week 5, wednesday

[vigilantics]

[ when souji walks into the kitchen, he will spot stephanie! she seems to be... trying to reach something that's on the top of the fridge? unfortunately, because of the uno leggy, she can't actually jump or anything to reach it properly.

there's something purple up there. it looks like cloth? ]

Comments

[vigilantics]

[ she opens her mouth to answer, but right then the scenery begins to change. it looks like a modern bedroom of a teenager; a little messy, a little compact. since it's from steph's perspective, they can see a boy in the room with her. the two of them are having a conversation. hm.

meanwhile, actual steph is kind of just... pinching the bridge of her nose. ]

...

[sanguinairy]

[HM. WELL THAT WASN'T A CONVERSATION MEANT FOR HIM!! But he can't stop it from playing out any more than he can kick his way out of the bubble, so he's just stuck trying to process what's being said, the emotions shown, the stumbling of both Stephanie and the boy she's talking to. Also the fact that she apparently has a kid?! Is going to have a kid?? Wow he hopes a 2 months pregnant lady didn't lose her leg in a murder castle, somehow that'd make the whole thing even worse.

As the memory starts to fade, but before a new one picks up, he turns to give Stephanie a look that's bridged somewhere between apologetic and questioning. Fortunately, he doesn't actually pry.]

--I'm sorry about... listening to that.

[vigilantics]

[ well this is awkward.

stephanie has been fairly open about her life her; she has never been the kind of person to shy away from discussing her past and the hardships that came from it. however, there are still a few things that she would prefer to not bring up. and this... this was definitely one of them. ]

It's... okay. It's not your fault.

[sanguinairy]

[Even if it's not his fault, he still looks dang apologetic. He opens his mouth, about to add something--

But then their fun memory bubble shifts again, taking on a new form! Fortunately with the actual ensuing execution left out, but. There's definite an overall pervasive feeling in this memory that the things happening are very final, and that whoever this man Souji's talking to is is very dear.]

[vigilantics]

[ she watches quietly. this is a different kind of personal than steph's, and seeing it just makes her... sad. the trial from two weeks ago somehow seems even worse now. ]

... sorry.

[ he apologized. she should too. ]

[sanguinairy]

[For his part, Souji seems to shake off the surprise and any lingering feelings the memory might bring with it pretty quickly.]

--It's fine. I'm sorry that you had to see that.

[The bubble, at least, finally disperses with the last wisps of memory! Souji looks Tired™.]

I had hoped we were done with things like this...

[vigilantics]

I guess not. Maybe they thought sharing with just your partner wasn't enough.

[ there's a pause. ]

... I didn't keep the baby, in case you're wondering. She got adopted by some family. It would have been too dangerous for me to keep a child at my house.

[ she sounds sad about that; stephanie did, genuinely, want to raise the baby. ]

[sanguinairy]

[Ah. Well, he wasn't going to ask, but he was somewhat curious. It's a statement that earns a small, understanding nod from him, and she's given an look creased with soft sympathy.]

...I'm sorry that that's a decision you had to make.

[He definitely got the feeling from that conversation alone that she'd wanted to keep the baby, after all. It's not for him to judge whether or not her decision was a good or bad one, but he can at least offer a gentle sort of condolence for her having to be in that situation at all.]

[vigilantics]

It's fine. Or... well, it's not fine. But someone with a lot of... influence promised me that he would make sure she wouldn't want for anything.

[ and that's all she can really ask for. steph wouldn't have wanted to give up being a vigilante, and her home wasn't safe for a baby. she had been determined to keep the child, but once stephanie made that realization the decision was-- it wasn't easy, but it was clear. ]

[sanguinairy]

["Fine but not fine" sure seems to be the state of a lot of people here. But it's good, he supposes, that her child was healthy and will be safe.]

I'm glad for that, at least. Are you able to see her...?

[Maybe an invasive question, which is why his tone is soft, leaving plenty of room for refusal.]

[vigilantics]

I've never even seen her. I couldn't look at her after she was born.

[ it's a hard admission to make, and it's one she's only actually told one single person from back home home. ]

[sanguinairy]

[Ah. ...Well, it makes sense in a way, if she'd wanted the child so badly and couldn't keep her. A small part of him - the blunt and somewhat tactless part that just sort of blurts out honest things - wants to ask if not looking is something she regrets. But naturally, he doesn't.

Instead, after a few thoughtful seconds:]

...It sounds heavy. [A heavy burden.] I hope that you won't have to revisit it more than this one time.

[Things are already hard enough without having to tread through old memories.]

[vigilantics]

... yeah. I hope so, too.

[ there are definitely some things that should only be experienced once in the world, if it has to happen at all. ]

And... you as well.

[sanguinairy]

Thank you.

[Unfortunately he'll run into that scene like 3 more times but it's fine, THEY'RE ALL FINE HERE.]

--I wasn't interrupting anything, was I? Since we're already here, maybe we could have a snack.

[DISTRACTION FROM PAST PAINS: FOOD.]

[vigilantics]

Should we go for something sweet?

[ are sweets good for someone who is clearly slowly dying from sickness. ]

[sanguinairy]

[No but he's eating them anyway.]

That sounds like a wonderful idea.

[vigilantics]

What are we in the mood for then?

[ she'll just start opening cabinets to snoop around in there. don't mind us, sanji. ]

[sanguinairy]

[Somewhere in the distance, Sanji's "people are in my KITCHEN" senses are tingling...]

Hm... Do you have any other favorites? [...] Ones that are a little easier to make, maybe. Or ones that can already be found whole.

[His brownie-making days are probably done, rip.]

[vigilantics]

Hm... check the fridge, maybe someone already made stuff?

[ is she advocating to steal other people's food? yes.

yes she is. ]

[sanguinairy]

[Souji apparently has ZERO QUALMS WITH THIS since he immediately moseys to the fridge to take a peek inside...]

Hm... Oh, I think there's some cake in here? It looks like there's a fruit tray, too.

[vigilantics]

Great! We're taking them both.

[ they can be healthy while simultaneously being not. it's fine. ]

[sanguinairy]

Fruit does go well with cake, I've heard.

[FROM WHO. He'll start to pull the tray out first, though, setting it down on the counter so he can go back for the cake. RIP whoever this belonged to, hopefully they won't need a pick-me-up after body hunting on Friday.]

[vigilantics]

That's why fruitcake exist!

[ is it.

she'll grab silverware for them so they won't have to eat with their bare hands, like animals. ]

[sanguinairy]

Is there really a cake called "fruitcake"?

[SOUNDS FAKE STEPH. But he'll open the lids and set their feast down properly, grabbing two plates so they also don't have to just eat from the containers.]

[vigilantics]

Yeah!

[ ... ]

It's disgusting!

[sanguinairy]

[?????? WHY.]

...Your tone doesn't match up to your words.

[vigilantics]

If anyone here tries to feed you some, please bash them in the head with it as self-defense.

[ YEAH! ]

[sanguinairy]

[THAT'S CONCERNING ADVICE. But what's perhaps the most concerning--]

The fact that any cake can be described as having the ability to "bash" is concerning.

[vigilantics]

I'm telling you all of this only to protect you, Souji.

[sanguinairy]

Then I suppose I should be thanking you for saving me from such a terrible fate, hm?

[vigilantics]

You should! I'll always be watching your back, dude.

[sanguinairy]

Ah-- [He has her back too!! But...] Dude?

[Another one lost to the modern lingo hellpit.]

[vigilantics]

Oh, it's like... a term of endearment?

[ she's already got shirasu to call her "dude" like that. ]

Kind of like a universal nickname you can call multiple people.

[sanguinairy]

[Shirasu calling Stephanie dude is such a golden moment...]

Oh! I see... That's pretty convenient.

[vigilantics]

There's a lot more like it, but dude kind of holds a special place.

[sanguinairy]

Is it your favorite?

[Is he going to have to start calling Stephanie dude now too.]

[vigilantics]

It's pretty high up there?

[ please, for the love of god, do it. ]

[sanguinairy]

[Dude from here on, forevermore.]

I see! I'll have to remember it.

[vigilantics]

Great! I'm always happy to help.

[ with useless modern slang ]