[Week 6, Friday: Belph]

[doublecrows]

[anyway after that breakdown, Akechi is going to find his favorite Vizier! he looks. um. not. . . well, expression haggard, gaze darting about like he's expecting someone to have followed him]

[when he finds Belph, he doesn't waste any time]

Who have you told about me?

Comments

[doublecrows]

V-- . . . very well.

[he straightens, and for the first time this conservation, makes a conscious effort to pull himself back together]

I apologize for my crude behavior.

[axilium]

... Tensions are high. I think this war is soon coming to a close, one way or another.

[doublecrows]

[smooths out his tie, fingers toying with the edges]

I agree.

We are down to seven Heroes, five Civilians, and five Villains. We have a list of every Narrator, along with their faction alignment. We don't have every title, but at this point. . . factions matter more than titles.

[axilium]

[well, someone here has every title, but eh.]

We've reached around the length of the previous war too. I doubt the Crafters will drag this out for much longer.

[doublecrows]

[BINCH SHARE!!!]

Dragon-san is ready for it to end. She grows weary.

[axilium]

[no.]

... Same with Tiger, probably. The Editor suspects that next week, Tiger might order the death of a villain to speed things up.

[doublecrows]

[his gaze narrows]

And what will they do if she does that?

. . . we do need to lower the faction population numbers to three.

[axilium]

... If they believed that their presence would screw us over, especially in regards to reviving everyone, I think they'd choose to die instead.

[...]

I don't mind dying. Veronica, Varian, and Kyouka or whoever can be the final three villains.

[doublecrows]

[tilts his head]

And Zelos-san?

[axilium]

... I doubt Sanji will choose to be one of the survivors. But if he dies, then... to be honest, it might be risky to leave Zelos alive.

[doublecrows]

[ah. . .]

But unlike you, he wouldn't consent to others being the Villain survivors.

[it's a question, because he isn't sure about this, but it's stated like a statement]

It's going to be difficult to whittle it down to three.

[axilium]

... I don't know about that. Well, either way, I'll see what Sanji thinks about the entire thing...

[...]

Yeah. And I still don't know if that's even the right decision. Yona wasn't sure about it.

[doublecrows]

[. . .]

[god. he doesn't even care about this happy ending. and yet. . .?]

After hearing what Dragon-san has to say. . . I believe it is.

[axilium]

... She does seem sincere. But if anything goes wrong...

[as someone who helped make sure this info got out to everyone? he's going to feel responsible if it blows up in their faces.]

[doublecrows]

[Akechi. shrugs]

[. . .]

Bunch. Ion-san. Souji-san.

Those are the three Heroes I'd suggest reach the end.

[notably]

[not including himself]

[on that list]

[axilium]

[... there's someone belph wishes would make it to the end, but he already knows they'd never accept that.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[doublecrows]

[it's tough to cull numbers, isn't it?]

. . . I would have wished for Ion-san to make it to the end for the Civilians. [aha] I suppose that's a moot point now.

[he]

[says that without cracking]

[which is]

[so impressive]

[axilium]

... Akechi, if I give you the possibility of a little bit of hope, can you promise not to destabilize?

[read: don't fuckin lose it.]

[doublecrows]

[honestly he can't make that promise because HE'S A FUCKING MESS, but]

. . . I believe I've pulled myself back together. So, yes.

[axilium]

... Ion's killer made a wish to revive Ion afterwards. [...] The problem, though, is that they had no idea Natsuo was going to be dying as well, and there's no guarantee it'll mesh with however the partner pairing ability functions.

So, it might not work.

[doublecrows]

[his first question: do you know who killed Ion]

[. . . the one he asks?]

We did learn this week that Editors won't be executed if they're voted guilty. Varian-san will need a partner.

[axilium]

... Mm. We'll see what happens—the Editors aren't allowed to confess, and I'm not allowed to out them, since it'd count as them circumventing the rules.

[doublecrows]

[BOY. . .]

[somewhat wryly]

My, what annoying rules to which we're bound.

[axilium]

I never did like rules.

[doublecrows]

[. . . ha]

I tied myself to them. Used them to my advantage. Hid behind them when necessary, and exploited them to my own ends.

. . . I suppose I always somewhat envied those who were free enough to remove their restraints from same.