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[ mephisto's got nowhere to be, so he'll hang around the execution bar long enough to finish his drink, at least.
with a glance down — way down — at harrow, he leans back against the wall. ]
That was more of a production than I expected.
with a glance down — way down — at harrow, he leans back against the wall. ]
That was more of a production than I expected.
They had clearly prepared for it, hadn't they?
[the trial, the island, everything.]
[the trial, the island, everything.]
They had! They made it sound as if it were spontaneous, but what else is this normally-inaccessible island here for if none of this was part of the plan?
I suppose it is possible they can create the islands spontaneously, but these demons are lazy and unhelpful at every turn, and won't answer the simplest requests.
As far as personal assistant demons go, they're pretty bottom-rung. It's a little hard to imagine they could organize this on short notice.
Do you believe they're meant to be personal assistants...?
[what in the world.]
[what in the world.]
It's how they advertise themselves, isn't it? "Satan's personal demons"?
[ he sounds very much like he thinks this is bullshit; you can feel the air quotes even if he isn't actually making them. ]
[ he sounds very much like he thinks this is bullshit; you can feel the air quotes even if he isn't actually making them. ]
I think they are meant to be our personal tormentors, not our personal helpers. And they do decently at that job, though they are lazy.
Well, yes, but our tormentors are Satan's helpers. They were supposedly created specifically to provide service on someone's command, in any case.
I wish I knew what they wanted out of this. Sometimes they seem almost helpful but other times they are simply awful.
[harrow is in the void, generally trying to avoid any location people may be being emotional in. when she sees him, she makes something of an unwelcoming scowl, but she doesn't go to leave, and will speak to him.]
...You did have it.
...You did have it.
[ yeah, he's used to that kind of greeting, and it's never successfully repelled him before either. he smiles. ]
Hm?
Hm?
[ shrugs. ]
It was where all the evidence pointed. Most of them just didn't want to look in that direction, even when they started putting it together.
It was where all the evidence pointed. Most of them just didn't want to look in that direction, even when they started putting it together.
It was. I could see it, and I was hardly alone, but...the truth was incredibly frustrating, this time.
Frankly, I don't know why we even had to go through with all of this this time. With the other two they could frame it as if we were protecting ourselves by ousting a dangerous killer, but that clearly wasn't the case here. And if we're to believe these "demons", then this isn't even something Satan wants.
Oh.
[he seemed so unsentimental about it; she didn't expect him to say that.]
...I agree. I didn't see any point pursuing it, not if it was an accident. For what reason - simply so everyone can acquire more pets and weapons?
[he seemed so unsentimental about it; she didn't expect him to say that.]
...I agree. I didn't see any point pursuing it, not if it was an accident. For what reason - simply so everyone can acquire more pets and weapons?
[ to be fair, he's still completely unsentimental about it, he just thinks it's stupid that they had to do it at all under these circumstances. ]
That's the question, isn't it? Whatever consistent thread of logic there seemed to be behind this before snapped right in front of us this week.
That's the question, isn't it? Whatever consistent thread of logic there seemed to be behind this before snapped right in front of us this week.
Yes. But no one likes to think of voting as something within their control, as it means they bear responsibility for the outcome. Easier to do as told.
"Do as told" as in vote for the so-called "guilty" party, whether it's deserved or not?
Yes. If you do as you're meant to, it gives the illusion of having no agency in it.
Hm.
That's one way of looking at it. The other is that, despite where we are, most among us are soft-hearted and unwilling to condemn someone who was completely unrelated to the killing. Voting for the person who was technically at fault would typically be considered more ethical than other options. I don't see it as a matter of shirking personal responsibility — though humans are certainly wont to do so! — so much as trying to do what they believe to be the least unfair thing.
[ ... ]
Though in this case, with how high emotions were running, I think several of them might have been willing to vote for another if he hadn't requested otherwise himself.
That's one way of looking at it. The other is that, despite where we are, most among us are soft-hearted and unwilling to condemn someone who was completely unrelated to the killing. Voting for the person who was technically at fault would typically be considered more ethical than other options. I don't see it as a matter of shirking personal responsibility — though humans are certainly wont to do so! — so much as trying to do what they believe to be the least unfair thing.
[ ... ]
Though in this case, with how high emotions were running, I think several of them might have been willing to vote for another if he hadn't requested otherwise himself.
...Yes. His own wishes changed the calculation somewhat.
[she is sympathetic to the reasons many had, but...]
I don't believe it to be the least unfair thing. It is all equally unfair.
[she is sympathetic to the reasons many had, but...]
I don't believe it to be the least unfair thing. It is all equally unfair.
You might be surprised by how many would prefer not to go on with a friend's blood on their hands, let alone adding another's.
If everything is equally unfair, what will you do?
If everything is equally unfair, what will you do?
I don't know, yet.
[her mouth twists slightly.]
But when I decide what I will do, I will see it through, and I will be victorious. I would consider that before you and Date Kaname amuse yourselves at my expense ever again.
[her mouth twists slightly.]
But when I decide what I will do, I will see it through, and I will be victorious. I would consider that before you and Date Kaname amuse yourselves at my expense ever again.
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