week 1 - mello - friday post-investigation

[completelycrazy]

[Newt is definitely the best person for operation: damage control, so he's been flitting around checking in with some of the more fiery types to make sure no one goes and gets themselves killed... or worse, makes things even crappier for the rest of the islanders.

He's heading down the beach to continue in his altruistic quest when he spots Mello, who is Captain Stare Quietly, apparently. He rolls his eyes.]

Dude, if you're one of the lucky few able to keep your cool in a situation like this, the least you could do is pass on that wisdom to others. What are you doing?

Comments

[zwischenzugs]

Observing.

[Duh, Newt.]

You can tell a lot about people by how they react under stress. Murder's pretty stressful, wouldn't you say?

[Mello, on the other hand, looks completely unstressed: sitting in something of a lazy sprawl, boots off to the side, tracing designs with his toe in the sand.]

[completelycrazy]

[Newt scoffs, his hands on his hips. He is offended!!]

Yeah, I would say, which is why I'm skeptical about your reaction. A girl was killed, and we've spent the morning on a wild scavenger hunt for her dismembered corpse. Don't you care?

[zwischenzugs]

[All Mello can bother to offer is a one-shouldered shrug.]

I studied crime scenes twice as gruesome when I was twelve. I can't help it if I'm not as shocked as the rest of you.

[completelycrazy]

Screw "shocked". Shocked isn't the issue, here. There's a wide margin between "desensitized" and "apathetic" and apathy isn't something we can afford right now.

[zwischenzugs]

Just because my priorities are different than yours doesn't mean I'm apathetic. [He leans back on his hands, tosses his hair over his shoulder.] The dead girl is dead - there's nothing I can do about that. What I can do is work on figuring out who killed her - which, believe it or not, is what I'm doing right now.

[completelycrazy]

[He just rolls his eyes.]

Oh yeah? Lay some wisdom on me, then. Where's your head?

[put up or shut up!!]

[zwischenzugs]

My head's right here - [he points to it] - where it should be, which is more than I can say for the victim.

[You asked, Newt. 8|]

[completelycrazy]

i'm leaving it

[completelycrazy]

Are you--a girl is dead! Can you quit screwing around? Goddamn, dude.

perfect

[zwischenzugs]

[He might be grinning just slightly.]

I'm not "screwing around" - I'm measuring your reactions. Based on how highly bothered you appear about this, you're either genuinely upset and thus too sensitive of a person to commit such a horrific murder, or you're an excellent liar.

[completelycrazy]

[.....................

Okay smart but also: EAT A BUTT MELLO.]

I'm not too--you're--don't say "too sensitive to commit a murder" like it's a bad thing! Jeez! Of course I didn't murder her!

[zwischenzugs]

It's not a bad thing. [lazy shrug] You seem sincere, which means most people will be inclined to believe you. That's likely to work in your favor.

[completelycrazy]

[He's frowning. What...???]

Uh, okay? And you're not at all worried about this schtick of yours looking suspicious? People aren't going to trust you.

[zwischenzugs]

There's a difference between believing someone and trusting them. Frankly, I don't trust anyone here - even you.

[Sorry he's not more sorry, Newt. That's what happens when you're raised paranoid and deceitful and cutthroat.]