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[Oh, please, like anyone could kill off Naegi-kun. That kid has plot armor a mile thick. Or wasn't his miraculous save by Alter-Ego proof enough of that?]

There should be six of us, then. You, me, Naegi-kun, Asahina-san, Hakagure-kun, and Fukawa-san.

[Beat.]

Seven, if we're counting Genocider Syo.

[Awww, yeah, she can fuck with you too, asshole.]

[Like a cockroach, more like. Still, Naegi has his uses.]

Oh? What makes you assume that? Naegi was executed, if you remember.

[Ignoring that it's true. WHAT MAKES YOU TICK, KIRIGIRI. TELL HIM YOUR SNEAKRETS.]

[Togami-kun, you realize you're the Ron Weasley, right.

You're the Ron Weasley in this game.]

Was he? He was found guilty of a murder he didn't commit and sentenced to an execution. But that isn't the same thing as being executed.

[Not when Alter-Ego is around. Or when you have protagonist armor.]

[Your ass better not be Hermione in this fanfic, Kirigiri.

Besides fuck you, he's totally Draco Malfoy in this analogy.]

...

[ok so you got him there.]

[Isn't Draco/Hermione like super popular on the internets?

Stop googling yourself, Togami-kun.]

Besides, I was the one who went to retrieve him. So I can confirm firsthand that he survived it.

[Not as popular as Harmony.]

Yes - I remember. The two of you came back reeking of garbage.

Then your testimony confirms my conclusions as well.

[BEAT.]

As usual.

We don't have to cooperate here.

[He says it with a snarl, like the word personally offends him.]

If what I've heard is true, and we are truly out from under the mastermind's thumb here, then I see no cause why we should continue acting as if we're still trapped together.

That's because there isn't any. Assuming the mastermind has no power here, and there are no walls keeping us in, it's true that we're not in a position where cooperation is to some degree necessary.

[She gives him one of her silent, calculating looks — not precisely judging, just appraising.]

Though it might still be advantageous, in certain respects.

[Togami returned the appraising look with an added eyebrow raise, his green-blue eyes staring sharply at Kirigiri.]

I'll oblige. What advantages could traveling as a group provide?

[He already knows that his own starter has no weaknesses and three immunities. So he can't have anything to gain in that regard.]

What about as a distraction? If we've established that this clearly isn't the world outside, yet you've confirmed that we've vanquished the mastermind, then the natural conclusion is that there must be an unknown secondary force establishing the parameters of this scenario. You said it yourself in the beginning: out of one game "and into another".

Even if you refuse to concede that the other pieces on the game board might measure up to your own aptitude — a conclusion which may or may not be correct, but that we can assume here for the sake of the argument — that still doesn't mean they're entirely without value. They might provide useful information or prior experiences from which you could learn and make strategies. They also might facilitate your own ends, assuming you're capable of positioning them in such a way to achieve that. To say nothing of the fact that your behavior toward Genocider demonstrates clearly that you are aware of the advantages of numbers, assuming the numbers are well-controlled and work in your favor.

And if none of that is enough to content you, then there still remains the point that adding more variables to a situation fairly guarantees added complexity, and I can hardly imagine Togami Byakuya-kun turning down the opportunity to make a game more interesting.

Edited 2013-08-06 19:33 (UTC)

Traveling as a large group could arouse the suspicion of whatever forces are controlling this game. I'm surprised that you, of all people, are proposing collaborative investigation.

[That remark was about as pointed as a barbed wire fence, Miss "I'm too good to share my findings with the class".

He can't really argue with the rest of the points she makes, however.]

This is, however, assuming that I think the rest of you are interesting enough variables to be worth the effort. After all, I've seen how you all act in a more dangerous situation than our current, and so it would be difficult for you not to bore me.

[He's not saying no, but...]

Perhaps we should settle this by the rules of this new game. We have made eye contact, after all. If you can beat me in a battle, I will concede your point and do my part to keep our unlucky little group intact.

[He smirks.]

You asked to hear the advantages. Acknowledging and listing them isn't synonymous with advocating them. Furthermore, circumstances change; as Celes-san might say, adaptability likewise has its advantages.

[You can take your barbed wire fence and shove it right up your—]

You're asking for a Pokemon battle. With that?

[She tilts a half-nod at the Sableye that's been following him.]

[Togami shrugs. W/e, w/e.]

I am. Against that.

[He does the same toward her Espeon. Hey, if she can have an evolved pokemon, he can have been level-grinding his non-evolutionary one.]

Do you accept?

[This just proves Togami sucks eggs at freetime events, frankly. Hang out with one of the girls? LET'S MAKE OUR TINY ANIMALS KICK THE SHIT OUT OF EACH OTHER IN A PROXY BATTLE FOR OUR DOMINANCE CHALLENGE, OK.

The Espeon looks up with that same deadeye stare so common to Kirigiri's face. He's clearly ready to do this.]

It seems I don't have much choice.

[That's probably a yes.]

[As if there wasn't already enough evidence of that as it was. Though to be fair, both of their animals are kind of creepy in their own ways.

The Sableye's face splits into a jagged, terrifying grin ~~it kind of looks like Syo~~, and she gives a sibilant little laugh, hopping gleefully from foot to foot because she knows her master is calling her to battle.]

Then let's give them room.

[He turns and walks 10 paces, his Sableye staying where she is.]

[~~This is so dumb, Kirigiri thinks to herself as she takes her place, fighting the urge to roll her eyes so hard they fall out of her head~~

Undaunted despite the miniature horror show in its midst, the Espeon flicks his tail in what ultimately comes off as a dismissive gesture, not so much seated as coiled and apparently ready to spring at a moment's notice.

Mirroring Togami, Kirigiri turns and takes up her own place, regarding the makeshift battlefield solemnly.]

Shall we simply call, "begin"?

[~~SHHHHH. Shhhhhhh. He wants to be Gary Oak now. Don't crush his dreams.~~

Togami nods and then extends his arm.]

Begin!

Use Shadow Sneak!

[With a grin like the Cheshire cat and a sibilant hiss, the Sableye disappears into her own shadow (the grin and the hollow gemstone eyes being the last to disappear) and pops up behind Espeon, cackling as she goes to rake her claws down the pretty kitty's back.]

[. . .

R U D E

The Espeon pivots and does its best to wriggle out of the way of the attack, but it's not enough to get free before those claws connect, and it squeaks in protest accordingly.]

Respond with Confusion.

[...LOOK DON'T EVEN START, TOGAMI. DON'T EVEN GENTLY CARESSING START.]

[Togami doesn't even give an order to dodge, just stands there, arms folded across his chest, as the gem on the Espeon's forehead glows like a beacon and waves of psychic energy rush toward the Sableye.

If the Sableye had eyebrows, she would raise one. Just one.]

And here I thought having trained so as to have an evolved one would mean you knew something about battling. I was hoping for a challenge, Kirigiri. Is this game not up to your standard?

[Togami used Condescension! ~~It's not very effective...~~]

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OKAY NO THIS IS THE ACTUAL TAG

THANK YOU FOR NOT EDITING

I COULD NEVER

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