audience: emma perkins

[cyclists]

Comments

[cyclists]

[There's a nod. It'll do, and also yeah he sort of figured that's what this was about. So...]

That's unfortunately not really something we can answer. We can't specify when he spoke to any of the people on that list, actually.

[foodbin]

...Even if it's not a day or time? Like, if I asked 'did he talk to any of the people on that list when the rest of us were asleep', that wouldn't work, either?

[cyclists]

It wouldn't allow us to answer, no. You've seen what happens when we try to answer and the universe doesn't let us, haven't you?

[foodbin]

[She nods.]

Then, if I can ask... If someone did talk to another person while the rest of us were asleep, it would be on that list, right? It wouldn't be removed since nobody is aware of what's happening at that time?

[cyclists]

From what I understand, that list is a list of everyone no matter the time or the place or the day.

[foodbin]

Okay.

[...She doubts this will get an answer, either, but.]

Was the food supposed to point us his way?

[cyclists]

[Silence because, like, it's debatable if it's "I don't know" or "I can't say."]

...it's like I told Shess. The food showed up as help from the universe because of the actions of one of your own.

[foodbin]

Can you tell me if it was meant to point to one person, or everyone involved in a death? I mean, your opinion about what the universe would do.

[cyclists]

Given how vague the universe likes to be? It wouldn't be as clear as you'd hope and it wouldn't even surprise me if it threw in something to throw us off entirely.

[The universe...is rude...] But I really can't confirm.

[foodbin]

...Can I ask if he's been asleep on every Thursday night? Or - any other information you can give me about what he might have been up to this week?

[cyclists]

I can't answer that. [And now he just sounds frustrated because not being able to be clear is annoying.]

You're smart, Emma. And I know you've spoken to him before. You don't think you could find a way to interrogate him yourself?

[foodbin]

If I start asking a lot of questions, he might get suspicious, and if I only ask him one or two, he might lie.

[...]

Would you say there's a reason for me to interrogate him?

[cyclists]

I would say...trust your instincts and ask yourself why you're asking me these questions. There has to be a reason, doesn't there?

[foodbin]

...Trust my instincts, huh.

[She frowns.]

Thanks. I think that tells me enough, but... I'll talk to him.

[cyclists]

Just remember that things aren't always what they see. Trust your instincts, but be flexible with what you're thinking, too. That's about all the advice I can give on something like that.

[There's a pause.] He's not a bad person to talk to anyway.

[foodbin]

Which would you say is more important in this case? Trusting what I think I know, or thinking about different possibilities?

[She tilts her head.]

Are you friends?

[cyclists]

Why does one have to be more important than the other when it comes to learning about people? Don't they kinda work with each other?

[Hm...] He reminds me of someone really important to me. So I think I understand him. I don't know if friends is the right word but I like talking to him.

[foodbin]

I said just in this case. But... Alright.

[She pauses for a moment.]

If I wanted - some kind of item that would let me know whether someone was telling the truth for one specific thing they said, is that something I could complete a task for?

[cyclists]

I know. I'm just saying even in this case, they might work together. [But at least the next thing is something he can answer.]

You could. [Hm.] Can I ask you something? Did you get a reward last week?

[foodbin]

[She nods.]

You mean from the war? Yeah.

[cyclists]

What'd you get?

[foodbin]

Some kind of animal that will do whatever I tell it to for a while before disappearing, I think.

[cyclists]

That's...different. [Weird.] But that means other people got all kinds of stuff too, right? Have you asked?

[foodbin]

[She shakes her head.]

No, I haven't.

[cyclists]

That's my task for you then. Start asking around and see what kind of items people were given as rewards.