[Prologue, Saturday: Belph]

[doublecrows]

[AND, AS PROMISED. . .]

You wished to speak about my impressions of this manor and the other captives, yes?

Comments

[axilium]

You couldn't have just said that during the trial, if it was that brief?

[doublecrows]

I didn't wish to distract anyone from the trial. That's all.

And, on the off chance that you would have had specific questions for me, I figured it best to delay answering same until later.

[axilium]

Well, to make this worth my time, I guess I might as well ask a specific question:

What were you talking about with Sharpay so long if not about your impressions?

[doublecrows]

We bounced theories back and forth regarding all of the moving parts of the game. Titles, objectives, the hosts. . .

I wish I could say I learned more about how this game works from her during that conversation, but I have to report that I didn't. Everything I brought up with her I had already brought up with you beforehand.

[axilium]

So she didn't hint anything about her own position? That's too bad.

[doublecrows]

No, she didn't. And I'm ashamed to say that even though I sensed ulterior motives, I had no idea what she had just done.

[. . .]

There was ink on her arm. But since Gi-Gan's tapestry had been leaking all week, I thought it. . . unimportant.

[he seems ashamed]

[axilium]

Well, most people probably wouldn't expect someone to waltz off and have a chat right after committing murder, especially without even cleaning up.

[doublecrows]

She may have thought that she had cleaned up well enough before approaching me. And in hindsight, it should have been obvious that she was using me as a pre-curfew alibi.

[. . . he frowns deeply, displeased by this idea. but if it's because he doesn't like the fact that Sharpay committed a murder or because he doesn't like being used as a pawn is up in the air]

As I said during the trial: I had always thought Evans was cunning.

[axilium]

[it's definitely because akechi is against murder?]

I hadn't known her well. Better for me now, I suppose.

But that's probably why they chose her, huh?

[doublecrows]

[yes obviously??? murder is bad???]

. . . yes, I assume so. Though the use of the word "chosen" is interesting to me.

How many other people here have been pre-chosen by our captors to be killers?

[axilium]

... They do need some way to ensure at least one death occurs every week.

[doublecrows]

[frowns deeply]

Perhaps, then. . . my assumption that all of the objectives related to our titles were harmless was far off base.

Maybe there are those with objectives that ask them to kill after all.

[axilium]

Maybe, though that's a worrying thought. Why'd you think they might all be harmless, to begin with?

[doublecrows]

Because mine is.

[bad assumptions to make, detective]

. . . is yours not?

[axilium]

Nah, mine's pretty harmless. I'll admit I didn't think too much about what others' might be yet.

[doublecrows]

[cants his head]

Why not?

[axilium]

Mine is... [he waves a hand.] I didn't see myself being able to accomplish it this week—not to mention I didn't exactly see an incentive as to why I should, just because I was told to.

So I suppose it didn't occur to me that others might be moving forward with theirs already.

[doublecrows]

[a light chuckle, but it's somber]

I suppose some, like Evans, are not very good at exhibiting patience.

[axilium]

Maybe they never learned that patience is a virtue. Consider it a failure with the education system?

[doublecrows]

It sounds like there's a need for a reformation in the system, if that's the case.