[ch. 6] post-trial, w/ varian

[asswipe]

[Pointedly ignoring Zelos and Akechi wherever the heck they are because, well. Veronica is petty and they can perish for all she cares??

So, here's Veronica. She settles next to Varian's cell, passing some items to him through the cell bars. Mostly, he'll find food and refreshments in there. There's probably some other shit for him to get comfy during his last hours, though.

This is depressing.]

... If you can stomach it, I thought you should have some real food.

[Tea and sandwiches aren't a meal, anyway.]

Comments

[alchemenace]

[ he's curled up with his raccoon and doesn't look up when he hears Veronica ]

If you want me to be sick all over you guys before I get, I get burned alive or whatever it is, sure.

[ that's a no. ]

[asswipe]

... Fine. Then go on an empty stomach.

[She... doesn't really want to think of how he'll be executed tomorrow. She knows he's the Gingerbread Witch. All the obvious options include either a) death by burning, or b) cannibalism.

This is fine.]

Have, um... Belph or Stephanie talked to you yet?

[alchemenace]

... Not yet.

[ he kind of doesn't expect either of them to show up, so. then again, he hadn't expected anyone. that's his usual jail experience! guards or bust! ]

Why?

[asswipe]

Because Belph spoke to me, and...

[She takes a deep breath, unsure of how she feels about this.]

... The villains have eight completed objectives after tonight. We... We don't have to match the heroes. Belph spoke to Dragon and she said that having seven or more was enough. [So, uh, congrats on exceeding the limit?] He plans to expose everyone's factions tomorrow so we can get our shit together going forward. The downside is that we definitely need to get the number of survivors down to nine.

[alchemenace]

[ he feels like he should care more learning about this, but for some reason he just draws a blank. he stares up at the ceiling. ]

... Congrats. [ no, wait. he does have one emotion to spare for this: ] I'm glad you're one of the last three standing for Villains, V.

[asswipe]

[That isn't the one emotion he should be sparing. Veronica's expression just kind of... crumples up. Like soggy tissue. Don't make her cry again, Jesus.]

... I'm not. I— I wanted it to be you. I didn't want to make it this far.

[alchemenace]

... I didn't [ don't, don't, don't, he doesn't-- ] want to die, but it's not about what we want or don't want. This whole war has been about doing what we have to.

[ he doesn't regret what he did, he can't, not if it got him what he wanted ]

Even with all three of us, that's five people you guys have to kill. Do me a favor and make Bunch and Eichi part of them?

[ it's a joke! (It isn't.) ]

[asswipe]

I... [This better have gotten him what he wanted, or else she's gonna do an encore of Hiro's grand finale.] We'll get you back, I promise. Stephanie, Ion and I— We're going to get you back.

[God.]

Rebecca... She told me she was okay with dying. She volunteered, so... I... [Well. Rebecca's dead, so hooray. Congrats, Varian.] As for Eichi, I... I'd rather eat my own fist than let him be part of the last nine. That fucking piece of shit is responsible for all of this.

[It's a joke! (It isn't.) But, also, Eichi lived so. :/ Boo.]

[alchemenace]

It's-- [ ah, he's getting choked up again. he swallows. ] It's fine even if you don't. He'll be okay even if I'm not.

[ he made sure of it, so it's fine. veronica's anger at eichi makes him smile wryly for half a second before he feels some kind of-- off, about asking her so blatantly, even as a joke. (even if it wasn't a joke.) ]

... Just, just do what you can, okay?

[asswipe]

Like hell it is. You're going to be there when he gets out of that stupid rock. I swear on my life, okay?

[Good thing this is the land of back tags we know the Kids Are Alright now. Lord.]

... Don't worry. I'm going to. I won't let anyone fuck this up.

[alchemenace]

[ that makes him tear up again and he wipes at his eyes furiously, brokenly whispering: ]

Okay. I trust you.