theyregooddogs | (no subject)

theyregooddogs

We should talk. About Dazai.

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From:

purrtagonist

[uuuuuuuh]

What about him?

From:

theyregooddogs

I would ask what he said to you. He came to find me after talking with you. But I don't think it matters. So, I'm out of questions about it.

How about you?

From:

purrtagonist

[ah. . . his expression falters a bit, and he lets out a deep breath]

"Some people think that those who want to die should be the ones who die. And they're not wrong."

[. . .]

That's. . . what he said to me.

From:

theyregooddogs

He did that with me too. Ascribing beliefs and ideas to people without actually having proof of it. He wasn't willing to step outside of himself and his own mind.

From:

purrtagonist

[mmmmm]

Dazai doesn't really understand people, you know? I tried to make him see, but--

[shrugs. a bit helplessly]

I think he saw that Ichigo and I were willing to put ourselves in the line of fire to-- escape. To. . . try and stop this stupid game in its tracks.

And when he saw that, he knew there was a very real chance that we would die. So he offered himself up, hoping to make it easier for us to survive.

From:

theyregooddogs

No, Dazai understood people. At least, how dark they could be but not much else.

[big sigh, looking up]

He didn't get himself killed because of you two. You weren't even part of the equation. If we had to choose to execute someone because there weren't enough people dead, he thought he was going to be picked. So, he wanted to head off the vote.

From:

purrtagonist

[there's a pause, then a wry smile from Akira, his mouth twitching upwards]

Because he wanted to die on his own terms. I get that. There was a lot of selfishness in what Dazai did. But--

[tilts his head back, expression thoughtful]

I'm not the kind of person who tries to see the best in everyone, no matter what. But I do trust my judgment when it comes to people. And I think there was a lot more to Dazai than his complete and utter selfishness.

From:

theyregooddogs

Then, you and I are going to have to agree to disagree on Dazai.

From:

purrtagonist

. . . yeah. Probably.

[tilts a head towards Will]

Why did you feel like you needed to tell me this?

From:

theyregooddogs

The text. I wasn't going to help him, either with dying or living. I was passing the baton onto someone else. Whoever would talk him down or help him with ending it. Kind of wish I had now, though. Right now, I feel very — Complicit in everything.

From:

purrtagonist

That's because we all are very complicit in everything.

[. . . a small shrug]

I do think there was a hidden manipulator in Tsumugi and Dazai's case. But I don't know who.

From:

theyregooddogs

Hm, yeah, that new rule. I can't see a purpose in it, though.

From:

purrtagonist

Something to prevent us from getting stuck on catching manipulators and instigators, I suppose.

From:

theyregooddogs

I suppose. There aren't that many in the group now, either. Less than a handful.

From:

purrtagonist

Seventeen of us.

[a breath]

Seven more until we reach ten.

From:

theyregooddogs

Right, Caius.

[sighs]

There'll be another suicide to even the numbers.

From:

purrtagonist

[frowns]

What, you think someone is going to say, "we need to drop down to 16 for an even number, better kill myself?"

From:

theyregooddogs

No, it's two each night, killed and executed. Seven more means we're going to drop to nine before the game ends. The raccoons are going to want that last execution, when we're at ten, take away freedom from someone so very close to it.

There's also just — People reacting poorly. We've got another, um, two, three in us?

From:

purrtagonist

[. . . ah. he brings up a good point]

And three more killing nights means only six more dead, if we assume only two will die each night and day cycle.

[rubs his temples]

. . . and you're right. People here haven't exactly been making the smartest decisions. Myself included.

From:

theyregooddogs

Couldn't imagine why that is. We just had a nice Christmas.

[oh, look, a joke]

From:

purrtagonist

[A GOOD JOKE]

[snorts in amusement and continues, voice dry]

People do say depression tends to skyrocket during the holidays.

From:

theyregooddogs

If you, um, need help with Ichigo . . . I'm not a counselor, but I, uh, masquerade pretty well as one?

From:

purrtagonist

[oh]

[his brows shoot upwards in surprise, before his expression settles on something softer. actual gratitude?]

That isn't an offer I thought I'd ever hear from you, Graham.

. . . I talked to him last night, though. I think he'll be okay. But I'll keep that in mind nevertheless.

From:

theyregooddogs

I am very certain that I am going to regret it. But he's high on my list of, uh, risks? And I already talked Akechi down, so — May as well.

From:

purrtagonist

[silently Akira thinks that if he could talk Akechi down, he could probably talk anyone down]

After yesterday, it's hard not to think of him as a risk. He hit rock bottom pretty hard.

From:

theyregooddogs

It'll get worse. Not sure how, but I would be willing to bet on it.

[and stretching out, hands in his pockets with his head tipped back]

From:

purrtagonist

[. . .]

[he hates to admit to that, but. . .]

You're probably right. As long as people keep playing along, as long as those two raccoons continue to have power over us. . . it's just going to get worse.

From:

theyregooddogs

Mm. That is why I'm out. Or as out as much as I can be provided I don't get killed within the next two nights.

From:

purrtagonist

[a wan smile]

Six friends and you're out, huh?

Honestly, that's the best thing anyone who doesn't plan on killing can do in this situation.

From:

theyregooddogs

I was trying to stay out each night to catch someone. Do something. It accidentally became my get-out-of-hell free card.

Haven't spent the night with either you or Ichigo, incidentally. But I am going to see how the dice treat me.

From:

purrtagonist

. . . hopefully those dice don't lead you to being paired up with a killer.

From:

theyregooddogs

I, uh, accept that? If it happens. But I'd hope not to.

From:

purrtagonist

["accept it"]

Where do you think the people who die go?

[well okay that's a super weird question to ask out of the blue but here we are]

From:

theyregooddogs

Ah, here? Or anywhere else that is not here?

From:

purrtagonist

Here. In this school. I'm not trying to be philosophical.

From:

theyregooddogs

Good, I'm not really that fond of philosophy.

[tilting his head, staring at the floor]

If I were to guess based on the texts we're receiving and how this scenario has been set-up, our consciousness emerges somewhere else. Those that die are able to see and hear us via the cameras around the school. Our agony is probably undoubtedly real and painful but also deeply amusing for them.

And if we were to think of what Shuichi experienced . . . Well, our memories could have been wiped and reformed countless times. Running different scenarios. What if Akira did this, what if Luxanna had done that, on and on.

What probably catches me most about that line of thought is the lack of humanity in it. I, um, was really holding out for a mastermind? A person who wanted to see a particular end, something significant to them. But if there isn't, if it's random, then there isn't a "right" answer. A behavior or chain of events that would satisfy.

. . . We're, ah, really small, then. Just ants in the farm until someone decides it's time to shake again.

From:

purrtagonist

[well, that's optimistic]

But where would our consciousness emerge? Seto theorized this was all a simulation, which-- [gestures] It all still feels real, regardless of that.

. . . regardless, I have to admit there's nothing more demoralizing than being compared to an ant in a farm.

From:

theyregooddogs

If a simulation is meant to provoke an authentic response, then it should be realistic, shouldn't it? With everything else we've seen here, I find it odd that you are caught on that part.