(no subject)

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[There's a notlittle boy standing outside the Labyrinth. He seems to be seriously debating whether or not to go in.]

If I keep my hand on one wall, I should be able to make my way out, even if I lose track somehow. And if there's dangers, I should be able to handle it. How bad can a maze be? Not like a large predator would be able to find all it's food in there unless there's a lot of animals...

[He's mostly talking to himself in this debate. He hasn't really talked to anyone that day. Too bad or he might have realized what's going on.]

Comments

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Which would say luck is more of a universal force than anything, don't you think?

Is that it? And when I successfully block the questions is keeping you from getting to my king, right?

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

... aaahahahaha, true! But it plays a special role in magic. People can casually disregard it if they choose, but witches can't.

Right. You might have to sacrifice pawns, like theories that don't pan out or red herrings you're unwilling to let go of. Likewise, I'll have to do the same, except with angles where I'll present a magic solution and my piece might end up taken. You could call my queen the red truth.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Are you really that dependent on such a thing?

I'm not sure if I'd call those pawns. If that was the case, I'd have a million pieces the first time I see a dead body.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Important magic hinges on risk. [ this next part sounds strained, because it's the event affecting her ] It-- it plays a major role in the Anti-Mystery perspective of the Epitaph. [ ... damn. ]

Then think of the pawns as the theories you believe in the most. The ones you're willing to risk. Your rooks and bishops being theories you'd stake the game on. And your queen being that 'one truth' you brag about.

Claim my red, and I'm defenseless. If I claimed your one truth, it'd be the same way.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[Well, he hadn't met to force that out of her, but...] Does it? [Makes a note of that. Especially with how hard the riddle IS.]

Then...I suppose it's good, that the queen can be regained, if one sees an opportunity. That'd definitely fit the best.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

It... does. But not the Anti-Fantasy part. That is all based on the skill of solving it.

Indeed. It's a devastating blow if it's taken, but it doesn't mean the match is lost.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Figuring out it's meaning in one way will probably reveal some of the other meaning.

And the comeback from the other side of the board can be quite dangerous.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

I can tell you ahead of time you won't like that meaning.

Right. Perhaps it takes a drastic fall to rise higher and win? [ Certainly applies to Battler, at least. ] Plus, it's always important to... heh, flip the chessboard over. Know the moves of your opponent and why they're made.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Would that be the meaning the people on the island takes?

[Chuckles.] That's right. Lower it and then raise it, but that's going to poker again.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Eventually. After the first Twilight-- I thought we weren't going to talk about this!

You can liken it to a lot of games, to be honest. I just favor chess.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[Blinks.] Ah, sorry. It's not easy for me to not ask questions. I've always been that way.

There is an elegance to chess.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

I can tell, honestly. But don't keep doing it right now.

And there's plenty of comparisons you can draw between it and Rokkenjima.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Right. Sorry. [It's just such a strong, strong habit.]

That's specific to only chess?

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

I'll generously forgive you, for now.

... nngh-- [ Trying to resist answering that. ] Y... yes.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[Blinks.] ...still doing it, huh?

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

If you would kindly keep that habit in check--

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Right.

It's kind of like your laugh. Just sort of happens.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

... I don't think I'll ever be able to keep my laughter in check. My apologies! [ ...cackle! ]

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[Chuckles.] It's the same with my curiosity.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

... allow me a little payback in the form of a question.

Just how many criminals have you captured with that curiosity?

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[There was a long, long silence. He's murmuring numbers.]

...do I count the time an entire yakuza gang was arrested individually or as just one because there was about forty people then? And then the centipede case had at least a dozen. Though I think it's just those two with a large number of people.

And any criminals...ones arrested? It'd still be hundreds...

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

... kufufufu. I'm clearly up against someone with experience.

Well, at least any thoughts about traumatizing some seven year old with what happens next in the game are cleared from my mind. Age doesn't matter to me, but a ten year gap for a normally teenage human makes quite a difference.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Well, it happens when you run across a murder at least once a week no matter where you go. People have been acting like it's weird. I've actually wondered if it was some sort of distorted luck of mine...

A soft spot for kids, huh? Ah, don't answer. Just thought it might be like that since you seemed almost sad about Maria.

1/2

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

... ahahaha, perhaps you've been cursed or hexed? Even if no real murder is happening on this island, I still lured you into observing a murder mystery, didn't I?

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

... [ Pause at that. ] Maria's story runs much deeper than what you briefly saw. Even for someone like myself, who explored the depths of cruelty for so long, I can even concede that her life is difficult to look at without wincing.

--tche, damn this island. Even if you said don't answer, it made me anyway.