It's all right. I noticed as much as the trial drew to a close.
[He casts his gaze across the scenery before them as they begin their walk.]
Exposing and judging criminals is what I am accustomed to, but it isn't for everyone. Everyone here is being forced into the role, and that is...an extreme situation, least of all for a child.
I haven't had a chance to speak with her much yet, but I found her profile to be similarly unusual. She does seem sensitive to the emotions of others, which I imagine only makes the entire situation harder on her.
[Which only fuels his sentiment that this isn't right. Not that anyone should have to go through this, but it's a little more egregious with others.]
I figured as much, and I don't fault her for it. However, it may not be so easy to do that in the future if this keeps going.
And if it doesn't get changed, there could be a time when an innocent person is voted out because someone decided to not participate. The very nature of the voting system is something that I am not particularly fond of, because it is far too easy for an innocent to be wrongly sacrificed.
[Like, yes, Lobelia sucks. But Temenos would still be unsatisfied if he were voted out when he didn't even commit the murder.]
Ah, but I digress. I could end up talking your ear off about this if I don't stop now.
[Fortunately, Beelzebub has a timely subject change for them. Temenos lets out a gentle exhale.]
I was hardly going to allow you to be thrown to the wolves when there were so many glaring signs pointing toward your innocence.
[He really does sound like a detective Satan would want to be like... it's kind of fascinating to listen to without the deviations to talk about cats.]
...
There were so many things I couldn't answer. Even I wasn't sure. It felt... wrong. But I couldn't just say that as my alibi.
...I was glad. To have someone that believed in me.
[Ha. This is amusing only to Temenos, so he keeps it to himself, but...it does feel good to have someone to believe in when he has become so deeply accustomed to doubting everything around him.]
I can only imagine how frustrating and unsettling it must have felt. But it is thanks to you telling me all that you could and observing you myself that I was able make a case for you. Thankfully, everyone was willing to see reason.
[He's definitely planning on needling Lobelia for contributing to the doubt later, though. He pressed far too hard on what was already a weak accusation.]
That said, I will always be willing to speak up for you if you cannot do it for yourself.
[Temenos slows to a stop a few steps ahead. He didn't think an extension of friendship would be so impactful, but...the more he has learned, the more he has sensed that Beelzebub might struggle with bonds in a similar way as himself. For different reasons, of course, but inner turmoils like to be an issue all the same.
He turns to Beelzebub and nods.]
Of course. But please, do not feel indebted to me. If I may speak honestly, your company is more than enough "payment."
[He's hardly going to burden Beelzebub with his own problems right now.]
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[He casts his gaze across the scenery before them as they begin their walk.]
Exposing and judging criminals is what I am accustomed to, but it isn't for everyone. Everyone here is being forced into the role, and that is...an extreme situation, least of all for a child.
[It's outright disgusting, honestly.]
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[It looks like he wants to say more, but he clamps it down with an exhale.]
I think she'll be alright. But she didn't want to participate. She voted for herself.
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[Which only fuels his sentiment that this isn't right. Not that anyone should have to go through this, but it's a little more egregious with others.]
I figured as much, and I don't fault her for it. However, it may not be so easy to do that in the future if this keeps going.
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[His hands stuff deeper into his jacket pockets with a rolling of his shoulders.]
...
I wanted to thank you, by the way.
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[Like, yes, Lobelia sucks. But Temenos would still be unsatisfied if he were voted out when he didn't even commit the murder.]
Ah, but I digress. I could end up talking your ear off about this if I don't stop now.
[Fortunately, Beelzebub has a timely subject change for them. Temenos lets out a gentle exhale.]
I was hardly going to allow you to be thrown to the wolves when there were so many glaring signs pointing toward your innocence.
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...
There were so many things I couldn't answer. Even I wasn't sure. It felt... wrong. But I couldn't just say that as my alibi.
...I was glad. To have someone that believed in me.
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I can only imagine how frustrating and unsettling it must have felt. But it is thanks to you telling me all that you could and observing you myself that I was able make a case for you. Thankfully, everyone was willing to see reason.
[He's definitely planning on needling Lobelia for contributing to the doubt later, though. He pressed far too hard on what was already a weak accusation.]
That said, I will always be willing to speak up for you if you cannot do it for yourself.
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I'm a demon, and I'm dangerous, and I can be uncontrollable. Why would you speak up for something like that?
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Dear Beelzebub, if I may turn this around for just a moment: Why should any of that prevent you from being spoken up for?
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...]
It shouldn't.
But I'm not stupid. I know I can be a risk, even to my family.
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Does your family still care for you in spite of that risk?
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They get angry. They get scared. But I know they still love me.
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There you have it.
[...okay, he'll actually elaborate, though.]
I see you as a friend, Beelzebub, and I will accept whatever risk I must to look out for you.
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Where had these sorts of people been, all this time? Was this just some sort of odd coincidence?
...]
Temenos...
/2
...That means a lot to me. I mean it. I... feel I owe you a lot more after today.
If there's anything I can do for you, would you tell me?
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He turns to Beelzebub and nods.]
Of course. But please, do not feel indebted to me. If I may speak honestly, your company is more than enough "payment."
[He's hardly going to burden Beelzebub with his own problems right now.]