REASERCH (Lupin/Yukino interaction)

Lupin was reading a rather important book. A book regarding persuasion called How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Seeing as Yuri is now a brainwashed cadet drone Lupin wants to find a way how to undo the damage that has likely been done to his mind.

And that's not mentioning the fact Selene is still not getting those supplies as promised. Well, Lupin is done waiting and is wanting to learn how to talk his way out of any situation. Lupin found it annoying that he doesn't have access to cadet knowledge. it would be nice to know what's wrong with a person in the first place.

Lupin just mutters one thing as he was reading the book. "Whatever it takes." Lupin looked determined.

The young Girl Detective was moving along the corridors at a slow walking pace as her trained observant ears picked up on Lupin's muttering. She came in closer and sat down opposite him. Her icy blue eyes flickered to the words on the front of the book's cover as she made a light giggle.

"A book on persuasion, how interesting." Yukino commented. "Though I would like to think of persuasion as being a skill that is learnt through experience than one that can be read about."

For what reason this boy wanted to know how to influence others was unknown to her, however it intrigued her that he was looking at this subject in the first place. He was a perfect subject to build her power upon.

Lupin seemed a little startled as he said "Oh hey didn't see you there." Lupin was caught with his guard down, this wasn't good. Lupin was just going to have to make the best of problem. Lupin just simply responded with "Yeah I am probably better off practicing myself."

Lupin started to have a much more upbeat tone in his voice, new person after all gotta work that Lupin magic. "Can I ask what your name is Ms? My name is Lupin." Lupin took his right hand off his book and reach out for a handshake, to show some courtesy of course. "I am reading this book to pick up persuasion skills I might not initially think of." Well that wasn't wrong, Lupin doubted if he said the real reason, it will go over well.

"My name is Yukino Matsunaga, a second year here." the Girl Detective replied to his question without hesitation in her voice.

The name itself may have been familiar. The high-school detective who was considered an honour student in her class. Known to be rather friendly and kind to others. Her icy eyes wandered until they met Lupin's and read into him, like a wolf scanning for weaknesses.

"The best way to persuade another is to look for ways to manipulate the conversation in your favour." she continued. "It's a standard technique for when you interrogate a suspect or try to gather information from a civilian."

The young woman's look turned to a smile as she shifted from her hawk-like state and relaxed herself seemingly. Her hand went out and shook the boy's with a strong grip.

"Apart from that, it's nice to meet you." she grinned.

Lupin stared directly back into Yukino's icy cold eyes with his own coal-black eyes. She looks friendly. Triboulet who is in Lupin's head just stated to him. "This is the weirdest staring competition I have seen yet." Lupin just continued staring while mentally logging in what his persona had said about the matter. Lupin had definitely heard of this girl but he decided to just keep the conversation casual

Well since Yukino said the best way to persuade is to manipulate Lupin would try just that. "Could you give me an example of how to do that please?" Was underhanded that Lupin tried to look less experienced then he was in order to get help? Yeah probably but Lupin needs all the help he can get, even if they are uninformed of true motives.

Now for that handshake, being the masochist that Lupin is, enjoyed that firm handshake. "Oh that's a nice grip you got there Yukino." Yeah Lupin felt confident talking to this person.

"Well. The first step is to take control of a situation through your words, whether they realise it or not." Yukino replied.

Yukino knew from experience that persuasion and manipulation were essentially the same thing. Since to persuade a person meant that you have manipulated them to see your view.

"Now the first step is to get on their side." Yukino continued. "Let's say you find out their motives, lets say that motive is revenge. You must first get on their side by aligning yourself with them. Perhaps by saying that you also seek revenge on something so that you can get them to loosen up."

"That's a good point, people are more likely to work together if they have the same goals. Although there will always be those small cases where two or more people butt heads regardless." Lupin continued to listen with interest.

Lupin found it odd that she used revenge as an example. Lupin took note of that and continued. "Emotions appear to be a double-edged sword, It clearly is an important tool in the art of manipulating people." Lupin appears to be in deep consideration about what he is being told.

"I guess it also depends on who you are talking to." Lupin was clearly taking notes about how this converstation is going.

"It does." Yukino replied. "It seems that you're making plenty of mental notes. You must really be intent on persuading someone."

Her smile was still bright. Even though she had previously talked about revenge as a subject, she was smiling as though the term had no meaning to her. What an odd girl...

"Emotions are key to winning someone over, and to manipulate their actions." she continued. "For example, anger can make someone lash out or strive harder towards a goal. Or someone who is made to feel sad can end up giving up with the proper response. It all depends on the person and what you want them to do."

Lupin responded to Yukino's remark to his intent. "In my line of work it's an important skill." Lupin couldn't say his actual intent, but he has a good cover story which he could use instead, the best part of this cover story, its not really a cover story it was Lupin's original goal in Endymion, but with the advent of his awakening, circumstances had changed.

"I can imagine with some people they could be manipulated into doing something by social pressure like if you saw a kid on the side of the road crying, do you just ignore him or her, well you could ignore the child society might not like that."

Lupin paused for a moment. "The human mind is a fickle thing." Lupin seemed to be doing some deep thinking again. He needs to be able to cure the brainwashing that was done on Yuri. Whatever it takes.

"Well. Of course I couldn't leave the child." Yukino replied to the question of social morality. "I am a lawbringer after all, I couldn't abandon someone in need."

What she said is technically correct. Her job in society would not allow her to leave the child behind, however what her job allows may not necessarily be how she feels. Even she was not immune to social manipulation.

"The human mind is a canvas, on which you can paint anything." Yukino answered to his last statement. "It's so mouldable that you can do anything to it provided you have the stimuli."

Lupin expression widen a little upon hearing the term law bringer, Lupin was wondering what she meant by that, if she was a cadet shouldn't she be in class zero. Maybe she was a cop. Considering the state of Endymion Lupin wouldn't exactly be surprised at that fact. But wait a minute something of the cogs in Lupin's brain started to move, this girl sounded vaguely familiar. "So hang on your a cop? What did I do wrong this time officer?" Lupin did a gentle tease, by doing this Lupin is hoping that she would reveal more then she needs to.

This game of mental cat and mouse is starting to get exciting for Lupin. Lupin then decides to ask her another question. "Are you that detective girl I heard about. I don't think I mentioned this but I am also a second-year here." Lupin had a concerned thought for a minute. Did Yukino heard about Lupin replacing all the gardening equipment with bags of ice, which he still hasn't fixed yet, probably on the basis that a supposed key witness is in the middle of a steroid coma. The longer he sleeps the better it is for Lupin. But hot damn Lupin thought he would never have to worry about it again.

"Are there any ongoing cases at the moment?" Paranoia is a good trait Lupin has developed in Endymion. For some godforsaken reason, it was safer back in Selene even though there were demons 24/7 outside of Endymion. considering some of the competition, Lupin would be in for the long haul.

"There are no current cases that I am working on. Though I'm sure one will turn up eventually." Yukino replied. She was hiding her lie with a technical truth. There was always a case to work on, hers was just a bit more...personal.

Her non-chalance about the question would surely set the boy's mind at ease, knowing that she wasn't investigating anything at the moment. Of course she wouldn't be on a minute case such as the gardening equipment one.

Triboulet asked Lupin something "Did you ever took care of that jumper you were using to haul the ice? Lupin just responded to him "No I didn't, and it's probably not a good thing it belonged to a homeless man who probably overdosed too."
Lupin would have to dispose of the evidence after school. It's sure a good thing that this conversation is only happening in Lupin's head.

Lupin would keep his eye on her, to him, there is no telling if there were actually an ulterior motive. So Lupin decided to ask her something he would deem important. "What kind of cases do you solve?, because depending on your answer I might want your help on something."

Lupin was beginning to think he could use Yukino help in finding some of those rouge rich kids who have been spreading rumors about Lupin's hometown, Selene. It would be nice to know who keeps saying that Roi was a vicious dictator. Lupin wants to end those rumors once and for all. But for now, Lupin would just have to wait.

"I solve whatever cases may come my way." Yukino said. "Provided that I'm paid of course, I need to earn somehow."

She smiled as she spoke. Perhaps she could help with his problem as long as she had the correct information. She seemed reliable enough to do so, and she would likely get the job done. Yukino didn't seem the type to join the rumours, rather, she may put an end to them after she closes the case.

"Well, you see I am looking into a set of rumors about the school known as the seven mysteries. I keep running into dead ends investigating it on my own, so I was thinking of getting someone to look into it for me." Before Lupin can trust Yukino with potentially highly illegal stuff that could potentially lead a war between Endymion and Selene, Lupin would need to assess her ability to acquire information.

Lupin continued in an apathetic tone. "Everyone who I talk to about the subject either doesn't know them or does know them but doesn't want to tell me for some obscure reason. Glory related reasons perhaps, I don't know. But what I do know is that one of the rumors involve the pool." Its been a few days since Lupin's initial prodding on the subject, he has been preoccupied with the terrorist stuff that's been going on in his life, he hadn't had much time to pursue his own investigations.