week 1; saturday ( stephanie )

[axilium]

[well, that was a ride. honestly, it's been kind of overwhelming, so belph's doing what he does best, which is emotional repression!]

... Just our luck that our target ended up being a murderer this week, huh?

[it's a little awkward.]

Comments

[vigilantics]

[ she's exhausted. that hour specifically drained years of her life from her. ]

Yeah, I... do not know what I expected.

[ NOT. THAT. ]

[axilium]

[woman crying into salad]

Your partner did, though. He's pretty smart, isn't he?

[vigilantics]

He's pretty much a pain in my ass.

[ she's petty. ]

[axilium]

... Yeah, next time, could you not be so suspicious when trying to defend Ion?

[vigilantics]

It would have been less suspicious if one very specific person learned to stop.

[ HIKAGE!!!!!! ]

[axilium]

... I think I have to side with Hikage on this one. He's doing a pretty good job, to be honest.

[vigilantics]

Pretend to agree with me for at least a minute.

[axilium]

[...]

Actually, I was wondering if we should tell him anything.

[oh.]

[vigilantics]

[ she... was not expecting that. her annoyed expression vanishes into one of surprise. and then she just looks thoughtful. ]

He's my partner. I wouldn't mind telling him, if I'm honest, even if this week made me want to hit him more than once.

[ the lecture after wednesday's cyoa was bad, lads. ]

[axilium]

It's your risk to take, since he's your partner.

[read: steph would be the one confessing shit to him.]

But he's smart, and I think people are going to listen to what he says, especially since he was the one on Ann and Akechi's cases. ... And I don't know how much the two of us can do on our own.

[as much as his "trust no bitch" instincts are screaming against this.]

[vigilantics]

It's kind of hard. Even without the Vizier stuff, just trying to use our normal abilities is a headache.

[ and everything belph is saying is right. it's not just that hikage is smart though, he's... well. rude. he's willing to do stuff that other people don't want to because it's uncomfortable.

she's still mad at him though. ]

If I do, I'd just... out myself, I guess.

[axilium]

[honestly, belph thinks hikage is great? and steph deserves any lecture she gets, smh.]

Yeah... Well, let me know if you do. And don't do it tonight, because I wanna chat with him for a bit.

[vigilantics]

[ listen she likes hikage. steph is just also petty and grudgy as hell, despite the cheerful appearance. ]

I will make sure that I won't ruin your flirting.

[axilium]

Why, thank you.

[...]

Along those lines... while I don't plan on confessing my role to him, exactly, I was thinking of hinting to Shirasu that Akechi might have another title.

... At this point, I don't know if Akechi will survive for another week, but we're going to need to get info out of him, one way or another. The more people who suspect him of something besides murder, the more likely that'll happen.

[vigilantics]

He probably won't make it past next weekend. If our Hostesses really are going to people about killing, then whoever they approach will probably feel less guilty if they go after someone who has been confirmed to already been involved in a murder.

[ ... ]

How would you hint that to Shirasu though?

[axilium]

Outright tell him that I think Akechi might have another title. It wouldn't even be much of a lie, since I can use the same proof that made me suspect him to begin with.

[vigilantics]

That could work... especially after what just happened.

[axilium]

Yeah. Didn't want to bring it up before in case I was wrong, but oh, now that he has a noose around his neck, things have changed, etc. That kind of explanation.

[vigilantics]

Just be careful. You never know how someone might react, and Shirasu is...

[ also paranoid. ]

[axilium]

I'll be careful. He's more unpredictable than Hikage, but...

[...]

That reminds me. While I don't know his title, I know what his ability is—vaguely.

[vigilantics]

[ somehow it's not surprising that he was not explicit with those details. ]

What is it?

[axilium]

... In his words, it allows him to move freely without being recognized.

[vigilantics]

...

I see.

[ that's... an interesting ability. ]

[axilium]

Yeah, he's already offered to act as my incognito bodyguard, if need be.

[vigilantics]

Aw, does that mean you'll sneak him into our dates?