driftfleet | Jester Social Link 001

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Jester Social Link 001

Who: Tohru Adachi and YOU!
Broadcast: Video (to all)
Action: The Marsiva
When: Right now!

[The first thing that could be heard as the network feed clicked on was someone yawning rather audibly. This was followed quickly by the sight of a suited individual sitting up and stretching out his arms.]

Man, I haven't slept for that long in a while. Usually the guard-

[Adachi quickly cut himself off as he realized that he clearly was not where he had been when he fell asleep. Instead of the four plaster walls that he'd grown accustomed to, he now seemed to be in a large, spacious room filled with all sorts of amenities. He couldn't help but draw the comparison to Junes. But then... how the hell could he be back in Inaba?]

[His detective instincts started to kick in, despite their lack of recent use. First thing: assess yourself.]

[Adachi looked down and was surprised to see his old detective duds. The dark gray suit, white button shirt, and red tie all looked as good as new. Odd, considering how often he had worn this particular outfit.]

[Second, assess the environment.]

[Well, this was already partly done. He clearly was in a completely new environment. Could it be... the other world? That didn't seem plausible. He certainly didn't remember going near any TV, nor did he remember anyone coming along who could have possibly thrown him into one. Noticing a nearby monitor, Adachi got up out of the bunk and approached it. He placed his hand on the peculiarly cool screen and felt resistance. He clearly wasn't going inside this one. And that's when he turned and saw the large viewing bay window.]

What the heck?! It can't be!

[He appeared to be in outer space. Yet, somehow... this realization didn't unsettle him as much as he thought it would. In fact, once the initial shock had worn off, he almost seemed comfortable with this fact. But how? He returned to his initial bunk and went back to step one: assess yourself.]

Okay, it doesn't feel like I've been drugged. Though, if I'm really in the real world, then I shouldn't be able to...

[Sure enough, as Adachi concentrated and tried to summon him, he realized he couldn't.]

So I'm clearly in reality right now.

[He rubbed the back of his neck as he came to terms with just how surreal this was all seeming. And that's when he felt the soft bump, located behind his left ear.]

Eh? What is-

[Yet again, however, he seemed to already know what this bump meant. It was as if he'd always had this information stowed away, but he was only now rediscovering it.]

An "augment," huh?

[That's when he noticed the communicator located next to him. Picking it up, he inspected the device front to back. Just like before, he already seemed to know what it was and how to use it.]

Well then...

[Step three: Assess the situation. Adachi directed his attention to the screen in front of him.]

Um... hello? Anyone receiving on this thing?

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Yeah, exactly. It sounds idyllic and sort of... hm, sort of like you can feel really hopeful about what's going to come, you know? [Smile smile smile. He knows what's happening here, and he's ready for it. After all, he can make good use of his youth to lead this person on.] Um, maybe it was? I don't think so, though. I grew up in Towa City, though I of course travelled here and there... I was afforded quite a few freedoms the average child growing up isn't, I think.

[It's a fine balance between dropping crumbs to allow Adachi to try to manipulate him and seeming like he's leaving too much information on the table, but he thinks he's hitting the right notes. After all, the best lies are grounded in truth.]

((ooc: oh my god these two are the worst and I love it so much ;;;;;))

["Hopeful about what's to come?" What the hell is with this kid?] Towa city huh? I think I know where that is. But you said you traveled a lot? That must have been nice, but also lonely. Unless of course you traveled with friends or family.

[Adachi chuckled. He tried to make the comment sound like an off-hand remark, but he needed to see how Nagito reacts to it. Plus, there was something else he said that interested Adachi.]

Did you not go to school Nagito-kun?

Oh, really? How interesting. Some people have been telling me that people are from all around, which means we might be from the same place after all. More or less, at least. We have a social tie right off the bat, Tohru-san! Isn't that something.

[Hooked. Nagito lifts his eyebrows a little and tips his head, gaze going to the side.] Not particularly, no. Still, I suppose it was nice to see so many sights around the world. I can't be ungrateful, don't you think?

... Eh, you're a police officer, aren't you? It's nothing like truancy! I had private tutors! And I was admitted to a private and esteemed high school after some time, so my education was probably all right! [He kind of does wonder what the academics at Hope's Peak were like. He wishes he could remember that, at least.]

[There were several things this kid said that rubbed Adachi the wrong way. First, he called Adachi by his first name, and he hates being called by his first name. Second, the way this kid talks: traveling all around the world, seeing many sights, and his use of the word "ungrateful." It just didn't strike Adachi as the way normal kids Nagito's age should be talking. Third, and finally, he "probably" had a good education? Nothing this kid's saying could be true. But then... why would he lie? What game was he playing at? Digging for information from this kid was starting to seem like more trouble than it was worth. Adachi wasn't getting anything useful out of him. At the very least, he needs to try and steer the conversation back towards the Fleet itself. Who cares about this kid's background? Adachi just needs to know more about what's going on here and now.]

Social tie, huh? Well, I suppose so. Are there not many other Japanese in the Fleet? [Trying to seem nonchalant, Adachi added.] Also, I prefer people just calling me by my last name, if it's all the same to you Nagito-kun.

And you can relax with the whole truancy thing. Even if I wanted to bring you in, [Hopefully that didn't come off as threatening as it sounded in his head.] I couldn't. I mean, what with us being out in space and all. We ARE kinda outside my jurisdiction here. In fact, I don't know what even passes for law enforcement out here. Do you?

[Komaeda has always, always placed his faith in "deception via truth." It's easy enough to remember, especially under pressure, and has the added benefit of having an emotional impact on certain types of people. Better yet: it cues him in to people who are only trying to act like that sort of person.

Like this man.

He winces and squirms a little, making a visible show of being a submissive dog eager to lap at a scrap of attention.

Well, .... he doesn't mind that, at least, even if it's negative.] Ah, no, I'm sorry, I just assumed... but it's pretty rude of somebody as pointless as me, isn't it! Sorry again, Adachi-san.

Hmmm. No, I really don't know- I mean, my ship has a security officer, so I suppose that's it? But it seems sort of uniquely casual, don't you think? It's a good thing you're here.

Edited 2015-02-10 00:51 (UTC)

Oh, it's- it's fine. It's just personal preference really, nothing for you to apologize about. [Seriously, what is with this kid? Ugh, talking with him was giving Adachi a major headache.]

Just security officers huh? [Interesting. There must be some way though that the "powers at be" keep the motley hordes under control though. Leaving it up to us to govern ourselves doesn't make sense, it would be too easy to just rebel.] Well, I guess that explains why I know my augment is a "security" type. So that would make me a security officer too then? You wouldn't happen to know who I'm supposed to report to, would you Nagito-kun?

It's so kind of you to forgive me for something like that! [There isn't an ounce of sarcasm in his voice. To be honest, Nagito himself isn't certain if it's anything but sincere.]

Ah, it makes sense since you're a police officer! As for who you're supposed to report to... probably, your captain? I have one too, but... [He's totally neutral on him right now. At least it's not negative, he supposes.]

Uh, heh, you're welcome... [Was he mocking Adachi? That sounds like something would say if they were mocking him... but the way Nagito said it... seriously, what is with this kid?]

My captain? I don't have a- [Adachi cuts himself off, as he realizes the connection.] Ah! The shuffle! So I'll find out after I get placed on a new ship. I suppose that makes sense.

[Unfortunately, this line of inquiry isn't going the way Adachi would like. He needs more information about the people in charge of this whole charade. Yet... Adachi's feeling pretty certain he doesn't want to ask Nagito about it. The less of an idea this kid has about Adachi's plans, the better. Best to just shift the topic of conversation back towards something innocuous.]

So what's it like on the "other" ships Nagito-kun?

Mmm, right. We're assigned captains when we get ships. I don't know enough about the ships to know if a certain personality type is selected, or if there's some other common thread I haven't noticed yet.

[Too late, buddy. As much as he can, he's got his eye on you- and you're not learning a goddamned thing that could possibly be useful about his ship.

He smiles. It's a very kind smile.]

Oh, pretty nice. I was surprised at how clean everything is, but I guess that's to be expected. I'm used to being the one who cleans up after things, [in more ways than one] so it's a little bit of a reprieve. The ships all seem to be fairly close-knit. [And let's see if that makes Adachi squirm the same way it does him.] I mean, in a place this small, you couldn't really help but learn a lot about your fellows and really bond tightly, right? [A total lie. He's putting on the thumbscrews, though. Komaeda would be lying if he said that playing games like this didn't excite him.]

So no one starts out on this "show" knowing that they're going to be a captain, huh?

[This whole situation was getting odder and odder. Randomly appointed captains? Arbitrarily assigned security officers? And no way to contact the real masterminds behind this whole operation. To top it all of the only way seemingly out was to earn enough "ratings," and Adachi still had no idea how exactly that worked either. Would Nagito-kun know more? Did Adachi want Nagito knowing that he was interested in ratings?]

How long have you been trapped here Nagito-kun? You already seem pretty knowledgeable about how this whole space-reality-show business works.

I mean, I can't imagine somebody like me being chosen, but yeah, it seems like it's something like that. I haven't been here very long, though, so please don't hesitate to ask somebody else who's been here longer. They might have a better answer.

[Komaeda is used to a cruel and uncaring ~~bear~~ being being in charge of his destiny and rewards, so he's not particularly inclined to get good ratings- not yet, anyway. Call it what you will, but it's tiring to rush after such vague rewards for so long.]

I haven't been here long. Maybe a week? I came right before the day of the shuffle, so I didn't spend a lot of time doing my own thing. But really, I don't know anything much at all!

[Seems like there wasn't much more information this kid could, or is likely going, to provide Adachi. There was one more thing Nagito might be good for though: leads.]

I see. So you haven't been here for much longer than I have... In that case, do you know anyone who has been here longer than either you or I? Someone who could maybe help me understand this whole situation a little more. I'm still confused as to what exactly we're expected to do, where things are, what the rules are... you know, all the typical stuff someone would need to know to not make a complete ass of themselves. Then again, I'm sure that's probably the type of the thing that the audience wants to see, huh? [And close out with the signature Adachi chuckle.]

[He resists pointing out that it's pretty much anybody, because he kind of wants to see what Adachi can rustle up on his own.]

I honestly don't know myself, yet, but if I find somebody who's been here for a really long time, I'll let you know!

As for the rules... well, I don't really understand it myself. Something about ratings? But who's giving them? Are we all given the same ratings? I for one would really hate to watch a show where people are endlessly embarrassed, after all. You seem like a practical, perfectly normal person, Adachi-san. I'm sure you'll be fine. Definitely better than me!

[There's no way a kid like this hasn't already done his own digging around. Surely he must know at least one person, so why not give up a name? Was he deliberately trying to impede Adachi? If that is the case, then what reason could he have for doing so? Either way, this kid was definitely getting on his nerves.]

Well I appreciate it Nagito-kun, thanks. In the meantime, I guess I'll try to get comfortable with this whole outer-space-reality-show-thing. Though it probably will take me a while.

[Then Adachi decides to throw out one more line. Last chance to see if this kid is what Adachi thinks he is.]

The funny thing is, I figured there would be more people making an uproar about wanting to get the hell out of here. I mean, pulled here against your will, forced to be on a TV show, and no way to contact any friends or family back home? It's just kind of odd to me that people are seemingly so complacent about it all.

[He tilts his head, looking for all the world like an innocent, slightly boring high-school boy. But there's a subtle angle to his smile, a slight coolness to the eyes, that speaks to something else entirely. Most people wouldn't catch it, not the first time, at least, but it's there for those who are looking.]

It certainly does seem strange, but I have hope that we can all work together to some kind of conclusion. I wonder if a reality show like this has a conclusion...

[Komaeda quirks his eyebrows up in a thoughtful expression.] I mean, I can't speak for myself... but I think most people do seem a little less ill-at-ease than would be expected. Anyway, maybe everybody is putting on a brave face!

[Something about Nagito's expression chills Adachi. Yeah, something is definitely not right about this kid. He doesn't know what yet, but the way he phrased that last bit about the show having a conclusion... Whatever this kid's game, Adachi decides he's definitely not trustworthy. Time for one last bit of inquiry.]

Well, I guess that's about all anybody can do in this kind of situation. Well, at least there's the hope that enough ratings will result in freedom, right? I assume that's the hope you're referring to, Nagito-kun?

The hope I'm referring to... is maybe a bit more than just freedom for one of us. I have hope that we will all be able to achieve the things most important to us- I mean, when it comes to hope, you can't just dream small, right!?

[Hope seems to be a trigger word for this kid. Noted.]

How very noble. I'm sure your crewmates must be happy to have someone as helpful as you around.

[That probably came out more sarcastic than Adachi had intended, but he almost couldn't help it.]

I get it though. You're saying you like helping people accomplish their goals. That sound about right?

[Poor, poor Adachi. If he tries to use that to his own ends he's going to find himself learning more about the hope of the world than he would probably like to.]

Haha... I think you're quite on-point about that. [His own tone indicates a level of agreement with his sarcasm. Komaeda hears you. Komaeda just don't think you're wrong.]

Mmmm... yes. I would say that my favorite thing is definitely to help people achieve the pinnacle of hope. [Which may, to be fair, sound very useable and like an excellent personality trait for a manipulated underling. But one look into Komaeda's eyes might make anybody pause- there's a naked wildness there, a swirling void of anything but crushing, grasping obsession towards the topic.] I will be happy to be the stepping stone along that path in any way possible.

[And that's that. Adachi has heard all that he needs to hear.]

I'll be sure to remember that Nagito-kun. If I ever need help with something, you won't mind if I give you a call then will you?

[Komaeda knows who and what Adachi is, just by that line alone. A police officer, huh? Hah.]

Not at all! I will be beyond happy to come to you.

Well then, I'll be in touch Nagito-kun.

I'll look forward to it.

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Jester Social Link 001

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