Day 9 - THANKSGARBAGE

[pandatrash]

[Did you have a good Trashmas? If you kept any of the gifts that you were given, you will find that the raccoons placed a single poop somewhere in your room. Let us not dwell on the origins of said poop. This is the only punishment for failing to regift your Trashmas gifts.]

[Today's morning announcements are as follows:]

Did you know that after Trashmas, which we regret not calling Shitscram, there's another sacred raccoon holiday? That's right, today is Thanksgarbage! It's the day you cook a big, huge, giant, enormous, humungous feast and we eat all the trash!

[OBNOXIOUS LAUGHTER ENSUES]

It would be totally fucked up to have a killing night after Thanksgarbage, so we're not gonna! Everybody can enjoy food comas in peace! Especially us!

[Should you venture to the kitchen, you'll find it's suddenly stocked with a wide variety of ingredients for all sorts of fall foods; not just the American Thanksgiving and/or pumpkin spice fare, but Japanese ones as well, such as eggplants, persimmons, nashi, kobocha, chestnuts, Japanese sweet potatoes, and everything you need to make oden.]

((Game nav
Recyclr
Trust sheets - these aren't due until Sunday, but the sheet is available to fill out at your leisure. Remember that Sunday itself is NYE))

Comments

[afailedmurder]

[immediately slams notebook shut]

Graham-san seemed like he could use the help.

[purrtagonist]

[WELL, THAT SURE ISN'T SUSPICIOUS. arches both brows dubiously]

I'm sure he appreciates it.

[a beat]

Don't tell me you're keeping a private diary.

[afailedmurder]

N—nothing. It's stupid, anyway.

[hastily picking up the dog, who is not particularly into it beyond the access it gives him to lick Akechi's face, which conversely Akechi is not particularly into, but he sticks it out like a trooper]

...Want to play with him?

[purrtagonist]

[. . . Akechi. . .]

I'm more of a cat person.

[but he does tug his hands from his pockets and hold out his arms for the puppy. sure, he'll play along]

And define "stupid" for me.

[afailedmurder]

[puppy is glad to lick anything within range, but he is a little too wriggly and Akechi ends up setting him back down, wiping at his face with a huff]

Frustrating. Pointless.

[purrtagonist]

[a soft snort, and Akira crouches down to scratch the puppy behind the ears]

So you say. . .

What are you taking notes on, anyway?

[afailedmurder]

I've been documenting the case. Suspects, locations, weapons... I'm not sure how useful it will be, but I need to keep my instincts sharp.

[and emotions as compartmentalized as possible]

...But that wasn't my notes just now. I was simply trying to work something out. That's all.

[purrtagonist]

[so it IS a diary]

"Working something out". . .

[huh]

Could I help?

[afailedmurder]

It's something like a philosophy puzzle. The irresistible force paradox, as applied to human interaction. It's something I need to figure out on my own, though.

[purrtagonist]

"What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?"

[huh]

I never realized you were that into philosophy.

[afailedmurder]

A good detective should always strive to deepen his understanding of the world, wouldn't you say?

[purrtagonist]

I'd say that rings true for non-detectives, too.

{a cheeky grin]

So how does that theory apply to human interaction? Because it almost sounds like you're making things too complicated.

[afailedmurder]

I don't know. I think it's a perfectly good model for two very stubborn people with mutually exclusive desires.

[purrtagonist]

Two very stubborn people here?

[this isn't so much casual prying as it is blatant nosing around, now]

[afailedmurder]

Naturally.

[sly smile]

But are you sure you don't find all this philosophy talk dull? If you'd rather, I could tell you about the friends I've been making.

[purrtagonist]

You could always tell me about both of them. I have time.

[afailedmurder]

Of course, that's just like you. I really ought to make you pick one.

[doesn't sound like he's doing to, though]

[purrtagonist]

But are you actually going to?

[calling him out]

[afailedmurder]

No, I suppose not. One should not be an immovable object unless strictly necessary.

[purrtagonist]

[plops down on the ground, allowing the puppy to climb into his lap]

Good plan. Let's start with your notebook, and your new friends afterwards.

[afailedmurder]

I find that I still have my concerns about your approach to this twisted game. Graham-san said that I should write them down in order to properly communicate them...

[drums his fingers against the notebook, leaving it closed]

But it seems rather pointless. You have your priorities and I have mine.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . tilts his head to the side curiously, gaze flickering to the notebook and then up again]

You're making me wonder exactly how our priorities differ.

[afailedmurder]

You'll do the right thing no matter what. That's your priority.

But... without your Personas, you can't win this. You'll end up just like Niska. You understand that, don't you?

[purrtagonist]

[aha]

[there's a pause, before he nods]

I do.

But that's only if I break a rule.

[afailedmurder]

[that's a little hopeful, and yet...]

You love to break rules.