hikage.

[axilium]

something will go here later

Comments

[axilium]

You severely underestimate animals.

[psychedelica]

I'm a good shot.

[ not buying it... i don't know where Belph's piano is in their little camp dorm but Hikage's keeping a respectful distance away, leaning against one of the bunks. ]

Then what did you make? I'm curious.

[axilium]

And again, you severely underestimate the number of bullets it can take to bring something down.

I tranquilized it.

[psychedelica]

Speak for yourself. I could kill a bear with two bullets. Maybe three. [ apparently, he's dying on this hill. ] ... Anyway, that sounds like you.

[ a smart solution that won't make anyone particularly angry. After a moment of thought, he adds: ]

... Good job.

[axilium]

Putting aside how I come from an Earth where the majority of life is decimated so I have a healthy respect for living things—you don't think people would be asking way more questions if I randomly pulled out a murder weapon out of thin air?

So, yeah. I think my idea was smarter than immediately jumping to murder.

[psychedelica]

[ he's AWARE!! Hikage rolls his eyes. ]

I never said it was a bad idea. You actually did do a good job. I'm more used to people rushing in stupidly without plans, so I was concerned.

[ he means steph ]

[axilium]

Thanks, Hikage. I'm touched by how much faith you have in me.

[psychedelica]

Blame yourself. How many times did you make me think you were putting your life on the line back in the castle?

[ a sigh. ]

... I have plenty of faith in your smarts. And your... I know you're my friend, [ said somewhat awkwardly. ] But it's hard for me to tell what you're planning.

[axilium]

And yet I never died!

[he refrains from expressing his amusement at hikage's awkwardness.]

Yes, that's deliberate.

[psychedelica]

Because you don't have faith in me?

[ not that he can really... blame Belph for that. And he doesn't. Despite his tone, he simply looks resigned. ]

You'll have to deal with me worrying, then. At least until this ends. [ whatever that ending may be. ] ... I was wrong this trial.

[axilium]

No, because being obtuse is in my nature and I'm like this with every single person.

[belph, dying inside: why does everyone always take everything so personally]

Wrong in what way? I mean, we were all pretty wrong, but that should be normal for us, at least.

[psychedelica]

[ belph......... ]

Whatever. [ why did he pick this annoying guy to be friends with... worst of all, he still likes him even though he's annoying! ] I meant that I picked Ogata on weak evidence. Even now, I don't have any idea what actually happened.

[ it's especially frustrating because he'd intended to be at the lake that night. ]

[axilium]

Like I said. You and the majority of us here, Hikage. It sucks, but we deal with it and move on.

[psychedelica]

I'm not looking for sympathy. I was hoping you fared better than I did.

[ in his extremely indirect way of asking. He's blunt, but he's not angry; he sighs. ]

Let's hope this isn't a bad sign.

[axilium]

If I had a better idea, then I would've screwed up more than anybody else for not saying anything.

[he shrugs.]

We got it wrong all the time in the castle. From a practical perspective, the worst part is that since we didn't catch a killer, we still have no info on what spurned them into killing.

[psychedelica]

Mm. [ a nod. ] But it seems likely to me that we'll be rewarded with more information if we succeed. Or... something, anyway. They've been handing out that junk every week.

[axilium]

It's junk because your team isn't the winning one.

[psychedelica]

... Is that how it works?

[ belph knows so much... ]

[axilium]

Yep. The weekly competition is real, you know.

[psychedelica]

Hmph. I guess that makes sense.

[ in, like, a stupid sort of way. ]

In that case, getting that information is the only worthwhile part of the trial at all... other than trying to kill people on other teams. [ glancing over at him again. ] ... We'll have to find a way to switch teams.

[axilium]

Well, we'll see. There's no guarantee that that's possible, so I wouldn't hold my breath.

[psychedelica]

I don't want to go against you.

[ if it's for his little sister's sake, then he'll do it. He has to do it. What would it all have been for if he can't do that much for her? But he doesn't want to think about it. No, there must be another way... ]

[axilium]

[he smiles, though it's not entirely happy.]

Why, thank you.

[but he also knows that hikage would, if given a reason. though, belph can't say he'd hold it against him.]

Too bad we know the world doesn't always work that way.

[psychedelica]

... We made it work the way we wanted before.

[ he's not giving up until he has no choice but to surrender - that's just the way he is. ]

We're a team from the start this time. I think we have a chance if we work together.

[axilium]

I mean, it's more like if we don't work together, we're all definitely screwed, since cooperation always seems to be the secret purpose behind these things.