[Week 6, Friday: Varian]

[doublecrows]

[wow, Akechi looks. . . like shit]

[he's haggard and obviously panicked, raking a hand through his hair when he finds Varian. he tries to keep his voice even when he speaks, but. it's a Struggle]

Varian-san.

[his words are strained]

I need to know. Who have you told about me?

Comments

[alchemenace]

[ that's fine varian's just kind of hanging out in a ball somewhere hugging his raccoon. he hesitates for a second before he shrugs ]

My partner. Who's dead. So.

[doublecrows]

[Akechi takes a moment to breathe, to shut his eyes, to try and compose himself. it's a no go. he's faintly aware that he may be overreacting, but between Waver and Natsuo and Ion, he is. . . not in a great place at the moment]

. . . is he the only one?

[alchemenace]

Why are you asking? Just, just get to the point.

[ listen. varian isn't in a great place, either, between ion and fane and--

and not evan he's fine about evan he doesn't regret shit it was necessary shut up shut up shut up. ]

[doublecrows]

[totally necessary, there's no guilt here, no regret, no second thoughts at all, right??]

Two more Historians are dead. [. . .] In the wake of that letter I showed you. . .

[he trails off. the implication is there]

[alchemenace]

[ he picks at Rudiger's fur half-mindedly ]

Natsuo and Lord El-Melloi, right? [ he hasn't yet realize akechi didnt tell him that, so he continues: ] ... You think you guys are being targeted on purpose?

[doublecrows]

[. . . . . . . . . . honestly, he just gives Varian a dull look, not even surprised that he already knew, before continuing]

I don't know.

[a small shrug]

After that letter we received from Sousei-san, it seems likely.

[alchemenace]

... I don't know. That would mean Lord El-Melloi and Natsuo were killed by the same person or group, wouldn't it? But his body was...

[ it was fucked up. ]

It looks like a grudge.

[doublecrows]

It does.

[just. exhales deeply, looking frustrated]

Are they going to come after me next? After Bunch?

[paranoid much??]

[alchemenace]

If it's a grudge against Historians, you'd think they'd go after you first, not Natsuo.

[ he is just saying? but. ]

How many people knew you guys are Historians anyway?

[doublecrows]

[lol]

That was my impression as well.

[HE'S THE KILLER!! Natsuo was just a happy puppy :(]

I don't know for certain, because I don't know who else may have found out through channels I'm not aware of. You. Belph-san. Sanji-san. Eichi. Fane-san, if you told him. The other Vizier whose name I don't know.

Even the Editors, perhaps.

[alchemenace]

[ ... that list. one name sticks out to him. ]

Sanji? You told him?

[doublecrows]

No.

I didn't.

[alchemenace]

[ ... he has a conspiracy theory, but he doesn't like it, so let's break it down: ]

Do you know how he found out?

[doublecrows]

No. He refused to tell me. I suspect he is the other Vizier, and Belph-san told him. But he wouldn't confirm either way.

[alchemenace]

... He's not.

[ ah. he doesn't expand on that, though, because-- ]

Akechi, did you ever consider whether Beauty and the Beast were a pattern? A hero and villain pair that are both Editors, with matching titles?

[doublecrows]

[blinks a bit at Varian, because nope, he honestly never considered it]

. . . no.

I hadn't.

[his eyes narrow]

Sanji-san is Little Red Riding Hood. Whose opposite would be. . . the Big Bad Wolf.

[alchemenace]

[ Varian lets out a breath ]

I know who all the other villains are except for that title. And... I happen to be pretty certain Zelos is a villain.

[ he doesn't want to be right on this, because he likes sanji, but. ]

It's only a theory. Sanji could've learned it a myriad of other ways. But.

[doublecrows]

He is a Villain.

[not "pretty certain." that's confident confirmation]

If Sanji-san didn't learn from Belph-san, then I have no idea what that "other way" could be.

[alchemenace]

... Me neither. Okay. Okay. Don't confront either of them about this yet? Sanji likes me. I might be able to get it out of him if I ask.

[doublecrows]

I've already confronted Sanji-san about it.

[JUST SAYING]

And Belph-san said that Editors confessing or revealing themselves was against the rules. You may not be able to needle it out of him.

[alchemenace]

[ makes a face you pedantic ass he obviously meant about editors ]

I think we've already established I'm smart enough to get an answer out of him without needing to be so straightforward about it.

[doublecrows]

[listen!!]

In that case, I wish you luck.

Don't withhold results from me, though.

[alchemenace]

I wouldn't have even mentioned it in the first place if I was going to.

[ he says it like the idea of it didn't just hit him because he's stressed out about murders but listen. shut up. ]

[doublecrows]

[WHO ISN'T STRESSED OUT ABOUT MURDERS, COME ON]

There's another thing I'd like to tell you that may be important for the trial tomorrow, too.

. . . Ion-san was Humpty Dumpty. His objective was to die via the injuries he sustained.

[alchemenace]

...

[ varian just looks. tired and exhausted all of a sudden ]

Yeah. I knew it was something like that. He-- Veronica told me what his letter said.