animus_network | Ω → five [video; open to action]

The villain enters stage left.

[ Wilhelm comments quietly, from what appears to be the third floor library. In front of him is his chessboard from before, but this time, there are only five pieces on the black side; two close together, the other three spread out over the far end of the board. The black pieces contain one of every special piece: a knight, a rook, a queen, a bishop, and the king. On the white side are all pawns, with one king. The ever-rotating Compass was perfectly visible behind him, however, one of its arms was rotating far more wildly than the other. In the background, coming from an off-screen phonograph, was a fairly appropriate musical piece, as Wilhelm carefully moved the black rook behind several of the white pawns, rendering them useless. The white king was now in check, but with the mess of pawns, had very few effective places to move. ]

The heroes are confused. Disoriented, impatient, and irrational. It is only to be expected, given the setting.

[ He doesn't move the white king. Instead, he turns to one of the other white pawns, which had managed to be only a few moves away from the far end of the board, where it could be exchanged for a superior piece. He doesn't move it; rather, he simply stares at it. ]

I wonder who will step up this time?

[ And with that, the feed ends. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I did not think you would enjoy spoilers.

To be honest, I don't mind them. After all, if the story is good enough, I'll be surprised by the plot twists anyway and cry even when I knew in advance that something sad was going to happen. And if the story is really delicious, I'll forget about the spoilers entirely until it's too late.

So, no, I wouldn't mind spoilers.

Then I regret to inform you that I have none to offer.

Or, at least, none that you are willing to offer. A chessmaster doesn't talk about his strategies while he's playing..or anywhere else, really.

You are learning.

A little, here and there. However, it would be nice if you gave me a small clue as to what the next chapter of the story would be like. Even if you have to be as cryptic as an alchemist.

I cannot.

[Tohko sighed.]

Well..asking was worth a try. I suppose I shall just have to keep being a character in the story that has to read the pages normally. However, that isn't bad either, by itself.

I did not expect you to find this disappointing.

And, truth be told, I would have been surprised if you had tossed me a hint. I'm quite happy with being a character in the plot, even though I would like to be more, and your happy being a silent chessmaster. We've talked enough to the point where we're both aware of this fact and what the other probably will or will not do.

Did you not just indicate that you found my answer surprising?

Edited 2012-12-15 04:26 (UTC)

No..I said that I would have been surprised if you had given me a hint. I was not surprised that you didn't..but I had to ask anyway. If it sounded like I was surprised by your answer, I apologize.

It is irrelevant.

Then what is relevant here, Wilhelm?

The truth. Not from you, or even from me. From the Administrators.

Which everyone in this Tower would like to receive. However, while we seem to be getting it in bits and pieces, I don't think we'll be getting it in full from them anytime soon. It would be nice if we knew where they were hiding though. It would make it easier for us to just go and speak with them.

The opportunity has already presented itself.

[ And just what did he mean by that? ]

You've spoken with them? Which one? What did you find out?

All in due time, Tohko.

[Tohko sighed at that message.]

So you're only going to tell me when it benefits you the most. Since there's nothing to be gained by telling me now, you're remaining silent until the opportune moment.

Have you tried reading the chessboard?

I'm terrible at chess interpretation, but I'll try.

Black is the Administrators, and White is us, the residents. Let's see..Dax and another Administrator are probably the ones that are close together and Ruana, Jason, and Riki are the ones that aren't. Since I'm guessing this represents the recent mob, Jason has to be the rook, rendering all, if any, damage the mobsters could do useless.

However..that white pawn near the end of the board..are you trying to say that one of the residents will become an Administrator?

I am not.

[ Though he won't confirm or deny the other observations she made. ]

Then what are you trying to say with that white pawn?

It should not be difficult to guess.

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