have less people to talk to. It's a bad combination but it's gonna be the way it turns out.

[He doesn't like it, but it's true. Eventually he settles down with a book that's apparently caught his interest enough that he's slowly turning through the pages.] If we could figure out who's killing people without the AI's knowledge, maybe the answer would buy us some leverage with the AI. The third party's gotta be somebody among us. Doesn't make sense otherwise...but what about this other person? [He looks up at the ceiling then.] You already knew there was more than one reason I wanted to map the vents.

[ Adam is going to settle next to him and look over at the book he has. He can't focus on reading while thinking about this and he prefers the conversation, so he'll just search for anything that stands out. ]

What, do you want to spy? The third parties probably would have access to at least some of the locked rooms. But if there's anyone in control of the ship, we'll never be allowed there. Maybe the vents are the only way to go.

[You'd think that Luke wouldn't be able to concentrate on the conversation while reading, but here they are. It's also easier so he doesn't have to look at Adam straight on as he's reading about the Salem witch trials. History is history.]

Yes and no. Third parties aren't the only people who can break into locked rooms, you know. And anyway the vents were where we found Todd's blood after we found him in the kitchen when he was put back into stasis. And Maria and Niles were found in the viewport...or most of them, at least. How else would somebody be able to be moving these bodies out of the pod room without people noticing?

[ Adam nods, half-glancing over the witch trial stuff. His lips twitch slightly into what might be a smirk any other time. ]

I think that's how they're doing it, yeah. Anyone can get into the vents, though, right? Less people who can access the pods, but—a vent map is something you can get for killing a vulnerable person. [ Please don't kill for the vent map Luke. ]

By the way, does your power include people's rooms?

[He's nodding along even while idly making mental notes.]

I'm not entirely convinced it's a normal person either. The pod Todd was in was pretty much destroyed. But figure if we make our own map we can at least have a heads up without having to use Alice's map. [It's okay, Adam, he'll just kill for other reasons.] For all we know, somebody who's already killed before used the map to make copies and pass it off to somebody who's still alive. [...that's not possible, wait.] Except for the part that everyone who's been a killer either didn't go after someone vulnerable, or they used another tool. Guess that rules that out.

[That's certainly a question though and he considers that. He has an answer, of course, but:] What kind of question is that?

Still, it exists. The third parties could have access to it, too, in order to sneak around. [ Distrust Everyone. ] Hopefully if people start getting partners, we can notice who sneaks off. [ A pause. ] Of course, the third parties might just choose each other.

[ He stops looking at the book in order to raise an eyebrow at Luke. ] A reasonable one. I thought lock-breaking meant you needed traditional locks, but now that I know it's a power, it seems possible.

Even if the third parties choose each other, as the numbers continue thinning out and people are partnering up, it'll be easier to pinpoint where they're going. [Or so he hopes, anyway.]

[There's another considerable pause. He knows he has no reason not to trust Adam at this point...but trust is still hard and explaining what powers he has and how they work on the ship seems to scream "instant leverage" to him, so he's debating.] I'm not breaking into people's rooms, so don't even go there. [A pause.] But I could if I wanted to, probably. [He seems to know this is the case even if he hasn't tried it yet. Call it instinct.] There are some locks that're limited but it's a small handful. The rooms Alice hasn't actually opened to us can't be busted. I've tried. Probably because I can't get a clear idea what's behind the door or how the lock works.

Probably. [ He repeats. If he were Luke, he would have tested ages ago. But maybe it's good he hasn't. Stay out of people's rooms. ] Guess I really do need something in front of my door at night.

I won't say anything. If you're a suspect again, you would be the easiest to blame. Just try not to get your fingerprints all over people's stuff.

[An innocent shrug. Look he had other priorities than breaking into people's rooms...like getting people to trust him so that it's less suspicious to break into rooms and steal things later. Clearly.] If you really think that's going to stop somebody, sure.

[He can't help but sigh though.] I've escaped being a suspect since week one. [Some...how...] But after everything you really think I'd be careless enough to leave fingerprints everywhere? I've been doing the breaking and entering thing since I was a kid. [...not that he thought to hide his fingerprints back then but whatever, it's fine.] I'd still like to know what happened to the rest of my powers though.

[ Adam makes a face now that Luke is making him doubt his door-blocking abilities. He'll have to build a barricade. ]

Just don't make me have to lie. [ Apparently he would? Anyway. ]

It sounds pretty impossible to take away parts of someone's powers but not all, especially when they're genetic for you. My guess is that they're suppressed. What else can you do normally?

[Try it, Parrish. Build a barricade that you have to then take apart to get out of your room. But huh. Okay that's...]

No promises. [But he'll try anyway. He huffs lightly at that, sinking down into the chair with the book again.] And I know it sounds impossible but they did it to Harold, too. I don't know if hers is genetic or if, like, Dorian and Kazuma's were genetic either. That's what I've been wondering, too. [There's another shift of his eyes, that mirror worming its way out of his pocket again just to open it and check behind him that nobody else is lurking around.] Normally I don't have a huge barrier to lock-breaking. I can usually unlock multiple locks instead of being limited…I can break them either by touching them or if I wanna waste time really thinking about it, I can use my mind to break them. If there's some stronger magic on it, I can't break it but like I said it's rare. Part of my abilities also include being able to tell when something's been put on a lock…curses, traps, stuff like that. I can deactivate a lot of those, too. I can sense when there're monsters or other demigods nearby. I can pretty much manipulate people into doing whatever I want. That's how I got Silena to listen to me.

[Not that he's real proud of that now. He looks at the ceiling.] My dad didn't do much for me, but he left me with the ability to steal anything without anybody noticing. I can also make money work in my favor…manipulate it, change prices, stuff like that. It was really good for when Thalia and I were traveling together. [And he looks back now at Backbiter.] And Backbiter used to be able to help me teleport. Obviously doesn't do that anymore.

[…there's a considerable pause…] You already know that the Styx made me invincible in order to be the vessel. Pretty sure that broke when I hit my Achille's, but being Kronos also meant being the time lord. He could control time however he wanted. I don't know if I want those powers back, but the rest…you know.

No wonder they took your powers. [ Way to be OP Luke. ] So you're basically encouraged to be a thief. How does that relate to manipulating people? And prices? Wouldn't anyone notice?

[ He's kind of jealous about the money thing. ] They'd have to deal with depowering a god if, say, they were going to change you back into... him. Do you really think they could do that?

At least I don't have control over electrokinesis, hydrokinesis, or...zombies. [Just pointing that out. The kids of the Big Three are waaaay more OP than he is, thank you. But he's also quick to correct him.] And titan. Not god. There's a difference and yeah, I do think they could do that.

[As for the rest...] The money thing is sort of a side-deal. I kinda hated using my powers when I was a kid, but the art of persuasion is the most important tool for any thief. [So, not entirely manipulation but it's close enough.] It's not the same as charmspeak...that's an Aphrodite-kid thing, but it was enough that I was able to use a daughter of Aphrodite as our spy. [It doesn't hurt that Silena was attracted to him and his looks, but he won't mention that. There's really no reason to explain that being good-looking helped leverage his abilities.] I've got a feeling if I had my full abilities I could probably control most of the people on this ship even if I didn't ask for it.

Right. Titan. [ He has no idea what the difference is but he'll be respectful. Also way to make Adam way more suspicious. ]

That's a big claim. So even if you didn't know you had the power, you could be manipulating people anyway? [ He's moving away... to get a robot to get some pizza for them. But also because he really hates when he has to doubt if his feelings are genuine. This isn't the first time. ]

And are you serious about the zombies?

Mm…it's more like I could know but not know how strong the power is. That's not really the kind of thing you can gauge? But don't worry, everybody's still got their free will. Nobody's being blackmailed, whatever. If I was really manipulating the situation, you'd know. [He waves a hand and distinctly moves the hell on so they don't talk about it. He's watching the robot out of curiosity and lets Adam do his thing before he nods again.]

'course I'm serious. What else do you think the son of Hades could do? Their domain is the undead and the earth.

How would I know? [ Not getting out of it quite that easily. This is important to him. But he still comes back over to Luke, this time just leaning against one of the bookcases. ]

... I'm grateful you can't raise up zombies, anyway. Ghosts creep you out, but that doesn't?

Well for one thing, if I was trying to convince you of something you'd be able to realize it's a bad idea when I'm not around but still go through with it when I'm there. [It's entirely possible he's just making up shit. Luke himself doesn't entirely know the way these things go, and he scoffs slightly.] About the only way I can figure why my mom decided to fall in love with him.

[Bitter? Never.] And who said the zombies don't creep me out? Hades kids as a whole seem kinda creepy to me from what I remember. [Nico had really only made himself known while Luke was Kronos, so his memories are a little fuzzy.] But I guess my scale of what creeps me out is a little different from most people's.

[ He's just going to have to take Luke at face-value, anyway. He decides it's enough when Luke mentions his mom. ] Falling for a god is probably pretty easy. I'm sure he used the stolen heart line and everything.

[ The robot comes back with two personal pizzas, random toppings on each. Adam grabs one. ] You have monsters and zombies... what about vampires? Mermaids? Or sirens, I guess.

[Good job, Adam. Making Luke talk about May would not end well. He can't help but snort though.] Stole her heart, her sanity, and my chance at a normal life. What a guy.

[He's busy picking at the toppings on one of the pizza...but he'll eat it anyway. Slowly.] We have merpeople, nymphs, naiads...no vampires, but we have empousai that feed on the blood of men which is a little scary unless they like you--[And judging by his tone, they did actually like him.]--we've got sirens...minotaurs, hellhounds, cyclops, pegasi, pretty much anything you can think of from ancient myth, they're real.

WEEK 6

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