009. Anonymous Text/Action for Goldenrod City

[ardent]

[ANONYMOUS TEXT]

[The anon text on the network tonight is simple and to-the-point, hitting at about eleven at night; it seems that somebody isn't sleeping easily.]

Is there a way to stop hating someone?

If not, is there at least a way to stop being so angry about it all the time?




[ACTION]

[While he's not straying too far from the house he and his classmates have more or less taken over (with the assistance of a ridiculous amount of Eevees), Ishimaru can be found wandering around outside tonight; he's staying close to the breeding center and the like, but he's definitely seeming more restless than usual, his actions aimless. He's been having difficulty sleeping for almost a week now; it probably shows in his mannerisms and his speech - everything has been seeming less enthusiastic than usual - but he's been trying to keep up appearances, if nothing else.

At least he's not alone for the time being; he's got Eeveemaru with him - one of the members of the great furball legion from the house, all decked out in what looks like a little replica of Ishimaru's coat and armband (because if Togami thinks he's getting any aspect of this back - Eevee or outfit - he's got another thought coming to him, apparently). The thing is just kind of chilling on his shoulders for now, seeming a bit bewildered at being outside at a reasonably late hour but not too bothered otherwise; once in a while it bats at something not visible to anyone but there nonetheless - seems he's got Aiko with him as well, though the Misdreavus isn't visible for now.

It's late, and he's tired, but at least the night is nice, if a bit overcast. Maybe it'll rain soon, who knows. He just doesn't feel like being inside.]

Comments

[nostabbing]

That's brainwashing!

[ardent]

[And that's getting into unfortunate territory; he twitches a little at it, tensing up for a moment before trying to shake it off.]

It's nowhere near the same thing!

[nostabbing]

People aren't supposed to be able to get inside your head.

[But fortunately, she's learned what that particular physical tic tends to signify — he twitches when something's upsetting him, which means something she just said upset him, which means she should...try to figure out what that is so she doesn't say it again.]

Even if they do it for good reasons.

[ardent]

I know that - I've been brainwashed before! But I can tell the difference between something that's trying to help and...that!

[nostabbing]

But what if doing it for any reason makes it easier for someone else to do it later?

[ardent]

Aneki, why is this a concern?

[nostabbing]

[And down go her eyes.]

...

Because we had to stop a psychic once. A bad one. From hurting people. He was taking advantage of them and convincing them to give him all their money because he could talk to their dead friends and parents and family, and it made them feel better and they didn't want to...stop...feeling better.

[ardent]

That...that's just repulsive, though! Doing things like that...it's disrespectful to both the person they're cheating out of their money and the memory of the deceased; I wouldn't tolerate anything like that, you don't have to worry about that!

[nostabbing]

Yeah, but...there are people like that. There are a lot of people like that. And when you tell somebody what it is they really do, then yeah, obviously you think it's horrible and nobody would ever fall for that.

Except lots of people fall for it, because they're really good at taking advantage of people. A good grifter can make you think you want something that you really don't, just because they make it sound like a great idea. Or because they know what your weakness is and they exploit it. That's what people do.

I know it bugs you when I do all the worrying about you and don't let you worry about yourself, but that kind of thing, spotting people like that...that's what I do. Like I'd trust you if I...

[...Um...]

...got detention.

[ardent]

[He mulls that over for a moment, kind of tensing up a bit but not nearly as badly as before; he's not exactly sure what to do with that, not entirely, but...]

...Can I ask you something?

[nostabbing]

Sure. You can always ask me stuff.

[ardent]

You've met a lot of my classmates by now; what do you think of them?

[nostabbing]

Ummm.

[She purses her lips a minute, thinking back to the times she's been around them, and the takeaway impressions she's been left with.]

Mondo's a hitter who's under a lot of pressure to be tough because he runs a gang and that's how you get respect from the guys you want to follow you. Makoto's an okay guy except that I don't think anybody's that normal except maybe my friend Peggy so I guess maybe Makoto really likes cats, or he's like the best liar in the world. But he probably just really likes cats.

The punk rocker guy is really full of himself but he's probably got a secret because people who act like that usually do, I think. Same thing for the jerk rich guy, he probably k— hu— ...did something bad to get rich, and he's probably still a jerk in order to hold onto it.

The big-haired guy is awesome, and the one with all the frilly dresses is a grifter, and the one who just stares at you is creepy and probably works for the FBI or something.

[ardent]

[...uh.]

Well, I don't think Naegi-kun could lie to anyone even if he wanted to; he's just not that sort of person.

[Anyway.]

Are you okay with all of them, though?

[nostabbing]

I don't know. Some of them are okay? Some of them are weird.

[ardent]

"Weird" in what way?

[nostabbing]

The jerk rich guy is the kind of guy my team usually goes after. He's the mark. I mean he's a little kid, but that's what people act like, the ones we go after. They don't care about anybody but themselves and think that because they're better than everybody they can step all over the little people.

The creepy one reminds me of a guy who kidnapped me once. He works for Interpol now and he's just like my team leader except evil. He's Evil Nate. So she's probably evil. Or at least creepy.

And then Celes is a bitch but she's our bitch, so. She's shifty. You have to be careful with grifters, unless they're your grifter. And even then you have to be a little careful.

[ardent]

[...hmm.]

Kirigiri-kun is the creepy one - she's kind of mean sometimes, but she's not evil. And Togami-kun...I wouldn't be surprised if he's done a lot of bad things, but sometimes he does things that make him seem almost okay sometimes; I'm never sure if he's a bad person or just really weird.

...I think you're right about Celes-kun, though; be careful around her, all right?

[nostabbing]

[...]

Did she say something mean to you again?

[ardent]

...No, I'm just not usually on good terms with her, and she's been more difficult than usual lately.

[nostabbing]

Oh. Okay.

[Because really, that seems legit.]

If you want me to drag her off somewhere, I can do that. You know, to give you a break.

[ardent]

No. No, it's fine!

[Bad idea, bad idea, abort abort abort]

It's not really an issue overall; just personality clashes.

[nostabbing]

Like...shopping.

[She finishes, apparently before she's quite heard his refusal — having been lost in thought about what people are supposed to actually do when they spend time together (that isn't stealing). But oh, evidently the point is moot anyway, so that works out too.]

Oh, okay.

[ardent]

...trust me, if you take her out shopping you're probably never going to come back.

[nostabbing]

Does she have a thing about shoes.