[ it's true, nothing has come to sully the sanctum of video games. thankfully and ken will be trying his hand at some good ole fashion s*per m*rio br* on something that's definitely not a switch, which he puts down for the sake of conversation. ]
I think... I'm fine.
[ he thinks. ]
We managed to catch everyone but I'm starting to wonder what it will all mean.
... I see. [He sighs.] I wish I knew the answer to that question myself. Although we believe we are making progress... It really feels as though we're only going through the motions week after week, doesn't it?
[ he's slowly working through some things before he speaks. ]
Yeah. [ hmmm... ] ...and you know? Of the three people who were killed and the people who murdered, one of them was a creep. I was thinking that maybe it was okay for someone like him to be killed in the first place.
Maybe the similarities run a little deeper than Akechi thought.]
... I can't condone murder. It goes against everything I believe in. But... [...] I'm aware that my vote has resulted in the loss of someone's life in the previous weeks... And I understand he tried to kill Nie Huaisang, only to be killed in return. I would have to be blind to ignore the danger Valentini-san posed to us all.
We all voted to end someone's life and it seems like we'll continue to vote to end someone's life whether we really want to or not. It's a responsibility that we all have to share.
[ except for galo and anya that time where they lost their fingers but that was the exception. probably. too soon to tell??? ]
...I kind of wonder if there are more people like Valentini around that we just don't know anything about here with us. I know there are a lot more people like him in out there in the real world, and that sometimes those people are caught.
[ a moment as he looks at akechi ]
But it's more common for those kind of people to go free, right?
On a global scale... Yes. You're right. It's more common for those kind of people to go free.
[Which is, hm. Unfortunate.]
Furthermore, you are smart to believe Valentini-san may not be the only one of his kind among the numbers. It's an unsettling possibility, but one we cannot ignore. The majority of us are strangers to one another, after all. Anyone can lie about their true self if there's no one around to call them out on it.
And if they're good enough liars, we'll never know unless something comes up where we can catch them in that lie. [ which troubles ken, honestly. but, at the same time— ] Would you think that the change of environment might change the way that they behave?
[ he'll tilt his head to a side. ]
I've heard that people only act a certain way because of the people that they're around. If those same people aren't there—they can change who they are, can't they?
[ not that he's an optimistic kid but he has...moments. ]
I don't think you're wrong... But in my experience, it's more complicated than that.
[He's watching him carefully now, a curious look on his face. Hm.]
I suppose you could say that human beings use several "masks" for different occasions. You would not act the same way you do around your teachers as you do around your friends, right? If you suddenly find yourself in an unknown situation, you don't have to be one of "those people" to change the way you behave. We are very reactionary creatures by nature, after all.
[... A beat.]
Haha, perhaps I got carried away. But you understand what I mean, yes? Anyone can change who they are with a change of environment.
[ he'll dutifully listen to akechi's explanation and considers everything that's being said to him. it's not unreasonable and he follows it well enough. ]
I guess that's true.
[ hmm. ken does act differently towards his classmates if only because they just don't understand what he's been through. ]
I've been pretty straight-forward with most of the people here. [ he says right now. oh how things will change so quickly. ] I know I didn't trust people when I first arrived here but I feel like that's different than putting on a different face.
[Oh, how things will change so quickly... Akechi nods, listening along.]
Adjusting our behaviour to better fit the situation could be considered putting on a different face. But in the end... What truly matters is the intent, isn't it? There's a difference between behaving differently because the situation demands it, and putting on an act because you wish to deceive others.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Hello. [Politely. And then, a little bit concerned:] Ignoring the, ah... obvious, are you alright?
no subject
I think... I'm fine.
[ he thinks. ]
We managed to catch everyone but I'm starting to wonder what it will all mean.
no subject
... I see. [He sighs.] I wish I knew the answer to that question myself. Although we believe we are making progress... It really feels as though we're only going through the motions week after week, doesn't it?
no subject
Yeah. [ hmmm... ] ...and you know? Of the three people who were killed and the people who murdered, one of them was a creep. I was thinking that maybe it was okay for someone like him to be killed in the first place.
[ ken please??? ]
no subject
Ah.
Maybe the similarities run a little deeper than Akechi thought.]
... I can't condone murder. It goes against everything I believe in. But... [...] I'm aware that my vote has resulted in the loss of someone's life in the previous weeks... And I understand he tried to kill Nie Huaisang, only to be killed in return. I would have to be blind to ignore the danger Valentini-san posed to us all.
no subject
[ except for galo and anya that time where they lost their fingers but that was the exception. probably. too soon to tell??? ]
...I kind of wonder if there are more people like Valentini around that we just don't know anything about here with us. I know there are a lot more people like him in out there in the real world, and that sometimes those people are caught.
[ a moment as he looks at akechi ]
But it's more common for those kind of people to go free, right?
no subject
On a global scale... Yes. You're right. It's more common for those kind of people to go free.
[Which is, hm. Unfortunate.]
Furthermore, you are smart to believe Valentini-san may not be the only one of his kind among the numbers. It's an unsettling possibility, but one we cannot ignore. The majority of us are strangers to one another, after all. Anyone can lie about their true self if there's no one around to call them out on it.
no subject
[ he'll tilt his head to a side. ]
I've heard that people only act a certain way because of the people that they're around. If those same people aren't there—they can change who they are, can't they?
[ not that he's an optimistic kid but he has...moments. ]
no subject
[He's watching him carefully now, a curious look on his face. Hm.]
I suppose you could say that human beings use several "masks" for different occasions. You would not act the same way you do around your teachers as you do around your friends, right? If you suddenly find yourself in an unknown situation, you don't have to be one of "those people" to change the way you behave. We are very reactionary creatures by nature, after all.
[... A beat.]
Haha, perhaps I got carried away. But you understand what I mean, yes? Anyone can change who they are with a change of environment.
no subject
I guess that's true.
[ hmm. ken does act differently towards his classmates if only because they just don't understand what he's been through. ]
I've been pretty straight-forward with most of the people here. [ he says right now. oh how things will change so quickly. ] I know I didn't trust people when I first arrived here but I feel like that's different than putting on a different face.
[ probably? ]
no subject
Adjusting our behaviour to better fit the situation could be considered putting on a different face. But in the end... What truly matters is the intent, isn't it? There's a difference between behaving differently because the situation demands it, and putting on an act because you wish to deceive others.
no subject
And which one would you recommend doing while we're here?
[ a very honest question. so honest. ]
We both don't think everyone here is showing their true colors, but if we keep feeding into that feeling, then won't we all be lying by the end of it?
[ he's no inaba kid so he won't go that far but at the same time. if you're lying and i'm lying then why bother with the truth at all??? ]
At some point, someone will have to step forward and consistently be the same.
no subject
[Easily enough. He doesn't hesitate very long before offering that answer. However, there's a small pause before he continues.]
... In practice, this type of situation is the perfect breeding ground for lies and distrust. We will need to be the change we want to see.
no subject
[ he repeats and considers the words... ]
I like the sound of that. [ with a nod. ] I'm not sure how much I can do on my own, but I still need to be responsible for what I can do.