Week 2 | Saturday | Post-Execution

[lienhearts]

[His clothes are nice today, thanks to the general shuffle he's been doing with regards to laundry. Hair braided neatly in back, the dark clothes seem almost fitting for the somber mood of the day.

It takes a while, but he eventually locates Shelley in the planetarium, book still tucked under his arm. Another good thing about his clothes; they don't exactly draw attention, allowing him to find her without dealing with anyone pestering him along the way.

His voice is quiet when he speaks.]

Hey.

Comments

[tibkins]

[Shelley had been staring wordlessly at the faded wallpaper, trying hard not to think about anything. It's much harder than it sounds. Every time it went back to Keenan and what she perceived as a betrayal, and she hated that.

She doesn't even hear Leo arrive. When he speaks it takes her a moment to turn her head around just enough to see him]

...hello there, Leo. Sorry, I'm not...really in mood to see anyone right now.

[She doesn't really mean that, she just feels ashamed about moping in a public place like this]

[lienhearts]

It'll be quick.

[And here, he produces the journal, holding it out to her with one gloved hand.]

This is what he died for. With the way he talked about you, I figured you're the one who should get it.

[There's others named in there, of course, but... Shelley, he thinks, has the best head on her while actually being able to trust him.]

[tibkins]

[That journal...yes, she recognizes it. It was precisely the journal Keenan had shown her just a few days ago, when he said he had stuff he wanted others to be aware of after his death. For a moment she wants to tell Leo to get rid of that thing, but she knows she can't just reject it. If Keenan died to make sure the information in there got to other people then she had to honor it.

She takes the journal an opens it, taking a quick look to a random page. Yes, this seems like something Keenan would want to spread information about of]

...thank you, Leo. Who else knows about this journal? Only you?

[Now that she cooled off from her shouting at the ballroom, her perchance for secrecy seems to have returned. She's already making plans as to what to do with the information inside, but for now she guesses she should find out if anyone else knows about the journal]

[lienhearts]

As far as I know. He left it in one of the lockers... Told me the code for it right before the execution.

[Bluntly said. He really didn't know Keenan, and he's also had the time to cool off, so.]

...There was a medical kit in there, too. [He'll be honest because it's mentioned in the journal, so it's not like he can get away with that.] I dropped it off in my room to avoid attracting attention, but if you want it, it's yours. He wanted to leave it for the group.

[tibkins]

Keep it. I shouldn't hoard all the valuable stuff.

[Shelley closes the journal, glancing at where she thinks the camera is]

There's no way the evil doctor doesn't know I have the journal now, but if nobody else but you knows I have the journal maybe I'll be able to spread the information without risking anyone revealing their group and dying.

Don't tell anyone I have it, please.

[Well, she may have to talk with Mikami, Keenan mentioned him too a few days ago. Leaving that aside...]

Do you think it was stupid to consider a good friend someone I met just three weeks ago?

[lienhearts]

[He merely nods at the first part, leaning up against the wall as he considers her later words.]

I think people who get attached easily are the best targets for a con.

[Really, what were you expecting? But then, after a short pause:]

--I also think that under pressure like this, being able to trust people is probably what's keeping most of us sane.

[tibkins]

I suppose it's good someone I trusted killed someone early. Maybe it won't hurt as much when it happens next time. I can't stop trusting people, but I won't let myself get affected by something like this ever again.

[...someone got a bit jaded fast]

Will you be okay? I don't know if there's someone you trust in this place, but with the deaths and everything that has happened...

[Well, at least she's attempting to find out if Leo is okay. That's good enough]

[lienhearts]

[...Indeed she did. He actually gives her a very short, flat look at that first bit.]

I'll be fine. People don't like to make friends with me for some reason.

[Wonder why that could possibly be.]

You'd be better off focusing on yourself, don't you think?

[tibkins]

[Shelley gives a wry smile]

What can I say, I'm the caring type. Guess I'll be an easy con victim for a long time.

[Well, not really. Conning Shelley Winters is very difficult, but earning her trust through honest friendship then betraying her is easier than it should be]

I'll be fine tomorrow. People don't get anywhere if they stay sad and get stuck for too long.

[Lesson she thankfully learned time ago after she spent weeks moping for less painful reasons]

[lienhearts]

[Conning Shelley would be a unique challenge and not one he's really considering at the moment because of it.]

I'm sure you'll find plenty of others you can commiserate with, too.

[So. That could help? Maybe.]

Either way, it's in your hands. What you do with it's up to you.

[tibkins]

[Well she better get to work, then! This information won't spread around by itself. Clutching the journal, Shelley manages to grin for a moment]

Thanks again for giving this to me. I'll return the favor someday, somehow.

See you tomorrow, Leo.

[And there she goes]

[lienhearts]

See you.

[He watches her leave, waiting until she's out of sight before he exits himself to head for the garden. Ahhh, what a pain... He does so hate having to deal with annoying things like this.

Now's as good a time as any for a smoke...]