Not Again | Catch All for Tonbo

[applechemist]

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W1, Friday

[applechemist]

[ Escha comes and sits beside Tonbo at the bonfire. She's mostly avoiding people - mostly keeping distance. But even though they're not that close, their relationship has been a lot of shoulder-pats and arm-touches, and so it makes it feel more natural to sit by his side. ]

What do you think?

About... All of that, today?

[daifukus]

[ oh escha. he was wondering when to get up to check up on her (and Lili) specifically. ]

I believe we are in for a much more difficult time than we were expecting.

[ a glance. ]

Are you alright?

[applechemist]

I feel like we all got a runaround. It's frustrating.

[ She hunches forward, curling in on herself a little bit. ]

Part of me wants to be happy that this time... [ This time she didn't get scapegoated. This time people had enough faith in her not to vote for her, even when evidence seemed to lead that way. ] ... But I'm not.

[daifukus]

Mm. For all we found, there were plenty of more questions to be answered.

[ he's pretty sure ogata was framed yet the only other suspects were just equally as possible. ........but seeing how he cares for the other three, he can't help but feel relieved at the same time. it certainly makes him a horrid person, doesn't it? ]

For one, I'm glad we did not have a repeat of your trial. [ that's a tired quirk of a smile at the idea, even if it had been truly traumatic at the time. ] I only wish we had more time to reveal the truth of the matter than what we've been given this time around.

[ he misses? Friday investigations? god, did it make trials easier ]

[applechemist]

... People are going to think I did it. Now that we know it wasn't Ogata.

[ That is. going to make her social life difficult around camp next week! Haha!!! ]

[daifukus]

I'm sure we may find the real culprit next trial but until then...

[ he doesn't believe it was her for a moment. there was nothing remotely pointing her way outside of her shoe size after all but at this point, it's best to ask directly and apologize after than to find potentially a week from now ]

Can you tell me honestly, that in no way was it you?

[applechemist]

It wasn't me.

[ Having to clarify that is inherently sad to her, even if she thinks he'll believe her. ]

[daifukus]

[ he nods, quietly so, so relieved ]

Then we have a job to find who framed you and the others.

[ perhaps he is too trusting but he'd rather believe their innocence than judge them on false guilt ]

[applechemist]

The further we get from it, the less we have to go on. And we already didn't have enough evidence to make sense of it...

[daifukus]

It certainly feels as if the entirety of it was orchestrated that way from the beginning.

[ terrible. ]

I do think it may be safer if you stayed in one of the other cabins next week.

[applechemist]

Yeah... I might even sleep somewhere else with Taako and Magnus, just so that we have an effect as an alibi...

I didn't think it would be necessary, before... I didn't expect any evidence to lead to me when I didn't do anything.

[daifukus]

The evidence seems to do little for us when we cannot find anything to disprove the lies from the truth.

[ he's so tired about it ]

But I do think even if for this week that that may be a good idea.

[applechemist]

... It will get easier, over time. As more of us share our power and can vouch for one another, it will get easier to tell what we should believe.

I hope.

[daifukus]

I hope so as well.

[ here's to things not ending spectacularly terrible ]

[applechemist]

[ She sounds pretty confident in saying that, aside from tacking on the 'I hope' but. Her expression falls again so quickly. ]

[daifukus]

[ ooooh no. he holds his hands out for escha to take ]

Do not worry. You'll be alright.

[applechemist]

[ She takes his hand on reflex alone. Platonic handholds... uwu ]

Yeah... I don't want to get too down about this...

[ even though it is difficult ]

[daifukus]

[ platonic handholds!!! tonbo will also give her a hug if she wishes for one. it's like getting hugged by a soft(?) bear]

I could not imagine the difficulty of having to go through this. But you are certainly strong and have by those of us who have stood by you before.

[ he smiles so fondly ]

I believe in you.

[applechemist]

[ She wants the hug!!! ]

Well... Practice makes perfect, I guess.

[ Haha, joking about your own exorcism and being framed... Ha... ]

[daifukus]

[ and thus she gets wrapped in a super cuddly hug, because fffs ]

I suppose as long as no one tries to.... [ hm, what was it called again? ] vibe check this time?

[ junpei. ]

[applechemist]

[ :) hugs ]

Yeah, I'd like to avoid that. Luckily everyone seems pretty captivated by... Yeeting, instead.

[ i hate this ]

[daifukus]

[ laughs dryly ]

Well, as long as you don't end up yeeted [ ....yote? ] I suppose we've done better than last time.

[applechemist]

I don't think anyone will try to yeet me.

[ i hate this!!!!!!! ]

[daifukus]

[ here's hoping ]

I would think we've learned our lesson after last time.

[applechemist]

I'm heavy enough that it would probably be really difficult, anyway.