test drive 1

[brain_empty]

[Ryoko Otonashi, Ultimate Forgetful Girl (maybe?) was walking through Hope's Peak Academy open square. Dorms, class buildings, and cafeteria and convenience store all accessible. She didn't particularly stand out at all except...]

...Why am I walking here?

[She checked her notebook, nodded, then kept going, for about another minute before...]

...Why am I walking here?

[She peeked down again. Some students nearby tried to wave, but they were ignored. She had a problem and any distractions would delay her more than what was already happening.

Unfortunately for Ryoko, it was a terrible problem that was stopping the traffic more than it reasonably should've, and soon people learned just not to walk behind her or around her at all.]

Comments

[brain_empty]

...Huh.

I dunno... like, my long-term memory sort of works. No one has to tie my shoes for me, and I remember liking curry, but... I can't tell you why.

[Maybe there was an answer in that dense notebook? But her hands were occupied.]

It's a mystery... like who was the whitechapel murders killer?

[lieindespair]

A lot of people like curry. It's not all that weird, is it?

[ He leans back, sipping at his soda and watching her. ]

Probably some guy with enough money to get the cops to look the other way.

[brain_empty]

It doesn't feel the same with other foods. I can't explain it.

[She hears his remark and just goes 'hmm'...]

So, you'd subscribe to the "Jack the Ripper was a nobleman, or at least educated man" theory? Unlikely. All suspects you could possibly name were either sensationalized by the press at the time, had eveidence which were known forgeries, or could be proven to be nowhere near whitechapel. The closest to fulfilling that theory would be Montague John Druitt, but there's no evidence. The only circumstantial evidence was that the murders stopped around the time he committed suicide. But, many people commit suicide. And we can even identify Mr. Druitt's possible reason: he was an educator who had lost his job. That's a lot easier to believe it was coincidence, isn't it?

We'll never know for sure. The only possible clue would be the killer would have anatomical knowledge. There's a theory that he worked at a morgue, but that's just that, a theory.

Anyway, it was the 1800s. If you weren't rich or an aristocrat, no one cared who you were enough to put you in the history books. Any connection to other named persons is either built on stereotypes or outright class-ism. So, that's what we're stuck with... the real killer will just be in our imagination.

That in itself is sort of scary, isn't it?

[lieindespair]

[ Where the fuck did that come from? He raises an eyebrow listening to her. She did make a lot of good points, ones he'd considered when he'd looked at, though being an old case, it bored him enough to not really deep dive into it beyond his initial conclusions that he'd voiced. But her thoughts do make it a little more likely, at least in his mind, that he's not exactly wrong.

He denies a strong urge to talk about it more and just answers her final question with a shrug. ]

Maybe. People are capable of the worst things, and if you inflict them upon the dregs of society that people already would do without, you can almost get away with genocide. Kill enough of them and they can't even fight back.

[brain_empty]

Genocide is a very strong word. It's specifically against another ethnic group or culture. You'd have to have a unique situation for that. Like, Nazi Germany. Moreover, you'd need a concentrated effort. Government oversight, a police force to enforce it, a controlled press to conceal the reality. As well as a way to dispose of the bodies in a safe manner so that the "normal" people, the perpetrators, can continue to live. If you just toss the bodies in the river, you're going to poison what you view as the "good" people. Illness infects everyone equally.

Now... if this was true anarchy where everyone was just bashing each other's heads open for some reason, you wouldn't need any of that.

[lieindespair]

You don't think poor people have a certain culture that can be stomped on? That the poor of this or any country don't have a kinship with one another? Hm. Interesting.

[ He pauses to take a bite from his curry bun. ]

"Normal" people are trained from birth to look the other way on abuses like that, you know. We're practically trained on it. People die in jail? Oh well! Incinerate them and no one can tell. Find the next-of-kin, send them the ashes and who cares? Not their problem anymore. I mean, who's gonna hold them accountable? The police? [ He snorts. ] Yeah right.

[ Not that Kokichi is a gangster or a true actual hoodlum, but he's had his fair share of encounters with the police and assorted law authorities. He thinks very little of them. ]

There's a difference between police accountability and anarchy, you know.

[brain_empty]

Hm... they might in actuality. But, not so in perception. What we consider 'poor' could be a great lifestyle of relative luxury to another culture. That or there are separations such as what people consider 'normal'. Barriers. Culture. Language. Our very mannerisms we learn from birth.

[she takes a bite of hers, too. Not even because she particularly wants to at that moment, but because she saw him do it. But soon, she's wrapped up in the flavor, so much... it distracts her.]

...

[Then, she's sitting looking at him and has no idea who he is. Why they're sitting together, or even who she is. What was this situation...? It was unease... was he expecting her to say something?]

[lieindespair]

Pfft. You can't seriously believe that. Sure, the lower class has their own culture, but you seriously think that the upper classes aren't eager to stomp them down into the dirt and remind the dandelions that remain of their place? Come on. Don't be stupid.

[ And then he sees her expression blank out. Goddammit. Again? He sighs and takes another bite of his bun, reaching over to tap at her notebook. Well, so much for an engaging conversation for once. ]

[brain_empty]

[He... seemed angry about something. Was he angry at her? She didn't feel like she'd done something wrong.

She watches him tap her notebook at then the memory came back. That was her notebook. It had her memories in it. Ah, but her hands were greasy... oh well. Why waste good curry bread?

She chomped what was left of hers in her mouth and quickly started scraping grease off of her fingers, until she felt comfortable enough to pick it up and thumb through the pages. Kokichi Ouma. Eating lunch with. Both had curry bread.]

Sowwy, Kokeechee. [She hastily tried to swallow the last of the curry bread, before letting out a sigh when her airways were cleared.] What were you saying? I... couldn't write after we started eating.

[She pieced that together, at least.]

[lieindespair]

[ Well, it's not like he really has any plans to be anywhere, but his patience is regularly paper thin as it is. Her cutesy tone makes him roll his eyes. ]

Nothing. It doesn't matter. You were complaining about how you were sure the curry bun was gonna go straight to your ass but I told you it wouldn't. You're too tall.

[brain_empty]

[She nods and writes it down. "Worried about gaining weight from the curry buns. What if the fat went to my ass?"]

Would that make me ugly?

[lieindespair]

Maybe to some people. Those people suck though. Eat the bun, drink the soda. I think people are coming around to girls with big butts though, so do what you want, if you're asking me.

[brain_empty]

[she frowns, then scrolls back in her notes: try to avoid curry unless it's a special day.]

...Hm. Was this a special day for me? It says I should avoid it unless it's a special day. . .

[She blinks, she blinks again, then rustles through.]

Oh, this was a special day.

[lieindespair]

It is?

[ He leans forward, craning his neck to try to get a glimpse of her notebook. ]

What kinda day? You said you'd show me if you were comfortable enough, right?

[brain_empty]

Heh. Can you guess? It's a special day because I felt we were finally starting to open up together, Kokichi!

[lieindespair]

[ He couldn't help but stare at her for a long moment before breaking out into laughter. ]

Oh man! You're actually serious! What did you learn? Go on, tell me!

[brain_empty]

...Hm.

[she smiles, while she rereads her notes.]

I don't recognize faces I don't directly engage with. But I do remember... impressions. All around me. Looks of irritation. False sympathy, covering up a horror they feel when they think about my condition. I really can't blame them, so I stop thinking of them. As far as I'm concerned, no one but me and Yasuke exist in the university.

[She starts muttering 'Kokichi, kokichi, kokichi, under her breath, to remind herself of who she's talking to. To focus. Before she goes on.]

But, you're different. You play these tricks that are annoying, but in your own way, you're recognizing I'm a human being. Which I am. I exist. Even if I have to keep taking notes.

And now... we're eating together. Do you know what that means?

[lieindespair]

[ It's pretty creepy when she starts murmuring his name, between sentences, and he does make certain note of it, but he's not entirely sure what to make of it. ]

It... means that I didn't try to stab you or steal your wallet?

[brain_empty]

...

[she taps a lip, then sits up a bit and turns her head, scanning the room.]

Two boys by the window, but they're staring right at us. As they just turned their heads toward the window when I sat up, they were likely gawking at me.

Two other boys, facing our way, snickering. They must know you, Kokichi. Maybe they're expecting you to pull a prank. Or alternatively, they don't know you, and they're wondering why you're sitting with me and having a laugh at your expense.

Two girls in the corner... actually, I think they're just girlfriends. They're sitting on the same side of the booth and sort of cuddling. The food in front of them is barely touched. If I had a better view I could see if their thighs were touching which would all but confirm what I just said. ...But, that doesn't involve me.

[She turns back.]

So...

[lieindespair]

[ The level of observation she has in their surroundings is frankly astounding. There were a number of those things he might have picked up on, but few of them actually captured his notice. He does his best not to be noticed as he glances around to confirm her thoughts. ]

I see. Well, I figured you'd notice them sooner or later. My organization has eyes and ears everywhere, you know. How very perceptive of you. And how convenient it is that information won't be here tomorrow. You should forget what you've seen. It'll only hurt you in the end.

[ Whether or not that's true isn't really his concern. ]

[brain_empty]

Well... it has nothing to do with me.

That's how I know I'm safe. I'd be worthless to your organization!

[lieindespair]

Worthless? Or priceless? Let's be real, sweetheart, if I need a message delivered quickly, I'd be stupid not to tape it to your hand and send you to the destination. By the time you got back, you'd forgotten where you were, who you met, and what you did.

I mean, it wouldn't be the first time, would it?

[brain_empty]

...I don't know.

[she didn't even bother to look at her notebook.]

If I ever have... it had nothing to do with me.

[lieindespair]

Exactly, which is what makes you so perfect for it. You're innocent. Sweet, like a dove. You just go where you're supposed to, but innocuous, innocent and sweet. You deliver your message or package and go on your merry way.

[brain_empty]

I also stand out like a sore thumb to anyone who knows me or talks to me for more than a minute.