week 3, friday

[vigilantics]

[ steph doesn't really want to admit it, but fitz being killed wasn't that surprising after last week's trial; too many people were ready to kill him. monika dying, however, was much more of a surprise. counting hijikata from the day before, this is the most bodies they've had.

whenever she finds belph alone, stephanie will... take him to somewhere secluded idk locations. ]

Well then.

Comments

[axilium]

I just asked if that was really the case, on the off chance someone targeted her for having a role.

[he shrugs.]

Maybe pressing him wasn't the nicest thing to do, but we need answers.

[vigilantics]

[ steph just... sighs. ]

It probably could have waited until a little later.

[axilium]

Really? Pragmatically speaking, it'd be best for him to channel his energy into solving her murder. For that, he needs to be thinking about why she was targeted.

[vigilantics]

I mean, you can say that because you weren't super closer to her. You can't always just logic away your feelings, Belph.

[axilium]

And? Catching her killer would give him more closure than anything. He knows that he can't be losing his cool tomorrow.

[vigilantics]

And he can deal with that tomorrow. But... it's okay to let him grieve for tonight.

[ why does no one in this entire castle know what an empathy is. ]

[axilium]

[he just shrugs.]

If you say so.

[well, he can acknowledge he's biased, what with his... somewhat unique experience with losing people he cares about.]

[vigilantics]

I most definitely do.

[ stephanie, in general, has a habit of acting on emotions so rip whenever someone she has reeeeally bonded with gets killed. ]

... did you find anything else out?

[axilium]

From Akechi? Not really.

[vigilantics]

... what about anyone else?

[axilium]

Sousei gave up that Melloi guy's name as a Historian. An exchange for the fact that I put myself at risk, I guess.

[vigilantics]

Two more to go then.

[ it's mumbled, like she can't bring herself to be too thrilled about it during the current situation. ]

Belph, how do you manage to be so calm all of the time?

[axilium]

I'm not really that calm of a person.

[vigilantics]

No, you're... [ she frowns, not really able to find the right words. ]

What made you upset earlier in the week?

[axilium]

... Nothing that's going to help us solve any of the murders tomorrow.

[vigilantics]

[ now, that's it. it's not calmness, he just deflects. ]

Probably not. But that was the first time I've seen you look so... upset.

[axilium]

... And?

[vigilantics]

And I care about you a lot.

[ ... ]

So.

[axilium]

You're going to have to be more specific, Steph.

[vigilantics]

We've had this conversation like, ten times already, and every time you act as if absolutely nothing really touches you here. But I know that's not true. You're not just some... lazy drunk who makes jokes all the time. You're a person who came here with your own past and emotions and then you add on all the trauma we go through while here on top of it all.

[ if her leg wasn't broken, she'd probably be pacing. ]

It's just... it's okay to admit when you're not okay. Whether it's because of the murders, or something completely unrelated.

[axilium]

[...

he simply smiles.]

It's fine, Steph. I've already come to terms with it all.

[vigilantics]

Come to terms with... what, exactly?

[axilium]

My life, how it turned out—things.

[vigilantics]

[ the implication there is that those things are bad. ]

Belph. Give me your hand.

[ it's like when she asked him for it after she got injured; it's said in the same casual tone. ]

[axilium]

I don't really feel like smacking you.