week 5; wednesday ( sanji )

[axilium]

['sup, sanji. wherever he is, as long as it's relatively private, belph will be seeking him out.]

Yo. I want to talk to you about something—you seem like a straightforward guy, so I'm going to guess you'd rather I get to the point...?

Comments

[axilium]

If I was a Historian, I wouldn't be asking if you were one.

[concasse]

I dunno if Historians all know each other!

I didn't bother asking the other one I know if that's the case.

[axilium]

They didn't at the start, but they've since found each other.

... So, I answered your question. Mind answering mine now? I won't out you, even if you're an Editor.

[concasse]

... Why do you wanna know?

[A pause]

Oh don't worry, you'll get your answer. I just don't see the point in you hunting us all down. You trying to keep tabs on everyone?

[axilium]

... For every role I confirm, the Crafters are willing to give me answers to questions I ask. Mostly, I've been trying to use them to figure out how to end this war on an ideal note.

[concasse]

[Sanji's... thinking to himself, gaze faraway in the seconds that follow.

But eventually]

Yeah, I'm a special role.

[Rubbing at his chin thoughtfully. He doesn't seem angry, at any rate]

Interesting.

[...] And have you figured out how to end the war?

[axilium]

... Well, first: I already know you have a role. I checked you this week, and the Crafters confirmed that for me. I'm asking which one.

[concasse]

Of course they did.

[Gotta follow the rules]





Editor.

[axilium]

... Damn. I was kind of hoping you'd be the Shield. Ah, well.

Wwould I be correct if I guessed you're responsible for the... additional deaths? [...] Though I guess you don't really have to answer that. It's more for my own curiosity than anything.

[concasse]

[Without answering the question]

Don't bother the Shield unless it's absolutely necessary.

They've got enough shit on their plate.

[axilium]

[he shrugs.]

Well, like I said, confirming roles is my job, so if I happen to check them by accident, then I'll approach them the same way I'm doing with you. Tell them to talk to me first if they don't want any surprise visits.

[not that he really expects that to happen, but.]

To be honest, you're mainly info mines to me. That's why I'm cooperating with the Historians—so that we can crosscheck the info we get from the Crafters.

[concasse]

Heh. At least you're not wasting time with sympathies.

Have you found any discrepancies then?

[axilium]

I'm expending my effort where needed.

And not really. Mostly, I'm just trying to make sure I don't use up my limited questions on info they already know. And on that note... I don't suppose the Crafters have given you any info as reward for your role?

[concasse]

Not particularly.

[A shrug]

Probably the same shit you've surmised: ink's the quickest way to end the game, so the more objectives reached, the sooner we can go home.

[axilium]

Do you know about how Tiger and Dragon disagree? I know Akechi's been spreading that info, but I don't know who he's spoken to.

[concasse]

[Another beat of silence]

Dragon-sama prefers balance. Tiger-sama prefers speed and efficiency.

Best I can come up with, it's related to how we're split up between heroes, civilians, and villains.

[axilium]

... Tiger's ideal ending is that either the hero faction or the villain faction is wiped out. The civilians are supposed to tip the balance. This path sheds the least ink.

Dragon, on the other hand, wants each faction to try and complete an equal, or near equal, amount of objectives. Since this sheds more ink, she believes it'll yield the greatest success.

[and this is where jan is waiting on a npc tag but anyway]

That's apparently the only differing win condition between them, but there are currently—well, two-weeks-ago-currently—presumed to be four possible endings.

[concasse]

[Nodding along]

Did they give details to the different endings?

The way things are going, Tiger-sama's ending might be the one to come about. We're down to... seven villains, now?

[axilium]

[...]

I don't know about the hidden two just yet. But there's another caveat to Dragon's ideal ending: there has to be three of each faction left standing.

So, in other words, they're both pretty awful. I'll be looking into the other two endings.

[concasse]

[... Oof, yeah. Wincing at that.]

Yeah, I'd like to avoid anything that's gonna draw shit out.

[...]

Most of the shit you've told me correlates with what I know, so. If I find anything useful, I'll pass it along.

[axilium]

Thanks. That's pretty much the other purpose of me confronting all of you like this.

[even as he's pretty much dying inside, because maybe one day, someone's going to shank him for this??]

... And on that note, I'd appreciate it if you didn't reveal my identity to anyone else, though I guess I can't actually stop you.

[concasse]

We both want the same thing, so I won't get in your way or rat your ass out.

[Another pause... and Sanji decides, why the hell not.]

I agreed to my role in order to bring everyone back and save 'em properly.

So if it means down the line you have to throw me under the bus to make that happen, it's fine.

[Sanji doesn't care if he dies, after all.]

[axilium]

[sanji please love yourself??]

So, would I be right if I said Dave and Hijikata? Not that I plan on throwing you under the bus. Let's not jump to that right away, okay?

Though I do have to ask: do the Historians know about your role?

[concasse]

That's right.

And no one knows about my role.

So if it leaks, I know who spread it.

[Sanji says after having just said Belph can throw him to the wolves if necessary, make up your mind chef.]

[axilium]

[he nods, unbothered. namely because yeah, he gets it.]

Got it. I did tell a Historian that I found someone with a role this week, but that I couldn't tell them who just yet. I didn't promise that I would ever, so I'll keep quiet.

[concasse]

Alright.

[...]

By any chance have you been sending letters to the dead?

[axilium]

I wrote to Beauty, but that's about it.

[concasse]

Did she offer any information?

Then again, kinda difficult when half our messages get blotted out.

[axilium]

From what I could tell, she was mainly encouraging us to complete our objectives and work with the Historians. Then again, it's worth keeping in mind she's working with a limited knowledge base, and that her agenda is almost definitely escaping the Other Side.

[concasse]

Hn, true. She must be desperate to get out.

[...]

Well, one last question.

Do you know who the person keeping the partnerless together is?

[axilium]

No idea.

[concasse]

Tch. Worth a shot.

Well, if you got anything else to ask me, get it out while you can.

[axilium]

Here's hoping no one ends up killing them, or we're screwed.

[he shakes his head.]

Nah, that's pretty much it for now. I won't take up any more of your time.

[concasse]

[Looking weary and exhausted for a quick second before it's gone, and the mask is back in place.]

Alright. You know where to find me if you got anything new to report.