week 6; monday ( sanji )

[axilium]

[yo, sanji. hopefully this encounter is less alarming than some of the previous ones, as belph seeks him out somewhere private.]

Hey. The Historians shared with me their most recent memory regain and it had to do with the Editors, so I was wondering if I could cross-reference it with you.

Comments

[axilium]

... Why are you all so dramatic?

[PLEASE.]

Though I guess it's kind of funny, all things considered. Did I ever tell you why I checked you?

[concasse]

Because we're all bored and petty.

[BUT IS HE WRONG? Sanji thinks not.

Tilting his head, no, he doesn't remember this information]

Oh, I forgot I never asked you. Did something give me away?

[axilium]

Can't deny that.

[they are, indeed, bored and petty.]

Not exactly. More like you seemed... especially invested in helping people out? So it seemed like a good idea to figure out if you had a role or not.

If it turned out that you didn't have a role, I probably would've used you as a point of contact, like the Historians are doing with Varian.

[and then sanji turned out to be a murderer, which oddly enough has not changed belph's opinion much, even if that was kind of a terrible time to learn who killed jae-ha.]

[concasse]

[A pause. He glance skirts away like he's uncomfortable]

... I know I'm lying to everyone, but at this point, all I can do is keep the game going until we get a better solution or we gun for Dragon-sama's ending.

But that doesn't mean I can't... I dunno, help out when I can.

[Trying to worm his way into saying that his desire to help was never disingenuous? Though it probably seems it]

[axilium]

I'm not accusing you of anything, if that's what you're thinking. Actually, I'm glad that if the Editor role has to exist, that someone like you is in it.

[a beat, as he realizes how that might sound.]

I mean, it sucks for you! [so, not glad on sanji's behalf.] But... better you than some psychopath, or whatever.

[belph's not exactly in a position to judge for lying, whether back home or here.]

[concasse]

Tch, yeah?

[...]

That's a big reason why I accepted. When I realized someone else would take my place... could've been one of the kids, or someone who'd make it into a show.

[He couldn't have that.]

[axilium]

... You're so straightforward that it kind of hurts, you know that?

[but again, he actually admires it a little.]

[concasse]

Of course I am! I just want everyone brought back and with as minimal scarring as necessary.

[axilium]

[he holds up his hands in a gesture of peace.]

I didn't say it was a bad thing! I just don't meet people like that often—and I'd expect it even less in this situation.

[concasse]

Tch. I guess to be fair, neither do I.

[...]

I got a question though. Whatever my beef with Evan, ain't gonna touch 'em, we've got more important things to worry about.

But does he have a role? I'm trying to keep out of their way as much as possible.

[axilium]

He could—I haven't checked him. If he's not your fellow Editor, though, the only thing left he could be is a Historian.

[concasse]

Hn... I only know two of the Historians, so maybe.

[...]

Does this mean you're a ... Vizier? Whatever the fuck that is.

[axilium]

Same.

[... though now he's curious as to which ones sanji knows.]

Got it in one. Guess it's pretty obvious now that the role names are public.

[concasse]

I got my suspicions who the Alchemist is, so yeah.

The more surprising shit was that there's two of your role. I didn't call that.

[axilium]

Is that so?

[his expression freezes, just for a split-second, at the mention of there being two viziers.]

... Mm-hmm.

[concasse]

[... Uh.]

Did I get it wrong...?

[axilium]

[...

it's really tempting to lie his ass off, but sanji has been relatively honest (so far as he can tell??), so.]

... No, I'm probably just... feeling something similar to how you did when I brought up the second Editor.

[which is to say that he would've preferred keeping it hidden.]

[concasse]

Ah. Gotcha.

[Baaacking off immediately then.]

Anyway, that's all I wanted to know.

[...]

If at any point you wanna know if I get assignments, come find me and I'll give you the heads up.

[axilium]

... When do you usually find out?

[concasse]

Tomorrow.

[axilium]

... Oh. Uh... good luck?

[there's no good reaction to "that's the day you find out if you have to kill people".]

[concasse]

Thanks.

[It's alright. Sanji gets it.

There's no good way to say he's used to feeling his heart shattered on Tuesdays, so!]

Anyway, I'll talk to you later.

[axilium]

[sanji no :(

he nods.]

See you.