Closed to Shotaro [and maybe others later]

[decideformyself]

Being dead was significantly less interesting than Philip had anticipated. After all, it wasn't much of anything. The really interesting part was coming back to life, being disoriented for a few minutes, and then realizing what had happened.

How thrilling.

After the morning announcement, he wasted no time in barging over to Shotaro's cell. "Shotaro! Guess what!"

Comments

[decideformyself]

Philip should have been freaking out over having come back to life, but life outside of the syndicate's lab was all new to him. Random splenectomy? New experience. Coffee? New experience. Coming back from the dead? Check. So he was intrigued by it -- enthusiastic, even -- but he wasn't reacting like a normal inmate should. He was just as excited about it as he was everything else, which was more excited than normal people got about most things, but only at about his baseline for everything else.

He'd probably be surprised to learn that normal prisons don't act like Deadman Wonderland.

He returned to his cell, library books in hand, and paused when he saw that it was occupied. "Ryu Terui. What are you doing here?"

[unquestionable]

When he looked up at the sound of Philip's voice, the shock on his face was too real for him to hide. It was all true, then. The people running the prison had harnessed the power to bring life to the dead -- not only that, but they had managed to keep it a secret from the public just like everything else. What were they doing to keep lips so tight about their discoveries?

"You... how?" It wasn't a coherent response and he knew it, but it was all he could manage. His world had just been rocked all over again.

[decideformyself]

He knew why Terui was reacting this way, but he couldn't help dicking around a little. He cocked his head sideways and with only the barest trace of a smile, replied, "This is my cell. It's where I sleep."

[unquestionable]

At any other time that kind of remark would have earned Philip a serious glare and a condescending word or two, but for the time being he was much too busy simply staring at him and trying to comprehend the reality of what he was seeing.

"How are you alive?" He finally asked, adding clarity to his previous question.

[decideformyself]

His smile only became more pronounced when Terui finally got to the point. "I would like to know that as well. But the warden adamantly guards her secrets."

[unquestionable]

Terui managed to hold his tongue, but that smile he hated so much did cause him to shoot Philip a judgmental look.

"You're not going to try to find out?" He questioned, not sure what he thought of the idea of Philip not pursuing it.

[decideformyself]

"Of course I am."

[unquestionable]

"What is it you intend to do, then?" His tone hadn't changed, but in a way it felt right to know that death hadn't changed anything about him.

[decideformyself]

"I intend to uncover the truth." That was all he had to say, and as if it should be enough, he proceeded to walk the rest of the way into his room, open up one of the books he was holding, and start taking notes on the whiteboard attached to the wall. "That has always been my intention. The more important question, Ryu Terui, is what do you plan to do?"

[unquestionable]

For a moment he simply listened to the sound of the marker against the board, considering just how much he should say.

"The same." He eventually responded. It wasn't the entire truth, but it was at least half of it.

His eyes ventured to the book in Philip's hand. He had something else he needed to say, so it was probably best to just spit it out. "Hidari asked me to work with the two of you."

It wasn't a question, but it was clear that Terui wanted the younger man's opinion.

[decideformyself]

He didn't look away from the whiteboard or stop taking notes, but an intrigued tone did enter his voice. "I see. Yes, with your experience as a police investigator you may very well be of use. However..." And now he stopped and turned back toward Terui. "You saw what happened to the last person who decided to assist us."

[unquestionable]

When Philip turned to him, he didn't flinch at what he implied. "When I began my work with the police, I made a vow to do my job. That doesn't change even if the circumstances do."

[decideformyself]

"Very well. Then I agree with Shotaro. Your investigative skills may be highly useful to us."

[unquestionable]

In a way he had expected Philip to have some kind of objection, but it shouldn't have come as a surprise that he wouldn't. It was always logic over emotion with him. He nodded and held his hand forward.

"We should make it official."

[decideformyself]

Philip blinked down at Terui's hand. Ah, right -- he saw this ritual performed many times between the organization's higher-ups. "A ritual of agreement to some offer," he observed, and he took Terui's hand and shook.

[unquestionable]

This kid really was strange. Still, Terui returned the gesture, withdrawing his hand when he felt the time was right.

"I'll leave you to your work, then." He said as he gestured to the cell door.

[decideformyself]

Philip nodded and returned to his research. Heck yeah being left alone to read.