My Self-SummarySince the Interastral Peace Corporation wouldn’t mean much to most people here, let’s just say I help people all over the universe. I love what I do, but I’m usually a lot busier than this.
I’m not sure what to do with all this free time on my hands. Let’s be friends.
My Future Plans
Having fun, I guess? I feel like anything bigger than that might end up ruined.
My Talents
Business Operations, Investing, Animal Care and Video Games.
Favorite Books, Movies, Music, and Food
Math and Science textbooks, Business reports, stock market analyses. No opinions on the other stuff.
My Ideal Partner
Someone who values trust, honesty and clear communication. This is at the foundation of any good business partnership.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
softstoneheart) wrote2024-03-02 04:15 pm
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Is the second person who told you the same?
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No, I suppose not, since he was talking about it in public. That was Esikko-kun—he's from the same world as Kirma-kun.
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Murders of two people who share a connection.
[ now the gears are turning. ]
...was Esikko the one who witnessed the first murder?
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[He doesn't know Kirma's boyfriend was the first murder victim!
But that might be about to change. His eyebrows jump when she asks that last question, and for all his media training, it's painfully clear from looking at his face that she hit the jackpot.]
Huh? How'd you figure that out...?
[*This thread is now forward-dated past all his other threads btw. Just for, uh, continuity reasons...]
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[ the way his idol perfect expression breaks is very telling. She stays calm— there's no point in freaking out over something in the past. ]
Just stay calm. If he's telling you, it's because he trusts you. That's a good thing.
[ and she'll make a personal point to stay away from that guy. ]
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[Yet he still hasn't made the connection to Kirma's boyfriend. Nor does he realize Kirma's boyfriend is Aventurine. He thinks of Aventurine as Topaz's non-stabby boyfriend! Not Kirma's stabby one. But then how are the two victims connected, exactly...?
There's one point of connection. The person who told him about both incidents is the same, and Topaz draws the obvious conclusion from that. But he just can't believe it—at least not all of it.]
You really think he did it?
[A pause. And then, more quietly:]
Both of them?
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except for the the ones that happened during Eichi's rise to power.Even if her hypothesis is that Esikko is the culprit, so far she doesn't have evidence, and she's sure Aventurine won't give her any. Furthermore... is he a threat to Hiyori? Probably not. ]
I don't know, it's just an unproven theory. Let's not jump to conclusions and go with business as usual.
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At least not both crimes. But Kirma's death... well. Even he thought Esikko's explanation didn't make much sense. And if this was a mystery, then Esikko would have an obvious motive. He didn't want to think Esikko was capable of something like that. But if he poisoned Kirma-kun to get "revenge" for the things Kirma did earlier, like kidnapping him and breaking his arm, all while knowing death isn't permanent in this place...
His stomach twists. That would still leave the first murder, and that one can't have been him. The details were repulsive. Absolutely disgusting. Only someone truly depraved could have committed that crime. It couldn't be someone he drinks tea with regularly and set up on a date with Leo-kun. Even if he had killed Kirma, he couldn't have done that.
... he couldn't have. Right?
Still he thinks about the surprisingly unsympathetic way Esikko described the victim in that case, and his stomach knots with uncertainty.]
..... mm.
[That's his response. Just a subdued-sounding "mm."]
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If she's right though, the offense is probably personal. She didn't know Esikko and Kirma were from the same place, and that crucial piece made her understand that the murders were likely personal. If that's true, then he really isn't a threat to Hiyori. ]
Tell me what you're thinking. We'll keep it between us.
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He thinks, oddly enough, about Nagisa: how there was clearly something going on with him back home, how he hadn't been the same since visiting that temple. But Hiyori didn't press him for any answers. No, on the contrary, he pretended not to see that there was something wrong. But what good did that do?
He stares down at his ice cream for a moment, before he shakes that thought—all those thoughts—and turns his attention back to Topaz.]
You said you know the first victim. ["Know," not "knew."] Does that mean they're still here?
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But I only know that they died, and that there were consequences for revival. Even they wouldn't tell me who did it.
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[And he heard the victim was someone with a death wish.]
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[ it's such a hard question to answer: He wanted to know if people could die For Science and definitely entered got a "Find Out" era for it. And he suffered. She saw the consequences of his revival; how flowers obstructed his lungs and his awful, dingy rank 2 suite reeked of blood.
And he's not there now. And they've gotten closer, but is he "alright?" The way her face looks says she isn't sure but, she'll still say: ]
They're pretty resilient. I'm not sure how the recent murder makes them feel, though. They have little regard for their own well-being, but will do anything to avoid others getting roped into their troubles.
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[Well, the resilient part. The "little regard for their own well-being part.]
Honestly, I worry about Leo-kun for similar reasons. He doesn't care enough about his well-being, either. So if he met someone like that—
[... wait. Something doesn't add up again and he blinks.]
By "recent murder," you mean Kirma-kun's?
[He still... doesn't get... that it was Kirma's stabby boyfriend who died the first time around.]
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And yeah, that's what I meant: The person I know what the first, Kirma is the second. They're connected by some kind of tight relationship. It's tight enough that Kirma feels willing to do a favor that benefits me for them, even though I barely know Kirma.
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They're not dating.
[Another pause.]
... are they?
[That poor first murder victim can't be the stabby boyfriend.
... it can't be, right??!]
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They live together, so prolly?
[ she has no frame of reference for dating. ]
What do... people who date... do? Aside from the going on dates part?
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In this cursed timeline, her questions don't even register. The second she confirms Kirma and the first murder victim are "prolly" together, his brain short-circuits.]
You're kidding...!
[Time to break out the Bukubu icon!]
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[ why does he look so horrified?]
Is... is that bad???
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... no. That isn't right. The Hearts game and the chest wound came later. Kirma's boyfriend had already died and come back to life before then. Kirma kidnapped Esikko, the boyfriend slashed his chest...
... the boyfriend slashed someone who brought him to the hospital?
It doesn't make sense. He thought the boyfriend slashed Esikko out of jealousy over Kirma, or because he was simply insane. But now another, even more inelegant motivation occurs to him. He doesn't want to believe it. But if it was revenge—
No.
He doesn't want to think about this anymore.]
..... sorry.
[He sounds extremely beaten down.]
I shouldn't have asked for ice cream. I'll treat you next time to make up for it.
[He's only had a bite of his, but he's going to toss the rest. He starts heading for the classroom door.]
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She gets up and follows him out the door. ]
Don't apologize.
Hey, um... why don't you teach me some dance moves, since we're here?
[ she's terrified of what he'd do if she left him alone the way he is now. ]
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He does stop when she calls out to him, looking back over his shoulder. His eyes blink.]
Now?
[He normally wouldn't be opposed. But he's holding ice cream and he isn't feeling dancey. At least her question surprises him enough that it chases away some of the gloom, though...]
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[ she sees the cone still in his hand and notes his hesitation. Leading by example, she throws her own ice cream in the nearest trash can. ]
Let's go find a practice room for that, okay?
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He nods and plasters a smile on. The ability to smile no matter the circumstance is an idol's great weapon!]
If that's what you want, then sure ♪
[He'll throw his own cone away and leave. With her, not alone to go brood.]
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Yeah. I did a little partner dancing a while back... I wasn't good at it at all.
[ While the intent is to further push him into the position of authority on the subject, her anecdote is not a lie. She was awful and clumsy, and her partner was just as unschooled, but that didn't matter... ]
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