15 strangers r7 | Week 3, Late Thursday (Kaito)

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[The stage was set.

If no one came into the casino tonight, then that, as they say, was that. Moriarty would remove the wedges from the slot machine, and leave - hoping that someone else had done the deed to spare the lives of innocents.

But, the Casino itself was a place for someone to forget the world around them - in here, nothing more than a game room, but still holding the allure of having everything be stress free, for a time. And he had decided to also allow what would happen tonight up to luck, as it seemed...fitting.

He would not attempt to win this - he knew he was walking towards his death of his own volition...and merely wondered why it felt so familiar.

So when someone actually steps through the door, he steels himself -

- and sees someone he absolutely did not want to be chosen for his plans.]

K-Kaito?

[His voice trembles for a moment, before he quickly masters his emotions, putting on a genial smile like always.]

...Haha, I must confess, I didn't think I'd see you tonight. What are you doing up here, and so late?

Comments

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[It's alright, they can both ignore it for a few hands. Though weirdly enough, Moriarty seems to be the luckier one of the two, but not because he's cheating or anything like that. Small chat about the game, maybe a little bit of drama, the normal.

Though, eventually, he does speak up in a more serious tone.]

...I must confess - what I told you before, about why I am doing this....it is not the entire story.

[He pauses.]

I raise.

[With nonexistent money, but it's the thought that counts. Poker is inherently a bluffing game, after all.]

[unpossibilities]

Then what is?

[He pauses.]

Call.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

In part, it is for the captives - that much was not a lie.

Pass.

[They show their hands, one of them wins, and another hand is dealt.]

But it is also for those that will remain. You remember our last trial, do you not?

[He looks at his hand, discards two cards, and then draws two.]

We were...to frankly put it, a mess. I'll admit I did not help in the slightest in that regard, to my shame. But, if they are to face Zero in the coming weeks, then they must learn how to properly do a trial.

[unpossibilities]

...People got naked. Not gonna lie, Akane's brother? Kind of got creepy. Kinda hated that. [Sighs.] But yeah, it was a mess. I wanted to keep things on track, but...

Even my killing game before this had more organization to it. But that game had a Shuichi. This one...

[He looks at his cards.]

Raise. This one doesn't. Unless we maybe push one of 'em onto glory. Maybe this'll help...maybe.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

...Aoi definitely needs discipline, that much is for certain.

[Said exactly like the old man he is, though there's a fondness to it.]

Or by giving them a reason to hate, and thus pushing them towards determination. We are both well-liked enough that either of our deaths should make them take it seriously.

Call.

If I survive...I intend to be such a villain, as I said before. Hatred and spite is one of the great motivators, and if they can solve it...

....Well. Perhaps I'm merely being arrogant, but I wish to believe it would give them a greater chance against our captor himself, having already faced down one embodiment of Evil.

[unpossibilities]

If I survive, there's-- [there's something familiar about this entire conversation. Kaito can't put his finger on it, but it's hauntingly familiar in some way.] ...There's no way I'd go down easy. I won't ever be able to be a capable villain. That's not in my style. But...a fallen hero? Maybe.

["Give yourself some credit. You could be a great villain if you wanted to." That's what Kokichi would probably say, anyway.

He sighs.]

But we'll have to see. I want them to beat this captor, too. I want them to just...be the hero that I probably can't be now.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

A fallen hero...

[He laughs, though it's a bit sad.]

I have no doubt you would fall without a fight, Kaito. And that in of itself would be good enough.

[Unlike Kaito's friend, he can't say that. All he can do is offer assurance in his own way, as he lifts his cards.]

Well. I believe I've recovered enough at this point - let's make this the final hand, shall we?

Show your cards!

[And when he reveals his hand - It's basically garbage. A measly pair - fitting for that there was no way for him to win, regardless of the outcome.]