[ Ugh, this has sure been a day. She wasn't surprised by it, really; she's said all along that she expected someone to do it, knowing humans. But clearly not everyone here had the same jaded view she did, and watching this bunch of kids try to process this and fight for justice was... draining.
In the evening, she goes outside toward the garden to take a break from the stifling atmosphere, and reaches for the pack of cigarettes in her dress pocket. ]
[Here's one kid who seems to have had no trouble processing this or... fighting for justice? Well, the fighting part is there, but it's still completely debatable what he's fighting for. Currently, he's fighting his way against the late evening breeze, laughing a little as it blows all his considerable hair back in his face.
He does a little twirl in the middle of the garden both to shake off the mess of hair and because he's not done being a Disney princess today for no reason. The flash of Emi's pink hair catches his eye and he comes to a neat stop by her, flashing her a bright smile that doesn't fit with today at all.]
Good evening! Are you looking forward to tomorrow?
[He's like the Energizer Bunny! He's even the correct color. Of course, there's an immoveable object for every unstoppable force, but for the moment his isn't here, and there's no suitable substitute. Good luck.
He doesn't seem to mind that there's a remnant of doom and gloom in her expression, since it's probably nothing compared to the doom and gloom inside the mansion.]
I think it'll be good to stop having to wait around to see what's in store for us! Plus, I can't help but get fired up for a challenge.
It won't be bad to get some more answers, that's true. I don't think we'll really be able to understand the workings of this game until we see it in play.
It sounds pretty complicated, especially since I don't think most of us -- well, any of us now? -- have even seen something like this before. I'm going to try hard to learn the system, and I'm sure everyone else also will!
But you know, our Witches really aren't that good at explaining things, either.
[They try, maybe. But when Erika Furudo is more convincing exposition then y'all need to up the game here!!]
[ The trials are always exhausting in one way or another, but Emi is still up relatively early the next morning, taking a walk around the grounds and appreciating some fresh air after the hours of being cooped up in a miserable fantasy courtroom the day before. ]
[He definitely got some fresh air in the night before and all that, but Anon is usually out and about in the mornings anyway, and this particular morning he's hanging out by the nightshade and not at all far from where they just found two whole bodies a couple of days ago.
He's stretching, a little windblown and lightly sweating, clearly having come back from a run already. After all this time, his baseline energy really hasn't changed at all -- he's just mostly stopped acting like a dog who's just seen cars for the very first time. This is his version of settling in, perhaps.
He waves at Emi when he sees her.]
You're up early today! Did you have somewhere to be?
[Acting at all is totally draining in most environments, really, and they probably both know that. Shapeshifters support group! Granted, having Anon in your support group is pretty much like having a very badly trained dog who steals all the snacks, so.
He reaches over to touch his toes, and peeks over to the fence when she remarks on it. It's so nice and pristine and full of poisonous berries.]
The island always feels nicer on Sundays.
[Even though people are dead, it's fine. They'll get better.]
The goats will eat pretty much anything, I think! It's probably a good thing they aren't real goats, if the bodies were here since early Thursday night.
I assume these ones can be trusted not to eat evidence before a trial.
[ Though she's also pretty sure real goats are usually herbivores. ]
We never really established exactly what time it happened, did we? I guess it doesn't really matter, but I'm curious exactly how they'd conceal a crime from us while we're all awake.
Ahaha, but we still don't know whose goats they really are, do we? They're related to the Witches, but I don't really trust them as far as I can throw them! Well, maybe as far as Takumi can throw them.
[Having him throw things is a bad comparison and a bad way of measuring trust, so let's drag one of the other doggos.
But also this is a disaster because everything he knows about goats he probably learned from this island and also the library. So. Welp. It certainly doesn't seem to deter him any, though, and he raises a finger next with a half-grin.]
The same way it's hidden all the time, isn't it? I bet you anything that anybody out in the garden that night probably walked right by the scene.
[ Up until now, when Emi has run into Anon, it's usually been by chance. She isn't even sure offhand where his room is, without checking the nameplates.
...But, actually, after how things went this morning, she doubts that's where he'd be anyway, and she finds herself looking at the wall right across from her own room as soon as she steps out into the hall. That... had been Koide-kun's room, hadn't it?
...
She knocks gently on the door and allows a moment's pause before tentatively turning the handle to look inside. ]
[ i didn't even make a week 4 header because i thought there wouldn't be another thread after friday, i was a fool
Some time in the evening after the trial has ended, after making a brief appearance at Sakura's party, Emi heads down to the beach as promised. She's in a yellow dress and sandals with a white tote bag over her shoulder, because, well, rather than "a glass" as she'd originally offered, she ended up just bringing along the rest of a bottle of Scotch from the party along with two cups. (There were only a few glasses left in it, and after that trial, she doesn't think anyone could really judge someone for taking a whole bottle anyway, so.)
Hm, she hasn't been out here at night since that time she toasted marshmallows with Kurama. ]
Tonight he's sitting at the end of the dock, looking a little windblown and kind of damp because that's how you do at the beach, dangling his feet over the edge and staring quietly up at the moon. He's dressed in a brightensemble that washes out in the dark.
There's something tired in the set of his shoulders there, but he straightens a little when he hears Emi coming, turning around curiously and then waving a little.]
[ She smiles and gives a little wave back as she comes down to the dock to join him.
She could say something about how nice it feels out here tonight, but there's not really any need for pleasantries or small talk here, so she'll get right to it.
Carefully setting the bag down near the end of the dock, she sits down beside it and reaches inside. ]
So...
[ She hands over a cup first, then pulls out the bottle. ]
I just went ahead and took what was left of this. There wasn't much anyway.
[After all that earlier, small talk or pleasantries would be kind of hilarious -- even Anon doesn't bother to get into any of that, or to start up his usual chatter. He just holds the cup absently in both hands and examines the bottle she's brought.]
Ah... Emi doesn't do things by halves.
[There's a little pleased note in his voice, at least.]
I guess that's something else we have in common, then.
[Which has a little more weight given. The entire part of the weekend behind them now.
His eyes are clear and his head held high, though -- there's no shadow of regrets or hesitation. If you're going to kill someone, then you commit to it. That's all there is to it.]
No, I've never done the drinking thing before. Father says there's too much to do.
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week 1
thursday evening
In the evening, she goes outside toward the garden to take a break from the stifling atmosphere, and reaches for the pack of cigarettes in her dress pocket. ]
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He does a little twirl in the middle of the garden both to shake off the mess of hair and because he's not done being a Disney princess today for no reason. The flash of Emi's pink hair catches his eye and he comes to a neat stop by her, flashing her a bright smile that doesn't fit with today at all.]
Good evening! Are you looking forward to tomorrow?
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She'll be nice and give him a smile in return, though it's not nearly as bright. ]
Not really. You are?
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He doesn't seem to mind that there's a remnant of doom and gloom in her expression, since it's probably nothing compared to the doom and gloom inside the mansion.]
I think it'll be good to stop having to wait around to see what's in store for us! Plus, I can't help but get fired up for a challenge.
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But you know, our Witches really aren't that good at explaining things, either.
[They try, maybe. But when Erika Furudo is more convincing exposition then y'all need to up the game here!!]
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week 3, sunday
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He's stretching, a little windblown and lightly sweating, clearly having come back from a run already. After all this time, his baseline energy really hasn't changed at all -- he's just mostly stopped acting like a dog who's just seen cars for the very first time. This is his version of settling in, perhaps.
He waves at Emi when he sees her.]
You're up early today! Did you have somewhere to be?
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She smiles and comes over to join him, stretching her arms over her head. ]
No, just felt like getting out for a while.
[ Glancing over to the garden -- ah, this is that spot. ]
The goats do a good job of cleaning up, don't they?
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He reaches over to touch his toes, and peeks over to the fence when she remarks on it. It's so nice and pristine and full of poisonous berries.]
The island always feels nicer on Sundays.
[Even though people are dead, it's fine. They'll get better.]
The goats will eat pretty much anything, I think! It's probably a good thing they aren't real goats, if the bodies were here since early Thursday night.
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[ Though she's also pretty sure real goats are usually herbivores. ]
We never really established exactly what time it happened, did we? I guess it doesn't really matter, but I'm curious exactly how they'd conceal a crime from us while we're all awake.
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[Having him throw things is a bad comparison and a bad way of measuring trust, so let's drag one of the other doggos.
But also this is a disaster because everything he knows about goats he probably learned from this island and also the library. So. Welp. It certainly doesn't seem to deter him any, though, and he raises a finger next with a half-grin.]
The same way it's hidden all the time, isn't it? I bet you anything that anybody out in the garden that night probably walked right by the scene.
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week 4; friday
...But, actually, after how things went this morning, she doubts that's where he'd be anyway, and she finds herself looking at the wall right across from her own room as soon as she steps out into the hall. That... had been Koide-kun's room, hadn't it?
...
She knocks gently on the door and allows a moment's pause before tentatively turning the handle to look inside. ]
Anon-kun...?
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Anon is in there, certainly -- he's lying flat on the floor, in fact, next to the bed and ostensibly staring at the ceiling.
He's in a jacket that makes sound as he moves, though he isn't moving all that much. He doesn't look up, but--]
Emi.
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[ It's a good thing that jacket makes a sound, or else it might have taken her a minute to notice where he was.
She comes over and sits on the edge of the bed nearby.
(Which jacket is this?) ]
I hadn't known you were that close to him before.
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Natsuno might have been wearing it for most of their second week here, if Emi is one to notice the fashions of young'uns.
Anon at least has his head pillowed on his arms, so he's not just lying there like a sack of potatoes. He doesn't look at her, still.]
It's just something that happened.
[Like a rainstorm, or tripping over a crack in the sidewalk, his tone seems to say. Like he didn't know either.]
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I think that's probably how it happens a lot of times.
[ She wants to believe that about Jiro and Kikko, anyway. ]
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[He seems fairly matter-of-fact about that, actually, where you'd expect him to be petulant. It's just a statement.]
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week 4; saturday night
Some time in the evening after the trial has ended, after making a brief appearance at Sakura's party, Emi heads down to the beach as promised. She's in a yellow dress and sandals with a white tote bag over her shoulder, because, well, rather than "a glass" as she'd originally offered, she ended up just bringing along the rest of a bottle of Scotch from the party along with two cups. (There were only a few glasses left in it, and after that trial, she doesn't think anyone could really judge someone for taking a whole bottle anyway, so.)
Hm, she hasn't been out here at night since that time she toasted marshmallows with Kurama. ]
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Tonight he's sitting at the end of the dock, looking a little windblown and kind of damp because that's how you do at the beach, dangling his feet over the edge and staring quietly up at the moon. He's dressed in a bright ensemble that washes out in the dark.
There's something tired in the set of his shoulders there, but he straightens a little when he hears Emi coming, turning around curiously and then waving a little.]
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She could say something about how nice it feels out here tonight, but there's not really any need for pleasantries or small talk here, so she'll get right to it.
Carefully setting the bag down near the end of the dock, she sits down beside it and reaches inside. ]
So...
[ She hands over a cup first, then pulls out the bottle. ]
I just went ahead and took what was left of this. There wasn't much anyway.
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Ah... Emi doesn't do things by halves.
[There's a little pleased note in his voice, at least.]
What did you bring?
[He has probably not had scotch before, hmmm!]
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[ She motions for him to hold out his cup so she can pour some for him. ]
Scotch whisky. Have you had much alcohol before?
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[Which has a little more weight given. The entire part of the weekend behind them now.
His eyes are clear and his head held high, though -- there's no shadow of regrets or hesitation. If you're going to kill someone, then you commit to it. That's all there is to it.]
No, I've never done the drinking thing before. Father says there's too much to do.
[They are probably a pretty dry household.]
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