[a long time ago, he might have reacted differently to this. sharp denial and spitting rage, and a vow that whoever would come after him could try, but they wouldn’t be able to take his life. now. . .]
[his smile is even, albeit distant. almost detached]
I see you heeded my request.
[l o l]
. . . I do hope Sanji-san realizes I won’t make it easy on him.
. . . if he wishes for it so badly, then perhaps I’ll try. I said I wouldn’t take another life after Hansen’s, but. . .
[the calm is eerie and unnatural. and yet, this is how he is. he doesn’t even dislike Sanji; on the contrary, their recent conversations have endeared Akechi to him. it’s just. . .]
[Akechi can’t go down without a fight. he just can’t]
[another deep sigh, and Akechi pulls a parchment out of his pocket. it’s rolled up and tied together with a string, and he hands it to Belph with a bored look]
I received this today. I believe you can do more good with it than I can.
If Dragon-san’s ambiguous response unnerves you, I’ll seek her and Tiger-san out today to ask for clarification. I need to speak to Tiger-san as it is, anyway.
Yeah, see if you can. This last half is all the reward the Viziers have left, since we don't exactly have any roles to hit anymore.
Anyway, we wanted to check with others first. After all, the question is relevant only if our numbers do fall below three, so we might not even need the rest of the answer.
. . . it was a memory about ink collected at the end of each execution. It isn’t just from those who died. It’s from those who have completed their objectives, too.
It’s why there can be a flow of Villain ink, when only Heroes and Civilians had died.
[not important!! but anyway, Akechi shakes his head]
[... he supposes he's not in a position to judge. after all, steph criticized him for keeping secrets and taking everything onto himself, and yet here he is this week, doing the exact same thing all over again.]
Tell her she is needed. That she is important, and cared for. [his gaze grows distant; Belph may feel like he isn't just talking about Rebecca, here] That she has not lost those that she cares for. That they haven't left her, and that she'll be seeing them again, soon.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[unfazed, Akechi merely arches a brow, one hand resting in his pocket]
Yes?
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Tiger has ordered your death this week.
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[a long time ago, he might have reacted differently to this. sharp denial and spitting rage, and a vow that whoever would come after him could try, but they wouldn’t be able to take his life. now. . .]
[his smile is even, albeit distant. almost detached]
I see you heeded my request.
[l o l]
. . . I do hope Sanji-san realizes I won’t make it easy on him.
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Frankly, I'm pretty sure Sanji's hoping to die.
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. . . if he wishes for it so badly, then perhaps I’ll try. I said I wouldn’t take another life after Hansen’s, but. . .
[the calm is eerie and unnatural. and yet, this is how he is. he doesn’t even dislike Sanji; on the contrary, their recent conversations have endeared Akechi to him. it’s just. . .]
[Akechi can’t go down without a fight. he just can’t]
I suspect I know Tiger-san’s reasons, too.
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Yeah, it's because she's unhappy about Natsuo's death, and you're one of Dragon's favourites—ergo, revenge.
[also the part where the entire game has conflicted feelings on akechi's continued existence.]
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We truly are pawns in their petty conflict, aren’t we?
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I received this today. I believe you can do more good with it than I can.
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[he'll open up the parchment to make sure, though.]
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0906 2305 06011212 0205121523 2008180505 0914 01 06010320091514, 030114 19151305151405 030801140705 0601032009151419 011404 2305'1212 1920091212 0205 06091405?
"59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 73 77 69 74 63 68." 44 72 61 67 6f 6e 27 73 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e.
20080120 03151920 2119 08011206 1506 0114 011419230518. 190815211204 2305 211905 152118 1520080518 08011206 2015 070520 0114 0512010215180120091514?
Y/N, please. Ask around.
[although as Belph goes cross-eyed at those numbers, Akechi speaks like he's reciting something from memory]
"If we fall below three in a faction, can someone change factions and we'll still be fine.
'You may switch.' Dragon's answer.
That cost us half an answer, should we use our other half to get an elaboration."
[a beat]
That is what it says, word for word.
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belph claps. or rather, more like he claps one hand against his wrist, since he's holding the letter.]
I'm impressed. I wasn't actually sure if you would be able to decode it.
[surprise!]
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[turns around to walk away]
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also in belph's defence, he felt really awkward as soon as he learned akechi was dying.]
I thought you would appreciate the chance to put your smarts to use?
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Thank you for patronizing me.
[but okay he actually isn’t leaving]
If Dragon-san’s ambiguous response unnerves you, I’ll seek her and Tiger-san out today to ask for clarification. I need to speak to Tiger-san as it is, anyway.
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[sweats]
Yeah, see if you can. This last half is all the reward the Viziers have left, since we don't exactly have any roles to hit anymore.
Anyway, we wanted to check with others first. After all, the question is relevant only if our numbers do fall below three, so we might not even need the rest of the answer.
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[aha]
I'll see what I can find out.
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Thanks. [a beat.] Also, I assume you regained a memory this week?
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We did. It isn't very important.
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Well, I've got nothing else.
[especially if akechi may not be surviving past thursday.]
... Are you going to tell Eichi?
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It’s why there can be a flow of Villain ink, when only Heroes and Civilians had died.
[not important!! but anyway, Akechi shakes his head]
No.
I’m telling no one.
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[...]
Are you sure that's a good idea?
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If I tell Rebecca, she'll have a break down. She already will if I really am dead come Friday morning. I won't do that to her.
[a small shrug]
My whole life I have worked alone. My whole life I have faced each and every threat against my well being by myself.
I can do that at least one last time, if my fate truly is sealed. Which-- I don't believe that it is.
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... Well, good luck, then.
[however the result, it won't be good.]
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Please look after Rebecca. [Eichi is a given, but Rebecca. . .] I want her to survive, even though she may not wish to.
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She and I aren't exactly close, but I'll see what I can do.
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[mmm]
Validation.
[he knows this, because he's just like her, in so many ways]
A reason to keep living.
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[why on earth are you leaving this task to two people who don't want to live either, akechi.]
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[BECAUSE REBECCA ALSO LEFT IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS READY TO DIE]
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Tell her she is needed. That she is important, and cared for. [his gaze grows distant; Belph may feel like he isn't just talking about Rebecca, here] That she has not lost those that she cares for. That they haven't left her, and that she'll be seeing them again, soon.
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