[ch. 7] post-investigation, w/ souji

[asswipe]

[HEY, WHEEZY YEET.

Don't mind Veronica as she pulls him into a hug for like 0.5 seconds and then lets go, immediately taking a step back like nothing happened.]

I'm so happy you're still alive.

[Emphasis on "still" because, uh. Well. They have two leftover heroes.]

Comments

[sanguinairy]

[YEAH HAHA SPEAKING OF THAT...

But hi Braincell!! Souji is a little surprised by the sudden hug, but it makes him smile anyway, soft and sincere.]

I'm glad you're well, too. [Like, physically, anyway. ...And then, after taking a breath.] ...I'm dying, Veronica.

[Like. Just in case it wasn't obvious already, he'll just come out and say it. He's going somewhere with this, okay.]

[asswipe]

[wtf souji don't do this to her

Which is to say, she's immediately. Frowning.]

In... which context?

[It is super obvious he's constantly seconds away from keeling over but also, he's a Hero. So she's expecting him to go on a speech about how he's gotta die tomorrow.]

[sanguinairy]

[SORRY VERONICA!! He's got to yeet one... last time...]

I was given a year to live, but that was a generous estimate if I followed the doctor's orders.

[WHICH HE. CLEARLY HASN'T BEEN.]

This body won't hold up much longer, and wishing it well doesn't work. Tomorrow I'll fulfill one last task. Then, I ask that you give me your vote.

[asswipe]

[Ah.

She's quiet for a moment, as if digesting that, before she just... kind of... sags.]

You're going to kill someone and then tell us to vote for you, aren't you?

[sanguinairy]

[There's something in his expression that's softly apologetic, but he nods, and there's a steeliness to it.]

Yes. It's the best thing that I can do at this point.

[He'd prefer to die over any of the Actually Healthy Heroes, anyway. Besides - he's not very good at turning down requests.]

[asswipe]

... I'm so sorry it came down to this, Souji.

[She knows that two heroes need to go, but she didn't want this for him or for the other person. God.]

I... [hm.] How— How soon into the trial? Will it happen immediately, or... What did you guys agree on?

[sanguinairy]

[That gets a smile, warm if a little apologetic on his own part.]

I'd rather be able to do something than nothing at all.

[And he'd rather die here than wasting away in a bed back home, honestly... He was planning on offering himself up anyway, if they weren't able to find that other Blotter or if they turned out to be a Civilian or Villain.]

We'll announce it at the start of trial so there aren't any surprises. I'll ask him what time he prefers, in case he has things he'd like to share first. After that, we can use the rest of our time to speak of more important things.

[Like how they're going to end the game safely with what they have...]

[asswipe]

... Okay.

[This is so much. Souji, why!! Now that she knows she won't have to brace herself for Immediate midtrial death, though, she sighs.]

I, um... You said that wishing your body well won't work. Are you sure about that? I think— You get a wish here for committing a murder, so couldn't you use that wish to cure yourself of... whatever it is you have? Or for medicine from the future? I mean... Even if you get executed, we're still going to bring you back. You'll still need it.

[sanguinairy]

[HE'S LIVING UP TO HIS YEET BRAND, VERONICA!!]

Well, a token from an objective was used before. [He hasn't murdered anyone yet - here - so he doesn't know if that One Wish would work. Even so...]

...It feels a little selfish, you know? I'd rather use my wish for something that could benefit everyone. [A way to stay in touch even after they go home, maybe? More ink? He's not sure how extravagant those wishes can be, but he'd prefer to share.] I've known for a while, anyway, that my tuberculosis would be what kills me.

[Congrats Veronica you're now the Third Person he's told in the entire game, god.]

[asswipe]

[THIS YEETING HAS TO STOP!!! One dead yeet for each week. Y'all are killing her on the inside, what the fuck.]

What's the point of benefitting everyone if you'd be dead? I don't care what you've heard, or known, or... Whatever! It's one thing that we'll have to vote for you tomorrow, it's another for you to die permanently. I—

[She is now cursed with the knowledge that he's dying from something that's!! Treatable!! In her time period!!!!!]

... I don't want you to die, Souji. You're my friend.

[sanguinairy]

[Veronica, as the braincell, was the one who had to survive... The rest of these yeets were Too Hero To Live. Literally.

He seems a little taken aback by that, though. Having friends is honestly a new experience for him. Actually, having anyone who would mourn his death at all is kind of an experience. And, feeling a little more honest:]

...I never thought I'd meet anyone who would think to say something like that to me.

[Outside of the Shinsengumi, that is. "I don't want you to die" and "you're my friend"... As painful as it's been, this castle has given him such precious things, too.]

Thank you, Veronica.

[asswipe]

... Then, you need to meet more people. [QUIETLY.

She's emo and he's not even officially dead yet. Tomorrow is... going to be fun, truly. Honestly. Time to witness one of her friends stab someone so she can vote for him. Hooray!]

It's not something you have to thank me for. I just— You're a good person, Souji. You deserve to live, too. You know that, don't you?

[sanguinairy]

[VERONICA'S FABULOUS LIFE!!

That gets him to laugh, though, even if it's a pretty unpleasant sound. He's struggling to breathe even more than usual, lately.]

I suppose I've met very few in my time, in the end... I'm glad I was able to meet you, at least.

[Her and Evan and Dazai, Yasusada, Jae-ha and Sousei, Cardia, the Hijikata he'd never known, Natsuo, both of the Ions, Stephanie... Akechi, Eichi. Sanji. So many people here he's so, so glad for. The smile that follows is somewhat brittle.]

Evan said that to me, too. [Among others. He's afraid of what they'd think, if they knew what he really was. He's too afraid to ask at this point.] I-- just hope that I can live up to what you believe of me. That's all.

[asswipe]

You will. You already do. I promise.

[... On the bright side, he didn't stay dead for long! On the downside, this conversation is still painful in retrospect because 1) they're all leaving, and 2) Souji better use that ink to heal himself or Veronica will murder him herself.]

I'm glad I was able to meet you, too. Please... Take care of yourself if you can, okay? Everyone else can hold on a little longer.

[sanguinairy]

[HIS TWO SECONDS OF DEATH!! But yeah life is still hard when you and your new super close friends who've been through two months of Hell have to suddenly separate and scatter all over time and space. Hm.

For now though, he's just focusing on making it through tomorrow.]

Thank you. [It means a lot to hear that, spoken so earnestly. As for taking care of himself... Well.]

...Mm, I'll do my best. [That much he can try to do, too. Try being key, but try is better than nothing.] As long as everyone else is fine, too. As fine as can be.