theyregooddogs | (no subject)

You're enjoying yourself . . .

I assure you, I'm taking it seriously! I'm simply in better spirits today.

Didn't think you weren't being serious.

I could approach it with a bit more... decorum. If you prefer.

No . . . No, no, you are fine just as you are.

[wary and pleased by his happiness really but it's all blank slate really]

[pulling himself out of the pit]

I've been getting along better with others lately. I should probably thank you for at least some of that.

That's a very strange sentiment to hear about myself. But you're welcome, I think?

You were the one who made me think about trying to make some more friends.

[thoughtful pause]

Or... maybe you tricked me into it? Shifted my cognition, if you will. But I don't really mind.

I gave you a tool, explained how it works, and gave you homework. No manipulation involved. But glad it seemed useful to you.

In a perverse way, I think the dire situation is helpful to me as well. It's been easier to move forward knowing I don't have much to lose.

So, Will-san—may I call you that? Do you have any more homework for me?

Intense bonds are generated during intense times. It's also why you get Stockholm syndrome.

Will's fine. But I'm not sure about other homework. Figuring out the code to people is a useful practice, not something that should be given out easily.

I'm still ready to shove some raccoons down a garbage disposal, so I'm okay on the Stockholm for now.

You know, before I came here, I was certain that I already understood all there was to know about people. But I realize now, all I'd really figured out was good marketing. Maybe I should quit my job as a detective and become an ad executive. What do you think?

You couldn't direct them more off the mark than they already are most of the time. It could be worth a try.

Akechi, your understanding of people is fueled by your distaste for them. They are machines that produce X reaction with Y stimulus, and you adjust your response based on individual differences. It's not that simple.

I think I'd be good at it!

[laughs! ...and then frowns]

But of course I have a distaste for people. I can see into their hearts, after all. That's my power.

Coming back to that power later. You may be able to see, but you can't feel. You have shut off your emotions in an effort of self-preservation; you don't feel yours, you can't begin to feel theirs.

I... still have emotions. Perhaps not in the same way as when I was a child, but I was a deeply depressed child.

You do, but they are only the highest highs and the lowest lows. Am I wrong?

...No. I suppose not.

[rubbing his face but dropping his hand eventually]

Look into exposure or trauma therapy. If you're ever interested.

Mental health treatment is still rather stigmatized in my country. It would make things... more difficult for me, I think. Assuming I'm not thrown directly into jail, anyway.

[he idly kicks a ball that strayed from the pit]

I always thought that if I could do justice or get revenge, I'd feel whole again. I know now I can't do either of those things, but... couldn't I fix things if I weren't so alone? Isn't that the purpose of making friends?

It's part of it. But it isn't going to be all of it. You're going to struggle, have to re-contextualize everything, and decide how to approach the future. Again and again.

. . . Right now, you should celebrate these victories. They weren't easy to come by.

Celebrate, huh...

[weird, for some reason he doesn't feel like celebrating anymore]

...We've secured ourselves an alibi for the evening. Why don't we go pet Baxter?

[will is a downer, he's sorry about that]

Uh, yeah, let's go do that.

[Akechi will gloomily lead the way]