[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]

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]

[uuugh. he hates to admit it, but. . .]

I know.

[he might be annoyed but he isn't going to deny that Andersen has a point. several of them]

So if you guys are gonna keep testing my resolve like this, then I'll keep tilting my chin up and moving forward.

[disinterested]

Well, don't take it that way from me. I'm not nearly as interested as Andersen is in prodding you.

[... Heh.]

But spite can be a good motivator, at least.

[nowyouseeit]

[ha. at least, at that, he lets out a sort of half-laugh]

Yeah. I've noticed. Wouldn't be the first time I've acted out of spite, either.

[disinterested]

Then maybe it's a good thing that Andersen has a talent for pissing people off.

[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]

[nowyouseeit]

Didn't I say my role as a detective was over?

[gawd]

And if you mean you're talking with the heart of a Heroic Spirit meant to fight and serve and provide support, well. . .

Then our motivations for joining this group are two wholly different things.

[nowyouseeit]

[OPENS HIS MOUTH TO SAY SOMETHING SNARKY--]

[My contract dictates that I aid my Master in defending humanity. In comparison to the other Servants in her ensemble, I'm only suited for support. If I can save some of you unfortunate souls... Well. It's simply my duty.]

[and closes it again with a click, sudden understanding washing away the irritation and annoyance he was feeling earlier]

. . .

You're kind of an ass.

[. . .]

But as before, that support is still appreciated.