ktiseos | [pc] (animal noises)

... Yes. This week is where we'll most likely see—or at least where I'll know for sure if I won't have any confirmation.

Are you able to speak of your actions this week, then, or must it wait?

You can almost certainly guess who I chose this week.

For certainty, I assume, after the other day?

[--he feels faintly troubled, still.]

If you mean who I assume, he acted strangely yesterday.

Shale doubts there'll be any signs in a newly refracting before Thursday night, so trying to guess who might be starting now is just taking a blind shot.

[...]

Strangely how?

I heard a crash, in the apartment, and felt-- anger, when I approached. Deep and-- not even, but fluctuating. Then nothing but an almost numbed sense of calm.

He had been attempting to write a letter to Chang Geng, then crushed the cup he was drinking from. I asked what happened, and while he did not feel angry again, there was something strange there. Sharp. He told me he had begun to write, and then asked himself... "Why bother, when you did the right thing? Why waste my time?"

I felt regret from him, after, but there was still that unnerving calm.

... Then I suppose we'll see if any signs like those stop after Thursday.

So we shall.

Do you believe we ought to try to do something about him that night?

[he can't frog someone again.]

Maybe. Like I said, what I do probably doesn't take enough of a hold the week I do it.

But 9S's killer at least suggested that he didn't feel anything outright murderous last week.

...I will consider speaking with Vax of his condition, then.

[sometimes you just

don't tell people things

and this is fine.]

Incidentally, have you spoken with Kazunari?

I generally do not, no.

... Well, I suppose you've been fairly open about not enacting retribution against our killers, so it should be fine in your case...

I did consider it, when I believed that may be the only way to deal with him and remove a threat, but-- Vax insisted upon avoiding it, and then the residents seemed to believe there may be alternate options as well. I certainly would not have done so without more certainty than I had at the time, either.

...and thus, the frog.

[they sigh.]

... He's been cured now, but he's still afraid that people will go after him, since no one else can be certain.

Well, we will not. We discussed it over the weekend, and further when he began to act strangely and seemed to prove our suspicions, but-- it ultimately appeared a better course of action to leave him be and seek other intervention. That was why I used my form, seeking someone such as yourself.

If no one targeted him after his behavior began, I doubt they shall now that it has ended.

... Perhaps it'd be worth telling him that now, given that this affects him the most, but all right.

I do not see why he would think he had aught to fear from me in particular. What, do you believe I should simply go tell someone that yes, I thought about killing you once, but that seemed to be a poor idea so do not worry yourself over it?

Well, not that you were thinking of killing him before, but that you don't intend to do it now.

Did you never consider telling him of your suspicions, after he'd been cured?

No, I had not.

I know others who speak to him, and who believed he seemed to have been cured sufficiently. That was enough.

Edited 2022-03-16 19:50 (UTC)

... Well, I suppose it is your decision.

I have simply had no particular interest. Unless there is a particular reason you believe I ought to do so.

A kindness to him, mainly. Though I suppose I cannot speak on his behalf, either.

Well, I shall take your opinion into consideration.

[teenagers keep giving him problems is the thing.]

[emet...]

... Like I said, it's up to you—and I could be wrong. Perhaps he'd rather never hear anything about it again, especially if the two of you don't normally talk.

But I think that for many, uncertainty is harsher than the truth.

(no subject)

ktiseos - 2022-03-16 20:05 (UTC) - Expand

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countermeasures - 2022-03-16 21:26 (UTC) - Expand