Week 3, Sunday Post-Execution - Steph

[fragileprophet]

[I hope you're ready for even more company, Steph! At least this one isn't gonna yell at you like Hikage probably has been. When Ion arrives at Seph's door, his cheeks are flushed, expression knit tight with worry. He had to take a step back and play the role of moral support during the executions but...I mean, she's gotta know he wanted to jump in. Would have, if he didn't know just how she felt about it.]

How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?

Comments

[vigilantics]

[ she definitely knew and she would have woken up after falling unconscious just to yell "no" at him if he tried. ]

No, it's fine.

[ hm. ]

[fragileprophet]

[He doesn't believe her. Like, he totally believes she'd bean him over the head with her own severed leg, but that she's not really fine. He hesitates, and then comes forward so he can sit beside her.]

I'm sorry that there isn't anything I can do to help. I'm glad that Lord El-Melloi II came forward.

[vigilantics]

There were more important things going on besides my leg. I don't really fault anyone else for not helping.

[ three people died today. if rapunzel hadn't, she would have gotten the same injury as steph did, maybe, or at least something as bad.

it's sad to think about. ]

[fragileprophet]

[Ion hums in non-committal agreement. There were other things going on, but...that doesn't change this feeling now. This helpless, powerless despair.]

I'm only worried...that's all.

[vigilantics]

... I'm sorry for worrying you. Again.

[ she does sound sincere. ]

[fragileprophet]

[Ion shakes his head, reaching for her hand.]

No, no, it isn't you. And it's not like I've been doing much with myself other than worry you half to death.

[He sighs.]

I'm worried about everyone. For everyone.

[vigilantics]

... I am too. This weekend was bad.

[ they messed up, and then today the worst case scenario happened. stephanie was worried about whether or not whoever had the partnering ability would be able to do multiple ones, and it turns out she was right to do so. ]

[fragileprophet]

Yeah.

[Ion smiles, because he doesn't know what else to do. He can't find anymore tears in him--maybe he's just too exhausted to cry after the previous weekend. But this execution...it hit everyone hard. This is the reality of war, the one that so far they'd been just narrowly avoiding.]

I hate to say it, but...I suppose it's time to start fearing for the worst.

[vigilantics]

The more people die, the less choices future Blotters will have to make.

[ it's a sad realization, but it means that eventually friends really will have no choice but to kill their friends instead of someone they've barely spoken to. ]

But... we can bring them back.