puzzling

Eri Yamamoto Status | Alive

[thedespairexperience]

Aishiteru Banzai! || Popiko || Motive Reaction || Closed for Eri

Their most treasured item, huh? That sounded like quite the doozy to Popiko. Seeing her own item mixed in didn’t help any. It wasn’t important- more sentimental than anything-, but she’d hate to lose it. And given what she’d learned in the class she took, would it be that mean of her to kill someone over it?

Nah, she was too lazy. Besides, somebody probably needed theirs more than she needed hers- what an oddly tender thought from a girl like her! Still, she’d keep murder in mind, just in case. These kids meant nothing to Popiko, anyways. Her little scrap of paper was more important than any of the people trapped with her.

Her attention span drifted off the motive as she examined her classmates. This would be a good time to try talking to some new people. Glancing over them all, her eyes soon settled on a white-haired boy. Hey, he was the only one older than her, wasn’t he? Time for a grown-up conversation! Or, rather, a grown-up and a child in the body of a woman. Skipping up behind him, Popiko poked Eri in the back.

"Fufufufu, heeeeey, big brother Papa-kun! What an exciting motive, right? Really heart-pounding! Who do you think is gonna snap first? I hope we get a real bloody death this time, nya!"

[eriyamamoto-blog]

He hears someone approach, but before he can do much he’s poked rather rudely in the back. He’s not particularly surprised to see who would do that when he turns to her. Ugh.

He still wasn’t happy with this girl after she what she tried to pull last trial. Popiko was no ally of his and since then right up on his list of people he wouldn’t particularly grieve, but he wasn’t going to tell her that directly. He cocks his head curiously.

“’Big brother Papa?’”

Eri repeats her there. That nickname of her’s completely contradicted itself, but he was pretty sure Popiko knew that and probably said it for that reason. He has to resist correcting her and instead just smile and laugh.

“Hmm, maybe... Well, I’ve got no idea! Why? What’d you lose?”

[thedespairexperience]

There He Go | Hideo | Execution Reaction | Closed for Eri

[silkenflight]

There was, actually, something of a reason for Hideo’s certainty- although there didn’t really need to be, he still wouldn’t have believed Eri did it. Nothing short of a full confession would have convinced him of that at any point. Then again that was true of pretty much anyone. Thanks Hideo.

Of course Hideo has his own spellbook and map that he could check, but he doesn’t bother bringing that up or pulling it out, he just looks over at Eri’s when he holds it out. Oh, Hogsmeade! So this really was like third year in the books then… good thing they didn’t need permission slips to go, but then most of them were technically adults by wizarding world standards anyway, weren’t they? And given that murder is also against the rules it’d probably be stranger if that one was upheld for some reason.

“Oh, that sounds great,” Hideo tries to inject some enthusiasm into his voice, even though it feels wrong to even be considering something fun after what just happened. But he doesn’t want to be a burden or drag down Eri’s mood. “Th-there’s probably lots of fun things there! And, um, don’t worry I have some Knuts too so you won’t have to spend any on me.” Even if he didn’t have any, Hideo probably would have insisted that Eri only spend his money on himself, but fortunately that’s not going to be an issue.

[eriyamamoto-blog]

Yeah, thank goodness they didn’t need permission slips, considering what he told Hideo only a couple of days ago. It sure was weird to think they were playing as first years though. Or were they still? Were they ever? He has somewhat lost the original point of this game with all the murder. It was just surviving trials and waiting for the library to open now. Looking for a way out as well, of course, but... That didn't seem to be going anywhere fast.

Eri closes his spellbook and puts it back under his arm. It occurs to him he never used the traces of Tropi-co's bruises. They weren't exactly that clear though. He's glad he didn't waste time with that. They ran so close in the end.

Hideo has money, that’s nice. More money for Eri. More money for books. Was that rude? He mentions something fun though.

"Alright. Well, uh, there's a bookstore...!"

He realized how nerdy that sounded and didn’t linger on it long.

"We should just head out then."

And not stay in this courtroom any longer than necessary.

[thedespairexperience]

There He Go | Hideo | Execution Reaction | Closed for Eri

[silkenflight]

Hideo nods at the advice as he helps Eri up- he hadn’t exactly been planning on running any marathons, though he’s recovering fairly well. Physically, anyway. Emotionally he’s feeling pretty devastated. Sure, he hadn’t exactly known Mari well, and she’d killed someone, but she was still a person. No one deserves to go what she’d just been put through- not in Hideo’s opinion, anyway.

There really was… nothing he could do. In a way that made it worse. He hadn’t been able to help Sonoe, or Lydinyk either, and with the way things are going… it’s only a matter of time before something like this happens again. He doesn’t want to believe anyone would commit another murder, but given that its happened twice now even he can’t hold out much optimism.

“O-oh, um, you’re welcome, but I mean… I knew it couldn’t have been you and-and I didn’t want you to have to say anything you weren’t comfortable with…” Hideo makes a motion with his hands as though to fidget with the hems of his sleeves, then remembers that his robes are currently still with Tanja, being used as her makeshift sling. Oh well.

Wait, accompany him? Hideo can’t help perking up a bit again at the prospect. “I’m up for it! I mean, the distraction would probably be good… um, where did you want to go?” He still sounds somewhat subdued, and his eyes are a little watery, but he doesn’t stutter over the agreement.

[eriyamamoto-blog]

Couldn't have been him? Why not? He was genuinely curious here. It surely couldn't be just because he was nice once before. As much as he appreciated Hideo helping him and it was true he really didn't want to talk about that motive, he really didn't think Hideo had much in the way of solid evidence that proved he wasn't the killer.

It concerned him for future cases. What if it was someone Hideo had naively trusted next time? Eri couldn't say he liked the idea of having to put down a friend of Hideo's, even if they were a culprit. Just this had already seemed to crush the boy.

He didn't press though. Instead turning to the much happier subject.

“Well, it certainly couldn't hurt. Here.”

Eri flips his book around so the horror star can see it and points out the place he was interested in.

“We could go to Hogsmeade. It looks like there's shops. We can probably get things there..."

Like books! And... maybe some drinks at the pub. Hey, Eri was twenty. This was just a game anyway and if there was any time he could sneak something like that in safely, it may be right after they watched a killer get executed.

Maybe that was still a terrible idea, but Eri couldn't really drink much outside a game like this and who knew if he'd ever be able to again? He'd have to think this through more on the way.

"Well, I've got some Knuts saved up so, if you don't, I'm sure I could buy you something."

The least he could do, really.

[thedespairexperience]

There He Go | Hideo | Execution Reaction | Closed for Eri

[silkenflight]

“N-no it’s okay, you probably saved me a crick in the neck… or something…” Hideo rubs the back of aforementioned neck awkwardly. He is still a little disoriented, not exactly dizzy so much as simply re-adjusting to the sudden return to consciousness.

“Yes, I’m fine, I…” Hideo feels a little shock of warmth and happiness at hearing Eri use his first name, almost inexplicable, and though he doesn’t want to worry the other boy his concern is still so sweet. The happy feeling doesn’t last long though, not in the face of the whole thing where they’re still in the trial room and a girl just died. Mari was possibly, hopefully, not really dead. Hopefully none of them were, and they’d all be fine once they found a way out of this crazy game, but the pain she’d went through was very real.

“Th-thank you for helping me. I’m sorry I… passed out like that…” Hideo gets to his feet, finding his balance easily enough, and offers a hand to help Eri up as well. “We should, um, p-probably get out of here, right…?”

[eriyamamoto-blog]

Eri watches Hideo stand, still concerned. Eri wouldn't be able to catch him without probably being crushed himself. Luckily, the guy didn't fall or seem to waiver much.

"Alright... But take it slow, okay?"

Eri does still take the offered hand up though. Once on his two feet again, shook out his legs a bit before speaking again.

"It was certainly no problem... Anyone would do that after seeing you pass out like that... And you helped me out in the trial, after all. So, I have to thank you myself, really."

You're right though... We can't stay here."

Eri finally takes out his spellbook to flip it open and look through those maps. Interesting. There was something there that certainly caught his attention. That something mostly being the bookstore. He looks back up at the taller boy.

"Would you by chance like to accompany me then? If you're up for it, I mean."

[thedespairexperience]

There He Go | Hideo | Execution Reaction | Closed for Eri

[silkenflight]

Fortunately, Hideo’s fainting spells don’t seem to last long. His return to consciousness isn’t instantaneous, but Eri doesn’t have to wait more than four or five minutes after the conclusion of the execution for the horror star to come back around. Making a soft noise of confusion, Hideo’s eyes start to flutter open, he reaches up to rub at them, and it takes him a few seconds to recall what had happened. Mari was voted for, she was taken away, executed… by a basilisk… He’s somewhat guiltily grateful that he’d passed out without seeing any more than that.

Wait, if he’d passed out, why does it feel like his head isn’t laying on the cold hard ground? Hideo lowers his hands and looks right up into Eri’s face.

For a moment he just stares. Processing. Processing. If Eri’s face is above him then…

“O-oh, hello…” Hideo says a tad weakly, and hastily scrambles to sit up- being careful not to conk his head against Eri’s as he does so. “I, um… thank you…” Hideo bites his lip, not sure what else to say, his cheeks going more than a little pink in what could easily be simple embarrassment but let’s be real is probably not just that. Can you hear the dokis.

[eriyamamoto-blog]

Those four to five minutes of waiting were at least spent well. He went over the events that had just taken place today in his head and tried to plan what he'd be doing next. There were new maps that he needed to check once Hideo moved. Would there be a library this time around? Would he find somewhere that would help them get out of here? He thinks deeply about this place.

Hideo finally wakes up and, after a moment, sits up, and Eri doesn't miss the pink in his cheeks.

"Ah, anytime...! Sorry about moving you though... I just thought that'd maybe be more comfortable..."

Though he might not completely understand the blushing here.

"Are you okay though, Hideo-san? Do you feel dizzy at all?"

The first name basis was new on Eri's side. But, since Hideo had been calling him Eri first... Not to mention, Hideo had defended him there in the trial. Eri really did owe him for that. He had almost been ready to tell Aiko.

He no longer seems to be very upset or bothered by the trial or execution. This boy works fast. Rather, he seems concerned about Hideo now.

[thedespairexperience]

There He Go | Hideo | Execution Reaction | Closed for Eri

This isn’t right, this shouldn’t be happening. After the first trial he’d known something like this was coming, they all must have, but that doesn’t make it any easier to process. Is there a way to stop the basilisk…? No, there’s no phoenix or sword of Gryffindor for Mari, she doesn’t even have her wand. Watching her run and dodge desperately, Hideo feels helpless, his heart beats in his throat. Travis is screaming, trying to reach her even though the execution is just a projected image, the Chamber of Secrets isn’t accessible from here.

Hideo can’t do anything but stand there and watch. He doesn’t want to, he wants to look away, but he can’t seem to, he’s frozen in place. Words that would echo Travis’ own cries don’t quite make it to his lips, clogged up in a lump in his throat.

Stop, please, no more, just stop this…

But it doesn’t stop. The basilisk, the giant snake, closes its jaws on Mari. For a second Hideo can’t quite breathe… and then, just like at the end of the first trial, the sight of someone actually dying in front of him proves too much. He hits the floor with a faint thud! Hideo Nakano is down for the count.

[eriyamamoto-blog]

Eri’s eyes wandered away from the execution to observe his classmates. What was happening to Mari wasn’t going to teach him anything anyway. The reactions of these kids could though. 

But that was all cut short when he sees Hideo fall. These kids couldn’t hold them selves together for two damn minutes. Eri swore under his breath and hurried over to him. It wasn’t too far and people were probably too distracted by Mari to pay attention to the puzzler walking around the courtroom.

He dropped and sat down on his knees next to Hideo. The horror star’s chest was still rising and falling. Breathing, that was good. He seemed to be alright over all. Just the shock then? Eri didn’t see why they were freaking out so much. She was just going to be a ghost once they got out of here. It was probably painful, but it was surely painful for Tropi-co too.

He frowned. He just had to wait for Hideo to wake up and hope it was after the execution had ended. He felt bad just sitting there though, so he gently moved the guy’s head to his lap so it wasn’t on the hard ground. There. He was helping and now he didn’t even have to watch Mari die. Please wake up soon though. This was weird.

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | au revior fuckboy | RE: Blackwing & Execution | CLOSED

Eri breaths deeply. Was this display of her’s necessary? He sends in his vote as soon as it’s happening. This was all so disappointing. This emotionless bastard, with her criminal parents…  She almost reminded him of someone, but was much too melodramatic and foolish in the end. Probably for the best.

Some ask her why, and honestly, Eri perhaps cares for curiosity’s sake, but it won’t change anything. He just stays quiet and leans back as he waits for her execution.

When it happens, he continues to be unimpressed. His eyebrows are narrowed, but it doesn’t seem to perturb him. He just seems moderately angry at the whole thing. It’s very distracting to have his classmates screaming in his ears though. His eyes begin to wander.

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | sorry not sorry | RE: Popiko

There was no other lead. If they were to believe Popiko here, everything would come to an end.

He raised his chin at the small dancer and spoke calmly.

"…Liar.”

"Popiko, give me one damn good reason we should take your word."

"Earlier, Mari-san guessed your secret, did she not? So I’ll throw that out there— You may be lying because you want to protect your secret.”

Then his mouth twisted as he frowned. He didn’t enjoy thinking back on Popiko from earlier. He found himself concerned to whatever led to her being the way she is. Though not concerned enough that he was going to try to fix it here.

"Not to mention you’ve… Got some things to sort out. You enjoyed watch Yilmaz-san get hurt, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you enjoyed watching an innocent get executed. Anyone here would be a fool to take your ramblings at face value now."

Not that he trusted most of them, but… Popiko. Her actions were too hard to predict.

“You are a false witness, and I suggest everyone disregards your testimony today.”

That sounded like something Travis should be saying.

[thedespairexperience]

the butt monkey speaks | Eri | [Attn: listen to butt monkey]

Eri’s brows furrow in thought as he’s got his back to the courtroom, showing his neck. He turns back around after a moment and listens to more people talk.

He had really liked Aiko at first on the train, but she was really pushing his buttons. Maybe that was unfair though. She was trying to solve this just like him.

But if she seriously was going to sick Remy on him, he wasn’t going to be happy.

"Listen… No need for violence. The list of medium sized hands. Let’s go through this again. Disregard the injuries for now and let’s focus on the three points that were made. ‘The killer has medium sized hands, is most likely left-handed, and knows Japanese.’"

"Listed— as by Tsukino-san here— was me, Travis Dell, Aiko Tsukino, Tanja Yilmaz, and Mari Yanagi."

"We all have medium sized hands. The only left-handed two though… Yilmaz and Yanagi. Yilmaz isn’t so good at Japanese though."

"I don’t know how or if Yanagi’s hiding injuries, but those facts do point to her, right?"

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | crisis averted for now | RE: all y'all

Mari accuses him and he frowns. He had just shown that that wasn’t his secret. Did these people really not pick up on that? Hideo jumps in to actually… defend him? How was Eri supposed to react to that? Should he thank him? Probably.

Aiko speaks before he can make a move. Eri though is not sure what to say. His face continues to be blank as ever, but he’s trying to think here. How can he explain this?

So quickly though, people are moving on. Mari starts going after Gingham, all too eagerly. So he stays quiet, but things just aren’t that easy in the end. Aiko pushes for their secrets even more and he’s still on that list.

He just ignores her. Or rather, he just stays quiet, still thinking, when Bard shoots her down. Eri has his doubts about Bard, but now he was really starting to like this hitman. And then Hideo spoke up again. Eri could kiss this child right about now.

Aiko is freaking out as he looks away and finally speaks. He could pity her later.

"Let’s do as Nakano-san says."

He gathers any stray hair and flips his pony tail up and turns around to show everyone. No wounds.

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | getting buddy buddy with the headmaster | RE: makeup ATTN: Monodore

What did Eri just say? Now they wanted to start using water spells on people. He closed his eyes and inhaled tiredly. After a good moment, he exhaled and reopened his eyes to look at their headmaster. 

"Hey, Monodore. Makeup. Is there any in this game?"

He’d been having moderately good luck this way so far. It was worth a shot.

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | god what post is this even this guy talks 2 much | RE: Tanji

Eri looked at Tanja when she spoke. She was still clearly hurt and on the floor. Maybe he should do something to help, but surely he wasn’t the only one here to know first aid, right?

He had considered her point, but…

"I haven’t and didn’t find makeup anywhere in this castle. Now, while I searched all the areas of Ravenclaw and Slytherin, I can’t actually say about the other two houses… But, don’t automatically take that to mean anything, please.”

He’d had enough of their jumping on conclusions.

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | typed this is on mobile while walking around lowe's with my dad | RE: Little Wright

Eri has decided it was best to just ignore Popiko at the moment. He looks at Travis. He was too sick of this shit to even be amused by Travis calling him Professor.

"About what I said, I thought it was obvious, but…"

Perhaps he didn’t get it since he wasn’t from Japan. Culture difference or whatever. Worked for Eri though.

"Well, if you don’t know, then I’m not about to tell you. It’s hardly relevant to this case anyway. The important thing is that I obviously haven’t been hurt, right?"

"Anyway yeah, Tropi-co had blood under her nails. I think I was the one that mentioned that in the first place too."

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | can't even | RE: hell itself, Nelly

People were showing their arms and hands, that was good. Maybe this could be called progress in some way.

And then everything went to hell. Seth even shouted right next to him. He almost commented on it all, but then Nelly finally pointed that out. He glanced at her. He knew this was coming.

He doesn’t so much as wince when Remy punches Seth. These fools. His face is one of clear disappointment. He almost couldn’t believe he has been trying to help these kids.

He coughs, clearing his throat, before speaking loudly and clearly, hoping to return their attention to what they should be focusing on.

"Yep. As Nelly has pointed out, I’m the last one on that list.”

He took a deep breath and managed to calmly roll up his sleeves and finally took off the gloves. He holds up his arms and hands for everyone to see. No recent injuries seemed to be there. Some scars, but they were quite difficult to see, considering his arms were covered in tattoos. Not just a few, but whole sleeves of them as well as some decorating his knuckles and hands. Looks like that’s why he always wore those gloves.

"Unfortunately, I’m clearly not Blackwing.”

He sounds a little angry, actually. Perhaps he is losing his composure a little with all of this. Assuming now enough people had seen his arms here though, he slowly begins to readjust himself as he speaks, rolling the sleeves back down and returning the gloves to his hands.

“Now. Maybe we need to re-look at who’s showed us what here.”

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | thats literally just my handwriting | RE: handwriting, Remy & Akemi, Seth, Liling ATTN: Monobear

People talk as Eri goes ahead and works on his own show of handwriting, glad he nabbed a quill earlier. First writing with his right hand, and then slower with his left hand. Lastly, switching back to write the last bit.

He holds up his paper.

"I’m right handed. And I checked Remy-san’s hands earlier, Saito-san. They looked too large to match the ones that choked Tropi-co.”

"Now, as for the mirror thing, a guess could probably be that they got into a struggle, and while they were trying to choke her, she fought back, so the killer bashed her head against the mirror to knock her out."

He looked over at Seth.

"And perhaps the reason for the location could be found in that they moved it in front of their secret. The one about Blackwing. Maybe they wanted to write what they did, and needed her against a wall to do so clearly."

"At least we know for sure they certainly weren’t trying to hide her."

Liling’s words had caught his attention and after all that he looked over at Monodore again.

"Hey. No secrets were in Chinese for me. Got any explanation there?”

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | kewl beans | RE: Monodore

They didn’t know. Well, that was a relief.

Or it would be if Eri could bring himself to believe the guy. He trusted Monodore about as far as he could throw him. Which would be not at all, because he would be stopped before he even touched the guy.

"Twenty? Any reason you’re not counting the ghosts?"

Was this off topic from the trial? Maybe.

[thedespairexperience]

Eri Yamamoto | q&a | RE: Mari ATTN: Mascots

Eri shrugged at Mari’s words. Didn’t she listen? Telling a person privately wouldn’t prove much. But…

"If you’re offering, then sure. I’ll certainly hear it."

Now, he liked their idea of showing forearms and hands more than the writing. It made sense, especially considering how she was killed. If someone was choking you, you’d probably go after their arms or hands to try to pry them off.

But he still didn’t make a move to remove his gloves or roll up his sleeves here. Instead, he turned to their headmaster, smiling.

"Hey, Monodore. Or, whatever. Any of you three. The people back at Hope’s Peak— Are they watching this? And also, what I really want to know, have they seen these secrets on the walls?”