[not again] catchall for zenitsu

[fishingforcompliments]

Comments

[swordflash]

[The laundry machine thumps loudly. Zenitsu sits against the wall while it runs, looking up in surprise when he hears the call of his name.]

Flayn? What are you doing here?

[fishingforcompliments]

I came to see how you were doing.

[what else!! ...well. she could be doing laundry, i guess.]

Does your head still hurt...?

[swordflash]

[The machine continues to thump, louder than ever. It's so noisy that he has to get up and approach Flayn to hear her better.

In all the terrible excitement, he's forgotten about the bump on his head. He brings a hand up to it on reflex, but stops himself from touching it.]

It'll be fine. More importantly, how are you doing?

[fishingforcompliments]

I...

[Her voice trails off. She can't say she's doing well, because she isn't, and she doesn't want to lie. But she doesn't want to worry him, either.]

I am dreading tomorrow. [That is easy enough to admit, at least.]

[swordflash]

[Don't hold back on his account. He frowns.]

Me, too. We missed the real culprit again.

[fishingforcompliments]

Yes. And tomorrow...

[Her voice trails off.]

The chances are higher that it will be two innocent people fighting for their lives. This is not justice.

[swordflash]

It's a competition—and not a fair one, either. I don't know if we'll ever have justice.

[fishingforcompliments]

There would be some semblance of it, if we could just—

[get this right.

it doesn't feel like that's ever going to happen.]

[swordflash]

[He's not used to this. They had a pretty good record at the house. Here, they've failed twice in a row. It's troubling.]

If we can figure out another way to win . . .

[It may well be a pipe dream for a competition—but if they can, maybe they can right the wrongs to some degree.]

[fishingforcompliments]

[she nods]

...but I cannot think how. Nothing I have found so far has led me to some other way, no matter how much I wish for there to be one.

[swordflash]

There's still time. It's been three weeks, and I was at the house for seven.

[Even though it's not a lot. He hates to see Flayn so distraught.]

If there's a way, everyone should be able to find it.

[fishingforcompliments]

...

[She nods slowly at that. A little more than a month left, then - that seems to be common, from what she's heard of the other places.]

...perhaps I am simply impatient. We were only on the island for two...

[swordflash]

[And if it's going to be winners take all, it'll be all right as long as the teams maintain similar numbers.

It's not all right, but it's probably the best they can do for now.]

Two is still a lot. And if we can end this sooner, we should definitely do that.

[fishingforcompliments]

...I am sure there must be some way.

[Flayn sighs heavily.]

Although... perhaps directly after a trial, when we are all upset, is not the best time to attempt to find it.

[swordflash]

Yeah. You're right.

[And he's not the person to be asking for such an attempt. He can, however, worry.]

Have you eaten, Flayn?

[fishingforcompliments]

Not yet... but I will.

[A pause, and then -]

Are you hungry?

[swordflash]

I'll eat later. First, I need to take care of this.

[Washing clothes, that is.]

I have to return Akira's jacket.

[fishingforcompliments]

Ah, yes - it was kind of him to lend that to you.

[She's glad he was there to help Zen through his trying lake times...]

[swordflash]

[Noodles took away twenty years of his short life.]

We didn't talk at the house, but he's been like that to me since we got here.

[Akira must be having a hard time right now, considering what he said after Guy's conviction.]

We're lucky that he's here.

[fishingforcompliments]

He seems a very reliable person.

[...but he also seems to take quite a bit onto his shoulders. Flayn hopes that he'll be okay tonight, but he certainly seemed... upset, after the verdict was announced.

She doesn't know him well enough to interfere, not really, but she'd like to.]

[swordflash]

He is.

[Thankfully, he isn't alone.]

And he's not the only one. Mr. Wright is more reliable than he says he is.

[There are many more, and he doesn't doubt the competency of the campers from other places. If they're going to find another way, he thinks they're in good hands.]

[fishingforcompliments]

...you met some very good people at the mansion.

[just saying!]

[swordflash]

It looks like it was the same for you at the island. You even met Mr. Tomioka and Ms. Kocho before I did.

[fishingforcompliments]

...

[I MEAN

SHE LIKES SHINOBU JUST FINE




SHE'S STILL KIND OF EHHHHHHHH ABOUT GIYUU THOUGH.]

[swordflash]

[He cocks his head to the side.]

Flayn?