week 6 | Friday, Post-Investigation

[concasse]

[The truth is Sanji's feeling... low, given the names that were announced, but he saw Rebecca's reaction as he'd been leaving the foyer, and it isn't very long before he feels compelled to look for her.

It'll probably be a search, one that eventually ends with him knocking on her dorm room, if she's there]

Neh... Rebecca-chan? Are you in right now?

Comments

[disclosures]

[She's not back to herself just yet. The names still ringing in her ears and the shock of losing two people who were important to her.

While she opens the door when she hears Sanji's voice, she doesn't look ready to speak just yet. Her expression is somewhere between heartbroken and completely distant.]

[concasse]

[... Yeah.

That's about what he expected.

She doesn't have to talk if she doesn't want to, Sanji just wanted to... give her a hug, really. Between her and Veronica, and watching the death count climb to five, Sanji's heart is breaking from all of this.]

[disclosures]

[Like Tuesday wasn't bad enough for her? Natsuo had to die a second time. This is why she was trying to keep such a distance between the rest of the Narrators and herself. She didn't want the pain of having to lose them. Especially not having this many of them die at the same time.

A rush of dizziness and emotion overcomes her as she stumbles into his arms.]

... Natsuo... [Because he was always her favorite out of the kids.]

[concasse]

I know.

[He still remembers Rebecca's reaction when he first died, and it had stayed with him all of these weeks. Even if he didn't love Natsuo himself, he would've wanted him to live for her sake.

He wraps his arms around her shoulders, voice tired]

He didn't deserve this.

[disclosures]

[It's hard to think right now. It's difficult to piece together her thoughts into sentences. The thoughts are all chaotic and choppy, difficult to work with even if she wasn't suffering through loss.]

We lost two.

[They've lost five Narrators in total. Two Civilians and three Heroes. But is what she's saying about those factions?]

[concasse]

... Two what?

[They have lost two Civilians, but if that were the case, Sanji thinks she would follow it up with the number of Heroes dead. He feels a cold dread grip his insides as he stares down at her]

... Historians?

[Please tell him that is not it]

[disclosures]

There's... only two of us left.

[Her voice is very soft, and very shaky as she says this next part. Like she very much doesn't want to ask it at all.]

But you know who the last one is, don't you? Even before he said anything to you.

[concasse]

[...]

I did, yeah.

I know Akechi is a Historian.

[disclosures]

[The distance is starting to hit again. She doesn't want to believe him, she feels sick-

Was Akechi right?]

Why? Did you- Did you know what I was before I told you?

[concasse]

No.

You were the first Historian I met, or knew about.

[disclosures]

[She's clutching his arms hard, like she needs something solid to hold onto for the moment.]

Natsuo and Lord El Melloi were the others... We're down to just two.

[For a moment she's looking at him but not really at him. There's a lot of doubt, a lot of things she doesn't want to believe here. There's an answer that might be true, but she doesn't want to believe it.

Even if they are all stuck playing their roles.]

How did you know what Akechi was?

[concasse]

[It's okay; for that same instance, Sanji isn't really looking at Rebecca, either, and though his expression never flinches out of its neutrality, there is a weariness that wasn't there before, either.

His mouth pulls into a crooked smile]

Belph told me.

[disclosures]

[She's silent for a while, like she's trying to get her thoughts in order again. The jury's still out on how well it works.]

I know-I know why he knows. Why is he telling you?

[concasse]

Honestly? I wanted to keep track, see if I could find a way to protect them. Historians have a leg up on most of us given their memories.

... Didn't fuckin work out, as you can see, but...

Belph felt the same, so he told me who to look out for.

[disclosures]

You couldn't check yourself?

[She gives a shaky breath of air and hugs him tighter. Not looking up at him.]

I just... I trusted you. I told you everything. Are you- Do you not trust me?

[concasse]

As you've noticed, I've just stayed in the shadows. That's how he wanted it.

[... He actually takes a step away from her, but that's because he wants to see her face for once.]

But it doesn't change that I kept a secret from you, even if it was at the request of another.

[That's... just the reality here. Sanji isn't going to make excuses for it; that's not fair to her.]

[disclosures]

[Her emotions are a conflicted mess on her face. There's hurt, betrayal, uncertainty before it settles into doubt.]

... How who wanted it?

Who are you, Sanji?

[concasse]

[There's a brief moment of confusion on his face as well.]

Did... Akechi not tell you?

[He assumed he had, to be honest]

[disclosures]

[Now Rebecca looks way more confused.]

He said you didn't tell him. He had a guess, he thought you might be a Vizier or an Editor. We have everybody else accounted for.

[concasse]

Oh.

No, I didn't tell him, but that was because his guess was right, so...

[And just to spell it out]

I'm a Vizier.

[disclosures]

[Akechi, you're smart and sometimes... very dumb. "Ace Detective" he says.

Her expression goes into relieved surprise.]

That explains... a lot. Can't you check us for extra titles? A person every week?

[concasse]

I can but Belph's been so damn efficient, I haven't had to do as much work as you'd think.

[disclosures]

Yeah, that's what I've heard. He got all of the Historians before... [Oh. No she really doesn't want to say it. The body in pieces- Professor's arm that she had to unearth from the shore of swan lake. Natsuo's body still in a coffin.] ... Today.

Belph's mostly been talking to Akechi. He only approached me this week.

[concasse]

... Neh, can I ask you a question.

[It's sliiightly changing the subject, he'll have to forgive her, but--]

Do you have any idea who killed the people today?

We're down two Historians when I would have preferred you all make it to the finish.

[It's just... worrisome.]

[disclosures]

[She doesn't mind too much.]

You know, I really wish I knew. I found a scrap of cloth near the lake. Grey and purple. Near... where we found the Professor's... arm... [Please don't make her remember this.]

The two Historian's left are heroes. You know who I am. I'm... not so sure it's possible for both of us to make it. [But unlike a while back, she seems much more reluctant to die.]

[concasse]

[Waver's entire death pisses Sanji off... like what the actual fuck, if that wasn't an objective, someone here is a psycho.]

... It's selfish, but honestly, I'd rather you live over Akechi.

[Sorry Eichi... he loves you like a little brother, but--]

I'm not saying throw him under the bus, just... be careful. Things are finally more even between all of the factions, I think. So any of us could go.

[disclosures]

[There's one weak laugh.] That's sweet in a very weird, kind of dark way. I'd rather neither of us bit it, but... [That's not really up to her, is it?

At least this is more business, so she finally steps fully away from him. Something she can focus on for the moment.]

You're right. With the deaths we've had we're at five Villains, five Civilians, and seven Heroes. We figured out what faction everybody was in. ... That's why I was asking you at the beginning of the week.

As far as I know, we're at still at 5 completed objectives in Villains. But Heroes and Civilians are done. So we're a lot closer than we were. ... Unfortunately, neither Akechi or I are that close to the remaining ones. And I really don't think either of us can talk to Zelos after what happened last trial.

[concasse]

Zelos completed two of his objectives.

[So frankly, he's one of the Villains pulling his weight.]

I haven't had a chance to ask him about the third one yet... won't lie, I was hoping a few of the others would come through by now. But the Villains I know don't wanna kill anyone, so if their objectives involve death... that's probably why they're dragging their feet.

[disclosures]

[There's a fleeting smile, just for a moment.] Then the Villains are all done with their objectives. The ones we knew about weren't him.

So only the Blotters have to kill from here on out.

[concasse]

-- Damn, we actually get good news?

[That is such a strange feeling. Sanji is... suspicious, honestly, like he's expecting the castle to drop the other shoe on them. Damn has this place warped them or what?]

Well, good. Hopefully everyone will keep their shit in order now.

[disclosures]

[Six weeks being stuck here... Anybody would change after being through what this place has to offer.]

We do. At least we have some after... everything.