week 6 | Thursday

[concasse]

[Surprise for once, Sanji is not in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove, but instead taking a cigarette break right outside the castle doors. It's actually a rare sight -- not having a store to buy his favorite brand (or... any brand) means Sanji's had to make due with chewing on his fingernails or praying to the caffeine gods.

But hey, the weather isn't so bad outside. Might as well get a quick smoke in before he's gotta start worrying about curfew]

Comments

[concasse]

[SANJI IS TOO TIRED FOR ANTICS, SORRY KID. Also clucks his tongue]

No can say. I keep my sources secret unless I'm given ample reason to betray.

[Sorry Akechi, Chef Sanji is not on the line at the moment.

You're talking to a pirate]

[doublecrows]

[humor him Sanji!1]

[a sigh, and Akechi leans his back against the wall, staring out into the distance]

If you are the second Vizier, then it could have come from one of two sources. Bunch-- who I am aware has shared her extra title with you-- and the other Vizier. Who is also very steadfast about not dropping the name of their partner.

[. . . shrugs!]

Unless you have a third contact I'm unaware of.

[concasse]

[Again, Sanji doesn't really... confirm or deny, just also stares into the distance as smoke curls to the front.

It's annoying -- he's been off cigarettes so long he doesn't really like the taste of them anymore. Bleh.]

So Rebecca-chan admitted that much, did she?

[...]

I'm trying to stay out of your guys' way for the most part, unless I'm called to do more.

[doublecrows]

We keep our network open. It makes doing our job much easier. Smoking is bad for you, by the way.

[. . . inclines his head at Sanji, brows raised]

"Called to do more" is an interesting way of phrasing it.

[concasse]

What I'm saying is the Viziers already have a "face", and I'd like to keep it like that for as long as possible.

[IGNORING THE FUCK OUTTA THAT CIGARETTE COMMENT, gonna blow some more in the air like "meet me in the pit, kid"]

[doublecrows]

So your let your compatriot do the networking. . .? I suppose they are rather good at it. And it keeps you out of the spotlight.

[concasse]

Aren't they?

[no complaints there]

In any case--

[Glancing at Akechi more seriously now]

As a Historian, what's your take on all of this shit? That letter that went out -- was it something all of you agreed was correct?

[doublecrows]

Yes, it is.

[no hesitation there. there's no point in withholding the answer to that question]

Had we known someone else intended to disseminate the information as well, then we may have done things a bit differently. But as soon as our group came into possession of that knowledge, we knew we had to say something to the populace.

Particularly because, from our perspective, the Villains are lagging behind the Heroes and Civilians.

[concasse]

Tch. They are lagging -- well, a little less now, I do remember Rebecca-chan telling me that they're up to at least five objectives fulfilled.

I'm more worried about keeping the required number of Villains alive. We're going slow and steady because the person looking after the partnerless is still alive, I guess, but the moment they go, it'll be a mess.

[doublecrows]

That's correct. Five that we know of, at any rate. But we did get confirmation recently that no Villains who have died have completed their objectives.

[so. ya know. it's probably just five?]

And you're right. It will be a mess, though I like to hope that enough people know who has that role for them to be well-protected.

[concasse]

Yeah... I'm aware of who three of them are at this point.

[NOT SAYING WHO, sorry Akechi you're still kinda sketchy even without a kitchen knife, but Sanji is fine admitting this much.]

Do you Historians have a list of who belongs to each faction and whose got what title?

[doublecrows]

[it's okay; he doesn't have to. Akechi smiles again, pleased]

We do, yes. And we've managed to sort every Narrator-- living and dead-- into their proper factions.

We don't have every title, but at this point, it's factions that matter the most. Isn't it?

[concasse]

[Wow Akechi, you just love to be the most clever man in the room, don't you...]

Titles might give you an idea of their ability, but I agree. Factions are more important.

So what are you gonna do with the information? Just keep tabs on who lives and dies?

[Or start delegating kills?

[doublecrows]

[he does, and it's absolutely terrible]

That's correct. We can warn the Narrators if they're about to dip below three survivors in any faction.

[and, as though he can predict where Sanji's mind is going next]

None of us have any intention on playing god.

[concasse]

[Huh.

Nodding to that, then, as if agreeing.]

Let the pieces fall where they may, eh?

[doublecrows]

While gently nudging them towards this "happy ending" everyone reveres so much, of course.

[concasse]

[So ENCOURAGING MURDER instead of doing it, heh.]

Well let's hope our future Blotters are sensible about shit.

[doublecrows]

[encouraging people to MURDER RESPONSIBLY]

We'll see, I suppose. This game is far from over.