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[ he's not really someone she spoke to at the castle, and she hasn't gotten around to seeking him out while here. but since someone actually went and died, steph figures she should finally approach him.
so, wherever yams is, there is a steph waving. ]
... hey.
so, wherever yams is, there is a steph waving. ]
... hey.
[It's harder than he anticipated, reconciling these emotions without Okita to guide him. He's not one to hide his emotions--the turmoil is clear on his face, though he snaps out of his thoughts when he sees her, and nods in greeting.]
Ah... Stephanie-kun. [Right, with the leg. Even if Yasusada died in the castle before they really got a chance to talk, Sanji likes her, and Yasusada mostly trusts Sanji's judgment.] Are you alright?
Ah... Stephanie-kun. [Right, with the leg. Even if Yasusada died in the castle before they really got a chance to talk, Sanji likes her, and Yasusada mostly trusts Sanji's judgment.] Are you alright?
I want to say yeah, but... not really, no.
[ she didn't know tsurumaru (because that would be playercest), but steph had been really hoping that the hosts were telling the truth.
... although it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand yasusada's expression. ]
What about you?
[ she didn't know tsurumaru (because that would be playercest), but steph had been really hoping that the hosts were telling the truth.
... although it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand yasusada's expression. ]
What about you?
...It's hard to understand. [There's no real reason not to admit it. He lifts a hand, rubbing at his chest.] I wanted to trust them, but... it wasn't unexpected, either.
[It's difficult, reconciling those things.
More quietly--]
Tsurumaru-san is from my home.
[Except not because he's from a different citadel BUT THE POINT STILL STANDS.]
[It's difficult, reconciling those things.
More quietly--]
Tsurumaru-san is from my home.
[Except not because he's from a different citadel BUT THE POINT STILL STANDS.]
[ oh... that explains his reaction.
her expression softens. ]
Was he... um, a sword too? Okita told me a little about it.
[ she did not understand and i, francy, also did not understand at the time ]
her expression softens. ]
Was he... um, a sword too? Okita told me a little about it.
[ she did not understand and i, francy, also did not understand at the time ]
Yes, he is.
[He's using the present tense, which is... something that he does, when he's in denial. But it's a comfort, a reminder to have faith in the saniwa--if they could find their souls once, then surely they'll find them again, right? It won't be the same, but if they don't succeed here... there's still hope.]
Tsurumaru-san is much older than I am. He's had a lot of masters.
[Yasusada honestly doesn't know that much about Tsurumaru's history because Tsurumaru is a weird old man, but that doesn't make his loss any easier.]
[He's using the present tense, which is... something that he does, when he's in denial. But it's a comfort, a reminder to have faith in the saniwa--if they could find their souls once, then surely they'll find them again, right? It won't be the same, but if they don't succeed here... there's still hope.]
Tsurumaru-san is much older than I am. He's had a lot of masters.
[Yasusada honestly doesn't know that much about Tsurumaru's history because Tsurumaru is a weird old man, but that doesn't make his loss any easier.]
[ it's things like this that make it hard for steph to understand how some people can be flippant about these deaths, even if they weren't personally close to the person who died.
did she know tsurumaru? no. but yasasada did, and so did others, and he had a life before being here. they should be more kind. ]
... we're going to figure it out. And then we can see him again.
did she know tsurumaru? no. but yasasada did, and so did others, and he had a life before being here. they should be more kind. ]
... we're going to figure it out. And then we can see him again.
[It's kind of her to try and reassure him, even though they weren't close before. He smiles a little, but it's clear his heart isn't really in it; it can't be, right now. Still, he does appreciate it.]
...Our master can find his spirit again, if they have to. I'm sure of it. [...] But I'd rather we save him ourselves. So it doesn't come to that.
...Our master can find his spirit again, if they have to. I'm sure of it. [...] But I'd rather we save him ourselves. So it doesn't come to that.
... I get that. I'd prefer that we fixed everything.
[ it'll make things feel a little less hopeless, like they have more control in what's going on. ]
[ it'll make things feel a little less hopeless, like they have more control in what's going on. ]
You haven't noticed anything strange, have you?
[He's pretty sure he knows what the answer is, but it's worth asking.]
[He's pretty sure he knows what the answer is, but it's worth asking.]
You mean, besides the lack of anything strange?
[ WHERE IS THEIR INVESTIGATION ]
[ WHERE IS THEIR INVESTIGATION ]
[ wherever yams is, stephanie is waving him over. ]
Hey! Come here.
Hey! Come here.
[LET'S SAY he was probably going to head to the gardens? Sure why not. But he'll go over to her when she calls him over, looking curious.]
What is it?
[don't hit him]
What is it?
[don't hit him]
Come get ice cream with me.
[ see? no punches. ]
[ see? no punches. ]
[Oh. He blinks, but he nods his fluffy lil head, shuffling closer.]
Alright.
[...]
Ice cream?
[what's that]
Alright.
[...]
Ice cream?
[what's that]
It's like a frozen treat.
But it's something good to have when... well, it'll be good right now.
But it's something good to have when... well, it'll be good right now.
[Ah.]
Alright.
[That's fine with him.
He'll walk along with her quietly for a little bit, before he speaks up again.]
Do you--did you know them well? Either of them. [Ogata, or Beau.]
Alright.
[That's fine with him.
He'll walk along with her quietly for a little bit, before he speaks up again.]
Do you--did you know them well? Either of them. [Ogata, or Beau.]
... not super well. I've spoken to Beau a couple of times, and I like her.
I only really spoke to Ogata when we've been gathered as a group, so it was minimal interactions.
I only really spoke to Ogata when we've been gathered as a group, so it was minimal interactions.
Mm, me too. I don't--...didn't like him.
[It's easy to admit--Yasusada's never really shy about showing how he feels about certain people. Still, his brow is furrowed as he walks.]
Stephanie-kun? Why did people encourage him yesterday?
[They knew someone would have to die, and most people had been pretty clear about their dislike for Ogata, too. So why?]
[It's easy to admit--Yasusada's never really shy about showing how he feels about certain people. Still, his brow is furrowed as he walks.]
Stephanie-kun? Why did people encourage him yesterday?
[They knew someone would have to die, and most people had been pretty clear about their dislike for Ogata, too. So why?]
... they just felt bad. I know that since it's a vote, it can sometimes seem less direct, but we are still effectively killing someone each week based on our opinions and theories. And this time, the majority was wrong, so everyone felt guilty.
[ she sighs. ]
So I guess their way of trying to make it up to him was telling him to fight back.
[ she sighs. ]
So I guess their way of trying to make it up to him was telling him to fight back.
...I suppose.
[But doesn't that feel... dishonest? They made their choice. Because they had to, sure, and they didn't necessarily want him to die--but they knew what would happen when they wrote down his name. Wouldn't the best thing be to own up to that?
This is, perhaps, why Tiger and Dragon never asked him to spill blood on their behalf. He's far too honest for games like this.]
More than anything, I'm frustrated that we still don't know anything.
[But doesn't that feel... dishonest? They made their choice. Because they had to, sure, and they didn't necessarily want him to die--but they knew what would happen when they wrote down his name. Wouldn't the best thing be to own up to that?
This is, perhaps, why Tiger and Dragon never asked him to spill blood on their behalf. He's far too honest for games like this.]
More than anything, I'm frustrated that we still don't know anything.
It really feels like we walked out of the trial knowing as much as we did when we walked in...
I mean, it's not the first time we've screwed up pretty badly. But... I guess everyone was expecting us to do better, since we've gone through this before.
[ was it overconfidence? who knows. ]
I mean, it's not the first time we've screwed up pretty badly. But... I guess everyone was expecting us to do better, since we've gone through this before.
[ was it overconfidence? who knows. ]
I don't know what else we could have done.
[He's no detective, obviously--finding a killer isn't really something he's ever claimed to be good at.]
We've done this before, but... whoever killed Narukami-san has, too. So they would know how to make it difficult.
[And they did. Intentionally or not, the fact that no one tried to draw attention to themselves means that... it was most likely intentional.]
[He's no detective, obviously--finding a killer isn't really something he's ever claimed to be good at.]
We've done this before, but... whoever killed Narukami-san has, too. So they would know how to make it difficult.
[And they did. Intentionally or not, the fact that no one tried to draw attention to themselves means that... it was most likely intentional.]
And I doubt it's another accidental case, since we have evidence that they deliberately tried to cover up what they did...
[ evan didn't hide any evidence and. did his best to get caught, despite the circumstances. ]
[ evan didn't hide any evidence and. did his best to get caught, despite the circumstances. ]
Right.
[He sighs, lifting a hand to rub his eyes.]
...This might make others start killing, too.
[He sighs, lifting a hand to rub his eyes.]
...This might make others start killing, too.
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