and crying. oh my god senri is always crying. but the look on his face is a lot more urgent than how tearful his face is. he's got another stack of papers in his hand, and he's flipping through them, as if trying to find the right one as he rushes into the parlor]
Ray-kun wrote to me.
He said -
[and he'll recite the letter:]
Thanks for the books.
Here's a list of things to keep in mind now that I'm gone. I'll keep things simple: pay attention.
1) Look at this way: you don't have to go out of your way to visit anymore, since there shouldn't be anyone worthwhile hanging around there now.
2) I'll even accept you going to Sincerity and crossdressing again to cope: those pigtails were stupid, though.
3) Trust the people you do: don't trust the people who don't trust you.
4) Agreed: that's such a nasty way to find out, in your words.
5) You don't need me. Keep going.
- Ray [a pause] Um, some morse code...
P.S. Did Takaomi ever tell you about the time Sasuke forced him to take off all his clothes to check something? The shirt was fine, but anything else was... well, you can guess. It was pretty funny. I'm dead now, so I don't have to worry about them coming after me for this.
P.P.S. It's empty here. You'd hate it.
[SHAKES HEAD MORE VIGOROUSLY]
One - he means the lab, because I would bother him there. Two - Entrapta had pigtails. Three - the two of them didn't trust me. Four - I said that to him, when we were talking about Catra. Five - I.... I don't know but—
[ he just. makes a face when senri gets to the p.s. and decides to pretend he did not just hear that. ]
... he wrote to me too, but part of my letter was torn off so I have no idea what the rest of his message was. But one part said, "Tick tock, tick tock. You know how you all feel when you're running out of time during trials? That's how I'll be feeling all week."
Catra did the clock for when trial was almost over every week.
[ he thinks it's pretty obvious what the fifth point means, but he doesn't dwell on it. ]
... it's more complicated if it's us who out them, considering we're...
[Sasuke has (1) uno letter. Which... he can't read. So he gives it out to one of them, face kind of... like he wants to be embarrassed, but is trying hard not to be.
Sasuke,
You know, if things had turned out differently, I was going to ask you to kill Luna and help you out (you'd have to do the felidae's share of the work, since I'm not half as good in a fight, but I'd have offered to deal the killing blow, at least). Murders are usually done solo, but they don't have to be, right?
I probably could've survived if you'd used it on me instead. Still, I don't regret turning your offer down. I chose what I did for a reason, so you better keep that reason alive. Don't screw this up.
... I can give this information to Mizuki-san and see if they're willing to share, on the behalf of someone anonymous-- possibly on the condition that if it goes poorly for them, I will speak up and say it was my information. I am already going to have to admit my involvement to them in case we need them to handle that use of Above Suspicion. But I... am relieved to hear this, much as I should likely not be.
We fed her one of those cookies, but she just-- shared that she found Ludger-kun attractive. They did not confess.
[so he still feels guilty for this but
at least they didn't target two innocent people.]
... would you read mine too? I am afraid I cannot, right now.
[and he'll pass a letter over that reads:
Ishikirimaru,
You said you wanted to practice your English, right?
Can I just say that you had better not be blaming yourself? And neither should Takaomi. Tell yourself that. Read this over as many times as you need to for that to sink in. Always remember that everything starts with something.
Even so, it won't end with me. Never let down your guard. Take care. Remember what you sought to do. And if you're still alive when you read this, make sure it ends now. Please look after the others.
- Ray (.-. .- -.--)
we can assume they get to read both at once for thread flow]
[senri will read them, sure, given that his english is pretty good. and he'll pause as he finishes.]
.... 'Murders are usually done solo' is another hint. So it really was the two of them.
[and he'll turn to ishi]
I can do it. People know that I was looking for who hurt Ray-kun. If Mizuki-san is covering for someone, it'll come out eventually....
[ . . . and he'll shake his head.]
If Cheri is up there, I'll understand if people want to vote for me, because in a way it's my fault for not letting this go. Just please make sure that Mizuki-san saves me. Or if they do want to pursue who did this, then make sure that they'll save Merriment.
[senri will sigh]
They might as well see the whole letter, if they want to verify how authentic it is. Something like this... is something that I might as well take ownership for, right?
[ it's said immediately because taka will physically fight every single person who suggests it. ]
... even if we do out them, no matter what we still need to vote for someone, so they're going to have to try to solve the case. And if Mizuki can use Above Suspicion, even if everyone votes incorrectly we can use that power on whoever gets voted for so we won't have to out your [ sasuke and ishi ] identities.
[BINCH, he can hear again. Don't even. His eye narrows on Senri.] No. Don't be an idiot. They're going to have to work for the answer just like they've had to work every other time.
And if they find out, I'm the one who did it. I can own up to my actions. Don't you dare think you can steal that from me. [Worse than him yelling and having a tantrum is Sasuke being icy. It's blistering, cold ice.
He's just going to like yank his letter back without tearing it, thanks.]
I don't care if they know. She killed Ray, and we missed her. I didn't want her to do that to anyone else just because she needed an easy favor. I don't care if they believe me, or if it matters to them.
...please do not allow that to come out unless it becomes absolutely necessary or we are caught, Uchiha-kun. We do not need another fight in the middle of a trial, nor do I want anyone to make an attempt on your life.
[let's not get fuckin midtrialed, sasuke, calm down?]
Nito-kun. I doubt anyone will vote for your god, but if you are certain you want to be the one to get this information out... I think we should let you. I'll remain close to you just in case, but I feel that enough people here are fond of you that no one will attempt to take any action.
.... mm. I don't want... If it's something Ray-kun entrusted me with, I'll take care of it. I'm not sure when - I don't know if it'll look suspicious to just throw it out at the beginning or....
[he pouts]
... Ray-kun said he would talk to his god about plans for trial. I'm going to pay her a visit, and see if maybe she would have any advice for me. But.. if nothing else, we'll know that you were right when you chose to remove them from the game.
Did... Did they tell you why they did it? why they targeted Ray-kun?
The only reason that's really obvious is that he did so much during trial, but... the only reason to take him out for that is if you're going to kill other people, isn't it? Otherwise there's no reason to worry about that.
[ ... ]
You probably shouldn't say it right at trial start though. If people know they killed Ray, then that means people who are close to Ray will be the immediate suspects.
[It's not a terrible glare, but Ishi gets a glare anyway. He doesn't like any of this at all. It isn't about the killing.
But the fallout after. The trial. Everyone involved.
His jaw clenches and his hands fist, and he grunts once, low under his breath. And then he reaches up to tenderly smooth a hand over his face.] Just let them... figure it out. I said...
I don't care if they find me. I don't regret what I did.
Please try to have some sense of self-preservation, or we really will end up losing you at this rate. Are you truly going to throw aside Nito-kun's efforts to help you like that?
[ishikirimaru can you REALLY talk.
but he sighs, shaking his head.]
We could not get them to confess. They denied it, and we got nothing useful out of the two of them... until Ray-kun's letters, I feared that perhaps we might have been wrong and they may have been telling the truth.
The turn-around is immediate. He goes silent, teeth partially bared. Senri wouldn't even have had to pout, honestly. The moment the words leave Ishi's mouth, Sasuke is saddled in with resignation.
He jerks his head in the opposite direction from all of them.]
We need to figure out what we're going to say though. If Ishirin-san is going to say that he stumbled on the scene of the... fire? What were Taka and Sasuke doing? We don't need to say that it was Sasuke yet, even, or say Taka stayed with Merriment....
.... I had to tell a white lie to Connor-san. He's... He asked me to look out for anyone who's acting strange tomorrow, because he knows that one person broke his rule. And he told me that the penalty is that the person who inflicted harm, if they're still among the living, will be experiencing symptoms similar to what they imposed upon their victim.
[ . . . ]
I don't know who else he asked to help him, but I told him that I'd try. He... asked if he could trust me, and if I would be able to confront someone who was close to me that might've committed premeditated murder.
[senri crosses his arms, but also probably looks a little like he's wrapping his arms around himself]
... I told him that I don't know if I could, and there was a chance that I'd let him down.
[he glances elsewhere]
I'm not gonna give up Sasuke.
... but if it gets out, I'm going to have to pretend that I didn't know. I think I'll still be able to present Ray-kun's letter, as justification... but I'm sorry.
They were half-truths. I said I don't know if I'd be able to confront someone that I thought would do it - and I don't know if I'll be able to do that in trial. I might hesitate....
Like I did with Connor-san himself. Or with Guy-san.
... he can't get mad if he just thinks I'm scared.
[damn acting binch]
I told him about Above Suspicion anyway so... he knows that I'm trying where I can.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 6, friday
and crying. oh my god senri is always crying. but the look on his face is a lot more urgent than how tearful his face is. he's got another stack of papers in his hand, and he's flipping through them, as if trying to find the right one as he rushes into the parlor]
Ray-kun wrote to me.
He said -
[and he'll recite the letter:]
Thanks for the books.
Here's a list of things to keep in mind now that I'm gone. I'll keep things simple: pay attention.
1) Look at this way: you don't have to go out of your way to visit anymore, since there shouldn't be anyone worthwhile hanging around there now.
2) I'll even accept you going to Sincerity and crossdressing again to cope: those pigtails were stupid, though.
3) Trust the people you do: don't trust the people who don't trust you.
4) Agreed: that's such a nasty way to find out, in your words.
5) You don't need me. Keep going.
- Ray [a pause] Um, some morse code...
P.S. Did Takaomi ever tell you about the time Sasuke forced him to take off all his clothes to check something? The shirt was fine, but anything else was... well, you can guess. It was pretty funny. I'm dead now, so I don't have to worry about them coming after me for this.
P.P.S. It's empty here. You'd hate it.
[SHAKES HEAD MORE VIGOROUSLY]
One - he means the lab, because I would bother him there. Two - Entrapta had pigtails. Three - the two of them didn't trust me. Four - I said that to him, when we were talking about Catra. Five - I.... I don't know but—
[his fingers turn tight against the paper]
It was them.
.... I.....
Should I... tell everyone....?
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... he wrote to me too, but part of my letter was torn off so I have no idea what the rest of his message was. But one part said, "Tick tock, tick tock. You know how you all feel when you're running out of time during trials? That's how I'll be feeling all week."
Catra did the clock for when trial was almost over every week.
[ he thinks it's pretty obvious what the fifth point means, but he doesn't dwell on it. ]
... it's more complicated if it's us who out them, considering we're...
[ involved in their uh, murder, ]
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Sasuke,
You know, if things had turned out differently, I was going to ask you to kill Luna and help you out (you'd have to do the felidae's share of the work, since I'm not half as good in a fight, but I'd have offered to deal the killing blow, at least). Murders are usually done solo, but they don't have to be, right?
I probably could've survived if you'd used it on me instead. Still, I don't regret turning your offer down. I chose what I did for a reason, so you better keep that reason alive. Don't screw this up.
- Ray (.-. .- -.--)]
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We fed her one of those cookies, but she just-- shared that she found Ludger-kun attractive. They did not confess.
[so he still feels guilty for this but
at least they didn't target two innocent people.]
... would you read mine too? I am afraid I cannot, right now.
[and he'll pass a letter over that reads:
Ishikirimaru,
You said you wanted to practice your English, right?
Can I just say that you had better not be blaming yourself? And neither should Takaomi. Tell yourself that. Read this over as many times as you need to for that to sink in. Always remember that everything starts with something.
Even so, it won't end with me. Never let down your guard. Take care. Remember what you sought to do. And if you're still alive when you read this, make sure it ends now. Please look after the others.
- Ray (.-. .- -.--)
we can assume they get to read both at once for thread flow]
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.... 'Murders are usually done solo' is another hint. So it really was the two of them.
[and he'll turn to ishi]
I can do it. People know that I was looking for who hurt Ray-kun. If Mizuki-san is covering for someone, it'll come out eventually....
[ . . . and he'll shake his head.]
If Cheri is up there, I'll understand if people want to vote for me, because in a way it's my fault for not letting this go. Just please make sure that Mizuki-san saves me. Or if they do want to pursue who did this, then make sure that they'll save Merriment.
[senri will sigh]
They might as well see the whole letter, if they want to verify how authentic it is. Something like this... is something that I might as well take ownership for, right?
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[ it's said immediately because taka will physically fight every single person who suggests it. ]
... even if we do out them, no matter what we still need to vote for someone, so they're going to have to try to solve the case. And if Mizuki can use Above Suspicion, even if everyone votes incorrectly we can use that power on whoever gets voted for so we won't have to out your [ sasuke and ishi ] identities.
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And if they find out, I'm the one who did it. I can own up to my actions. Don't you dare think you can steal that from me. [Worse than him yelling and having a tantrum is Sasuke being icy. It's blistering, cold ice.
He's just going to like yank his letter back without tearing it, thanks.]
I don't care if they know. She killed Ray, and we missed her. I didn't want her to do that to anyone else just because she needed an easy favor. I don't care if they believe me, or if it matters to them.
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[let's not get fuckin midtrialed, sasuke, calm down?]
Nito-kun. I doubt anyone will vote for your god, but if you are certain you want to be the one to get this information out... I think we should let you. I'll remain close to you just in case, but I feel that enough people here are fond of you that no one will attempt to take any action.
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[he pouts]
... Ray-kun said he would talk to his god about plans for trial. I'm going to pay her a visit, and see if maybe she would have any advice for me. But.. if nothing else, we'll know that you were right when you chose to remove them from the game.
Did... Did they tell you why they did it? why they targeted Ray-kun?
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[ ... ]
You probably shouldn't say it right at trial start though. If people know they killed Ray, then that means people who are close to Ray will be the immediate suspects.
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But the fallout after. The trial. Everyone involved.
His jaw clenches and his hands fist, and he grunts once, low under his breath. And then he reaches up to tenderly smooth a hand over his face.] Just let them... figure it out. I said...
I don't care if they find me. I don't regret what I did.
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[ishikirimaru can you REALLY talk.
but he sighs, shaking his head.]
We could not get them to confess. They denied it, and we got nothing useful out of the two of them... until Ray-kun's letters, I feared that perhaps we might have been wrong and they may have been telling the truth.
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but on the other, he's also an emotionally manipulative little shit who has no qualms with being turned into a bartering chip so
senri will just stare at sasuke at that, pouting a little.
yeah are you really going to throw aside his efforts like that]
... please don't. We can... figure something out. I don't want people to think that you're a threat when you're just trying to help us.
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[ :/ ]
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The turn-around is immediate. He goes silent, teeth partially bared. Senri wouldn't even have had to pout, honestly. The moment the words leave Ishi's mouth, Sasuke is saddled in with resignation.
He jerks his head in the opposite direction from all of them.]
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We need to figure out what we're going to say though. If Ishirin-san is going to say that he stumbled on the scene of the... fire? What were Taka and Sasuke doing? We don't need to say that it was Sasuke yet, even, or say Taka stayed with Merriment....
But it's worth thinking about.
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LATER FRIDAY
[ . . . ]
I don't know who else he asked to help him, but I told him that I'd try. He... asked if he could trust me, and if I would be able to confront someone who was close to me that might've committed premeditated murder.
[senri crosses his arms, but also probably looks a little like he's wrapping his arms around himself]
... I told him that I don't know if I could, and there was a chance that I'd let him down.
[he glances elsewhere]
I'm not gonna give up Sasuke.
... but if it gets out, I'm going to have to pretend that I didn't know. I think I'll still be able to present Ray-kun's letter, as justification... but I'm sorry.
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Like I did with Connor-san himself. Or with Guy-san.
... he can't get mad if he just thinks I'm scared.
[damn acting binch]
I told him about Above Suspicion anyway so... he knows that I'm trying where I can.
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[He frowns.]
You know they're going to try to kill me there. Right?
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[ even if they have to move in the way.
he does not say that part out loud it's fine ]
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You don’t need to be in the way of my accusation.
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