leo valdez. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
commandertoolbelt) wrote2021-06-07 07:32 pm
commandertoolbelt) wrote2021-06-07 07:32 pm
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[ it's a beautiful afternoon, showtunes are playing, and valdez is flopping ungracefully into a chair in the common room with a sigh. ]
You know, for the whole fancy academy vibe, I was not expecting a class with coloring books.
You know, for the whole fancy academy vibe, I was not expecting a class with coloring books.
[he glances over, laughing after a second]
They're kind of fun, though! In a... little kid way. I mean, I'm assuming they're for little kids? I don't have anything like that where I'm from.
They're kind of fun, though! In a... little kid way. I mean, I'm assuming they're for little kids? I don't have anything like that where I'm from.
Neither do I! It's all "climb the lava wall" and "capture the flag" back at camp. Can confirm younger me would've loved it, but it's kind of funny how they go from that to Theoretical Physics, you know?
[he nods, but after a second—]
Wait a second, lava walls? Are those a thing? What kind of camp were you going to?
Wait a second, lava walls? Are those a thing? What kind of camp were you going to?
Okay, I suddenly have a lot more questions. Like, first off and most importantly, why did you go to a survival camp?
Because apparently it's the safest place in the world for people like me. And I've got brothers and sisters there, too.
...A camp that has lava walls as a normal fixture is the safest place in the world for you? Sorry, I don't think I get it.
When stepping outside of the camp boundaries means monsters will be hunting you down no matter where you go? Yeah, it's the safest place. It's not as bad as it sounds, I swear.
[ ah but leo is just laughing ]
Right? It gets so old, You'd think they'd get some better ideas after living for a few millenia, but they're always out there trying to kill or eat the heroes!
Right? It gets so old, You'd think they'd get some better ideas after living for a few millenia, but they're always out there trying to kill or eat the heroes!
[after a second, he laughs.]
Seriously! They could pick up chess, they could learn to play the piano, they could get a multitude of other productive hobbies, but noooo.
Seriously! They could pick up chess, they could learn to play the piano, they could get a multitude of other productive hobbies, but noooo.
[ one way or another they get back to the dorms eventually, where leo is currently sprawled on one of the bunk beds with something in his hands. he's not really... doing anything with it, just turning it over and over with a frown on his face, keeping his hands busy. he hasn't noticed rupert yet. ]
[when he wanders into the dorm, he still looks pretty unhappy about all this, but - he's glancing with curiosity at whatever leo has in his hands, wandering over.]
What's that...?
What's that...?
Huh? Oh, this?
[ he holds it up. ]
Fletching from some of the arrows. I took it days ago, just to have something to keep my hands busy. It helps me think, you know?
[ he holds it up. ]
Fletching from some of the arrows. I took it days ago, just to have something to keep my hands busy. It helps me think, you know?
Yeah, sort of.
[after a moment:]
Penny for your thoughts, then?
[after a moment:]
Penny for your thoughts, then?
Just trying to figure out what the deal was with the bow. One of them had to have used it, or it wouldn't have been out there. So they were either a novice with a bow, or it was always meant to be a distraction, or something interrupted them from being able to use it right. Neither of them had any marks from the bowstring, but that would be easy to prevent with the right protective equipment.
[ he's just thinking out loud now sorry rupert ]
[ he's just thinking out loud now sorry rupert ]
Honestly, there's a lot of things I don't understand about it. What was up with Dimitri and Sieghart...?
[a small frown]
But I guess we figured out who did it without understanding how or why.
[he doesn't exactly sound happy about that, though.]
[a small frown]
But I guess we figured out who did it without understanding how or why.
[he doesn't exactly sound happy about that, though.]
Even they didn't seem to know, and that's the weirdest part. Everything must have unlocked after we all fell asleep, but was it some kind of weird sleepwalking thing with those two or what?
[ ugh. ]
I'd call it beginner's luck, but I don't want to have to do that again, and we only figured it out because of a dog.
[ ugh. ]
I'd call it beginner's luck, but I don't want to have to do that again, and we only figured it out because of a dog.
Well... After what happened today, I doubt someone is going to jump to repeat what she did. I'd like to think most people wouldn't have done it even without today as an example. So - I'm guessing this'll be the last time, and we won't have to worry about beginner's luck or anything.
[famous last words!]
[famous last words!]
That would be more reassuring if we knew why she did it, but... yeah, hopefully that's the last time.
...I wish I knew, too. I know there are really messed up people out there who would do this kind of thing for no reason, but I really didn't get that picture from her, you know? But in that case... Why? What did she stand to get from this?
To get a passing grade in Life 301: Murdering Someone? I don't know. I don't exactly kill people for fun.
It's still possible that it was self-defense, though, I guess. Or an accident, but it really didn't look that way to me.
It's still possible that it was self-defense, though, I guess. Or an accident, but it really didn't look that way to me.
[after a moment of thought:]
If it was self defense, why wouldn't she just tell us that? I mean, I know she was trying to seem like she hadn't done anything, but there was that moment before she left where she could have said something... Most people are probably going to assume it wasn't self defense, so if it was, I don't get why she wouldn't take the chance to clear it up.
If it was self defense, why wouldn't she just tell us that? I mean, I know she was trying to seem like she hadn't done anything, but there was that moment before she left where she could have said something... Most people are probably going to assume it wasn't self defense, so if it was, I don't get why she wouldn't take the chance to clear it up.
Because apparently it doesn't make a difference? Sometimes people only care that someone died, not why it happened. The bear wouldn't even consider it, either.
[ there's a note of bitterness in his voice as he continues. ]
And once you've already been voted to be "expelled," does it really matter anymore? She already knew her time here was done, so I can't blame her for just wanting to get it over with.
[ there's a note of bitterness in his voice as he continues. ]
And once you've already been voted to be "expelled," does it really matter anymore? She already knew her time here was done, so I can't blame her for just wanting to get it over with.
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