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

[asswipe]

[HELLO, SANJI... Wherever he may be today, considering two corpses showed up in the kitchen. God.

In any case, Veronica looks relieved to see him after the body announcements.]

... I'm glad that you're still alive.

[Since... well. Gestures at everything.]

Comments

[concasse]

[... Heh.

Well, that gets a smile outta him.]

Same to you. I was a little nervous, but...

We're still here, aren't we?

[Lucky them, right?]

[asswipe]

That we are.

[Lucky them...!(?) Someone should have shanked Veronica before this, though. God.]

Tomorrow's going to be our last trial, isn't it?

[concasse]

... Yeah.

[Voice soft. He turns away, breathing heavily]

Not that I don't wanna know what happened to everyone, but in the end, we gotta focus on cutting down the number of Heroes.

[asswipe]

[She rubs at her face, weary.]

God, this shit sucks. [...] I'm worried that Eichi is going to do something stupid tomorrow, too. You saw how he reacted the last time Akechi was in danger, and now that he's dead...

[concasse]

[...]

I'm going to talk to him later, and see if I can keep him calm.

I know he's gonna be upset, but we can't afford him losing his shit tomorrow.

[asswipe]

... Let me know how that goes. Worst case scenario, we can toss a coin in the wishing well to keep him from causing any serious damage.

[concasse]

Good point.

[...]

I'll be frank with ya, Veronica-chan.

Two Heroes gotta go.

I'm planning on one of them being me.

[asswipe]

[...

Yeah. She's just going to. Be quiet for a moment. She's obviously unhappy about this, looking like she wants to argue against it, but... It's true. There's no getting around the fact that two heroes are going to have to die if they want to end this once and for all.

She sighs, nodding.]

I know. I— [She hates this.] I'm so sorry, Sanji. What are you going to do?

[concasse]

[...]

Souji is coming with me.

[His voice is soft]

Ion and Magnus are kids, and Stephanie-chan has suffered enough. I know Souji will agree with me.

Either he kills me, or the other way around. Then you guys gotta vote off whoever survives.

[asswipe]

[Ah.

There it is. It looks like she's going to cry because holy shit, fuck off with that. But. She doesn't.]

... Sanji. You're the second Editor, aren't you? If you killed someone this week under orders, there's no other way around.

[concasse]

[... Y'know what? He.... smiles.

In apology.]

I'm sorry, Veronica-chan, that wasn't fair of me.

... I guess I didn't want to admit to you I gotta lose.

[asswipe]

... It's not your fault that things played out this way.

[God, she hates this so much.]

We'll make it quick, I promise. It'll be like a one day vacation and then you'll be back. Both of you will.

[concasse]

... I wouldn't blame anyone for not making it quick at this point.

[He's... killed a lot of people by this point. Did she always know? Sanji isn't sure, he doesn't want to ask.

A tired smile is aimed at the floor]

But it's Souji, so... I'm sure he's gonna make it as quick as he can.

[asswipe]

Anyone who wouldn't can fuck off.

[Regardless of when she knew, she knows he can't be blamed for what he's done. So. Well.

It's fine, probably.]

... For what it's worth, I'm sorry it came down to you guys. I wish— I wish there was another way. This isn't fair.

[concasse]

[Damn, that startles a laugh outta him. Has he mentioned he's glad she's going to survive?

Because he really, truly is.]

It isn't -- but trust me when I say he and I can take it.

... We're tired, Veroni-chan.

A little break is good for us both.

[...]

No matter what happens, keep everyone else in line, would ya? I trust you to do that.

[asswipe]

[... Haha. That sure is uncomfortably close to "stick around here and make things better," but. She manages to give him a thin smile, anyway. This sucks.]

... I'll make sure the others don't trash the kitchen while you're gone. You can rest easy, I promise.

[concasse]

[Take a frying pan to everyone's head ala Rapunzel if they start shit, Veronica. That counts as keeping them in line, right?]

Heh, thanks.

[...]

Would you have a drink with me? I always enjoyed getting to spend time with you.

[One last hurrah]

[asswipe]

[Oh, what the fuck. Don't make her cry, Sanji.]

... Of course I would. One last drink before we rescue all our friends, right?

[Alternatively: One last drink before she has to watch one of her friends murder the other, and then vote for her remaining friend.

Ha ha.]