week 6 | saturday, post-trial

[concasse]

[It's not like the usual Saturday where Sanji makes his rounds or parks in the kitchen for others to find him. He'd... rather much be alone, tonight, knowing what's going to happen tomorrow.

Though eventually, concern does gnaw at him long enough that he decides it won't hurt anything if he at least checks on Rebecca, and makes sure she's... sane.

As the last standing Historian. As his friend.

She'll hear a knock on the door to her room]

... Rebecca-chan? Are you in there?

Comments

[disclosures]

[She's held it together okay through most of the day. There was no big messy breakdown in the middle of trial. She snapped at Varian during and spent time to just deal with herself.

That's not so true at the hour of night he's calling. She's in tears, at least it's not the first time he's seen her like this.]

Sa-- [Her voice breaks before she can complete his name.

She pulls him into a hug. He lost somebody important to him too today.]

[concasse]

[Heh, he lost a couple of someones, and the sting of it is a constant drumming in the back of his head. He's long since given up wishing it away.

Maybe that's just his punishment for not being able to stop the trainwreck as it happened.

But the hug... it startles him a little before her relaxes, mouth pulling into a tired smile as he returns it]

Hey.

[They both aren't doing so hot tonight, are they?]

[disclosures]

[At least she can have this. For a moment, she can have the comfort of somebody hugging her back. A tether to reality, as cruel and painful as it is right now.]

Am I it? Do I have to do this alone...?

[A week ago and she wouldn't have thought anything of it if Akechi died. But suddenly and painfully they were the last two left standing. If Akechi didn't ask Eichi to trade his life for his- then she's it.

She's all that's left of the Historians. That's terrifying.]

[concasse]

.... You are.

[Wasn't it just a few days ago that Sanji had told her he wanted her to live above Akechi? Well, here it is, the future Sanji called down upon them.

It hurts more than he thought it would.]

Oi, but you have me and Belph, at the very least. You got Cardia-chan. Being the last Historian doesn't mean you're completely alone.

[disclosures]

[This is not the future Rebecca wanted for herself. On Friday night where they learned they were the last two Historians remaining, she thought she'd at least have him for another week. Not just one day.

Her voice breaks all over the place.] I have to talk to the Crafters alone. It's like the first weeks all over again. I'm just- Everybody I love leaves. Nobody stays. I'm- [That's it, she breaks. Sobbing into his chest and clinging on for dear life.

She doesn't want to be here, she doesn't want to live. She just wants it to be over.]

[concasse]

[He holds her, feeling the weight of her stress settle down on his own shoulders. There's not much he can say, is there? He can't offer to accompany her to the Crafters, because he's not a Historian. That's not how the cards fell.

No... He has his own role to fulfill]

It's alright.

[Is it, really? Maybe Sanji doesn't believe the words so much himself, but if it will bring Rebecca any comfort, then he'll say them.]

I know it's tough now, but to get them back -- Natsuo, Evan, the rest -- we gotta keep going, even though we don't want to.

[disclosures]

It's not- [In the end Rebecca's alone. That's how the cards always fell for her. The people she loves she loses. She thought it was confined to her romantic life, but being here, losing people week after week. Making it to a week where she had to lose so many of the kids she's gotten attached to- it hurts. It hurts like something she's blocked out from her memory.

It was foolish to think any of them would stay. Akechi understood her. Evan could understand part of her struggle. Natsuo was always so kind. Now she's lost every single one of them in one weekend.

Why should she bother going on anymore? They got plenty of Heroes left to kill and she's still among them.]

[concasse]

... You can't give up.

[he doesn't know any of her thoughts -- but he can guess a couple of them. And more than anything, he can't let her dwell in them for long. It's not fair, but she is the final Historian. There's no knowing when she might be needed for the good of the group]

Please, Rebecca-chan. I'm not saying you can't cry, or be angry at any of this -- but we have to keep going.

[disclosures]

[She wants to. She really wants to give up. Just put herself out in the hallways for the Blotters or Editors to come get.

Living seems like it's way too hard right now and continuing to the end of the game... Dragon said it didn't really matter if any Historians made it to the end or not.]

It doesn't matter. I-I- don't have to make it to the end of the game. Dragon said so. I don't have a reason to- to be here. You don't need me.

[concasse]

[Sanji swallows a sigh, one that's tired and starting to feel worn through. If he were crueler, he'd make mention that she's right -- that the Heroes need to be thinned out eventually, and if she is truly that desperate to end it all, there are people who would help make that ending as kind as they could.

But he can't. That's not how he would ever want to treat a lady, and besides -- he always told the truth about wanting her to live.]

Even still, there are people who want you to live, right? Including the people who are gone.

[disclosures]

[If he said that, she would have accepted it. She has a way of ending herself without too much fuss. They'd have a body but nobody to pin it on. Maybe they'd find another Hero to die alongside her.]

They're not here.

[That's the important part. The part that makes her ache.]

[concasse]

I know. That's why we gotta get them back.

[He'll stand on that point, if nothing else.]

None of them deserved any of this shit, even the people who killed. I want to bring them back, so we can put this mess behind us.

[disclosures]

Nobody deserved to be pulled into this game. But we're all stuck now, and we need to... [No, she doesn't have high hopes for herself.] you need to bring them back. Get Dragon's ending.

[concasse]

... At least promise me something?

I... I can't sit here and pretend I can keep you alive. [Either by Rebecca's own volition to die, or just by virtue of someone agreeing with her mentality, that she is one of the most expendable of the Heroes.] I-- heh, none of us really have that shitty power, do we?

[...]

But just keep going, anyway. For as long as you can. And remember even if you go, we're gonna bring you back.

[So please...]

[disclosures]

[She bites down hard on her bottom lip. She wants to say yes. It would be the easiest out. Say yes and not mean it. End up dead by Monday.

She gives a small shake of her head. Nobody here can prevent her death, and she doesn't think anybody would be willing.

Living? Living to the end of this game is going to be a struggle and she's not so sure she wants to make the effort.]

None of this is your fault. Who lives... who dies... it's not your fault.

But... I don't know if I can promise you that.

[concasse]

[... As much as that answer hurts, y'know... Sanji can respect it, at least. Rebecca didn't lie to save his feelings, the way he would have preferred it.]

Alright.

[Staring down at the ground as he gives a soft nod]

Well, no matter how shit goes... I'll still be hoping the best for you.

[disclosures]

I hope... you make it to the end, Sanji.

[Or at least past whenever Rebecca dies. She really doesn't know if she can deal with Sanji's dead body. It was bad enough Natsuo and Evan died. Akechi's upcoming execution is weighing on her mind.

She's losing every one of the kids she's gotten attached to. Maybe she really is under a cursed star.]