[week one - friday]

[ceded]

[ The investigation today left her so ... tired. It's the first time she's ever seen a body. She wasn't in either of the groups that actually found evidence, but ... when they all converged in the graveyard, what they talked about and saw...

... tired. Tired, tired, tired.

For one reason or another, she finds herself seeking Shinnosuke out. She wants ... to talk to him, not even being quite sure what to say.

Still, she wasn't expecting it to be as easy as running into him in the hotel lobby. ]

... Shinnosuke?

Comments

[insincerely]

[Not for the first time, Shinnosuke wishes he could use the I can't hear because of my headphone excuse—except he can't, because it's only in one ear, and he doesn't happen to be deaf in the other.

But he recognizes that voice, damn it. And thus, reluctantly, he turns to face Xion.]

What?

[In contrast, Shinnosuke doesn't seem particularly tired (aside from having to walk around all day, anyway). At an initial glance, he seems as casual as he always is.]

[ceded]

.... hi.

[ Xion will tilt her head and move towards him, some concern on her face. ]

How are you doing? It's ... been a long day.

[insincerely]

[That concern is disgusting, stop it.]

Well.

I'd like to get to bed early so that I can be rested for the trial tomorrow.

[Hint, hint.]

[ceded]

Oh! That's a good idea. It's still pretty early. ... what do you think is going to happen?

[ the hint






xion ]

[insincerely]

...

[Slowly, this time:]

I'm telling you to leave me alone.

[ceded]

Oh.

[ A beat, and: ]

I ... I just want to make sure you're okay, first. I think ... we all had a hard time today.

[insincerely]

[He smiles a little at that, but it's without mirth.]

We all did? Or are you talking about yourself?

[ceded]

... a lot of us did. [ Serious, tilting her head. ] You're right. I did, too. But it's you I'm worried about.

[insincerely]

[He lets out a light laugh.]

Does it seem like anything's wrong with me? Thanks for your concern [said flippantly], but it's worthless.

[ceded]

[ Xion ducks her chin. ]

I mean, I don't know for sure either way. I guess I'm saying ... it'd be okay, if you weren't okay.

[insincerely]

[No, it wouldn't be okay.]

How sweet. Are you telling everyone that?

[ceded]

[ Xion looks somewhat taken aback. ]

No... just you. Something tells me you might ... need to hear it. It's okay, you know. To care.

[insincerely]

[Shinnosuke's smiling, but it looks a tad frozen now.]

I'm sorry, what is this? An impromptu therapy session? Haha, that's very cute of you, but you're better off sparing your breath. You're mistaking my lack of caring with a desire to, and that's a very dangerous mistake to make.

You should go find some traumatized soul, like Yuna. I'm sure she'd appreciate it a lot more.

[ceded]

[ .... ]

I'm not ... trying to do anything like that. I just don't want you ... to be alone. I think ... you're not as mean as you try to seem like you are. I don't know why you keep talking this way, but ... you're not really a cruel person.

[insincerely]

[...]

Ah, is that so? How naive, but let's pretend I'm curious: what makes you think that?

[ceded]

Huh? Well...

[ Xion thinks back to the investigation, and their conversation before that. ]

I guess it's the way you respond to things. Like, if you really were the person you keep pretending to be, you'd ... go further? [ Xion taps her chin, struggling with the words. ] You'd be meaner. But you're not. You helped out, and ... you talked to me.

[insincerely]

... I hope you realize how flawed your logic is that I can't be this mean because if I were, I should be meaner.

And you must be a very pitiful girl if anyone who talks to you is automatically a good person.

[ceded]

[ Xion's shoulders twitch, and her mouth twists. ]

Now you're being mean on purpose...

Shinnosuke .... am I really wrong?

[insincerely]

[Without missing a beat:]

Yes, you are. Well, I'm glad we cleared that up. Thanks for this conversation.

[ceded]

[ Xion's mouth puckers sourly, but it's more like she's pouting than she is upset. ]

... okay. I'll go. I'll ... see you later, okay, Shinnosuke?

[ smiling ]

[insincerely]

[... Wow, she actually listened to him. Kiri and the others back home never left him alone whenever he did that??

Now he just needs Xion to stop. Having. Hope!!]

Nope.

... Or so I'd like to say, but I guess we'll be stuck together for the trial. But otherwise, I'd rather not.

[ceded]

[ she's. cheerful. or something close to it. for some reason. are you sure you've escaped, shinnosuke....? ]

Mhm. Let's work together tomorrow, okay?

[insincerely]

[Uggggggggggh, he's... holding onto hope...]

Only because it's in my best interests to weed out murderers before I'm next. Don't think this makes us allies or anything like that.

[ceded]

Allies.... well, it's a place to start!

[ xion that's not what he meant

(she doesn't care) ]

[insincerely]

... Did you not hear what I said?

[ceded]

I heard you.

[ smiiiiiiiile ]

I thought you wanted to get some rest?

[insincerely]

... Has anyone ever told you that you're actually a pain?

[But yes, yes, he'll be moving to leave.]

[ceded]

.... sometimes. [ eh heh. ] Night, Shinnosuke!

[insincerely]

[He just holds a hand up in a slight wave as he walks away.

... Secretly scowling, because uggh, it feels like he's just walked into a trap...]