From the white lights, the darkness comes...

[sageking]

Today's trial was a mixture of regret, anger, guilt, and second-thoughts. Perhaps some people realized that situations and choices weren't to be black or white. However, decisions were made, and whether it'd be through people keeping secrets or causing a ton of chaos...everyone could probably agree on one thing:

They've made their choices and no matter what happened in the coming days, they will lie in the beds they made for themselves. Whatever that should mean for each and every single person still living here.

That being said, there's still new choices to make. In the days to come, what will those be?

Comments

[golden_dream]

...

[She tensed up a little, then wrote:

"Not in so many words... but I'm always forcing myself to composure. I'm always forcing myself to get through the day."

...Yeah, that was true even before the Foundation.

She writes further:

"I know, but it still hurts..."]

[private from ghosts too now]

[foxetious]

[Gin actually opens his eyes at that, smile dropping as he reads. He's known Dazai would be a problem for a while now-- more than once he's admitted to wanting Gin gone.

Before the silence stretches too far Gin shifts in his seat enough to brush his hand across the wall and to intone the same chant as he did during trial. It's a more complete version this time though, several lines longer, and the orange shield stretches across the walls, ceiling and floor. Only once the barrier is complete does he turn back to Rosa.

No ghosts are needed, thank you.]

"Not fond" is to put it mildly. He's admitted he had originally planned to vote for me, and later on that he regretted not doing so. I suspect given half a chance, he would put me up for a vote.

[A twist of a smile returns, but it's less playful than usual for a moment, before melting back towards neutral.]

Logic only gets us so far, if you've noticed a pattern in those that have died. And even if the two of us form an alliance, we would have to deal with the arguments brought up by Dazai and his cohorts.

[eyeforai]

[Maybe?? But also Date.]

Then I just have to kill them before they kill me.

[flawless logic??]

[foxetious]

My barriers require an incantation and strong will to remain. Assuming no distractions, I could hold one up around a large enough area for all of us for at least a day while alone. If the king helps keep it strengthened, possibly longer depending on the miasma's effect.

Would that be long enough to get your barrier up? [A look over at "Mo"]

[golden_dream]

[She's honestly not sure what to make of that barrier going up. It's beyond her, but... She recognizes at least this means she has Gin's attention. Hopefully, for the good.

She nods.

"Haku-san and Zabuza-san were my friends, and they're gone... in comparison, Dazai has only lost one of his friends. Saphir is on our side, but he can be cajoled, so we can't rely on him too much. There are others too... possibly.

But... I don't think we need to outright vote for him. At least, not now. Neither do I think we should murder. Becoming any sort of murderer in this place carries a short lifespan.

But Dazai does seem the sort he's just looking for reasons to sacrifice himself... does he not?"]

[foxetious]

Something I noticed, possibly to our benefit: Saphir is a follower, but he has enough brains to follow those he finds most likely to protect him. Quite consistently he's hung onto Subete's coattails to remain protected. I could physically protect him, but he's rather wary of me otherwise.

[If Rosa could somehow persuade Saphir she had Gin "on a leash" as loathe as he is to think of it like that, she could possibly persuade him to see logic and come with them. He's been someone's leashed killer before, so it's not like it's a foreign concept.

The Dazai issue though...]

Dazai has claimed otherwise when I said as much before, but I presume that that's because it was me who said it. His cohorts would have to be otherwise before he could pull anything off anyway. They don't seem to ever be very far.

[golden_dream]

[That gets a surprised blink from her. She writes:

"Really?? To Subete??"]

...

[A short pause, before she continues:

"No wonder he's been distant after that trial. But, back on topic...

There's no easy solution to 'the Dazai problem,' other than sitting back and hoping he gets caught in a trap. I've known people like Dazai. I know people who make friends with people like him become invested and no amount of prying will pull them away. No-- we'd only make ourselves look like monsters. But he's self-destructive, and there are people here who can recognize that."]

[foxetious]

Subete was his protector, often enough. He would let him behind his barriers or let him hide near him when the ghosts were around.

[He's at least mildly amused by that still, considering the show it would be. It would also be an easy bargaining chip.]

Are you suggesting we throw him at one of the traps that are bound to come around? It would probably take too much time at the rate he's going right now, considering the miasma has no effect on him still. [He brings a hand to his chin in thought, eyes drifting towards the carpet before refocusing on Rosa. It's unhelpful if he can't see her response.]

If him and I went to a location to investigate together, it's easy enough for me to protect myself and "miss" him, claiming it's due to his nullification power, even if someone would later question me on whether I could have tried harder. The hard part would be getting him to investigate with me in the first place.

[Unless he could leave his body somewhere and tamper as a ghost? That would rely on him being able to touch Dazai though, and for someone else to not be see him wander by or during, which is harder to guarantee. ]

[boardreversal]

[His answer - is just a shaky exhale, combined with him tilting back in the lounge chair, staring up at the ceiling.]

...Yeah. Haha, but...it's....

[A strange, weak smile spreads on his face.]

...It's also a really....freeing one, in a weird way.

To think that the journey might still hold meaning....regardless of the end.

[All this time...even with beatrice, he was only focused on a single goal, almost ignoring every step of the way there.

He gave up because he saw the end, but...maybe, that was the wrong choice.]

[golden_dream]

...

[She took a deep breath, feeling the tension spike by several hundred degrees. The conversation was quickly turning to one of outright murder... well, of course it was. Gin-san wouldn't cast that barrier over a trifle. And yet... She wrote:

"Risky. Would you be able to convince a ghost-Dazai that you were in no way responsible? Because I would think... if I were a ghost, and I suspected a person was responsible for my death, my very first act would be to either haunt that person, or to make sure my friends knew what happened. --Come to think of it, that might be where that list of votes for Rin-chan came from. But, there's also the fact that even if Dazai were fooled, you'd be guilty in the court of public opinion. That court is ruthless.

No, we can't throw him into a trap. As far as I see it, we have two options... as of right now:

One: Dazai throws himself into a trap. Perhaps he's investigating with a friend who he absolutely cannot bear to let die. The only real consideration then is if he gets into a contest with someone else to see who can throw themselves under the train faster.

Two: We wait. Are you familiar with this saying? "If the cuckoo does not sing, kill it. If the cuckoo does not sing, coax it. If the cuckoo does not sing, wait." In which case... 'waiting' is hard to do. But sometimes it's the only thing you can do.

I think we should have a special signal, known only to us, that means 'Vote Dazai.' Some code-word one of us says, then the other repeats with either an affirmation or a negative. If we're both agreed, we go through with it. If not, we play it safe and continue voting for the culprit. It's like a wolf and sheep puzzle. Do you know what I mean?"]

[onemolife]

[ Looking one Mo time aGin ]

That should be long enough. I've already started to lay down the ground work.

[sageking]

You've grown to known me well, Doctor. And I don't mean simply because you've seen me in action before.

[ Such a beautiful expression Romani held right now. He didn't have much love for technology, but he couldn't help but wonder if it would be so bad for him to take a silly little photo.

And he definitely smiled into the return kiss, which wasn't something he's done often, but he couldn't help it.

There's definitely a bracelet in there as he said, as well. It's unsurprisingly golden, and looked pretty gaudy on it's own, with a few pieces of garnet too. There's also a golden necklace to accompany it, and a trinket with a gem connected to it that looked like it could be worn on a finger but it was more or less fitted by the golden string to be attached to said necklace instead. ]

Hmph. Naturally, I'll accept your gratitude graciously. A King like myself always has room to be generous to those who are worth my time.

[sageking]

That they are.

[ Gilgamesh didn't doubt that he would have still voted off Zabuza. However...this trial was different, despite his own efforts. As a King, he'd have to have considered it. What it'd mean for Subete to live, and what it'd mean for him to die.

But let's be real, the both of them knew the outcome was set in stone when Subete revealed himself. ]

Almost just like the third trial; in the third trial we had no one who immediately threw their life away to die midtrial so that there'd be less complications.

[ So maybe taking that into account, it was worse. ]

[sageking]

[ A King was always too good to hang out with the trash. ]

Hmph. It's sad that you're not wrong at all in the slightest.

[ Though Gilgamesh didn't exactly like the room much because it reminded him of this is was where Seteth died. Look, he's moving forward and all that, but he was bitter.

He'll also take one more bottle into his hands because why not. ]

I've not much interest in what's remaining, though I suppose it can't hurt to add one more to the collection.

[finalring]

[ he's not exactly capable of answering you, battler, as he's currently crying into your shoulder. he's still covering his mouth, if only as a weak attempt at maintaining some semblance of control over himself.

but it doesn't last long. maybe a minute or two at most, before the doctor pulls back, his expression meek- like as if all the fight was about to leave him.

he's so close to giving up, after all...can he really do this for much longer? especially like this?

... ]

I'm sorry I...shouldn't have done that. [ he sniffles again, trying to compose himself. and he does so! rather quickly, too. compartmentalizing is something he's rather good at, even at the cost of his own stability.

not the point. ]

I actually...a couple days before that happened, I had spoken with Rin. I think that she expected what would happen on Saturday, because she gave me something that she said was for you. It's in my diary on the desk...the paper's sticking out. I promise I haven't read it.

[ and, just as he says, there's a diary that has a white, folded paper that's sticking out like a sort of bookmark. ]

[sageking]

Oh? Well, I suppose that's not really all that surprising. All powers do come from somewhere.

[ An explanation was an explanation, though it wasn't the question he asked exactly. But in a way he was moving on from Shinsou, so if Gin wanted to take the low hanging fruit, he could. ]

Has there been much of an effect on those abilities?

[finalring]

Right...the ghost story from your island.

[ romani taps the table a couple times with his good hand, deep in thought about something.

he takes a deep breath, and nods. ]

I think that he is grieving. And he needs to be given time and space to do so, Rosa, especially in this situation. He grew very close to Rin in a short time, and having her taken away...well, I can't imagine the sort of pain he's in. That's why I'm suggesting to give him some time and space. I'm sure that he will appreciate it as well when it is time to leave.

[golden_dream]

[She tenses, remembering how she had to tell him... then writes a little addition:

"It's just a story. There was no Beatrice."

Just ignore how tense her hand is when she writes and shows that to him.

She tries to let it dissipate with her next breath, and after he sees it, she writes more:

"I need to apologize to him, at least. I'll never be able to forgive myself if I don't.

If I die tomorrow I don't want my last thought to be regrets about not apologizing to Battler."]

[sageking]

[ He'll frown ...

He supposed there's nothing that he could do on his end, then. ]

The fools should've given you high enough clearance since they were already sending us on a mission where it was obviously confirmed to be some measure of danger.

As always, this organization proved to be full of useless mongrels and imbeciles.

[sageking]

I've made preparations myself for when the time comes.

[ That's the strength of a Caster. You make preparations so that when you're able to strike, you're able to do so with more of an incredible force than before.

...At the very least these two were part of the few who seemed to be competent. He couldn't say the same of others, but, you know. He was putting his trust in them ... to a point. ]

With the powers of us all combined perhaps the future would look a little less bleak despite the idiocy we've faced so far.

Now that we've agreed on a tentative plan of sorts, we need to plan a date to enact this in case all else fails.

With the rate our situation is going, I'd give it about two weeks at best, and that's being generous. I'm not just factoring into the killings, but also considering the general amount of incompetence, and accounting for the unpredictable.

[sageking]

Very well, I'm feeling generous enough to heed your words. I've warned Sissel of not going to that number in particular.

[ And he expected the cat to listen. ]

[eyeforai]

...Thanks.

[Well, Sissel did listen at least!!]

[eyeforai]

[Wait, then why's he hanging out with Date--

Either way, while he'll scoff a little at the remark, he won't stop Gil from taking the other bottle. He already stowed some into Room 4 earlier on, and there is only so much alcohol you can stuff in somewhere before you gotta just let it go.]

Yeah? Maybe we'll eventually get a place that'll actually meet your standards. What the hell do you normally drink, anyway? Stuff that comes in diamond-encrusted bottles?

[cw_suicide]

Just the usual sort of thing.

[hairpets for hairpets, okok]

[cw_suicide]

Sometimes it's easier to think about the end. Since it's going to happen no matter what you do or whether you choose it.

Thinking about what's going on in the day to day... what you're leaving behind... that's a lot harder for me.

So I try not to think too hard.