Lying Liar

[archeologue]

[Belloq remains in the clothes he was wearing during the expedition of earlier, the pith helmet off his head, but the safari suit dirty and stained from a day crawling about the jungle. His head is bowed in remorse.]

I am sorry to report that Niko Bellic, wilderness guide, fell today in the course of his duty.

I will not distress with details, but only say that we were taken by surprise by a swarm of skeleton archers while exploring a temple. Niko fought bravely, and I owe my life to him. He is a credit to all who risk their lives leading us through the dangerous wilds. May the psychopomp guide him to peace.

I will be at Pugsy's tonight, raising a glass in remembrance, if any would like to join me there.

[And the lie is done. Even Belloq doesn't exactly know where that temple was. Niko, as guide, had that knowledge. There is little chance that someone will find Niko before he really is dead. And Belloq's done his duty to the Orion Syndicate, for which he'll be paid well.]


((OOC: Feel free to network reply or action spam at Pugsy's))

Comments

[domesheriff]

He... [but she trails off. whatever it is that she started to say, she can't bring herself to finish. it's not that she knew Niko that well--she's only been here for a few weeks, after all. but of all the people here, she felt closer to him than almost anyone else. they were both people from small places with an immigrant background and a shared understanding of being a fish out of water, and she appreciated the support that he gave. he was kind and helpful, too--she liked him a lot]

[but instead, she says:] Thanks for...trying to help him.

[she may not know Belloq, but she believes his words implicitly, knowing both the dangers outside and Niko's willingness to help others. Belloq's story fits with that, and she isn't angry at him--just stunned by the loss]

What happened out there?

[archeologue]

[He sticks as close to the truth as he can. It's harder to disprove that way.]

We were exploring a temple, proceeding as usual, nothing out of the ordinary. There were a few monsters along the way, but Niko dealt with them. Then we got to a place where there were poisoned darts along a hallway and a stone door at the other end. And levers that control the darts and the door. Turn the levers one way, the darts are disarmed temporarily, turn it another and the door opens. I was manning the levers while Niko explored ahead.

Beyond the door...it was very dark. An ideal place for the monsters to lurk. They attacked him, too many to fight off. I was on the other side and since the levers were set for the door to be open, that meant the darts were active. There was no way I could get to him to help. If I disarmed the darts once again, the door would have closed, trapping him in there with them. I could do nothing but watch.

[Belloq is a practiced liar and imbues his words with a fitting amount of anger, grief, and frustration at his supposed inability to reach Niko. His hands were clenched in fists and his expression grim.]

[domesheriff]

[she's quiet through his story, and at the end of it, she doesn't seem to know what to say again. after a moment, she repeats:] Thanks. [and then:] I'm glad you got out.

[archeologue]

I was...lucky, in a sense.

The same dart trap that kept me from reaching Niko kept the monsters from reaching me.

[He sighs.]

Damned luck.

[domesheriff]

[still at a loss for words and trying to hold herself together in front of a stranger, Linda just says:] I'll see you at Pugsy's.

[archeologue]

It is much appreciated. He deserves a good wake.