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]

[his face is buried in his hand, and his shoulders are shaking.

he's not crying, though. steph will soon be able to tell that he's laughing—quiet and broken. after a few moments, he stops and looks up at her, his smile mirthless.]

You know what, Steph...? I really am a despicable person.

[vigilantics]

What's wrong?

[ well, she knows the obvious of what's wrong. but what belph said is. concerning. ]

[axilium]

... I've discovered that I'm the kind of person who can smile and laugh with someone—all the while knowing they're going to die that night.

[...]

I promised Natsuo I'd have breakfast with him again. I knew all along we were never going to have that chance.

[vigilantics]

[ it takes her a moment to fully understand what he's saying here, and it's kind of funny how a heart can break multiple times in such a short span of time. ]

Was... was he the Editor kill...?

[axilium]

... He was considered a detriment to the war. Something about balance, or whatever. Sanji wasn't sure on the details—he didn't even know Natsuo was a Historian until I told him.

[vigilantics]

... it's because he's a Hero but has been telling everyone he's a Villain. He's been doing a lot of objectives, but he's giving Heroes a lot more than they need.

[ or, was. since he's dead now. ]

[axilium]

I thought it might be something like that.

[he looks down at the ground.]

... I knew Ion was going to die as well.

[vigilantics]

... how?

[ was he another editor kill? she can't think of a reason for why he might have been needed to be removed from the game though. ]

[axilium]

... His objective was to die in someone's arms. He was concerned that his killer's wouldn't count, so they asked me to ensure that it'd be achieved.

[god. though he's changed since then, he can still feel ion's ink spilling onto him.]

[vigilantics]

[ she opens her mouth to respond, and then shuts it. there's a moment where she just stares at belph, before finally muttering, ]

But... he didn't have to...

[axilium]

[he closes his eyes, pressing his hand against his temple.]

... He still has a chance. Don't get your hopes up, but... his murderer used a wish to revive him afterwards. They're not sure if it'll work, however.

[vigilantics]

[ she's not sure how to say that they already have enough civilian and hero objectives. there was literally no need for him to fulfill his.

she decides not to. ]

Why didn't you tell me?

[axilium]

"Hey, Steph, not only is Natsuo dying, but so is Ion, who I know you're protective of!"

... Because that would've gone over so well?

[vigilantics]

That's-- how long have you known about this?

[ she can't deny that she would have reacted badly. ]

[axilium]

Wednesday for Natsuo. Thursday for Ion.

[vigilantics]

You should have told me. You've been sitting on this, and now you feel like crap on your own.

[ steph doesn't want that for him, ever. ]

[axilium]

What, so you could've felt like crap too? I know sharing is caring, but I don't think what's that they meant, Steph.

[vigilantics]

[ first of all, how dare you make jokes after starting out with calling yourself despicable, ]

I would rather feel like crap together than finding out later you've been dealing with this on your own! That's how relationships are supposed to work.

[axilium]

[it's what he does.]

Ha. Haha, ah... it's way too late for that, Steph.

[vigilantics]

[ she's quiet for a second after that, unsure of how to respond in a tactful way. when they fails, she just blurts out, ]

Belph. Please, for once, tell me what you're feeling right now. Really.

[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.