Friday | Post-Investigation

[concasse]

[If Reyna's looking for him, Sanji won't be that difficult to find -- kitchen like always, because he is very bad at dealing with grief if it's not paired with action of some sort. There's not a lot he can do about the fire damage, so instead he's cleaning up what he can with a soaked rag, taking inventory of what's inside the cabinets, doing anything to keep his mind busy.

... It's not really working, but hey. No one can say he didn't try.]

There was hardly anything missing...! The fuck start a fire in here.

[He can't cry if he's too busy complaining!]

Comments

[concasse]

[he opened this particular door for conversation.

The least he'll do is honor her honesty with his own.]

... Monika-chan visited me pretty much every day in the kitchen. [His diligence starts to wane as he continues, and the rag drags to a crawl against the counter top]

Was giving her cooking lessons. Shit like that.

[...]

Last time we'd really gotten a chance to talk, she said she... wanted to be stronger. And move forward.

[She had professed to love him, too, but that he won't bring up.]

[toughchoices]

[And now she's not moving anywhere else - not forward, not backward. She's dead.

Reyna falls silent for a few long moments, considering.]

...that must have been about the same time she gave Zelos that knife, then...?

[She was taking steps toward it - toward whatever her end goal was. Even if she didn't know her well, she can admire that.]

...I'm very sorry for your loss, Sanji.

[concasse]

... Yeah.

[Having stopped cleaning the counter all together, now.]

Apparently that idiot said exactly what she needed to help her out. Tch, he's so damn good at that, too -- saying what you need to hear instead of what comforts you.

[Rubbing the nape of his neck.]

She had wanted to let me know what he'd done for her... maybe so at least someone would know.

[It's easier to talk about Zelos' good deeds than his own grief, it seems.]

[toughchoices]

Mm. It sounds like you think he's better at that sort of thing than he'd like to admit.

[She falls silent again, mulling that over as she watches over the hot chocolate on the stovetop. Better to keep a careful eye on things - they don't want another fire down here.]

But it also sounds like the both of you lost someone, when you lost Monika. That... can't be easy.

[Grief and regret in stereo.]

[concasse]

Zelos is allergic to anything that makes it seem like he's got a soft heart.

[Annoying, really. But-- yeah. Reyna's got the picture. He's happy he doesn't need to elaborate much further]

But I know he wanted her to keep living, too.

[Mm. As his next pause lingers, Sanji decides he might as well fold up the rag and lay it over the edge of the counter. He's not going to get anymore work done tonight.]

The trial tomorrow is gonna be a shit show, I just know it. Three people killed, and one of 'em found on a Thursday... jeez.

[toughchoices]

[Reyna's lips turn up a little at the corners - yeah, that sounds about right. The moment passes and her expression becomes more somber, though; this is a serious conversation.

...it seems like they're both on the same page about Zelos and Monika; maybe nothing else needs to be said.

But, the trial--]

Okita is still upset about Hijikata. I imagine he'll be very determined to find his killer, even though - no, especially because it happened on Thursday. And... You're not the only one who was upset about Monika.

[...]

I can't say I'm surprised about Fitzgerald, really, but there's something about targeting someone that the group as a whole voted to save that doesn't sit right with me.

[concasse]

[There is no love lost between him and Fitzgerald. Sanji didn't hate the guy, but he had no particular feelings toward him, either. That said, Reyna brings up a damn good point, and he hums in thought.]

Especially if someone decided to kill him, but Akechi is still around. Does kinda feel like those we decide to keep around should be left alone, so long as they don't kill again.

[Hm.]

I mean, shit, it's not like killers are being given a choice, from what I hear.

[toughchoices]

No, it doesn't sound like any of them have been given a choice at all.

[not that she knows from, like, firsthand experience or anything

definitely not!

...but she sounds pretty sure of this.]

[concasse]

[She does sound sure of this.

Not that Sanji can really say much, he's also sorta sure, but...]

You're not a Historian, are you?

[He says it so casually like he doesn't care





spoilers it's because he honestly doesn't care]

[toughchoices]

Hm? No.

[it's said with muted surprise - she can't imagine why he'd think she was]

Why do you ask?

[concasse]

I met one of 'em, and they said the same thing, that no one here is really given a choice about what they wanna do or not.