[ Cain's eyes drop the glossy floor, his brows furrowed.
Keep moving forward—that's the one thing he's good at. He's not going to forget Siffrin (assuming their pattern of remembering the loops holds going forward), but he'll be ready for whatever the next week brings. That he knows.
[ Cain stares at him for a moment, evaluating him...
They're total opposites when it comes to this sort of thing, that he knows. But it's because he's stared down the end of Bradley's gun and survived that he has the courage to acknowledge it. ]
...It's not. [ He turns to face him fully. ] I want to know what you would've done.
[Brad is likewise evaluating Cain, trying to decide how much of the truth he can handle. Cain is a knight, good and honest, and Brad's techniques might turn his stomach.]
Narrowed it down to a group of possible suspects, then started squeezing them a bit. Figuratively.
[He could squeeze them literally too, but.]
Tying someone to a chair and acting aggressive can get some people to break too. But y'know, most people don't like those kinda things. I probably woulda drawn the votes to me by doing that.
See, the hard part after that is that I would've wanted to start with people at Siffrin's curfew, but I wouldn't have done it on you. That woulda made people look at you as the culprit instead.
I would've done it anyway, for honesty's sake. And I know you would have defended me anyway...
[ Crazy how much trust he has for Bradley is leaps and bounds above everyone else here. ]
I keep finding myself looking like I could be related to the case. I didn't carry a sword with me this week but I just ended up looking like I got into a knife fight instead.
I do, but it's somethin' I can make real for myself once I get home. No point in killin' and riskin' death here.
[He knows he's one of the strongest wizards alive, and he knows that everyone is going to need his strength at the next Calamity. He is prioritizing making it back alive.]
Cain seems to relax when he hears that. He knows Bradley well enough to be confident in his assumption that he wouldn't fall for the wish thing—they're similar, in that way. ]
Nah.
[ His answer is certain. ]
I'd rather get my eye back with my own strength. I think Owen would be disappointed if I took a shortcut. [ A pause, and then he corrects: ] —I would be disappointed.
[ Cain isn't shy around Bradley, so he'll just start peeling off his mystery costume and start throwing on whatever he can find in the wardrobe—mostly the same noble frilly stuff he's been wearing most of the time he's been here.
He'll fish some of the evidence out of his old pockets, grab something from another pocket and start fiddling with his ear. ]
[Bradley also isn't shy at all. They're just changing, no reason to be shy about it. He's putting his original outfit on, and is just sliding his green coat on as he glances in Cain's direction.]
I don't think it'll change much for us, since it already happened, but...I don't know. Feels kind of cruel to expect him to go back after all this. I at least want to make sure he survives to the end to make his own choice.
I know. [ He trusts Bradley that much!! Please praise him for that also. ] But we need to make sure we don't accidentally incriminate ourselves, either.
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week 2, Saturday
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Even if they have touched already today, he recognizes Bradley's gait pretty well by now. He glances over at him in his approach. ]
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How're you doin'?
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...I dunno. I feel like...I could've done things differently. I could've done more.
[ About, well. Everything. ]
You okay?
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[He is not feeling okay, but that's basically life.]
But that's how things go sometimes. You can't save everyone. But if you dwell on it too much it'll drag you down until you die from it.
[He might be thinking of someone specific when he says that.]
So grieve what could have been today 'n tomorrow, and then let it go. On Monday we gotta keep moving forward.
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Keep moving forward—that's the one thing he's good at. He's not going to forget Siffrin (assuming their pattern of remembering the loops holds going forward), but he'll be ready for whatever the next week brings. That he knows.
But everything else? That's where they differ.
He looks back up at Bradley again. ]
What would you have done?
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[Because he has ways of getting information out of people. Ways that are not usually considered ethical.]
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They're total opposites when it comes to this sort of thing, that he knows. But it's because he's stared down the end of Bradley's gun and survived that he has the courage to acknowledge it. ]
...It's not. [ He turns to face him fully. ] I want to know what you would've done.
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Narrowed it down to a group of possible suspects, then started squeezing them a bit. Figuratively.
[He could squeeze them literally too, but.]
Tying someone to a chair and acting aggressive can get some people to break too. But y'know, most people don't like those kinda things. I probably woulda drawn the votes to me by doing that.
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More importantly— ]
Yeah. Neither of us want that.
[ He's pretty sure...? both of them want to get back to where they belong.
He nods. ]
Continue.
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[ Crazy how much trust he has for Bradley is leaps and bounds above everyone else here. ]
I keep finding myself looking like I could be related to the case. I didn't carry a sword with me this week but I just ended up looking like I got into a knife fight instead.
[ He looks at his arm, where his stab wound was.
He looks up again. ]
Hey. Do you have a wish?
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I do, but it's somethin' I can make real for myself once I get home. No point in killin' and riskin' death here.
[He knows he's one of the strongest wizards alive, and he knows that everyone is going to need his strength at the next Calamity. He is prioritizing making it back alive.]
Why? Is it something you're thinking about?
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Cain seems to relax when he hears that. He knows Bradley well enough to be confident in his assumption that he wouldn't fall for the wish thing—they're similar, in that way. ]
Nah.
[ His answer is certain. ]
I'd rather get my eye back with my own strength. I think Owen would be disappointed if I took a shortcut. [ A pause, and then he corrects: ] —I would be disappointed.
Week 3, post-trial
Let's talk.]
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Cain turns to leave, following Bradley. And when they're past the threshold— ]
What is it?
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[Just a point-blank question there.]
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[ An honest answer. ]
I think he can be dangerous if he wants to be. He's called himself a monster and a killer, and I believe him.
[ ... ]
He reminds me a little of Owen.
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[ Not usually when there's other people around, but. ]
Bradley... Are you worried he's going to hurt me?
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[He trails off there, not wanting to finish that thought.]
Just remember that I'm here to help you if shit gets thick. We both gotta get home to save our world.
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[ He must've seen the way he rejected Yoru the night before, but...
That worries him, too. ]
...You don't think he's going to try and kill someone to come with us, do you?
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This is the worst thing he can think of, as a wizard. Besides being forced to make a promise. ]
...He wouldn't do that, would he?
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He frowns pensively for a moment or two.
Damn. He really fucked up by putting his dick in him, huh... ]
I don't.
[ In honesty.
But he does want to trust him.
Cain looks back up at Bradley— ]
I'll talk to him.
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Be careful. And like I said, if there's any problems, I'll take care of 'em for you.
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Yeah. Thanks, Bradley.
[ He definitely trusts him, 100%. But after a beat: ]
Just don't kill him, though.
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Week 4, post-invest
C'mon, let's get you cleaned up.
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Could I borrow clothes from your suite?
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[Off to Narcissus!]
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Following Bradley, but is quiet. ]
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I'm wearin' my usual, but you can pick anything else.
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[ Cain isn't shy around Bradley, so he'll just start peeling off his mystery costume and start throwing on whatever he can find in the wardrobe—mostly the same noble frilly stuff he's been wearing most of the time he's been here.
He'll fish some of the evidence out of his old pockets, grab something from another pocket and start fiddling with his ear. ]
...Bradley...
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Yeah? What's up?
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Still, he's pensive. ]
Ish said we'd be done on Sunday, right? That's...so far away. How many people are we going to lose before then?
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[ He pauses for a second. ]
I don't think it'll change much for us, since it already happened, but...I don't know. Feels kind of cruel to expect him to go back after all this. I at least want to make sure he survives to the end to make his own choice.
[ He looks up at Bradley. ]
You, too.
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[ He noticed the button, but he doesn't think it's worth bringing up right now. He's more worried about their safety in this last stretch. ]
Like how the stab wound Siffrin gave me was enough when Shiv died. Or how I had a sword, and I could've fit the armor in that first case.
Let's be careful.
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[He's facing Cain now, watching him with a careful eye.]
You think someone in our group last night killed? Or is this a confession?
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What? No, I— You know I'd never kill. You know I'd never take the easy way out for anything with a wish.
[ Much less with a wish that would 100% piss Owen off! ]
We don't know anything yet. I just want us to get out of here in one piece.
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[ It's not an accusation, and Cain makes sure the tone in his voice is calm and quiet enough that it doesn't come across that way. ]
You were missing a button on your jacket this morning.
[ The way his brows knit look more like worry, if anything. ]
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[He immediately goes over to his closet to check his jacket. Yep, that sure is missing a button.
He sort of stares at it for a few moments as an idea formulates in his mind.]
Did anybody else see you pick it up?
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[ ... ]
Bradley, what's going on?
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[He puts the jacket back in his closet and shuts the door.]
Only us two and the killer would know exactly which button is missing. We can use that to figure out who the killer is.
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I have your back. They made a mistake trying to frame you.
[ Steps forward to hold out his hand. Shake? ]
We're in this together.
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Yeah, we're in this together. We'll find the rat bastard who did this and tried to force the blame on someone else.
Don't mention my jacket at all during trial though. Wait for someone else to bring it up. The killer's gonna want the evidence traced back to me.
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[ The serious expression suddenly dissipates, a crack in his little shell showing worry and grief behind it. ]
...I don't want to lose anyone else.
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his expression softens.]
It's okay, I ain't goin' nowhere. It takes more than a frame job to take down Bradley Bain.
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[ Bandit King and all that... He knows. ]
I trust you.
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