week 4, wednesday afternoon

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna's on a mission, but when isn't Yuna on a mission, really. Damien is most certainly on her list of people who need to be harassed today, and while she isn't specifically looking for him at the moment, she spots Pennyworth and is completely incapable of turning down an opportunity to pet a kitty. It's her compulsive need to pet every animal that comes with her reach that results in her following the current object of her scritching affections clinic-wards.]

Kittykittykitty, whe... Robin! Hi! I was looking for you, actually, I...

[pppause. is he digging. why is he digging]

...What are you doing?

Comments

[bittybat]

[For once, it's by hand with a post hole shovel, and Pennyworth is fine with leading Yuna along as cats do, trotting around Damian's closer vicinity and meowing.

He pauses to glance first at Pennyworth, then up at Yuna as he wipes his forearm with the back of his arm.

Beside him on the ground is a strange, swirled contraption. The hole is big and deep enough it seems to have been used recently.] Digging.

What did you want?

[cherrypuncher]

Oh.

[SHE KIND OF GATHERED AS MUCH, BUT THANKS]

I wanted to say hi! Actually, I'm taking a survey, too, but it's not really urgent, so I can help you dig if you want.

[bittybat]

[Survey? Wtf. Damian just gives her a look, but he at least doesn't go back to digging? Yet.

Lifting his arm, he points behind her to the building on the other side, nearby. On the porch at the edge is a gleaming, flat can.]

You can feed Pennyworth. Those are his sardines.

[cherrypuncher]

[survey!!! Yuna seems entirely unperturbed by the look he gives her, but she does perk up at the prospect of giving the cat food.]

Okay! [And she skips off to get the can, then skips all the way back to set it down on the ground in front of her and open the can up, because I'm just assuming it's a pull tab for the sake of ease.] Heeere, kittykittykitty.

[bittybat]

[Pennyworth seems to know what time it is, and he also seems to know what the sound of a sardine tin being popped open means, too. Rushing with quick feet, he dives to crowd Yuna before she can get the thing fully open. Doesn't hiss, but makes a meowing fuss for the juice and the soft-boned fishies.

Damian scoffs and shakes his head.] Ridiculous.

[It at least keeps her from getting her hands dirty.] What kind of survey were you giving?

[cherrypuncher]

[She keeps meowing back at him, laughing as she stoops to set down the can and gently scratching behind his ears.]

Oh! Right. [She stands up straight, clearing her throat and withdrawing a tiny pocket notebook from the front her flannel shirt. She's being incredibly official about this.] It's an opinion survey. Here's my first question: [PAUSE FOR EFFECT] What's your favorite color?

[yuna. darling.]

[bittybat]

[bittybat]

Are you serious?

[cherrypuncher]

Uh-huh!

[LOOK SHE'S SO CHEERFUL]

[bittybat]

[NOW ISN'T THE TIME FOR THIS, YUNA???]

My favorite color is green. [It matches the color of his eyes; unfortunately, he got this from his mother. Hilariously, the true blood son of Bruce Wayne is not a black-haired, blue-eyed masterpiece.] Now I get to ask you a question in return.

[cherrypuncher]

[that isn't what a survey means damien

but she jots that down, nodding. Jason gave her the same answer, she notes.]

Okay! Mine is pink, if that's your question, but I also really like blue.

[bittybat]

[Jason, wtf.]

That wasn't my question. [But Damian will remember that.] Has the Sheriff spoken to you in private at all since we came here?

[cherrypuncher]

Huh? [the colors survey was a lot more fun] No, I don't see why he'd want to... Why?

[bittybat]

Because this is a game, and he is the orchestrator. [He frowns, a stark contrast from the now finished Pennyworth that arches up against Yuna's ankles. Thanks or want for attention, who knows.] He's been talking to people in private, and I wanted to know if you were one of them.

Have you tried to ask him anything about how this place works?

[cherrypuncher]

Oh. [Seriously as she's taking this conversation, she can't keep herself from crouching enough to pat Pennyworth.] Did he talk to you? [pppause.] Can I ask who else you know he talked to?

[But she stands up, leaving the cat be.]

No... He's really stubborn, and I don't know what I'd ask, anyway.

[bittybat]

I can't say who I know has talked to him. Not yet at least. [He doesn't take his eyes off Yuna. Pennyworth enjoys the attention when it's given, and then he sits in a lean on Yuna's foot so he can clean both paws and a face.]

I'm helping someone look for a role. Have you heard about anyone else having one aside from the "Bandits"? Someone who may help the Sheriff with things. Like what Kadam did.

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna looks thoughtful for a moment, but she shakes her head.]

I don't know for sure. But... [She shifts her weight a little, stopping abruptly when she remembers Pennyworth's on her feet.] If you tell me more, I might be able to help.

[bittybat]

[For a few moments, Damian is quiet, weighing his options.] Someone has a role. We don't know what it is or who it is, but we have to find them in order to end the game.

This person would be looking for "Bounties." We think they are offered a reward for finding them, like a real historic bounty.

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna's patient for that moment he takes, and she nods as he speaks.]

Okay. So we have to find that person to end the game. They can't end the game on their own, though, only if we find them? [She tilts her head.] Do you know what the bounties are?

[bittybat]

I don't know. It's possible. [The uncertainty makes him frown.] We don't know what the rewards are, only that there are rewards.

[cherrypuncher]

Hmm... Do you know what they have to do to get the rewards, though?

[a pause, and then:]

Robin... Can I ask who told you this stuff? I want us to work as a team, instead of going back and forth all the time.

[bittybat]

It's too dangerous to divulge my sources. The only one I can tell you of is the Sheriff. If you ask him questions in the right way, he will give you information.

[He's still frowning.] They must receive the rewards when they kill. Or play the game "well."

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna's as friendly as ever even when she's serious, but now she finally frowns, maybe a little disappointed, but mostly thoughtful.]

If you can't tell me who they are, then will you tell them about me? They can make that decision on their own that way, but I want to talk to them. It's important. I won't ask you to trust me completely, but please trust me on that. I can help if I can talk with lots of people who have that kind of information. I promise I can.

[bittybat]

Fine. I'll tell them they can speak with you at their own discretion. [This is to say, he's worried for both the other people and, more importantly, for Yuna. Stop being a fucking caring pure!!]

After the end of this week, I'll get in touch with you again. I'll let you know then what I can and cannot tell you, and if I've found out anything new.

[cherrypuncher]

Thank you, Robin. [And she's right back to her usual level of stupidly chipper, clutching her hand into a determined fist. Can't stop won't stop don't know how to stop!!!] Let me know, okay? And I'll make sure I let you know what I learn, too!

...Oh! If that's all for now, though, my survey wasn't done yet!

[god, yuna]

[bittybat]

Okay. [He pauses, seeming awkwardly surprised. What...?

Yuna wtf is with your survey??] What was the rest of it?

[cherrypuncher]

[listen. yuna is a Lot, just, in general.

BUT FOR NOW:]

My other question was if you had a favorite flower!

[sorry about yuna yuki]

[bittybat]

[YUNA HE'S A TEN YEAR OLD BOY HALF ASSASSIN HALF VIGILANTE HE AIN'T GOT TIME FOR FLOWERS!!!!]

...Plumeria. They're also called frangipani.

[cherrypuncher]

[OKAY WELL CLEARLY!!! HE DOES!!! she is happily nodding and writing that down, too]

Those ones have lots of different meanings, but a lot of the time they symbolize happy, positive things! And did you know they'll still bloom if you uproot them?

[she loves!! flowers!!!! and flower language!!!!!]

[bittybat]

[This appears to make him pretty much embarrassed. RIP.]

They also have poisonous sap.

[So, you know, don't judge a book by it's cover, YUNA!!!]

[cherrypuncher]

[oh my god damian]

They're so versatile, aren't they?!

[...yuna]

[bittybat]

[oh my gOD]

Yes. [YIKES!! There's a pause, and then he asks:] Do you have a favorite flower? [She likes so many, right? So... is there a single one?]

[cherrypuncher]

I like cherry blossoms! [She loves flowers but her answer is immediate so she definitely has some Very Strong Flower Feelings.] They're my favorite color and they're really pretty, and they're symbols of how beautiful life is. My friend Togo likes them, too, because they're national symbols. Morning glories remind me of her, though, so I like them, too.

[bittybat]

[What is it with Yuna and Papika both having intense friendships?? Where did Damian Wayne go wrong in his life? Let him be normal.]

The organization my grandfather and my mother led had a cherry blossom tree. Training beneath it in the spring made it feel like training in the snow.

[A pause.] Chrysanthemums suit you better.

[cherrypuncher]

["intense friendship" no she's in love with togo. she would die a thousand deaths to defend mimori togo's honor. togo tried to kill god once and yuna immediately went "it's okay we'll fix it i love you" don't underestimate her intensity]

Pink snow! There's a park full of cherry blossom trees near my house and it's the prettiest place in the world in the spring, so they make me think of springtime.

[She tilts her head just so, smiling.] Those are an old national symbol, too. Why do you think so?

[bittybat]

[For a moment, he gives it some thought so he can figure out what he wants to say and how.] There are four colors, and each can represent different aspects of life.

Violet chrysanthemums are used for wishing someone well, and you're dumb enough to always try to stay by the stocks overnight when people are put in them. [Huff.]

[cherrypuncher]

[WELL THAT'S RUDE

but Yuna just laughs, scratching the back of her head.]

It worked out, so I'm going to consider it a win! [she's not denying or getting defensive about being called dumb though] ...But thanks for the well wishes!