i_s_l_a_n_d_rp | (no subject)

Just making sure. I'm probably already going to be killed after I explain this situation to that person. She's more paranoid than even me.

...you're really persistent to seem inhuman. Even a murderer can be sympathetic. And for a witch who so needs a human's belief...even if that was true, it'd still say there's something sympathetic in you somewhere.

[ No words in response-- just... really biting down hard on her lip because that last line is pushing the truth button even more, to the point where she's drawing blood. ]

....

[Closes his eyes and covers his ears.] Don't injure yourself. I'm not listening. If you're that stubborn about it, then I'll figure it out the long way.

................

[ wipes the blood off of her lip and mumbles a few things quietly, definitely inaudible if he's got his ears covered ]

You can open your eyes and uncover your ears now. [ Said loudly enough that he could at least hear that. ]

[Opens his eyes when she speaks louder before removing his hands.] I'm not trying to cheat. Though...you're definitely an interesting opponent.

You might even be the second person where I really want to know your true motivation with solely curiosity. But it'd be no fair to ask that now, so just tell me to cover my ears if that starts to happen.

Ki... kyahahahahyaha... no one can say you aren't ambitious. Just remember those words later down the line. See if it's still easy to find sympathy then.

...

[Silent a moment and then gives a knowing look and one that was far too old for even a seventeen year old.] A case where there can't be a bit of sympathy for the murderer is rare for me. Even if I can't quite grasp why they got to that ultimate conclusion, I understand their process.

It's...why at times I can stop at least...one death.

You've got a stake in this game, at least when you play against Battler. Unsympathetic people are the ones who have no stake whatsoever except for money. Which...you already said you have no use for.

...

Cover your ears and close your eyes again, quickly.

[Obeys. At least he does what he says he'll do.]

[ Won't be mumbling as quietly as she was the first time. Most of that sentence is inaudible, but if he does accidentally pick up anything from it...

... it's probably that the word 'truth' is mentioned quite a bit. ]

[ loudly ] Alright, you can open them again. This island...

[Removes his hands and opens his eyes. Won't comment, but now he's wondering just how many interests of theirs DO coincide.]

I believe that would be what Hattori calls me 'burning someone's ears with the words from the perfect guy' again. Or something silly like that. Usually it's only him I talk about the criminal's mindset.

Hoh. In that case, he sounds like a very useful ally. [ So, so grateful for a topic change. ]

He is. Even if he's got a weird view of me. He's the hot blooded detective type, but even without getting riled up, he is good. Definitely someone I can call a rival.

A weird view?

He's...well, it's like, even though I'm his rival, he's got some sort of hero worship. Not a full blown thing because it's not like if I did something, I'd crush him or something. He's just kind of...obsessive about me and thinks I won't make mistakes until I actually do.

It's kind of hard to describe. Maybe it's because he's a detective and I'm the one with the freaky life and he wants to know the 'real' Kudo?

... Hahahaha! You find the most interesting people, don't you? What kind of rival does hero worship? Though the notion of the 'real' Kudo is an interesting concept.

Hattori, apparently. It's not the right definition, but I'm not sure what else to call it. He always seems like an overexcited puppy when he can drag me somewhere.

...you'll probably never meet him. [Sighs and leans against the tree.] The 'real' Kudo can't show his face while 'Conan' is around, be it the body or personality. Can get close, but not quite.

I see, I see. Names and personae are a troublesome thing, aren't they? I have my fair share of issues with them. [ -- slip of the tongue, thank you event, but will be playing it off naturally as if she meant to say that. Really. ]

But it is too bad I probably won't meet him. You sound like you come from a kakera where I'd find many entertaining people. But who can say? On this island of miracles, nothing is at absolute zero.

Very troublesome. There are times I actually feel sorry for 'Conan' considering how messed up things would be for a kid 'like him.' Though that's usually when I'm feeling guilty about lying to Ran and thinking way too much about this. [Does note how she has problems with them. Because that's what he does.]

Hattori or the 'real' Kudo? Hattori is possible, considering there's already three others from my world here. [Though he only said two were in danger of finding out his secret.] Considering one is his childhood friend, he might get kidnapped. I certainly get enough face time in the papers that they might not worry about fame protecting people.

As for the 'real' Kudo...I doubt it. Reverting to him now, even if a cure is found, would be dangerous and...the only person I'd risk doing it here for isn't on the island.

Ahh, you're getting talkative again. But if you're not resisting, I assume these are things you don't mind telling me. Who's Ran?

Hattori, naturally. From my perspective, the roulette for how the island takes people isn't based on fame. It's who you know. Flip the chessboard over. There are many ordinary people here with no claim to fame. I myself have never been in any newspapers... and there are sets of people who 'know' each other from their respective kakeras. Though there are also lone people, such as myself, here.

A shame... if you believed in it, my magic could probably change you back. But you don't, and you won't, most likely, so it's something I wouldn't be able to grant.

Edited 2010-04-10 21:55 (UTC)

I don't usually talk about this with anyone. Hattori would worry. Ha- [Pauses, biting his lip a moment.] She isn't someone to talk to about stuff like this. Agasa would be like Hattori. And talking to my parents would be a nightmare and probably get them to act all weird. If someone already knows, it doesn't matter much other than matters like that.

Ran is my childhood friend and the person missing Shinichi the most.

That's what I mean. Some people might not kidnap a famous person for something like this because it attracts too much attention. A child whose been in the newspaper on more than one occasion and living with a famous detective would likely get far too much unwanted attention if they were worried about it. Especially when that child is well known to so very many investigators. They're confident, the people behind this, I'll give them that.

So, they'll take anyone they want. Be it people not known or people well known.

...as tempting as a magic fix would be, I really can't believe such a thing. Especially when it's only been science that's made me normal, even for a short amount of time.

I see... so since the secret is already free to me, I can listen to both sides of you. Kudo Shinichi and Edogawa Conan. [ Notes the pause, but will be saying nothing in exchange for him not questioning her name earlier. She knows when to repay favors ] It must be quite the difficult facade to pull off. There can't be that many who know who you are.

... ahh. [ Well, childhood friendship strikes a note with Beato. ] And someone Shinichi misses as well?

True-- I think it's rather conclusive that fame and influence isn't a factor. But what is? ... though you and I disagree on the force behind it, we can both brainstorm the motivation of whatever it is. Like a Schrödinger's cat box where we don't ponder the alive or dead status of the cat, but rather, why the cat is in there in the first place.

I knew you wouldn't, and that's why the magic wouldn't come true. If you had any doubt about it whatsoever, even in a place like this, free of magic-resisting toxin, my magic to restore things to their original form wouldn't work. That's the fickle nature of magic.

Pretty much. Knowing Kudo Shinichi and if you were an enemy would pretty much get me killed. Since I'm not already dead, then it doesn't matter. [And yeah, he's trying to avoid Haibara's name. She was gonna kill him slowly as is.] And...no, not many people probably could. Kids get the short end of the stick a lot. And there are some who know, but even then, there's....just a wall.

... [Nods.] Very much. All I can do is be a comfort as 'Conan,' but it doesn't always help.

True. The fact is, there is something behind this and that something has reasons for doing what it does. One of the ones that make the most sense is a psychological experiment. Even for someone to believe all this weird as 'real' naturally, just all the different people would have an interesting outcome.

So magic works like that? Which...would mean magic doesn't work on someone if they don't believe in it? [That was...weird even for magic.]

I wonder if that means I'll get to see a 'real' you, if there is one to see? [ cackle! ] A wall? Hmhm... must be hard. You're only seven on the outside, so that truth you seek is hard to confront when few will take you seriously, mm?

Ah, so you keep near her in that guise?

There's evidence in the favor of a psychological experiment. After all, we're here spilling the truth at the Culprit's whims today. Whether that's because of some island magic or because of Mystery Poison X, who can say...? [ dry, forced laugh ] I'm annoyed, this island is trying to outdo me.

Because the lack of belief makes you resistant. [ ... serious face ] If something favorable happens, one can chalk it up to coincidence or luck, as you said. Or if one chooses to believe in miracles and magic, they open up a world so that those things can happen. A world where even a child can craft something from the sea of zero. [ Like a sentient stuffed lion, for example. ]

No. Because that wall is still there. With that wall, I can't be the 'real' Kudo as Conan. And yes. Seeking the truth as a seven year old is a pain. When someone like Hattori or Agasa around, it's a lot easier and with police officers who know me, they'll at least consider it. But it took months before they decided that maybe that observant kid really did spot something of worth. Then there's the problem if I face off against a criminal alone...

Her father is a detective. It's an easy way in in finding the people who did shrink me. So I'm living with them while my parents are traveling as a favor to Agasa, whose my relative. Conan has become her pseudo little brother now. I...wasn't supposed to be like this for so long.

And I've heard there are other 'events' like this. People seeing their fear. Supposedly Halloween was something akin to a slasher movie. Kazuha won't tell me details about it, so it's as close as I can figure. Like this place is trying to drive people nuts or break them.

Ah, like the magic toxin? That...is an interesting way to look at magic.