[WEEK 5: Monday night, close to curfew, room 112; Jay, Yukina, Girge, Tsurugi, Andersen]

[nowyouseeit]

[OKAY SO]

[WE'RE ALL HERE NOW]

[IN KAITO'S ROOM, NUMBER 112]

[discuss things]

Comments

[nowyouseeit]

[oh my god]

[his eyes flash, and he tilts his chin up, fire returning to his expression. he's all defiance and determination now. it's the same expression he wears during trials, when he's hot on a culprit's tail]

Don't you dare knock me out of this group, gramps.

[he stands, towering over Andersen, shoulders squared and gaze narrowed]

I've made a pact with Yukina and Jay. Bound myself by a blood oath with them and Craftly since day one. And I sure as hell am not the only one of us who's pissed off that this is the route we have to take. We three have been through a lot, and I refuse to abandon them now. We're going to see this through, together. I may not like the means, but the end result is something I've striven for ever since I got here.

I'm going to see this through, and no god or eldritch abomination or tiny grandpa is gonna take that away from me.

I've made my choice, and I'll damn well live with it.

[and he almost dares Andersen to try and take that resolve from him]

[nowyouseeit]

Yeah, probably.

[ain't even gonna deny it, but he lets out a huff before he plops back into his seat]

I'm no idiot. The path I've chosen to walk isn't an easy one. But unlike what you said to Girge, I'm not broken. Not yet.

[he's just tired.]

[nowyouseeit]

[ugh!!]

Don't compare me to Hamlet. I told you this wasn't a tragedy, remember?

[nowyouseeit]

Then I'll turn that duck into a dog through the sheer force of will.

[what is it about Andersen's pessimism that brings out the shounen in him]

[nowyouseeit]

You sound incredibly stupid.

[god!!]

We didn't bring you into this group to be a negative Nancy.

[disinterested]

... No, I agree, that sounded stupid.

[nowyouseeit]

Nobody asked you, Bounty Hunter.

[LET HIM LIVE]

[disinterested]

You have that in common with Andersen.

[nowyouseeit]

[UGH!!]

Right now I'm annoyed at him, so I don't want to have anything in common.

[disinterested]

What he's saying is worth listening to, however.

[Whether he's right or wrong.]

[nowyouseeit]

[an annoyed twitch]

Do all of you think I'm that weak?

[disinterested]

No. [He smiles.] If you were weak, you would've turned a blind eye and left me and Tsurugi to kill everyone.

[He can admit that much.]

But it's naive to think you should hear only what you like, you know.

[nowyouseeit]

[if it's Andersen's intention to use tough love and douchebaggery to keep Kaito motivated, BOY IS IT WORKING]

Do you even see people beyond the fictional stereotypes you tend to pigeonhole them into? This isn't one of your stories. It isn't a novel or a play or a fairy tale. There are no heroes, no villains, just people struggling to leave this place alive.

What do you see when you look at me, Tiny Tot? Some idealistic kid who is breaking himself and his friendships in order to save the lives of forty-two people who were strangers just five weeks ago?

Remove emotion for the equation and the choice becomes clear: it's either I save my heart and my friendships, and abandon those who have already died. . . or risk both of those things to steal forty-two souls out from the Unclean's clutches.

If you were me, what would you do?

[nowyouseeit]

[he'd cross his arms, but. well. one is out of commission]

. . . is that how you cope, then?

You detach yourself from the heart, because it's easier to observe and write if you feel nothing for the subjects of your stories?

[maybe it's one to toss some of Andersen's own medicine back at him]

[nowyouseeit]

[. . . okay no he's not nothing else]

Then tell me, oh great author, with what heart are you speaking?

[said a little dryly]

[ninjay]

[ at hearing his and yukina's names, jay glances over at kaito. he watches the whole exchange, not saying anything, and he'll look away once kaito has finished his speech. hm. ]

[nowyouseeit]

[hm!!]

[if he notices Jay looking at him, he doesn't say anything about it]