productions | (no subject)

[Lithuania locks the door of his room on Tuesday evening. Even having grown accustomed to trying to maintain his mask even in private, he has to take a breath before he feels his thoughts are collected enough to call out for her.]

Miss Hostess?

[There's a slightly delay, and then she's stepping in through the door and closing it carefully behind her.

She seems a little distracted today, and she's wearing a very large fur coat that makes her look smaller in comparison.]

Oh, Lithuania. Don't you look dapper in your costume.

[Lithuania pulls a bit of a face in spite of himself.] I'd rather be wearing something that stands out less. [Though it's probably only obvious to him, he can't help being paranoid.]

I have a few questions, if you have the time.

I always have time.

[She'll take a seat herself, then, so they can sit and talk.]

Edited 2013-10-29 02:43 (UTC)

Alright. I know you can't tell me when this will end, specifically, but what are the conditions for it to end? A certain number left, a time limit, everyone is either dead or retired... A "guess the mastermind" final trial?

[He really doesn't want it to be that last one.]

I'm not supposed to tell you that.

[She sighs, looking a little upset.]

There are so many rules.

I know. [Lithuania buries his face in his hands and feels a little odd for apparently commiserating with the Hostess even a little bit. When he looks up again, his face is less its angry mask and more the shaky, increasingly disheveled one seen during regular days in the manor.]

Is the actual producer--producers?--assigning your rules? [He sighs.] Can you tell me if it's possible for the designated killers to survive? Are they just expected to--pointlessly run themselves ragged until they're all dead?

[Lithuania's guilt surrounding the designated killers is a mountain of its own at this point. He wishes he could have done something for Kanaya, and he hates the idea of sending Sonia, Spain, and Kaoru to what's seeming increasingly like inevitable death.

Touko, though--he's still angry at her for what she did to Belarus's body. He wouldn't have said anything about bruises if she hadn't--hadn't played with it.]

They tell me what I may say. They are supposedly watching us even now, although who can really say. With their martini lunches, you know how that sort can be.

[She purses her lips.]

Oh, what's the harm in that. The designated killers can survive, though the deck is often stacked against them. And their contestant choices have been so poor this year...far too many sympathetic players, who won't act on their own. I will not lie, I do not hold high hopes for them. But with the ratings...

[Lithuania is quiet for a moment, though the distress at the potential fate of what he's come to think of as his unfortunate group of misfit murderers is especially obvious in his expression.

He's not surprised to learn that this isn't the first year this has gone on.]

Can I still succeed if they survive?

[He'd like, very much, for them to survive. It's probably not the good or right desire, but that only stings a little because there isn't a good or right option here. Of course, as much as he'd like that, his first priority has not changed from the moment he was assigned to this task.]

There's nothing in the rules to prohibit that.

[She says it very carefully, meeting his eyes, but with pity written on her face.]

[Lithuania pauses again--considering the expression and the way she says it.]

Some shows have seasons where I'm from. You mentioned that our group of contestants is poorly picked when it comes to the success of the designated killers.

And--I'm this show's villain. You said that when we first met. [A little pause--hesitance, rather than choosing his words specifically.]

Has the villain ever won? Is it possible?

I did.

[She breaks the gaze to instead take out her compact and apply another coat of lipstick.]

But few ever do.

[Lithuania stares--something in the back of his mind complains about his rudeness--before looking down at his feet.]

I'll take few. It's not none. I'll take it.

[This sort of poisoned hope is the only kind he believes in when it comes to the role he's been given.]

...Even if you can't tell me, I'll assume my role goes beyond instructing the designated killers and waiting until the whole house has been reduced to just me. I don't know--I don't know how much you can help, or--you might just be a very good actress. [He smiles wryly at that, because he's learned a lot about acting in the last few weeks.] If you'll get in trouble, you don't have to bring it to the people in charge, but-- I need to go on trial as a suspect at some point. I can't afford to stand out more than I do. I'm sure it would be bad for ratings if I died at random like that, but if the people in charge can keep me from being killed during the week they can keep me from being killed at a trial, too, right? Not this week, but maybe next week, or a little after that--

...I'd rather it wasn't a trial where Spain, Sonia Nevermind, or Touko Nagumo are the killers. They don't need a trial with only three possible scapegoats on top of all their other difficulties. But--if it has to be one of theirs--

...Nations are selfish, so if that's all you can manage, that's alright. [He's no stranger to self-loathing anyway.]

I can't ask that.

[She does genuinely seem sorry for it.]

I did ask after Miss Aihara, you know. I truly did. But they were not pleased about it.

[She says it a little ominously.]

All I can do is assure you they know how suspicious it makes you, and if they choose not to do it, it is intentional.

[At the mention of Yuzu, guilt blossoms on Lithuania's face again.] Did she really not vote? ...Never mind. Thank you for at least asking.

...It's fine if they want to make me look suspicious. [He fists his hands as he says it, but he at least makes it sound believable, since maybe then he'll believe it.] I just have to win without their help.

I hope they're at least happy with their ratings. [He does not actually hope that, there is a ton of sarcasm there.]

I'm not sure. I believe there were some other considerations at work, but I am not positive what.

You can win without their help. If you are a popular villain, it will be easy. Although, if you are too popular, they'll want you to do another season. And before you know it...

[She shakes her head.]

Keep your people in mind. At the least, if you do as you're told, nothing will happen to them.

[Lithuania nods. As long as his people survived, it was okay. Anything at all was okay. Even if he died, if his dead didn't doom his people that was alright in the end.]

I believe that's all, unless there's anything else to be addressed I'm not aware of. Thank you for listening to my questions, Miss-- Is Doris actually your name?

It is. And you're very welcome...I would like to be of help to you.

Thank you, Miss Doris. I could certainly use it, even if it's just wishing me good luck--and it's nice that someone who knows my role actually wants to.

Of course. We shall have to stick together, as they say.