asgardmeridiem | But I don't feel like dancing so no dancing today.

Who: Sad Party Poopers/Paranoids/Small, Very Bitter Detectives.
What: Getting their collective research on.
When: Day 73.
Where: The Hospital Laboratory, Sigyn | The Library, Odin district.
Rating: G.

[The entire day felt special. That was unexpected -- mere festivities would have been easier to ignore, but the smell of flowers, and the music that he heard walking to the library was enough to tempt him to linger in the park a little. It was exactly the sort of thing that Ran would have loved -- and it was that thought that decided Conan against it.

Of all their betrayals, that had been the worst and it kept him focused, despite the flowers that bloomed in copious amounts around the hospital, the air full and heavy with perfume enough to distract anyone. Gathering the unidentifiable glowing flowers for lab analysis, rounding up his colleagues to listen to their lecture in police procedure and going to the library to double check against their collection of botanical records was an engrossing task, and the reminder of the festivities occurring elsewhere only hardened his resolve -- it was absolutely unforgivable. Harming the people you'd already put entirely at your mercy was bad enough, but there was logic there, as repulsive as it was.

Using someone as thoroughly kind-hearted and generous as Ran to do it--

It's only belatedly that Conan realises he's not alone in the [hospital/library (ooc: please ~~choose your own adventure~~ specify in your comment!)]. Caught off guard, his reaction is for once entirely in keeping with the seven-year-old he seems to be!]

Ah -- I didn't see you there! Sorry ...

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Then it's just natural, I guess. People usually just forget whatever worries they have if it's something like this unless there's something to remind them.

They don't where I'm from -- then again, this is a rather strange situation. Kind of like Stockholm Syndrome, almost.

I dunno, a school trip back home could pretty much wipe out any sort of worry for others... That's where people like their captors, right?

It's more complicated than that. The human mind can't remain stressed out or afraid for a long time, so to cope it creates illusions -- the hostages in the bank robbery in Stockholm genuinely came to believe their captors were protecting them -- not because of the reality of the situation, but because of the coping mechanisms of their own minds.

You're pretty smart for a kid. [Honest respect, man.] So, what you're saying is that our minds are making us think that - even if we're captured and have no possible ways of escaping - the gods are keeping us here for our own good and are protecting us, when in reality they're just using us like the giants are to start a desperate war. They might not be trying to start it exactly, but they're definitely not stopping it.

It interested me, so I looked it up in the library!

Even if it's not to start the war, the gods are definitely using us and I don't trust their motives at all. It's pretty easy to get settled here and like living here, but we can't trust that feeling either.

[What kid would be interested in something like that? Maybe he's studying to be a therapist or something. It's nice someone so young has something to do in life. However, doubtfulness aside...]

Right. But until we can do something, we'll have to play by their rules and keep an eye out.

... I'm still not going to their stupid party.

[... He's still gonna go through. Mostly for friends.]

So you'll keep watch on them inside a musty library they can probably see you in? I'm not that fond of crowds, but at least there's a chance of learning something out there versus in here, right?

Actually, I want them to see me. I want them to know that I don't like what they've done and I'm not going to forget because they decide to create some music and entertainment.

Besides, I'm researching the glowing plants.

Edited 2012-05-15 23:44 (UTC)

I see. [What a valiant young man.]

Learned anything yet?

Well, the glowing plants aren't listed in any of the botany books in the library!

It seems pretty doubtful for a new species to just up and bloom like this, though. You've checked in every book?

I'm working on it!

[Pause.]

Ne ... are you busy now ... ?

No, why?

Would you like to help?

[... He's still used to keeping to himself, since everyone usually asked him for help anyway. What is asking if someone needs help.]

Where do I start?

[Have a brilliant smile. That was the right answer. Conan pushes a huge stack of botany books towards Toru.]

Any of these books I have looked at yet! Try checking the index for luminescence or phospherence first, then if there's nothing, a quickly flick through to see if there's anything that looks like it -- most of these books have pictures!

Right... [What a load of work.] Oh, by the way, I'm Toru Mizushima.

[If they're gonna be botany buddies, they're gonna learn each other's names. He'll get start on that task of his.]

Ah -- Sasamori-neechan's friend!

I'm Edogawa Conan.

-- You know Sasamori?!

[Pardon him. Figures she'd get around. He shakes his head after a moment, sighing. Despite his words, there's a bit of fondness in them.]

Nevermind, that girl is one of the most outgoing people I know... Half the city probably knows her by now.

She's been looking out for me -- Hijiri-niichan too, though Hijiri-niichan's approach is rather different.

Knowing that guy... How different is it? [Does it include tickling your ear with flowers, bothering you every moment he gets, and being too loud/carefree for his own good.]

Hijiri-niichan, you're too busy being annoyed you don't realise till after that there might have been a point to it.

But they're your friends -- shouldn't you know?

Considering I'm usually at the end of both, I know all too well. [Glum. Really glum.]

Not that I should've been expecting any different, but I guess I'm kind of glad that it's not just me.

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holmes_fanatic - 2012-05-31 04:23 (UTC) - Expand