[Aiboureakfast - Semi-Open!]

[tanteiotaku]

Well, this was going to be a hell of a day. But it was one battle at a time. And it seemed like Fetch was more or less on board with what was going to go down today. And getting what passed for a 'date' around here was kind of like icing on the cake.

So for now, it was time for a good breakfast. There were a few more people he wanted to touch base with in the meantime, so out and about was the way to do it. "Do you think they picked Macaw for you before or after they saw your hair?" he teased Philip, with a smirk on his face once they sat down with their food.

Comments

[decideformyself]

Philip had pressed his palms against his temples in frustration when they'd started arguing, but now he slammed his hands against the table and snapped, "Would you both stop it?!"

He glared at Terui for a second. He wanted to defend Shotaro's position, as illogical as it was, but... he couldn't. Instead he turned toward Shotaro, a softer expression on his face. "Shotaro, do you remember the runaway train dilemma?"

[tanteiotaku]

Shotaro's hand was halfway across the table to Terui's jacket when Philip slammed his hands on the table. A reaction like that out of Philip was unusual enough to take seriously. He retreated his hand. While he sorted out his thoughts for a moment, he took his hat off and set it on the table nearby.

He hated that they were both right. Even if it felt like a weak justification. Even if it just felt so wrong. But a hard boiled detective was supposed to be the one to make the hard choices, right?

"Yeah, I remember," he finally answered. To think something like that would actually end up relevant. "I get it. I get it."

[unquestionable]

Terui couldn't understand the power Philip seemed to have over Hidari, but he was nonetheless both grateful and impressed that he did. It wasn't as if Ryu didn't find shame in their position either-- as a man of the law his very nature was to protect the innocent, but for now all he knew that was his best was all he had to offer. He had a pretty idea what the train scenario entailed.

"What will you do, Hidari?" Even if he had just nearly been punched by this guy, he brushed it aside. That was pretty common fare between the two of them at that point. Even if he didn't always act it, the other man's opinions did matter to him.

[decideformyself]

Philip didn't have anything more to say. He stared down at his food.

He still didn't know what he was going to do, but he knew he didn't want to defeat Shotaro. Terui's plan was the best option.

[tanteiotaku]

He thought for a minute, and despite all the circumstances, he angrily stabbed at his food with his fork and used the chewing space to let the silence hang. "I'm in. But we're not dragging anyone else into this. We'll have to beat who we're beating on our own, not talking anyone else into losing on purpose. If they find out about this, they're sure to be extra pissed off about it."

[unquestionable]

Terui wasn't bothered by the silence. He simply stared at him until he spoke again, and when he did, he nodded his agreement.

"We definitely need to tread lightly here." He hadn't touched his own coffee yet and it looked like Philip needed it more than he did, so he absentmindedly pushed it his way while talking. "I did say before that this isn't foolproof. It's a very best case scenario plan. I'm still interested in any other input I can get from either of you."

[decideformyself]

Philip looked down at Terui's cup in surprise. He wasn't going to say no, though, not to Terui's coffee. He took a sip and visibly relaxed a bit.

"If Shotaro fails to advance past his first match, I'll attempt to harmlessly knock out his opponent. From there the best case scenario is me facing you in the final match, Ryu Terui." But if he doesn't use his Branch of Sin, he doubts he can defeat even his first opponent, let alone a second. "I consider this scenario unlikely."

[tanteiotaku]

Shotaro bristled at the implication that he wouldn't be able to pull his weight on this. "I'll be fine, okay? The ones that won't are you two if you don't eat something. Passing out from blood loss would probably count as a knockout." And make them a prime target for getting killed before the match was called over. Depending on what the auction results were. Some of those looked like doozies.

"Have you heard anyone talk about what they're going for in the auction?"

[unquestionable]

"If it comes down to us, Philip, the win is yours." Somehow he managed to say it nonchalantly, as if pain didn't await for failing to cross the finish line. He opted to ignore Hidari's health spiel. That could wait until the conversation was over.

"I haven't, but it does seem to have generated interest." He narrowed his eyes. "However unfortunate that may be for us."

[decideformyself]

Well, if Philip could make it that far then he could probably knock out Terui, too. He nodded hesitantly.

"Nor have I. It seems we'll have to take the auction items as them come to us." They would probably only make things worse.

[tanteiotaku]

He still wasn't pleased about this whole affair. At this rate, he may be leaving the hat in his room. "I already talked to John, and he's got our back. I'll have to see what other information I can get."