week 7; friday ( sanji )

[axilium]

[hi, sanji.

they probably both need rest, and there are a bunch of (nicer) things belph could potentially say, but first:]

I hallucinated Akechi's presence until I found his body. You know anything about that?

[because that was as weird as fuck.]

Comments

[concasse]

-- Wha?

[So uh,

that should answer Belph's question!]

Was he a ghost?

[axilium]

... I have no idea. He told me that you guys came to an agreement, and then when we found his corpse, he was all, "Oh right, I have somewhere to be"? And then vanished into golden dust?

[concasse]

-- I mean, I promised I'd bring them all back, but...

He was gone by the time I left the jousting grounds.

[Sanji murdered the fuck out of that kid, sorry.]

[axilium]

[...]

Great. Why am I going crazy now?

[concasse]

[A soft huff]

Maybe he was so pissed off he lost that his soul stayed around outta spite.

[It seems like an idea that would grant Sanji peace, at least. He goes to stare at his glass of rum]

... Almost killed me, actually. If he'd just aimed for the heart instead of my shitty leg, I wouldn't be here.

[No point in acting disappointed, he guesses]

[axilium]

He did tell me he wasn't going to make it easy for you.

[he's honestly not surprised that sanji's disappointed to still be alive.]

... He didn't want to tell Eichi or Rebecca. He knew Rebecca would have a breakdown, and that Eichi would insist on being with him on Thursday night—and he didn't want to put him at risk.

[concasse]

[A quiet nod]

... He told me the same thing. I was gonna tell Eichi at first, but Akechi insisted I keep my mouth shut.

[...]

But I think I should tell him the truth tonight. Whatever reaction he has to it, we... need to get rid of two Heroes.

[axilium]

... It's your decision.

[he won't decide that sanji should be among the final three, any more than he'd insist that for his other friends.]

Regardless of how he takes it... you did the best you could in your position, you know? Don't lose sight of that.

[concasse]

[A hint of a smile. Belph is fair kinder than he gives himself credit for]

Well, if he breaks my nose, I won't stop him.

[Someone please punish Sanji so he can feel a little better]

... Do you know if anyone's planning anything for tomorrow?

[axilium]

[what no he's an asshole]

Not that I know of. If Ion and Veronica are up to something, Steph hasn't said anything... and I'm pretty sure Hikage is mostly clueless.

[they keep forgetting to tell him shit. oops.]

Nico, Kyouka, and Magnus are the ones I have no idea about.

[concasse]

... I really don't wanna leave shit up to chance, but...

[He folds his arms]

I'm going to speak with Souji, later.

If he's willing, he and I are gonna be the ones to die.

[axilium]

[...]

Then I guess that takes care of that.

[concasse]

Only if he agrees, though. He might refuse.

[Sanji doubts it, though.]

[axilium]

... It's Souji. I'd be kind of surprised if he refused.

[concasse]

Tch. Yeah.

[...]

If it goes as planned, either I kill him, or he kills me. I'd rather not leave it up to us splitting the vote. Shit'll go more smoothly if there's only one name to focus on.

[axilium]

... Could be worse options for killers. Hikage volunteered, but I'd rather that he didn't have to dirty his hands at this stage.

And if we screw up now, I swear...

[concasse]

Hn. Did he?

[Sanji doesn't really like Hikage so yeah, no, he doesn't get to participate. STAY IN THE SANDBOX, KID.]

Anyway, I refuse to left Stephanie-chan go. And Magnus and Ion are kids.

So they should let the adults handle it from here.

[axilium]

[no one likes hikage but belph and steph tbh.]

Heh. Yeah, can't say this turn of events surprises me at all.

[that sounds exactly like something sanji would say.

... it's good to know that his role didn't change that part of him. personally, belph feels that as for himself, this war has warped him into someone he no longer recognizes.]

[concasse]

[No one likes Zelos and yet here Sanji is, always in his corner. So he gets it.]

... I'm gonna visit Dragon-sama one more time. Probably Tiger-sama as well.

[A sigh.]

If there's... anything you want me to ask...

[axilium]

[...]

Sanji, I honestly don't know at this point.

[concasse]

Neither do I.

[A shrug]

I figured I should ask, just in case.

[...]

So we'll settle on Dragon-sama's ending and hope for the best.

[Guess it's final.]

[axilium]

Unless we get any last-minute revelations, probably.

[...]

Though on that note, we might as well plan now: what exactly are we planning for tomorrow's trial? I feel like the actual murders aren't... really important at this point.

[concasse]

They're not. But if anyone wants to spend some time unfolding that shitty mystery, I'll give them an hour or two.

[...]

But after that, either Souji comes at me, or I kill him off. Doesn't matter to me at this point. Then you guys vote off the person who survives.

[axilium]

Well, there's that. But—I feel like we still have loose ends to clean up, info-wise? You should, uh, probably be alive for that?

[concasse]

Do you need me alive for it...?

[Sanji's not arguing! But he fails to see how his presence matters at this point.]

Alright. Want us to wait until later in the trial?

[axilium]

The more heads, the better.

[concasse]

Tch. Fine.

[JUST LET HIM DIE ALREADY!!!]

When is this information gonna get shared?

[axilium]

[BELPH JUST SHRUGS BECAUSE HE KNOWS SHIT, SANJI.]

[concasse]

[FFFFF]

I'll tell Souji to hold off craving my shitty heart out, then.

[axilium]

Please do so.

[concasse]

[A snort, but then... silence.

Because Sanji doesn't think there's much left for the two of them to discuss.

It really is the end, isn't it?]

Who was the Blotter besides Cardia-chan? Do you know?

[axilium]

[he shakes his head.]

No clue. Shirasu didn't say.

[concasse]

... Shirasu knew?

[axilium]

... They told him beforehand that they'd picked him as their target. They thought he'd agree to die. [a beat.] Which he pretended to.

[and they evidently didn't understand him very well if they believed him.]

[concasse]

... So it's likely he killed Cardia-chan.

[And then someone came after Shirasu]

[axilium]

Yeah. Most likely, the Blotters, including Cardia, came after him, he took down Cardia, and then the other Blotter finished him off.

[concasse]

[Sanji is not sad Shirasu is dead. At all.

... But he won't say as much, out of respect for Belph.]

I guess that's just how it goes, eh...?

[axilium]

[belph doesn't expect anyone to be sad over shirasu's death, it's fine.]

Pretty much. He wasn't a good pick for a target.

[concasse]

I thought not.

Between you and me, I was glad I didn't get Souji or him for an assignment.

[axilium]

... Ha. They wouldn't have made it easy, no.

[concasse]

It's always the shitty swordsmen who give me the most trouble.

[Regardless, Sanji is gonna stand up from whatever surface he's squatting on, glancing to Belph with a bittersweet grin]

Anyway, I got a few other stops to make. Pray Eichi doesn't kill me and complicate shit, would ya?

[...]

And thanks for everything. You were a big help.

[axilium]

... Try to keep him relatively calm, if you can. He's the one I'm most concerned about screwing us over tomorrow...

[though he won't talk sanji out of it, either way.]

You weren't too bad yourself.