pc catchall for shess (nonbelligerent)

[foodbin]

Comments

[nonbelligerent]

Are you sure? That could put you at risk.

[foodbin]

Everyone is already at risk.

[nonbelligerent]

True.

How would you explain yourself? The lie detection?

[foodbin]

That'd probably be the easiest way. It depends on exactly how the item works, though. I don't know what it'll be yet, just that it'll help catch a lie.

[...But, wait a second.]

...Hang on, earlier you said he demonstrated he was with Earth, didn't you?

[nonbelligerent]

[...]

Did your check reveal a different element?

[foodbin]

Water. It said water.

[so, uh

yikes!]

[nonbelligerent]

Then it certainly seems there was some deception going on, doesn't it?

[foodbin]

[She pauses for a moment, raking a hand through her hair.]

Son of a bitch. Okay, so... Can you think of another reason he would do that?

[nonbelligerent]

I thought there might be some elemental subterfuge going on, which is why I asked Sol during the trial if someone could possess more than one element. Whatever Shirasu did to summon a seed, it didn't classify as that, apparently.

[...]

Under those circumstances, it'd be dangerous to reveal yourself as water. On the other hand, he had to have something prepared even before the trial to be able to do what he did.

[foodbin]

Well... The part about a water user who wasn't accounted for - we got that information during the trial, right? But if he used a power there, he wouldn't have been under water at the point they gave us that information, would he?

[Hm.]

[nonbelligerent]

It's possible that he didn't actually change alignments, and that whatever he did wasn't "having another power", which was my specific question. For instance, it could've been an item, in which case it'd be one-use. Do you know what he and Akane received from the war?

[foodbin]

[She shakes her head.]

No. I'm trying not to ask him too much, I don't want to make him suspicious.

[...]

If I did talk to him before the trial, what question would you suggest I go with? I was thinking about pretending I was asking him because of a quest I got from Lune or Sol.

[nonbelligerent]

If it's about the war rewards, you may have better luck asking Akane. Shirasu would almost definitely lie if he was guilty, after all.

[foodbin]

...No, I meant about whether or not he did it. I could take the item with me and ask him something related to Kazuaki's death, then say Lune or Sol gave me a quest to ask a few different people the same question.

[She frowns.]

Unless you think we can safely assume he was involved without using that item...?

[nonbelligerent]

[...]

You could, although it has its risks. Not to mention that it'd be in private. Even if you got the truth, bringing it up to the public afterwards would make it your word versus his.

[foodbin]

I could show them the item, depending on what it is.

[...]

What would you do?

[nonbelligerent]

One option is to be truthful. Explain to everyone why Shirasu is suspicious, using the functions of your role. That is, his true element and that he met with Kazuaki, on top of the original reasons.

Or rather, have someone else explain this. Someone who isn't easily traceable to you.

But that would mean making the details of your role public, as well as revealing to Hisoka that you're confiding in someone, which are major drawbacks. So I wouldn't say that's necessarily what I would do.

[foodbin]

And if I talk to him privately with a question like that, he could get suspicious and try to retaliate before the trial. I could bring other people when I talk to him to make sure I wasn't the only one witnessing what he said, but I think that would just make him more guarded. And either way, if I did that, I wouldn't have the item that can detect lies any more.

[Hm.]

Any other ideas?

[nonbelligerent]

[hmmmm.]

Perhaps we should consult with Axel after all.

[foodbin]

...Yeah, I'm starting to think that's a good idea.

[She sighs.]

At least - I'm starting to feel like we're almost there. Thanks for all your help with this. [A very tired thumbs up.] Let's get him, right?

[nonbelligerent]

We can do our best, at least.

[foodbin]

If it was him...

[Hm.]

Who do you think he was working with?

[nonbelligerent]

I'm not sure. It could be Four. In fact, the framing attempt may have been his doing all along, and their argument staged. The former is still possible even if Four is innocent, actually.

As for the others who matched her shoe size, I admit I can't see Lili and Valvatorez assisting without a good reason. North, I don't know.

[foodbin]

...I'd say Four and North are probably the most likely bets.

[Ugh.]

[nonbelligerent]

Unfortunately.