week 3; monday ( stephanie )

[axilium]

[there's a number of things he wants to discuss with steph, but he'll start off with the obvious.]

How'd things go with your boyfriend?

Comments

[vigilantics]

No, you're right. That's the smart thing to do.

[ she runs a hand through her hair. ]

I just didn't really want to think of you getting killed.

[axilium]

[... ha.]

That's the kind of thing I'd expect from you.

[it's not a bad thing.]

Well, hopefully, it won't come down to that.

[vigilantics]

It better not.

[ it's muttered. she has a bad habit of saying her internal monologue out loud sometimes. ]

Wait. What would you... cut yourself with?

[axilium]

[he holds a finger up to his lips.]

Shh. Don't tell Sanji.

[guess who one of the knife thieves is.]

[vigilantics]

Oh my god. Klepto.

[ she shakes her head. ]

You know I normally beat up thieves.

[axilium]

You've already beaten me up, though.

[vigilantics]

But now I have a valid reason to?

[axilium]

Hey, it's not like anyone owned those knives!

[vigilantics]

Sanji would disagree.

[ he thinks he owns the entire kitchen. ]

... if something happens to me, though, I should figure something out.

[axilium]

[...

it's easy to be flippant about his own life, but hearing steph say it now—for a moment, he can empathize with her initial response of "no."]

I guess.

[vigilantics]

I'll figure something out.

But neither of us are allowed to die.

[axilium]

[... and it's things like this that make it clear how he can never tell steph the truth—why they're having this conversation now. that at this point, it wouldn't be a tragedy if he were to disappear.

but for steph's sake, and for his own, he'll continue playing the clown.]

Roger that, partner. I'll hold you to that, of course.

[vigilantics]

[ she holds her pinky finger out again. ]

Right. We're partners.

[axilium]

[... all right, he'll do it.]

Yup.

[vigilantics]

So, you know, when something's bothering you, you should tell me.

[ she hasn't let that go from when they were drinking together. ]

[axilium]

Do you think I'm hiding something?

[vigilantics]

Nothing to do with the job. I know you'd tell me.

[ that comes easy enough. ]

But no one is always so chill all the time. I'd know.

[axilium]

[honestly, the fact that she trusts him so easily... well, he doesn't know how to handle that. nobody trusts him like that.]

Maybe I'm a special snowflake.

[vigilantics]

You're my special snowflake.

[ it's said in a song-songy tone, but then she drops it. ]

I think you're a very private person, but I also think that nothing good from bottling absolutely everything up.

[axilium]

[why do you think he drinks so much.]

A hero and a therapist? What can't you do?

[vigilantics]

Calculus.

[ ... ]

You're doing it again though.

[axilium]

Hey, I'll do the job just fine. Don't worry about it.

[vigilantics]

I know you'll do that just fine, Belph. I'm not worried about that.

[ he has clearly shown himself capable for this. ]

I'm worried about you, you nerd.

[axilium]

Thanks! There's nothing to worry about, though?

[vigilantics]

There's always something to worry about. It just depends on whether you let others worry with you or not.