moratorium | test drive.

[2]

[Stepping out of the AB room, Kariya is barely on his feet. He's sweating. He looks almost like he's been hyperventilating and is trying not to show it. He is working very, very hard not to panic.

Because he just hit "Ally."

It was the worst - but also the only - decision he could think of. Not even because the other option meant potentially condemning another person to death. That's horrible, but if it's his hide versus a stranger's...he knows how he'd pick. What had frozen his finger over the button to betray was different and more mind-numbing: They were going to know.

It didn't matter how trustworthy they were or weren't. If the people in the other part of the room voted to keep him alive, they'd see that he'd sold them out. Then, if they were still breathing, they'd be bound to tell everyone else. (Kariya knew he certainly would in their shoes.) And then, with that reputation... he'd never walk into those rooms without someone ready to cut his throat ever again.]

Please have gone "Ally," please have gone "Ally"...

[He's not sure his brain is going to be able to take it if he screwed up. He's going to cry or puke or something. Or, for right now at least, stare down at the bracelet around his wrist like it's a ticking bomb.]

[Apollo had also picked 'Ally', but not quite for the same reasons. He'd considered 'Betray' not because he'd been worried about anyone knowing, but as a matter of trust. No offense to the people he was trapped with, but could he really put his life in their hands when he had no idea how honorable, for lack of a better word, they would be? He couldn't help but be skeptical, considering the circumstances. Besides, if they both picked 'Betray', then neither of them would get hurt, right?

...But the thought of picking 'Betray' and potentially condemning an 'Ally' to death... No matter how hard he tried, he could never fully justify 'Betray' with that thought in mind. So in the end, he chose 'Ally', even though every cynical fiber in his body wasn't going to be surprised if he got screwed over for it.

He stepped out of the room, and the first thing he saw was a rather anxious-looking kid standing there, muttering to himself. Even though he knew the kid wasn't his opponent, seeing him somehow made Apollo feel more certain that 'Ally' had been the best choice.]

... It sounds like we're in the same boat. [Maybe making some conversation would help the poor kid out while they both waited for results on the score board. N-not that Apollo was nervous and looking for a distraction or anything.]

Y-yeah...I guess.

[Well, actually, since Apollo is stepping out of another set of rooms, he has no way of knowing that. Kariya can't entirely suppress the thought that, so far as he can be sure, this guy might have voted the opposite and just be putting up a good front. That's what the smart play would be, right, since he has no way of confirming it?

Suspicion (about Apollo anyway) doesn't help him any right now, though, and so he brackets that fear. Deep breath in. He just has to calm down, or he's going to end up making some stupid mistake here.]

...How are you doing on points?

[He holds out the wrist his bracelet is on towards Apollo, showing off a glowing, digital "5." Just enough that he won't be a step away from dehydration if his gamble falls through, but still way, way too close to zero.]

I don't think anything awful happens if I lose this round, at least. I'd still have enough for water...so, there wasn't any reason not to work together with those guys.

[Apollo looked down at his own bracelet to check, before showing the number to the kid: 7. Better, but not by much.]

If I'm lucky, then I get to eat after this round. (About time, too...)

[...Maybe he shouldn't have said or thought that, though, when others weren't so lucky. The kid would be close to losing water if he ended up being betrayed, which was more serious than not getting to eat. (And it wasn't like getting to eat was guaranteed for himself, anyway.) Maybe Apollo should have tried to say something more optimistic, then? This was a kid he was dealing with, after all. He could imagine how scared he must be right now.

~~And not just because Apollo was also pretty scared.~~]

...W-well, either way, we'll both be fine no matter what our opponents pick, right?

[As fine as anyone could be in a situation like this, anyway.]

Mn. We won't be any worse off, anyway.

[The dark tone he amends Apollo's comment with says plainly enough that "fine" is not a word he's letting anywhere near this situation. He's been abducted, and not even by, like, normal kidnappers or child slavers or whatever. This is like being in some psycho horror movie Hitomiko wouldn't let him watch before bed.

But having someone to talk to has actually calmed him down a little, so he doesn't snap at the guy, turning to stare off across the warehouse instead.]

Food would've been nice, though. I'd probably have enough for that if my team hadn't sucked at the last game.

[He huffs a little there, bitter but safe from panic for now. He can remember going without food before, the week his father had started coming back from his job-hunts without groceries. That had been right before he'd been left at the orphanage -- it felt terrible, but you didn't die or anything from missing meals for a few days.]

[Well...he could already tell what kind of kid this was. Or so was Apollo's knee-jerk reaction to his tone and the way he was blaming others. The former was understandable in this situation, but the latter...

...Then again, he was also just a kid.]

You know, we're all in this together. None of us are any better or worse at the end of the day. Shouldn't you try harder to help your team so you can all win next time instead of blaming them?

[He figured he'd try a more diplomatic response first.]

I was already trying my hardest. It's that or we get killed; I don't need a speech about teamwork to know that.

[In the back of his mind, Kariya knows he should be playing nicer. Apollo could be on his team next time, and it's better if he comes off as some sweet, innocent kid to everyone. Yet, with the fate of his AB game still hanging over his head, he can't help but sneer. Did this guy think he was stupid or something? He knows this isn't some schoolyard game.

Then, as if on cue, there's a digital chime from down at his side. Kariya flinches violently and brings his watch up to look at the display.

He goes very still.]

...Yeah, we're all in this together.

[He's not going to reach his hand over to show the new number, but the hollow, sarcastic heaviness of the words should give away what's happened. If Apollo leans over to look, he'll be able to see the "3" now standing out on Kariya's wrist in glaring red.]

[...Yeah, that was about the response Apollo expected to get. He couldn't say he hadn't tried to be nice. So why did he feel annoyed anyway...?

He was about to drop diplomacy and say something more critical before the chime stopped him short. He didn't need the boy to explain for Apollo to understand what had just happened. The tone was enough. And immediately he felt his annoyance fade, and his eyes fell to the floor.]

...Some of us more than others, maybe. [He muttered. But at a normal volume (and after a pause):] We still have to do what we can to help each other through this. The people who refuse to do that...they'll be hurt more in the end when no one sides with them.

[So Apollo would have liked to believe. He was well aware that he was sounding a bit idealistic, not mentioning how easy it could be to get away with backstabbing in a situation like this - he was seeing evidence of it right now, even - but...he knew it wouldn't be to his or anyone's benefit to sit around being suspicious of everyone. They were kind of forced to rely on each other here to survive, whether they liked it or not. And besides...

...there was still no way he could justify 'Betray'.]

[Kariya's biting down on his lip, not looking back at Apollo. The stress that he'd begun to let slide off of him before has come back full force, stinging at his eyes and making him struggle to hold on to his self-control.]

I don't know how someone could do that to another person. I really couldn't -

[Is what he says, throat raw and constricted. There's even the threat of a sniffle there at the end.

Though, all the while, the only thing he can think about is how he's going to get those bastards back. At least now he knows who to look out for. But he's not going to say that or try to hide how upset he is. If he just looks stricken and sad, that's sympathetic, yeah?]

Does yours say how your game came out yet...?

[Sympathetic indeed. Apollo was feeling pretty bad for the kid right now, thanks in part to the way he was reacting.]

Not ye--

[The chime on his bracelet that just interrupted him would say otherwise. After totally not jumping at the sound, Apollo glanced down at the new number, then up at the score board...before looking elsewhere, so that his unhappy expression hopefully wouldn't be visible.]

...I-it's fine. It...it came out fine.

(...So much for eating soon...it was a nice thought.) [And a better one than all the 'I told you so's he could already hear...but whatever.]

A-anyway...some people here are probably more concerned with themselves than others. But...like I said, it'll come back to bite them if they think like that.

[That could have been interpreted as a threat, perhaps, but Apollo honestly had no thoughts of revenge, even against the person who just betrayed him. Disgruntlement, yes, but not revenge.]

[Yeah, with that falter in Apollo's voice, he doesn't even need to try to sneak a glance at his bracelet to guess the results. No way the guy wouldn't look relieved if he'd gotten a boost in points. The stakes were way too high not to be.]

I guess we're both suckers this time, huh?

[Just a depressed, little scoff, as he leans back against the nearest wall and folds arms across his chest.]

[...Yyyyeaaah he wasn't fooling anyone, was he... Might as well not bother to look away, then. Apollo folded his arms, before letting out a small sigh.]

W-well, there's no point crying over it. We're still fine, right?

(For now...but for how long?)

['Long enough to at least get out of here', he was hoping. Meanwhile, his openly expressed statement didn't stop him from shooting a frown at his opponent exiting the AB Rooms...]

Not any worse off.

[Kariya mutters the correction this time. It's a rule now; every time Apollo says "fine," he's going to get stared at for a half-second like he's an idiot.

When the half-second's over, he tilts away from the wall to follow the man's gaze.]

Are those two the ones that were on your team? I can keep an eye on them if you want.

[Because, hey, even if he's harmless and innocent, that doesn't mean he's blind. He ekes out a smile over towards Apollo like the guy's the only trustworthy adult he's met in this place and trying to team up with him is only normal.

Hell, he probably is, too.]

I'll point mine out to you, too, alright?

[You could make all the critical expressions you wanted, Kariya, but Apollo was not about to let go of that word. Despite it being so small, he found himself saying it without realizing it. It made him feel a tiny bit better somehow, the more he said it.

But there were more important things for him to worry about right now than the reasons why he said certain words.]

(I don't know if that's necessary...) [...But knowing who would constantly pick 'Betray' was potentially a good idea. Logically speaking, it wasn't smart to pick 'Ally' with people who he knew with little to no doubt would select the other option, right? And besides, he wouldn't have to worry about accidentally screwing them over if that was the case.

So after a bit of thought, Apollo answered:]

...Okay, sure.

Mn, alright then!

[Apollo's acquiescence - and the prospect of already getting a small start on his payback - is enough for Kariya to brighten right up. Is there a devious edge to the smile he's tending towards and to the light in his eyes?

Just maybe, but he manages to keep them in check.]

See that shady guy and the lady about your age coming out of the room over there? [Kariya gestures towards them conspiratorially as they emerge.]

Those were my Pair. I thought we got along okay in the game, but...I guess you just can't trust them.

I see... (Why do I feel like he's involving me in crime?)

[Seriously, the way the kid turns his mood around and talks about his Pair is putting Apollo off a bit. Like he's a little too happy about labeling those people as untrustworthy...or is he reading too much into it? But...again, it would be good to at least know who they are, just in case...

As Apollo studies their faces to ensure he won't forget them, the thought occurs to him that there's one important detail he's missing here.]

Oh uh, by the way, what's your name? I'm Apollo Justice.

[The teal-haired boy nods, small and quick, and then promptly looks away from the two he'd pointed out. He leans back and turns his head idly towards Apollo. Nothing to see here, just two abduction victims having a chat.]

Kariya Masaki.

I'd say it's nice meeting you, but like this...

[A little, neutral shrug.]

[What else can Apollo add to that but the obvious? He finds himself shrugging a little in turn.]

...Well, there's not much we can do around here now. Want to get moving?

[Not like they have anywhere they can really go, admittedly, but walking sounds better than just standing around in front of these doors all day. Besides, it looks like everyone else is starting to move on, too.]

Sure.

[There's a shrug, but Kariya smiles in agreement all the same, slight but friendly.

Internally, he's wincing a little at how futile it all feels, but he'll keep that bottled up for now. Boy, isn't he lucky to have met a grown-up who's safe and friendly? And way too squeaky clean-seeming to trust, the guy's name is even "Justice," come on.]

It's not like we have anywhere to be after this.

Yeah... [For now, at least, until their next 'game'...whenever and whatever it's going to be.

Apollo starts walking slowly, not wanting to just power walk away and leave Kariya behind. As he walks, his mind starts to wander...putting aside the AB Rooms and Kariya's intentions for now and contemplating the situation they've all been thrown into instead. The logic of it all. The purpose of this so-called 'game'. How everyone else feels about this.]

...Why do you think we're really here? [He wonders aloud.]

[The results are up. It looks like the other team has chosen...

Ally

Congrats Kariya, you have a chipper teen(?) trotting up to you like an excited puppy.]

You chose ally after all! I knew we could trust you!

[Ohhhh gosh, he is so relieved.

It's all Kariya can do not to burst out laughing or let his legs give way beneath him at the news. Not that he'd felt sure the other boy would betray him, but you couldn't ever trust strangers. And...knowing that his gamble paid off feels amazing.

He can't even manage to be off-put by how bright-eyed and over-eager Asuma seems right now. Despite his best efforts, his smile is a goofy one when he turns towards him.]

Yeah, of course I did. I'm not trying to get us all killed...we're stuck in here together, right? So -

[Okay, he's going to try to get his composure back here. Time to calm down. Though not before dropping one last breathy, painfully earnest word:]

Thanks.

[Asuma just shakes his head.]

It's just the right thing to do! Besides, if everyone picks ally, as a group we'll be gaining more points than if anyone picks betray. And then we could all escape together!

If you think about it that way, picking betray makes no sense at all!

[...Apparently he put some thought into this after all.]

*Snake had had a lot thinking to do in his booth. He could Betray, of course, and get ahead. But it was still early in the game. It would be cruel to put someone that much closer to zero. Better to wait until everyone had more points before attempting betray. Besides, if he was going to win this game, he'd need sympathy. That was easily done. He couldn't remember his past but Snake somehow knew people underestimated him because of his blindness. Any kind of advantage he could get over everyone else would only work to his favor.

*Plus, he might find genuine people he could trust if he spared the betraying for just the right occasion. So he had picked Ally.* Excuse me? Do you might telling me what the results are?

test drive.

Kariya Masaki | Inazuma Eleven GO!

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