I asked Heart. And they told me point blank no one's got a role like that. Assuming they're not pulling our leg to protect the role because they gotta, then yeah... we gotta keep searching for something else.
[A start, then a stop. He pauses and eventually shrugs]
No one deserves to be stuck in that position if they don't wanna.
[And he'll leave it at that, his glance sent at the ceiling in thought]
But no, I didn't ask that. At least from what they told me, kills are voluntary. No one's really being coerced into doing shit besides the general "hey we all fuckin' die if no one kills" bullshit.
[he gives Sanji a curious look at that, because the more they talk about this, the more he wonders. . . but still. there's a time and a place, and maybe one day Sanji will tell him]
[for now?]
Then I wonder how Shinobu found out about it? If that's the reason she killed Yu.
[. . .]
Or maybe she did it because she wanted the prize we were all promised.
[it's the only answer Sanji gives, but. . . it's telling in and of itself. especially considering his reaction to Akira speculating about a killing role on Shadows' team]
[But it's spoken with a sharp, unrelenting grin, like Sanji has come full circle and just finds the ugliness of this situation hilarious. There's a shrug on his end, and he goes wandering off to find himself a seat if he has to talk about his greatest sins.
Whatever. S'not like he ever pretended to be a good person.]
Yeah, I murdered six people -- and caused the death of two extra.
[Sanji says it all so casually that if it were anyone else in any other situation, Akira would be appalled. but considering where they are, and the roles they've known to exist. . . his expression stays even.]
[he folds his arms and leans against one of the kitchen counters, shoulders slumped]
It was that kind of role, then. . . [god. how awful. how shitty] . . . that's such a huge burden to bare alone.
[Akira bites his tongue at that, because he wants to argue, but. . . Sanji moves on so quickly that he isn't even given the chance. he thinks he sees a little more of what Sanji really is, underneath the ridiculous exterior and tough guy act he puts on in front of others]
Because his world was counting on him, and everyone would have been ripped away like pages from an edited script if Sanji had refused.
Because there were children in the castle, and Sanji was afraid they'd end up with his job if he had run away.
Because Sanji thought he was going to die back home, so it didn't really matter all that much if everyone in the castle hated him.
... ... Because Zelos -- his partner -- would have had to pick up his slack, and Sanji couldn't do that to him.
Any of those answers would destroy Sanji's edge at turning himself into a villain. And besides -- Akira's a good kid, he'd understand.
It's why Sanji ticks his eyes to the side, silent for a beat, and then gives a shrug. His voice, still hardened, can't keep the touch of fatigue and defeat from escaping]
It doesn't matter.
[...]
You and a few others know, so do whatever you want with the shitty info.
[Akira isn't stupid. he can read between the lines. he knows there so much more there that Sanji isn't saying, that Sanji won't say to some kid he has only known for a few weeks. and that's okay]
[he doesn't need to]
What would I even do with it in the first place? [a tiny little huff, and his lips twitch, his smile lopsided] Spread it around the camp and paint a target on your back?
. . . no. We're allies, remember?
[he isn't in the business of doxxing killers from previous settings]
And I'd rather you didn't die, considering you're the best resource we have for locating anyone else with a role right now. So don't go throwing yourself on the sacrificial knife.
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Relaxing his grip a moment, and Sanji... nods]
I asked Heart. And they told me point blank no one's got a role like that. Assuming they're not pulling our leg to protect the role because they gotta, then yeah... we gotta keep searching for something else.
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. . . I think I'm kind of relieved, though.
[THANK GOD NO ONE IN THE CAMP IS A DESIGNATED KILLER FOR EVERY SINGLE WEEK]
Though I was told that the castle had a kind of "rotating weekly killer" role. Is that right? Does Heart's answer cover rotating killer roles, too?
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[A start, then a stop. He pauses and eventually shrugs]
No one deserves to be stuck in that position if they don't wanna.
[And he'll leave it at that, his glance sent at the ceiling in thought]
But no, I didn't ask that. At least from what they told me, kills are voluntary. No one's really being coerced into doing shit besides the general "hey we all fuckin' die if no one kills" bullshit.
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[for now?]
Then I wonder how Shinobu found out about it? If that's the reason she killed Yu.
[. . .]
Or maybe she did it because she wanted the prize we were all promised.
1/2
Maybe she got tipped off and did it to save everyone here.
Maybe she really wanted to go home and decided sacrificing two-thirds of us was worth her cause.
[There's no judgment in Sanji's voice; just the simple facts of it]
... So long as there's one kill per week, we can keep going, but the people doing the killing could very well have their own shitty agendas.
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If I get any sense that no one wants to kill, and we might all die because everyone hates getting their hands dirty --
[... He doesn't finish that sentence. He doesn't need to. The hardened expression on his face is enough.
Spoken like a true former Editor.]
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[it's the stony expression that finally pushes Akira to ask, as prying as the quesiton may be]
Did you have a role back at the castle, Sanji?
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[That's the only answer he will give]
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[it's the only answer Sanji gives, but. . . it's telling in and of itself. especially considering his reaction to Akira speculating about a killing role on Shadows' team]
But because of that, I don't like to assume.
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[But it's spoken with a sharp, unrelenting grin, like Sanji has come full circle and just finds the ugliness of this situation hilarious. There's a shrug on his end, and he goes wandering off to find himself a seat if he has to talk about his greatest sins.
Whatever. S'not like he ever pretended to be a good person.]
Yeah, I murdered six people -- and caused the death of two extra.
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[he folds his arms and leans against one of the kitchen counters, shoulders slumped]
It was that kind of role, then. . . [god. how awful. how shitty] . . . that's such a huge burden to bare alone.
[assuming Sanji was alone]
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[Putting an end to that as quickly as he can, though Sanji's voice is hardly nasty -- just blunt like always.]
If I'd wanted to, I could've left that shit to my partner, but ... I had my own reasons for staying in the role.
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Mmm? What were they?
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Because his world was counting on him, and everyone would have been ripped away like pages from an edited script if Sanji had refused.
Because there were children in the castle, and Sanji was afraid they'd end up with his job if he had run away.
Because Sanji thought he was going to die back home, so it didn't really matter all that much if everyone in the castle hated him.
... ... Because Zelos -- his partner -- would have had to pick up his slack, and Sanji couldn't do that to him.
Any of those answers would destroy Sanji's edge at turning himself into a villain. And besides -- Akira's a good kid, he'd understand.
It's why Sanji ticks his eyes to the side, silent for a beat, and then gives a shrug. His voice, still hardened, can't keep the touch of fatigue and defeat from escaping]
It doesn't matter.
[...]
You and a few others know, so do whatever you want with the shitty info.
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[he doesn't need to]
What would I even do with it in the first place? [a tiny little huff, and his lips twitch, his smile lopsided] Spread it around the camp and paint a target on your back?
. . . no. We're allies, remember?
[he isn't in the business of doxxing killers from previous settings]
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Yeah.
[Spoken in absolute deadpan.]
I'd make a convenient target if someone had to die.
[Sanji for shit's sake--]
But in any case, one day we really gotta talk about your taste in allies...
[... He may or may not just be teasing Akira for the sake of it now, in an attempt to clear the air]
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[that explains everything, doesn't it???]
And I'd rather you didn't die, considering you're the best resource we have for locating anyone else with a role right now. So don't go throwing yourself on the sacrificial knife.
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[Also GOD Akechi... yeah nevermind, Akira is qualified to handle all the bullshit that comes with dealing with Sanji]
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Do I? I'm going to take that as a compliment. You two seem like friends.
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[Sanji just say you two are friends--]
He's a little too good at undermining his own importance, but... [well. obviously Sanji disagrees]
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[a hum!!]
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Oooh ho hooooooo
binch]
Bite my ass! We're not talking about me anymore!
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Aw. And here I was, about to ask you what your favorite color is.
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Also shut up and gimme more useful shit. Who are you protecting later?
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I haven't decided yet, but it might be Beau. But if you have any suggestions. . .
[as usual, he's open to them]
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12 wtf how did that not post here
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