[video] [encrypted]

[trialbyliar]

[Someone has spent the last few hours holed up reading through everything on the network. Everything. Every post on both the public and encrypted networks, every comment, every introduction. He might have made notes if he'd had any paper, but for now he's just keeping it all in his head. And it's a lot.

But finally, he gets around to making a post himself. The new face that pops up on the comms is young, though the exact age is hard to determine – one of those baby faces that could be anywhere from like twelve to eighteen. He seems thoroughly unimpressed as he sits back to stare down the communicator screen.]

Wow, the corporate hellscape was pretty bad, but apparently there's a murderer on the loose, too? You'd think they'd at least switch up the genre this time.

[Who is "they"? Well, that's what he'd like to know.

But his expression abruptly changes, all childish excitement and wonder. He grins down at the communicator, nearly bouncing with excess energy.]

But how cool! A special network secret from Jorgmund? It's like we're spies! I'm sure with everyone working together, we can get out of this whole mess!

[Aw, how nice. Unfortunately, that optimistic energy suddenly disappears as the smile drops off his face, replaced with a sly smirk.]

Is that what I'm supposed to say? You're all pretty naive if you really think this network is any safer than the other one! I guess that's how so many of you have gotten picked off by just one killer, huh? What, did you just skip up to this mystery lady like "heeeyyy, you totally won't peel my face off, right?" and expect to be best friends?

[ bitch that's rude ]

Aaaanyway, I guess it's pretty standard to introduce ourselves on these things. Pretty rude of you guys to not even bother meeting people properly in person, but whatevs!

[He leans back in his seat, sizing up the communicator like it's an actual person prostate before him, and spreads his arms in a theatrical gesture.]

I'm Kokichi Ouma, the Ultimate Supreme Leader. I'm sure we're all gonna be the best of friends!

[A cheery smile, completely shameless as he tacks on at the end:]

But that's a lie. You should probably know I'm a liar.

Comments

[bringinghopewithme]

Ah, you have done your research.

[Done his research and still acting like this. Right.

Bunny's not sure what the kid's up to, only that it's something.]

[trialbyliar]

[It's something, alright.]

Well, if you're all gonna leave all this information laying around where just anyone can get at it, I might as well read it, riiight?

[bringinghopewithme]

Y'sure might as well.

[A kid's a kid, naughty or nice, deserving and going to receive his protection, if not his presents.

But a kid can be a quisling same as any adult, and he knew a quisling new hire was a possibility when he incriminated himself on the network to test the security of it.

If the kid is a quisling, and is not smart, he'll just play his hand too early and Bunny will get electrocuted a few more minutes and everyone will be aware to lock the kid out of stuff.

If he's smart it might take longer and he might get more info in that time. Time to just see which it is.]

Hey while I've got your attention, I've got a question for ya. What's your favorite fruit?

[trialbyliar]

Fruit?

[Huh. He'll play along.]

Grapes are the best, obviously. But only if they're liquified and carbonated!

[Yeah, he is...not really one for fresh fruit.]

[bringinghopewithme]

You could be talking about soda or champagne, and I really hope it's the soda one.

[trialbyliar]

Champagne, obviously! I spend every night blackout drunk on cheap booze!

[ kokichi plz ]

But that's a lie. Soda's way better than giving yourself brain damage.

[bringinghopewithme]

I'm deeply relieved. Thank goodness you know what you're doing.

[Chocolate's a privilege this kid has talked his way out of, for the time being, and soda would be too if Bunny even knew how to make it yet.

But food isn't a privilege, and all the kids already get an extra piece of fruit at breakfast, in a rotation based on whoever's day it is to get their favorite. One of these days will be a grape day, whether this kid turns out to be a quisling, or just 3 edgy 5 u.

In the meantime, Bunny wants to keep him talking. See how much more info he can get.]

Where're you from, New Kid?

[trialbyliar]

You're pretty curious for a rabbit, huh? Well, before I woke up here I was at a school where students were expected to kill each other to graduate!

[ bruh ]

But that's a lie.

[bringinghopewithme]

Oh yeah? What was the dropout rate?

[if it's true, well, no wonder this kid is being so flamboyantly, attention-grabbingly edgy. He and his world need help, and you dont get help by staying quiet.

If it's not ... hey sometimes teens are just Like That. Bunny guesses. He still has a lot more to learn about teens from all the one's he's surprised to talk to now.]

[trialbyliar]

[83%. If by "dropout" you mean "death", anyway.]

Huh? Didn't I say it was a lie? Those big rabbit ears seem pretty useless if you couldn't even hear that!

[bringinghopewithme]

[He did but maybe they'll get to that.]

Oh of course. My mistake. Let me try again.

Where you from, New Kid?

[trialbyliar]

Japan.

[That's actually not a lie. Probably. He's not inclined to admit to anyone how little he remembers and how much he distrusts those memories.]

Your accent is soooo cool. Like a movie star! Are you from Australia? Is Easter originally from Australia or something? I don't know too much about Western holidays.

[bringinghopewithme]

[File that one as a 'maybe.']

Under it and no. It's a world holiday where I'm from.

[The sudden turn of pleasant questions leaves him waiting for the other shoe to drop.]

Japan, huh? What part? I'm partial to Kitakyushu.

[His accent basically mangles the poor city.]

[trialbyliar]

[Smoothly, he just makes something up.]

Tokyo! A supreme leader's gotta be at the center of all the action, of course. And there are some great places for dessert in Shinjuku!

[And now back to changing the subject, which doubles nicely as "playing nice and making friends".]

But what do you mean, "under it"? Do you have a secret lair? Is there a huge colony of giant rabbits lurking underground biding their time until a full-scale invasion?

[bringinghopewithme]

I'll have to take your word for it. I don't get good service in shops. They treat me like I'm bloody invisible.

[Boy he will lead this kid as far away from his entire dead species as he can.]

Of course not. Rabbits aren't native to Australia. If you're gonna Supreme Lead things you oughta know a thing or two about invasive species.

[trialbyliar]

[Two idiots trying to make small talk while dodging backstory. Surely this will go great.

Bunny does get a laugh out of him, though.]

Well you can't invade if you're already native, right? So it actually sounds even more likely. Hey, I'll let you guys have Australia if I get all of Asia after the bunnypocalypse.

[bringinghopewithme]

Hmm. Throw in Europe and I'll consider an alliance.

[trialbyliar]

[Bunny is quickly becoming his favorite.]

Wow, you drive a hard bargain. Fine, but I have dibs on North America! My minions overseas would be super sad if I just abandoned them.

[bringinghopewithme]

How'd you get North American minions, exchange program? Vacation? Assassination assignment?

[trialbyliar]

That's classified info! Only high ranking members of my organization get to know the secrets of the recruiting process.

[bringinghopewithme]

Well jeeze, you could just tell me another lie then. How would I know the difference?

[trialbyliar]

How do you know that wasn't a lie right there, hmm?

[bringinghopewithme]

Well gosh. How would I. Y'sure got me at every turn. It's almost like I got nothin' to gain from talkin' to you at all.

[How much a bid for attention IS this, anyway?]

[trialbyliar]

Aaaalmost. But not quite. After all, I was lying. The truth is, the whole recruitment process is just me offering an invitation! As Supreme Leader, my word is all that really matters.

[Is he trying to keep the conversation going or is he serious?? The world will never knows.]

So I could let you join, if you're prepared to declare your absolute loyalty to me.

[bringinghopewithme]

[A long, exaggerated wince.]

Boy, that's gonna be difficult, seein' as how I already sold my soul to the Moon and all. We got a real conflict of interests going on here.