alttitude | week 0, saturday

[Akechi, on his way back to his room for the evening, slows to a stop]

Jae-Ha-san, correct? Can I help you?

[what does that -san mean

well he's heard akechi calling other people that so maybe it's a good thing!]

Only briefly, I'm sure - but it is something that I can only ask you.

Do you speak with Miss Sharpay often?

[quirks his brows, but answers the question truthfully]

Only if speaking to her twice counts as "often." Once when we first arrived, and then again that Thursday night.

... and why do you suppose it was that she felt like seeking you out on Thursday then?

. . . wouldn't you know, I was so surprised by her approaching me that I asked the same question.

[in. so many words]

She proceeded to quiz me on the information in the tapestries, to prove a point. I imagine she saw the "deductive and inductive reasoning" portions of my tapestry and concluded that I was observant enough to give her the information she sought.

[ . . . he doesn't look satisfied, not entirely, but he can't help but laugh a little bit at the answer.]

The tapestries...

That's all you talked about, was it?

It wasn't, no. But it was a part of our conversation.

We discussed my impressions of the other residents of the manor. Who I thought was perceptive and sharp. We also discussed the mechanics of this "war game" we're playing.

. . . out of everything we spoke about, our conversation about the war game was the most interesting part.

Did she reveal anything to you?

Anything more than she might've mentioned to everyone in her confession, anyway.

No. I came away from that conversation completely ignorant to what she had just done. Although, in hindsight, I should have known.

But based on what she said to me after her confession, I believe she knew a lot more about this war game than she was capable of saying. And I believe some of the theories we discussed may, in fact, be correct.

I could share those with you, if you'd like.

[Jae-ha hums at that, amused.]

You don't think I'm a ticking time bomb?

That's nice. Everyone's been treating me like one tonight.

[quirks a brow]

I think it's hasty to give up on you and Sousei-san so quickly. Dragon-san did suggest there was a way for you two to be partners, even though she stated whether that would occur or not depended on the whims of another Narrator, and not us.

If that Narrator is listening, if they saw our heartfelt cries for you two to be saved at the trial, I doubt they'll leave either of you to die.

Mm... I don't very much like leaving my fate into the hands of others.

[It's just not in his Aesthetic(tm).]

I hope you're right if that really is the only way - but if it's not, I do still plan to keep pursuing my own search for answers.

But as you were saying.... your theories?

Admittedly, neither do I. But I'm not sure what other choice we have in the moment.

[he is the WORST at showing sympathy, I'm sorry]

AS for my theory, let me start at the beginning. You noticed how our titles were arranged into three separate factions, correct?

[he's not wrong though - jae-ha's pragmatic enough that he doesn't seem offended, now that his emotions are back under his own control]

Villains, Heroes, Civilians, yes?

That's right. Heroes being "good," and villains being "evil." Presumably, the civilians are "neutral."

Tiger-san and Dragon-san both said this was a game of good versus evil. Doesn't it seem to follow, then, that these three factions should be competing against each other?

That would make sense - to determine who gets to have control of a story.

That's correct. Neither of us were able to come to a conclusion as to how the factions play into the game's rules, of course. I have heard the theory from someone else that for one faction to "win" this game, they must eliminate the others, but I don't know how true that is.

My supposition is that it has less to do with the weekly homicides, and more to do with our objectives.

Ah - the ones that were assigned to us, along with those annoying titles?

[He hums softly, and then presses - ]

They want them to be completed... is that it.

I have no way of confirming this, beyond asking them directly, of course. But their limited availability makes that difficult.

But considering the intense focus on "stories" and "narratives" as a theme of this game, and considering how the completion of objectives "completes" a narrative, I believe my hypothesis to be correct.

And what do you plan to do with this information then, Mr. Detective? Use your personal kindness to tip everyone toward completing the goals left outlined for them?

[I mean. yes]

[but he just chuckles]

No, not exactly. I highly doubt I have that much influence over people here. But I'd like to share my theories with everyone I can, to at least hear their thoughts on the manner.

Charisma goes a long way.

[But Jae-ha considers his and - ]

... the goal they outlined for me isn't a bad one. I'd just need more time to be able to fulfill it. Perhaps a bit of luck, and then some desperation.

[. . . the briefest of hesitations, and--]

Well, if you'd like some assistance, you know where to find me. But that is up to your discretion, of course. I wouldn't ask you to share something so secretive with me if you didn't feel comfortable with it.

[A happy little hum.]

Well - the same to you, Mr. Detective. If you need any help and think that I'd be of any use, feel free to ask.

Naturally. And I do appreciate the offer for assistance.

. . . good luck tomorrow as well, Jae-Ha-san.

week 0, saturday

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