KAGACHI;

[crashout]

Comments

[crashout]

Exactly. It's about what people have done, and what they're willing to do in the future. That's what I'm interested in.

[But the answer's not too shocking either and he nods.] ...those three are some of the best people here. I actually think I can trust them. But that's it?

[preceptive]

Tamamo and I talked a little about that—how those markings we had last week could be used to learn the worst of each other, for better or for worse. A lot of them lacked context, though. Not to mention that most people obviously preferred to hide them.

[...]

I'm not exactly the sociable type. Or easy to get along with.

[to kagachi's credit, he does seem a bit awkward about that? if mainly because he knows it's holding him back here.]

[crashout]

She's smart. [And he sounds a bit fond.] And she's right. I wouldn't be surprised if some people outright lied about theirs because the lack of context made things worse. But for a lot of people, the only way to see them was to see us naked in the first place. This place is kinda fucked up like that.

[He lifts his eyebrows like he wants to say "really? I didn't notice" but he's not in the mood to be an asshole. Instead, there's a curious look instead.]

...I dunno, you're easier to talk to than some of the other people who go in circles. But I'll admit being social helps even if it's exhausting. Some days I only talk to people because I have to, not because I want to. [Sometimes you do what you can for survival.] Do you even want to be more social or easier to get along with?

[preceptive]

[why did so many people get nice and vague sins that they could lie about or heroic-sounding regrets while kagachi's didn't sound good in any universe.

he shrugs.]

I've dealt with enough toying around, and I'm tired of it.

I'm not interested in being everyone's best friend, but if getting to know people is the game, then I have to play it. I can put aside personal preferences for what's best for everyone.

[crashout]

[That's a pretty fair answer, so he nods.]

It's always been the game. The first broadcast talked about everyone turning on each other after the first week, so preventing that is for the best. And if you can't prevent it? Then you make sure people like you and see the value in keeping you alive.

[It's playing hardball, but sometimes you gotta.] So far, most people seem to be okay staying on track during trial. But as we've seen some cooperate with people better than others. [He's thinking of Edelgard and her small cluster of ladies doing a strip search.] It's when the numbers start going down that we're really going to need to know each other very well.

[preceptive]

It's not my life I'm concerned about, but others'.

... And it's when the numbers go down that it could very well be a popularity contest. If someone like Dick or Higekiri gets possessed, we're in major trouble.

[crashout]

I figured, given what I've read about you. [It's not hard to guess. But...there's that problem, too.]

Because they might go after more than one person? Or people won't vote for them?

[preceptive]

Didn't think people were paying that much attention to the profiles.

Others won't want to suspect them. And because they're popular, they can easily influence people's opinions. Same goes for the likes of you, or Edelgard.

[crashout]

I'm a detective, Kagachi. Reading profiles is half my job where I'm from. [Or he's just paranoid and needs to understand everything, take your pick.] But it helps to know how people might react. ...worked to pin Monika, didn't it?

[But there's a nod of understanding because that's a great point, too.] And a demon would know that and use it to their advantage. If they can mimic us perfectly...[It's hard to tell the difference.]

[preceptive]

That's true. Good job, by the way.

... It means we have to be careful not to get swayed by any individual during trials.

[crashout]

Oh. Thanks. [He's had people tell him that recently, but at the same time it's nice to hear.] But you're right. Monika was the first of many that're going to be hard to ignore when pleading for their life. We need people who are going to stay calm and be a voice of reason when people don't want to believe what's right in front of them.

[preceptive]

Congrats on volunteering yourself for the task.

[crashout]

[There's a loud groan because no?? No.]

Why me? There're people that can command a room a lot better than I can, and also I kinda meant you.

[Keep your braincell, Jan.]

[preceptive]

[no?]

I'll do what I can, but you've probably earned people's respect after last trial.

[crashout]

Probably. I know I probably made some people mad, too, for not caring about Monika's feelings but that thing wasn't Monika. [But...fine.] Then at least act as backup for the more difficult ones.

[preceptive]

Respect usually comes with enemies.

That, I can do.

[crashout]

So it seems. [But he seems content with that answer.] We still have a while before anything happens this week, so I'm going to see what I can learn about the demons and keep my tabs on some people.

[But. Oh.] Something you might be interested in knowing, it's possible that the demon's not be contagious and can't shift hosts after it's confined to the panthouse. Which...seems obvious, but we had it confirmed anyway.

[preceptive]

Do I want to know on who?

[he blinks.]

That's good. We still have to get better at exorcisms, but that's one less things to worry about.

[crashout]

[A shrug.] A girl I trust to take care of herself. She wanted to see what kind of information she could get out of the demon with whatever it took, but when she came to see me afterwards she confirmed she was fine and nothing was passed off. There's still the off-chance that it was passed to someone else before her, but I doubt it. We would've heard by now.

[Who else would want to willingly sleep with a demon?] Polly told me as long as the barrier around it doesn't break, the demon can't leave the circle. It's not so much about getting better, it's about getting faster.

[preceptive]

Better, faster—same difference in this context.

[crashout]

I guess. But how do you convince people to learn and get better at what comes down to killing each other?

[preceptive]

Is there any way to influence who gets picked? It's not the kind of thing I'd wish on someone who's not ready to handle it.

[crashout]

I'm not sure. It might be worth asking Chuuya or Nathan if there's a way someone can volunteer themselves instead of leaving it up to chance.

[preceptive]

[he nods.]

It'd be best to leave it to someone who can both fight and won't hesitate to strike down someone with a friend's face.

[crashout]

Do we even know many people like that? Our options are getting slim.