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]

... 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.]

[vigilantics]

You're trying too. Even when it's... hard.

[ he's struggling, and he only lets that slip every now and then-- it's usually a blink and you'll miss it moment. steph has been trying very hard not to miss them. ]

I'm telling you this because it's not really fair for me to ask you to share the hard stuff if I'm not going to really... do it back. I mean, you can keep calling me great if you want, but...

[axilium]

[...]

Stuff like this is why you're great, on top of everything else.

[vigilantics]

You really don't have to do the compliments. I was kidding.

[ it's said with a small laugh, at least. ]

[axilium]

I wanted to say it.

[vigilantics]

If you're too nice to met I might get used to it.