[Dist knows he'd be better off just avoiding Rideaux after everything that happened at the trial today, but apparently tonight he's just petty enough to hound him in the clergy housing hallway after the afterparty wrapped up.]
Was all of that absolute nonsense in the name of "thoroughness" worth it to you?
[...This isn't much of a private conversation at the moment...]
[ Mmmmm, just what he wanted. He sighs before turning around, crossing his arms when he does.
Honestly, Rideaux doesn't even really dislike Dist. He's intelligent, even if he doesn't fucking act like it most of the time, and they're generally on similar wavelengths where discussion of technology is involved. He's close to the bottom of the list of people here who he'd like to be rid of, even, and when he was pushing him to just comply with the searches so they could cross him off the list earlier in today's trial, he wasn't even doing it vindictively.
Well, not mostly.
Not at first.
Anyway. The point is, he likes Dist fine on paper, but his actual personality ends up manifesting as everything he finds grating and terrible, more often than not -- needy and loud and transparently desperate for validation. Today was... definitely one of those times.
(And no, he isn't at all jealous that this flower clown apparently has actual friends here despite these personal failings when he doesn't. He's not interested in making friends anyway, and he certainly doesn't want these friends.) ]
Of course.
[ His voice is smooth and even in contrast. ]
You wouldn't rather know everyone else's abilities given the choice?
[If asked, even Dist would be shocked that he managed to find some friends here. He has lived a mostly friendless life up until now, as much as he wished he didn't. His greatest desire is what it is for a very good reason.
That said, as much as he also respects Rideaux on an intellectual level, there are some things that he just isn't going to let slide, and today's events are absolutely one of those things. It was one thing for him to have his power outed, but Iago was dragged into the mix for absolutely no reason. The man is a bigger mess than Dist on one of his worse days right now, and it's pretty much Rideaux's fault.]
While I understand the advantage of that knowledge, I absolutely disagree with the way you went about gaining it. I certainly wouldn't publicly throw others under the carriage, for one thing! You made yourself quite a few enemies today- ones with still-unknown abilities to you, might I add!
And yet now I only have a handful that I need to be especially wary of, and most of the others will rightly perceive them as being more concerned with their own self-preservation than interested in the common good.
[ Even if Rideaux's own actions actually had everything to do with self-preservation and nothing to do with the common good, it's not like everyone knows that. ]
I mean, really, look at the ones who vocally refused. Three out of four -- a couple of cartoon villains and a man who's been openly deriding the majority of the people here at every opportunity. I think I can guess where most of the pitchforks will really be pointed.
[ And the fourth one keeps diving into a god damn mail chute, so he's probably not going to be a problem for long anyway. ]
[Dist visibly bristles at that casual drag on Iago and Cumore- the people he's been getting along best with so far. Wow???]
As if you are one to talk! You just attempted to label innocent people as prime suspects simply for not wanting to reveal their ability! Don't think for a second that that went unnoticed, even by those who complied!
[It takes all of his willpower to not get into this "common good" bullshit, but for once he manages to keep his mouth shut on one of the more controversial opinions held by some of the Survivors.]
All right, you know what, let's review the circumstances objectively. Shall we?
You were one of the people the special evidence fit. There was suspicion that the victim had been doing experiments with the killer, which seems kind of up your alley, and a few people were tossing around an accomplice theory. The only reason we had to count you out was the testimony of someone who claimed to be your alibi -- who hadn't said a word about that when we discussed alibis earlier, by the way! -- who refused to admit to his own ability. Who was to say you two couldn't have been working together? Maybe he'd used his power to assist you when she attacked, and you'd stabbed her in the clothes that were thrown away.
Does that really not sound like something that should have been investigated before condemning someone who was trying to be cooperative and helpful to death? If a different ability had been used in the crime and you or one of your little friends had been the primary suspect instead of Suzaku, would you not have wanted all the other options explored first?
[ Not that he actually has qualms about killing innocent people as long as the innocent people aren't him, but he would still rather get the actual culprit in these cases. (In part just so no one gets the prizes they're being offered, but hey, if it still technically ends in Justice, then who the fuck cares.) ]
I did what I could in the limited time we had. Which was more limited because a couple of children kept throwing tantrums every time someone asked them to answer the same questions everyone else had.
Also how dare you bring logic into this argument, Rideaux. But considering how quiet Dist gets, it's pretty obvious that he knows Rideaux is right about the whole thing. His emotions ran so high during the trial, points like this weren't exactly on his mind.
He's not even sure how to respond at first, and his expression reflects his frustration. He allows himself a moment to drag a hand through his hair to regain some composure.]
You have absolutely no idea how stressful it is being implicated for something that you are completely innocent of. If our group wasn't full of justice-seekers, I could be dead by now over the flimsiest of evidence. [It's a hypocritical statement since he doesn't care about implicating innocent people either, but he's saying it anyway.] I would like for you to be in my position two weeks in a row before calling me a child for getting upset about the situation.
[ There's a flash of something behind his eyes for an instant there, and he gives a hard smile. ]
I don't think you really want to talk to me about stress.
[ It's a statement and a dare at the same time, and though he doesn't raise his voice at all, there's an almost acidic bite to it. ]
Again, the whole point of thoroughly gathering all possible information is so that we don't execute someone -- possibly you [ (possibly him) ] -- without sufficient reason. But if you'd really rather I just say nothing next time everyone piles onto you while there are still questions outstanding, I can certainly oblige.
[Well that takes him aback, if only for a moment. The hell kind of landmine did he just step on?]
For Yulia's sake, this is hardly a competition.
[Unless Rideaux has actually been in such a position back home. That would be the most specific landmine ever.
With a grumble, he taps at his arm.]
You are putting words in my mouth, Rideaux, and I do not appreciate that. I am simply not pleased with your methods. I want you to back off with the incessant accusations toward people who are clearly not involved.
Well, you're free to carry on with your displeasure.
[ If Dist is looking for an apology, he absolutely won't get one. But Rideaux will, at least, sand down the hard edges of his rhetoric a bit, for the sake of wrapping this up and (hopefully) ending on a slightly less volatile note.
There's another sigh, and he uncrosses his arms, resting his hands on his hips instead. ]
That said, I don't intend to waste time on that. Just keep in mind that "clearly not involved" and "people I like" aren't always going to neatly overlap.
[ Right now, he's kind of hoping one of Dist's favored people is guilty next week, just so he can watch him react. ]
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week 2 | post-trial
Was all of that absolute nonsense in the name of "thoroughness" worth it to you?
[...This isn't much of a private conversation at the moment...]
no subject
Honestly, Rideaux doesn't even really dislike Dist. He's intelligent, even if he doesn't fucking act like it most of the time, and they're generally on similar wavelengths where discussion of technology is involved. He's close to the bottom of the list of people here who he'd like to be rid of, even, and when he was pushing him to just comply with the searches so they could cross him off the list earlier in today's trial, he wasn't even doing it vindictively.
Well, not mostly.
Not at first.
Anyway. The point is, he likes Dist fine on paper, but his actual personality ends up manifesting as everything he finds grating and terrible, more often than not -- needy and loud and transparently desperate for validation. Today was... definitely one of those times.
(And no, he isn't at all jealous that this flower clown apparently has actual friends here despite these personal failings when he doesn't. He's not interested in making friends anyway, and he certainly doesn't want these friends.) ]
Of course.
[ His voice is smooth and even in contrast. ]
You wouldn't rather know everyone else's abilities given the choice?
no subject
That said, as much as he also respects Rideaux on an intellectual level, there are some things that he just isn't going to let slide, and today's events are absolutely one of those things. It was one thing for him to have his power outed, but Iago was dragged into the mix for absolutely no reason. The man is a bigger mess than Dist on one of his worse days right now, and it's pretty much Rideaux's fault.]
While I understand the advantage of that knowledge, I absolutely disagree with the way you went about gaining it. I certainly wouldn't publicly throw others under the carriage, for one thing! You made yourself quite a few enemies today- ones with still-unknown abilities to you, might I add!
no subject
[ Even if Rideaux's own actions actually had everything to do with self-preservation and nothing to do with the common good, it's not like everyone knows that. ]
I mean, really, look at the ones who vocally refused. Three out of four -- a couple of cartoon villains and a man who's been openly deriding the majority of the people here at every opportunity. I think I can guess where most of the pitchforks will really be pointed.
[ And the fourth one keeps diving into a god damn mail chute, so he's probably not going to be a problem for long anyway. ]
no subject
As if you are one to talk! You just attempted to label innocent people as prime suspects simply for not wanting to reveal their ability! Don't think for a second that that went unnoticed, even by those who complied!
[It takes all of his willpower to not get into this "common good" bullshit, but for once he manages to keep his mouth shut on one of the more controversial opinions held by some of the Survivors.]
no subject
All right, you know what, let's review the circumstances objectively. Shall we?
You were one of the people the special evidence fit. There was suspicion that the victim had been doing experiments with the killer, which seems kind of up your alley, and a few people were tossing around an accomplice theory. The only reason we had to count you out was the testimony of someone who claimed to be your alibi -- who hadn't said a word about that when we discussed alibis earlier, by the way! -- who refused to admit to his own ability. Who was to say you two couldn't have been working together? Maybe he'd used his power to assist you when she attacked, and you'd stabbed her in the clothes that were thrown away.
Does that really not sound like something that should have been investigated before condemning someone who was trying to be cooperative and helpful to death? If a different ability had been used in the crime and you or one of your little friends had been the primary suspect instead of Suzaku, would you not have wanted all the other options explored first?
[ Not that he actually has qualms about killing innocent people as long as the innocent people aren't him, but he would still rather get the actual culprit in these cases. (In part just so no one gets the prizes they're being offered, but hey, if it still technically ends in Justice, then who the fuck cares.) ]
I did what I could in the limited time we had. Which was more limited because a couple of children kept throwing tantrums every time someone asked them to answer the same questions everyone else had.
no subject
Also how dare you bring logic into this argument, Rideaux. But considering how quiet Dist gets, it's pretty obvious that he knows Rideaux is right about the whole thing. His emotions ran so high during the trial, points like this weren't exactly on his mind.
He's not even sure how to respond at first, and his expression reflects his frustration. He allows himself a moment to drag a hand through his hair to regain some composure.]
You have absolutely no idea how stressful it is being implicated for something that you are completely innocent of. If our group wasn't full of justice-seekers, I could be dead by now over the flimsiest of evidence. [It's a hypocritical statement since he doesn't care about implicating innocent people either, but he's saying it anyway.] I would like for you to be in my position two weeks in a row before calling me a child for getting upset about the situation.
no subject
I don't think you really want to talk to me about stress.
[ It's a statement and a dare at the same time, and though he doesn't raise his voice at all, there's an almost acidic bite to it. ]
Again, the whole point of thoroughly gathering all possible information is so that we don't execute someone -- possibly you [ (possibly him) ] -- without sufficient reason. But if you'd really rather I just say nothing next time everyone piles onto you while there are still questions outstanding, I can certainly oblige.
no subject
For Yulia's sake, this is hardly a competition.
[Unless Rideaux has actually been in such a position back home. That would be the most specific landmine ever.
With a grumble, he taps at his arm.]
You are putting words in my mouth, Rideaux, and I do not appreciate that. I am simply not pleased with your methods. I want you to back off with the incessant accusations toward people who are clearly not involved.
no subject
Well, you're free to carry on with your displeasure.
[ If Dist is looking for an apology, he absolutely won't get one. But Rideaux will, at least, sand down the hard edges of his rhetoric a bit, for the sake of wrapping this up and (hopefully) ending on a slightly less volatile note.
There's another sigh, and he uncrosses his arms, resting his hands on his hips instead. ]
That said, I don't intend to waste time on that. Just keep in mind that "clearly not involved" and "people I like" aren't always going to neatly overlap.
[ Right now, he's kind of hoping one of Dist's favored people is guilty next week, just so he can watch him react. ]