week 6; thursday ( shirasu )

[axilium]

[sometime after the breakfast that definitely didn't have an ulterior purpose or anything like that—]

... So I'm guessing you want to know what that was really about.

Comments

[wagashis]

I do.

[he's not remotely surprised that there were ulterior purposes, but at least it wasn't something he minded happening.]

Just what was going on, then?

[axilium]

[...]

Natsuo's a Historian. I promised I'd give him a certain piece of info today, and... well, it's Natsuo. Things escalated.

[read: instead of approaching belph later in the day in private, natsuo decided he had to find out first thing in the morning and needed a non-suspicious reason to visit him, so. breakfast.]

[wagashis]

-as they tend to, with that boy.

[guess who is not at all surprised? it's shirasu.]

He's better at keeping it quiet than I'd have thought, though.

[axilium]

Same. He was the last one I found, actually. On the other hand, terrible liar when I confronted him about it.

[wagashis]

That- sounds about right, really. I suppose just remaining quiet is easier than lying about it.

[sure explains why natsuo has been so eager to help out, though.]

[axilium]

Considering how distracting he tends to be...

[wagashis]

I'm not surprised he'd be the last one, considering that.

[it's very. natsuo.

and considering other developments from after I wrote this tag the first time-]

You weren't too interested in future plans though, were you. Does he truly wear you out so much?

[explain Things, belph.]

[axilium]

... I don't think you want to hear the answer to that, Shirasu.

[wagashis]

You should know that I can't leave it at that.

[not when it's put that way.]

[axilium]

[he's quiet for a long while.]

... There won't be an "again" for Natsuo.

[wagashis]

... I see.

[that's-- he's quiet too, for a few moments that seem to stretch out. it's true that natsuo has effectively been on borrowed time, but...

ah, this complicates things.

he finally breathes out a sigh, shaking his head.]

Is your Editor friend giving you forewarning, now? Or is this a different case.

[axilium]

... Got it in one. Apparently, the Crafters consider him a detriment.

[wagashis]

Of course.

[well shit.

he's just going to stare down at his folded hands, thinking.

a few moments later:]

This is going to be a mess again, I'm sure.

[axilium]

... No kidding. Not to mention there's still the Blotter kill, whoever that'll be.

[wagashis]

Mm.

[nothing but a brief sound of assent, first, but-]

I don't know who they've chosen, but I do know a third.

[axilium]

... Are you kidding me.

[wagashis]

It's hardly the sort of thing I would joke about.

[axilium]

[he buries his face in his hand.]

Why?

[wagashis]

I know at least one contact of yours is aware, but-

Do you know about Ion's objective? The softer one.

[axilium]

... No.

[wagashis]

It requires him to die in a specific manner.

[axilium]

[... he can't say it's all that surprising, considering the kid's ability, but.]

Well, that's screwed up. So... both he and Natsuo will be dying this week?

[wagashis]

They will.

But he may not stay that way. I'm not certain yet how it's going to end.

[axilium]

... What do you mean, "may not stay that way"? What, is Sandalphon going to come back from the dead and pull his stunt all over again?

[it's a joke, but seriously. why can't things just be clear? belph is so tired?]

[wagashis]

[as entertaining as sandy round 2 would be--]

I didn't tell you what the third wish was because I used it for him. I thought if one of our gifts could do that, perhaps...

[maybe ion could also be saved. shirasu would really hate to lose someone who trusts him, and besides-- it's good pr to try to save somebody.

that's definitely all it is.]

At any rate, he's in on it. I knew he had an arrangement to be told if he was chosen, and I've worked with him to try to ensure success. Whatever the result, it will only work if he fulfills his objective.

[axilium]

... Well, none of this is going to stop people from freaking out, but...

[he sighs. okay. there's a lot to unpack here, so he'll just... focus on the practical.]

In other words, the partner situation really is going to be a mess.

[wagashis]

Essentially, yes.

-there's one other reason I'm telling you this, though.

[he at least has the decency to look a bit apologetic at that.]

As I said, his objective needs to be completed, but I can't see to that myself. He thinks it may not work if it's me, and I'm hesitant to leave this to anyone else.

If I tell you where to go tomorrow, will you?

[axilium]

[this... doesn't sound good.]

... What do you need me to do?

[wagashis]

...he has to die in someone's arms. The timing will be close-- he needs to be found as soon as possible.

I understand this may be asking a lot of you, but if you can't... will you at least go and ensure whoever accompanies you does it? He should be conscious enough to explain, but I can't stake this on him not passing out too soon.

[axilium]

[he lets out a sigh. well, tomorrow is already going to be shitty, so why not?]

Fine. Where?

[wagashis]

-thank you.

[he exhales a breath; honestly, leaving it up to whoever finds him has been the part of this he likes the least.]

Go to the owlery as soon as you can. I believe he's leaving behind messages meant for others, as well.

[axilium]

[at this point, belph accepts that he's just going to be complicit in a bunch of deaths, honestly.]

Owlery. Got it.

[wagashis]

[honestly someone please let belph rest?]

If I'd known sooner... but I suppose all we can do is see how this plays out, now.

[he's pretty tired right now, too, after what belph's told him. of all the weeks for them to decide to kill natsuo...]

[axilium]

... If nothing else, at this stage, there might be people willing to use a token to save the partnerless.

[it's almost like some higher beings (coughmodscough) are sadists or something......]

[wagashis]

We can hope, I suppose. But that's assuming it works as expected in the first place.

[with all this out here, he's just going to stretch out and lie down... once they're done he's going to sleep just a little bit. he needs it.]

I still fully intend to live to the end of this game of theirs, but... it truly is becoming a pain.

[axilium]

[... that's a little more honesty out of shirasu than he was expecting.]

It's getting pretty exhausting.

[wagashis]

[he still hates it but #thankscastle for the honesty effect.

it is more exhausting than he thought it'd be, though. he expected this kind of game to be simpler for him-- but then he didn't really expect people like natsuo, or ion.]

Nothing to be done about that but to end it sooner rather than later, though that's easier said than done at the moment.