[I was about to make this a text thread but I remembered Emet-Selch is fucking huge and would probably fat-finger his phone. So he's going looking for Emet-Selch instead.]
Hi, are you busy at the moment?
Edited (My code...) Date: 2022-03-06 03:00 am (UTC)
Given the state of the group at large-- I do not know that this will be a good time, truthfully. I expect further lines of questioning may eventually prove to be in order for such an endeavor, and few will be of a mind to answer them of you.
But I do not believe it safe to ignore them, either.
Everyone's emotions are high from what happened with Marie, you're right.
[Atsushi, using 'chase the truth of 9s's murder' to avoid being sad over everything involving Buzen and Marie.]
I'm worried that, if we wait, people's memories of this weekend will fade and it will be harder to answer questions. But you're right, they might not answer at all right now either.
That may be so. But if their memories fade, then that will be what is left to work with.
As unpleasant as it is to consider, then if all else should fail, if they should act once more-- there will be more evidence to work with. Things which can be tied back to what was discovered here today.
It did seem odd, that the clothes narrowed it down to several people who couldn't have possibly moved 9s's body. And they couldn't have used a gumball either, assuming one gumball was used to make a gun and the other was used by Buzen.
Which is part of the reason certainty would be difficult, yes. 'Tis a strange pool that it was narrowed to, and I am not quite convinced this tells us all we ought to know.
Still, it may serve you well to keep an eye on them, and bear in mind to watch for strange behavior.
Given that both the clothes and the shovel had a lot of overlap in potential suspects, I think we were on the right track there. But we might be wrong about assuming someone's strength. Especially if they had a secret power back in their world that let them be extra-strong that nobody knows about.
[He pauses for a moment, but decides that Emet-Selch is trustworthy enough to be given a bit of information, which is probably going to bite him in the ass later but that is a problem for future-Atsushi.]
There might be a way for people to get their powers back, if they had powers in their world. I haven't tested it myself, but I found out about it this week. And if I found out about it, it's possible someone else has too.
[the worst thing in the world: not knowing things. this is why he's crystalline, probably. but he just folds his arms, considering.]
Though such a thing would have been risky to simply reveal. The extra angle necessary with theories could then become nigh disruptive, with the speculation involved, and if it is lesser known, it was less likely to be involved.
I only found out about it because I traded 3 coins for a gumball this week. So right now, I think very few people could have possibly earned the chance to learn it.
[He still doesn't know if anyone else besides himself and Kumon has earned extra coins in any way.]
It wasn't the gumball I got, by the way. It was a special piece of paper I got in addition to the gumball. But either you have to buy a 3-coin gumball to get it, or you have to spend 3 coins total to get it. So next week, more people might have access to it.
But then again...not many people would have had a chance to get it, right? And I still don't think it was Kumon.
[Kumon is baby he can't possibly have murdered.
Atsushi is overlooking the fact that nearly all the clues fit himself as well and he is admitting to having the chance to get his powers back. Shhh it's fine!]
I'm sharing a room with him, and he hasn't shown any signs of being anything beyond a normal teenage boy. So yeah, really unlikely it was him.
As for the others...Kazunari is from Kumon's world, so he's probably normal too. Without additional strength from a gumball, I don't think he could have done it.
The small realm is mostly dark, with the only light coming from a set of stained glass windows. There's no visible furniture in the room, and in fact the only detail that can be seen is that there is some kind of wood floor here.
Atsushi is sitting in the center of the lit up area, with his knees drawn up to his chest. For a moment, there's a fleeting feeling of panic from Atsushi as he looks up at Emet, but that passes quickly. This isn't another demon from his past, it's just a very tall person. But he does hug his knees more tightly after that panic passes.]
...hi. Sorry, I'm not really much of a host tonight. But you can stay for a bit if you want?
[Has he accepted his fate? Is he trying not to look uncool? Who knows! The fear and anxiety are swirling around inside of him, but on the outside he looks calm at least.]
...if that is what you wish for, then- while none of us may make promises, I can at the least attempt to assist.
[now that this is an option more of them are actually taking-- well. maybe he can't simply unbind anyone's aether here, but he's fairly confident in his abilities.]
Though I should warn you: when you first got here, I mistook you for someone else for a second. If it's you who I end up fighting, then the Prism might use that against us.
[Atsushi immediately going into fight-or-flight mode because he mistook Emet-Selch for the Headmaster seems about right for death by combat.]
Week 2, Saturday
Date: 2022-03-06 03:00 am (UTC)Hi, are you busy at the moment?
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 03:07 am (UTC)but in-person is fine, he's probably vibing at the library right now.]
I expect I have a moment or two, if you insist.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 03:15 am (UTC)[But he stops himself and shakes his head. He's getting ahead of himself.]
What I mean to say is, I want to keep trying to solve 9s's murder. And I was wondering if you want to help...?
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 03:27 am (UTC)But I do not believe it safe to ignore them, either.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 03:38 am (UTC)[Atsushi, using 'chase the truth of 9s's murder' to avoid being sad over everything involving Buzen and Marie.]
I'm worried that, if we wait, people's memories of this weekend will fade and it will be harder to answer questions. But you're right, they might not answer at all right now either.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 03:58 am (UTC)As unpleasant as it is to consider, then if all else should fail, if they should act once more-- there will be more evidence to work with. Things which can be tied back to what was discovered here today.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 04:12 am (UTC)[He doesn't like the idea of this happening again.]
Do you think we were close, in the end? Before we started talking about gumballs, it was possibly narrowed down to four.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 04:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 04:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 04:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 05:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 06:14 am (UTC)Still, it may serve you well to keep an eye on them, and bear in mind to watch for strange behavior.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 08:08 pm (UTC)Given that both the clothes and the shovel had a lot of overlap in potential suspects, I think we were on the right track there. But we might be wrong about assuming someone's strength. Especially if they had a secret power back in their world that let them be extra-strong that nobody knows about.
[He pauses for a moment, but decides that Emet-Selch is trustworthy enough to be given a bit of information, which is probably going to bite him in the ass later but that is a problem for future-Atsushi.]
There might be a way for people to get their powers back, if they had powers in their world. I haven't tested it myself, but I found out about it this week. And if I found out about it, it's possible someone else has too.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 08:14 pm (UTC)[the worst thing in the world: not knowing things. this is why he's crystalline, probably. but he just folds his arms, considering.]
Though such a thing would have been risky to simply reveal. The extra angle necessary with theories could then become nigh disruptive, with the speculation involved, and if it is lesser known, it was less likely to be involved.
But if it exists, then that is not impossible.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 08:20 pm (UTC)[He still doesn't know if anyone else besides himself and Kumon has earned extra coins in any way.]
It wasn't the gumball I got, by the way. It was a special piece of paper I got in addition to the gumball. But either you have to buy a 3-coin gumball to get it, or you have to spend 3 coins total to get it. So next week, more people might have access to it.
But then again...not many people would have had a chance to get it, right? And I still don't think it was Kumon.
[Kumon is baby he can't possibly have murdered.
Atsushi is overlooking the fact that nearly all the clues fit himself as well and he is admitting to having the chance to get his powers back. Shhh it's fine!]
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 08:25 pm (UTC)[hmm. a few moments pass, as he considers.]
I think he cannot be removed from the list entirely. But I do have reason to believe Hot Pants' claims that it was unlikely to have been him.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-06 08:40 pm (UTC)As for the others...Kazunari is from Kumon's world, so he's probably normal too. Without additional strength from a gumball, I don't think he could have done it.
w4, saturday
Date: 2022-03-20 01:55 am (UTC)...Atsushi.
[somewhat cautious vibes, here.]
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 02:01 am (UTC)The small realm is mostly dark, with the only light coming from a set of stained glass windows. There's no visible furniture in the room, and in fact the only detail that can be seen is that there is some kind of wood floor here.
Atsushi is sitting in the center of the lit up area, with his knees drawn up to his chest. For a moment, there's a fleeting feeling of panic from Atsushi as he looks up at Emet, but that passes quickly. This isn't another demon from his past, it's just a very tall person. But he does hug his knees more tightly after that panic passes.]
...hi. Sorry, I'm not really much of a host tonight. But you can stay for a bit if you want?
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 02:11 am (UTC)[there aren't... the most reassuring vibes, here. that's not what he's here about. he's just here to check in.]
I simply wished to see how-- yourself you were, I suppose.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 02:27 am (UTC)[Has he accepted his fate? Is he trying not to look uncool? Who knows! The fear and anxiety are swirling around inside of him, but on the outside he looks calm at least.]
Maybe I'm too tired to cry.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 02:47 am (UTC)[a longer pause here, before he asks, emotions a sort of muted and clinical curiosity:]
What is it you hope for, tomorrow?
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 03:04 am (UTC)[He shakes his head after saying that though.]
I'm sure I won't be though. I'm just a coward who's afraid of dying. So...maybe a quick death is a better hope.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 03:08 am (UTC)[now that this is an option more of them are actually taking-- well. maybe he can't simply unbind anyone's aether here, but he's fairly confident in his abilities.]
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 03:18 am (UTC)Though I should warn you: when you first got here, I mistook you for someone else for a second. If it's you who I end up fighting, then the Prism might use that against us.
[Atsushi immediately going into fight-or-flight mode because he mistook Emet-Selch for the Headmaster seems about right for death by combat.]
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 03:20 am (UTC)[he already considers mercy to include not dragging it out, so this-- would not change too much, really.]
But I suppose we shall see what is decided, come the morrow.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 03:32 am (UTC)And if it does affect me in some way, that's not me. I don't actually want to fight, or to kill anyone.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-03-20 05:14 am (UTC)[Oh, there's some warm fuzzy feelings there.]
They really are a good bunch, aren't they?