[he gives Flayn a bit of space to deal with the revelations that came from Yasusada after the trial. but after a bit of time has passed? he seeks her out again]
[and he finds her at the stables, greeting her with a nod of his head]
A mastery of horsemanship is necessary for one of the certification examinations the Professor wishes for me to take. I struggled with it, at first, but I get a little better at it each lesson.
[she looks faintly surprised by that, but. after a moment, she smiles. it doesn't quite reach her eyes (she's so tired), but she's at least not as numb as she will be on sunday.]
It - helps. To have something to take your mind off things. ...and it makes it easier to think more clearly, later, when you come back to the things you need to think about.
I... [her voice trails off.] I do not know. I thought-- I think he must have been.
[...]
But... he said what he did about Sanji going after Magnus... before the votes came in, and before Yamatonokami Yasusada could explain what had happened. He... he said they suspected both Magnus and... [her voice is a little shaky, here] Yin Yu.
[so.
what if he did, and he just hadn't told yasusada he was going to do it? after a moment, though, she shakes her head.]
...but that is not the sort of role Sanji had. I... I do not know what to say.
[ah, yeah. . . the loss of Yin Yu is still fresh, isn't it? and he doesn't know if she managed to properly mourn or not. and she isn't wrong that it's possible Sanji targeted Magnus without telling Yasusada, but. . .]
[. . .]
Taako made it sound like Sanji targeted Magnus due to his role. If Sanji did target Magnus, then it had nothing to do with him being a Guidance Counselor.
[another pause]
In some way. . . Taako was lying. That's what I believe.
week four, saturday
[and he finds her at the stables, greeting her with a nod of his head]
Flayn?
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Hello, Akira...
[a pause]
Do you ride?
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[SHEEPISH. . .]
You do?
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A mastery of horsemanship is necessary for one of the certification examinations the Professor wishes for me to take. I struggled with it, at first, but I get a little better at it each lesson.
[...]
Have you any interest in learning to?
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[he reaches out to pet the horse's neck]
Are you offering to teach me?
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I could certainly attempt to! But if it proves to be too difficult, we might enlist Dimitri's help as well. He is more skilled with horses than I.
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I'd be honored to be your student, Flayn.
[lightly teasing, but there's also a note of sincerity in his voice]
I suppose we need to do something around here to relax.
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It - helps. To have something to take your mind off things. ...and it makes it easier to think more clearly, later, when you come back to the things you need to think about.
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It does.
[Akira keeps stroking the horse's neck, voice quiet. and after a moment of silence. . .]
. . . do you think Taako was lying?
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[sadly pats the horse. there, there.]
I... [her voice trails off.] I do not know. I thought-- I think he must have been.
[...]
But... he said what he did about Sanji going after Magnus... before the votes came in, and before Yamatonokami Yasusada could explain what had happened. He... he said they suspected both Magnus and... [her voice is a little shaky, here] Yin Yu.
[so.
what if he did, and he just hadn't told yasusada he was going to do it? after a moment, though, she shakes her head.]
...but that is not the sort of role Sanji had. I... I do not know what to say.
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[ah, yeah. . . the loss of Yin Yu is still fresh, isn't it? and he doesn't know if she managed to properly mourn or not. and she isn't wrong that it's possible Sanji targeted Magnus without telling Yasusada, but. . .]
[. . .]
Taako made it sound like Sanji targeted Magnus due to his role. If Sanji did target Magnus, then it had nothing to do with him being a Guidance Counselor.
[another pause]
In some way. . . Taako was lying. That's what I believe.
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[...]
I like them both, Akira. I want to trust them.
[but she's not sure if that mindset will help any of them.]
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I don't think they're not trustworthy just because they were lying.
[oh?]
Just. . . that there's something else going on. Some reason Sanji is dead. Something that Magnus can't talk about.
[and something Taako won't talk about]
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[so - she'd agree with him there.]
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[. . .]
I think Magnus might have a role of some kind.
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Because of what Taako said?
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And because of what Magnus himself didn't say.
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[Chuuya kind of dragged him to talk to Heart so it was a bit of an awkward conversation]
You and I would know better than anyone how it works, too.
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[...]
If your suspicions are true - what sort of role do you think he might have?
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I once told Sanji that I thought Shadows' counselor might be the role tasked with ensuring at least one person dies per week.
[he says that quietly, a bit solemnly, and his fingers begin to strike the horse's neck again. he seems pensive]
Heart told Sanji that no such role existed, but. . . mmm. I don't know.
There are a lot of reasons why Heart couldn't have been truthful about it.
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[mmmm. flayn bites her lip, mulling that over.]
They did say they have their own rules to follow, so perhaps it would not be possible for them to be honest. But... What would their title even be?
"Murder Counselor"?
[it sounds a little silly when she says it like that, but she's. being entirely sincere.]
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[PRESSES. . . A HAND AGAINST HIS FACE]
I sure hope not.
[it sounds awful and he knows she's being sincere but please. please let there not be a murder counselor in this camp]
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[that would be bad.]
...but if there is a role like that... what do you think should be done?
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[he says that immediately, no hesitation in his words at all]
Because I think they got the shittiest deal out of all of us.
(no subject)