[Well, today has been absolutely awful. Iago's been locked in his room since the motive, but he finally ventures out because he actually needs to eat. Regrettably, he is human. Anyway, he does end up glancing down the hallway towards a certain person's door, and after a long moment of consideration he sighs in frustration before walking over to knock on Pizza's door. Don't ask how he knows it's Pizza's, he's probably seen Pizza come and go or something??
He's dressed in the outfit he arrived in, looking entirely composed by now, at least. He hadn't missed Pizza's reaction to the motive despite his own irritation with it, so... Here he is. Fine. Might as well just see if the guy's okay.]
[ Pizza has definitely been loud going in and out prior to this, so it's no secret where his room is. It's also no secret that he's been tucked away pretty much the entire day, which is completely unheard of. Normally he can be seen bouncing around all over the place, but that motive was.... yeah.
The knock surprises him, but it doesn't take him too long to answer. He opens it, then just stands there in the doorway blinking a moment. Behind him it's easy to see that his room is in a state of considerable disarray, the bedding all over the floor. Pizza himself though looks relatively fine, if just extremely confused. ]
[...Well, given that it is Iago at the door "extremely confused" is very fair.]
I understand that the... announcement today has been troubling you. [Probably. He's been in his room so he hasn't seen whether Pizza's been coming or going, but he's assuming here!!] Is there... [ugh] anything I can do for you.
[It's not even a question, just sort of a deadpan statement... But he went to the effort of trying so surely that means something??]
...manipulating others is a terrible thing to do, but if you like that then you probably like pranks too, right? [ His memory might not be terrible and he might be insightful sometimes. ]
[ "Careful." He was supposed to be careful. Maybe he needed the reminder despite it being the one thing he couldn't forget, despite it being the one thing he was still bad at even after all this time. (Well, he was bad at being careful when it came to himself).
He had to keep moving, but he would keep that one thought in mind. Trusting others was risky, and Pizza knew that better than anyone. But time and again he trusted anyway, believing in both humans and food souls alike. He trusted Hyoubu. Maybe that had been a mistake, but the fact was that once Pizza had become friends with someone, he would be friends with them for life. So even if he shouldn't trust everyone here so easily, there was one other person whom he considered a real friend even in so short a time.
Pizza was naive. Pizza was naive, but tonight he had learned how this game was played, at least a little. So Pizza would play, really play, even with the part of himself that lurked behind him like a shadow. He had to survive, for Cassata and Cheese. And Hyoubu too.
Some time after trial was over, he knocks on a certain someone's door. ]
[There's plenty to consider after that trial, and Iago has quite a few notes to update as he considers exactly what he's learned today. He's working on those when the knock comes, and he's careful to put them all away before getting the door.]
...Ah.
[Somehow, he hadn't been expecting Pizza. He figured Pizza would return to his room to be alone for awhile, and maybe - if he was feeling charitable - Iago would drop by later on just to see how he's holding up. He certainly hadn't missed how much Pizza liked Hyoubu, and he can only imagine how poorly Pizza took the execution.
Put bluntly, even if Iago really wanted to, he wouldn't know how to handle this.
But Pizza's here now, and there isn't really any sense in turning him away. So after that momentary (awkward) hesitation, Iago opens the door and allows Pizza inside, shutting the door once Pizza's entered. He gestures to the desk chair, if Pizza wants it, and moves to sit on the bed.]
...I imagine you want to talk about... that. All of that.
[ No bouncing around to be done today, and he even sits in the chair all proper like after turning it to face Iago. ]
Yeah, kind of. Kyousuke said not to trust anyone else here, and I know he's right. But I can't survive on my own, and he told me to survive too. So I'm going to trust you.
[...You know, it isn't often Iago is faced with something that makes him genuinely consider what an awful person he is, but damn. It's not like he feels bad about it, but boy is this awkward.]
He has a point. You should be careful with who you trust.
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But I do understand what you're saying. Isolating yourself entirely could keep you safe, but it may not help you survive. You do seem to be the sort of person who needs others around.
[And out of everyone here, Pizza looked at him and decided that he'd be the most trustworthy person here.
...This is the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard.]
Well, do what you want. I'm not going to stop you.
[ Sometimes, these things just happen. Even if Iago had protested, it's likely that Pizza would have persisted anyway. He doesn't do being alone very well, and for better or worse Iago is the person he's spoken to the most here. And they were partners in crime together, even if that crime was only harmless kitchen pranks. ]
Good, I'm glad. [ He smiles, just a bit hollow. ] I'm not going to tell you to trust me and it's okay if you don't. I want to survive for Cassata and Cheese, but protecting human lives is important too. So if you're going to use me...I guess that's okay too, as long as you survive.
[ This isn't quite what grandpa said, but it's the best he can manage and it's probably a slighter better strategy than he had the week before. Instead of trusting everyone blindly, he'll just trust a few people blindly. Even if this could go horribly wrong, he can't change who he is. ]
[There's something so viscerally wrong about that statement that Iago tenses on reflex, nails digging into his sleeves just above his armguards. There's enough give in the fabric so those sharp nails don't pierce skin, but it gets close for a moment before he realizes what he's doing and forces himself to settle. He unfolds his arms and rests his hands on his knees as if to steady himself.]
I'm not dying here. There's entirely too much for me to do back home; I'm not going to let anything here kill me.
[It's spoken easily, confidently, as though he has any say whatsoever in how this goes. As though he isn't one of the most physically frail here, as though he wouldn't make for a perfect target if someone really wants to kill him.
Iago takes a moment to settle himself before he's confident he can address the rest.]
I don't have any intention of using you. Your trust is... appreciated.
[It isn't like this is the first time someone has trusted him - Garon relies exclusively on him at this point, after all. But to have that trust offered with nothing gained in return, even if it means being used...
Something about it angers him. He's not entirely sure who that anger is directed at, but it's easier to be mad than to try to analyze exactly what about it is frustrating him like this.]
Just... be careful, will you? Don't let anyone else hear you talk like this.
[It would make Pizza an easy target, and whether he likes it or not, he'd sort of prefer it if Pizza didn't get himself killed.]
[........gods why do you gotta be Like This at him.]
Of course.
[He steps back, against the wall, near the door. He doesn't expect anything catastrophically bad to happen, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to accompany Pizza back here. But at the same time...]
Don't overdo it.
[...well, he can at least remind Pizza of that, he supposes.]
Yeah, I'll do my best. [ Pizza reaches into the funnel and grabs one of the fish, the weaker looking one that went for a ride across the aquarium floor. It's not visibly injured, but it is less lively than the one he snagged right from the tank. ]
Sorry, I don't like this either but I need to know. [ There's no visible change or glow or anything to indicate he's using Aufero, but the fish slowly stops moving. ]
Ahhh that... okay, I know what to do. [ The look on his face is concentrated and more similar to the vacant one he had last weekend. There's no room to be his usual self when he's doing stuff like this. Without missing a beat he grabs for the second fish, which starts to thrash in his hand after a few moments. Struggling to hold onto it, he lets it plop back into its makeshift bowl with the first one which just floats there, barely above the bottom. ]
[Iago watches, arms folded as he studies the fish and Pizza's hand. There isn't any sort of glow to indicate that anything happened, but the fish clearly isn't going to be moving again.]
What does it feel like? Do you feel more energized?
[He approaches; now that Pizza's figured out how it works, there shouldn't be an issue.]
How do you use it? Explain it to me.
[It isn't harsh, despite the wording. It's the same sort of curiosity he holds to everything unknown - which is... pretty much everything he's encountered here, really. He's noticed Pizza's expression, certainly, but for now... For now, his curiosity wins out over everything else.]
[ Trial was. a lot. It was less terrible than last week (in Pizza's eyes), but still pretty bad. He seems to have rebounded pretty quickly though, at least on the surface. So sometimes after he's perused the after party he shows up at Iago's door.
Knock, knock. ]
Iago? It's Pizza! [ From the sound of his knocking his hands are kinda full. ]
[Pizza might hear the sound of something hitting the wall and bouncing off occasionally before he knocks on the door, but once he does all is silent for a long time.
Then Iago finally gets the door, still messing with his hair and mask to get them looking... well, decent. Today's been a really rough day.]
Come in.
[What do you have there...? Iago gestures to the desk, feel free to make yourself at home. The desk is mostly cleared, though there's a haphazard stack of books that isn't nearly as neat as it usually is, and the circlet Iago usually wears behind his head is on there too. Pizza may also notice there are a few books that look like they were chucked at the wall that Iago missed picking up, but otherwise it's... at least bearable, though not as pristine and tidy as usual.]
I didn't see you at the feast, so I brought you some food! [ He has a smattering of things here and they're all just being dumped on Iago's desk. Thankfully he doesn't spill any, but there's sandwiches, a stew, and some pastries.
Doing his best Vanna White impression he smiles as he takes stop of the landscape. Hmm... ]
[ He sits down at the desk and leans his head onto the railing. ]
It was easier than last week, I think. But in some ways it was worse too. I didn't want to have to tell everyone I have Aufero, but at least I only had to show Rean.
[ He turns his head to look at Iago more directly. ]
You're really strong to be able to resist like you did, Iago.
[Not the word he'd choose, from the sound of it. He's not really sure what to do with it, honestly.
Pizza's not exactly wrong about this trial compared to the last one; they had no idea what to expect last time, and Pizza was close to the murderer. But this one was frustrating and agitating in all sorts of ways and frankly, Iago isn't entirely certain how to deal with it. So for now...
Well, for now he's just going to ignore the things he doesn't know how to handle and focus on what he can deal with.]
Rideaux shouldn't have pressed you about your abilities back home. It was entirely pointless and had nothing to do with Lysithea's murder. Some explanation of Aufero was needed and I'm pleased you were able to provide it - and that Rean was trustworthy enough for this - but still, it must not have been easy to be put on the spot like that.
[And that's... not exactly all he wants to say about it, but...]
...You have my thanks for saying nothing about my part in it. I suspect that would have made things worse for me if it had come up.
[Even though it had nothing to do with the murder at all, it wasn't exactly a good look and Rideaux seemed damn determined to get him to crack under pressure.]
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week 1 - tuesday evening
Don't ask how he knows it's Pizza's, he's probably seen Pizza come and go or something??He's dressed in the outfit he arrived in, looking entirely composed by now, at least. He hadn't missed Pizza's reaction to the motive despite his own irritation with it, so... Here he is. Fine. Might as well just see if the guy's okay.]
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The knock surprises him, but it doesn't take him too long to answer. He opens it, then just stands there in the doorway blinking a moment. Behind him it's easy to see that his room is in a state of considerable disarray, the bedding all over the floor. Pizza himself though looks relatively fine, if just extremely confused. ]
....Iago?
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I understand that the... announcement today has been troubling you. [Probably. He's been in his room so he hasn't seen whether Pizza's been coming or going, but he's assuming here!!] Is there... [ugh] anything I can do for you.
[It's not even a question, just sort of a deadpan statement... But he went to the effort of trying so surely that means something??]
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You didn't like it either, right? [ Maybe a guess or maybe he was somewhat aware in his haze earlier. ]
Let's do something we both like, then.
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[No sense hiding it, given his reaction earlier today.
That, though... Well, it probably shouldn't be unexpected, given what Pizza's already told him, but somehow it catches him off-guard anyway.]
...Very well, is there something you have in mind?
[You know what, sure. He can humor Pizza for a little while. That's sort of the whole point in coming to check on him, isn't it?]
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[It's just a token protest at this point, though.]
But yes, I can't deny that pranks are entertaining. I am a bit old for that, but why not.
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1/2
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week 1 after trial
He had to keep moving, but he would keep that one thought in mind. Trusting others was risky, and Pizza knew that better than anyone. But time and again he trusted anyway, believing in both humans and food souls alike. He trusted Hyoubu. Maybe that had been a mistake, but the fact was that once Pizza had become friends with someone, he would be friends with them for life. So even if he shouldn't trust everyone here so easily, there was one other person whom he considered a real friend even in so short a time.
Pizza was naive. Pizza was naive, but tonight he had learned how this game was played, at least a little. So Pizza would play, really play, even with the part of himself that lurked behind him like a shadow. He had to survive, for Cassata and Cheese. And Hyoubu too.
Some time after trial was over, he knocks on a certain someone's door. ]
Iago?
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...Ah.
[Somehow, he hadn't been expecting Pizza. He figured Pizza would return to his room to be alone for awhile, and maybe - if he was feeling charitable - Iago would drop by later on just to see how he's holding up. He certainly hadn't missed how much Pizza liked Hyoubu, and he can only imagine how poorly Pizza took the execution.
Put bluntly, even if Iago really wanted to, he wouldn't know how to handle this.
But Pizza's here now, and there isn't really any sense in turning him away. So after that momentary (awkward) hesitation, Iago opens the door and allows Pizza inside, shutting the door once Pizza's entered. He gestures to the desk chair, if Pizza wants it, and moves to sit on the bed.]
...I imagine you want to talk about... that. All of that.
[oh my god. we're off to a fantastic start here.]
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Yeah, kind of. Kyousuke said not to trust anyone else here, and I know he's right. But I can't survive on my own, and he told me to survive too. So I'm going to trust you.
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He has a point. You should be careful with who you trust.
[...]
But I do understand what you're saying. Isolating yourself entirely could keep you safe, but it may not help you survive. You do seem to be the sort of person who needs others around.
[And out of everyone here, Pizza looked at him and decided that he'd be the most trustworthy person here.
...This is the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard.]
Well, do what you want. I'm not going to stop you.
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Good, I'm glad. [ He smiles, just a bit hollow. ] I'm not going to tell you to trust me and it's okay if you don't. I want to survive for Cassata and Cheese, but protecting human lives is important too. So if you're going to use me...I guess that's okay too, as long as you survive.
[ This isn't quite what grandpa said, but it's the best he can manage and it's probably a slighter better strategy than he had the week before. Instead of trusting everyone blindly, he'll just trust a few people blindly. Even if this could go horribly wrong, he can't change who he is. ]
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I'm not dying here. There's entirely too much for me to do back home; I'm not going to let anything here kill me.
[It's spoken easily, confidently, as though he has any say whatsoever in how this goes. As though he isn't one of the most physically frail here, as though he wouldn't make for a perfect target if someone really wants to kill him.
Iago takes a moment to settle himself before he's confident he can address the rest.]
I don't have any intention of using you. Your trust is... appreciated.
[It isn't like this is the first time someone has trusted him - Garon relies exclusively on him at this point, after all. But to have that trust offered with nothing gained in return, even if it means being used...
Something about it angers him. He's not entirely sure who that anger is directed at, but it's easier to be mad than to try to analyze exactly what about it is frustrating him like this.]
Just... be careful, will you? Don't let anyone else hear you talk like this.
[It would make Pizza an easy target, and whether he likes it or not, he'd sort of prefer it if Pizza didn't get himself killed.]
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week 2 thursday afternoon
A lot of people asked me why I wanted a pigeon or a fish today...I think lying was harder than catching one.
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You did well to keep it from them. It isn't wise to let everyone know just what you're trying to do - they could get the wrong idea.
[Not that it seems likely Pizza would ever murder anyone, but you know. Gotta be careful and all that.]
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I'm not really sure what will happen.... so stand back okay?
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Of course.
[He steps back, against the wall, near the door. He doesn't expect anything catastrophically bad to happen, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to accompany Pizza back here. But at the same time...]
Don't overdo it.
[...well, he can at least remind Pizza of that, he supposes.]
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Sorry, I don't like this either but I need to know. [ There's no visible change or glow or anything to indicate he's using Aufero, but the fish slowly stops moving. ]
Ahhh that... okay, I know what to do. [ The look on his face is concentrated and more similar to the vacant one he had last weekend. There's no room to be his usual self when he's doing stuff like this. Without missing a beat he grabs for the second fish, which starts to thrash in his hand after a few moments. Struggling to hold onto it, he lets it plop back into its makeshift bowl with the first one which just floats there, barely above the bottom. ]
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What does it feel like? Do you feel more energized?
[He approaches; now that Pizza's figured out how it works, there shouldn't be an issue.]
How do you use it? Explain it to me.
[It isn't harsh, despite the wording. It's the same sort of curiosity he holds to everything unknown - which is... pretty much everything he's encountered here, really. He's noticed Pizza's expression, certainly, but for now... For now, his curiosity wins out over everything else.]
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week 2 after trial
Knock, knock. ]
Iago? It's Pizza! [ From the sound of his knocking his hands are kinda full. ]
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Then Iago finally gets the door, still messing with his hair and mask to get them looking... well, decent. Today's been a really rough day.]
Come in.
[What do you have there...? Iago gestures to the desk, feel free to make yourself at home. The desk is mostly cleared, though there's a haphazard stack of books that isn't nearly as neat as it usually is, and the circlet Iago usually wears behind his head is on there too. Pizza may also notice there are a few books that look like they were chucked at the wall that Iago missed picking up, but otherwise it's... at least bearable, though not as pristine and tidy as usual.]
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Doing his best Vanna White impression he smiles as he takes stop of the landscape. Hmm... ]
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...Well, it's appreciated. I didn't really have any plans on going to get anything. I'll be sure to eat in a bit.
[Mostly because who would be hungry immediately after a trial involving fish chunks, eww........
But anyway.]
How are you doing after... that. All of that.
[it was so much.]
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It was easier than last week, I think. But in some ways it was worse too. I didn't want to have to tell everyone I have Aufero, but at least I only had to show Rean.
[ He turns his head to look at Iago more directly. ]
You're really strong to be able to resist like you did, Iago.
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[Not the word he'd choose, from the sound of it. He's not really sure what to do with it, honestly.
Pizza's not exactly wrong about this trial compared to the last one; they had no idea what to expect last time, and Pizza was close to the murderer. But this one was frustrating and agitating in all sorts of ways and frankly, Iago isn't entirely certain how to deal with it. So for now...
Well, for now he's just going to ignore the things he doesn't know how to handle and focus on what he can deal with.]
Rideaux shouldn't have pressed you about your abilities back home. It was entirely pointless and had nothing to do with Lysithea's murder. Some explanation of Aufero was needed and I'm pleased you were able to provide it - and that Rean was trustworthy enough for this - but still, it must not have been easy to be put on the spot like that.
[And that's... not exactly all he wants to say about it, but...]
...You have my thanks for saying nothing about my part in it. I suspect that would have made things worse for me if it had come up.
[Even though it had nothing to do with the murder at all, it wasn't exactly a good look and Rideaux seemed damn determined to get him to crack under pressure.]
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