week 6, sunday

[vigilantics]

[ well, at least she doesn't have to find him considering she dragged him away with her. she's not entirely sure where she's going here since she mostly just wanted to get out of there as fast as she can. ]

Sorry. There were probably people there you wanted to talk to.

[ it's said after several minutes of silence. ]

Comments

[vigilantics]

... I think they'd probably go after me before you. It doesn't really look like I've been doing much.

[ she knows this considering no one actually suspected her of having a role. which had been their intention from the beginning, but it also means she's less valuable from a technical standpoint. ]

[axilium]

Don't underestimate how much people like you, Steph.

[vigilantics]

Would people go for someone they like or someone they think would genuinely help at this point, Belph?

[axilium]

If they were going to go after a Vizier in the first place, it would probably be because they think we're a threat. By your logic, that would still make me the most likely target.

[vigilantics]

No one is going to kill you unless they're actively trying to sabotage us, Belph.

[ and the only person here who would want that is a crafter. ]

[axilium]

And no one here is going to kill you. Glad we've got that settled.

[vigilantics]

[ she wants to argue that he doesn't actually know that. they have a lot more heroes than they actually need here, after all.

but it also reminds her of the reason why they're now locked with their villains. ]

You're such an idiot.

[axilium]

[she might die. but if she does... he doesn't think it'll be because someone chose to kill her without her consent.]

I'm the idiot?

[vigilantics]

Yes. It's you.

[ name a single dumb thing steph has done all game ]

[axilium]

Hmmmmmm...

[hmmmmmmmmm.]

[vigilantics]

Call me an idiot to my face. Don't be a coward.

[axilium]

If you insist.

Idiot.

[vigilantics]

[ there's a pause after he says it before steph shifts and leans towards him to press her lips against his. just like the cheek kiss from before, this is very chaste and very short, only a few seconds at the most.

when she breaks away, steph looks towards the ground in slight embarrassment. still... don't be a coward. they're running out of time. ]

[axilium]

[...

still with surprise, he doesn't react (sorry, steph). once it's over, a number of thoughts fly through his mind—some of which steph undoubtedly won't like—but rather than voice any, he remains silent.

unlike steph, he is a coward.]

[vigilantics]

Don't worry about it.

[ she didn't actually expect anything in return. but after losing evan and varian before she could tell them what was really, truly important in person... it wasn't really something she wanted to repeat. ]

I just needed to do it at least once.

[axilium]

[...]

Careful, Steph. You'll end up kissing everyone here at this rate.

[vigilantics]

The count's only at three. I've been very good since then.

[axilium]

That's three whole more than most people are getting here, I think.

[vigilantics]

[ she looks back at him. ]

I'm a greedy woman, remember?

[axilium]

Hey, don't blame me for what Hikage said.

[vigilantics]

[ it's a little true. ]

He's not around right now to blame though.

[axilium]

I guess.

... Well, there are worse things to be greedy about.

[vigilantics]

[ at that, she looks away again. ]

I guess so.

[axilium]

... All right, Steph, what's up?

[vigilantics]

Hm? Nothing.

[ that is probably the biggest lie to say on today of all days honestly ]