week 6, friday

[vigilantics]

[ well, after stephanie has spent a little time to herself to cry, she sets out to find a very specific person. after not locating him in his room or in the hallway, she'll go to the next best place-- the lounge.

she opens the door enough to poke her head through, and once she spots him, she enters fully, closing it quietly behind her. ]

Belph?

Comments

[axilium]

[...]

I've been lying to you for almost two weeks at this point, Steph.

[vigilantics]

... about what?

[axilium]

[is he making a mistake? he doesn't know. there are so many things he doesn't.

it hurts. he wants to laugh. he doesn't understand why.]

I killed Reyna.

[vigilantics]

[ her eyes widen in shock, and all she can do for the first few moments after his confession is stare at him. she raises her hand, and god, she wants to slap him. shake him. do something, because reyna was her friend and didn't deserve to die.

instead, though, stephanie just wraps her arms around him and hugs him. reyna was her friend, but she can't lie about who she loves more. ]

I'm going to hit you.

[ her voice is choked; it's obvious that she's trying not to cry again. she doesn't actually move to carry on with her threat though. ]

[axilium]

[he freezes up. he wasn't expecting this.

...

and then, quietly,]

I'd deserve it.

[don't get choked up. don't falter. you made a promise.]

... She and Melloi had a deal. If either of them became a Blotter, they'd kill the other.

[vigilantics]

[ ah, so it really was him who killed her. poor dazai. ]

You told me to try not to solve the other two murders last week, but not your own.

[axilium]

I did.

[... and that was very deliberate.]

[vigilantics]

[ that's what gets her to tear up again. ]

You can't do that to me.

[axilium]

[he lets out a breath. it's terrifying, how much steph cares.]

... Well, it doesn't matter. I got away with it, just like I promised Reyna.

[vigilantics]

It does matter.

[ she leans so that she can look at his face. ]

What if I had, like... unknowingly helped get you caught? Because I listened to what you told me to do?

[axilium]

[simply,]

Then you would've been doing what you were supposed to.

[vigilantics]

I love you.

[ it's said firmly. it's not a declaration of romantic intent, but is instead just a statement that is true. steph loves a lot of people here, but belph is... well. belph. ]

You're not alone here, Belph.

[axilium]

[...

he lost everything back home. and ironically, by granting his wish, this place took even more from him. there's nothing left for him—no future, no happiness, beyond the sliver of hope the crafters have given him, if they gather enough ink.

his time here is his last stretch. his last attempt to be a good person. and yet, he's only come to hate what this war has turned him into. he knows that sooner or later, he'll pay for it.]

You're not going to accept being one of the final survivors, are you?

[vigilantics]

[ it's not a question she's actually considered. if the hero population suddenly took a major hit and she had to be one of the last ones, then yeah. but if it was between her and someone else?

... no, she'd let the other person live instead. ]

We'll see what happens.

[axilium]

I know what you'll do, if it comes down to it.

[she wouldn't be her if she wouldn't. he smiles, tinged with melancholy.]

... Whatever you choose, I'll accept it. I won't fight your decision.

[vigilantics]

[ she stares at him before sighing. ]

I understand why you wanted to protect Sanji. I just-- please don't lie to me like that again. Just tell me?

[axilium]

... You would've had your hands tied. There wouldn't have been any death for you to focus on.

[vigilantics]

I could have still kept myself busy. There are other ways to help.

[ wrangling people in trial can be a full time job. ]

[axilium]

... Like I said, it doesn't matter now. What's done is done.

[vigilantics]

You still feel horrible about it though.

[ it's said quietly. ]

So it's not really over, is it?

[axilium]

... Sanji and I are kindred spirits, in a way. That's probably why I trust him.

[it's both an answer and not one at all.]

[vigilantics]

[ she frowns. steph is used to him dancing around actually saying something, but it still gets frustrating at times like these.

it takes another moment of deliberation before she leans in and kisses him... on the cheek. ]

Jerk.

[axilium]

[he blinks, startled for a few moments.

...

then, he smiles wryly.]

What does that make you? Someone with bad taste?

[vigilantics]

You have no idea.

[ he truly... does not...

but that's not the point.

stephanie grabs the collar of her shirt and pulls it down far enough that it exposes the area below her collarbone. it's nothing that hasn't been seen before during strip searches, but there's also a scar there that's obviously a few years old. it's a gunshot wound. ]

I got shot there by someone called Black Mask. He tortured me for information using things like-- I don't know. Power drills? [ she stops, pulling her shirt back up. ] I got caught by him when I was trying to fix something I messed up-- I mentioned it to you before. When I said I made a dumb mistake? I started a gang war. I thought I was helping, but... anyway, it was a mess. A lot of people died. Bad people, good people, people who had nothing to do with... any of it... So, here I am. Still trying to do good.

[ she just looks at him. ]

[axilium]

[... this is a pleasant story. thanks, steph?

he's quiet for a bit, before he smiles grimly.]

And that's why I think you're great, you know?

[because no matter what happens, she's still trying.]