week 6 | saturday, post-trial

[concasse]

[When Sanji enters Eichi's room, Eichi isn't inside yet -- but that's only because the chef is carrying him, having fetched the teen from the dungeons at Akechi's request.

To be honest, he feels a little guilty ripping the two apart when deep down, he knows the sentiment, knows that if not for Zelos shooing him off, he would have spent every hour until noon at the other's side.

... But they have to keep their heads up, don't they? The war isn't over yet.]

You gotta rest, alright? If you wake up early enough, you can get back to the dungeons.

Comments

[concasse]

[Ah...

So he knows, does he?

The smile drops right off his face like it had been painted in place, and though he doesn't turn away, doesn't shield himself from Eichi's judgment or his determination, every week and every death suddenly fall onto his shoulders, his expression, until there's really just a dead man standing in Sanji's place. The person he always was since coming here.

He lost his reason for sanity with Jae-Ha.

He lost most of his reasons to nurture with Ion, Varian, and Natsuo.

And now with Zelos' impeding death, he can barely remember why he... wanted to try so desperately in the first place.]

Heh... you're all I got left, Eichi.

[He answers the question by sitting at the edge of the bed, his gaze hitting his joined hands]

I've lost everything else.

[finethanks]

[There... there it is. What he knew was hiding behind that face all along, but still couldn't reach enough to help with. Eichi is incredibly alert now, forcing back his illness, the fact that he doesn't know how tomorrow will work out, with his and Akechi's clashing wishes— desperately, he wants to be here for Sanji, like Sanji has always been here for him.

Eichi places his hand over Sanji's.]

We can bring them back. [It's funny. With every other conversation tonight, he's been so unsure, so doubting. But Zelos was right, wasn't he? This gives him purpose, a goal, and he intends to reach it, no matter what.]

It's still possible. Though I've been careless and reckless so far... I've learned a lot these past few weeks. I believe it can be done. I believe... that Dragon-chan and Tiger-chan aren't so against it, either.

I'm here. I'm still here... and even if my role provides some use, down the line, we'll set it up in such a way to win this game.

[concasse]

[Oh, their switched roles are funny for reasons Eichi can probably imagine. Even while hiding himself from people, Sanji had still visited some -- couldn't stop from offering himself over likes matchsticks to the people he cared about and needed him most. He spent all that time making promises, insisting he could change the tides on willpower alone.

But here, he's... he's in too many pieces to pick himself back up. And he looks to Eichi, tiredly, the only guiding light he can see.]

... Yeah, we-- [He stops, stares at the ground again] I know. We can't give up here.

[...]

You're more useful than me -- you have been, since the beginning. All I do is kill people.

I don't know what's going to happen this upcoming week.

[...]

I know Zelos would want you to protect me, but we gotta keep the Villains alive. Kyouka, Veronica, and Belph. They have to make it to the end.

Please, help me do that.

[finethanks]

...As much as I'd like to stubbornly say no, and cling to your life... I believe you're right. If we truly want to do this, then it's too important to ignore.

[His selfishness... has to be put aside. He knows. While he's thinking on this, he shifts so to push Sanji's shoulder back, like he wants him to lie down. Shh. Just do it. He's preparing him to Get Some Sleep no matter what, or so help him.

The sickly is fretting about him, now!!]

But I can only protect one at a time. Do you have any idea who might be targeted in the upcoming week?

[concasse]

[What, is Sanji not being allowed to return to his empty room where he'd likely cry and drink and lose hope? Despite everything he almost smirks at Eichi's insistence that he lay down on the bed, and after a pause, where it seems he might resist... he instead does as bid, falling back against the mattress.

Lucky for both of them, he's too tired to argue.]

No idea. Everyone I've talked to wants that good ending... so you'd think they wouldn't touch the Villains, knowing what's at stake. [It's a fine balance, walking the line between suspicion and trust.]

I'll tell ya what, though - Belph plans on insisting no one kill outside of the Blotters from here on out. Probably gonna write a letter. We've about reached the number of objectives we need for each faction, so it's unnecessary for people to act on their own.

... I'd say of all the Villains, he's the one we gotta keep alive the most. No matter what, we report to him. Whatever you tell me, tell him, too.

[finethanks]

...Goro seems to trust him, as well.

[And so... Eichi can go along with this. If Akechi and Sanji both think he's trustworthy, then he can go along with that. He's glad, at least, that Sanji agreed to lie down, and draws the blankets up over him, insistent. You're not going anywhere, buddy!!

It also means Eichi can lie down in his spot without worrying about having to jolt upright, for now, so he does just that.]

I can't think of anyone who might want this game to go poorly, but I do wonder if everyone is informed of who the villains are. After all, I was out of the loop until just now, as well. It's difficult to keep track.

None of them are publicly known as villains, are they? But I've been sharing my own information more and more. Even if it's a risk... I believe that those risks are necessary.

[concasse]

[Sanji cannot remember the last time someone literally tucked him into bed -- or maybe that never happened. Maybe it's always been him mothering people until they fell in line and just let Sanji pull all the weight.

No regrets, that's how he's always liked it. Damn though, it's a little... vulnerable, being on the other side.]

That might be what we gotta do -- just get the information out to everyone. We tried to be subtle about shit and this was the result. It's time to lay our cards on the table.

[...]

Sorry, by the way. Didn't mean to out you as the Shield. I just -- thought your life would be more secure if everyone knew.

[And Sanji was right. He just didn't realize the repercussions that would follow]

[finethanks]

I don't mind it at all. To be honest, I've wanted to share everything for some time now, so that made my life a little easier.

Of course, from the way I acted, everyone still wants me dead. I'm familiar with receiving that sort of attention, as well.

[He says it so casually, though, it's like he has no problem with it at all? He's busy, anyway, making sure Sanji stays tucked in, and that he RESTS.]

[concasse]

[Having seen the memory he did? Oh yes, Sanji is very aware Eichi knows how to play the villain to suit his needs. The more he considers it, the more he feels a little stupid for not trusting to share his secret role.

Another sigh of a laugh. He stares at the ceiling.]

If anyone tries, I'll kick their ass.

[...]

What happened to Varian wasn't great, but he made his choices, same as everyone else.

[Sanji loves his kids but he won't make excuses for their shit, either.]

[finethanks]

...

[He doesn't say anything to the first comment. To be honest, he thinks he can be prepared to die by now, for the sake of this "game," but now he's worried about Sanji and Akechi outliving him. If that happens... will they be okay? He doesn't want to have to find out. He doesn't want to tease it or bring it up, so he doesn't talk about how he thinks it's very likely he'll be the next target in any more seriousness.]

I'm aware that I was being nasty, but Varian-kun's own personality showed itself at the end, as well, didn't it? He outed Goro, who had nothing to do with it. Who only wanted to protect him. Goro trusted me, thinking that I wouldn't say a thing...

It was me who did something so terrible, and it was Varian-kun who fed into it, so I don't understand how things ended up this way. How...Zelos-kun got any votes at all.

However... if what's being said is true, then they can all be saved. Though I never was one to believe in things like fairy tales and happy endings, it's all we have. Either we focus on the horrible things that continue to happen, or we set that aside and lift our chins, hiding our fears and exuding unrivaled strength, all to carry ourselves to a goal that may fix things.

I believe in that.

[concasse]

... Zelos got votes because he led the charge and gave you an opening.

[Closing his eyes. There's no point in denying what Sanji sees as the truth.]

And most people here don't like him. He's mouthy and says what he wants -- shit people don't like to hear. Doesn't matter that he's usually right. It's easy to band together against someone that everyone views as a threat.

[And they were wrong -- dead wrong -- and the price they pay is losing a Villain who was actually pulling his weight, completing objectives. Ironic.]

Heh, but you're right. Don't know if the rest of the shitheads here will follow that example but... if there was ever a time to put aside petty grievances, it's right now.

We got a responsibility to bring them back.

[finethanks]

They're fools. If only they took some time to speak to him, to put some more effort into it... they could have seen that it was kindness hidden by a self-hatred so intense it was cast outwards. At least, that's what I saw.

[He was a fool, too, for taking so long to notice.]

I'd like to believe that the chosen Blotters will make the correct choices. However... trial is what I'm concerned for. It's not so important to solve the deaths, is it? It only leads to hate, to pain.

We should carefully select those we know as heroes and civilians, until we're left with three each.