Week 1: Post Trial

[disclosures]

[She hadn't said much during the trail. People were emotional- people were singing (at least to hear) and so her ears were bleeding. Most of the time she was away from the rest of the crowd, ears covered and trying to deal with her own discomfort.

But at the end... She's taking Natsuo aside again.]

You voted... for yourself? You didn't do it.

Comments

[randori]

I hate having to vote for people before I know why they did it.

[ It was a vote out of stubbornness, out of unfairness of the"game." It was stupid, but just like Dazai had thought last week, it didn't matter in the end because it was majority rule anyways.

Except this time, it did matter. ]

...I guess Tiger didn't like me trying to get out of it, huh?

[disclosures]

Yeah... I guess I can understand that. [She does not.] It makes it harder to decide between the two options, doesn't it? I think Tiger said it wouldn't be too bad.

Still... Are you going to do it again?

[randori]

[ Between Tiger and Dragon, Tiger was the one who'd smiled at him- he wants to trust her that it wouldn't be too bad, but he shakes his head, unable to believe it. ]

I won't. A punishment is something that's supposed to keep you from doing the wrong thing again. Like writing reflection essays or staying back after school to clean the classrooms. Sometimes it's not worth making a statement, with punishments like those.

[ School punishments... aka the only punishments he's experienced before. ]

[disclosures]

[She's never experienced school punishments, but she was a great student. Her personal life... not doing as hot.]

They're usually to deter people, that's true. Like those fees when you park in the wrong place.

... I'll be here for you, okay? So talk to me if you need anything.

I mean, I'm going to be silent next week. But we both know Morse.

[randori]

[ He'd never had a lot of money to his name, so fees of any sort sting a little, even if he doesn't know how much a parking ticket really is or whether it'd be worth securing that illegal parking spot. ]

Okay. Are you sure about starting next week? I asked Sanji what he would do and— well, he thinks being silent is my task to do, so he gave me advice.

[disclosures]

[It's never worth it.]

I already told my partner about it. So... I'm going to start then. I mean, as long as nobody asks me anything I should be fine. ... Right?

What did Sanji say?

[randori]

He said I'd have a hard time doing it, so he'd cover me by saying we have a bet going on— that I can't speak for a week because of a bet. That way, people'd leave me alone. You could say it's something like that, maybe with Cardia?

[ It'd be an explanation, more than a method to keep quiet, but maybe if people bought the idea, they'd be more accommodating to her silence and not give her a hard time about it. ]

I also asked for Fane's notebook so we could use it for Morse Code. [ He'd left the garden in a hurry and he thinks Tiger still has all the evidence, so he'll ask for it tomorrow. ]

[disclosures]

I mean I can't really say anything if they ask. That's breaking the rules. You could say you have bet with me.

... Why did you tell Sanji it was your task anyway?

Do you think you'll get it from her?

[randori]

[ He nods, taking her questions one at a time. ]

Fane says he doesn't want it anymore, and that I could have. I'll make sure to ask her super nicely, so I'm sure she'll be okay with it! If that doesn't work, we can still use the code anyways. As for Sanji, I didn't say it was mine, specifically. Just wanted to know what he would do if someone had to vow silence for a week— people don't really talk about their tasks, so he probably just assumed it was mine, 'cause there's no reason for me to know yours.

[disclosures]

[She nods a little.]

I don't really know why we're supposed to keep it to ourselves. It would be easier to do it if we could coordinate.

[randori]

Right?! Lots of these things sound like they'd be easy if everybody knows and can help each other. Whatever the rewards for them are- they'd help our situation too!

[ But he knows why, and that reason is trust. They are all, in the end, strangers to one another, aside from the lucky (? unlucky) few who have known each other before and have a better grasp on their character, whether they're somebody to be trusted through thick and thin. ]

[disclosures]

Knowing this place, it's probably another wish.

The only thing we can really do is try to get to know each other. And hope we can win each other's trust.

[randori]

[ A useless reward, considering Natsuo is this close to using his wish on karaage if Sanji can't pull through for them. ]

I've been trying real hard to do that. Getting to know everybody and trusting them- but the other way around is hard. I thought I was getting to know Akechi, but then...

[ you know ]

[disclosures]

Knowing other people... It's really hard. It's almost impossible. I'm not good at it, but I've been trying.

He's... still here.

[randori]

He is. [ And despite everything, he finds that he's scared for him, not scared of him. ]

I've been betrayed before, by people who I thought were friends. This time, it wasn't even about me, but I felt betrayed. Do you think it's stupid that I still want to be friends?

[disclosures]

The people who betrayed me... they were all my exes. It's different when it's a stranger.

I don't think it's stupid. Personally, I don't get it. But if you want to be friends with him after everything, be careful. Okay?

[randori]

[ In his opinion, it's easier to burn the bridge with a stranger and not look back. With an ex, the pain of betrayal must be unbearable, but there was love before that, fond memories, things he would never want to throw away and forget.

With Akechi, it was a budding friendship. He still wants to save it. ]

I'll be careful. In the end, it looked like he'd lost all the fight in him. [ Or, simply put, it looked like he'd lost it. ] I don't want to lose him, so I can't help but worry about him.

[disclosures]

[It hurts, and it doesn't really stop hurting. It's what drives her, it's what she remembers and she wants revenge.

With the people here, she's just tired. This place is unfair, making people kill each other over and over until the end of this stupid game.]

You're a really good kid, Natsuo. Just make sure you remember to take care of yourself.

[randori]

Heh, people keep saying that...

[ He assures him that he does take care of himself, to the best of his ability. But his ability isn't enough sometimes, and sometimes, he isn't really sure what it means to take care of himself. He eats well, sleeps well, and can't help but want to save everybody. ]

I might have to rely on everybody else to help take care of me a little.

[disclosures]

They just worry. I'll try to take care of you, okay?

[It kind of feels like he'll get taken advantage of by people who don't really care about him.]

Anyway, can I see your arm? It started bleeding again, didn't it?

[randori]

[ It's his torso that's cut and I will pretend she said torso. Natsuo pulls up the hem of his shirt, where fabric bandages like what'd been found in the tailor room has been wrapped around him, spots of blood in a line just above his navel that clearly shows the length of the cut, but not its depth and the fact that there's nothing really holding it together and that's why it'll keep bleeding so long as he's up and about. ]

There's no nurse around here, so it's just like this. As long as I keep the bandage on, it'll heal over, like a papercut.

[disclosures]

[we will both pretend... Anyway, she'll look it over and wince. He should really be laying down for this but... There's no way she can tell how deep it is. And if there's anybody here she wants to use her gift on, it's Natsuo.

She'll start singing and the wounds will heal up.

But she'll leave and he'll completely forget she's done it.]

[randori]

[ How good... He will continue wearing these bloody bandages for the rest of the day because that's how infrequently he changes it, just before bedtime, and then go ??? at this now nonexistent wound, thank you. ]