[week four - tuesday]

[ceded]

[ Well. The time has come.

There's many things she wants to discuss with him. Many questions that have built up over a few weeks, and some that have only cropped up more ... recently.

Either way, Xion will make her way to the Sheriff Station, going slow and steady while leaning on her walking stick. Pluto is by her side.

She'll slow once she reaches the porch, and do something she has been doing for a while: settle down on the steps. ]

Hi, Sheriff Hal. I brought something for you.

[ There's the smallest of smiles on her face. ]

Comments

[sheriffexe]

[ He sits in his chair, carving another animal today. It looks like a dog, actually. Just a simple little carving of a dog. ]

Did you now?

[ceded]

Mhm! [ She smiles a little more brightly, reaching into a bag she's brought with her. She pulls out something wrapped in wax paper. ]

I'm still learning to cook, so I don't know very much yet ... but I hope it's good.

[ It's a sandwich. It'll actually be a pretty good sandwich! Despite her many baking failures. She'll hold it out for him to take. ]

[sheriffexe]

[ Huh! He'll reach out to take the sandwich, giving a -- ]

Thanks.

[ And unwrap it so he can take a bite. It is pretty good, yes. ]

[ceded]

[ That gets a real, warm smile, though it flickers across her face. She's glad.

He deserves to have nice things, too. ]

You're welcome.

[ She's content to leave it at that for a while. There was no aim in bringing him the sandwich; she genuinely just wanted him to have something nice. She'll curl up on the steps, quiet and comfortable, pretty much until he's done. ]

Hey... [ Glancing up at him, all kinds of thoughtful. ] Could I ask you a few things? There was something I ... wanted to know. [ A beat. ] Well, maybe a few somethings. [ Shifts her shoulders sheepishly. ]

[sheriffexe]

[ He'll be folding up half the sandwich in the wax paper, sitting it to the side to save the rest of it for later. At her question, he gives a nod. ]

Go for it. I'll answer as I can.

[ceded]

[ She bobs her head in a nod, with one last tiny smile before she has to gather her thoughts. ]

I've been wondering... about what happened at the trial. With the information I got, about a leader. [ She frowns, concerned. ] I don't know how Riku got it so mixed up, and I feel bad about giving everyone the wrong idea. [ ... frowns a little more before giving her head a shake. ] Do you have any idea what he might have meant?

[sheriffexe]

[ The Sheriff considers this for a bit before shrugging. ]

No idea. Sure, there's someone with a leader but ain't a Bandit. Ain't anything I said in public at all. Kid was pretty arrogant though, too convinced he was right.

[ . . . ]

We had a conversation once. Only thing we talked about was what the winner of the game could do. That's about it, Xion.

[ceded]

[ She looks at him for a moment, her brows still drawn together, then looks away to murmur: ]

Riku...

[ What ... happened?

With a sighs she lets it go to look at him again. ]

Okay. Thanks, Sheriff Hal. Um... I guess it can't hurt to confirm, but is the leader you're talking about the Bounty Leader?

[sheriffexe]

[ Only a slight pause there in response before -- ]

Yes.

[ceded]

Damian told me, [ she explains, soft. ] ... and I told him I wanted to help.

[ And that can mean .... whatever it means. ]

Although... there was something personal I wanted to ask you. About ... me.

[sheriffexe]

[ He only nods here, continuing to focus on his wood. ]

What is it?

[ceded]

... can you save me?

[ These words she whispers, and she can't look at him. ]

I'm just ... a puppet made of memories. [ He must know this. Right? ] If I go back... if someone wins the game and sends us home, then... I should just disappear. But I...

[ She swallows and stares straight ahead, out at nothing. ]

I don't want to go away anymore.

[sheriffexe]

[ A frown at the question itself because wow, dramatic.

But he will let out rather gruffly. ]

Just go somewhere else then. Ain't a thing for me to do, just a choice for you to make.

[ceded]

[ sorry man, kh gotta kh.

The look she gives him is concerned and confused. ]

But I... if whoever wins the game sends us all home, I won't exist anymore. I don't have the choice to just ... go somewhere else.

[ .... right? ]

[sheriffexe]

No. Not how it works. Why ain't anyone getting it?

If someone wins and picks the choice to send everyone home, that isn't an automatic "you are sent home without input from you." That's the choice where they give everyone else the choice to choose where they go home. Everyone gets to go home, to the home they want.

What they win is everyone's ability to decide.

[ceded]

[ Looks slightly taken aback, then just stares in shock. ]

The home they want...

[ She looks away, pensive, and for a moment remains lost in her own thoughts. She still has questions. But if this is the case... if there's a "choice" --

She can confirm later. Sighing out and smiling, she'll nod at him. ]

Okay. That's good to hear. Then, can ... I send a message to Riku? Is that ... something you can do? I just want ... to let him know I'll be okay.

[sheriffexe]

[ A consideration for a moment. ]

Wait till Thursday. Reply to his letter.

[ceded]

[ Looks ... increasingly surprised as those words sink in.

She doesn't make a fuss, though. Just presses a hand to her chest and huffs out a sigh. ]

Okay! [ Xion considers him for a moment, thoughtful and quiet, then abruptly offers: ]

I can't do as much as I could before, but if you need anything that I can get, let me know, okay?

[ of course that will stop being true as of tomorrow but look, she just wants to help ]

[sheriffexe]

[ He just nods and doesn't say anything. Anything else, Xion? ]

[ceded]

[ Nah. She just wants to sit here with him and chill. ]

[sheriffexe]

[ And so they do. ]