purrtagonist | [Day 15, night: Erika

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nope's peak: r1

[Day 15, night: Erika - HERE THERE BE MURDER]

[he had made a promise. and he supposes, technically? he's keeping it, by waiting for Erika just outside the dormitory wing, one arm slung around a crutch into which he leans, since he still can't put pressure on his injured leg]

[technically he's keeping it, sure. but functionally? he's very much aware that what happens tonight is going to be anything but an upstanding young man making good on his promises]

[there is a bit of tension in his stance, evident from the way he taps his fingers against his waist, subconsciously tracing the outline of the knife he can feel tucked in the back of his pants. he's never done this before-- never wanted to do this in the first place. but when Erika arrives, he pushes that tension aside so he appears perfectly normal]

Are you late, or am I just early?

[. . . it's fine. compose yourself, Kurusu. you've made your choice. you're going to have to live with its consequences]

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[she steps lightly, still looking very much like... Erika, she has a small bag of things with her.]

Late? Hardly. We are both on time, it seems.

[she smiles]

Shall we begin, Kurusu-san? My little grey cells are itching to start the exploration this night.

Where do you believe you'll be ambulatory in exploring?

[still looking like Erika. . . still looking none the wiser, like this is a normal trek out with a trusted "friend" on a killing night. that knowledge causes something uncomfortable to twist in his gut, something to yank harshly at his heart. but for now? he pushes those feelings aside. focus]

[he quirks a brow as his gaze lands on that bag of things. the question is on the tip of his tongue, but for now? he doesn't ask]

Anywhere that doesn't require a lot of climbing. The playground is out of the question, for instance. The elevators let me move to the upper floors, too.

Hm. That is a shame... I bet there's something really useful hiding down in the morgue.

Very well. Let's try the opposite... the fourth floor. We can work our way down.

If you come across anything suspicious, don't touch it until I've examined it.

But you won't climb down there. I remember.

[said with a hint of (forced) amusement. and in the back of his mind, he thinks the fourth floor is probably one of the better places to do this. the aquarium tunnel is spacious enough. . .]

[ugh]

[he swallows thickly, trying to ignore the way his mouth suddenly feels dry. but to her command, he simply nods, chin tilted up]

Yes ma'am. As the assistant, touching things is definitely not my job.

[giggles, a soft ladylike giggle]

That was during the day. ...Do you really think scaling a little bit of rope is beyond me? Of course, I still won't be attempting it with you as you are... my policy at night is to not let my assistant go unseen for even a moment. I won't settle for anything less than a perfect alibi, Kurusu-san. --I hope you weren't planning on sleeping.

[. . . GIVES HER THE STINK EYE]

I knew scaling a little bit of rope wasn't beyond you, but what's the difference between doing it during the day and at night?

[raises an eyebrow]

You all were standing around, of course. No doubt one of you would've thought it was quite clever to pull the rope out and leave me stranded there. At least for a little while.

[shrugs]

Furthermore, why advertise exactly how much I'm able to do, physically? ...That just gives people knowledge that could be used against me. Surely you can appreciate that reason, Kurusu-san.

[aha, Erika. . . as cautious as ever]

Can't argue there, because I do.

[he takes a hobbled step forward, and gestures towards the elevator]

Shall we get going?

Yes... we can converse as we go.

[She'll make sure he gets on the elevator with him.]

I hear your Akechi Goro-san has taken a liking to Saihara Shuichi-san. What are your opinions on that, Kurusu-san?

[he does! and the elevator ride up to the fourth floor is perfectly normal]

I think Shuichi will be good for him. He could use more friends, and more people who are willing to talk him through his bad patches.

Why're you asking?

...You're my assistant, you exist to comment on clues, including the relationships I observe between people and their interactions.

[rolls her eyes, like it's obvious]

His 'bad patches' you say? What 'bad patches' might those be?

[he's a very bad assistant, okay. for more reasons than one]

We're stuck in a murder school. . . I think most people would have "bad patches" while being trapped here.

That's not what you said. You just said 'bad patches', without any qualifications.

...

[gonna stare at him for the entirety of this elevator ride, if he doesn't say anything else.]

Right. And now I'm qualifying.

[stares right back at her. doesn't even blink. is this a staring contest? it is now]

[smiles]

How very interesting... especially because it's completely incongruous with what you said to start your statement.

You said 'He could use more friends.'

This suggests a statement that doesn't apply exclusively to us all, at 'murder school', but is rather a universal statement. ...For the record, Akechi-san does seem like the type of person who would have few friends, if any. After all, what sense does it make when being trapped here limits our options for social interactivity? I know a number of people who have gone on record saying they have high opinion of Akechi Goro-san... or potential high opinion.

Therefore, Kurusu-san must be speaking of a quality that applies to Akechi Goro-san before he came to the so-called, 'murder school'. ...Of course, I am already aware you are both from the same 'place,' so to speak. You are well qualified to make that statement, aren't you, Kurusu-san?

Given that the statement only makes sense in the context of a universal statement, without a qualifier, what sense does it make that the very next part of his sentence, without any modifying words whatsoever, mentions Akechi Goro-san's 'bad patches'? This would surely suggest that, rather than some stress from being in the so-called 'murder school', Akechi Goro-san's personality must be rather... volatile.

Of course, that is more in-line with what I've observed and heard related to me through various individuals. Much more than simply Akechi Goro-san is having 'stress' at 'murder school' and needs help coping. Indeed, if anything, he seems rather composed when we speak... not suggesting much outward stress at all.

...

Just from a little statement of Akechi Goro-san experiencing some 'bad patches', see how far Furudo Erika's reasoning has taken her.

What do you think, everyone?

[and, the doors open.]

Edited 2018-01-17 06:58 (UTC)

[. . .]

[you know, normally her going off like that might annoy him. but all things considered?]

[he'll let her have it. with a breath, he pushes away from the elevator wall]

Where to on the fourth floor?

I asked, "What do you think?" Kurusu-san. It was not a rhetorical question.

[it annoyed her, at least.]

If we're going to start... the aquarium tunnel. I've seen the white room, and the shrine doesn't interest me.

I think. . .

The aquarium is a good place to start.

[flashes her a tiny smile as he exits the elevator]

...You're not much of an assistant if you keep your opinions to yourself.

[Still, she's not letting him outrun her, and to the aquarium they go!]

I never did say I would be very good at this job.

[a halfhearted joke! eventually he lets her overtake the lead towards the aquarium, with him only lagging a few steps behind]

[sighs]

Just another difficulty I'm expected to endure, I suppose...

[looks around]

Interesting that this appeared on the fourth floor. One would think, in a normal setting, it would be on the bottom.

You make me sound like such a burden.

[he stops walking once they reach the entrance of the aquarium, gaze flickering up, gray eyes watching the fish as they dart around in the water]

Seto said something similar. Something about the structural integrity of this building.

Indeed. That's because you are.

Truly? What did he say, exactly?

Nothing terribly interesting. Just that it was surprising the building could support an aquarium like this one on the fourth floor.

[he takes a step forward, towards her, still watching the fish]

It does make me wonder what kind of prison they've trapped us in.

Mm. 'Prison' is it?

[even then, she doesn't have her back completely turned]

Quite a lot of predators in that fish tank, don't you think? I see a number of sharks, for example...

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