Can't you taste this gold? (backdated)

[detectiveofthewest]

Some time after the swordfight with Hershel, Heiji returned to the scene of the crime the lounge, shinai propped up against one shoulder. The room was in complete disarray, and while he hadn't actually meant for that to happen, well... it was partially his fault anyway.

And he did feel a little bad for ripping up one of Snake's only magazines. So he started putting a few things back where they belonged, starting with the various videos of horrible experiments. Stanford Prison Experiments, those obviously went under 'S', and -- hm? One of the videos was unmarked. Out of curiosity, he hauled the TV back upright and turned the movie on.

Five minutes and a few bad decisions later, Heiji was alternately lip-synching and bobbing around to something that sounded an awful lot like this in between his practice swings.

"I'm so fancy~
You already know
I'm in the fast lane
From L.A. to Tokyo..."

...He might also have been singing along to the chorus.

Comments

[detectiveofthewest]

Uh oh -- Hershel was learning. "Wh...! Whatcha keep bringing that up for? Anyway, I'm regretting ever agreeing to that."

Heiji yawned widely. "Man, what time is it? I can never tell around here."

[puzzlinglad]

He's evolving there's no hope. "I'm sorry, was that too much?" He doesn't look sorry, he even bumped Heiji's shoulder in a friendly way before going over to the TV. "Regardless, we should see if we can convince him someday. I think Snake could use a bit of fun here and there."

Boy, it was getting late. His good cheer dampens a little, soon they'd fail Calhoun's dumb shit and everything would be awful. "Late enough... you should get some sleep, Heiji."

[detectiveofthewest]

Evolving... into rude. Look at him, bumping people's shoulders! Obviously he'd grow up to be some kind of delinquent in his old age.

"Yeah, maybe. I am kinda tired. You gonna stay up?" Heiji hit one of the sofa cushions a couple of times, but it remained Uncomfortable.

[puzzlinglad]

Oh my god yeah there was no hope now, he was practically an American, soon he'd be drinking coffee and riding in bike gangs, I'm sorry Heiji.

"Yeah, I'm not very tired." Meaning he had stuff on his mind he didn't have a lot of time to resolve. He offered Heiji a smile. "You're not going to try to sleep on that, are you? Sometimes I think the floor is more comfortable."

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji shook his head, unconsciously rubbing at the back of his head. "Last time I tried, I woke up feelin' like my neck was in a vice. Maybe I shoulda saved some more of that houseplant to use as a pillow or somethin'."

He gave Hershel a suspicious look. "You ain't gonna stay up all night or anything, are you? That's not gonna do you any favors."

[puzzlinglad]

"I wonder how Calhoun would feel about you using his poor plant like that." Still endlessly amused despite himself about Charley, sorry Charley. "You should try using your jacket as a pillow, maybe it'd help?"

He's lucky he has hair padding. And have a totally innocent not at all innocent look. "No, I don't plan on it, I just- well, I guess I just have some things to think about and do." And a pause before he decides to come clean. "I've been thinking about if we do lose, when we lose it looks like, I don't really want some of the people here hearing about my secret from Calhoun. I was... thinking of just telling Ema and Jake."

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji nodded. "Might as well, right? If ya think they won't freak out on you. Then again, they probably have their own deal to worry about, so maybe yours won't hit 'em too hard."

He put a hand to his chin. "Anyway, it's not like mine will really help anyone. Probably just bring everyone down."

[puzzlinglad]

"If they're going to freak out they will anyway. Maybe telling them myself will mean something." Hershel shrugged. "I think you were right about the secrets, in a way we can at least control how much damage Calhoun can do if we take matters into our own hands." Not. that he was going to tell everyone, especially not Akiko, he was not all that excited by the prospect of peaceful Akiko learning about this.

He shook his head. "Have you told anyone else about your memory?"

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji shook his head. "I thought about it, but no one really asked, and I don't wanna bring people down. If it involved someone else here, it'd be a different story... but in this case, the only person who's gotta live with it is me."

And if they failed to deliver on the show, what good would half a memory do, anyway?

[puzzlinglad]

Hershel looked sad for a moment before walking over and putting a hand on Heiji's arm. He wasn't really a touchy-feely kind of person but Heiji seemed to be, and he respected that enough to make the effort. Heiji didn't even seem that broken up right now but it still was such a shitty situation Hershel couldn't help it.

"You should talk about it, if you need to. But um... well, we'll just have to do a lot of real detective work when we escape to figure it out, right? We're pretty smart, after all."

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji smiled. "To be honest with ya, I ain't even really sure what to talk about! Or who with. I sure can't tell Akiko about it, and Ema seems like she's got her own problems. Jake is out -- totally, totally out." He made a negative gesture with his hand.

"Thanks, though. It's nice to hear someone say that!" Gosh Hershel did you really touch Heiji wow amaze

[puzzlinglad]

The thought of Heiji spilling his guts to Jake made him smile despite himself. That would have been a show. "I'm sure Ema would listen if you asked. I don't think she likes to admit it but she definitely cares more than she lets on." He wondered why Heiji hadn't mentioned Snake in that list, head tilting slightly. "You always have me and Snake at least." Friendship.

You're welcome, what a magical life you live. "Try to get some sleep, okay?"

[detectiveofthewest]

"No way, definitely not," said Heiji, pulling a face like Hershel had just suggested that he strap himself to the top of a bullet train about to leave the station.

"He'd probably just bring it up every time he wanted to psychoanalyze me. 'Well, clearly you must think that way because of that memory you had; it's making you irrational'. Ugh, no thanks. But you don't have to worry about me getting any sleep. For some reason, I fall asleep the second my head hits the floor."

[puzzlinglad]

Oh my god, you two, Hershel tried really hard not to look amused and nodded along as sympathetically as possible. "Um... I think if Snake knew it was important to you he wouldn't act that way." He paused. "Unless you told him after doing something irrational." Which you know. Heiji. It was possible.

Have a reassuring smile. "I guess the point is you have a lot of people here behind you." The point was more haha you two and your drama but still.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Well, I ain't plannin' on taking that gamble. Anyway, whatcha mean 'after doing something irrational? I'm 100% rational! Well, maybe 99%..."

He crossed his arms in a huff. "I get what you're sayin', though. I'll think about it."

[puzzlinglad]

"Heiji, you're a tad-" Hm, how did he word this... "-passionate. An admirable trait, to be sure, but one that ah... sometimes lacks rationality."

That was polite, right? Close enough. "That's all I can ask. Oh, and- well, thank you, for everything the last few days. You've certainly made all this more bearable."

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji looked positively offended. "In other words, you're sayin' I'm a hothead, right? I already know that! But when it comes right down to it, I don't think I'm any less rational than you. Like that time you decided to risk it and ally with Jake. And ain't you the one went around bleeding for everyone during that bingo game? Irrational... ha!"

Rude Hershel SUPER RUDE

"Glad I made things a little easier for ya, though. You look like you got a lot of worries rattling around in your head."

[puzzlinglad]

Hershel frowned, opened his mouth then closed it because... yeah Heiji kind of had a point. "I am hardly a hothead, I had a good reason for those instances! They weren't irrational, just... perhaps a touch ill-advised." Huff. "Besides, I'd like to point out I don't have bullet wounds." See?? Clearly not a hothead detective solving crimes like some people.

And he smiled again a bit weakly. "Yes well, it's not every day you're told you're a murderer. I'm just glad no one went too far with these shows, frankly I was concerned given some of the group..."

[detectiveofthewest]

This grin on Heiji's face. "Weeeeell, I guess if I ever need someone to do something 'ill-advised' with, I'll be in good company, huh?"

He had to agree 100% on Hershel's appraisal of the group, though. Thank god no one was stabbing anyone over this. Maybe there was hope for them all after all!

"Well, once we smash outta here, we'll be able to track down the truth. Which in your case I suspect was pretty cherry-picked."

[puzzlinglad]

Have a dry but amused look. "Well, I could hardly let you go be ill-advised alone, who knows the kind of trouble you'd get into." He teased, breaking into a small smile. "Actually that reminds me of a puzzle, if you're interested." I TOLD you I'd do it. I told you.

"I certainly hope so... well, whatever the case may be learning the truth is the first step for earning forgiveness." He wasn't sure murderers deserved forgiveness but you know. He could dream. "Or just resting easier." Poor Heiji.

[detectiveofthewest]

"A... puzzle?" What the hell what was this witchcraft where was this coming from. "Well, okay, I guess. What is it?"

[puzzlinglad]

Oh ho ho. Hershel seemed strangely in his element for once, raising a finger as he spoke. "Well, it's somewhat simple, but I think you'll enjoy it.

Five people were found in a room, one that was a complete mess. E and C both had paint on their clothes, B and C were shorter and D, E and A were about the same height. While trying to figure out what happened you realized you never found out the order which everyone came in. They tell you the following:

A: ... one of the shorter ones came in third.
B: The one who came in before me was not my height.
C: My clothes were stained earlier and had nothing to do with this. I arrived last.
D: People with stained clothes were ahead of me and behind me.
E: There was someone ahead of me when I arrived. A little one trailed behind me.

Assuming they're all telling the truth, what order did they come in?"

Puzzles, enjoy.

[detectiveofthewest]

Well... okay, sure, Hershel. "Hmm... well, if one of the shrimps was third, that would mean B or C. But if C was last, that would mean B was third. D and E both say that there were people ahead of them, so the first one has to be A. Then if there were people with stained clothes ahead of and behind D, the order would have to be A, E, B, D, C."

But what did this have to do with their situation though. Was Hershel trying to guilt him into apologizing to Snake? HMM. Somehow this all felt rather familiar...

[puzzlinglad]

Hershel looked pretty happy and completely innocent how dare you assume he has ulterior motives. He would never (he absolutely would.) "That's right, well done Heiji. I'll have to try and remember a more challenging one next time, I have a feeling most of the ones I remember now would be too simple for you."

He needed to step up his puzzle game.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji grinned. "Well, as long as we're at it, how about one for you? So you've cornered three suspects at a sports bar, and you can only detain one for questioning. All you have to go on is their testimony.

A is an older fella with spectacles and balding hair. He says, "During the crime, I saw a great match! I'm a huge fan of Akashouryou, who lost, though, so I'm a little down about it. I was really hoping to drink to his victory..."

B is an overweight fella in a sports jacket with a pompadour. His story is: "Don't look at me; I was watching beach volleyball! Watching those ladies tossing that ball back and forth was exciting! I was hoping someone would have a wardrobe malfunction, though!"

C is a middle-aged fella with long hair. He goes, "I'm a big fan of Tokyo Spirits, the visiting team. It was great to see them embracing on the soccer grounds in victory, but I clapped quietly so I wouldn't bother the people around me. I don't know anything about the crime."

Who's the most suspicious, and why?"