DICK & ESCHA; None Braincell With Left Dick

[crashout]

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[crashout]

...why not? [He's glancing between the two of them.] What's going on? [And a look to Dick.] And how do you know about this already?

[unpredicktable]

...

[ he tilts his head before he shrugs helplessly and grins ]

C'mon, Junpei. You're a smart guy. You can figure this out.

[applechemist]

[ She opens her mouth

and then closes it again and sighs. ]

[crashout]

...so you were both told about a special set of rules, but you're both not allowed to say things to other people. Am I getting that right?

...are they rules you have to follow, or are they rules for the rest of us? [Something about this sure as fuck seems weird.]

[unpredicktable]

[ dick raises one finger ]

You're on the right track. I can tell you I don't know what Escha's rules are.

[applechemist]

And I don't know anything about Dick's rules.

[crashout]

[...just. Rubbing his forehead.]

Let me guess. Our delightful hosts are the ones who told you about this. [This is a lot. This is...a lot.] Do you think there're other people like you two out there among us?

[unpredicktable]

I thought so, but the hosts couldn't say anything on it without being censored. Escha pretty much confirmed that theory for me now.

[ he looks pretty happy about it tbh ]

[applechemist]

Yes, they can only answer some questions.

I didn't know that there were any others...

[crashout]

[...give him a second. He's going to get up and move to grab his duffle bag from day zero that's been shoved in a corner opening it and pulling out a small box with his name on it.]

Question. Were either of you responsible for this?

[unpredicktable]

[ dick looks at it with a light frown, curious ]

Not me. Escha?

[applechemist]

No, I don't know anything about that.

[crashout]

Then that answers that. [He drops the box into the bag, zipping it up again.] Showed up in our room on Wednesday without a note or any way to identify where it came from. I thought maybe someone might've, you know, figured something out about the gift shop or something but now I wonder if someone else has their own set of rules to follow that involves giving out items.

[unpredicktable]

That could be it. [ he tilts his head ] Escha can't say anything about her set of rules, but... she can confirm if someone guesses. Right?

[ he's still speaking for her because. just in case? ]

[applechemist]

That's right. As long as someone else guesses.

[ She's kind of afraid of how exploitable this loophole is? But happy? But nervous??? ]

[crashout]

[He's slipping his hands in his pockets, fist curling around something in the right one.]

Hm...well...let's work backwards then. If neither of you really knew the other existed, you probably don't have to find others as part of your rules. Right? But if there rules...[He pulls out his clamshell from the left pocket, opening the rulebook and scrolling.] All of the rules we have involve how we engage with other people.

Do yours impact other people specifically?

[unpredicktable]

[ dick-- actually checks out his clamshell. if junpei looks he can't see anything but he's clearly reading something ]

Nope.

[ was this an excuse to try to show junpei how something works. maybe so. ]

[applechemist]

[ At the 'don't have to find others' part, Escha kind of looks. Thoughtful? but doesn't say anything.

She pulls out her clamshell too. Subtle. ]

Yes.

... So they're different.

[crashout]

That doesn't surprise me. If neither of you knew, why would they be the same? [He continues looking at his clamshell.]

Okay. [Think, think, think.] Is it similar to something you've done before? [And to Escha specifically:] Do your rules help a specific target?

[unpredicktable]

[ dick, meanwhile, looks at escha with a bit of a squint ]

The reason you asked us about the special rules-- is it because you're supposed to find others who have them?

[ and then to answer junpei, dick... rummages through his pocket and takes out a bookmark. ??? ]

I wouldn't say that.

[applechemist]

[ She shakes her head to Dick's question. ]

No, that's not it.

[ But to Junpei: ]

My rules could really help a specific target.

[crashout]

[Sideeyeing both of them...]

Then why did you ask anyway? [He would've thought the same about Dick, too.] And if it could really help a single target...can it also hurt them?

[But, a pause, and a gesture to the bookmark.] What the hell is that for?

[unpredicktable]

Can you protect someone from the demons?

[ dick's looking at the bookmark and then at junpei before he sighs, turning it over in his hands ]

That's what I'd like to know.

[applechemist]

Because we try to share everything we know, don't we? So even if I couldn't talk about my rules... It seemed like the best way to find out if there were others!

[ And she was right! ]

It can't hurt anyone, and it... [ She's trying to pick her words carefully, but somehow fails to come up with anything new. ] Can't protect from the demons, no.

[crashout]

[There's a smile.] You're right. We share what we can. Thanks for trusting us. [Another mystery on their hands.] If it's not protecting against demons, then they must cover protecting us from...each other. Right?

[He's eyeballing the bookmark thing. ] Do your rules tell you how to use that thing?