hikage.

[axilium]

something will go here later

Comments

[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.

[psychedelica]

I meant the three of us.

[ the rest of the game can burn. goodbye. but he complies, for once. ]

... In any case, there doesn't seem to be any "secret purpose" here at all. The way those guys talk makes it sound like this is entirely accidental. [ Hikage shakes his head. ] ... At this point, it's more than just "bad luck." We might be cursed.

[ why is his life like this... maybe this is punishment from the "thing" that gave him his powers in the first place. ]

[axilium]

And we made it work last time because we had others' help. You're dooming us all already if you're only looking at the three of us.

[anyway. he shrugs.]

If we're cursed, then so is everyone here. Or, given the nature of alternate timelines and universes, it's possible that more people than you can imagine, in some life, go through these, in which case it's more like average luck.

We'll probably never know, in any case.

[psychedelica]

[ he won't comment on that. he is willing to use the others as much as he needs to to help save himself, his sister, and these two. that's about as far as his concern stretches at the moment. ]

I wasn't being serious, Belph.

[ even hikage can joke sometimes... belph's spending too much time around him, clearly. ]

[axilium]

It's hard to tell with you, Mister I'm-Ready-to-Freak-Out-at-the-Drop-of-a-Hat.

[psychedelica]

What? I'm not. [ OFFENDED!! ] Anyone would panic seeing you come back covered in blood.

[axilium]

Dazai's not the panicky sort, but even I don't think he would immediately jump to summarizing our findings if Natalie and I were severely injured.

[psychedelica]

[ exasperated sigh. ]

You're so annoying.

[ he's a pragmatist, yes, but his concern can override his practicality once in a while if he thinks someone he cares about is injured - he wasn't exactly paying attention to Dazai at that moment... ]

It doesn't matter if it was severe or not... I'm not so callous I'd immediately dismiss you because you weren't dying or that kid was trying to be efficient. If you want someone to blame for that, blame yourself.

[ friendship has made him soft and more open to his emotions... ]

[axilium]

I try.

[belph does try very, very hard to be annoying.]

I'm pretty sure you were always a nag at heart, though? Wasn't it on your last profile?

[psychedelica]

[ a sort of surprised sputter. ]

Why do you remember that??

[ PLEASE ]

[axilium]

Why wouldn't I?