SWITCHBOARD

[transmittable]

If you'd like to ask the Transmitter something over the phone, go right ahead! The Transmitter will answer the phone as soon as she's available. Leaving messages is impossible, given how old these phones are, but you should be able to reach her at almost all hours.

Comments are screened for privacy; all Patients are offered confidentiality, didn't you know?

Comments

[transmittable]

Yes. They've been forceful and made their thoughts known, but always- I've always been a mouthpiece, not a...puppet.

I would know if they had, trust me. Ugh.

[heritrix]

[Okay. She's get a clearer image here. Sometimes the Risen's communication is a two-way street; to borrow the Transmitter's words, she's a mouthpiece they speak through, but she's still herself. They only make use of her voice.

This time was unique then, because they took control of her completely. As the Patients here can't see the Transmitter themselves, it's interesting to Rin because it hammers in the point that this wasn't done as a show for them. That's part of it, but if that was all they wanted they could have used her voice as normal. That they didn't means the primary objective was to teach her a lesson.

...Rin wonders if the Transmitter will get in trouble for saying too much, letting her realize this. This is her enemy, so she should feel no compassion, but it's an enemy she has a mutually beneficial relationship with. Now that she understands who she was really speaking to all the times the Transmitter said something to piss her off, she's a little offended on her behalf.]

Should we talk about something to put your bosses in a better mood, then?

[transmittable]

Oof, they are NEVER in a good mood. ...But, I dunno, sure...? My head's still spinning.

[heritrix]

[Yeah, they sure don't like it.]

I'll give you another minute, then.

[She probably needs more than that. Pages of the books Rin's father left her come to mind, worn by his fingerprints and hers, the hands that poured over the information within them. The thaumaturgical process that would be necessary to pull off that trick of the Risen's. What methods they're using, she's not sure, but even if it's different the side effects would be similar, she imagines. The human body naturally wants to reject a consciousness that isn't its own, sensing the wrongness.

When the minute is up, she starts again.]

I'm not interested in the incentive that was offered today, but I have a different question. If two people collude and work together to kill the same person, do they both pass this game?

[transmittable]

[ During that minute, Rin'll be able to hear the Transmitter's breathing, slow and steady. A few grumbles in there, incoherent mumbling. After that question, it quiets down, and...she sounds vaguely distant. ]

Ah. Uh. ...They'd both need to be responsible for what killed that person.

[heritrix]

[Listening to the Transmitter's response, she's reminded of the conversation she had with Wesker on Friday. Despite everything she and Sakura have discussed, it's been fresh in her mind, this mounting suspicion that the Transmitter doesn't actually want them to enact Rule 7.

Her distant response here feels in-line with that. Is there really another way out? One that won't get her or Sakura killed?]

In what way? If they made a poison together for their victim to drink, would that count? Or what if one person intentionally lured the target somewhere so their partner could kill them?

[But I have to ask, don't I? I have to do it. The Holy Grail War won't last forever.

And yet there's a quiet doubt in the back of her head, that's been brewing there since Sunday, when she realized it wasn't the Transmitter who stole her Command Seals. What if the War is already over?]

[transmittable]

I can't give you ideas, that's...not allowed. You have to work it out yourselves, it just... It only would count if you're both the one to kill. You both have to have the killing blow.

[heritrix]

[That makes sense she can't say. The Risen seem to want to have as little influence as possible— no, actually. After today, Rin can't say that's true anymore. Where do they pull their bizarre rules from? Their butts?]

That's too risky... [Rin can be hear muttering under her breath, if the Transmitter is paying attention. She's back on track a moment later.]

What if both partners killed someone in the same night? They would both have the killing blow then.

[transmittable]

It sounds to me like you answered your own question. ...Sorry. That's-

[ She mutters something, something about her head. ]

That's all I can clarify.

[heritrix]

[She answered her own question, but it's a vague thing. If that's all the Transmitter can clarify, Rin suspects there's still a catch.

Even if she asks the right questions, the Risen will always hold something back. If everyone knew they could win without being caught, they'd all try. Something has to be held back.

So she has to choose. A risk is still a risk, but Rin can gather from this that killing two people will give her and Sakura better odds. An uncomfortable feeling coils in her stomach, but she tries to push past it.

She has a lot of thinking to do.]

Very well. I'll let you rest.

You should try eating chili peppers. I'm sure you have painkillers, but that might give you extra relief.

[transmittable]

[ Rin's response takes the Transmitter aback. ]

...Chili peppers? Uh. O- okay, sure. Thank you.

[heritrix]

Capsaicin can be effective against migraines and the resulting nausea. It's an active component in chili peppers.

[Or it might just be a placebo effect, but it's worked for her every time, and Rin is fond of these strange methods. She dips hers in-- well let's just leave that to the imagination.]