[At first, Hisoka crouches down in front of the bench by Minato's face. He smiles amiably.] You had quite a day to top off your week, didn't you? [And then he stands again.
Without disturbing Minato, he steps up onto the back of the bench, making it look fluid and easy. Again, he crouches down. He doesn't wobble, not even resting on the thin bench back with nothing more than the front soles of his feet.]
[ If Minato were reasonable, he might be worried about Hisoka accidentally toppling over and crushing him, but all he feels is relief, gratitude that Hisoka's perched himself up there and makes it easy to speak face to face without Minato needing to get up. ]
It wasn't fun... But I feel happier than I do last week. Is that weird?
[ It's weird. It should be. Nobody should volunteer to kill somebody else, but here he is lying on a bench, peaceful and ready to sleep his way through the next three days, instead of being haunted and kept awake by his sins. It's weird. ]
[It's given so quickly, without any hesitation, and so earnestly.] You had a lot to get done. Now you're all done out. [He makes it seem very normal. Gambling the entire week. Sleeping all trial. Murdering a comrade.]
It was very interesting what you used. Not your bat? I was wondering--did you find it, or did someone give it to you?
[ The answer is so quick, but Minato takes comfort in the validation all the same, without question. He had done nothing, and then everything all at once; if it weren't for people constantly reminding him, he wouldn't be able to tell the number of days that have passed. ]
I asked for it. I wanted something quick and painless... I wouldn't be able to do that with my nailbat. I wouldn't have been strong enough.
[ If he were stronger, if he could complete the task with as much ease as Lune had with Mary, then maybe the nailbat would see some more use. Unfortunately, he's not. ]
I see. So they will give you what you ask for, hm? How nice of them.
[The golden eyes lower to Minato, and when he tilts his head, the earrings jingle.] Quick and painless. Not bad. It doesn't do to make a mess. What counts is the fight, not the end. [At least to Hisoka, who is all about the fight and not the dead body afterward.]
Ah, but now we are missing two, aren't we? Someone corrupted, and someone having fun.
Seems like if it's food or items, they're pretty generous. Not so much with information... but it's probably not their fault.
[ They're sort of... held captive in their robes, is sort of how Minato sees it, and he isn't at the point where he would question that further. The same way Futaba was held captive by the darkness, the corruption, or whatever it is. None of it was her fault either, but it's still her and her body and the pain and fear she will feel, so at the very very least, he wanted to do something for her. Who knows if it helped. ]
But you're right... we didn't get everyone. One person who is corrupted... I wonder if they would kill again? And the other... [ Minato shrugs. ] I guess I can't understand killing for fun. When there's like... video games, and stuff to play.
[He shrugs, but it only partially seems uninterested.]
Sol and Lune say the corrupted will become worse if unpurified. Perhaps it will get more powerful hiding in another for one more week. Ah, that person will be strong, don’t you think? How exciting.
I’d like to find them. The corrupted and the other one.
[ Exciting isn't really the word he'd use, but he can understand it, somewhat. It... is exciting, even if the circumstances are terrible, there is very little differentiating a pounding heart caused by fear, and one caused by excitement. ]
I think... the one that is corrupted. Is somebody who knows me pretty well, right? While the other was attacked by Tokidoki, I think people were saying, and acted in self defense. They wouldn't necessarily be a concern, for now.
[Regardless, Hisoka is still interested. It's more fun if it hadn't been, but... he'll take it. Not quite as quickly as he will the one which got away.]
Someone who knows you well, hm... And who would that be? Your partner? [His eyes roll up thoughtfully, lips curved.] Who else...
[ If not self defense, then somebody who could tell when one is corrupted before they've killed... but wouldn't that person speak out during the trial to identify the killer? Hmm, too complicated for Minato to think about right now, so he doesn't. ]
I dunno. Somebody who knows me well, but not doesn't like Junna, I guess. Otherwise, why go through the trouble of baiting her, when they could just slit my throat while I was asleep?
[ He was right there. Everybody knew he was going to be there, hasn't moved from that room in the past four days. Even if he weren't an immediate threat, surely there would've been worries that Minato may notice something out of place if he'd gone back to investigate the casino, for as much time as he's spent there. Or maybe they don't believe Minato is smart enough. Which is fair. ]
Unfortunately, I don't know Junna that well, to guess at people's relationships with her. Do you?
I don't. [An unbothered shrug.] No one feels like chatting to me alone. [It sounds like something some people would be upset over, but he's actually smiling.]
You think someone tried to frame you? A little silly to pick the boy most people like. Next time, maybe we shouldn't spend the whole week with slot machines, hm?
[ Minato feels like chatting to him alone... So that statement confuses him, as does the one that comes after it. ]
Do people like me? [ That, honestly, is news to him. ] I don't think that's it... If I were to frame someone, I would slit my victim's throat with a knife, wipe off the fingerprints, and place the knife in the other person's hand. The corrupted do not remember their actions, after all. That's the closest thing to decisive proof.
[ Shoutout to whoever murdered Junna: this is how you're supposed to do it. ]
I did win something, though. Foreign currency, and a key.
[ Watch it be Minato's turn to murder and the victim has a slit throat and it gets solved half an hour into trial. ]
A medium sized key...? Silver, and it unlocked an elevator. Shess and I went down it, and... whatever's down there, the entire hall was flooded, so there wasn't much we could do. We almost drowned, so that was a nice surprise.
[ Minato almost drowned. Shess doesn't need to breathe. Honestly, Shess should've just gone at it alone. ]
[ It's a mystery. He is half a second away from dying at his canon point and that was also by his hand. ]
Nothing that could've helped part that much water. It was interesting to see, though... I was wondering if anybody else had come across keys for that place too. Plenty of locks around, and being able to move around unhindered... would've been convenient.
It would have been interesting. I didn't receive one, so you will have to ask someone else. It could have been you were the only one brave enough to stay in the casina all week.
[Imagine that.]
But the machines were damaged, weren't they? Someone strong must have tried to get something out.
That's true... I wonder who the strongest person here is? Milla?
[ she's always so ready to fight, he would believe it, honestly. It's strange, though; if somebody really wanted to win something from the slots, they could have just played the slots. It was lonely down there by himself all week. ]
[Well, if one thing will get him to focus, it's "strongest," so the golden eyes drop down to Minato, curious.]
Oh? You think she is?
[He doesn't sound offended, even as hungry as he is for testing his strength against others.]
The one who didn't want to be touched for being poisonous is very heavy. They may be the strongest, you know. Something that heavy traveling at a high velocity.
Cinnabar? Maybe. But Cinnabar hates me, so I definitely would have been dead that night.
[ Plus, he's not quite sure Cinnabar would know how a slot machine works, that you get money out of it, unless somebody were to tell them. And if they were properly educated, why wouldn't Cinnabar want to spend all week playing the slots? Doesn't make sense. ]
Yeah. Our first encounter, I think I scared them. Not sure how, though... It's kinda unfortunate when somebody dislikes you before you get to know them.
[ Sort of how like people take one look at Hisoka and go "Hmm, nope." Minato never learned stranger danger because he wanted to get along with everybody. ]
[ If they were smarter, none of them would agree to being protags. ]
It doesn't bother me. It's just unfortunate. [ It's also unfortunate to be scared of people, just in general. He used to be like that too, wary of others and content to spend his time alone, but doing that, he would have lost the opportunity to meet some very kind people. Also a lot of assholes. His city was full of assholes. ]
They'll probably dislike it, but I think I'll be persistent and keep trying. You too. If somebody doesn't like you... Keep at it, and I'm sure they'll turn around.
[Minato is too stupidly pure. Pure? Sort of. Naive? Hisoka is literally sitting on the back of the bench with unwavering endurance, being creepy, and yet.]
Oh, don't worry. I agree. I'll always be persistent.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Without disturbing Minato, he steps up onto the back of the bench, making it look fluid and easy. Again, he crouches down. He doesn't wobble, not even resting on the thin bench back with nothing more than the front soles of his feet.]
Did you have fun?
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It wasn't fun... But I feel happier than I do last week. Is that weird?
[ It's weird. It should be. Nobody should volunteer to kill somebody else, but here he is lying on a bench, peaceful and ready to sleep his way through the next three days, instead of being haunted and kept awake by his sins. It's weird. ]
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[It's given so quickly, without any hesitation, and so earnestly.] You had a lot to get done. Now you're all done out. [He makes it seem very normal. Gambling the entire week. Sleeping all trial. Murdering a comrade.]
It was very interesting what you used. Not your bat? I was wondering--did you find it, or did someone give it to you?
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I asked for it. I wanted something quick and painless... I wouldn't be able to do that with my nailbat. I wouldn't have been strong enough.
[ If he were stronger, if he could complete the task with as much ease as Lune had with Mary, then maybe the nailbat would see some more use. Unfortunately, he's not. ]
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[The golden eyes lower to Minato, and when he tilts his head, the earrings jingle.] Quick and painless. Not bad. It doesn't do to make a mess. What counts is the fight, not the end. [At least to Hisoka, who is all about the fight and not the dead body afterward.]
Ah, but now we are missing two, aren't we? Someone corrupted, and someone having fun.
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[ They're sort of... held captive in their robes, is sort of how Minato sees it, and he isn't at the point where he would question that further. The same way Futaba was held captive by the darkness, the corruption, or whatever it is. None of it was her fault either, but it's still her and her body and the pain and fear she will feel, so at the very very least, he wanted to do something for her. Who knows if it helped. ]
But you're right... we didn't get everyone. One person who is corrupted... I wonder if they would kill again? And the other... [ Minato shrugs. ] I guess I can't understand killing for fun. When there's like... video games, and stuff to play.
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[He shrugs, but it only partially seems uninterested.]
Sol and Lune say the corrupted will become worse if unpurified. Perhaps it will get more powerful hiding in another for one more week. Ah, that person will be strong, don’t you think? How exciting.
I’d like to find them. The corrupted and the other one.
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I think... the one that is corrupted. Is somebody who knows me pretty well, right? While the other was attacked by Tokidoki, I think people were saying, and acted in self defense. They wouldn't necessarily be a concern, for now.
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[Regardless, Hisoka is still interested. It's more fun if it hadn't been, but... he'll take it. Not quite as quickly as he will the one which got away.]
Someone who knows you well, hm... And who would that be? Your partner? [His eyes roll up thoughtfully, lips curved.] Who else...
Namine? Lea? Emma? Four? North?
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I dunno. Somebody who knows me well, but not doesn't like Junna, I guess. Otherwise, why go through the trouble of baiting her, when they could just slit my throat while I was asleep?
[ He was right there. Everybody knew he was going to be there, hasn't moved from that room in the past four days. Even if he weren't an immediate threat, surely there would've been worries that Minato may notice something out of place if he'd gone back to investigate the casino, for as much time as he's spent there. Or maybe they don't believe Minato is smart enough. Which is fair. ]
Unfortunately, I don't know Junna that well, to guess at people's relationships with her. Do you?
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You think someone tried to frame you? A little silly to pick the boy most people like. Next time, maybe we shouldn't spend the whole week with slot machines, hm?
Were you hoping to win something?
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Do people like me? [ That, honestly, is news to him. ] I don't think that's it... If I were to frame someone, I would slit my victim's throat with a knife, wipe off the fingerprints, and place the knife in the other person's hand. The corrupted do not remember their actions, after all. That's the closest thing to decisive proof.
[ Shoutout to whoever murdered Junna: this is how you're supposed to do it. ]
I did win something, though. Foreign currency, and a key.
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Hoh? Money and a key?
[Smiling, he turns his head down again, letting the golden eyes fall on Minato curiously.]
A big key for a door, or a small key for a secret box? Maybe you'll get a very nice surprise when you find where it goes.
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A medium sized key...? Silver, and it unlocked an elevator. Shess and I went down it, and... whatever's down there, the entire hall was flooded, so there wasn't much we could do. We almost drowned, so that was a nice surprise.
[ Minato almost drowned. Shess doesn't need to breathe. Honestly, Shess should've just gone at it alone. ]
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Oh? That's a problem. [Minato "we almost drowned" Arisato.] No water powers? [He clicks his tongue.]
You didn't end up with the prize after all.
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Nothing that could've helped part that much water. It was interesting to see, though... I was wondering if anybody else had come across keys for that place too. Plenty of locks around, and being able to move around unhindered... would've been convenient.
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[Imagine that.]
But the machines were damaged, weren't they? Someone strong must have tried to get something out.
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[ she's always so ready to fight, he would believe it, honestly. It's strange, though; if somebody really wanted to win something from the slots, they could have just played the slots. It was lonely down there by himself all week. ]
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Oh? You think she is?
[He doesn't sound offended, even as hungry as he is for testing his strength against others.]
The one who didn't want to be touched for being poisonous is very heavy. They may be the strongest, you know. Something that heavy traveling at a high velocity.
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Cinnabar? Maybe. But Cinnabar hates me, so I definitely would have been dead that night.
[ Plus, he's not quite sure Cinnabar would know how a slot machine works, that you get money out of it, unless somebody were to tell them. And if they were properly educated, why wouldn't Cinnabar want to spend all week playing the slots? Doesn't make sense. ]
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[Not odd? Cinnabar... hates everyone, it seems like. Mostly. He can't really judge against himself--everyone hates him. :')
Well, except for, like, Minato.]
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[ Sort of how like people take one look at Hisoka and go "Hmm, nope." Minato never learned stranger danger because he wanted to get along with everybody. ]
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That happens more than you think. Ah well. Does it really bother you what others think of you without getting to know who you truly are...?
I suppose they hate me also. I scared them, too. But I'm not sure anyone here hasn't.
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It doesn't bother me. It's just unfortunate. [ It's also unfortunate to be scared of people, just in general. He used to be like that too, wary of others and content to spend his time alone, but doing that, he would have lost the opportunity to meet some very kind people. Also a lot of assholes. His city was full of assholes. ]
They'll probably dislike it, but I think I'll be persistent and keep trying. You too. If somebody doesn't like you... Keep at it, and I'm sure they'll turn around.
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Oh, don't worry. I agree. I'll always be persistent.
[But not to make them like him.........]
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