[ he had a million reasons and maybe he could've tried something else, but he can't bring himself to fully regret it. even now, after everything. so he doesn't mention those ]
Right or wrong... I don't know. I did it because I thought-- [ no. ] because I had to.
[ in corona, everything he did he absolutely believed was right. he still does. he was betrayed first there, after all. but here? here it wasn't so clear cut. but he still thinks, if he'd just gone through with all of it-- or just gone through with it earlier-- maybe it could've--
what's done is done. ]
You told me not to lie, but that's what I've been doing all game. It's what I had to do.
.... well, I'm sorry you didn't think you could tell me the truth before. I should've done something more. We all should've, so you didn't feel like you had to lie to everyone.
[He shakes his head and sighs - ] ... everyone is just doing their best with what they have, and what they think will save them and what's important to them. It applies to you, too.
[He'll set Varian back on the ground but won't pull away until Varian does - aside from reaching a hand up to ruffle his hair affectionately. At least it's not ghostly anymore.]
Sounds like you're telling a lot of truths now though.
It wasn't... It wasn't because of any of you, I just. It was easier, and the Princess didn't remember, so I ... I couldn't have her know, and--
[ he gives up on explaining himself. it seemed like the only thing to do at the time, but all it did was hurt people he ended up caring for when they didn't deserve it. and varian's the one hugging jae-ha now that he's on the ground, tbh. it's brief, though, and he pulls away. but not too much, just enough to look up at jae-ha with a half-sulk ]
... I guess. For all the good that's giving me.
[ i don't know if this is pre-dazai strangling him or post but it fits either way thaNKS EICHI. either way, he adds: ]
... I, I missed you. It's. It's nice to see you as a not-ghost.
[Jae-ha doesn't mind giving him that hug, and even as Varian pulls away Jae-ha will keep his hands on his shoulders, tethering the two of them by touch that they didn't have before.]
... I missed you too. You know I didn't want to see you here... but I'm selfishly glad I get to talk to you sooner rather than later, too.
[ varian's mouth twists a bit as he looks down, a half-thoughtful look on his face ]
He's an Editor and his partner just wound up here, so... probably not great. [ he looks back up to jae-ha ] But you had to know the first part already, right?
[ varian overheard zelos talk about his kills when they were jail cell neighbors, so-- ]
No. [ character development?? ] I get it. It's not like there isn't a bunch of stuff I didn't tell you. Or, or anyone. And it's-- complicated, right?
[ varian shrugs a bit. ]
I only confirmed it this Saturday myself... He knew I knew, and I think he wanted me to out him, those last ten minutes. Editors can't be executed if they're found guilty for what they did under the Crafter's orders, you know? But he couldn't say it himself.
[ . . . right. That makes sense. Jae-ha huffs faintly.]
... he's looking for a way out. He doesn't really want to keep going on like this - but putting that on your shoulders or looking for someone else to do the job for him... Really, that guy just wants everyone to hate him even while he's afraid of it. How complicated.
[he shakes his head.]
I didn't want him to die - it's why I didn't tell anyone besides Sousei. But if people are learning on their own... I wonder what I should do.
"People learning on their own" is overestimating some of the people left alive.
[ just. bluntly being a little shit. ]
But... I don't think you should be worried about him. Not-- not for that, anyway. People who know won't want to do anything to hurt him. I'm sure of it. Although... everyone's worried right now, since it's Tiger's turn with the Editors and they're close to the numbers they need for Dragon's win. So ... last I heard, Belph and Sanji made a deal, that if she tries to use him for that, Belph would--
[ well. jae-ha probably gets the picture. varian sighs ]
I didn't want him to die, either. Sanji's always been nice to me. That's why I... That's why I didn't say anything. But-- I don't know. He said he wants to save everyone. I don't think he could stand it if he was the one in the way of that.
he's sooooo salty and jae-ha is just trying not to laugh at first - but he'll listen to the rest.]
.... no, he couldn't. I was angry at him for what he did to me and Sousei - still kind of am... but I'll feel better if I get the chance to punch him just once. But I chose to trust him in the first place because I think he's a good guy. So far... aside from that week, he hasn't demonstrated otherwise.
We're getting down to the wire, aren't we?
Around now is the true test of his character, probably.
Right. What can we do from here? [ varian frowns in thought ] All I know on that is they use the ink somehow. To... rewrite things? It's thematic, but vague. It's hard to say whether their capacity to use the ink is linked to themselves or if anyone could do it if they only knew how, since the latter does not strike me as something they'd admit to.
[ he will when he can, so it doesn't count as a joke :/ and then he ... shrugs ]
I'd, well, I'd personally feel a lot better if we weren't relying on either of them for something like that? But there's no point in trying to take anything for ourselves if we don't know for sure we could use it. Both Tiger and Dragon have their own agenda I'd rather we not get any more tangled up in?
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I won't hurt you.
[In case that helps. At all. Instead he's just going to keep his hold on Varian in a hug, sighing softly.]
... I didn't want to see you here - but maybe I'm selfishly glad I get to see you again at all.
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... Are you? Everyone knows what I did.
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[He'd caught it at the very end of the trial - somewhere in between the horror, somewhere in Varian's breakdown.]
... I can't tell you that I think what you did was right.
But I can't be mad at you for it either.
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[ he had a million reasons and maybe he could've tried something else, but he can't bring himself to fully regret it. even now, after everything. so he doesn't mention those ]
Right or wrong... I don't know. I did it because I thought-- [ no. ] because I had to.
[ in corona, everything he did he absolutely believed was right. he still does. he was betrayed first there, after all. but here? here it wasn't so clear cut. but he still thinks, if he'd just gone through with all of it-- or just gone through with it earlier-- maybe it could've--
what's done is done. ]
You told me not to lie, but that's what I've been doing all game. It's what I had to do.
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[He shakes his head and sighs - ] ... everyone is just doing their best with what they have, and what they think will save them and what's important to them. It applies to you, too.
[He'll set Varian back on the ground but won't pull away until Varian does - aside from reaching a hand up to ruffle his hair affectionately. At least it's not ghostly anymore.]
Sounds like you're telling a lot of truths now though.
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[ he gives up on explaining himself. it seemed like the only thing to do at the time, but all it did was hurt people he ended up caring for when they didn't deserve it. and varian's the one hugging jae-ha now that he's on the ground, tbh. it's brief, though, and he pulls away. but not too much, just enough to look up at jae-ha with a half-sulk ]
... I guess. For all the good that's giving me.
[ i don't know if this is pre-dazai strangling him or post but it fits either way thaNKS EICHI. either way, he adds: ]
... I, I missed you. It's. It's nice to see you as a not-ghost.
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... I missed you too. You know I didn't want to see you here... but I'm selfishly glad I get to talk to you sooner rather than later, too.
It sounds like you've been through a lot.
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Yeah, well, heh, haven't we all by now?
[ also he's decided if he doesn't acknowledge his execution it didn't happen thanks ]
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Maybe - but I at least expect people to be after me a little bit. Pirate and all.
But if anyone gives you trouble for what you've done, you'll have to let me know.
[we're gonna have to say this is before dazai going after varian bc then jae-ha will have to kick dazai in the throat]
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You sound like Sanji.
[ it's definitely said fondly, for both of them. ]
... Okay. I will. Thanks.
[ rip dazai ]
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but at the mention of Sanji, Jae-ha's expression stalls for a moment before he offers a smile.]
... how is he?
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He's an Editor and his partner just wound up here, so... probably not great. [ he looks back up to jae-ha ] But you had to know the first part already, right?
[ varian overheard zelos talk about his kills when they were jail cell neighbors, so-- ]
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Would you be mad at me for not telling you if I said I did?
Maybe it wasn't by that name... but I had a feeling, once I got a few more answers down here.
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[ varian shrugs a bit. ]
I only confirmed it this Saturday myself... He knew I knew, and I think he wanted me to out him, those last ten minutes. Editors can't be executed if they're found guilty for what they did under the Crafter's orders, you know? But he couldn't say it himself.
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... he's looking for a way out. He doesn't really want to keep going on like this - but putting that on your shoulders or looking for someone else to do the job for him... Really, that guy just wants everyone to hate him even while he's afraid of it. How complicated.
[he shakes his head.]
I didn't want him to die - it's why I didn't tell anyone besides Sousei. But if people are learning on their own... I wonder what I should do.
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[ just. bluntly being a little shit. ]
But... I don't think you should be worried about him. Not-- not for that, anyway. People who know won't want to do anything to hurt him. I'm sure of it. Although... everyone's worried right now, since it's Tiger's turn with the Editors and they're close to the numbers they need for Dragon's win. So ... last I heard, Belph and Sanji made a deal, that if she tries to use him for that, Belph would--
[ well. jae-ha probably gets the picture. varian sighs ]
I didn't want him to die, either. Sanji's always been nice to me. That's why I... That's why I didn't say anything. But-- I don't know. He said he wants to save everyone. I don't think he could stand it if he was the one in the way of that.
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he's sooooo salty and jae-ha is just trying not to laugh at first - but he'll listen to the rest.]
.... no, he couldn't. I was angry at him for what he did to me and Sousei - still kind of am... but I'll feel better if I get the chance to punch him just once. But I chose to trust him in the first place because I think he's a good guy. So far... aside from that week, he hasn't demonstrated otherwise.
We're getting down to the wire, aren't we?
Around now is the true test of his character, probably.
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It's a test of, of all of theirs, I think. Six people have to die to get the numbers they need.
[ varian, a fool: it's not like people want to die right that's gonna be hard to find six people willing ]
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... there are some merciful ways to go. Painless, if done correctly.
[He sighs.]
Not pleasant or beautiful.... but nothing in this game is. I only hope that they don't damage each other more than they already have to.
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Painless would be nice.
[ varian, contain the salt. ]
... I think it's a bit too late to hope for that. But-- I just hope they can do it.
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... I know. But hope is all we can have -
Well, that, and whatever work that we can do from this side. I don't plan on resting until we figure out their secret on bringing back the dead.
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[that's a joke, but he does say it]
.... what, you want to try to just steal the ink?
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[ he will when he can, so it doesn't count as a joke :/ and then he ... shrugs ]
I'd, well, I'd personally feel a lot better if we weren't relying on either of them for something like that? But there's no point in trying to take anything for ourselves if we don't know for sure we could use it. Both Tiger and Dragon have their own agenda I'd rather we not get any more tangled up in?
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... which appears to be the current choices set before us - having to rely on one or the other to act in our best interests instead.
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