week 3 | Tuesday

[concasse]

[He doesn't seek Rebecca out so much as he happens to pass by her somewhere in the castle. There's the usual heel-spin, heart-eyed response that he normally gives her... but it's then that he remembers something he meant to talk to her about.]

Oh! Rebecca-chaaaan. Do you happen to have a minute?

Comments

[disclosures]

[She's gotten so used to Sanji that she just giggles at him in response to his usual spin.]

Sure! Did you want to talk about something?

[concasse]

Yeah.

[Quieting a little bit]

Were you able to get a reward for completing your task?

[disclosures]

[She pulls out a coin with a tiger emblem on it.]

I... haven't decided what to wish for yet. But I hear when you earn the wish, the well is a lot nicer about granting it.

[concasse]

That right?

[Looking a little relieved]

I was gonna suggest not to use it, but if you got a guarantee it'll work as you need it to...

[disclosures]

I feel like... Most of my wishes are something that magic just can't fix, you know? Like... Liking myself or wanting my parents to be proud.

... They're not here, so that's not happening. I couldn't even check if it worked.

Anyway. If you earn them through objectives they're supposed to be nicer. What about yours? It sounded like... You really didn't want to do it.

[concasse]

Aa... well, sounds like those wishes might be more satisfying if you made them happen yourself, to be honest.

[Which he gets is hard and probably requires a loooot of therapy. Even still.]

And I'd have to kill someone to complete my objective.

[... Might as well be blunt about it.]

[disclosures]

[She closes her eyes when she hears it. That's a lot. Killing is a lot for most people, despite the number of dripping tapestries that've been up on the wall]

I guess I've been lucky mine aren't like that.

You don't want to do it, right?

[concasse]

That's why I'm not fulfilling the objective.

[Everything in his tone makes that clear. He doesn't wanna.]

If it's just for a coin, no shitty skin off my teeth.

[disclosures]

It sounds like... sometimes we don't get a choice. I don't want to kill either, but... it might come to that.

But... yeah, that's fair. You seem like a guy who doesn't have too many wishes.

[concasse]

[... Fair point. For all of his gruffness, Sanji looks sad for a moment.]

You mean our hosts blackmailing people into killing?

[disclosures]

Yeah. Something like that. A wish that important enough for that, our entire worlds are apparently hanging in the balance.

If we don't do as we're told, they're forfeit.

[concasse]

Did they tell you this?

[the player has a memory like swiss cheese so Sanji glances in her direction]

I thought I was fighting for my life, not my world...

[disclosures]

I was talking to Dazai and he seemed to imply it. Oh, but he might have been talking about a book? It was that week I couldn't really talk, so it made things difficult.

They didn't. But with how important they think all of this is... I really wouldn't be surprised.

Hey. Do you trust me?

[concasse]

[A noncommittal noise at Dazai's name; Sanji doesn't hate him like half the castle seems to, but he's already moving on, deciding he'll have to check the library for more than just recipes]

No, I wouldn't be surprised either at this point. Even our worlds are hostage...

[But in any case, he nods immediately.]

Of course I do. I wouldn't have bothered telling you about my objective otherwise.

[disclosures]

Okay. Good... I'm really glad you do. [Sometimes she wonders if anybody does. She doesn't think she's very worthy of it.]

You remember when Dragon was telling everybody about the Historians, right?

[concasse]

... Are you one?

[There's... concern in his voice? But no judgment, frankly.]

[disclosures]

[She pulls in on herself.]

... I am.

[concasse]

[He's... silent for a beat]

I'm not gonna pretend your reasons weren't good for taking that position -- [a pause] -- but I'd be careful letting people know this.

[There are already people who see Historians as enforcers, and Sanji really doesn't want to see her get killed.]

Either way, I won't tell anyone.

[disclosures]

I didn't get to chose it. Besides, you're the only person I've told.

I'd rather it didn't get out. I mean... I'm supposed to be making people do their objectives, but when it comes to kill or die or something like that- I don't want that to happen.

Even if we don't get much of a choice.

[concasse]

[nodding quietly.]

Is there a reason we're supposed to do these objectives? I don't remember Tiger-sama or Dragon-sama elaborating.

[disclosures]

It... helps finish the game faster. They don't say a lot to me either, but that's basically what they've been implying.

Is yours more specific than just kill?

[concasse]

... I can't get caught for the murder. Otherwise the objective isn't met.

[So he's gotta kill, lie, and lie well. A frown etches into his expression]

[disclosures]

Damn. Does your gift help you with any of that, or are you just stuck with what you've got?

So far, most people have been confessing to whatever they did at the end of the trials, right?

[concasse]

Yeah, that shit's not gonna help me.

[not that he was planning on using it anyway, his tone implies, but...]

And... yeah. No one wants to be killer in the first place, not really. Besides, damning evidence pops up at the last second, so everyone ends up confessing.

[disclosures]

[Not that he was planning on killing.]

That gold button from the end of the last trial, right? Sandalphon's fingerprint was on that knife too.

[concasse]

Exactly.

This group isn't a stupid bunch. Might take a while, but they usually find what they need to get the murderer.

[...]

Even if I wanted to complete my objective, I don't think I'd last long before someone pointed the finger at me.

[disclosures]

The Friday murders are always committed in pairs. But no matter what, only one person can be executed.

[concasse]

-- Always?

Does that mean whoever killed Gi-Gan... there were two people?

[mmmmboy.]

[disclosures]

I don't know about the first week. Sharpay sounded determined to do it with or without help. It was our first time doing any of this, it might've been working on different rules. But every week following that, there've been two killers.

I can ask about Gi-Gan, if you want. They won't tell me who's involved, but maybe I can get a number?

... I have to ask you to do you objective. [But she looks incredibly squeamish about asking.]

1/2

[concasse]

... I guess it doesn't matter, really. If they can blackmail anyone into killing, knowing how many people murdered Gi-Gan doesn't mean much.

[But as for that last part... sigh.]

Well, if I take out Zelos, no one would blame me even if I did get caught.

[hE'S JOKING. HE'S JOKING.

This is not a laughing matter but let him have this.]

[concasse]

... I'll keep what you told me in mind.

[And make his decision from there.]

You really got stuck with a shitty job, Rebecca-chan.

[disclosures]

[She's somewhat alarmed, but she figures it's a joke. Besides, Rebecca would have an inkling of an idea. If he was actually serious about killing his partner.]

It's... not great. Not all of them are awful like that. Maybe I should focus on finding people who have embarrassing or awkward objectives instead of morally objectionable ones.

[concasse]

... How about I help?

[Gesturing to himself.]

There's only two Historians, right? And I don't mind bugging people to fulfill objectives that aren't gonna hurt people.

[disclosures]

There aren't a lot of Historians...

Yeah. I'd appreciate that a lot. You probably talk to a lot more people than I have. Everybody here gets hungry and visits the kitchen.

[concasse]

Hey, if it's gonna help save everyone in the end, I'll do what I can.

[He can do that much.]

Just... try and take it easy, Rebecca-chan -- And no dying!

[disclosures]

[She laughs a little bit, more out of stress than anything else.]

I'll do my best.

[Now she'll pull him into a hug.]

Thanks... for believing in me.

[concasse]

[A smile, as he returns the hug, deeply relieved that

he was able to give her something this time.]

Of course. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'll be there.

[disclosures]

[She wasn't in as bad of a mental place as she was last week.]

I'm holding you to that, okay? You're not allowed to die either. Not while we're here.

[concasse]

Yes Ma'am~! I'll keep out of trouble, promise.