[ Congrats on surviving Week 0, Anaido. Dimitri is plainly agitated, stiff-shouldered and stiff-jawed as he trudges back to the cabin area. He only relaxes enough to let out a quiet huff, frowning. ]
So it would seem. I assume you've taken a look at the 'rulebook' already? [ it's practically mocking them. ]
[ He looks like he's struggling with the invitation for a second, like he has to go pace uselessly somewhere instead or he'll combust, but he eventually does sit down beside him. Sure. He'll try. ]
...I so wanted to believe it. [ Anaido's correct, but. ] Maybe I wanted to let myself be fooled.
[ He nods. Even if part of him knew this was a possibility, or maybe even a likelihood—who wants to say as much?
The stiff set of his shoulders relaxes a little, more defeated than before. ]
Another ritual... [ he's just going to watch Anaido's tennis ball for a second before blinking back to reality ] I'm grateful that you're all right this time. Though that feels callous to say when someone else still died.
[ ...He doesn't comment on it. The circumstances of Anaido's own death were different. It could be avoided a second time so long as he still has the will to survive these wretched games. Surely.
As for Tsuru. ]
Mm. Even a skilled warrior can be taken by surprise. There isn't much you can do to defend yourself with a sword when you're stabbed in the back.
[ Especially if Tsuru hadn't been expecting it. Dimitri's brow furrows. ]
But what I don't understand is that we were out looking for him yesterday. You'd think we would have seen him before... [ Before whatever it was that happened. ]
[ someone in hiding, or someone he trusted, or someone he didn't perceive as a threat... there's too many reasons to say. ]
He had been in our cabin for the night, but left not long before the doors locked. I went out with Flayn and his friends when he didn't return shortly after.
[ the island had taught him a little caution, but there's no reason not to share details with Anaido. ]
We were locked out... and still, we didn't see him while we were outside.
I believe most of those friends were with us in the cabin, but that's still a possibility. Strange that they would choose a Thursday night for a rendezvous, though...
[ It could've been a new friend. He trails off, thinking back over the events of the night before shaking his head. ]
I'm sorry. You invited me to relax, and all I've done is disrupted you.
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So it would seem. I assume you've taken a look at the 'rulebook' already? [ it's practically mocking them. ]
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[And he laughs at the question. A short, barking laugh.]
Of course. They really shouldn't have tried to fool us into thinking this place was anything that it was not.
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...I so wanted to believe it. [ Anaido's correct, but. ] Maybe I wanted to let myself be fooled.
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[There's no judgement in his words. Just stating it like a fact.]
Anyways...I'm sad, too. It means we have to deal with all of this over again.
[And here, he finally wanted to stick around for the chance to see a certain someone, again.]
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The stiff set of his shoulders relaxes a little, more defeated than before. ]
Another ritual... [ he's just going to watch Anaido's tennis ball for a second before blinking back to reality ] I'm grateful that you're all right this time. Though that feels callous to say when someone else still died.
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[There's something a little distant in his eyes when he says that.]
I'm a bit surprised, too. Tsuru was a warrior, you know. Whoever killed him was confident they could take him on...or, at the very least, fool him.
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As for Tsuru. ]
Mm. Even a skilled warrior can be taken by surprise. There isn't much you can do to defend yourself with a sword when you're stabbed in the back.
[ Especially if Tsuru hadn't been expecting it. Dimitri's brow furrows. ]
But what I don't understand is that we were out looking for him yesterday. You'd think we would have seen him before... [ Before whatever it was that happened. ]
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[Then someone sneaky enough to catch him off guard...]
You were looking for him? Why? Just because?
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He had been in our cabin for the night, but left not long before the doors locked. I went out with Flayn and his friends when he didn't return shortly after.
[ the island had taught him a little caution, but there's no reason not to share details with Anaido. ]
We were locked out... and still, we didn't see him while we were outside.
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[His head is hurting a lot. He opens his mouth as if to say something to Dimitri, glancing at the tennis ball, but seems to shake his head.]
...Why did he leave? Did he say?
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I believe he mentioned he was going to the mess hall... I'm not certain why.
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The mess hall...maybe he was supposed to be meeting someone there? I know he had some friends here from the place he was in before this.
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I believe most of those friends were with us in the cabin, but that's still a possibility. Strange that they would choose a Thursday night for a rendezvous, though...
[ It could've been a new friend. He trails off, thinking back over the events of the night before shaking his head. ]
I'm sorry. You invited me to relax, and all I've done is disrupted you.
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[He raises a hand, as if in apology.]
You've done nothing of the sort. It's fine, brother.