ninjay | week 1, saturday

[literally runs into, because Dipper isn't paying goddamn attention, too busy walking and reading over his notes at the same time, angrily muttering to himself]

It doesn't make any sense--ack! Sorry! [and then he actually looks at who he ran into] Oh. Hey, Jay.

[:C]

You should be more careful with where you're going, Mason.

[ he does not sound too critical though. dipper being distracted isn't surprising. ]

What doesn't make any sense? [ HE HAS AN IDEA but. gotta hear it from the lil guy ]

It's Dipper.

[he hates craftly. so much. but he's quickly distracted by the question and he just. groans, angrily]

This whole trial! Did we miss any evidence that could've pointed to someone else? Something that should've pointed towards the ghost, maybe? I can't find anything! I was so convinced it was that girl I even made up some stupid theory about Jason's item. So I must've missed something that pointed to the real killer. And now they're gonna go free, and she's...

[:C]

It wasn't stupid. It was wrong, but it still made sense... in theory.

[ listen. if it was dumb jay would not hesitate to call it that, even with the current circumstances. ]

I'm not sure what we could have missed. The theory that she might have been possessed had come up many times during the trial, but there didn't seem to be any way for us to prove it with what we had to work with.

I guess.

[dipper has two modes: 100% confident or 100% down on himself rip dipper]

I know, but if there was nothing pointing to it, how are we supposed to solving any of the other murders they try to do? The ghost can be anyone and they don't leave a trace? If this is supposed to be a game, that means there's gotta be something we missed. I know there's nothing we can do for her now, but if I can figure out what we missed, maybe-- maybe that'll make up for it?

[12 year old logic]

When I spoke to her earlier, she was very firm that she wanted us to catch the true culprit. That probably won't truly "make up for it," but at least she'd be avenged.

[ revenge murder is fine, apparently. ]

I guess the first step to seeing if we missed anything is trying to figure out anything about the role used. If we knew more specifics about it, we can probably see what we looked over before, if there was anything we passed over.

[he opens up his notepad because-- he copied down all the "menu" items just in case they couldn't keep it. he thought of that]

"The ghost: A rare, highly slimming parasite. It will enter your system and empty you out until you are a shell of your former self. Guaranteed weight loss in ten minutes or less. Skill: May possess one person for 15 minutes." Omega also asked and found out that when the ghost possesses a person, they can see their secret item or weapon if they have one or have access to their skill.

That's all we know about it right now. Since we failed, maybe tomorrow Craftly will be willing to share some other detail about it, depending on how these rules go. But we can't count on that.

That is a very powerful role to have, especially in the hands of someone who obviously has no issues with murdering someone.

[ he frowns, shoving his hands in his pockets. ]

There has to be some limitations to it or else trials are going to be absolutely impossible. Hopefully he'll let us know some of them.

The time limit is a big one, but it's not big enough for the kind of power that role gives, I agree. Maybe a limit on uses? [he's... scribbling as he speaks sorry jay he's a talker thinker] Also, did he know Hana's role? She said she hadn't told anyone, but then whoever did it really lucked out with the fact that she had a weapon. What if she was, I don't know, "the mayor" or something? That would've been way harder to use to frame her.

If there's a limit on uses, then blindly picking someone you didn't know the role of would be a huge risk. I'm sure that maybe they could have found some other way besides the weapon of someone with a role, but that would make them lose time to work. If you want to use the fifteen minutes effectively, then you'd most likely have to go in already knowing what you're going to be getting.

So, going on the theory that they did somehow know, the question is how did they find out without her telling anyone. Is there some other role that can reveal roles? And if that's possible, then the implication is that this killer didn't work alone.

It's the most logical explanation, isn't it? All we need to do is figure out which role could potentially work to figure out other people's roles, and we'll have our potential aid role-wise. If we take out the weapons and anything that absolutely doesn't apply... [mumbling to himself and going thru the notes, give him a sec] That still leaves us with a lot of possibilities, since we can't be sure what most of the item roles do. We'd need some way to narrow it down further.

The problem is, that might take us a while to figure out. So far the only definite way to find out what roles do is by killing off the person associated with it, because Craftly said he'd reveal them at the execution. However, I am sure you realize the problem with that plan.

[ the problem: it involves murder ]

Yeaaaaah it's kind of not a long-term solution to anything. Ever. [S I G H S] There's got to be some other way of figuring it out, some kind of hint or clue ... And why are strangers working together, too? It's all well and good that at least two roles worked together to murder someone and frame someone else for it, but why would they do that? They'd need a good motive to trust a stranger enough to murder with them, right?

This early on, the only people that would really apply to are ones who knew each other coming in.

[ he gives dipper a pointed look. ]

I am of the belief that any of us could be the killer, regardless of age, so I am not ruling you or your sister out. But even if you eventually go on a murder spree, I don't think you would have made the first move. So another possibility there is my roommate and his friends. [ he pauses. ] They don't seem right either. Partly because it would be way too obvious if one of your groups did the first kill, right? If the answer lies in an alliance, then our first thought would go to the ones who are more likely to make one, and I would hope they are smart enough to be aware of that. And you do seem that smart, I think, which is why I am giving you the benefit of the doubt here.

[for a second dipper honest to god forgot who he was talking to and that maybe he should not be so trusting, but jay's reminder that he and mabel look like Potential Allies sure sobered that one up. he pauses and looks unsure for a second]

Yep, yeah, that would be a fair accusation from your point of view if you went with it. [but he. soldiers on.] But that's also what I'm thinking. The few people who do know each other working together to kill so early in this place when you're supposed to have to ask for incentives? That doesn't feel right. No one even knew what would happen if nobody killed anyone. If what we're thinking is accurate, this wasn't just a random kill from one person, this was planned out. Doesn't that mean at least two people, who probably didn't know each other, had a reason to want to kill someone?

[... deflates]

It all comes back to motive, ugh!

And I'm sure everyone's motive will be something personal that we won't really have any real way of knowing them. That was one of the issues with people trying to figure out why Jason was chosen out of everyone. And... there really doesn't need to be a reason why.

[ he grimaces. ]

If whoever did it isn't the type to hesitate about killing, then they most likely just picked someone who they felt that Hana would be able to take with her size and abilities. I'm sure that later on, after we've gotten to know each other a little more, we can probably try to figure out people's choices based on things like that. But now, when we've only know each other a week? Not likely.

There's like, a gajillion reasons why someone might want to murder if it's personal so long as they're even a little bit on the morally dubious side. [dipper likes to think HE wouldnt ever murder, but hes not going to argue that with jay, who has no reason to believe it.] We're never gonna be able to figure it out if the reasons are personal every single time. But if everything's set up like a game, we're meant to figure it out, right? There's no point to set up an entire thing if all they want is a murder free for all.

[... take that pen out of your mouth dipper-- too late. he is chewing on it as he reads notes, deep in thought]

Unless it's meant to be random torture. [B I L L !!!]

[ jay honestly won't even try to claim he'd never do it since it's on his damn profile card, and it'd be more suspicious if he attempted to flat out deny the murder skill instead of simply explaining it. he's certain that people are still going to be wary of him, but there's also enough people around who are equally or more sketchy than he is just based on personality alone so like. whatever. ]

Well, I'm sure some of the reasons will just be because they felt like it, or something. The incentives and punishments are there to push along people who would be unwilling to do it otherwise. But you can't have a game like this without a few people who simply enjoy it.

Probably like the guys who were like "yes, murder is on my card, but it is definitely a mistake"? [@ light smh. he remembers who he's talking to tho and continues:] I mean, you've got it on your card, but I don't think I heard you deny it. Okay, that was a bad example, maybe.

[why is he talking to jay about all this. dipper needs to stop wanting a sounding board. ffs]

[ he has to stop himself from snorting because god. dipper is such an awkward mess and it's funny. it's nice to find things hilarious after that trainwreck of a trial, so jay appreciates it. thanks for being a pal by having zero social skills, dipper.

he sobers up as he starts talking again. ] I'm from an island called the Legacy. The Legacy is... special, for reasons I would prefer not to get into, and it was invaded by a kingdom from the mainland. It turned into a war, which we won, but...

I'm not going to deny my card because there's nothing to deny. Wars are bloody and lives were lost. That's all.

Yeesh. That's... That's rough, buddy. [he immediately facepalms after he says it] I mean-- that sucks? Oh my gosh. I'm gonna be honest, we really don't know each other well enough for me to know how to react to that. Thanks for telling me?

[HE IS TWELVE AND WHAT IS THIS]

Unfortunately, playing this game means we are going to have to tell each other some truths about ourselves in other to make people more likely to work with you.

[ he sounds genuinely annoyed by that. he would prefer not to say anything but people for SOME REASON!!! keep asking about murder. god, so rude and nosy. ]

The plus side to that, however, is that it's probably the best way to figure out what people's personal motives might be. And if you can get a sense of what kind of morals someone has, then it'll be easier to figure out who they might target as a potential victim. For example, someone who is forced to kill another only because they're being threatened would more likely be less willing to go for a child. For the most part, anyway, I'm sure there might be some exceptions to that.

I'm not worried about anyone trying to kill me. They wouldn't be the first. [a beat] Not that I want someone to try to kill me. In fact, I'd rather no one try to kill anyone, but that's kind of hoping for a lot? Anyway, you're right. We can at least assume the "ghost" and whoever else they were working with aren't being coerced into murder, since they went after Jason when there's a lot of other options here. But getting to know people won't be enough to win this. People can lie, and in a situation like this? They're even more likely to try to save their own skin.

[please. stop chewing that pen. it is disgusting, dipper.]

That's true. I doubt we'd be able to catch any skilled actors that way. But lying all the time is a lot harder than it looks, especially for people who aren't used to it. You're more likely to slip up in a high stress situation, which is why it's very important to try to get to know as many people as you can in between the weekend. For all you know, one throwaway comment mentioned in a conversation can make or break a case, but only if you can make the connection.

[ still. ] In any case, all of this probably won't even become a viable option until several weeks in after we've gotten to know each other better. This early on, we can only really depend on the evidence and what we can figure out from roles.

You've obviously never met my great uncle Stan. He lied to everyone about who he was for, like, thirty years.

[...context--nope, moving on]

But we don't have several weeks. People are already being murdered! If we can't find out who's doing it, we're all just going to be picked off one by one. Or more-- if they think they can get away with it, why limit themselves to one? We need a way to figure people and roles out, and fast.

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