week 6 | Saturday, post-trial

[concasse]

[The dungeon seems empty, most likely, but out of nowhere:]

Oi, Akechi.

[Is Sanji's voice that seems to... hang in the air. Tired, worn, and blank underneath.]

It's a little late, but I figure I owe you the truth now.

Comments

[doublecrows]

[. . .]

[Akechi lifts his head from where he's sitting in the corner, his cheek pressed against his knee. he looks tired as he regards Sanji]

. . . I think I may know.

But I'll listen.

[concasse]

[There's a ruffle of fabric before Sanji appears as if he was always standing there, no longer invisible. After a pause... he'll go to sit cross-legged on the floor.]

... It was cheap of me to let you keep thinking I was a Vizier.

[...]

I'm one of the Editors.

[doublecrows]

[ah]

[there's a huffed noise, almost a chuckle, and Akechi lifts his head when Sanji appears, staring at him more fully now that he can see him]

As I thought.

Zelos-san is as well, yes?

[concasse]

That's right.

Congrats, Monika-chan's killer will face execution tomorrow.

[Sanji's voice holds no emotion]

[doublecrows]

. . . I've long since stopped wanting vengeance for Monika's death.

[he frowns, brows furrowed, hands curling into fists as he pushes himself up]

But he's an Editor. They're not supposed to die when they're voted for execution. We saw that memory. . .!

[concasse]

... He might.

Because he didn't make a kill this week.

I was the one who killed Natsuo.

[doublecrows]

[. . .]

[he curled his hands around the bar, grip tight]

Toshizo? Sousei-san?

[he shakes his head]

. . . I am not particularly angry about it anymore. [though at one point, he may have been. he's tired. Evan's murder was rough on him, and everything Ion had told him beforehand was--] I want this war game to come to an end. That's all.

[concasse]

Dave, Toshizo, Sousei, Jae-Ha, and Natsuo.

[Five, to be precise]

I'm not telling you because that part matters --

I'm only bringing it up because Editors are on your side.

If at any point I think I'm more of a danger to the group, I'll arrange for my death. Belph will help me.

[doublecrows]

[a chuckle, but it sounds wry]

I believe you. I didn't before, but I do now. After--

[after, what? talking to Belph, talking to Ion, talking to Sanji personally? he doesn't know when his attitude changed. maybe it was while he was holding Evan's head under water in the lake, wishing to god that he hadn't made the choices he'd made that led him there]

. . . well, that hardly matters.

Heroes and Civilians have accomplished all the requisite objectives. By my count, Villains have now accomplished six.

[concasse]

[...]

Oi.

I'll look after Eichi as best I can, okay?

[Not even bothering to acknowledge the other parts, important though they are. Akechi should be used to how Sanji cuts to the heart of the matter]

[doublecrows]

Thank you.

[it doesn't matter. he's said his peace. and now that it's out there, he can trust someone else to take it from here]

He's quite difficult at times, I've realized.

[concasse]

Stubborn as hell, yeah? Kid gives me gray hairs.

[Between getting sick, demanding shit his way, and now... how he reacted to Akechi's upcoming execution...]

... I'm not trying to excuse any of the shit that happened, but... I get it. If there's anyone who couldn't judge your choices, it's me.

So I'll take it from here.

Even if I gotta drag everyone by the shitty nose, I'll make sure we get to the finish line.

[No matter it takes]

[doublecrows]

Aha. . . well, I suppose I can admire that stubborn attitude. It's a bit refreshing, when everything seems so bleak.

[funnily enough, he means that]

Please, do your best. I suppose I have more reason to be invested in Dragon-san bringing everyone back to life now.

[concasse]

Will do.

[...]

Neh, I know you probably don't have much of an appetite.

But I can make you something, if you want.

[doublecrows]

[oh. blinks a few times, taken aback, before. . .]

[he chuckles]

I suppose a fresh cup of coffee wouldn't be remiss.

[concasse]

[Heh, not exactly a "dish" worthy of Sanji's skills, but--]

Alright.

Consider it done.

[doublecrows]

Thank you, Sanji-san.

[mmm. there is one other question he has, though]

May I ask why the Crafters demanded you target Natsuo? Sousei-san I understand-- he was too stubborn to do as his role required-- but Natsuo was the best of us at networking.

[concasse]

... I didn't understand what Dragon-sama meant at the time, but she said Natsuo was dangerous because he could spread misinformation.

[His expression grows heavy.]

So you kinda answered your own question. I don't know if he actually did anything, or she was just worried he might, but if he was that good at networking, imagine what would've happened if he'd told everyone shit that wasn't true. There's not many people who wouldn't have believed him.

And Tiger-sama... no matter how fond she was of him, she must've felt similar on some level.

Natsuo was dangerous because everyone trusted him too much.

[doublecrows]

[his face twists into something displeased and almost angry, but. that expression lasts for a mere moment before he just looks sad]

He wouldn't have spread misinformation on purpose. He wasn't that kind of person.

[concasse]

Trust me, I know.

... No matter what assignment they give me, I can't go back on it.

They don't change their minds, either.

[doublecrows]

Of course they don't.

[said with a bit of a scoff]

Both of them are stubborn, through and through.

[concasse]

[Giving him a look of amusement]

Butt heads with them at all?

[doublecrows]

I wouldn't call it "butting heads." But they're both rather firm about refusing to see the other's point of view.

[not that Akechi is a great mediator in the first place]

[concasse]

Hn.

Just imagine how short this war would've been if they'd learned to see eye-to-eye.

[A shake of his head... but anyway.]

I'll get your coffee.

["So sit tight", he doesn't say, seeing as... Akechi won't be escaping anytime soon]