[ as a floormaster of asunaro, moments before he settled into his coffin, around others he had to hold onto the name of sou hiyori, because in due time it would not be his. it was living through another person, but knowing that they died, and took it with him, it pains him. as much as he works in trying to keep himself alive by offering body parts, leaving marks on the mental state of others, and even fixing his body to beat any problem that could kill him; he could not survive the fatal blow that came from sara's choice; he couldn't even keep his thoughts in order to understand why his plan didn't go... as well, planned.
even the lie that was used to keep sara from going against him, and he isn't satisfied with such an end.
after death, opening his eyes to a girl he doesn't know, and then not just anyone, but another person from asunaro has advantages. where ranger seems to be content with these matters, hiyori has no sense of what he knows, or how long he's been here, or what his arrival is to mean. to plan five or six steps ahead if limited to him not knowing where he is, and that means not throwing away his pride to ask for help, but an update on the situation would be best.
hm, his thoughts and memories are fuzzy, but ranger can refresh that — much like his recap in the one ending. ]
Hmm... This place doesn't have enough depth compared to where my body is, and the pressure.
[ he's thinking, because for his body to be that far from his head makes this tedious. while the body could walk towards the head, he doesn't bother doing so. ]
You have noooo choice but to search for it, Laizer!~
[ he goes off his countenance with a glow ]
While you're carrying me, come on, catch me up! Where are we... where, oh where!
[ It sounds like his body is underwater. Ranger finds that the pool would be a safe bet, and so Ranger rolls his eyes before he starts off in the direction of the elevator. It's been six months since he arrived here, but this banter still feels more natural than any conversation he might have with another transfer student. It doesn't matter how much time he spends with them nor how much they speak with one another, in the end the gap between them was just too wide for them to understand each other.
That's why he takes care in holding onto Midori's head. It takes a few seconds for the name to register - that, too, is something that he hasn't heard in months. It was the name that Sara had used first, one that tugged at his memory in some inexplicable way. It was that moment when he'd started to fall apart, and that had eventually led to an error that he couldn't fix. That name is still there, rattling around in his code, but it's nothing more than a spare piece of data. ]
Nope, lived and died as Ranger. My memory stops after the final attraction, but somebody filled me in on the rest. I thought a portion of my memories had been shaved off, but my code was the same when I got here.
[ Which makes his present state all the stranger. Ranger himself isn't entirely sure what to think of it. It's possible that someone had done a rollback on him, but the simpler explanation seems to be that he died early and simply doesn't remember it. Midori is free to use that name if he pleases, but it's not one that he has chosen to adopt. Just as the other will always be Sou Hiyori of ASUNARO, he will always be Rio Ranger of ASUNARO now. ]
Yogen High School. It's a high school in purgatory. As far as I know, it's the school counselor's playground for wayward souls. That's what I've heard, anyway. I'm still trying to fill in all the details... Well, actually, I'm hoping I can just yank the memories off the person who's been here the longest to see what I can find out. You can help me sift through 'em all if I do.
[ He needs to talk to Komaeda about that... It's a good idea, and it would go a lot quicker if he had Midori to help him. ]
But for now, I can tell you what I know. Where do you wanna start?
[ that does make everything all the stranger, from what midori knows is that he died by killing one of the candidates, it wasn't a shock due to how much ranger could hate humans. it was something he'd deem as something he saw in the long time coming. they messed with his chip, a few others died, and right after they made their way up to his floor. then there was that brief moment between miley and gashu, who knew the second floor could be so messy when it was all about trust and trading that amongst one another. ]
You were shot in the head! You wouldn't need to be told if you checked your own code...
[ nothing to hide since he knows, nothing to keep secret because midori says it as they come. there's no need to fake niceties for someone's feelings, in asunaro, they were what made emotions; they had control in general, so there was nothing to be hurt over, they were what made people hurt, and they healed them. ]
The timeline here has a few discrepancies...
[ purgatory's flow of time has always been different. well, what he read in books. ]
Let's focus on the main event, [ which should be the glow in ranger's face, or that sparkle in his eye, ] you have a test subject ready and available!! How exciting!
[ yanking the memories is more than an easy task, removing them too, and this is part of their field of expertise, especially midori who was born just for this. self taught by the exposure of his toys while growing up, he knew every inch of a person's body, and their brain to ensure he could force what information he wanted, or what he needed them to forget. their pains, their sorrows, happiness, and even their joy... as long as he knew it all, they were easy to command, and giving orders that they would follow without complaint made things easier. if they wanted to fight back, that's fine, it only takes one brief look to back them into a corner.
maybe this person could be the same. ]
I want to adjust as quickly as possible, and since you appear to be in a good mood... [ wag, wag, wag goes his little rattail as he sits comfortably in ranger's arms, ] You can tell me everything, Laizer has always been the perfect databank that ASUNARO knew and loved... ♡
[ Ranger is sensitive to small changes in his code, and so he would have noticed it. If he hadn't, then it would have been caught when by Shin when he had looked it over. It wouldn't have been missed. But it's true enough that there's discrepancies in the timeline. They come from separate worlds, with Shin and Sara having completely different sets of memories. Should he start with that?
The cards have already been put aside, but he walks in the elevator and clicks the button for the first floor, nodding in agreement to his assessment. He had arrived at a favorable time, really, as the only other person he might trust to assist him with such a project would be Safalin. He adds it to the list of things to discuss, but for now he finds it best to allow him to find his footing. He considers the best way to unravel everything. There's a lot to catch up on - the setting, the mechanics, the people, the current events, plans that he has... He's more or less going to be attached to him for the next few days.
He adjusts his grip so he remove one hand to take out his phone. He holds it at an angle where Midori won't be able to see it as he unlocks it, and sends a quick text to an number with no name attached - Shin's number:
Midori is here. Let Sara and Alice know.
He puts it away after that. He shifts a little as he feels that rattail continues to swish back and forth along his torso and lets out a little sigh. ]
That project was reworked. It's Ranger.
[ He takes care to keep the emotion out of his voice, and to ensure that his face remains blank. Ranger even manages to keep his fingers still, as though he were unbothered by it. As though it weren't a sore point. If he lets that show, Midori will catch on, and that's dangerous. ]
As far as the school goes, this building has a clock tower and a basement. We should check out the latter once you have a body to work with. There's a courtyard in the center, and if you go outside there's a track and field, ball courts, an indoor pool building, dormitory... There's a cottage there now too, no idea where the Hell that came from. There's a few ASUNARO products here too. Basically everyone here is stupid.
[ Himself included. That seems like the simplest place to start, it'll paint a picture for him for the rest. Of the subjects he'll touch on, Rio Ranger is not one of them. ]
[Texts guaranteed to make the blood drain from Shin's face.
The next time Ranger opens his phone there'll be a series of them in turn:
ranger this better not be a prank
Where is he? What is he doing? Wh
I'll warn them. Keep me updated.
Each not belying any of the erased words and shaking fingers involved in their creation, except for that one slip of the enter key and the timing between them.]
[ there's only so many people that could understand asunaro technology or its code, and he doubts that ranger that laizer calls himself, would know how to tamper with it without destroying what made him, him. truthfully, he lost all what made him an heir the moment another set of hands wanted more control than the others, and so they've always lost rio laizer. sou hiyori, at that time, didn't mind it which gave open seats in the death game, really that may have been when the cogs began to turn. the windmill of the sun, the cradle of the moon, and the story of a wandering flame that didn't want to stop existing. ]
My, my... Someone was able to fix your code? Who could have you glowing like that!!
[ the moment he plucked midori out of the trashcan was testament to it, but he laughs happily even with this newfound news. as his head is adjusted, he calculates why when he knows that ranger doesn't do things without reason, even with the way his head is turned; it must be something he's not allowed to see. there's no need to question it as it comes and goes, his rattail still pitter pattering against the doll's stomach. ]
Everyone can't be stupid if you allowed them to touch something that sensitive... Safalin isn't here, because you two are never apart.
[ he references the past to now, intakes the information, but something stands out rather than the obstacles of physical exercise. finally, after about however long it's taken, midori blinks, and then his eyes remain wide open — as they pass certain students, he'll act like a lifeless head unless someone looks in his direction, curious, and he winks which makes a student not too far away jump, knocking into another.
going to school, again, isn't the biggest obstacle, but he should get to know his peers, it's all about connections, understanding, and using others when they prove themselves to be useful. ]
...Phft... Aha... haha, I'm sure you have a list ranging from useful to useless?
[ There is a little twitch of his fingers at the mention of Safalin, and by then there's no point in hiding the answer when doing so would only show that there was a gaping wound for him to dig his fingers into and start groping around inside to see what be hiding within it - sweet and rotten things, candies and entrails and maggots all mixed together in a disgusting slush. It is instead a decision of how he wants to answer that question.
He takes a few seconds to think of how he'd like to do so, but it's also considering the word he uses. Glow. It's not an uncommon word to hear, but there's something uncomfortable about having it said aloud by someone who knows him so well. People can be said to have a healthy glow. He's also heard that those in love have a change to their aura, a face that glows, a smile that's a little brighter... He should have never spoken with others about this. There's a twitchy little frown, a hint of embarrassment, followed by a chortle as he finds himself distracted by the sight of a student getting spooked.
He's made up his mind by now on what to say here. He'll have to give a name, but he'd rather not note Shin's involvement. That just leaves the one. ]
Nope. We're the only two ASUNARO reps here. It was a couple of the students here... So, I'll start there. Himeko Inaba. Smart kid, picked the code up fast, but she's the type who isolates herself from everyone 'cause she doesn't trust anyone. But you know, those types make good business partners, so I have no complaints.
[ Those types were safer in a place where interpersonal relationships could break down in an instant, but trust could always be bought and sold without issue. A beat. ]
I wasn't planning on it, but there was an system error, so I needed another person to fix it... It was bound to happen eventually. Anyway, she figured out the issue, and she was able to take what was there and piece together the rest of it. Pretty bright kid, eh?
[ It was far easier with the majority of the code already there, and easier still with an AI who could assist to a certain extent, but it was undeniably an accomplishment to be able to complete the world of ASUNARO's three geniuses. It was something to be proud of. It's a fine place to start on his list while also answering the first question, both in good faith. ]
[ that coding isn't just for anyone, if that's the case, anyone could look through it, cause the company problems, and carry on. one sole person able to touch on a code by prodigies, their life's work put into the creation of rio lazier, but dirty hands tainted the end game goal, and they were left with rio ranger. the state of his code isn't any of midori's concern, but who worked on it is another story that makes things interesting. there's no way to deny ranger's complete faith in someone's work, but it's still left as an open door to midori, and one he doesn't close.
it's just a small, amused hum from the name that he'll keep it in mind. ]
There were no issues, you were just incomplete!!
[ a correction, because that's all it was since he's fixed or half-done, if he doesn't remember the part when safalin finished his data. he remembers the event, and he thinks about mentioning the fact that he cried — that he was unable to hold it all in, with such a flurry of emotions. ]
Now that you're fixed, should I thank her for making you cute? [ or ] It is a special day, has someone wormed their way into your cold, animatronic heart? ♡
[ information about himeko inaba is important, but playing with ranger too is also on the top of the charts. if he's able to be embarrassed, maybe he can cause something to slip due to that feeling. the feelings of others, their happiness and their sadness, what they love and also what they hate is all under midori's control, he's worked hard enough to learn the signs, and this is his precious co-worker after all. if he didn't notice the new, little expressions that ranger makes, then he'll miss out on everything so far. ]
And the candidates?
[ because if they're the only asunaro representatives here, that's not saying their cute toys aren't. that, and he can dodge the question about his romance thag midori doesn't know about, or needs to know about unless ranger gives him reason. ]
i hope i'm not jinxing anything with this, i don't want to feel shame about this tag later
[ There were issues, and that's because it's difficult to modify such a carefully crafted program without leading to unintentional consequences. In Ranger's case, it meant that external stimuli and information he was never meant to have falling into hands led to his system attempting to collapse. It was a piece of him that he hadn't touched, and if not for that he supposes that he might never have been completed. It was a stroke of bad luck to find that laptop, but it must have been good luck that Komaeda had found him and shown him an unexpected kindness.
Midori needs to know none of that, and so he lets the misunderstanding stand, along with the remark about him being cute. It's considerably harder to ignore the second question, and he looks away for a few seconds, embarrassed by how many people have pressed him on the issue lately. Maybe it's a normal thing to ask on this day, which is dedicated to shy teenagers confessing to one another. Ranger isn't a teenager, but he's never been able to express himself well, and it was an experience worth having at least once. Though maybe he had put too much effort into it. Talking to the shopkeep, getting and learning this and that...
He had given it to him, and then...
...
... ]
... Don't ask weird questions.
[ He takes a little long to offer that mumbled answer, which isn't quite a denial. His cheeks are tinted pin, and he makes a point of quickly moving onto the next question, ]
There's a few of them here, they've just kinda shown up over time.
Edited 2022-02-20 02:12 (UTC)
NOT SHAME STOPPPP tell him an interesting participant and he will back off!!
[ a bit if baiting in his attempt to get ranger to react, as long as midori feels confident of the information, then ranger will correct him. logical choice would be to do so, and if not, then midori will continue living his life with that narration in his mind.
he looks up to ranger in pure interest, waiting for him to confess what it is or who it is, because someone like him loves the concept of love, it's beautiful, interesting, it makes people act all sorts of ways because either they can't control it, or it eats away at them. now ranger isn't maple, down to the core of him, love isn't the core of his code, because now he's a true human, and all should be in balance.
if not, ranger can spare himself the embarrassment by changing the subject, talk about the candidates, and depending on who he mentions then his interest will shift. he's always so thoughtful of others, especially his old toys— how are they doing nowadays? ]
What's weird? Is love weird... ahhaha... hahaha... don't be silly.
[ just a little accusation that holds no weight, but it can be filled to the brim depending on how ranger decides to respond.
fill his cup!
sweet, sticky, and light burn his lips as he drinks it all up. ]
STOP NONE OF THEM ARE INTERESTING, SARA'S BORING NOW
[ It's not a question of if his coworker will find out, but when. Ranger adjusts his grip as they exit the school. If he says it now, will that make it harder to strike a deal with him later? There's something to be said about the leverage that having feelings for a person has. On the other hand, for as dangerous as it was to have emotions in ASUNARO, it was even moreso to be afraid. Rather, he should be able to use that to his advantage, as it means he only has one single person that he needs to protect.
he walks out the front door of the school. It's chilly out, and the snow crunches beneath his boots as he walks along. He supposes Midori's body will be half-frozen once it's pulled out of the pool. ]
... There is.
[ He turns his head briefly, frowning, visibly uncomfortable with the idea of feeling such a strong emotion. It's not something that he's meant to give, much less to receive, and so speaking those words aloud is dangerous. He hasn't done so yet, but then Ranger communicates with actions more than words, and so he had placed every last thought and feeling in a cute little box before and given them to that person. ]
Nagito Komaeda. He's off limits.
[ He pauses there, waiting to see how his coworker will take that. He can press for details if he'd like, but he supposes negotiations might be better once he has more information. Ranger will be fair when dealing with him. ]
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF SHES BORING!!! SHE MIGHT BE A MOTIVATOR
[ off-limits, huh? it's a familiar word in the asunaro dictionary, it's when an individual has found something they like, and they don't want anyone touching it, taking it, or doing anything with it. midori is that way, for some of the ais crafted by him, he would rather certain people not dirty his work.
but this person isn't an ai, far from it, because ranger is acting far too human to make this seem normal for him. if it was two ais, it'd be a learning experience, or there would be no need to be flustered, or uncomfortable since technology works so well together.
it's different when ranger make it known, and midori tries to skip a few steps ahead to understand. ]
Oh, oh! Think I'd steal him from you...♡
[ he leaves that playful threat up in the air, and if he feels ranger's arms shift. ]
But I jest! I jest!
[ ranger can trust him, maybe, but that's in no way to get information. with the name in his thoughts, he'll keep an eye out for that person, but he doesn't have the full picture of why just that one. ]
He must be fun to play with if you chose him... why can't I play with him too?
[ If not stolen, then he would be toyed and tampered with. Ranger doesn't bother with those who can't care for themselves and so there's no true need to stake claims and twist arms over his partner, but there's other dangers in not doing so. It opens up the door for too many problems, too much interference, too much information being shared... He focuses on that, repeats it in his mind over and over, because it's easier than admitting that there's a foundation of care now.
Ranger adjusts his grip, and the look he offers suggests that he does think that Midori would do just that. He would, of course, find it to be a wonderful case study. ]
He's my partner, and we work well together. I don't want your dirty fingerprints all over him.
[ The next bit is offered with a note of caution, ]
We're close, so I look out for him... Of course, I'm going to look out for you too. I'm not unreliable like Namida, you know? I don't move pieces around on my colleague's gameboard.
[ Unreliable being a kind of way of putting it. Ranger's fate was of his own accord, but interfering with the fourth and fifth floors had been out of line. She both betrayed and disrespected both her fellow Floormasters and the Death Game, and that makes him bristle.
He'll take badly to it, they need to work together, but the truly important part is... ]
... Anyway, we both get more out of it if you're not wasting time like that.
[ it sounds like a joke with the way he says it, so blindly carefree, but there's nothing false about his actions when it comes to himself. having burned off every fingerprint, that identifiable part of midori is long gone. there's no need to keep them when he has so much to do, and if he leaves his marks visibly on someone, then he's failed his goal. everything is mental, learning about someone's fears and what makes them happy isn't tangible, and that's what makes breaking them interesting without the claim to back it up, they have nothing on them to prove it true.
as for ranger turning cute for a random guy, it works in favor, love is just so interesting. it truly is a barrier for survival sometimes, and the ai proves it true as he shuffles for a type of deal.
due to his situation, it'd be wise to do so, and while he does have the time and patience to play with new toys; there's better advantages offered. ]
...
[ he remains silent, thinking the offer over. ranger has been here longer, he's an important asset that midori could speak to without making any regrets, as long as his plans are four steps ahead, then he's safe. ]
I won't come into contact with your partner for your cooperation. That "Nagito Komaeda" can become smoke that slips through my fingertips, so no prints will be found!
[ one person compared to the many others out there can work wonders to establishing moral. it's not asunaro, and with it not being that, there's more freedom. ranger still has a knife when it's convenient, that hold has never let go, and even now old habits die hard.
he weighs his options.
there's no choice in the matter, someone who can respect the playing field is rarer than someone who moves everywhere, purposefully smacking the chess pieces before going back to their precious game. it allows for a brief purse of his lips, ]
What are the threats and dangers here?
[ to finalize his decision, but it's not like he needs ranger to protect him, but more work would get done if they acted together accordingly. ]
[ The man he carries wouldn't leave a trace of his presence behind save those wispy memories that would be warped and forgotten with or without his assistance. But his scalpel leaves behind stitches that fade into scars, and Ranger would never mistake those neat precise cuts and neat stitches.
Nagito Komaeda could be cured by his hands alone, taken under the knife and cut and rearranged into a different person. It could be done out of professional pride and curiosity, or it could be a gift of salvation forced upon recipient who sees being fixed as ruination.
There are more frightening things than fingerprints that can be left behind.
But their agreement is made, and the next few breaths come out easier than the previous ones. He's taken care of what's his, and the rest he can handle as it comes up. ]
Good. 'Course, you'll hear everything I do.
[ It's like a game of telephone, wherein his two closest allies will both be kept equally in the loop. ]
Hm... There's some odds and ends, but let's start with the important one. The people here are a mix of idiots, violent idiots, and then a couple who are worth watching out for. The dumb bastards don't do much other than gossip and kill each other.
[ Her reaches a hand up to brush some of the hair out of Midori's face. It's starting to fall in front of his eyes. He'll give the option for him to hear about those now, or he can move onto his original point of conversation. ]
[ the blade of the scalpel can meticulously cut open the skin, expose the sickly insides, gloved hands will remove and replace what's wrong, what he finds misplaced, and fix them good as new. the stitches are ever so interesting, weaving together back the skin, and watching it connect together at swollen ends. then he's able to watch the progress of it healing, of the stitches disappearing, or falling up, and the nice scar that'll remain forever that helped them.
midori is ever so good at that, which it's reasonable enough for him to think that ranger's crush is susceptible to him, and his advances. if he lacks a strong will, and doesn't know how to properly think which needs guidance— that's not ranger's wannabe boyfriend, that is certainly midori's new play toy. his hands calloused enough, but gentle to ensure any person that he can take hold, and everything will be taken care of.
if that nagito komaeda could protect himself, then there would be no need to strike a deal. he finds that this one must be interesting when ranger, would of course, know his types, but there's a disadvantage if he allows this chance to adjust and learn to slip away from him. ]
It sounds like they have no direction, I'm surprised you've managed! Your love interest must be to thank for that...
[ with constant stupidity and idiocy all around, but since this is about those idiots, he can't ask what category ranger falls into— killer or gossiper.
he doesn't have to, but his eye closes as ranger sweeps a few locks from in front of his eyes. his touch has gotten gentler, and that must come from his time here. ]
Tell me, tell me! I'm exchange, I'll tell you something just as fun.
[ the former or the latter, he's pretty open to both topics. it'll offer the same chance to hear what he's thinking. ]
[ His touch his gentler, the words a little softer, all those little changes with being shown kindness and care. His knife has started show the first hints of dullness, as there's those he should have eliminated by now and yet hasn't. But with Midori here he'll sharpen it once more, clean off the dirt and blood that had dried on it and find it to be good as new. He'd cut out every weakness and watch as bright red blood dripped off of it after, and Ranger's only regret will be not using it sooner.
There's a slight frown as he considers that. His partner should have been the one to keep his knife from dulling. Hadn't he chosen him for that purpose? ]
You're right. They're just stumbling around blind. He he's more useful than the rest of 'em. There's things that I wouldn't have learned without him... Ahaha, so you see why I can't give him up, right?
[ That's the benefit of having another person. Ranger is too logical, too focused on living, to act in the ways that Komaeda thinks to. It's a different form of problem solving. That small frown returns as he finishes, deciding to move away from the subject now, ]
For the rest of 'em, I'll just hit the major ones. Dito's dead weight, Rokuro's a dumbass who wants to get everyone killed, Bonnie's for hire, Rika and Childe are worth keeping an eye on, and Hajime's one to avoid. I wouldn't let that one breathe in my direction. I'd be careful with that one.
[ It's a short list, moving up as he considers how much of a threat each one is. He hasn't personally dealt with Dito, but word spreads fast. Rokkun has a target painted on him now, and Bonnie is only as dangerous as you make her. Rika is playing games that she can't win, but Childe has more potential for his void experiments. There's a ruthless efficiency to that, and it's one that he respects. As for Hinata, well, something had occurred when he'd blinked. He now has the familiar scent of a person who's too sharp, too confident, and with too sudden of a change to be seen as anything other than a threat.
Hm, maybe this makes him a gossip? This is the most he's bothered talking about other people, not caring enough to, but he'd be remiss not to at least cover the major beats for a person who thoroughly depends on what he knows of others. ]
NOT FIND A MOTIVE UR RIGHT we gotta give her a cool one so komaeda likes it
for the artificial intelligence that hated his participants, the fix in his code has made him more kinder, gentler. would that call it a weakness if it's love, emotions, and matters that come from the heart? no, midori loves love, to the one's learning to the other's who want to share it with the people around them. it's because he loves it that his blade sharpens his scalpel. the ones that he work on, those humans, it's all because of love, and so his knife never wears down.
these are tools that ranger has never held before, and so not knowing how, it will dull quicker, lose its edge. ]
How mean...! Keeping the best to yourself!!
[ midori wouldn't know, he believes it's personal preference with ranger, because safalin was good for certain things, but he wouldn't call her the ideal partner. even thinking about it makes his lips purse into a straight line. how troublesome, but it's after a few seconds of gathering his thoughts he leaves that topic to his help and warnings—
he trusts ranger's judgement, his impressions are straightforward and not shrouded in favortism, nor or the being shielded. it's a bag of trail mix offered, some sweet, and some will annoyingly try to stick between his teeth, but he manages to avoid that problem every time. one raisin might be harder than another, but he'll enjoy the bag save for a few that he leaves at the bottom of the bag.
the ones that stand out are obvious, and the comment about his life threatened makes him silent. someone with that sort of mind should be dealt with, but he knows ranger's penchant of survival as well so maybe there's a reason. ]
Are the participants doing any better than the idiots, interesting, and deplorable?
[ inaba, rika, and childe are notable mentions. now for who's here that they know... if ranger has no complaints, they must have lived life like a self-sustaining ecosystem, aside from the killing and everything else.
... ]
give her a hopeful motive, he'll be so proud of his daughter
[ He should have killed him a long time ago. It should have been done on that frigid day in December, when every bit of reason told him what needed to be done, but his hand had been stayed by justification and trust. It should have been enough to tell him that he was broken, but the signs were ignored. Now he tells himself that it's a waiting game, a test, because he confirmed the plan and the time limit for himself. It will be handled one way or another. If his partner doesn't take it into his own hands, then Ranger will, and he'll that knowledge not so that he acts but to offer him the choice.
But he won't die. Maybe he wold kill both of them, as he would lose his partner either way. ]
... I'll add two more to the list first. Add. He's interested in robots. Worthwhile projects.
[ There's a brief look that says I know. Neither of them could be described as robots, as ASUNARO's goals weren't so inelegant as to be satisfied with steel filled with mundane code, but it means an easy in with someone who adept in their field. The second name takes longer to come, and there's a solid few seconds in which the silence lingers in the air before he continues, ]
Satou Kuroneko. Magic mixed with physics. Cute kid.
[ There's another name that he should add to that list, but he keeps it to himself. He offers up those two though, because it's the logical decision. They're both useful, and Satou is someone who he would be quite fond of. It's not a replacement, but rather cutting the list short. ]
As for the participants, they're fumbling through it without us to guide them. There's a total of six of us, including you and I. In order of arrival it was: Sara, Shin, Ranger, Joe, Alice, Hiyori. I've been here for six months. The first two were here a couple months before me.
[ This is more routine, quick and to the point, as though he were simply giving a report. That's all it is, really, something factual and impersonal. It's what he's supposed to do. ]
What do you wanna know?
[ Who does he want to know about? ]
Edited 2022-02-26 06:31 (UTC)
she should do a blood ritual and her evil sara demon compels her
[ there is a look, robots are, in other words, just artificial people created from machinery, bolts and nuts, while being a stepback from what they are. it's an insult, but someone who understands the specific field proves more use than another person who has no idea what the difference between zinc and galvanized is. ]
And what of his work, you must've seen it for yourself to recommend him!
[ it's the differences that everyone has compared to inaba himeko that dealt with the innerworkings of ranger's code, and now there's someone who can handle the model, or creation of a robot, which midori doesn't throw away the idea. he simply inquires, ]
Has he done anything to your body, Ranger? There has to be someone managing over your routine maintenance, while you can do a scan... it's best to have someone competent to reevaluate over the data that comes back, physicals are needed!
[ while he's not a complete human, that doesn't mean his body should be ignored either. it's a very important part of him, and if that malfunctions, it can backfire on his code, which is easy to fix by reuploading him because he'll never die, but they need to avoid something so drastic at all costs.
from all that, ranger can get the idea that he's asking if add has been working on that part of him.
the next name registers, the cute part makes this worthwhile too. he thinks he'll have to see what's so cute about her, and if it's something that catches his eye, he'll see into it properly. ]
...
[ the list is exciting, there goes the wag of his rattail yet again while gauging which participant interests him most. there's this satisfying feeling at knowing they're all in purgatory, but there's a few important ones, they exist ones, and the way he ignores alice out the batch of them.
...
he doesn't want to comment or he'll become frustrated, and joe has no hold (aha!) on him, and so he can ignore that one too. ]
They've grown, haven't they?
[ which would be unfortunate, because not surprising where ranger has also grown. he's not in asunaro, so there's no need to immediately chase after them, but it's almost like a second chance, though his first chance should have went better than it did.
onto a better question: ]
Have they accepted you as one of their own?
quick let's get akki to teach us how to summon evil demon sara
[ Midori will notice the way his grip adjusts at the question. He fighters a little, holding on a little tighter and glancing off to the side, an uncomfortable look on her face. It's not unlike a person trying to hug themselves to make sure their entire body is still there. It was bad enough to have someone touch his code, that most essential part that makes up everything about him, but to have his body tampered with to is a sickening prospect. It leaves a bad taste in his mouth to know that more than one person knows how to plug him in.
If someone were to know the way his hardware functioned, then they would truly be able to do anything, and there's no shame in warping a doll. The idea is enough to make his stomach churn, and he understands the other half of the equation too. If somebody was working on him, then they could work on the body wandering about too. He takes in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. ]
Ahaha, are you that worried about me? Nope, I've been taking care of everything myself~ There's no one here that I'd trust with ASUANRO technology.
[ That seems the simplest way to say it. He doesn't trust anyone with his code. It had been a one time affair, and in which he could be assured that data wasn't kept. He certainly wouldn't repeat it with his body.
...
With Midori here, he'll have to be even more careful. ]
They have, but not enough.
[ It's a frank assessment. Their little spats, the pettiness, the inability to handle so many things - they've grown, but not nearly enough to be the unrecognizable figures that they'd wish to greet Midori as. No, they've all just gotten too complacent.
Ranger pushes the door to the pool room open. He chooses his words more carefully in answering the second question, ]
There seems to be a misunderstanding on their part.
[ ... ]
if komaeda get his soul and then give it to midori and ranger
[ ranger's code is midori's code, his model is one off, due to being someone created for a certain throne within the asunaro palace— though he never saw the light of day in that regard, that doesn't mean he's not a personal liability for him. his body threatens midori's body, and they are like dominoes that once one of them falls, the other isn't far behind. it's a dangerous game to be played for someone like them who want nothing more than to survive, and having various people out there act as their achilles' heel; there's nothing romantic at all.
becoming invulnerable until someone so chooses? there's no benefits from it. he can take the response that no one physically worked on him, but the framework of his code is a different story. the fiddling of his hold that portrays a telltale sigh of worry and being unsure doesn't give midori high hopes. ]
Your functionality hasn't been breached by curious hands then... perfect! I had alllllllllmost thought to remind you of what was in in the handbook: Section 45 Part 3-B, clause 876 at the very, very, very bottom that talks about what happens to your body if unable to operate due to handling by someone else.
[ down to the very segment of the page that he doesn't see the need to inform ranger on because he should know it already, every page, just like midori who before, skimmed over it, gave a smile and understood the assignment. ]
Oh, oh! In other words, they're still cute...
[ "cute", still rough around the edges, and with his hands all he has to do is polish them. out of the list, joe won't be so difficult, they've yet to properly meet. alice isn't at the forefront of his mind, oh how unpleasant it is to hear about him; so he ignores them for the rest. sara and shin, his two favorites, not only that death has landed them in the same box, but one interests him more than the other— the time here is truly shaken, given shin had died way before sara, but there's some excitement that's visible as the tip of his tail curls.
as they walk into the pool, ranger will spot there's water all over the floor, and some in the shape of a few footsteps, and blotches of puddles that means nothing. ]
Evaluate what's hard to understand, is it because you lack the eyes of a participant?
[ scooping them out, then replacing them would be ever so easy, but personal decisions don't stem from seeing what they see. ]
[ Ranger knows perfectly well why he's worried, because he's too concerned with all the little pro that occurred to consider context or solution. It's not surprising, given that he's having all this dropped on him at once, but it doesn't make it any less irritating to have rules and regulations that are encoded into him so strongly that he can't truly ever go against it. Nor would he want to, no more then a person would want to remove their instinct to pull their hands away from a hot stove.
He doesn't trust any of them, not really. He stops near a puddle now, rolling Midori's head so he can grip it with both hands and lift it up above his head and - ]
See, this is why your body functions just fine without the head attached.
[ - he starts shaking it up and down in a rapid movement. It won't hurt him, his parts won't rattle around in his head and he won't suffer any dizziness like a human would, but it's no less anyone for him than anyone else. He emphasizes each word as he continues. ]
Because you don't use it anyway.
[ He stops, but that glare remains. He's never once put the rest of them at risk, and here has been no different. There's a reason for everything that he does. ]
[ nothing rattles, he doesn't get busy, hut he admires the ceiling for the change in colors that ranger puts him though as he shakes his head. he does use his shoulders for more than a head rack, and that's why he said what he did. that's fine, he believes, that if there's so much denial towards being worked on properly, midori follows what he would have done himself. ]
After I find my body, I'll check over you myself. It's really hard finding proper help.
[ that's how he feels about anyone touching asunaro code and body functions that he's wired himself into. longevity, life, and all things never-ending is why he traded himself for these parts so that he could live forever. ]
That's why you have meeee! ♡
[ he's the proper help, laughing while he accepts this as a roller coaster if anything. he waits for ranger to stop before continuing, clearing his throat as he scans the pool to see if there's anything his body may have left behind. ]
You can agree with that, can't you?
stop midori can control him the old fashioned way, that's so cute
[ It's like dealing with a child, and Ranger keeps his stare fixed on him. The thought of being worked on by Midori makes him frown. Ranger was only worked on by Gashu, Miley, and Safalin. Midori will be able to work on him just as skillfully, but that meant he could do harm and good alike as he pleased.
He considers Midori's position. He would be working with the perfect program, one in which each string was carefully interwoven with the next. There should be no vulnerabilities, no exploits, save any that came with it being tampered with by outsiders. It would be safer, then, to maintain that than to risk vulnerabilities that if found could be used on him.
Midori plays the long game, and so he has other ways of causing any changes he wishes to see occur without any risk to himself.
Ranger nods. ]
Right. You and I are the only people here qualified to work with ASUNARO technology.
[ He looks behind him at the pool itself, and he briefly considers kicking his head into it. He decides against it, instead lowering his arms and holding Midori's head close once more. The body's not here, so it must have left. It would find a secure place to stay, which would rule out standing around in the snow half-frozen. ]
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no subject
even the lie that was used to keep sara from going against him, and he isn't satisfied with such an end.
after death, opening his eyes to a girl he doesn't know, and then not just anyone, but another person from asunaro has advantages. where ranger seems to be content with these matters, hiyori has no sense of what he knows, or how long he's been here, or what his arrival is to mean. to plan five or six steps ahead if limited to him not knowing where he is, and that means not throwing away his pride to ask for help, but an update on the situation would be best.
hm, his thoughts and memories are fuzzy, but ranger can refresh that — much like his recap in the one ending. ]
Hmm... This place doesn't have enough depth compared to where my body is, and the pressure.
[ he's thinking, because for his body to be that far from his head makes this tedious. while the body could walk towards the head, he doesn't bother doing so. ]
You have noooo choice but to search for it, Laizer!~
[ he goes off his countenance with a glow ]
While you're carrying me, come on, catch me up! Where are we... where, oh where!
no subject
That's why he takes care in holding onto Midori's head. It takes a few seconds for the name to register - that, too, is something that he hasn't heard in months. It was the name that Sara had used first, one that tugged at his memory in some inexplicable way. It was that moment when he'd started to fall apart, and that had eventually led to an error that he couldn't fix. That name is still there, rattling around in his code, but it's nothing more than a spare piece of data. ]
Nope, lived and died as Ranger. My memory stops after the final attraction, but somebody filled me in on the rest. I thought a portion of my memories had been shaved off, but my code was the same when I got here.
[ Which makes his present state all the stranger. Ranger himself isn't entirely sure what to think of it. It's possible that someone had done a rollback on him, but the simpler explanation seems to be that he died early and simply doesn't remember it. Midori is free to use that name if he pleases, but it's not one that he has chosen to adopt. Just as the other will always be Sou Hiyori of ASUNARO, he will always be Rio Ranger of ASUNARO now. ]
Yogen High School. It's a high school in purgatory. As far as I know, it's the school counselor's playground for wayward souls. That's what I've heard, anyway. I'm still trying to fill in all the details... Well, actually, I'm hoping I can just yank the memories off the person who's been here the longest to see what I can find out. You can help me sift through 'em all if I do.
[ He needs to talk to Komaeda about that... It's a good idea, and it would go a lot quicker if he had Midori to help him. ]
But for now, I can tell you what I know. Where do you wanna start?
[ He presses the button for the elevator. ]
no subject
You were shot in the head! You wouldn't need to be told if you checked your own code...
[ nothing to hide since he knows, nothing to keep secret because midori says it as they come. there's no need to fake niceties for someone's feelings, in asunaro, they were what made emotions; they had control in general, so there was nothing to be hurt over, they were what made people hurt, and they healed them. ]
The timeline here has a few discrepancies...
[ purgatory's flow of time has always been different. well, what he read in books. ]
Let's focus on the main event, [ which should be the glow in ranger's face, or that sparkle in his eye, ] you have a test subject ready and available!! How exciting!
[ yanking the memories is more than an easy task, removing them too, and this is part of their field of expertise, especially midori who was born just for this. self taught by the exposure of his toys while growing up, he knew every inch of a person's body, and their brain to ensure he could force what information he wanted, or what he needed them to forget. their pains, their sorrows, happiness, and even their joy... as long as he knew it all, they were easy to command, and giving orders that they would follow without complaint made things easier. if they wanted to fight back, that's fine, it only takes one brief look to back them into a corner.
maybe this person could be the same. ]
I want to adjust as quickly as possible, and since you appear to be in a good mood... [ wag, wag, wag goes his little rattail as he sits comfortably in ranger's arms, ] You can tell me everything, Laizer has always been the perfect databank that ASUNARO knew and loved... ♡
no subject
I did, and it was exactly the same as I left it.
[ Ranger is sensitive to small changes in his code, and so he would have noticed it. If he hadn't, then it would have been caught when by Shin when he had looked it over. It wouldn't have been missed. But it's true enough that there's discrepancies in the timeline. They come from separate worlds, with Shin and Sara having completely different sets of memories. Should he start with that?
The cards have already been put aside, but he walks in the elevator and clicks the button for the first floor, nodding in agreement to his assessment. He had arrived at a favorable time, really, as the only other person he might trust to assist him with such a project would be Safalin. He adds it to the list of things to discuss, but for now he finds it best to allow him to find his footing. He considers the best way to unravel everything. There's a lot to catch up on - the setting, the mechanics, the people, the current events, plans that he has... He's more or less going to be attached to him for the next few days.
He adjusts his grip so he remove one hand to take out his phone. He holds it at an angle where Midori won't be able to see it as he unlocks it, and sends a quick text to an number with no name attached - Shin's number:
Midori is here. Let Sara and Alice know.
He puts it away after that. He shifts a little as he feels that rattail continues to swish back and forth along his torso and lets out a little sigh. ]
That project was reworked. It's Ranger.
[ He takes care to keep the emotion out of his voice, and to ensure that his face remains blank. Ranger even manages to keep his fingers still, as though he were unbothered by it. As though it weren't a sore point. If he lets that show, Midori will catch on, and that's dangerous. ]
As far as the school goes, this building has a clock tower and a basement. We should check out the latter once you have a body to work with. There's a courtyard in the center, and if you go outside there's a track and field, ball courts, an indoor pool building, dormitory... There's a cottage there now too, no idea where the Hell that came from. There's a few ASUNARO products here too. Basically everyone here is stupid.
[ Himself included. That seems like the simplest place to start, it'll paint a picture for him for the rest. Of the subjects he'll touch on, Rio Ranger is not one of them. ]
[NOT HERE]
The next time Ranger opens his phone there'll be a series of them in turn:
ranger this better not be a prank
Where is he? What is he doing? Wh
I'll warn them. Keep me updated.
Each not belying any of the erased words and shaking fingers involved in their creation, except for that one slip of the enter key and the timing between them.]
no subject
[ there's only so many people that could understand asunaro technology or its code, and he doubts that ranger that laizer calls himself, would know how to tamper with it without destroying what made him, him. truthfully, he lost all what made him an heir the moment another set of hands wanted more control than the others, and so they've always lost rio laizer. sou hiyori, at that time, didn't mind it which gave open seats in the death game, really that may have been when the cogs began to turn. the windmill of the sun, the cradle of the moon, and the story of a wandering flame that didn't want to stop existing. ]
My, my... Someone was able to fix your code? Who could have you glowing like that!!
[ the moment he plucked midori out of the trashcan was testament to it, but he laughs happily even with this newfound news. as his head is adjusted, he calculates why when he knows that ranger doesn't do things without reason, even with the way his head is turned; it must be something he's not allowed to see. there's no need to question it as it comes and goes, his rattail still pitter pattering against the doll's stomach. ]
Everyone can't be stupid if you allowed them to touch something that sensitive... Safalin isn't here, because you two are never apart.
[ he references the past to now, intakes the information, but something stands out rather than the obstacles of physical exercise. finally, after about however long it's taken, midori blinks, and then his eyes remain wide open — as they pass certain students, he'll act like a lifeless head unless someone looks in his direction, curious, and he winks which makes a student not too far away jump, knocking into another.
going to school, again, isn't the biggest obstacle, but he should get to know his peers, it's all about connections, understanding, and using others when they prove themselves to be useful. ]
...Phft... Aha... haha, I'm sure you have a list ranging from useful to useless?
no subject
He takes a few seconds to think of how he'd like to do so, but it's also considering the word he uses. Glow. It's not an uncommon word to hear, but there's something uncomfortable about having it said aloud by someone who knows him so well. People can be said to have a healthy glow. He's also heard that those in love have a change to their aura, a face that glows, a smile that's a little brighter... He should have never spoken with others about this. There's a twitchy little frown, a hint of embarrassment, followed by a chortle as he finds himself distracted by the sight of a student getting spooked.
He's made up his mind by now on what to say here. He'll have to give a name, but he'd rather not note Shin's involvement. That just leaves the one. ]
Nope. We're the only two ASUNARO reps here. It was a couple of the students here... So, I'll start there. Himeko Inaba. Smart kid, picked the code up fast, but she's the type who isolates herself from everyone 'cause she doesn't trust anyone. But you know, those types make good business partners, so I have no complaints.
[ Those types were safer in a place where interpersonal relationships could break down in an instant, but trust could always be bought and sold without issue. A beat. ]
I wasn't planning on it, but there was an system error, so I needed another person to fix it... It was bound to happen eventually. Anyway, she figured out the issue, and she was able to take what was there and piece together the rest of it. Pretty bright kid, eh?
[ It was far easier with the majority of the code already there, and easier still with an AI who could assist to a certain extent, but it was undeniably an accomplishment to be able to complete the world of ASUNARO's three geniuses. It was something to be proud of. It's a fine place to start on his list while also answering the first question, both in good faith. ]
no subject
it's just a small, amused hum from the name that he'll keep it in mind. ]
There were no issues, you were just incomplete!!
[ a correction, because that's all it was since he's fixed or half-done, if he doesn't remember the part when safalin finished his data. he remembers the event, and he thinks about mentioning the fact that he cried — that he was unable to hold it all in, with such a flurry of emotions. ]
Now that you're fixed, should I thank her for making you cute? [ or ] It is a special day, has someone wormed their way into your cold, animatronic heart? ♡
[ information about himeko inaba is important, but playing with ranger too is also on the top of the charts. if he's able to be embarrassed, maybe he can cause something to slip due to that feeling. the feelings of others, their happiness and their sadness, what they love and also what they hate is all under midori's control, he's worked hard enough to learn the signs, and this is his precious co-worker after all. if he didn't notice the new, little expressions that ranger makes, then he'll miss out on everything so far. ]
And the candidates?
[ because if they're the only asunaro representatives here, that's not saying their cute toys aren't. that, and he can dodge the question about his romance thag midori doesn't know about, or needs to know about unless ranger gives him reason. ]
i hope i'm not jinxing anything with this, i don't want to feel shame about this tag later
Midori needs to know none of that, and so he lets the misunderstanding stand, along with the remark about him being cute. It's considerably harder to ignore the second question, and he looks away for a few seconds, embarrassed by how many people have pressed him on the issue lately. Maybe it's a normal thing to ask on this day, which is dedicated to shy teenagers confessing to one another. Ranger isn't a teenager, but he's never been able to express himself well, and it was an experience worth having at least once. Though maybe he had put too much effort into it. Talking to the shopkeep, getting and learning this and that...
He had given it to him, and then...
...
... ]
... Don't ask weird questions.
[ He takes a little long to offer that mumbled answer, which isn't quite a denial. His cheeks are tinted pin, and he makes a point of quickly moving onto the next question, ]
There's a few of them here, they've just kinda shown up over time.
NOT SHAME STOPPPP tell him an interesting participant and he will back off!!
[ a bit if baiting in his attempt to get ranger to react, as long as midori feels confident of the information, then ranger will correct him. logical choice would be to do so, and if not, then midori will continue living his life with that narration in his mind.
he looks up to ranger in pure interest, waiting for him to confess what it is or who it is, because someone like him loves the concept of love, it's beautiful, interesting, it makes people act all sorts of ways because either they can't control it, or it eats away at them. now ranger isn't maple, down to the core of him, love isn't the core of his code, because now he's a true human, and all should be in balance.
if not, ranger can spare himself the embarrassment by changing the subject, talk about the candidates, and depending on who he mentions then his interest will shift. he's always so thoughtful of others, especially his old toys— how are they doing nowadays? ]
What's weird? Is love weird... ahhaha... hahaha... don't be silly.
[ just a little accusation that holds no weight, but it can be filled to the brim depending on how ranger decides to respond.
fill his cup!
sweet, sticky, and light burn his lips as he drinks it all up. ]
STOP NONE OF THEM ARE INTERESTING, SARA'S BORING NOW
he walks out the front door of the school. It's chilly out, and the snow crunches beneath his boots as he walks along. He supposes Midori's body will be half-frozen once it's pulled out of the pool. ]
... There is.
[ He turns his head briefly, frowning, visibly uncomfortable with the idea of feeling such a strong emotion. It's not something that he's meant to give, much less to receive, and so speaking those words aloud is dangerous. He hasn't done so yet, but then Ranger communicates with actions more than words, and so he had placed every last thought and feeling in a cute little box before and given them to that person. ]
Nagito Komaeda. He's off limits.
[ He pauses there, waiting to see how his coworker will take that. He can press for details if he'd like, but he supposes negotiations might be better once he has more information. Ranger will be fair when dealing with him. ]
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF SHES BORING!!! SHE MIGHT BE A MOTIVATOR
but this person isn't an ai, far from it, because ranger is acting far too human to make this seem normal for him. if it was two ais, it'd be a learning experience, or there would be no need to be flustered, or uncomfortable since technology works so well together.
it's different when ranger make it known, and midori tries to skip a few steps ahead to understand. ]
Oh, oh! Think I'd steal him from you...♡
[ he leaves that playful threat up in the air, and if he feels ranger's arms shift. ]
But I jest! I jest!
[ ranger can trust him, maybe, but that's in no way to get information. with the name in his thoughts, he'll keep an eye out for that person, but he doesn't have the full picture of why just that one. ]
He must be fun to play with if you chose him... why can't I play with him too?
SHE AIN'T EVEN KILLED NOBODY YET THAT'S BORING!!!
Ranger adjusts his grip, and the look he offers suggests that he does think that Midori would do just that. He would, of course, find it to be a wonderful case study. ]
He's my partner, and we work well together. I don't want your dirty fingerprints all over him.
[ The next bit is offered with a note of caution, ]
We're close, so I look out for him... Of course, I'm going to look out for you too. I'm not unreliable like Namida, you know? I don't move pieces around on my colleague's gameboard.
[ Unreliable being a kind of way of putting it. Ranger's fate was of his own accord, but interfering with the fourth and fifth floors had been out of line. She both betrayed and disrespected both her fellow Floormasters and the Death Game, and that makes him bristle.
He'll take badly to it, they need to work together, but the truly important part is... ]
... Anyway, we both get more out of it if you're not wasting time like that.
YALL BEEN HERE FOR A YEARRRR
[ it sounds like a joke with the way he says it, so blindly carefree, but there's nothing false about his actions when it comes to himself. having burned off every fingerprint, that identifiable part of midori is long gone. there's no need to keep them when he has so much to do, and if he leaves his marks visibly on someone, then he's failed his goal. everything is mental, learning about someone's fears and what makes them happy isn't tangible, and that's what makes breaking them interesting without the claim to back it up, they have nothing on them to prove it true.
as for ranger turning cute for a random guy, it works in favor, love is just so interesting. it truly is a barrier for survival sometimes, and the ai proves it true as he shuffles for a type of deal.
due to his situation, it'd be wise to do so, and while he does have the time and patience to play with new toys; there's better advantages offered. ]
...
[ he remains silent, thinking the offer over. ranger has been here longer, he's an important asset that midori could speak to without making any regrets, as long as his plans are four steps ahead, then he's safe. ]
I won't come into contact with your partner for your cooperation. That "Nagito Komaeda" can become smoke that slips through my fingertips, so no prints will be found!
[ one person compared to the many others out there can work wonders to establishing moral. it's not asunaro, and with it not being that, there's more freedom. ranger still has a knife when it's convenient, that hold has never let go, and even now old habits die hard.
he weighs his options.
there's no choice in the matter, someone who can respect the playing field is rarer than someone who moves everywhere, purposefully smacking the chess pieces before going back to their precious game. it allows for a brief purse of his lips, ]
What are the threats and dangers here?
[ to finalize his decision, but it's not like he needs ranger to protect him, but more work would get done if they acted together accordingly. ]
STOOOPPPP IT'S NOT MY FAULT NONE OF THEM MURDER
Nagito Komaeda could be cured by his hands alone, taken under the knife and cut and rearranged into a different person. It could be done out of professional pride and curiosity, or it could be a gift of salvation forced upon recipient who sees being fixed as ruination.
There are more frightening things than fingerprints that can be left behind.
But their agreement is made, and the next few breaths come out easier than the previous ones. He's taken care of what's his, and the rest he can handle as it comes up. ]
Good. 'Course, you'll hear everything I do.
[ It's like a game of telephone, wherein his two closest allies will both be kept equally in the loop. ]
Hm... There's some odds and ends, but let's start with the important one. The people here are a mix of idiots, violent idiots, and then a couple who are worth watching out for. The dumb bastards don't do much other than gossip and kill each other.
[ Her reaches a hand up to brush some of the hair out of Midori's face. It's starting to fall in front of his eyes. He'll give the option for him to hear about those now, or he can move onto his original point of conversation. ]
Then there's our participants.
PLEASE WHY ARENT SHE MURDERING IM SO UNHAPPY
midori is ever so good at that, which it's reasonable enough for him to think that ranger's crush is susceptible to him, and his advances. if he lacks a strong will, and doesn't know how to properly think which needs guidance— that's not ranger's wannabe boyfriend, that is certainly midori's new play toy. his hands calloused enough, but gentle to ensure any person that he can take hold, and everything will be taken care of.
if that nagito komaeda could protect himself, then there would be no need to strike a deal. he finds that this one must be interesting when ranger, would of course, know his types, but there's a disadvantage if he allows this chance to adjust and learn to slip away from him. ]
It sounds like they have no direction, I'm surprised you've managed! Your love interest must be to thank for that...
[ with constant stupidity and idiocy all around, but since this is about those idiots, he can't ask what category ranger falls into— killer or gossiper.
he doesn't have to, but his eye closes as ranger sweeps a few locks from in front of his eyes. his touch has gotten gentler, and that must come from his time here. ]
Tell me, tell me! I'm exchange, I'll tell you something just as fun.
[ the former or the latter, he's pretty open to both topics. it'll offer the same chance to hear what he's thinking. ]
WE GOTTA DANGANRONPA IT AND FIND A MOTIVE FOR HER
There's a slight frown as he considers that. His partner should have been the one to keep his knife from dulling. Hadn't he chosen him for that purpose? ]
You're right. They're just stumbling around blind. He he's more useful than the rest of 'em. There's things that I wouldn't have learned without him... Ahaha, so you see why I can't give him up, right?
[ That's the benefit of having another person. Ranger is too logical, too focused on living, to act in the ways that Komaeda thinks to. It's a different form of problem solving. That small frown returns as he finishes, deciding to move away from the subject now, ]
For the rest of 'em, I'll just hit the major ones. Dito's dead weight, Rokuro's a dumbass who wants to get everyone killed, Bonnie's for hire, Rika and Childe are worth keeping an eye on, and Hajime's one to avoid. I wouldn't let that one breathe in my direction. I'd be careful with that one.
[ It's a short list, moving up as he considers how much of a threat each one is. He hasn't personally dealt with Dito, but word spreads fast. Rokkun has a target painted on him now, and Bonnie is only as dangerous as you make her. Rika is playing games that she can't win, but Childe has more potential for his void experiments. There's a ruthless efficiency to that, and it's one that he respects. As for Hinata, well, something had occurred when he'd blinked. He now has the familiar scent of a person who's too sharp, too confident, and with too sudden of a change to be seen as anything other than a threat.
Hm, maybe this makes him a gossip? This is the most he's bothered talking about other people, not caring enough to, but he'd be remiss not to at least cover the major beats for a person who thoroughly depends on what he knows of others. ]
NOT FIND A MOTIVE UR RIGHT we gotta give her a cool one so komaeda likes it
for the artificial intelligence that hated his participants, the fix in his code has made him more kinder, gentler. would that call it a weakness if it's love, emotions, and matters that come from the heart? no, midori loves love, to the one's learning to the other's who want to share it with the people around them. it's because he loves it that his blade sharpens his scalpel. the ones that he work on, those humans, it's all because of love, and so his knife never wears down.
these are tools that ranger has never held before, and so not knowing how, it will dull quicker, lose its edge. ]
How mean...! Keeping the best to yourself!!
[ midori wouldn't know, he believes it's personal preference with ranger, because safalin was good for certain things, but he wouldn't call her the ideal partner. even thinking about it makes his lips purse into a straight line. how troublesome, but it's after a few seconds of gathering his thoughts he leaves that topic to his help and warnings—
he trusts ranger's judgement, his impressions are straightforward and not shrouded in favortism, nor or the being shielded. it's a bag of trail mix offered, some sweet, and some will annoyingly try to stick between his teeth, but he manages to avoid that problem every time. one raisin might be harder than another, but he'll enjoy the bag save for a few that he leaves at the bottom of the bag.
the ones that stand out are obvious, and the comment about his life threatened makes him silent. someone with that sort of mind should be dealt with, but he knows ranger's penchant of survival as well so maybe there's a reason. ]
Are the participants doing any better than the idiots, interesting, and deplorable?
[ inaba, rika, and childe are notable mentions. now for who's here that they know... if ranger has no complaints, they must have lived life like a self-sustaining ecosystem, aside from the killing and everything else.
... ]
give her a hopeful motive, he'll be so proud of his daughter
But he won't die. Maybe he wold kill both of them, as he would lose his partner either way. ]
... I'll add two more to the list first. Add. He's interested in robots. Worthwhile projects.
[ There's a brief look that says I know. Neither of them could be described as robots, as ASUNARO's goals weren't so inelegant as to be satisfied with steel filled with mundane code, but it means an easy in with someone who adept in their field. The second name takes longer to come, and there's a solid few seconds in which the silence lingers in the air before he continues, ]
Satou Kuroneko. Magic mixed with physics. Cute kid.
[ There's another name that he should add to that list, but he keeps it to himself. He offers up those two though, because it's the logical decision. They're both useful, and Satou is someone who he would be quite fond of. It's not a replacement, but rather cutting the list short. ]
As for the participants, they're fumbling through it without us to guide them. There's a total of six of us, including you and I. In order of arrival it was: Sara, Shin, Ranger, Joe, Alice, Hiyori. I've been here for six months. The first two were here a couple months before me.
[ This is more routine, quick and to the point, as though he were simply giving a report. That's all it is, really, something factual and impersonal. It's what he's supposed to do. ]
What do you wanna know?
[ Who does he want to know about? ]
she should do a blood ritual and her evil sara demon compels her
And what of his work, you must've seen it for yourself to recommend him!
[ it's the differences that everyone has compared to inaba himeko that dealt with the innerworkings of ranger's code, and now there's someone who can handle the model, or creation of a robot, which midori doesn't throw away the idea. he simply inquires, ]
Has he done anything to your body, Ranger? There has to be someone managing over your routine maintenance, while you can do a scan... it's best to have someone competent to reevaluate over the data that comes back, physicals are needed!
[ while he's not a complete human, that doesn't mean his body should be ignored either. it's a very important part of him, and if that malfunctions, it can backfire on his code, which is easy to fix by reuploading him because he'll never die, but they need to avoid something so drastic at all costs.
from all that, ranger can get the idea that he's asking if add has been working on that part of him.
the next name registers, the cute part makes this worthwhile too. he thinks he'll have to see what's so cute about her, and if it's something that catches his eye, he'll see into it properly. ]
...
[ the list is exciting, there goes the wag of his rattail yet again while gauging which participant interests him most. there's this satisfying feeling at knowing they're all in purgatory, but there's a few important ones, they exist ones, and the way he ignores alice out the batch of them.
...
he doesn't want to comment or he'll become frustrated, and joe has no hold (aha!) on him, and so he can ignore that one too. ]
They've grown, haven't they?
[ which would be unfortunate, because not surprising where ranger has also grown. he's not in asunaro, so there's no need to immediately chase after them, but it's almost like a second chance, though his first chance should have went better than it did.
onto a better question: ]
Have they accepted you as one of their own?
quick let's get akki to teach us how to summon evil demon sara
If someone were to know the way his hardware functioned, then they would truly be able to do anything, and there's no shame in warping a doll. The idea is enough to make his stomach churn, and he understands the other half of the equation too. If somebody was working on him, then they could work on the body wandering about too. He takes in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. ]
Ahaha, are you that worried about me? Nope, I've been taking care of everything myself~ There's no one here that I'd trust with ASUANRO technology.
[ That seems the simplest way to say it. He doesn't trust anyone with his code. It had been a one time affair, and in which he could be assured that data wasn't kept. He certainly wouldn't repeat it with his body.
...
With Midori here, he'll have to be even more careful. ]
They have, but not enough.
[ It's a frank assessment. Their little spats, the pettiness, the inability to handle so many things - they've grown, but not nearly enough to be the unrecognizable figures that they'd wish to greet Midori as. No, they've all just gotten too complacent.
Ranger pushes the door to the pool room open. He chooses his words more carefully in answering the second question, ]
There seems to be a misunderstanding on their part.
[ ... ]
if komaeda get his soul and then give it to midori and ranger
[ ranger's code is midori's code, his model is one off, due to being someone created for a certain throne within the asunaro palace— though he never saw the light of day in that regard, that doesn't mean he's not a personal liability for him. his body threatens midori's body, and they are like dominoes that once one of them falls, the other isn't far behind. it's a dangerous game to be played for someone like them who want nothing more than to survive, and having various people out there act as their achilles' heel; there's nothing romantic at all.
becoming invulnerable until someone so chooses? there's no benefits from it. he can take the response that no one physically worked on him, but the framework of his code is a different story. the fiddling of his hold that portrays a telltale sigh of worry and being unsure doesn't give midori high hopes. ]
Your functionality hasn't been breached by curious hands then... perfect! I had alllllllllmost thought to remind you of what was in in the handbook: Section 45 Part 3-B, clause 876 at the very, very, very bottom that talks about what happens to your body if unable to operate due to handling by someone else.
[ down to the very segment of the page that he doesn't see the need to inform ranger on because he should know it already, every page, just like midori who before, skimmed over it, gave a smile and understood the assignment. ]
Oh, oh! In other words, they're still cute...
[ "cute", still rough around the edges, and with his hands all he has to do is polish them. out of the list, joe won't be so difficult, they've yet to properly meet. alice isn't at the forefront of his mind, oh how unpleasant it is to hear about him; so he ignores them for the rest. sara and shin, his two favorites, not only that death has landed them in the same box, but one interests him more than the other— the time here is truly shaken, given shin had died way before sara, but there's some excitement that's visible as the tip of his tail curls.
as they walk into the pool, ranger will spot there's water all over the floor, and some in the shape of a few footsteps, and blotches of puddles that means nothing. ]
Evaluate what's hard to understand, is it because you lack the eyes of a participant?
[ scooping them out, then replacing them would be ever so easy, but personal decisions don't stem from seeing what they see. ]
help not his soul
He doesn't trust any of them, not really. He stops near a puddle now, rolling Midori's head so he can grip it with both hands and lift it up above his head and - ]
See, this is why your body functions just fine without the head attached.
[ - he starts shaking it up and down in a rapid movement. It won't hurt him, his parts won't rattle around in his head and he won't suffer any dizziness like a human would, but it's no less anyone for him than anyone else. He emphasizes each word as he continues. ]
Because you don't use it anyway.
[ He stops, but that glare remains. He's never once put the rest of them at risk, and here has been no different. There's a reason for everything that he does. ]
It's an important part so we can control him
After I find my body, I'll check over you myself. It's really hard finding proper help.
[ that's how he feels about anyone touching asunaro code and body functions that he's wired himself into. longevity, life, and all things never-ending is why he traded himself for these parts so that he could live forever. ]
That's why you have meeee! ♡
[ he's the proper help, laughing while he accepts this as a roller coaster if anything. he waits for ranger to stop before continuing, clearing his throat as he scans the pool to see if there's anything his body may have left behind. ]
You can agree with that, can't you?
stop midori can control him the old fashioned way, that's so cute
He considers Midori's position. He would be working with the perfect program, one in which each string was carefully interwoven with the next. There should be no vulnerabilities, no exploits, save any that came with it being tampered with by outsiders. It would be safer, then, to maintain that than to risk vulnerabilities that if found could be used on him.
Midori plays the long game, and so he has other ways of causing any changes he wishes to see occur without any risk to himself.
Ranger nods. ]
Right. You and I are the only people here qualified to work with ASUNARO technology.
[ He looks behind him at the pool itself, and he briefly considers kicking his head into it. He decides against it, instead lowering his arms and holding Midori's head close once more. The body's not here, so it must have left. It would find a secure place to stay, which would rule out standing around in the snow half-frozen. ]
Where is it now?
NOT THE OLD FASHION WAY DO U MEAN, GROOMING?