PRIVATE MEETINGS

[andexecutioner]

If you'd like to have a private meeting with the Adjudicator, this is where you should go! The Adjudicator is available at almost all hours of the day; just knock and he'll answer.

Comments are screened for privacy; no eavesdropping, that's rude.

Comments

[fortunatedetective]

I don't need a reason to play chess with someone I esteem, do I? But I also can't lie. It's both.

[And so it's handwaved! And of course Naoto has played chess before and is rather good at it]

I assume you're aware of the unexpected resident of the dead side, aren't you?

[andexecutioner]

I'm aware of her, yeah. She's not really any of my business, but I know she's there.

[fortunatedetective]

[Naoto stares at her pieces, subtly glancing at him]

...do you know if she's the owner of the makeup compact you saw weeks ago? I still haven't found its owner.

[As usual, she's paying attention to try to see any reactions]

[andexecutioner]

The makeup compact...

[And for some reason he has to think about it; the pause goes on for a little too long, but eventually he shakes his head.]

It wouldn't be hers.

[fortunatedetective]

[The pause gets Naoto's attention, but the answer isn't what she expected. So she was wrong...? Damn it]

I see.

[She moves the pieces, relaxing]

I was hoping to make contact with Alena, but my improvised plan to create a line between the dead people and the alive people didn't work. Is there any way you could arrange me to talk to her without me having to die? I'd like to not get killed anytime soon, that'd throw a wrench into my plans.

[andexecutioner]

Why do you want to talk to her?

Your answer isn't going to change mine. I'm just curious.

[fortunatedetective]

...because I want to find answers. I want to find out what's going on with this place, with the people watching over us. I think she may have useful information about all that.

I want us all to win this game without many more deaths.

[andexecutioner]

...The dead aren't going to know the answers to that sort of thing.

[That seems...surprisingly earnest, actually.]

At the very least, I don't think they do. It doesn't bring enlightenment or anything along with it.

[fortunatedetective]

There's nothing to lose by asking them. As a detective I can't accept not talking to them at least once, if only to find out they know nothing.

[It's certainly surprising Juri was earnest about that, though]

It's just how I'm used to do things. I'm sure you have felt something like that about your job or what you do.

[andexecutioner]

[Ahh.]

...Yeah, something like that. Things have to be done just because that's how it works, I get it.

Unfortunately, though, the dead and living are intended to remain separate from each other. Sometimes they cross paths again, but for the most part? I'm pretty sure the rules of the universe don't work that way - at least not here.

[fortunatedetective]

[...]

...do you know what'd happen to you if you die?

[andexecutioner]

[He doesn't hesitate at that, though he does shrug a little, as though he's not certain why this is a question in the first place. Some of you guys have put forth a good amount of effort into killing him, but...]

I can't die.

[fortunatedetective]

Do you know why?

[That gets Naoto to look away from the board]

[andexecutioner]

[His eyes slide closed at that; he doesn't seem stressed out, exactly, just thinking.]

...Just how it is.

[He shrugs a little.]

It doesn't bother me or anything; after all, I'm not like you guys.

[fortunatedetective]

...

[It's strange, and Naoto isn't sure what to think about that]

I'm not going to give you a cliché offering of 'we're more similar than you think' or 'you'll be if you believe', because that's not true, that's not what you want, and I'm not the type to say such banalities.

However I do think it'd do you good to work on finding out who you are. Any progress on that yet?

[andexecutioner]

[His eyes do open at that, though he seems pretty relaxed, given the topic.]

I don't know. Who I might have been at one point doesn't really matter to me all that much. I know there are things that I've probably forgotten; I know some stuff that I shouldn't, given the circumstances. But sometimes what's been left behind is like that for a reason, you know?

Maybe things are better now, maybe they're not. It's hard to say. Do you really think it's important to know one way or another?

[fortunatedetective]

I think it's rather important.

[...]

Then again, maybe I feel that because in the last two months my memories involves me using part of my psyche and identity to fight and use magic. It's impossible for me to not to constantly wonder who I am.

[Naoto smiles and moves her piece. Looks like she's almost doing checkmate. Juri's skill really was 'not that good']

I guess for you it isn't as important as it can be for other people.

[andexecutioner]

[he's so damn bad at this game, naoto]

...Is it something that's important for most people, do you think? Understanding themselves like that.

[It's just a question, not looking for any one answer in particular, though he does seem genuinely curious about it.]

[fortunatedetective]

It's something everyone wonders at some point. Some people spend their entire lives searching for who they are and what they want to do in the world.

[Shrug]

Some have more luck than others on that regard.

[andexecutioner]

Why?

[That's a bit too immediate to be natural; he shakes his head a bit, though, once that's out there.]

I don't see what the point is. Spending your whole life searching for something you might not even succeed at, only for it to mean nothing in the end. Where's the reward in that, what makes it worth it?

[fortunatedetective]

...that's a tough question, and one I'm not sure how to answer.

[It does take her a moment to think of a reply]

I think it's worth it so one can die without regrets. No one wants to die feeling unfulfilled, or leaving unfinished business.

Many want their last moments to be peaceful and calm, and if finding those answers is how they think they'll achieve it...

[...then they'll try]

[andexecutioner]

[He's quiet for a moment at that.]

...So how about you? You think you've achieved that sort of thing for yourself?

[fortunatedetective]

...if I weren't in this place I think I would have.

[There's a move in the chessboard left to finish the game, but Naoto is distracted with all this talk to actually go ahead and do it]

My memories...they show I have grown as a person, and for the first time in many, many years I feel happy with myself! It could be said I found my role in life and I'm ready for what may come.

But then this murder-each-other game started. It doesn't change who I am, but I feel I won't be satisfied until it's over and we're all out of here. I am a detective, the least I should be able to do is solve this all and help everyone.

[...]

It's hard to explain with words.

[andexecutioner]

[And that...that actually seems to get something to click in his head, weirdly enough.]

There's always something else, isn't there? You're happy, and then something changes your circumstances, and that changes you. Changes whether you're satisfied with your life or not.

[...]

It's kind of a mess, but it makes sense.

[fortunatedetective]

You're right about that.

[Finally, checkmate. The chess game is over]

I guess that's how life works. It's always a challenge.