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

[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.