week 7; friday ( souji )

[axilium]

[somewhere that wouldn't require souji to wheeze his way to—

well, in that place, belph smiles once he sees souji. can you tell jan gives up.]

Looks like you made it.

[unless souji's a hallucination, because who even knows anymore.]

Comments

[sanguinairy]

[Ah. There's a pause, and Souji's head dips gently.]

...I had intended to offer myself if need be, to avoid a repeat of last week. [A small, quirking smile.] I don't have much time left.

[So if this is how things are, he doesn't take issue.]

[axilium]

... Not just a really bad cold, huh?

[though that much was obvious.]

[sanguinairy]

Tuberculosis.

[Wow Belph is literally the first person he's... actually said the name of his illness to in this ENTIRE CASTLE. Good work, team.]

I was given a year back home, but that was only if I spent my time resting, eating well, breathing good air...

[Souji estimates he has a couple months to live now but i, aki, was going to kill him off next week for sure.]

[axilium]

[...]

Oh. Uh, that sucks.

[to put it lightly.]

[sanguinairy]

Well, it is what it is.

[YEAH IT SURE DOES SUCK. He hates his TB fate.]

But if I can at least do this much before I die, I'll be glad for it.

[axilium]

... You fought hard up until now. You've got a lot to be proud of.

[sanguinairy]

[RIGHT IN THE ACHILLES HEEL. Souji is truly so weak to kind words and praise that this is probably the closest he's actually come to crying his entire time here, even if he... absolutely does not look like he's going to cry... This is the dry eyes squad.]

...Thank you. [He's not sure he's got a whole lot to be proud of, but he'll take it anyway.] We'll make it through this.

[axilium]

[wtf don't cry souji, belph will feel awkward.]

... We'd better. We've come this far.

[sanguinairy]

[STOP HE WON'T!! He doesn't cry, he made a promise to someone when he was.. nine.... and hasn't cried since... It's fine.]

There's nothing to do but move forward. Just guide them as best you're able.

[He doesn't know how long he's going to be dead okay, even if this is probably The Last Trial. He'll just say his goodbyes like he's going to be drifting through the void for a mysterious amount of time.]

[axilium]

[SOUJI WHAT NO THAT'S NOT HEALTHY]

... Please leave it up to literally anybody but me?

[sanguinairy]

[He is a very unhealthy person. Literally and figuratively.]

You've been doing a good job of it so far, you know? ...But I can imagine how tiring it's been.

[axilium]

Souji, I just want to sleep for all of tomorrow. Seriously.

[sanguinairy]

Imagine how wonderful a nap would feel after we get back to our homes, though.

[JUST ONE MORE TRIAL, BELPH. YOU CAN DO IT.]

[axilium]

... Yeah, I guess.

[things belph probably shouldn't say: that if they don't have enough ink to transport people to others' worlds instead, he doesn't plan on surviving past this game...]

[sanguinairy]

[BELPH IS ALSO NOT HEALTHY. But hey, that is sure a nap.

But, after a beat:]

Are you going to be alright?

[axilium]

[he waves a hand dismissively.]

Don't worry about me.

[sanguinairy]

[A wry smile. That one's for Francy.]

Saying things like that only make people worry about you more, you know.