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week 7 | friday, post investigation
[Well... there's not that many people left in the castle, is there? Eleven total, two bodies away from the nine they need.
Whatever happens tomorrow, Sanji suspects it will be the last trial.
Which means he needs to track down the ones who are left and make plans. Souji is first on his list, Sanji also bringing with him a warm bowl of soup out of habit. He'll knock on the door of the man's room]
Whatever happens tomorrow, Sanji suspects it will be the last trial.
Which means he needs to track down the ones who are left and make plans. Souji is first on his list, Sanji also bringing with him a warm bowl of soup out of habit. He'll knock on the door of the man's room]
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[Sanji will find Souji sitting on the floor rather than in the bed today, having taken to his blanket nest. His expression is pretty pensive, though it does warm when he sees who's there and that he has a bowl of soup. Even now, being so considerate... Goodness.
Souji motions him over, clearing out a spot on the floor. Saizo gives a little bukii! in greeting, too.]
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... We lost the person who could pair up the partnerless.
[He honestly assumes Souji knows this, but just in case]
Not that that shit matters anyway, I was told, but tomorrow's gonna be the last trial, I bet.
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Thank you.
[A small, careful smile. Saizo settles down somewhere between both Souji and Sanji so apparently he's been Accepted By The Pig, too.
In any case, Sanji is correct in that assumption. He nods, takes a breath in. It feels like his whole body hurts.]
...Mm, you're probably right about that. We only need to lose two more heroes to reach Dragon's ending.
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[Staring down at his hands. He... really wishes he had better news for Souji when he's so clearly in pain, but--]
I'd rather you guys not suffer anymore. That's why I want someone to out me as an Editor.
It'd be one thing if I were a Civilian or a Villain, but if we're gonna try and hit Dragon-sama's ending, we need to decide who dies tomorrow.
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May I ask if you were responsible for any of the deaths...?
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[Sanji says the voice softly. He doesn't cry, not like the beginning of the week, but there is something raw and agonized in his voice nonetheless]
He knew I was coming after him, so he challenged me to a duel... kid did really well, heh.
[A soft laugh]
No matter what anyone thinks of him, he didn't die a coward.
[It's why Sanji laid him out like a knight in the end.]
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Well, Belph had warned him that a hero would die before the week was up. Souji doesn't look very surprised, though he does take another breath in, briefly closing his eyes like he's letting a wave of exhaustion roll over him. He reaches out, then, briefly resting a hand against Sanji's knee.]
...I'm glad that you were able to give him at least that much. [And then, quieter:] Please look after Eichi.
[HE'S HONESTLY REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT EICHI??? But in any case, after another second, he'll continue:]
Cardia was one of the Blotters this week, though I don't know the other.
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[Sanji doesn't know what their friendship is gonna look like after tonight, not with the bombshell Sanji plans to drop on the kid... but he means it, and there's a brief smile of gratitude at Souji's attempt to comfort.]
Yeah, Belph mentioned it.
... I wonder if Shirasu was her partner.
[Folding his arms.]
He had scratches and burns that he'd covered up, and they looked fresh. It'd explain why both of them were in the kitchen, too.
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No... Shirasu was her target.
[The scratches and burns came from elsewhere LIKE, PERHAPS, REBECCA. BAD.]
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[Shirasu was on Sanji's very short list of "people who might potentially kill me before I kill them" so he's a little... impressed]
Cardia-chan really is amazing.
[A sigh.]
If that's the case, we got one Blotter still out there.
... Not that it matters if they're a Villain or a Civilian.
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She had believed that they worked out an arrangement with him.
[Shirasu tricked her and then murdered her, seemingly?? Bad. Sad. He coughs a little, shaking his head.
The rest of that, though... Fair, honestly. He seems to consider something and then, softly:]
...You have something to ask me, don't you?
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But Souji draws him back to the present, and Sanji's expression goes smooth.]
Yeah.
I want you and I to be the ones to die.
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He doesn't seem upset about it, though. He just nods without much hesitation, before dipping his head down a little.]
...I'll agree to that.
[He'd rather get matters of a vote settled before the last hour this time. He has plenty to atone for, anyway, even if not strictly within the context of this game.]
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[And a second later, Sanji digs something out of his pocket and flips it over to Souji.
It's a coin.]
Use that on the wishing well, would ya? Get your health back.
... I'm not saying you couldn't kick my ass anyway, but don't spend tomorrow being in pain.
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...Cardia already tried to wish it back once.
[SO. There it is, in case anyone looked at Souji and went "why hasn't this stupidass fool healed himself."]
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Screw that, I'm gonna try myself then.
[Sanji just doesn't take "no" for an answer, apparently.]
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What if you need that coin later?
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[Sanji desperately trying to save these sickies.]
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Well... It should give you your coin back if it still doesn't work, at least.
[So. At least there's that!!]
But I don't mind it. The pain isn't unbearable. ...Thank you, though.
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... So how do you prefer we do this, eh? You coming after me, or vice versa?
I don't think anyone's gonna feel good voting you to death. If you want me to dirty my hands one more time, I will.
But if you want the opposite to happen, no complaints here.
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That's a good question, though, hm. He cants his head to the side a little.]
...Would it be too much to ask for a fair match?
[A beat, and then:]
There are a couple of people I'd at least like to speak of this with beforehand, though, regardless of what we decide. I don't think they would take very well to learning of it as it happens.
[K...Kyouka...]
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He knows Souji remembers that crying man only from a few days prior to Friday, who so clearly wanted to die and be punished for his misery. He hasn't gone anywhere.
... But he's the same man who refuses to pull anyone else down with his grief. Whoever offers him acceptance and forgiveness, he will take it. Whoever demands a midnight duel in the middle of the jousting grounds to prove their worth? He will take that, too.
He glances at the ground, but finally looks to Souji, eyes calm]
Alright.
A fair fight.
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Thank you. Your shoulders are already heavy, and still...
[Still, he'll humor Souji's dying wish.
Sanji is really too good. Far better a person than himself, rotten as he is. He won't linger on it for long, though.]
...We can use our trial time tomorrow to discuss more important things, if we announce our intentions early.
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But... there is one thing he needs to say, and his expression is somber as he speaks]
I made that promise to you, and I intend to keep it.
... But Souji.
You know you gotta be the one to kill me, right?
If I survive and you die, then another of the Heroes has to go. I can't be voted for. I'm an Editor, and I'll survive execution.
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So he just nods, and offers a brief but thin smile. He's so damn tired.]
You don't need to worry. I'll be your executioner before the trial is through.
[Unless Eichi gets him first apparently, JESUS.]
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... He's gonna die tomorrow.
Too bad he doesn't feel anything but relief, knowing the end is coming.]
Of everyone, I'm glad it's you.
[Let him finally receive judgment for the kill that ended up haunting him the most.]
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He also sure feels some kinda way about that statement. He really had meant it when he said he'd forgiven Sanji and holds no ill-will toward him. At the same time, he understands what it feels like to not be able to forgive yourself, even if others do. ...He'd just have preferred if resolution came in a different form. He's very tired of executing people he's fond of.
But if it's for Sanji, to help him let go of his burden, he'll do what he can. And later, he'll remove the extra weight of a fair fight, too - Sanji probably wants to rest. Maybe they all do.]
...I wish that I could have done more. [For Sanji. For Hijikata, and Yasusada. For Cardia, Sousei, Jae-ha. For the rest of their dead, and for their living.] But I can at least do this.
[It's the best he can do, rather.]
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He almost looks... happy]
We all did the best we could with the shit we got, right?
Let's be proud of that tomorrow.
We're going to win.
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Well. That's enough, isn't it? That's enough.]
...Mm, we'll see this through to its end.
[They're so close, so close. Just a few more steps. Just two more deaths. That's all.]
We should take breakfast together before the trial, you and I.
[One Last Hurrah before they mcfuckin die.]
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[His last act as a chef here, then. Sanji couldn't ask for a better customer.]
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[If only he could be a better customer and ask for something outside of like, soup or bread, but hey. It's the thought that counts, or something.]